Chapter 66
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Wanna Marry Me Since My Limbs Got Torn Off? (6)
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Inside the temple of the Imperial Palace, sickroom.
"So..."
Zekiel rubbed his chin.
"...the three of you each have a proposal for me?"
The three messengers nodded in unison.
'Things are working out better than I imagined.'
He could tell just from their expressions. They had come to deliver proposals to Zekiel that were far from bad news—in fact, things seemed to have gone exceptionally well for them.
Come to think of it, it made perfect sense.
He had recently helped Hedera with her ancient Dragon Word interpretations, won fairly against Ether but suffered an injustice, and even completed the portrait the Emperor had wanted.
...Looking back, he wondered how he'd pulled it all off.
Right then, the messenger from the 1st Princess spoke up.
"I will now relay the words of the 1st Princess on her behalf. Please understand that this is because of the three-day approach ban imposed after you awoke."
"Approach ban?"
He glanced at Anes with a questioning look, but she just shook her head silently, equally puzzled.
The 1st Princess's messenger nodded.
"Yes. The presence of the Princesses is not something to be taken lightly, so this temporary measure was put in place out of concern for its potential impact on you, the patient."
Anes tilted her head.
"In other words, it means blocking the Princesses from approaching?"
"That's correct."
"...?"
Anes looked utterly baffled. An approach ban on the Princesses essentially meant they had wanted to meet Zekiel, right?
...Why on earth?
What in the world had happened during his vacation?
"I will now relay the 1st Princess's words. Outsiders, please step out for a moment."
Soon, everyone else left the room, leaving just the two of them.
The 1st Princess's messenger unrolled a scroll fully.
"Everything I say from now on should be taken as the exact words of the 1st Princess."
"Got it."
"First, let me apologize."
And so the relay began.
"I deeply regret my great oversight in the accident during this match. I never imagined my opponent would be you, Teacher."
"Hm."
"Of course, these are mere words, relayed through another's mouth at that. I know full well this alone cannot absolve me. I promise to do my utmost in every way beyond just this apology."
The messenger mimicked Ether's speech patterns quite well.
"First, I admit complete defeat in the match. As the very participant, I acknowledge you as the clear victor, Teacher."
Zekiel nodded quietly.
"The elixir promised beforehand was already used in your treatment, but I have no intention of using that as an excuse to call it done. I'll procure elixirs of equal value and deliver them once more."
"Hm?"
This was an enormous gain.
Zekiel was on borrowed time. Every elixir was precious. In the end, he'd receive double the originally promised amount—pure profit.
"And if you wish, I offer even my body."
"...?"
Zekiel furrowed his brow.
"If mere flesh can absolve me, I'll give it gladly. Even if you demand my head, I'll sever it myself."
The 1st Princess's messenger finished speaking and quietly thought to himself.
'Hook, line, and sinker.'
Unbelievably generous terms.
Not just anything, but the life of the 1st Princess herself—the hope and pillar of the Empire. Offering that up...
It was practically handing over the future of the continent. He'd have to accept for sure.
But.
'Huh?'
Peeking at Zekiel's reaction, the messenger was puzzled.
A completely different expression from what he'd expected. That's what Zekiel wore.
"..."
Zekiel quietly chewed on some Sunweed.
"Has the 1st Princess's messenger said all he came to say?"
"...Pardon?"
"No, just checking if you're done."
"Uh... I have relayed everything, but..."
"Good."
Whoosh—
Zekiel exhaled smoke and nodded.
"Next."
The messenger's face paled.
After receiving Hedera's orders, Teder had vowed to himself.
'I must succeed!'
The mission was tough, but difficulty didn't matter.
Even after causing a stir with the treasure vault incident, Hedera had embraced him with her boundless magnanimity. She even expanded his staff and looked after his welfare.
Thus, Teder had to deliver.
Make Zekiel want the Magic Tower—commit to it for life!
But...
Well, but...
'Am I doing this right?'
Teder tilted his head.
"Teder, I didn't ask for this kind of treatment."
"N-No, sir! I'm doing this because I want to!"
Teder patted Zekiel's shoulders even more vigorously.
"Never been treated like this in my life."
"..."
Was this making a good impression?
No, even if it was, was this the way?
"Here, try some of this too."
Meanwhile, Priest Tom, dispatched by the 3rd Princess, had been nonstop peeling fruits and piling them on the bedside table.
Not just peeling them, either.
Each one was carved with such artistry—truly works of craftsmanship so exquisite it was almost a shame to eat them—that he presented them to Zekiel with utmost care.
"How's the taste?"
"Not bad."
"You might have noticed, but I carved them in the likeness of the Sun God statue. If you could just remember the temple..."
Crunch!
Before Tom could finish, Zekiel snapped off and chewed the Sun God's head. Of all parts...
No, was it his fault for carving it that way in the first place...?
"Hm? Did you say something?"
"No. Nothing at all."
Zekiel continued munching the fruit leisurely afterward.
"Quite the rare luxury. Not bad at all."
Meanwhile, in one corner of the sickroom, someone was quietly observing: Anes.
She had been inwardly anxious for a while now.
Zekiel, catching his secretary's eye, said,
"Anes, want some too?"
"..."
Anes remained expressionless, but inwardly she was flabbergasted.
She quietly jotted something in her notebook.
[Incomprehensible.]
Was it really okay for Zekiel to act like this?
Of course, it wasn't not okay.
This situation wasn't forced by Zekiel; the messengers were offering their goodwill of their own accord.
But still...
Anes blinked involuntarily.
'He looks too comfortable. It suits him too well.'
She suddenly recalled the past. The day she first met Zekiel in that backwater village—he'd been a total slacker, still hungover.
Fine, that explained why it suited him.
...But the comfort?
The messengers chattered breathlessly.
"The 1st Princess will spare no support for the North. So please, just consider it positively once—"
"The temple is always open. It will serve as your home whenever you visit."
"I-Inspector! Heard about the Magic Tower raising your salary? And that's not all—"
Yeah, what she couldn't wrap her head around was this scene.
'...Everyone here is a big deal, one and all.'
Direct secretaries or messengers to the Princesses—normals would prostrate just at the sight of them. And he was dealing with them so casually?
Were their offers trivial?
No, absolutely not.
"The North has beautiful scenery. Care to sightsee? We'll cover all expenses..."
"I'll assign you Inquisitors."
"...Our Magic Tower Lord is quite beautiful, you know?"
Every proposal was monumental.
Thus, Anes was left purely puzzled. Her curious hand scribbled furiously.
[Talent?]
Was Zekiel an exceptional figure?
Yes, he was exceptional. But she couldn't fathom him achieving enough for three Princesses to covet him like this—what was the reason?
[Looks?]
[Personality?]
"..."
Scribble—!
[■■?]
[■■?]
She blacked out the writing entirely.
Anyway, there was clearly something she didn't know.
Even now, Anes agonized busily, while Zekiel lounged in utter comfort.
In the end, Anes sent a mental message.
─Inspector.
Whoosh...
The Inspector just exhaled Sunweed smoke.
─Inspector.
─What.
His response was so nonchalant.
Anes sent another mental message, even breaking into a cold sweat.
─In case you don't realize, I'll explain. Everyone visiting this sickroom is nobility. Let me go through them one by one carefully...
─I know. How could I not?
─Pardon?
Anes's mind grew even more tangled.
Then why stay so casual when he knew full well?
─The proposals coming my way just aren't tempting. For now, I need to focus on Magic Tower work.
─Huh...?
Were they that incorruptible? That upright?
Anes cleared her throat a few times before sending another mental message.
─At least show minimal courtesy, then. Even if you're refusing, you never know when you'll run into them. For your own sake later.
─There's the exchange meeting tomorrow anyway.
─Yes.
─Let me rest fully today, at least.
"..."
How could she scold a patient fresh from coma who wanted rest? Anes was human too—she couldn't do that. The problem was their VIP status!
In the end, Anes addressed the messengers.
"Excuse me, Teder, exclusive secretary to the 2nd Princess."
"Yes, yes! What is it?"
"Her Highness won't visit the sickroom personally, I assume?"
"Ahem, even if she does, it'll be in three days."
"...I see."
The Magic Tower exchange meeting had felt like nothing but trouble before, but now Anes welcomed it.
She jotted down quickly.
[Depart at dawn as soon as possible.]
Zekiel's condition seemed better than expected, so leaving ASAP was best.
If the Princesses saw this...
"..."
At least in Anes's view, it would be a disaster.
Which Princess would be pleased seeing her personally selected messenger suffer like this?
But.
Right then.
Bang!
The sickroom door flew open as a priest entered.
He took one look inside and flinched.
"...?"
It was only natural. What sickroom would have a scene like this? Probably the only one.
"Zekiel, how's your body feeling?"
"Eh, think I need to rest fully today."
"The Princesses have arrived for a visit."
A brief silence.
Everyone froze as if time had stopped.
"...?"
Zekiel's expression asked why the Princesses were here.
"They confirmed the Black Tower exchange tomorrow and shortened the three-day ban to one, wanting to meet you early. You should prepare."
"..."
"Ah, have you made your decision?"
"Decision? What decision?"
"I'm just a lowly priest. Of course I don't know the details. But the Princesses came to hear that decision... Well, you'll see when you meet them."
"..."
Tension filled the sickroom.
Anes glanced sideways subtly.
Zekiel must have a plan, right?
He was acting this way because he had a plan, no?
"...?"
However.
"...!"
Anes's eyes widened soon after.
Zekiel had frozen like a statue.