Part 2 Chapter 47
“Father-in-law?!”
The sudden title left Alphonse completely at a loss. How was he supposed to react?
“Eeeek, Your Majesty!”
From behind, his aide let out a shriek.
Startled, Alphonse turned—and saw Pol pointing frantically at the water.
“Your Majesty, the fish you’ve been waiting three hours for—enough to cramp your backside—escaped! All because of that young lady’s thunderous greeting!”
You didn’t need to announce that!
“Unbelievable, Your Majesty!”
Another cry of shock rang out.
He turned again—this time, it was the young lady herself, flailing.
“I-I’m so sorry! Did I scare the fish away without realizing?!”
“No…”
“H-how could I make such a mistake the very first time we meet?! I-I’ll catch another one for you—oh, but I’ve never fished before…!”
Truly distressed, she bustled about like a lost duckling, unable to stand still.
“The Emperor’s dinner has fled! Huuuh, His Majesty will have to starve tonight!”
“What? No! That can’t happen! Teach me how to fish! I’ll catch it somehow~!”
Pol teased; the girl paled.
The scene was utter chaos.
Amid the ruckus, Alphonse himself felt swept up, until—
He happened to glimpse Nike’s face.
And froze.
His son was smiling.
The lips, usually pressed in an indifferent line, now curved without restraint. His eyes refused to leave the little girl he had brought with him—eyes brimming with a warmth so obvious it almost glowed.
Was this really the son who had been unmoved by all things?
Alphonse could only stare, stunned, before a dazed chuckle escaped him.
***
Half a day from the capital lay Heim Fjord, a private retreat of the Imperial family.
It was unthinkable to proceed with the marriage while ignoring the Emperor, so I decided to march straight to his retreat.
Not because I intended to force a wounded man to acknowledge me.
But at the very least, meeting him face to face before the wedding—wasn’t that the bare minimum of decency?
With my nerves taut, I managed to reach him. To meet him.
And then—
“Huuuuh!”
A very big problem arose.
“What is this?!”
In a room not even the size of a cell, Nike struggled to stifle his laughter, turning away with a fist pressed to his mouth.
“That’s why I told you to pack comfortable clothes.”
“As if I had any to pack! Did you expect trousers in my luggage?!”
My state was pitiful.
On top: one of Nike’s shirts, loosely folded to fit me.
On bottom: an old, flower-patterned pair of baggy trousers, loaned to me by none other than Pol, the Emperor’s aide.
“You should’ve warned me if there wasn’t going to be anyone here!”
But the clothes weren’t the real problem.
What shocked me most was this place itself.
Mountains, a river, and a single cottage with a tiny vegetable garden.
That was all.
“You said there’d be no attendants—”
“And there aren’t.”
“No!”
Humans!
Who would imagine that meant literally no one?
I had thought the Emperor simply preferred smaller entourages when retreating to the countryside.
But in reality?
Here, there were only three people: the Emperor, his aide, and his physician.
Can you believe it?
The Emperor of the Empire himself, living as a hermit in his retreat with no servants at all?
“What about the guards at the entrance?”
“They just keep outsiders away. Father doesn’t keep close guards during retreats.”
“Good heavens. And this? Why bring ingredients when there’s no cook?”
I pointed at the bag of ration supplies Nike had carried.
“I’ll cook.”
“…Ha.”
“If it’s too much for you, we can just leave now. You’ve greeted him already.”
“……”
I glared at him.
Leave now? After coming all this way to greet him?
What was I supposed to do—bat my lashes and say, Oh, sorry, I can’t live without servants. I’ll just leave now?
“You won’t be able to stay here.”
As my shoulders sagged, Nike reached for me.
His thumb slid over my wrist in a slow, suggestive stroke.
“Let’s go back. Hm?”
He tugged, gently urging me closer.
Ugh.
I knew from before regression: he might resist at first, but once he kissed me, he became utterly relentless.
Not that I hated it, but still…
“Um—”
The door opened.
Thud!
“Ugh.”
Nike staggered back—because my fist had reflexively struck his chin.
Whirling around, I saw Pol frozen in the doorway, mouth hanging open.
“Why did you hit him?!”
“I—I didn’t!”
“Well, you asked me to let you know… Oh! Lady, those trousers look wonderful on you!”
Pol’s eyes lit up at the sight of the flowery pants.
…Was he mocking me?
I had been just about to ask if there were any other clothes, but now…
“Sir, forgive me, but these are a little—”
“They belonged to my late wife. She wore them whenever she came here with me. I never threw them out… good thing, too. What were you saying?”
I immediately pointed at the gaudy dress I had come in.
“I said, instead of that hideous dress, these lovely pants are so much better. Thank you so much. Your wife had excellent taste.”
“Haha, is that so?”
Behind me, Nike’s laughter burst out again.
I stomped on his foot as I bowed to Pol.
“I’ll be right out, too~!”
***
I couldn’t believe it. Was this a dream?
I was climbing a mountain.
So that’s why Nike told me to bring comfortable clothes—the dresses I’d packed were useless here.
You can’t climb in skirts!
“Huff, huff…”
“You okay?” Nike asked, but I couldn’t answer.
Up ahead, three nimble men scampered like squirrels, carrying baskets and sickles.
The Emperor. His aide. His physician.
“Since we’ve guests today, how about mushroom hot pot for lunch?”
“Perfect! Toss in some peppers from the garden—make it nice and spicy!”
“Allow me to show my skills.”
The Emperor himself, planning to cook the hot pot.
Unbelievable. Dreamlike.
And yet, here I was, tramping after them in flowered trousers.
Could I really just sit back while the Emperor gathered ingredients with his own hands? Impossible.
“…Sorry. I’ve only ever heard about Father’s retreats—I didn’t realize.”
Nike glanced at me guiltily.
“Don’t… worry… huff.”
“Want me to carry you?”
As if.
“I’ll carry you.”
I shot him a glare.
Me, the enemy’s daughter, being piggybacked up a mountain by the Emperor’s son?
What a fine impression that would make.
Too tired to lecture him, I only shoved his shoulder away.
“You’re still not fully recovered.”
“No… My health is fine. This… is just my stamina….”
I fixed my eyes on the Emperor’s back.
Stubbornness flared. I forced my legs to move, and soon I drew level with him.
He twitched, surprised.
“Th—the air is wonderful here, Your Majesty. I feel healthier already.”
“……”
He glanced at me, sighed.
“You could’ve rested. There’s no need to push yourself.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’ve never done this. You’ll only wear yourself out….”
Even as he grumbled, his hands were deft—cutting mushrooms with practiced ease.
I plopped down beside him.
“I have, actually.”
“What?”
“I’ve climbed mountains before, Your Majesty. I wasn’t raised in luxury.”
I took up a sickle, copying him. Mushroom-picking wasn’t so hard.
“I was thrown out of my family at twelve.”
Point made—my father had cut ties.
“After that, I lived with my brother in Belzer. At first, we had nothing.”
“…I see. You must have suffered.”
“We had no money, no food. My brother hunted boar in the hills so I wouldn’t starve.”
Add some shine to Brother Lion’s name.
“Of course, I helped too—picking mushrooms, gathering berries. I’m used to this. Even mountain climbing.”
“Well, your hands are skillful indeed.”
Pol chimed in, impressed.
Bless him. First the pants, now this—always coming to my rescue.
“Skillful? I can cook too. When my brother brought home a game, I cooked the meals.”
A lie.
“But since we’re here, why don’t I prepare today’s lunch? How about it?”
“What? No, that’s too much—”
I couldn’t cook—but Nike could. With his countless campaigns and campfires, his skill was reliable.
“I feel nostalgic in this fresh air. It would be wonderful to return sometime. May I accompany you next time, Your Majesty?”
“……”
“And… teach me to fish, too. Please?”
“……”
He just blinked at me.
“Isn’t she remarkable, Your Majesty? Not like those usual noble ladies—so approachable and diligent~”
“Indeed! And hasn’t it been your lifelong wish to fish with your sons, Your Majesty?”
Pol and Dr. Lemon chimed in warmly.
My eyes stung with gratitude.
“…Hm.”
The Emperor only rubbed his neck, looking awkward.
But it didn’t seem bad.
Time to press my advantage—
“Oh!”
I spotted a lone mushroom growing apart from the rest.
Plump, white-capped, delicious-looking. Far superior to the others we’d gathered.
“Look at that beauty. Chewy, savory—perfect for broth. I’ll boil it up to nourish Your Majesty~”
I reached for it—
“Wait.”
The Emperor’s hand clamped on my arm.
What?
His blue eyes trembled.
“You’d boil that for me?”
Instinct told me I’d erred.
“The… Amanita muscaria?”
Whatever that was—it screamed do not eat me.
I glanced desperately at Nike.
His face was pure dismay.
Leaning close, he whispered:
“…Poisonous.”
Cold sweat trickled down my spine.
Of course.
The Duke of Bassenberg’s daughter—her first meeting with the Emperor, and she attempts to poison him…!
