The Marquis’ Eldest Son’s Lascivious Story-Chapter 301: Alduke Conference (1) – Encounter

Emperor Zinkaen.

His former name was Zadis Managris.

The third son of the weak Managris noble family, he blazed through the land through the era of turmoil and built an aristocratic nation. He conquered the western continent through military force and quelled the flames of war.

He is a hero among heroes, etched in the history of the Eruo continent.

For some reason, this great historical hero has come to the Quordenze territory.

It’s an unprecedented surprise visit.

[Young Master! This way!]

When I arrived at Alduke Fortress, my military officer approached me hurriedly.

He wasn’t distraught, but I could tell he was confused by this unexpected turn of events.

[We’ve received the initial report. Report the current situation.]

I’ve already spoken to three senior military officers. Naturally, the reports were more informative and in-depth than those from lower-ranking officers.

I think I got the gist of the background to this incident to a certain extent.

It all started a few days ago. Emperor Zinkaen, who had been bedridden for many years, suddenly returned to life.

Apparently, he became excited after believing some strange rumors, and ended up reaching a state of transcendence.

His magic power overflowed beyond its limits, seemingly in a state of desperation. The force of this so-called superhuman mode was so great that he was able to move despite the physical limitations caused by the magic residue. It’s a story that makes you wonder, “What’s going on?”.

Well, it’s not like he got rid of the residues themselves, so I suppose it was still quite reckless.

But, there’s one big problem here.

It’s the rumor that sparked all this to begin with. Apparently, he was excited after hearing about Operation Serpent Fang and Operation Snake Jaw. Apparently, he then began saying, [I want to meet Wilk Quordenze]. The people around him should have stopped him, but instead obeyed his orders.

Anyway, after hearing these details, I immediately took action. With only my Lord-class soldiers in tow, I activated my physical strengthening magic to the fullest and marched all night to get here.

I always feel like I’m always running around in small groups. I don’t want people to think I’m easy to assassinate.

[The First Emperor is waiting inside the fortress.]

[He is?]

I had heard that Emperor Zinkaen and his entourage were waiting on the opposite bank of Alduke Fortress. It seemed the situation was constantly changing, even as we spoke.

[Weren’t they supposed to be waiting to greet us in Nonglte Territory?]

[However…]

I had assumed Emperor Zinkaen was living in the Imperial Capital. So when I first heard that he’d arrived in Quordenze territory, my blood ran cold. I assumed the entire Imperial leadership and military had descended upon us.

However, in reality, only Emperor Zinkaen and a few of his aides, guards, and attendants had moved. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

I heard that Emperor Zinkaen was nearing his death and was recuperating in his hometown of Managris. Currently, Managris territory is under the direct control of the Emperor.

The Imperial noble family of Viscount Managris was one of the noble families that suffered particularly hard damage during the Yersinia Calamity. Not only were the current and future generations lost, but the entire family, and rumor has it that even the main lineage and even the shadow family members perished.

It is an extremely tragic situation. However, the family was originally a weak noble family that was exhausted by the prolonged war. There was also the fact that there were only a few members to begin with.

In any case, with the loss of all of its nobles, the Managris territory was left without a ruler. However, unlike the Levios Kingdom, there was no problem of “who will manage this land”. In the Zinkaen Empire, the ruling Emperor had strong authority, so it was possible to respond by saying, “For the time being, make it a direct Imperial territory”. Although the number was small, it seems that there were several other lands that became direct Imperial territories for similar reasons immediately after the Yersinia Calamity.

That said, the Managris territory is the only one that remains under direct control to this day, with some families bringing back relatives who had left to become brides or grooms and reviving their families, others ceding their lands to obey Imperial nobles, or quietly absorbing them into neighboring Imperial families.

It is said that the reason the Managris territory remains under direct control is simply because they were unable to handle the situation. It is not because they are reserving special treatment.

From the first, second, and current Emperor, the Managris family has been basically treated as “one of the Imperial noble families.” Officially, they receive no special treatment as the family of the First Emperor Zinkaen. Within the Empire, they are treated as just an ordinary Imperial Viscount family.

The Zinkaen Empire is a system in which the central government has strong authority, so it is better to have fewer troublesome noble families interfering with the Emperor and the Imperial family. Successive Emperors have dealt with the Managris family appropriately to prevent them from becoming arrogant. Considering that the public’s current perception of the Managris family is that of “one of the Imperial noble families,” this initiative can be considered a success.

For now, the Managris territory is under the direct control of the Emperor. To be more precise, it should be called the Old Managris territory, but even if Emperor Zinkaen moves there, it will officially be considered a move within his own territory, so there is no problem.

However, this is the reason why the recent incident occurred.

Emperor Zinkaen, revived in a transcendent state, traveled from the Old Managris territory to the Quordenze territory by the shortest route. He didn’t make a detour to the Imperial Capital. He passed through the area known as the Kybor I Corridor at the foot of the Kyborl Mountains, where the Northern Imperial nobles are concentrated.

At this time, he didn’t even ask the current Emperor, Ferolt, or any of the higher-ups of the Empire, “Can I go to the Quordenze territory?”. He acted swiftly, making a snap decision, as if it was his best option.

The Imperial Capital must be in an uproar right now. It’s probably best to think of it as everything we’d built up through aristocratic diplomacy up to that point being completely destroyed.

And it’s now certain that the Quordenze family will be drawn into this unprecedented incident. Now that the cause itself has arrived, there’s no escape. What a disaster.

[The Old Master arrived here a while ago…]

A military officer arrived to inform me of Emperor Zinkaen’s arrival, or rather, his visit. Similar news was also making its way to my father and grandfather.

Millymute City, where my father currently stayed, is far away, but Reisleif Castle, where my grandfather is stationed at, is close. It seems my grandfather was the first to arrive at Alduke Fortress.

[I see. I’m sure Grandfather wants to greet him.]

Whether welcoming or rejecting him, the Quordenze side would need to appoint the right person to protect their reputation. The head of another family suddenly arrived without any prior arrangements, and they couldn’t welcome him into their territory with just knights and military officers. If they did something like that, the Quordenze family would be completely looked down upon by those around them.

If my grandfather, as the previous head of the Quordenze family, stepped forward, that issue of prestige would be resolved. It would be resolved, but…I can’t help but feel like it would create another problem. I wanted my father, not my grandfather, to be here.

[I’m sorry to bother you when you’re tired, Young Master…]

Unfortunately, however, the city of Othelloria where my father is currently staying is far away.

It’s unclear whether the news has reached him, and even if it has, it’s unrealistic for my father to come here in person right now. It would be difficult to offer appropriate advice. I have no choice but to persevere.

[I understand. I’ll see them right away.]

There was a reason why I rushed over here in a super-fast train.

What I fear most at the moment is Emperor Zinkaen dying. Now that he’s in Quordenze territory, it’s something that I absolutely want to avoid.

He’s an old man who’s near death to begin with. There’s no telling what might cause him to suddenly die.

Well, it does seem like a possible scenario.

I don’t know what Emperor Zinkaen was thinking, but if he got excited when he heard about Operation Fang and Operation Jaw, thinking, “Whoa! This guy can do it! I’m entrusting my dream of ending the era of turmoil to him!”, I’m sure I’d disappoint him.

I honestly respect his achievement of standing on the front lines of chaos, blazing a trail where none existed, and bringing peace to the western continent, but I have no desire to be like that myself. No matter how you look at it, I’d be happier shaking my hips in bed than swinging my sword on the battlefield.

But, what would happen if I were to express these feelings directly? Wouldn’t Emperor Zinkaen become depressed and lose his composure, his transcendent state breaking, and he burn out? It was a frightening scenario, especially considering how likely it was.

However, I had no intention of flattering him with, “Let’s go, conquer the continent!” or something like that. A big mouth is the source of trouble, so I wouldn’t let him commit to anything unnecessary.

In any case, it would be best to get this over with quickly, so as not to let him linger in my house too long. My officers seemed to understand the nuances of this matter.

[They’re currently having a conversation in the main room, so I’ll take you there.]

[…Hm. A conversation with the First Emperor, huh?]

The visit of Emperor Zinkaen was a completely unexpected event for the Quordenze family. Part of me hoped they’d spare me.

However, it wasn’t all negative.

Emperor Zinkaen had completely disappeared from the political stage ever since the effects of the residual magic power began to worsen. It may be inappropriate, but in the Nobles circles, he’s treated as if he’s already half-dead. To me, he’s now a historical figure. If it weren’t for this incident, we would probably never have spoken to each other.

Perhaps because of this, I felt a great deal of anxiety and tension, but at the same time, I was excited. Whatever the outcome, it would undoubtedly be a rare experience. Perhaps it would be better to just accept it and enjoy it.

After getting ready, I followed the officer’s lead into the room.

[Wilk, we’ve been waiting for you.]

Inside the room, three…no, four Highlords were waiting.

A large, nearly square table was placed in the center of the room, and everyone was seated around it. It kind of ruins the mood, but it might be easier to imagine if I described it as being arranged like I was the only one who went to the bathroom in the middle of a game of mahjong and just came back. If my grandfather, sitting at the farthest seat, represented the East family, then Count Nonglte represented the North family, and a large, unfamiliar old man represented the South family, and hidden in their shadows was a young girl.

No one was sitting in the West family’s seat. I think my seat is here.

First, I greet my grandfather, who was acting as the host, and then casually greet Count Nonglte, a familiar face.

[Count Nonglte, it’s been a while.]

Seeing a familiar face didn’t exactly bring me relief…

[Indeed. It has been a while since Nambonan.]

Count Nonglte’s attitude was almost uncomfortably calm, almost to the point of being unsettling. Perhaps I should say he was completely neutral. I felt like I was facing a Noh mask.

When we met in Nambonan City, he’d made statements that seemed to test me and put pressure on me like a Noble would do to each other, but this time there was no sign of that. Even the conversation after the greeting was kept to a bare minimum.

This behavior, completely different from the usual Nobles diplomacy, sent chills down my spine.

The Count’s senses were on edge, ready to act quickly no matter what happened, and to leave no openings for anyone to exploit.

Rather than taking action to gain an advantageous diplomatic position, they are preparing to avoid being forced into a disadvantageous diplomatic position. This is evident from the fact that the next head of the family, Canaan Nonglte, is not present. There is absolutely no time to spare for inexperienced people.

Their silence is, in fact, frightening. Is this the way of life of a Noble who had desperately survived a time of war?

Emperor Zinkaen’s actions seem to have sent the Count’s alert meter skyrocketing. It would be better to think of the person sitting before me as Count Nonglte, a noble of the Zinkaen Empire, but as Tarzast Nonglte, a Noble that has survived the era of turmoil.

I consciously steeled myself.

The three elderly nobles in this large room are fierce survivors of a time when the western continent was in a hellish state. Any careless words or actions from here on could be fatal. This was no time to be excited about meeting a great historical figure or think about such carefree thoughts.

[Wilk, come over here.]

Meanwhile, my grandfather seemed to be in an unusually good mood. He beckoned me, saying he wanted to introduce me.

There was no reason to refuse, so I approached him immediately.

[Anija, may I?] (TL Note: 兄者: Anija/Big brother)

…Anija, huh?

Grandfather began a brief introduction to the old man sitting on the southern side of the table. I added a greeting to his words, as if to say we were meeting for the first time.

The old man, who had been watching me in silence, nodded slightly and spoke quietly.

[I am Zinkaen, the founder of the Empire.]

…The old man had an incredible presence.

I wondered how robust he must have been in his youth; even in his old age, his sturdy physique was visible even through his clothes. Perhaps it was due to his vitality as a Highlord, but it was hard to believe that he had been a bedridden old man just a few days ago.

More than anything, I couldn’t help but notice the powerful magic power coursing through his entire body. It might be something unique to a transcendent state, but there was a sparkle not found in normal magic power. It felt like I was being illuminated by a mysterious, invisible light. It made me dizzy, but I found myself reflexively closing my eyes.

However, I didn’t find anything unpleasant about the magic power surging out of the old man. It was powerful, generous, and overflowing with vitality. It was the kind of magic power that made you want to bathe in it. It was like hearing the corridor might shout, “Long live the Empire! Long live the First Emperor! Please pass through our territory!”…Yeah, I think that’s probably what happened. If I let my guard down, I’d probably end up bowing my head too.

On the other hand, this magic power also had a fleeting quality to it. It was frankly abnormal that such an absurd state had continued for several days. It made me wonder if he was shortening his remaining lifespan just to live in the present. They say a candle flame shines brighter than ever before it goes out…but there’s no point in thinking about it now.

Now, how should I address Emperor Zinkaen in return?

The safest option would be to call him “Emperor Zinkaen”. Using the humble address used by Imperial nobles wouldn’t be appropriate. After all, the Quordenze family is currently a noble family of the Kingdom of Levios. They continue to refer to King Levios as “King Levios.”

But if we would be talking to the Emperor of Levios, an organization that proclaims equality among nobles, it’s best to refrain from saying or doing anything that might contradict that.

I added one more thing to the end of my greeting.

[May I follow my grandfather’s example and call you great-uncle here?]

Calling him Emperor Zinkaen is certainly safe, but I decided to avoid it as it would come across as distant from the start. Here, I’ll use the relationship between my grandfather and Emperor Zinkaen to emphasize my personal and public aspects.

By bringing things private, maybe the atmosphere will be more tolerable for a few slip-ups. I’ll take every precaution I can.

[Great Uncle, you say…?]

Emperor Zinkaen peered intently into my face, as if he’d found something interesting.

[You’ve dressed up a little, but… I see, you keep your head down. Those cheeky, nostalgic eyes.]

[You’re Cassia’s grandson indeed], he muttered softly, and Emperor Zinkaen smiled fearlessly.

This old man is clearly aware of the power of his transcendent magic powers.

Judging from what he just said, he was deliberately pressuring me to call him “Your Majesty” right from the start. It was one of his tests against Wilk Quordenze. If I’d fallen for it, our positions in this conversation would have been decided.

[Let me introduce myself again. I’m… No, since I’m your great-uncle, there’s no need to be too formal. I’m Zinkaen, Galfis’s older brother.]

Although he proudly calls himself his brother, Emperor Zinkaen is the third and youngest son of the Managris family. He’s not related to my grandfather by blood.

The two of them are what’s known as brothers-in-arms…apparently. Though they aren’t related by blood, they have sworn to live as brothers…apparently.

Apparently, apparently. Why can’t I, a close relative, say so with certainty? It’s because I haven’t heard the details. My knowledge is only as good as that of the nobles of the Kingdom.

Talks about the Empire are extremely difficult to bring up within the Quordenze family. This is largely due to the fact that Emperor Zinkaen was bedridden due to residual magic powers.

It’s a story that you sometimes hear on Earth, but when a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, becomes seriously ill, some people gradually stop visiting them. It might be more accurate to say that they are no longer able to visit. Appalled by the condition worsening beyond its limits, seemingly in a state of desperation. The force of this so-called superhu Perhaps because they know them so well when they were healthy, they cannot accept their appearance getting weaker with each passing day, and as a result, they don’t have the energy to go to the hospital.

Similar emotions are also present among the people living on the continent of Eruo. In fact, a certain belief in “power” is even more pronounced in some places since life expectancy is shorter.

My grandfather rarely spoke about Emperor Zinkaen. I suspect my grandmother didn’t say much either. Having witnessed Emperor Zinkaen’s bravery up close more than anyone, the Emperor’s current state, weakened by the residual magic power, must have seemed unbearable to them. In my grandfather’s case, he fought on the front lines alongside Emperor Zinkaen. For him, it is painfully painful to see a parent or sibling who has become so helpless that they can only wait for death.

And today, my grandmother’s influence remains strong in the Quordenze family. She tore down the household, which had been in chaos during the war, and built a new system. During this time, she purged the troublesome collateral relatives, knights, and government officials, and promoted people who aligned with my grandmother’s ideas. As a result, an untouchable atmosphere regarding Emperor Zinkaen spread throughout the family.

Well, this isn’t just limited to our family, but I guess it’s similar among the Imperial nobility as well.

On Earth, it would be impossible for an extremely important figure like the founding father to completely leave the world of politics, even if he was ill. However, Emperor Zinkaen left the stage as if he’d never been there in the first place.

Ultimately, the Imperial nobility shunned the ailing Emperor.

They say Emperor Zinkaen’s heroic tales are popular within the Empire, but thinking about it like this, it seems rather grotesque. It’s as if they’re desperately praising the hero in a story in order to divert their eyes from something they don’t want to see.

Perhaps it’s because I’m Earthling at heart that I feel the people of Eruo put extreme values on power, or perhaps having a twisted view is good?

[I’ve been introduced to your grandson. I’ll introduce my own grandchild as well.]

Emperor Zinkaen said this to my grandfather, then turned his attention to the girl standing behind him.

The girl looked up at Emperor Zinkaen anxiously and began her self-introduction in a halting tone.

[I’m Siltrinn, the daughter of my mother, Eris, and my father, Austin Managris.]

Her large, round eyes, at odds with her serious expression, were striking. It was a deep purple that drew the eye in.

Many people from the Eruo continent have curly hair, but this girl’s hair seemed to be particularly curly. Her long, bright blonde hair spread out in wavy curves, making it appear fluffy.

Her blonde hair and purple eyes matched those of Emperor Zinkaen. Standing next to each other, one can almost sense their blood ties.

Regarding her prior information, she is about the same age as Fanny, but at first glance she looks younger. This may be due to her stature or atmosphere. Or maybe Fanny is unusually mature? Well, she does look unusually mature. Her appearance, Fanny has strict etiquette. Also, because it’s winter and she’s wearing a thick dress with a lot of fabric covering, it’s difficult to tell how much her body has matured.

However, I get the impression that she will grow into quite a beautiful young woman in the future. I’d like to tame her now and secure a position like a cool older brother to my acquaintances. That is, if I can avoid any troublesome ties.

This girl is Princess Siltrinn, a collateral relative of the Imperial family… a Princess who was sent out by order of Emperor Ferolt to revive the Managris family, whose Highlords were wiped out in the Yersinia Calamity.

However, as I thought before, this is also a truly mysterious move. The Imperial family doesn’t have an excess of main lineages, so it would be much more useful to leave it to the side line and have them produce lots of children. There’s no point in reviving the Managris family.

[It’s an honor to meet the next generation of Quordenze.]

She was nervous, but her words didn’t seem to be a lie. She didn’t seem to have any bad impressions of Quordenze.

The reason why Siltrinn was accompanying Emperor Zinkaen and his entourage is related to the fact that she happened to be visiting the former Managris territory at the time of Emperor Zinkaen’s resurrection. Or rather, it seems that this young lady was the one who brought up the topic of me during that inspection. In a way, she’s the root of all evil.

And with almost all human resources being allocated to Emperor Zinkaen’s great migration, Siltrinn was unable to move away. An unaccompanied young noblewoman like her could not return home alone. That’s why she’d come along all the way here.

[Grandchild…?]

It was an intriguing introduction. It could easily be explained that he was just referring to her as the grandchild, but that’s the end of it.

[She is also my grandchildren.]

Emperor Zinkaen briefly added, but the family tree around here is quite complicated.

When the Empire was founded, the Managris family was on the verge of extinction. While the Managris family always seems to be on the brink of extinction, it seems that at this time, only a few of the ancestral family remained.

In order to rebuild his family, Emperor Zinkaen took the bold step of assuming the role of head of the Managris family.

It’s said that during this time, he conceived two sons with the Highlord daughter of the Managris family’s Shadow house. The obstacles posed by the residual magic energy were likely not yet that severe.

Perhaps due to the Shadow house’s involvement, the daughter with whom he was engaged is unknown to the public. Having the achievement of having a romantic relationship with the First Emperor could easily have increased her influence. For this reason, it is commonly believed that her existence was kept secret by Emperor Zinkaen and Nex Kamphose, who was forced into the role of the Chief Knight.

However, there are also some sordid rumors. It is the so-called bedside disgrace. Apparently, he would collect the semen he had ejaculated into his wife and collected some of it by using a pipette-like tool. Rumor has it that the two boys born did not get along well. This is because there were multiple patriarchal daughters who shared the pipette, and the older and younger brothers had different mothers, or perhaps the fact that their mother never appeared in public was actually a source of disgrace…but well, never mind such vulgar stories.

Of the two boys born to the Managris family, the eldest became the head of the Managris family, but the second was shipped off to marry the daughter of a collateral relative of the Imperial family. His name was Austin Managris, and he was Siltrinn’s father.

Meanwhile, Emperor Zinkaen and his wife had a legitimate heir, Emperor Arginis.

Emperor Arginis had a legal wife, Asliza Spierzeig, but due to an innate sexual preference for bloodlines, he also had a second wife, Fair Lucarcea.

The daughter born to Fair Lucarcea and Emperor Arginis married a man from the Managris family. In order to increase the number of Highlords of the Imperial family, they needed a convenient husband, or rather a suitable main character. This daughter’s name was Eris, and she was Siltrinn’s mother.

In essence, Siltrinn is indeed the grandchild of both Emperor Zinkaen and Emperor Arginis. It’s a complicated and bizarre arrangement, but it’s not all that unusual in nobles’ circles.

[I am truly honored to be introduced as the grandchild of His Majesty the First Emperor.]

Compared to the awkward greeting, this remark sounded very natural. She seemed to genuinely adore Emperor Zinkaen, and her smile was heartwarming to watch.

However, I couldn’t help but feel that there was a political motive behind this introduction.

Probably, few nobles would immediately grasp the fact that Siltrinn is Emperor Zinkaen’s granddaughter. I only understood it after a military officer explained it to me on my way here. They probably only knew her as a “collateral relative of the Lucarcea line, grandchild of Emperor Arginis”. Her lineage via the Managris family is less noticeable, or at least less visible.

Despite this, Emperor Zinkaen introduced Siltrinn as his grandchild, not his great-grandchild. Grandchildren are closer than great-grandchildren. It almost seemed like he was trying to show that she was close to him.

Though maybe I’m just overthinking it.

[Thank you for the kind words. My name is Wilk Quordenze.]

I’d love to chat up a cute girl, but she’s still the daughter of a collateral relative. As the next head of the Quordenze family, she’s clearly of a lower rank. While the fact that we share great-uncle and grandfather heightened the sense of privacy, the official atmosphere still remained. This wasn’t a ball where a little laxity was acceptable. I couldn’t treat her as an equal.

If I were an Imperial noble, I might be expected to be a little more considerate of a collateral relative of the Imperial family, but I’m currently a noble of the Levios Kingdom. I can’t let that distinction slide. Showing even a passing consideration here might mean I’d be treated like an Imperial noble.

Perhaps feeling my slightly difficult to approach, Siltrinn fidgeted nervously. I wasn’t trying to be mean, but I still felt a little sorry for her.

[…I hope this will be a good encounter.]

With that, I tried to bring our mini-chat session to an end.

Then, as if he’d been waiting for those words, Emperor Zinkaen spoke up.

[It’s certainly a strange coincidence that we’ve met in a place like this. I want to make this a good one.]

With that one word, the atmosphere in the room changed completely. At the same time, I felt a pressure that made my skin tingle.

Emperor Zinkaen was looking my way. No, he was staring intently. His eyes were intent on seeing my reaction, testing me, and, if he found an opportunity, forcing me to submit.

The meaning of what he’d just said was clear. And there was only one answer to that.

But confronting him with that answer took courage. In a sense, that would be like picking a fight with the Zinkaen Empire itself.

However, there was no option to run away. It would be more useful to the Quordenze family if they seriously invaded and demanded a commitment.

[Yes, indeed….Now that I think about it, I do have one regret. To ensure a good encounter, we should have given them a good welcome first. I regret leaving everything to my grandfather. I would like to once again welcome my great-uncle as the next head of the Quordenze family…]

To overcome the pressure of being in the presence of the First Emperor, to motivate myself, I deliberately forced a smile.

[Welcome to Quordenze.]

Until recently, the area where Alduke Fortress is located was the territory of the eastern noble family of the Empire. The Quordenze family seized it in war.

From the perspective of the Zinkaen Empire’s First Emperor, it was strange to be greeted by the Quordenze family, a noble family that betrayed the Empire, in a venue like this. His earlier remark may mean something like, “Why is this place called Quordenze territory? Ahhh? Come on, say something!”.

As the next head of the Quordenze family, I therefore state clearly that this is already Quordenze territory. If I back down, I’ll lose. I completely eliminate any possibility that there is any discrepancy between my father and me.

Besides, it’s no use saying, “N-no, well, um, uh, this isn’t true, hehe…” now. Most of the nobles in the eastern Empire were turned to ashes by my grandfather, so there’s no way to give them back.

…Yeah, thinking about it, my grandfather killed way too many nobles. Emperor Zinkaen killed even more nobles, so his sense of it is probably completely messed up. What a terrifying brother-in-arms he is.

[Wilk… Hey, do you understand the meaning of those words?]

I feel like my magic power in my transcendent state is shining brighter. The immense pressure was making it hard to breathe, but I still didn’t look away.

[Indeed I do, great-uncle…]

Him calling me Wilk wasn’t because of the hierarchical relationship between Emperor and noble. Just as my grandfather called me Wilk, it was natural for my great-uncle to call me that. Therefore, I viewed what he just said as merely an extension of our pseudo-play-of-kinship… I replied that this was how I interpreted our current exchange.

The room was shrouded in silence as Emperor Zinkaen and I glared at each other.

I wished someone would say something, but I simply endured. I could feel my energy slowly sapping as I continued to stand there.

[Sigh… Anija, you shouldn’t do things that don’t suit you. You’ve come here to talk, haven’t you?]

Grandfather spoke in an exasperated tone. His loud sigh seemed to cause the frozen air to move.

[Hahaha! That’s right. Maybe I’ve been bedridden for so long that I’ve forgotten myself.]

I wasn’t sure how to respond, wondering whether I should laugh at the patient’s self-deprecating joke.

In any case, it seemed I had finally overcome the trial imposed by Emperor Zinkaen.

[Thank you for welcoming me in Quordenze.]

[It’s an honor to welcome you.]

I was also able to get a commitment from him. While it wasn’t an official statement, the First Emperor had acknowledged the era that the area where Alduke Fortress is located belongs to Quordenze territory. I’d like to consider it a worthwhile achievement.

[Galfis, isn’t your grandson much smarter than I’d heard? I never thought he’d bite me like this. He’s also strong-willed.]

[Whose grandson do you think he is?]

[That’s exactly what I’ve been thinking. It’s like watching Cassia but as a boy… She was also a competitive and intelligent girl.]

My grandfather smirked, while Emperor Zinkaen looked nostalgic as they reminisced.

Looking at them like this, it’s hard to believe that one was the First Emperor of the Zinkaen Empire, and the other was a fierce warrior nicknamed the Red Demon of the Empire. They just seemed like two old men who are close friends.

It would have been fine if he’d simply come to reminisce with his younger brother before his death.

[I look forward to the future. I’m glad to hear that you’re raising a reliable grandson.]

[…Thank you.]

Emperor Zinkaen’s words were directed at me, not my grandfather, so I thanked him for the time being.

[Unfortunately, my granddaughter isn’t even close to yours in terms of reliability… but don’t you think she has a promising future? She may still be a bud, but I can see her blossoming into a lovely flower.]

No, I can’t say I don’t think so.

In fact, Siltrinn’s future looks promising. I even get the feeling she’ll be unbeatable in the Empire’s high society as a laid-back Princess.

[That’s true. I’m sure she’ll have no trouble finding a husband.]

Either way, I have to say it’s a cute development. Just to be safe, I decided to take precautions to avoid any strange developments. As I’m the next head of the Quordenze family, I can’t marry Siltrinn, who plans to revive the Managris family.

However, it seems my answer was acceptable to Emperor Zinkaen. Speaking with a gentlemanly tone, he offered a shocking proposal.

[Wilk, will you take Siltrinn as your bride?]