Chapter 408: Proclamation Ceremony (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 408: Proclamation Ceremony (3)
“It wouldn't be a bad deal for you either, Marquis.”
“……Hmm.”
At Torimabia’s proposal, Alon suddenly thought of the princess.
‘Was it… Serena Laxacia?’
Serena Laxacia, the daughter of Queen Torimabia Laxacia of Laxas. He knew a fair amount about her.
In fact, it was impossible not to know.
When playing Psychedelia, Serena was a major NPC who gave various quests to players visiting the Laxas region.
Her illustration and in-game character model were so beautiful that she was always listed in the ‘Top 20 Prettiest Characters in Psychedelia,’ a ranking determined by player votes.
……Of course, her rank was usually outside the top 15.
Regardless, Alon knew quite a bit about Serena because of that. He knew that, unlike a typical princess, she was a bit of a tomboy.
It wasn't an unattractive trait; rather, it was the kind of rambunctious personality that provided an unexpected charm.
“……I appreciate the offer, but I’ll need some time to think about it.”
Having reached that conclusion, Alon gave his answer to Torimabia.
On the surface, it meant he needed time to consider.
However, everyone gathered there knew. It was Alon’s way of politely expressing a refusal.
‘I don’t really have any intention of marrying yet.’
Alon wasn't ignorant. He knew that taking a consort the moment he ascended the throne was the path to stabilizing the kingdom.
Yet, he felt no particular desire to marry Princess Serena.
More importantly, the kingdom Alon was building didn't require a marriage for initial stability.
Usually, a country became noisy when nobles started fighting over the position of Queen. However, in Alon’s country, there were no nobles who held territory.
No, strictly speaking, it was impossible for them to exist. The only land he possessed was the Marquis’s estate and the distant Divine Land. How could there be other nobles?
And above all, Alon didn't really want a political marriage.
Some might call him "pure" for his age, considering he had lived in this world for over ten years, but Alon’s thoughts remained the same.
If he were to meet a partner, he wanted it to happen as naturally as possible.
“I see.”
Torimabia nodded as calmly as possible at Alon’s polite rejection. Then, she made an additional request.
“Then, if it’s alright with you, could you at least meet my daughter once?”
“……Princess Serena?”
“Yes, she came here with me this time.”
Alon hesitated as Torimabia smiled.
His gut instinct was to refuse. However, he felt awkward about rejecting a request from a reigning monarch who had personally attended his Proclamation Ceremony.
……Of course, Alon wasn't in a position where he actually needed to worry about such things.
After a brief moment of deliberation, he spoke.
“I understand.”
Alon accepted.
“Thank you for your consideration, Marquis.”
A small smile escaped Torimabia’s lips.
Afterward, the two monarchs returned to the accommodations Alon had prepared in advance.
“That was a lot of work, Marquis.”
Once the VIPs had moved off into the distance, Evan spoke up.
“……I never expected the Queen to come in person.”
“I was surprised too. To think a monarch would travel personally at a time like this……”
As Alon rubbed his eyes in exhaustion, Penia chimed in.
Normally, a King or Queen wouldn't attend such a Proclamation Ceremony. Even if they were extremely close friends, it was dangerous for two monarchs to move around at this point in time.
The Divine Blood could appear anywhere at any moment and tear a country apart.
“Well—aren't they all just trying to get on your good side early, Marquis?”
“To go this far just to get on my good side?”
“Rumors have already spread far and wide that Calliban was saved from the Divine Blood because of Alon's Statue. Considering that, their behavior isn't exactly incomprehensible.”
“……Is that so?”
“Haven't you heard?”
“Hmm?”
“According to Silli, all sorts of high-ranking officials from various kingdoms are practically living in Divine Land right now, begging for one of your statues.”
“……To get a statue of me?”
“Yes.”
“That thing……?”
“Right……?”
At Evan’s confirmation, Alon covered his face with his hand. He was slightly embarrassed.
‘……Why on earth is it in that pose?’
If the pose had been normal, he wouldn't have been this embarrassed. But no matter how many times he saw it, he couldn't get used to the pose of the statue Deus had gifted him.
‘……Maybe I should change the statue's pose if I get the chance.’
While he was lost in thought, Evan spoke again.
“Ah, Marquis.”
“What is it?”
“I forgot to mention, but the Zenonia and Altia families arrived from Asteria today along with some gifts.”
“Really? I should go meet them right away.”
“And there was also a personal letter addressed to you.”
“A letter?”
“Yes.”
Evan nodded and handed the letter to Alon. Taking the letter with a puzzled expression, Alon realized who it was from.
“This is……”
“The Queen sent it.”
Realizing it was a letter from Siyan, the Queen of Asteria, Alon unfolded the paper without hesitation.
“…….”
It didn't take long to read. In fact, it took less than three seconds. There was only one sentence written on the paper.
「Come find me once the Proclamation Ceremony is over. I’m sure you’re curious as well.」
Alon fell silent for a moment. As she expected, Alon indeed had many questions for Siyan.
‘I’ll have to go see her as soon as this is over.’
Shortly after, Alon stood up to meet Count Zenonia and Duke Altia, who had come to see him.
Immediately after Alon left the room.
“You must be jealous, huh?”
Evan spoke to Penia, who had been standing by silently.
“……Huh? All of a sudden?”
Penia looked at him as if he were talking nonsense. However, Evan wore a knowing expression, as if he had already seen through her.
“You know—isn't Princess Serena your friend?”
“Well, yes, she is.”
“Then you must be jealous. It’s basically the same as her getting an arranged meeting with the Marquis.”
At Evan’s words, Penia let out a long sigh.
“You didn't say that because you actually think I’d be jealous, right?”
“You aren't?”
“I’m not.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Why?”
At the rapid-fire question, Penia answered as if it were obvious.
“It’s not like anything is going to happen when the Marquis has zero interest anyway.”
“Hmm……”
Evan made a skeptical sound at Penia’s logical point, but he didn't stop teasing her.
“Aren't you underestimating her just because she’s your friend? She is a princess, after all.”
“And you think the Marquis would be interested just because she’s a princess?”
“……Fair point.”
Penia let out a dry, mocking laugh.
“In my opinion, Serena won't even go to meet the Marquis.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I just have a feeling.”
After briefly picturing the face of someone who would soon be at the Marquis’s estate, she left those words behind and followed after Alon.
“……Why?”
Only Evan was left behind, staring at her back with a bewildered expression.
* * *
The 1st Princess of Laxas, Serena Laxacia.
Having come to the Marquis’s estate because of her mother, Torimabia Laxacia, she was experiencing something strange late at night.
Actually, it wasn't exactly strange.
She was simply…
“Hello, Princess?”
“……Ah, um…… hello.”
She was simply having a conversation after being invited by someone.
“…….”
Serena Laxacia looked to one side. There sat Yutia Bloodia, the Cardinal of Rosario whom she knew all too well, smiling at her.
On the other side sat Line Grof, a High Councilor of Lartania.
……To be honest, Serena didn't want to be with either of them. She had heard the rumors.
In Lartania, the councilors who opposed Line Grof had disappeared one by one over several months.
As for Yutia Bloodia, there was no need for words. For all intents and purposes, she ruled Rosario. In other words, anyone who defied her was finished.
So, why was Serena Laxacia sitting here?
Normally, she shouldn't have known. Serena had no prior connection to either Yutia Bloodia or Line Grof.
Unfortunately, however, Serena easily guessed why she had been brought here to have a private meeting with these two.
‘Marquis Palatio.’
It was because of that man.
The two women before her were very close to Marquis Palatio, and Serena Laxacia was currently involved in marriage talks with him.
As she watched them—smiling, yet radiating a subtle bloodlust that suggested they could bury someone at any moment—she racked her brain.
‘……Wait?’
Serena suddenly realized something.
‘……Maybe I can use this to get out of the marriage?’
In truth, Serena Laxacia had no desire to marry Marquis Palatio. To her, the Marquis wasn't particularly attractive. In fact, he was closer to being someone she disliked.
The only reason she had followed the Queen was that she knew she couldn't choose her own spouse anyway.
But what if she could use these two to persuade her mother or make the marriage talks fall through? It was a golden opportunity for Serena.
She knew this marriage was important for the kingdom, but she didn't feel much guilt. Laxas had a 2nd Princess who, unlike her, actually liked the Marquis but wasn't chosen because she wasn't the "best card."
So, wouldn't it be more appropriate for her younger sister, who actually liked the Marquis, to be in this position?
Having finished this strange self-justification, she immediately spoke up.
“……The reason you two called me here…… is because of the marriage talks with Marquis Palatio, right?”
At the cautious question, Yutia smiled.
“Oh my, of course not. We just wanted to have a chat with the Princess.”
“……A chat?”
“Yes. As you know, the Teacher…… I mean, the Marquis and we have known each other for a very long time, so we’re quite close. I suppose we were just worried. Worried that someone might be approaching the Marquis with other intentions…… that sort of thing.”
……To the point of kidnapping me in the middle of the night? Serena thought, but she didn't say it out loud.
“Ah, of course, if you truly love the Marquis, we have no intention of stopping you. The choice is his, after all.”
“……Is that so?”
“But there might be other intentions behind meeting the Marquis besides love—”
……So you’re just saying I can’t, Serena thought, but again, she kept it to herself.
“First of all, let me just say, I actually have no intention of going through with the marriage talks with the Marquis.”
“Hmm……?”
She brought up the main point first.
“But aren't the marriage talks scheduled to proceed?”
“That’s true, but…… as you know, that was my mother’s doing. I have no interest.”
“No interest……?”
“I mean exactly what I said. I have no desire to marry the Marquis.”
A moment of silence fell over the room. Yutia stared at the princess with an expressionless face.
Serena became nervous in spite of herself. Yutia’s gaze seemed ordinary, but for some reason, it was terrifying.
But that only lasted a moment.
“Hmm—you’re telling the truth, aren't you?”
At Yutia’s subsequent words, Serena breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
“Yes, I am.”
“Then the marriage talks—”
“As I said, my mother proceeded with them unilaterally. Even if I meet the Marquis, it’s unlikely our relationship will develop into anything like that.”
Though, if possible, I’d prefer not to meet him at all so I don't have to deal with my mother’s nagging, Serena muttered softly.
“Mm-hmm—then it couldn't be helped.”
“We’ll help you with that part.”
The heavy atmosphere from a moment ago lightened up as if it had all been a lie.
“My, the Princess seems to be quite a deep thinker.”
“I agree.”
Seeing them follow up with light praise, Serena was a bit taken aback.
“I’m glad you think so,” she replied with an awkward smile.
“But, you said you have no intention of marrying the Marquis. May I ask why?”
Serena hesitated at the natural follow-up question. After thinking for a moment—
“……To be honest, he’s just not my type.”
Seeing that there was still a hint of suspicion in Yutia Bloodia’s eyes, Serena decided she had to cut off that suspicion once and for all and began to pour out her honest feelings.
“Oh, is that so?”
Yutia and Line looked at her with curious expressions. Serena continued.
“Yes. Honestly, others say the Marquis is handsome, but to my eyes, he looks a bit gloomy. I prefer people who look bright and handsome……”
“Mmm—”
“And he’s always expressionless and never shows his emotions, so I never know what he’s thinking. I don't like that either.”
“Hmm.”
The two women nodded at Serena’s words. Feeling their suspicion fading, Serena added more.
“And honestly, that statue the Marquis sent…… no matter how many times I look at it, it convinces me that his taste wouldn't match mine.”
“……Hmm.”
“To be honest, from my perspective, it’s just—not very cool.”
Serena got excited as she saw the two of them just listening quietly. In truth, she had always found the Marquis strange and didn't like him, but since everyone everywhere was praising him, she had nowhere to vent.
However, there was one thing she overlooked in her excitement.
“And those titles attached to the Marquis…… honestly, I think they’re a bit embarrassing. He’s a human, so calling him a God or whatever is just ridiculous, don't you think?”
“…….”
“I don't think I could even dream of a romantic atmosphere with him.”
“…….”
At some point, the eyes of Yutia and Line, which had been reacting with interest, turned ice-cold.
“To be even more honest, I even think he’s a bit of a jerk—”
““……Huh?””
“……Ah……. I mean, that is—”
She only realized it when she had finished her entire rant against the Marquis…….
“…….”
“…….”
Her pupils, which had been full of energy just a moment ago, began to tremble violently.