Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Wanna Marry Me 'Cause Your Limbs Got Ripped Off? (10)
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Imperial Palace, in front of the carriage bound for the Black Magic Tower.
"...Pardon? What do you mean?"
Anes tilted her head.
"You're telling me to head to the Black Magic Tower alone first?"
"That's right. You got it perfectly. Go on ahead."
Zekiel's face was ashen white as he said it.
He'd thought they were just about to set off for the Black Magic Tower at last, only for some absurd disaster to come crashing down on him.
1st Princess Ether—that was the culprit.
Was her dress some kind of battle gear? The princess chased after Zekiel like a vengeful spirit, elegant as a bride all the while. He'd managed to evade her so far, but...
God forbid he actually got caught.
...Who knew what would happen then.
Of course, Anes had no idea about any of this.
"I'll wait with you instead. Let's go together."
"Anes."
"Yes?"
"...I'm not joking. Hurry up and go."
That's when someone poked their head out from inside the carriage. It was Tether, personal secretary to 2nd Princess Hedera.
"Oh? You're saying you'll be heading out later on your own?"
She, who resembled a rabbit, tilted her head.
"That'll be quite disappointing news for Her Highness the 2nd Princess, who left first. She seemed to be inwardly hoping the Inspector would arrive as soon as possible!"
Anes nodded in agreement.
"It's true. She must have impressed upon us several times to bring you back safe and sound before she departed."
"... ."
Zekiel chewed on a sunweed leaf and thought to himself.
'...That's exactly why it's a problem.'
Both Hedera and Solana had presented their own conditions right before leaving. The common thread? They'd talk again once the exchange meeting wrapped up.
But if he got snagged as Ether's husband right now, what would happen to those arrangements? It'd go straight to hell.
"Anes, you at least hurry on ahead. Who knows—Her Highness the 2nd Princess might take a liking to you."
"As if I'd ever catch her eye."
"Yeah, fair point."
"...Pardon?"
Anes's eyebrow twitched, but Zekiel was already striding away. Watching his retreating back, Tether murmured softly.
"Well, he sure is something."
"What's so remarkable about him?"
"Have you ever seen someone who doesn't care a whit, even after Her Highness openly says she wants him to hurry? It's a first for me."
Come to think of it, she had a point. Anes nodded.
"Normally, no matter what they're doing, the moment they hear Her Highness is waiting, they drop everything. They rush over in a frenzy just to see her."
"...You're right."
"His abilities must be the real deal. He draws the princesses' interest so effortlessly and treats it like it's nothing."
Anes couldn't help but tilt her head.
"...Hold on."
Tether had said "princesses"—plural.
"You mean the other princesses are interested in him too?"
"You didn't know? No fewer than three of them visited the Inspector's sickroom. That's huge."
Anes tilted her head again.
It was obvious enough that Zekiel had been a big help to 2nd Princess with the ancient Dragon Word interpretation. But why would the other two show interest?
"Do you know why they're interested?"
"Who knows? His looks? His personality?"
"... ."
At Anes's blank expression, Tether hastily backpedaled.
"Er, probably not, huh."
Tether cleared her throat with a hem-hem.
"Anyway, aren't you the one who's spent the most time by the Inspector's side, Secretary? You should know better than to ask me—you ought to know yourself!"
"...Know what?"
Anes flipped open her notepad on impulse.
[You're not my type either.]
[Out of his mind.]
[No idea what's up with him.]
"... ."
She snapped it shut without a sound.
"Anyway..."
In the end, there was only one fact she could voice.
"Praise or insult, he's not right in the head."
...Yeah. That much was crystal clear.
"...Hmph. He's completely vanished."
Ether flicked her hair back with one hand.
The herald at her side cautiously spoke up.
"Your Highness, the timing doesn't look good."
"Shut that mouth of yours."
Ether clicked her tongue.
"I get why he's hiding, though."
"Yes. With the exchange meeting just—"
"Must've been pretty embarrassing for him."
"... ."
The herald quietly closed his eyes.
'Yeah... I suppose she could see it that way.'
Truth be told, given Ether's life up to now, thinking like that was perfectly normal—expected, even.
A beautiful woman naturally drew capable men, but Ether was capable herself. She'd always seized what she wanted with her own hands.
From time immemorial, everyone who faced her had been deferential, submissive. No exceptions.
Failure, defeat, heartbreak...
Ether had lived a life worlds apart from all that.
Of course she'd think that way.
"Maybe he just doesn't like this situation?"
"A man who hates me? Impossible."
Ether chuckled lightly.
"They might fear me, but hate? Never. That's me."
The herald sighed inwardly.
'Something's off.'
She might seem brash and blindly aggressive at a glance, but the Ether he knew was always a shrewd princess who played her cards wisely.
So why was she fixating on this exact moment?
"Does the Inspector please you that much?"
"Herald."
"Yes."
"Ever seen a beast that hates the open plains?"
"... ."
The herald thought quietly.
The way she called him "Herald."
Herald, soldier, Emperor... Ether always seemed casually intimate with those around her, yet she kept a fixed distance. Lines were drawn.
But here she was likening herself to a beast and him to the plains. He couldn't even fathom the depth of her fondness for Zekiel.
"Your Highness, I still don't get it."
One thing still eluded him, though.
"If you're so interested in the Inspector, shouldn't you approach with caution and care?"
"How dense."
Bonk!
Ether thwacked the herald's head with her sword hilt.
"When's a hunt most likely to succeed?"
...When you're out hunting with the 1st Princess?
The herald nearly said it but held back.
"No idea."
Bonk!
Ether thwacked him again.
"...When they're off guard."
"You're targeting a moment when the Inspector's off guard?"
"No, he never lets his guard down."
Ether smiled faintly.
"I'm targeting the moment the other women let theirs down. Snatch him when no one expects it. Love's no different from the hunt."
"Love's like a hunt, huh..."
"Exactly. Catch him, kiss him—done."
"...Sounds like quite the expert."
One thing suddenly occurred to him.
"But... have you ever even been in love?"
Ether quietly gripped her sword.
Not the hilt—the blade pointed toward the herald.
"Nope. Why? Wanna see me try?"
A vein bulged vertically on Ether's forehead.
"...You little shit. Can't I fall for the Inspector?"
Her eyes blazed.
The ground began to rumble.
His legs went weak on their own.
"...S-Sorry. That's not what I meant."
The herald backpedaled frantically.
"Anyway, if love's like a hunt and you can claim him anytime, why bother waiting for the other women to slip?"
"Gotta hurry the success. Because of His Imperial Majesty."
Ether's face turned deadly serious.
"Herald, ever seen the Emperor look out for anyone outside his bloodline? Even once?"
"No, never."
The herald recalled events from the North.
Even when key figures begged for aid in their sickness, nothing came down. But anything involving Ether? Supplies flowed without stint. That's how His Majesty was.
The implication was crystal clear.
He ignored everyone else, no matter how vital they claimed to be. But Ether? He'd look after her.
"He grants my requests well enough—as Emperor. It's the Emperor's heart, not a father's."
"True. He prioritizes official matters."
"But what if the Inspector became my man?"
"Ah..."
The herald finally got it.
"Don't tell me—you're rushing to make him part of the imperial family, so His Majesty has no choice but to protect him...?"
"Bingo."
Ether nodded.
"This exchange meeting mission is dangerous. I can't interfere in Magic Tower affairs. I have to make sure His Majesty worries about the Inspector's safety."
"... ."
The herald clamped his mouth shut, suddenly feeling ashamed.
What Ether was doing wasn't for her own selfish desires—it was for his sake. She'd already judged the matter with utmost care.
'Who knew there was such profound intent behind it.'
The herald nodded after a moment.
"...I hope the Inspector grasps the depth of your intentions. He should repay you with love."
Bonk!
Ether thwacked him with the hilt again.
"Ow!"
He tried to dodge, so extra hard.
Bonk!
"You little shit, what kind of dense nonsense is that?"
"Hey, I meant it nicely...!"
"Impossible for him not to love me."
Ether continued.
"Who am I?"
"1st Princess of the Empire, War God, King of All Armaments..."
"Right. King of All Armaments."
King of All Armaments.
In other words, ruler over every weapon.
"...I'm a woman too, you know. I've got the weapons to make any man love only me."
"Er..."
What could that mean?
Spoiled charm or something?
...Spoiled charm? From the 1st Princess?
The herald shuddered at the chilling thought.
"Herald."
"Yes."
He answered, bandaging his head.
"Get it now? Be proactive."
"Y-Yes..."
That's when Zekiel entered their line of sight.
Ether's eyes went wide.
"Found you! After him—grab him!"
"After him—grab him~!"
The two kicked off the ground in perfect sync.