"…Huh? What do you mean by that?"
Anes tilted her head in confusion.
"You want me to depart for the Black Tower alone?"
"Yes, you understood correctly. Just do that for now."
Jaekiel's face was pale as he spoke.
Just when he thought he was finally set to depart for the Black Tower, an
unexpected disaster struck him.
The cause was the 1st Princess, Ether.
As if her dress were a battle outfit, the Princess, looking like the most
elegant bride, followed Jaekiel like a ghost. He had managed to evade her
so far.
If she caught him, well…
…He truly couldn't guarantee what would happen.
Of course, Anes was unaware of all these circumstances.
"I'd rather wait, too. Let's go together."
"Anes."
"Yes?"
"…I'm not joking. Hurry up and leave."
Then, someone peeked out from inside the carriage. It was Tether, the
exclusive secretary of the 2nd Princess, Hedera.
"Oh? Are you saying you're leaving separately?"
She, who resembled a rabbit, tilted her head in confusion.
"The 2nd Princess left first, and she seems to be quite disappointed. She
appeared to be hoping you'd arrive as soon as possible!"
Anes nodded as well.
"That's true. She left after repeatedly urging me to bring you without any
issues."
"…"
Jaekiel quietly bit into his Sun Grass and thought.
'…That's why it's even more of a problem.'
Both Hedera and Solana had presented their own conditions before leaving.
The common point was that they wanted to talk again after the exchange
meeting.
But now, what would happen if Ether caught him and he became her
husband? It would lead to the worst outcome.
"Anes, you should hurry and leave first. The 2nd Princess might
unexpectedly take a liking to you, too."
"Do you really think I'd catch her eye?"
"Hmm, that's true."
"…Excuse me?"
Anes's eyebrow twitched, but Jaekiel quickly distanced himself. Watching
his back, Tether suddenly murmured quietly.
"Anyway, it's amazing."
"What do you find amazing?"
"Have you ever seen someone who doesn't care, even though the Princess
expressed her wish for him to come quickly? At least for me, it's the first
time."
Come to think of it, it was true. Anes nodded.
"Usually, no matter what they're doing, they stop when they hear the
Princess is waiting. They rush to meet her."
"…Now that you mention it, that's true."
"His abilities must be extraordinary. He easily gains the interest of the
princesses and takes it for granted."
Anes couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion.
"…Wait a minute."
Tether had referred to 'princesses' instead of just the princess.
"Do you mean other princesses are also interested?"
"Didn't you know? Three princesses visited the Auditor's infirmary. It's a
huge deal."
Anes couldn't help but tilt her head in confusion.
It was clear that Jaekiel had greatly helped the 2nd Princess in interpreting
the ancient dragon language. But what reason did the other two have for
showing interest?
"Do you know why they might be showing interest?"
"Well, maybe his face? His personality?"
"…"
Seeing Anes's expressionless face, Tether quickly corrected herself.
"Uh, that's probably not it."
Tether cleared her throat.
"No, when you think about it, aren't you the one who's been by the
Auditor's side the longest? You should know better than me!"
"…Me?"
Anes suddenly opened her notebook.
[ You're not my type either. ]
[ Not in their right mind. ]
[ Don't know why they're like that. ]
"…"
She quickly closed the notebook silently.
"Anyway…"
In the end, there was only one fact she could state.
"Whether it's a compliment or an insult, he's not in his right mind."
…Yes, that much was certain.
"Hmm, he's completely hidden."
Ether said as she flicked her hair back.
The messenger beside her cautiously spoke up.
"Princess, the timing doesn't seem right."
"Silence."
Ether clicked her tongue and said.
"Well, I understand why he's hiding."
"Yes, for the Auditor, the exchange meeting is–"
"He must have been very shy."
"…"
The messenger quietly closed his eyes.
'Yes, that's how she would think… '
Considering Ether's life, it was normal and expected for her to think that
way.
A woman with beauty tends to attract capable men, but Ether was a woman
who had also seized power. She lived by directly grabbing what she liked.
Everyone who faced Ether from the distant past was respectful and
submissive. There were no exceptions.
Failure, defeat, heartbreak…
Ether lived a life far removed from all of that.
It was natural for her to think that way.
"Isn't it possible he's dissatisfied with the situation?"
"A man who dislikes me. Can such a man exist?"
Ether chuckled.
"He might fear me, but he can't dislike me. That's who I am."
The messenger sighed and thought.
'Something's strange.'
At first glance, she seemed reckless and blind, but the Ether he knew was
always a wise princess who made smart moves.
Why would someone like her insist on this moment?
"Do you like the Auditor that much?"
"Messenger."
"Yes."
"Have you ever seen a beast that dislikes the field?"
"…"
The messenger thought quietly.
The term 'messenger.'
Messenger, soldier, emperor… Ether seemed endlessly friendly to those
around her, yet she always kept a certain distance. There was a line.
But now, she referred to herself as a beast and Jaekiel as the field. He
couldn't even guess how immense her affection for Jaekiel was.
"Princess, I still don't understand."
However, there was still something he didn't understand.
"If you're that interested in the Auditor, shouldn't you approach him
cautiously?"
"Foolish."
Bonk!
Ether hit the messenger's head with the handle of her sword.
"When is the best time to succeed in hunting?"
…When hunting with the 1st Princess?
The messenger barely stopped himself from saying that.
"I don't know."
Bonk!
Ether hit the messenger's head again with the handle of her sword.
"…When they're off guard."
"You're targeting when the Auditor is off guard?"
"No, the Auditor is never off guard."
Ether smiled faintly.
"It means to target when other women are off guard. You have to snatch
him at a moment no one expects. Love isn't much different from hunting."
"Love is similar to hunting…"
"Yes, once you catch him, just kiss him."
"…Hmm, you're quite an expert."
Then suddenly, something came to mind.
"Have you ever been in love?"
Ether quietly grasped her sword.
Not by the hilt, but in such a way that the blade faced the messenger.
"I haven't. Why, you think I should try it?"
A vein popped out on Ether's forehead.
"…You fool, can't I love the Auditor?"
Blazing eyes.
The ground began to shake.
His knees trembled involuntarily.
"…S-Sorry. That's not what I meant."
The messenger quickly changed his words.
"Anyway, if love isn't different from hunting, there's no reason to target
when other women are off guard. You can win anytime you go for it."
"I must hurry to succeed. Because of the Emperor."
Ether's face became quite serious.
"Messenger, have you ever seen the Emperor take care of someone outside
his own bloodline?"
"Uh, no, never."
The messenger recalled the events in the north.
Even if key figures in the north fell ill, nothing was sent down, but if it was
related to Ether, supplies were sent generously. That's how the Emperor
was.
The implication was very clear.
He didn't care how important others were deemed, but he would take care
of Ether.
"It's true that the Emperor grants my requests well, but only as an emperor.
It's more the emperor's heart than a father's heart."
"Indeed, he values official matters more."
"But what if the Auditor becomes my man?"
"Oh…"
The messenger finally understood something.
"Are you trying to make the Auditor a noble as quickly as possible so that
the Emperor will take care of him personally?"
"Exactly."
Ether nodded.
"The mission of this exchange meeting is dangerous. But I can't interfere in
the matters between the towers. I must ensure the Emperor is concerned
about the Auditor's safety."
"…"
The messenger felt a sudden sense of shame and closed his mouth.
What Ether was currently doing wasn't for her own selfish desires but for
the other person. She had already judged with utmost caution.
'There was such a deep meaning behind it.'
After a moment, the messenger nodded and spoke.
"I hope the Auditor understands this deep meaning. He should repay it with
love."
Bonk!
Ether hit the messenger's head with the handle of her sword again.
"Ouch!"
Since he tried to avoid it, one more hit.
Bonk!
"You fool, what foolish words are those?"
"No, why do you hit me even when I speak nicely…?!"
"It's impossible not to love me!"
Ether continued.
"Who am I?"
"The 1st Princess of the Empire, the Goddess of War, the Queen of All
Weapons…"
"That's right. The Queen of All Weapons."
The Queen of All Weapons.
In other words, the Queen of All Weapons.
"…I am also undoubtedly a woman. I am confident that I can use a weapon
to make a man love only me."
"Hmm…"
What could that be?
Could she mean aegyo?1
…Aegyo? The 1st Princess?
The messenger shivered at the very creepy thought.
"Messenger."
"Yes."
The messenger, his head wrapped in bandages, responded.
"You understand now, right? Actively engage."
"Yes, yes…"
At that moment, Jaekiel came into the sight of the two.
Ether's eyes widened.
"There he is! Quick, catch him!"
"Go, catch him~!"
The two of them stomped the ground splendidly.