Saclasi's answer
Saclasi's answer
"There is nothing to forgive."
A faint smile spread across the Emperor's lips upon hearing Saklasi's answer. Regardless of his true feelings, the fact that a mere twenty-year-old child was acting so maturely pleased her.
In reality, Saklasi wasn't actually an abandoned orphan, so there was nothing to forgive, and furthermore, the feelings the Emperor was experiencing now were simply because Saklasi being a black-haired Soi tribe member acted as a sort of cheat code.
Just because he looked young didn't mean someone of the Emperor's stature wouldn't know the danger of a Transcendent. Nevertheless, she was viewing everything about Saklasi in a positive light.
'To be able to say it as if it were nothing... the life of a Soi tribe orphan couldn't have been easy. His heart must have been hurt over and over, and that's what made it so tough.' The Emperor, unaware of the truth, simply convinced herself as she watched Saklasi, who held no resentment for being abandoned.
"Let's go have a meal."
There was a long table in the banquet hall they arrived at. The Emperor sat at the head of the table, and Katerina took one of the seats on either side, calling Saklasi to sit next to her. Naturally, Saklasi and Katerina sat together, and two other High Elf princesses sat opposite them.
"It's been a while since we've had a meal."
High Elves and Elves were a race that hardly needed to eat. A single fruit every few days was enough. Nevertheless, the fact that they, the Imperial family, had arranged this seating was out of consideration for Saklasi.
Soon, the Elves who would serve the meal entered the banquet hall quietly. Naturally, various dishes were neatly placed only at Saklasi's seat, while only one dish was placed at the others' seats as a formality. A simple bowl of soup. They didn't even know the last time they had eaten something like this.
They were just going through the motions to have a meal with Saklasi.
"Eating food like this isn't bad either."
"......."
One of the two princesses sitting opposite Saklasi opened her mouth, but the other remained silent without speaking.
"You're seeing her for the first time today, my twelfth, Nina. Introduce yourself."
"I am the twelfth aunt, Nina. Beside me is my sixth sister, Victoria-eonni, but please understand that she rarely speaks. It's not because she's in a bad mood."
"......."
"Yes, that can happen. I understand."
Both possessed beautiful appearances, as expected of the High Elf race. Victoria, who didn't speak, was a beauty with a strong impression, and Nina was a beauty with a warm impression and a cute smile.
"As you know, you have 14 aunts, excluding your real mother."
Saklasi was startled. 'There are 14 people like that strange person? No, Katerina is at least normal. The two in front look normal too.'
"I was really surprised to suddenly have a grandmother and aunts! But thinking of them as family, I'm glad and happy."
Saklasi judged that there was no advantage to telling the complicated truth, other than pricking his own conscience.
'They said the Emperor's 'Before the Sun' can be summoned even from a great distance. Was it said on the Gallery that a city 2000km away was erased? If she can generate it instantly where her vision reaches, like my 'Mist Transformation', I wouldn't even be able to dodge it.'
It wasn't like Saklasi could ask, 'Can I try stopping the Emperor's blood with [Wish] 'Blood is also water'? I want to test if it can kill a Transcendent.'
Since he didn't know if Saklasi's Wish would work on a Transcendent or not, he needed to maintain a good relationship with the Emperor to minimize the risk.
Just then, Katerina picked up a piece of tteokbokki from Saklasi's plate among the splendid food on the table.
"I heard it's a food liked by people of Saklasi's age. I specifically told them to prepare it."
She held her palm slightly underneath and offered the tteokbokki to Saklasi's mouth. Since Saklasi wasn't eating properly, she was taking care of him directly.
'...!!!'
"???????"
Seeing that, Victoria's strong impression softened, and her face couldn't hide her bewilderment, while Nina thought, 'Is she allowed to do that? Katerina-eonni?'
The Emperor was calm. 'No matter how much of a Soi tribe member he is, he's a Transcendent, so would his lifespan be that of a normal Soi tribe member? I don't think so.'
Her gaze swept back and forth between the two. 'Wouldn't it be good to have him marry Katerina and keep that child firmly tied to the Empire?' She was actually thinking this.
Saklasi, bewildered by Katerina's unexpected action, accepted and ate the tteokbokki. Having a stunning beauty feed him food made his heart feel all fuzzy.
"Thank you."
"Hehehe."
"...!!!"
"Heh~"
At Katerina's laughter, the two sisters thought they were having a very strange experience today.
"Perhaps because Katerina was the first person you saw, you two already seem quite close."
"Yes! Katerina-imonim takes good care of me, so I am very grateful. Your Majesty."
"Saklasi?"
"Yes?"
Saklasi thought, 'Surely she's not telling me to call her by name even in a place like this? Is that allowed?' He was more surprised now than when he met the Emperor.
It was different from doing it over the phone. Calling the name of the daughter of the absolute power Emperor who founded the Empire and ruled for over 2000 years without hesitation?
'Oh well, screw it. I'm a munchkin protagonist!' Saklasi gave up on thinking.
"I am always grateful for Katerina's heart. Your Majesty."
"...!!!"
"Wow~"
'Are they secretly dating?' Nina thought, 'Back in my day, marriage between blood relatives was common, but that was too long ago,' and then she realized it after seeing her mother's expression. 'She thinks it's okay to have her marry Katerina-eonni!'
Nina thought it would be okay for her to feed Saklasi food just like Katerina-eonni.
'Is this what love is like?'
As long as Nina was a High Elf, all men in this world were just blue aliens.
Now that only Saklasi felt like an exception, she needed more verification. Her benevolent mother seemed to have let her guard down at Saklasi's answer, "There is nothing to forgive," but she didn't know what kind of heart the abandoned orphan was really harboring, and especially since he was a Transcendent, it didn't seem like something to be taken lightly.
"Saklasi-ssi?"
"Yes, Princess Nina."
"Nina is enough for me too. I have a question."
Nina was also starting to like Saklasi more and more. The more she did, the more she wanted to be sure of that heart she wanted to believe in.
"Don't you think it seems like they only welcomed you now because you're a Transcendent, after leaving you as an orphan?"
Saklasi thought that question was an important turning point. Katerina who was favorable, the Emperor who was also favorable, Nina who seemed to treat him favorably, and Victoria who was silent.
'Is this a trap to catch me off guard and ask for my true feelings? But I really do think it's just great. If I become a member of the Imperial family, it feels like I'll become a real munchkin with power and honor.'
"Actually, I only found out recently that I was a Transcendent. Katerina probably didn't know from the beginning either. She wouldn't have even known I existed back in my orphanage days. I think you found out about my existence after I came to Koopong Camp. You probably thought I was at the level of a mid-tier ability user back then."
The Emperor and the princesses were listening intently to Saklasi's words. Saklasi continued his answer without any false feelings.
"So, saying that you only welcomed me now because I'm a Transcendent would be wrong. Even if that were the case, so what? I, the person involved, don't mind it at all."
Saklasi was truly sincere. When he first transferred, he was at a loss. It was good that he came in his original form and that the form had become handsome, but the reality of a water ability user Soi tribe member wasn't good. However, that was all something that could be solved if he were a member of the Imperial family and a Transcendent.
"I'll be honest. Saklasi-ssi, you are already the King Emeritus of the Minos Kingdom and a Transcendent. You have Heifer, a Seongwi ability user, under you, and you have already subdued even King 「Raigen」, who is the head of the United Kingdom. It is by no means an impossible story for you to unite several United Kingdoms around you and ascend to the throne."
Saklasi felt the Emperor, who had been listening quietly, showing interest.
"It's not something I should say in front of Your Majesty the Emperor, but I truly have no interest in such a position."
He thought it would be best to speak only with sincerity in times like this.
"If I say I'm being humble or that I'm refusing because my abilities are lacking, surely people around me will step up to help, right?"
Saklasi thought, 'Is it okay to say the next part?' but pushed forward, thinking, 'What kind of eloquence do I have to sugarcoat it? I'll just go with pure audacity!'
"To risk being rude again and tell you more of my true feelings, the position of Emperor... just hearing about it makes me tired, so I hate it."
"Hahahahahaha!"
At that moment, the Emperor's laughter rang out. It was a clear laugh that suited her cute appearance. However, as she was the Emperor, it was a tense moment, wondering what kind of emotion this laughter came from.
"Saklasi."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then, what do you think about the Imperial family accepting you as bloodline? I won't consider it rude, so speak honestly."
Saklasi thought this answer was the turning point that would determine the ending. Empty words, false feelings. He shouldn't say such things.
"I—"
At Saklasi's answer,
Katerina laughed again.
Nina gave a gentle smile,
Victoria's strong expression had also softened at some point.
Finally, even the Emperor, not with the faint smile from before,
but with a very bright smile.