126 Episode 22: Emperor of the Red Lotus (1/2)
Carlise. Just say a fortified city. The walls are tall and give a robust impression.
The city built within the walls is a complex structure, and if you're not used to it, you're going to get lost. Probably what I envisioned the war for, but its streets have become some sort of artistic finish.
On the day of the meeting with the Emperor of the Aylene Empire, me and Uffi came so that we could prepare ourselves sparingly on that day. I take the usual Navre, Gakkun, Charne, and Priscilla. Uffi was accompanied by Raini and Ilia, as well as troops supposedly elite from the Kingsguard Knights.
There is no reason to fly to the boulder because of the number of people. Carlise arrived after resting in the city at the relay point, etc. A face-to-face greeting or something to the lord who ruled Carlise quickly set out to celebrate the day of talks.
”... you seem to be here”
Navre, who stood aside as my escort, calls out. The talks were scheduled to take place at the Lords' Palace in Carlise, where a group of escorts approached.
Compared to the kingdom of Palletia, it is quite an armament. I was able to find Falgana in a group of people walking to be protected by that escort. And next to it, a man his father's age walks loosely.
”... that's Lukeheim van Ayren, the current emperor of the Ayren Empire”
Lukeheim van Ayren, the emperor who reigns over the present empire, the emperor who is said to have taken the reign in such a way as to oust his predecessors, and to have taken on a tightening of the empire.
I heard it again beforehand, and you think it's also called the Wise Emperor? When asked how he tried to stabilize the situation in the country from the lines of aggression of the previous emperors, it seemed to him that he had come to the throne in a similar way to his father.
Falgana also had vibrant red hair, but Emperor Lukeheim is no less. Because of the red, although the brightness is inferior to that of Falgana, the color that has increased in depth for that matter makes it feel calm.
In terms of beauty, it's a good battle with Lord Grants, Yuffi's biological parent. Including the sharpness of the eye, right?
”Her Royal Highness the King”
”Yeah, let's go”
Today's outfit is well dressed with makeup. I can't wear a celestial sword on a boulder, so Gakun has me wear a sword instead.
For once, although I don't think I will use it, I have a spare Mana Blade on my thick crotch.
”... I don't even think it's time to wear a pink dress”
”Sister Wang?
”Nothing”
It's not pink, but it's a dress with white as the main body and fluffy cherry blossoms painting gradients. I can't expose my back because there is an engraving on the boulder, but it seems like there is too much decoration because of it.
Uffi, who had arrived first, turned to me as I headed to the meeting place restless in the hem of my flickering dress every time I walked. Yufi also stands up like a queen today.
Designed to pair with my dress, this one draws gradients from deep blue into the sky in reverse. Fewer decorations and an open back make it look like an adult finish compared to my dress.
Raini and Ilia refrain beside Yufi. And behind it is a Kingsguard Knights escort. Uffi nodded silently and small as he turned his gaze to me. I also snort back silently and exhale.
”Excuse me, Your Majesty. I have brought His Majesty the Emperor.”
”Go ahead.”
I can hear the lord of Carlise with the sound of a knock. Along with the sound of a knock, the lord of Carlise, somewhere of the stature and face of a military man, opens the door, and inside comes Emperor Lukeheim and Falgana, as well as the accompanying nobility and the knight of escort.
Falgana looked clear and didn't say anything just a little glance at me. After confirming that, I once again shifted my gaze to Emperor Lukeheim. Emperor Lukeheim's empty eyes were wholeheartedly directed towards Ufi.
”Are you the queen of the kingdom of Palletia, Uphilia Fez Palletia? This is the first time you've ever been able to face each other in person.”
”Welcome. Has it been since you received your congratulations on your reign? Again, this is Uphilia Fez Palettia. Thank the Spirit for this opportunity to face each other.”
Uphilia packs a distance from Emperor Lukeheim and asks for a handshake. Emperor Lukeheim also shakes each other's hands in response without difficulty.
We were prompted to take our seats at the end of each other's handshakes, so we pinched our desks and turned face to face. I went next to Uffi, Emperor Lukeheim on the front of Uffi, and Falgana sat on the front of me.
”Okay, again. It's Lukeheim van Ayren, Emperor of the Ayren Empire. I thank the Kingdom of Palletia for providing us with a venue for this meeting”
”Here's what I wanted to talk about. I sincerely hope this meeting will be fruitful.”
”Uhm. - So, is it quick?
When it came to emperors, in a somewhat crude manner, Emperor Lukeheim looked at me with a stream. Nature and spine stretch when you can stare.
”As long as it takes place, you are Anisphere Wynn Palettia. You look a lot like Queen Silphine.”
”My name is Anisphere Wynn Palettia. It is a great honor to have the opportunity to meet His Majesty the Emperor.”
”What you wanted was an explanation for the thief who was after Princess Anisphere.”
I feel like I ran nervous about the air. But nobody moves their expression.
”A citizen of the Aylene Empire recently raided Anis. The purpose is not to abduct and kill. I'd like to know what you think of this as the Aylene Empire.”
”I don't know, it's easy to say. But I also know that it will not come to pass. Besides, this raid took place because the Empire has long been concerned about the situation in the Kingdom of Palletia.”
Infidelity, infidelity, arm-wrapping, and keeping his back on his back, Emperor Lukeheim continues his words.
”The abolition of Prince Algardo Bona Palettia, who was thought to be the next king, and Queen Ufilia, who suddenly fulfilled her adoption and became the first queen in history at the same time to be named as a spiritual contractor. Then, technological innovation due to the rise of Princess Anisphere, who also gave the hands of the people the magical benefits that the Kingdom of Palettia boasts of… In just about two years the situation in the Kingdom of Palettia has changed dramatically”
”That inspired a sense of crisis in the empire,” he said?
”Oh, yeah. The armaments of the Kingdom of Palletia were ready, and the magic that until now had been monopolized by a limited privileged class of nobility began to spread in the hands of the people as well. A technology called Demonic Props that can be deployed to harvest spiritual resources more than ever before. If you think this can be directed at us, I see that something thin runs on your spine.”
With a belligerent grin, Emperor Lukeheim stares at me and Uffi as he deserves. It's like a carnivore, next door Falgana is just quietly clear.... Are you sure this emperor is friendly?
”The beginning of it all is Princess Anisphere. But Princess Anisphere's previous reputation clearly sucked. Still, a dramatic change came when a princess who was not let go by his predecessors, King Orphans, came to the surface stage. Don't you think it's perfectly natural to want that personality?
”So you think there's been a raid? Is that the general thrust of the Empire?
Ugh, and Uffi narrowed his eyes and looked to Emperor Lukeheim. I feel like the temperature in the room has dropped all at once, but maybe it's because of Uffi sitting next to me.
Not a sign, but a nobleman with an imperial side began to change his complexion to Ufi, who may actually be releasing cold air.
”It's like exposing shame, but my empire valued war kung fu above all by the thought of expanding the land of its predecessors. Even now, the tide is strongly rooted, reaching for force slightly faster. In this case, let's call it a rampage by those I couldn't get over.”
”... so?
”Well, that's not what we're rushing to conclude, young queen. From the point of view of the Aylene Empire, the changes in the situation in the Kingdom of Palletia cannot be overlooked. A glimmer of refusal even to negotiate the distribution of the magic equipment, which is the next hope, not wanting to let Princess Anisphere go, even with a positive offense. Sure, it's not here, but the same thing is repeated unless it's caused in the first place. Didn't I?”
”… I am not allowing the Empire to distribute the magic tools because, above all, we cannot distribute them to the Empire from a technical point of view, including the situation in each other's countries.”
I did not think, and I was disturbed by what the emperor said and said back. Hmm, and emperor Lukeheim spoke out intriguingly, stroking his own jaw.
”So once the technical problems are resolved, we can distribute magic artifacts to the Empire?
”Right now, that's impossible. There will be many problems that need to be solved, including each other's national power.... besides, I can't put my credit in the empire right now”
”I guess it's natural. But national traffic cannot be made without opening up that stubborn heart to each other. First of all, I would like to ask Princess Anisphere to accept the emperor's words of apology for her involvement in this scandal of our country.”
”Your Majesty!
”No, it's not. And if there's trust lost because of it, and what you want goes away, then maybe one word of apology is cheap?
It is silenced by Emperor Lukeheim, whose imperial aristocrats wanted to colour, but more intimidating than that.
... Oh, my God, this guy looks so strong on his mother. I didn't know you were an emperor who liked martial arts. But I don't feel any signs of magic. He's only a samurai, just a samurai releasing his temper to approach his mother. That fact amazes me not least.
”I also believe that if anything happens to Princess Anisphere, it is a loss to each other's country. I'm glad you survived, and I apologize on this occasion.”
”... I get an apology”
”Uhm. Then - we want to keep our relations between the two countries secret so that this does not happen again. I'd like to offer you some ideas.”
”I have a stomach proposal,” he said?