Chapter 188
Chapter 188
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 188
Chapter Title: The Empire's Imperial Palace (2)
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The Fifth Princess's Palace, located in one corner of the imperial palace grounds.
It was only natural to greet one's parents upon returning home after a long absence or to pay respects to the master of the house when visiting someone else's home.
But when that person was the Emperor of the Empire, even such a simple greeting couldn't end there.
In that sense, the luncheon—with its complicated procedures and stringent etiquette—was inevitably a tedious and stifling ordeal for anyone unaccustomed to it.
"Ugh, I hate stuffy places like that. I just want to eat comfortably. Do I really have to go?"
And within the hero party, the rugged barbarian warrior Harley was exactly that type.
"Hmm..."
"Yeah, definitely..."
Isea, who had spent quite some time with him, and even Riley, who had only traveled with them briefly, nodded solemnly in agreement.
The feral image of him tearing into griffon meat was still vividly etched in their minds.
His personality, speech, and even his fashion were all so outrageous that he simply didn't fit in formal settings.
"...Honestly, it wouldn't matter if only the Saint went as our representative. No offense, but the three of us without him feel like side dishes, you know?"
Isea exchanged a quick glance with Riley before shrugging lightly and continuing nonchalantly.
"The Saint is irreplaceable, unlike us. They can't completely ignore us either, so they're treating us decently for his sake."
Unlike the other two, who were at least nobles, Harley was a complete savage, lacking what one might call "class."
Without his background as a member of the resolution force, he probably wouldn't have even been allowed into the palace.
"Ah—then I'll sit this one out too."
At her words, Geos, who had been quietly listening, chimed in as if he'd been waiting.
He was a noble of the Lesque Kingdom, but coming from commoner stock, he often felt subtly ostracized in such settings, making them uncomfortable for him.
He had always been so indifferent to politics that he rarely even met his own king.
Of course, Hesperon, who had only tagged along by chance, was entirely out of the equation from the start.
"Then we can eat casually, right? I've been curious about the palace chefs' skills anyway—perfect! Haha!"
"Yes, I'll inform the head chef of my palace. You can dine as you please."
In the end, only Heinrich, Riley, and Isea would attend the luncheon with the Emperor.
While they stepped away to prepare, Harley and Hesperon naturally approached Geos and struck up a friendly chat.
"Alright—shall we go too? I wonder what imperial meat tastes like."
"Oh! Eating gourmet food in this world for the first time—I'm pumped! Though I've pulled out snacks with my ability before."
"Come to think of it, you're from another world, right?"
"That's right. Feel free to speak casually, bro! Just call me Hesperon. Oh, can I call you bro too?"
"Kahaha! What a straightforward guy! Sure, let's do that, Hesperon!"
"Heh~ Serving such a cool bro—feels solid!"
The two bantered back and forth excitedly.
Objectively, it was just a corny bro routine, but on the surface, it looked perfectly natural without any awkwardness.
"Ah, please call me Hesperon casually too, Sir Geos. Man, stepping out and meeting great people right away—lucky! Haha!"
"...Understood, Mr. Hesperon."
And naturally, they were putting on this show entirely because of Geos Kalkin sitting right beside them.
'First, I need to get him and Hesperon closer.'
Before leaving Rohan Duchy for here, he had cautiously mentioned to Heinrich about an acquaintance who claimed to be from another world—someone who might have useful information.
'From what he said, he's been in this world for at least twenty years. If that's true... probably a settler who gave up on returning.'
Settler.
A term for those who abandoned accumulating karma points to return home and fully settled in this otherworld...
It was a path sometimes chosen by those with little attachment to Earth but growing fondness for this place.
Of course, he had only encountered such people indirectly himself.
In a way, this was a prime opportunity to meet one face-to-face and gather intel.
'As a fresh Earthling who's just arrived in this otherworld. In that sense, having his close acquaintance Geos introduce Hesperon personally is ideal.'
Of course, Heinrich could meet him easily enough, but the questions he could ask as the Saint of this world differed vastly from those as a fellow awakened Earthling.
"Come on, enough chit-chat—let's go tear into some meat! My stomach's sticking to my spine!"
"Haha! Bro, it's been less than two hours since you had that snack meat. Oh, come on, Sir Geos!"
Throughout history, shared meals were the best way to build camaraderie.
The rough, fierce barbarian Harley and the oblivious, innocent youth Hesperon strode confidently toward the dining hall.
With a reluctant Geos sandwiched awkwardly between them.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Emperor Gario Carte Azerion of the Empire.
Nearing sixty, he had faded golden hair and piercing emerald eyes, exuding the aura of a warrior more than a scholar.
"You've had a long journey. I know well the hardships you endure protecting the world, yet shamefully, I only now get to greet you. And to top it off, you've rescued my daughter, Princess Riley."
"Not at all. Everyone knows how busy Your Majesty is. Holding steady this vast empire amid chaos is no small feat—perhaps the most vital task of all."
Naturally, a luncheon between the Emperor of the Azerion Empire—Aute rica's greatest power—and the Church of the Main God's Saint was far more than just a meal.
Fortunately, with Heinrich attending as leader of the resolution force rather than the Church's representative, the tension was somewhat lessened; otherwise, the stifling atmosphere would have made eating impossible.
'Ugh—maybe I should've skipped this. I came thinking I could help Riley somehow, but... how am I supposed to eat in this vibe?!'
Even now, it wasn't exactly conducive to dining.
Isea sighed inwardly, furtively glancing around as she poked at her utensils.
She wasn't in the mood to eat, but with everyone else eating normally, she couldn't just sit there blankly.
"Viscount Isea Pristin."
Her body stiffened instantly.
She hadn't done anything wrong; the sudden call from the Emperor amid her tension had simply startled her.
But that lasted only a moment.
"Yes, Your Majesty. What is your command?"
A mere schoolgirl on Earth, she was now a grand archmage knocking on the gates of transcendence.
Her earlier nerves stemmed from her "high school girl Isea" self; as the situation arose, her mind calmed, allowing her to observe from one step back.
"Things have moved so swiftly that I'm only now broaching this. Thanks to you stepping up, our empire has saved face. Once matters settle, you'll hear good news soon. I count on you going forward."
He referred to her joining the hero party and aiding as the Saint's comrade.
She had no choice but to act to save Riley, but no need to refuse praise and rewards.
"I am deeply honored, Your Majesty. I merely did my duty."
The Emperor nodded slightly at her humble reply, then turned to Riley.
His stern expression flickered briefly upon seeing her, but he quickly composed himself and addressed her calmly.
"It's a relief you've returned at last, Princess Riley. You've suffered much."
"...Thank you, Your Majesty."
"There's one thing I'd like to ask, however..."
The exchange felt stiff for a father and daughter reuniting after so long.
Not just because it was official; they conversed naturally, as if accustomed to such distance.
The Emperor's question was, predictably, what everyone wondered.
How had she alone managed to escape?
'Certainly not an easy matter to gloss over. Hard to swallow, after all.'
Heinrich inwardly agreed, slowly slicing his steak.
Had it not been the Saint who rescued her, she wouldn't have reclaimed her position so smoothly.
Even now, her detractors spread rumors but held back overtly due to the Saint's prestige.
Claims she was a fake transformed into the princess, fears she'd unleash a deadly curse amid the leadership, convictions she'd been brainwashed into the Immortal King's pawn.
All premised on Hans deliberately releasing her.
"My escape was entirely due to another's ability, someone imprisoned with me. Without him, it would have been a pipe dream. I was simply fortunate to be by his side."
She then calmly recounted the events.
After her capture, communication with the crown prince ceased; a man with special abilities appeared; magic lessons followed, then sudden hope.
Of course, she omitted the final clash with the crown prince.
No need to stir trouble by mentioning it.
"Hmmm—."
Her tale ended with the crisis post-escape from Immortal Fortress and the Saint's timely rescue. The Emperor closed his eyes with a heavy sigh.
As suspected, the crown prince had virtually no chance of escaping similarly.
No way to leverage that either.
Riley's escape involved a confluence of factors, coincidences, and luck.
An improbable chain, almost contrived.
Yet since it happened, it couldn't be denied.
Coincidences become inevitability; infinitesimal probabilities manifest as reality.
...We call it 'fate.'
Smooth—
The Emperor slowly opened his eyes and turned to Heinrich.
"...Come to think of it, the second Continental Summit is approaching."
"Indeed. Less than this week remains."
Unlike the first summit, he was busy with hero party duties but kept abreast via Church updates.
Rumors swirled of the saintess being torn apart over it too.
"For our Azerion Empire's delegation, I shall send Fifth Princess Riley as representative."
The Emperor continued evenly.
With crown prince Simon and Riley abducted, the second and sixth princes had been vying fiercely...
But now that she was back, it meant nothing.
'Finally...!'
Riley and Isea clenched their fists in unison.
A mere delegation head, yet proclaimed by the Emperor with the Main God's Saint present.
It carried implications beyond the words.
Riley's war—merely a truce till now—reignited, poised to devastate her rivals' camps from the outset.