95. The New Year's Party That's Supposed to Happen Around This Time
That body and presence are all artificially created, but still, it's impressive.
Even if it never happened, if a hero candidate who barely survived six months at the Hero Academy fought the emperor, the emperor—with his overwhelming intimidation—wouldn't even get to swing his weapon properly before losing. That's how frail the emperor was.
Yet the aura right in front of me was something else entirely.
Without realizing it, I recalled the description of Palania Kingdom's king consort.
A pot-bellied uncle in his fifties.
But Glazer Empire's Emperor Adolf Glazer was in his early sixties.
The emperor, a full ten years older, exuded far more dignity and solemnity. That appearance, crafted through long-honed imperial secrets, gathered the nobles' loyalty to the Glazer imperial family and enabled the empire's strong imperial authority.
I shifted my gaze from the emperor and discreetly scanned his surroundings.
Naturally, around the emperor—who was receiving greetings and praise from low-ranking nobles and low-grade heroes—were his numerous wives and young children.
Three empresses and ten imperial consorts in total. And four of the emperor's bloodlines, none even ten years old yet. This was the result of most of them using ectogenic pregnancy magic, allowing conception without exception in most cases.
If it were me, I'd do it all internally... Damn, what am I even thinking?
I shook off the dangerous thought just as the emperor called me.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
SS-grade hero Adlen had already been summoned earlier, but as the next highest at A-grade, I was way down the list. Because I wasn't from their empire.
It's like a preemptive show of dominance, huh? Not that it'll make me join the empire's heroes.
"You have no achievements yet since graduating from the academy, but I hope you establish ones befitting an A-grade."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"Good. Separately from your hero duties, shouldn't you start preparing for the engagement ceremony with the third princess soon?"
"The engagement will be held in the empire as agreed, so I'll follow the imperial will in a way that doesn't interfere with my missions."
"Very well."
That was the end of the conversation with the satisfied emperor, who nodded approvingly.
Unlike his inflated physique from various treatments, the emperor's voice was weak and weary, fitting his sixties. He kept his words brief as much as possible, and even our exchange had been relatively long for him.
As I stepped back, the banquet resumed at the emperor's command. Only some empresses and consorts remained, while the children stayed in their mothers' arms.
"Phew. That was exhausting."
I caught my breath in a corner of the banquet hall, shaking off the tension.
Even pretending to be calm on the surface, meeting the continent's strongest nation's top figure and his blessing had been enough to stir all sorts of nerves inside me.
"How was your first meeting with His Majesty?"
"Ah, Princess."
Helena approached with a mischievous smile.
"My first meeting with my father-in-law... wasn't bad."
"Father-in-law? Not bad? Ahaha...!!"
She burst into laughter at my joking response. It was so loud I wondered for a second if she was pranking me. Fortunately, the orchestra—now even grander with the emperor's presence—drowned it out.
"Ah, sorry. Your answer was just too funny..."
Helena wiped a tear from her eye.
I pulled her further into the corner, shivering exaggeratedly.
"You startled me. What if His Majesty notices?"
"This much is fine. More importantly, 'father-in-law'... Hehe. How many in the empire could call the emperor that? And 'not bad'... Haha, it's still hilarious."
"Still, try to hold back a bit. I don't want to get on His Majesty's bad side yet."
"Yet, huh?"
I smirked at the princess's sharp jab.
Of course it was "yet." The emperor didn't approve of Helena succeeding the throne. To put her there, we'd eventually have to oppose him.
His pleased reaction to the engagement was because he hoped it would make her restrain herself through marriage to a man. Glazer tradition demanded imperial women bow to imperial men.
"Seemed like His Majesty quite liked it."
"He just thinks his tomboy daughter found a good man. Father—His Majesty—lacks political insight. He hopes I'll settle down thanks to you."
"Wish the other imperial family members thought that simply too."
"Hehe. Tough, isn't it?"
The other royals still suspected our engagement. Even though I'd pushed hard for it, they weren't sure if it was love or some political ploy.
They were quiet for now, but who knew when they'd act. We planned to flaunt our intimacy and get through the ceremony smoothly first.
"Well, I'll head out then."
"Pardon?"
"I need to chat with other nobles and play cute by Father's side."
"But staying by my side a bit longer..."
I couldn't hide my disappointment.
She was right—for shedding her iron-blooded princess image and making the engagement grander. But I wanted to cling closer, show we were inseparable, and talk more.
Helena smiled sweetly at my reaction, clearly pleased.
Ah, that expression when she's happy... she really takes after the emperor.
"Looks like you have a guest over there."
"A guest? What kind... Oh."
I turned at her chin gesture and let out an exclamation.
The "guest" wasn't hers—it was mine.
Two women had just arrived, greeting the emperor.
After a brief exchange, one scanned the hall, spotted me, and beamed. She pushed her mother's wheelchair toward us and called her beloved's name.
"Siu!"
"Noona!"
I was a bit flustered by the arrival of Belluna, the red-haired mage who'd given me my first anal experience. But I quickly smiled and welcomed her.
"You came after all."
"Hehe. How could I miss a reunion chance like this?"
Belluna grinned shyly.
I smiled back at my cute, pretty noona after so long, then glanced down. I wanted to hug her tight for old times' sake, but she was pushing a wheelchair with her mother in it.
"Nice to meet you, Mother."
"Ah... Yes... Nice to meet you too, Siu..."
Her voice alone screamed "invalid"—even weaker than the emperor's sixties timbre.
"Call me comfortably. You're Belluna noona's mom."
"Um... Then, S-Siu... I'll call you that. It's still awkward for me..."
"Got it."
I nodded, satisfied with that much.
Belluna reacted most awkwardly to her mother's words. She'd connected with me as an inspector, becoming noona-little brother. But as a proper A-grade hero, she worried if casual speech was okay.
"Ah, right—we should properly introduce ourselves. I'm Han Siu. Belluna noona and I are... very sticky."
"S-Siu!"
Dispelling her worries, I teased about our relationship to her mother. Lunaria let out a light laugh too.
"She acted like she'd stay a virgin forever... Glad she met a good man."
"M-Mom?!"
The tall beauty's surprised puppy face was adorable. Even Hildear behind me smiled faintly at the close mother-daughter duo. As a man, my lips curved even more.
"A beauty like Belluna noona staying a virgin is a loss. Sadly, she'll be one for a while longer."
"Hehe. Truly regrettable... Sigh, if only you'd come a few years earlier, Siu... Or if I'd... had Belluna later...?"
"Don't worry. I love mature beauties' hymens too."
I grinned straight at Belluna's mother.
She flinched, her face flushing red. She'd meant party talk, but I used the explicit "hymen." Clearly, my "mature beauty" included both daughter and mother.
"Ah, th-that... greetings are... l-late. I'm L-Lunaria. Belluna's, y-yes, m-mother..."
Lunaria bowed awkwardly from her wheelchair.
They look just alike.
Mother and daughter indeed. Palania's Queen Sharfria and Princess Sharina were similar, but these two could pass as sisters.
Shorter than her daughter, but her face and figure oozed maturity. No wrinkles or sagging—her skin was taut, thanks to the yin qi packed in her womb.
Her pale skin added sickly allure and erotic charm. She radiated married sensuality. No worries before, but Belluna's mother, Lunaria Herpfield, was a delectable, alluring wife.
"Haha. Nice to meet you properly. Mother."
"Mm, yes. I should be the one saying that..."
Lunaria's face paled further mid-sentence.
Her already weak voice grew feebler—now frailer than the emperor's.
"Mom...?"
Belluna, used to her state, called worriedly.
"Hah, hah... Nngh, I'm still okay. Don't worry too much."
"......"
Her daughter's face stayed dark despite the reassurance.
Lunaria slowly looked up at me, eyes pleading. I nodded.
"I don't have much left to do here anyway."
The real New Year's party keynote hadn't started, but I figured my presence alone boosted Glazer prestige. If not, Helena would fetch me before it anyway.
"Let's go to my room."
"......Yes."
Lunaria accepted after hesitation.
She knew her body was at its limit and couldn't refuse her daughter and her daughter's lover-candidate. She knew what came next. Still, Lunaria wanted to live.
"...Thank you, hah... Siu..."
"We'll thank each other later... Nngh."
Unable to say I was more grateful, I awkwardly led the three to my room.