~Chapter 102~
Issian narrowed his eyes.
‘They didn’t actually bring that as Lady Delphina’s gift, right?’
No matter how little the northern knights knew about women, he believed they wouldn’t do something that ridiculous.
Before Issian could speak, Elcayan opened his mouth first.
“Let’s hang it on the northern fortress wall.”
He looked a bit gloomy.
And so, the Hydra’s head was hung on the wall of the North. The people in the capital whispered as they looked at the huge picture of the Hydra in the newspaper.
“Did the North really subjugate the Monster Forest?”
“They said they did. Just look at that terrifying head. I feel like I’ll faint just from seeing it.”
Delphina looked at Elcayan with a puzzled face. It was because his expression seemed complicated as he listened to the whispers around them.
<Elcayan>
He is troubled about his own talent.
‘Troubled about talent?’
That was strange. Delphina had never seen anyone as talented as Elcayan.
‘Looks, swordsmanship, intelligence—he’s perfect in everything.’
So what could possibly be lacking in him?
<Romance… God Frad can’t continue speaking and only clears his throat. To protect Elcayan, he decides to stay silent.>
It was incomprehensible. Delphina only shrugged her shoulders.
“Elcayan, don’t you feel frustrated?”
“I’m fine.”
They were in the capital to attend the nobles’ meeting.
“That’s good then…”
Delphina looked at Elcayan. He was hiding his face with a mask and covering himself in a black robe, worried that people might recognize him.
‘So this is what the life of a celebrity is like.’
At first, Delphina didn’t understand what Issian meant when he said he would do anything to sell chicken.
‘To think he would even use Elcayan’s face…’
Now, Elcayan was the promotional model for Northern Chicken, and his popularity across the Empire was overwhelming.
‘I didn’t realize it was this much.’
Delphina looked around. She already knew Northern Chicken was a huge success, with plans for more branches.
‘The new menu really is selling well.’
She watched people on the street holding the same cups in their hands.
“What’s the name of that drink?”
“They say it’s called Northern Soda. They say it’s made using a special fruit only from the North, but I’m not sure.”
Delphina had succeeded in recreating soda using the system. She used the Roa fruit, a fruit unique to the North, to make carbonated water.
‘After drinking only bland drinks, the taste of soda…’
It was surely shocking.
Because of this, sales of Northern Soda recently surpassed even chicken.
‘The cup with chicken placed on top of soda is also a huge hit. We’re really raking in money.’
It was food modeled after the “colpop” she used to eat as a child.
‘Seeing everyone carrying cups in their hands makes it real.’
Now, whenever Delphina created a new menu, Issian’s eyes sparkled as he showered her with praise.
“For me, the god of money is Lady Delphina.”
On the street, people talked while looking at flyers pasted on the wall.
“They say the new Northern Chicken menu can only be eaten if you go to the North?”
“What’s the new menu?”
“Boneless spicy chicken, I think. Just hearing it makes me want to eat it.”
“They say every menu has its own unique taste.”
“If you go to the North, you can even eat chicken made directly by Lady Delphina. They say it tastes even more special than the capital’s stores.”
“I really want to try it, but… isn’t the North too dangerous? It’s scary to go there.”
“But since they defeated the Hydra, isn’t it safe now? I’ll go first and check.”
Delphina smiled with satisfaction.
‘Step by step, as more people visit the North, they will slowly build trust that it’s safe as a travel destination.’
<Pepper>
‘Delphina, you’re super popular! Pepper also wants to eat chicken! I did a good thing, so make me chicken. I want to eat what all those humans are eating!’
Delphina looked at Pepper on her shoulder. What he said was true—he had been helpful. If not for him, she would have been late to the nobles’ meeting.
“That’s a bit much, Pepper.”
<Pepper>
‘Why?’
‘Because that would be… cannibalism.’
Instead of explaining directly, Delphina gave a vague reply.
“I’ll make you something else delicious instead. The world has many tasty foods.”
She stroked Pepper’s head.
In fact, she had come here not only to show the North’s strength, but also because God Frad had pressured her.
<Quest Appears: Go to the Imperial Palace and attend the nobles’ meeting.>
Your influence over the North has reached the required level. Now you can start discovering forgotten truths.
Success: You will clearly learn who used dark magic.
Failure: The Emperor will trust Empress Yuria even more.
‘To clearly learn who used dark magic…’
If the system was right, the Emperor himself might have been a victim of dark magic.
It was certainly suspicious.
‘When I was little, Father told me something…’
Her father was a family man. Unlike other nobles, he would personally put Delphina to bed at night.
“Delphina, there are men like me who love their wives. But in this world, there are also couples who marry without love.”
“Really?”
“Yes. That’s why I hope my Delphina marries someone she loves.”
“But how do I know if he loves me?”
“When someone looks at you, if his face turns red and he smiles—then you’ll know. If it’s real love, you won’t be able to mistake it. He won’t make you doubt.”
“That sounds too hard.”
“Don’t worry. One day, you’ll find out. You’ll meet someone who truly loves you and only looks at you.”
“Okay. Since it’s Father’s words, I’ll believe it.”
“Now, shall we talk about something else?”
After those small talks, the Duke loved speaking about politics. For Delphina, those stories worked like a lullaby. She always fell asleep before five minutes passed.
But those short moments helped her now. She remembered what her father had said about the Emperor.
‘The Emperor is timid and indecisive.’
He had been jealous of the former Empress but rarely argued with her, since he knew she was more capable in politics than him.
‘Would he really have harmed Her Majesty on purpose?’
Even if he wanted to, would he ever have the courage or determination? He hadn’t loved her as a woman, but they were companions and recognized each other as partners.
Sometimes, such alliances were stronger than fiery love.
The Empress’s death was suspicious in many ways.
‘If I solve this quest, I’ll find out.’
Delphina gently took Elcayan’s hand.
“Let’s go, Elcayan.”
She had no special intention.
‘If we go too slowly, we’ll be late. That’s why I need to hurry him.’
His hand, with its hardened calluses, looked impressive. Somehow, she wanted to touch it—but that wasn’t why she held his hand.
<God Frad looks at Delphina with suspicious eyes. He asks if that’s the case, then why not just say it instead of holding his hand?>
Delphina avoided the system window with blurry eyes. Elcayan held her hand back.
His strong, warm hand wrapped around her small one, and warmth spread. Her eyes turned to Elcayan.
She saw it.
Elcayan’s face turned faintly red as he smiled.
And at that moment, for some reason, her father’s words came to mind.
“If someone truly loves you, you won’t mistake it. He won’t make you doubt.”
