~Chapter 116~
Piaje had carefully made a plan to ruin this hunting competition.
Johannes was the one who prepared the event. Since people from many countries were attending, if anything bad happened during the competition, Johannes would have to take responsibility.
But if nothing happened, the hunting competition would receive great praise, and he would be recognized for it.
The food from Northern Chicken is fantastic, and the weather is perfect. Everyone looks pleased.
Delicious food naturally put people in a good mood.
Smiles bloomed on the faces of those participating in the hunting competition. The same was true for the guests from other empires. The chef from Northern Chicken even matched the tastes of people from other nations.
Even the chef is outstanding.
Piaje glared at the chicken and tteokbokki before him.
What made him angrier was that, in the end, he couldn’t resist and ate everything on his plate.
Delphina is using this food to bewitch people.
That was why Prince Ruan couldn’t think straight around Delphina now.
I almost got bewitched myself if I hadn’t been careful.
If not for his strong hatred of the North, he might have ended up liking Delphina too.
That gentle-looking face, and the food that came from her hands.
If the hunting competition ended like this, Johannes would become Crown Prince.
The Emperor and Empress rose from their seats.
“The Empress and I will move elsewhere now. It’s a pity we cannot watch to the end, as her health is poor. Johannes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I’ll leave it to you. See the hunting competition through to the end.”
Johannes bowed deeply. This was also a kind of show prepared by the Emperor—meant to push all the credit onto Johannes.
“I understand.”
As soon as Johannes answered, the Emperor and Empress left the outdoor hall.
The Empress’s eyes met Piaje’s. She nodded.
It meant: start now.
The Emperor and Empress were completely gone.
Brother, this will not be such a successful hunting competition.
Piaje’s gaze moved to one side. He could feel an ominous presence in the forest.
Targets of black magic weren’t limited to humans. Sometimes, black magic worked even better on animals than on people.
Before attending the hunting competition, Piaje had used black magic once.
If I use it on my brother now, the bead’s lifespan will end completely.
Piaje stared at the object in his hand. The cracked bead could only be used once more.
It was a shame, but it didn’t matter.
With that one use, he would become Emperor.
Delphina and Prince Ruan were talking about Iskar.
“Father told me many things about you, Lady Delphina.”
“My teacher always praised me a lot.”
Delphina smiled awkwardly. She could guess what kinds of things her teacher might have said.
“Our Delphina is definitely a genius. She always cooked well.”
“She’s truly kind. She’s absolutely perfect.”
Her teacher never held back praise for Delphina. He must have praised her endlessly to Prince Ruan too.
“Seeing you in person, I think Father was right.”
“Thank you. Is Teacher healthy? As I remember, he had a very sturdy body.”
In Delphina’s memory, Iskar looked a bit like Calix—maybe even a bit more plump.
Ruan let out a small sigh. The Eastern Empire was a country that considered a big build handsome. In his eyes, Iskar had been very handsome.
But was it because of overwork?
Iskar’s face had become quite worn.
“My father is now… by Western standards, a handsome middle-aged man.”
“What?”
Delphina was startled. “Handsome middle-aged” did not match Iskar at all.
“There was something he told me to make sure I passed on to you: he asked if you weren’t curious about how his appearance has changed.”
“I am curious. He was the kind of person who really couldn’t stand losing weight. For someone like that to have lost weight…”
In the Eastern Empire, a certain amount of size was considered handsome. So Istar had been confident in his looks. When he first came to the Western Empire, he even said he was surprised everyone was so thin.
“The thing he was proudest of was his large build…”
“He said if he eats your cooking again, he’ll be able to gain weight in a healthy way. He wants to build his size back—healthily.”
Delphina nodded. Helping someone gain weight in a healthy way was what she did best.
“That’s my specialty.”
From her past life, she had learned from her grandmother: serve food, then dessert, then more food again.
“I can’t leave right now. But once I finish some urgent matters, I’ll visit the Eastern Empire.”
“Father will be delighted. He doesn’t usually like food that people cook for him.”
“He did always say that. But he enjoyed my cooking the most.”
“He probably enjoyed it because it’s truly delicious—he’s quite the gourmet. Ah, and about this food.”
Delphina looked at Prince Ruan, a little tense.
“Northern Chicken, was it? I think Father would love it too. I wish we could have it in the Eastern Empire.”
Delphina’s face brightened. Issian had been wanting to open a Northern Chicken branch in the East.
Issian would be thrilled to hear this.
And not just Issian. Johannes would be happy the moment he heard it.
Until now, the Eastern Empire hadn’t interacted with other empires at all. Opening a Northern Chicken branch in the East would itself mean allowing exchange.
“Of course, we’d need Father’s proper permission. But if I dare to guess, he’ll like the idea.”
“In that case, it would be an honor for us.”
Prince Ruan looked at Delphina with a pleased expression. Maybe he took after his father, Iskar? Every time he looked at Delphina, he felt a quiet happiness he couldn’t explain.
I just want to give her everything. How strange. I’ve never felt this before.
When he looked into her yellow eyes, his heart softened for no clear reason.
If I feel that way, then I’ll just give her everything. That’s all.
He had the power to do so.
When the hunting competition ended, he planned to send a letter to the Eastern Empire at once.
Unlike the Emperors before him, Iskar had an open-minded nature.
He already left the judgment about the Western Empire to me.
If Ruan approved, it was certain Iskar would allow exchange at any time.
Just then—
“Danger! Please evacuate to a safe place!”
With a huge firework-like bang, the knights began to move in perfect order.
Shouts rose from the knights.
“Why has the King of the Western Mountain come all the way here?”
“It seems to have no sense of self right now. Something’s wrong.”
Johannes hurried over to Delphina.
“Delphina, we have to evacuate. Follow me.”
Delphina narrowed her eyes. Amid the sudden chaos, Ruan asked Johannes,
“What’s happening?”
“The lord of the western mountain has approached this place.”
“The lord?”
“It’s a guardian spirit-beast that protects the western mountain. It usually shows no aggression toward humans, but something is strange. It seems furious for no reason.”
“A spirit-beast attacking humans…”
Prince Ruan looked shocked. Delphina was the same.
Spirit-beasts that had survived long years and gained intelligence did not attack humans unless there were special circumstances.
Johannes spoke quickly.
“The knights are trying to subdue it now, so we should take shelter.”
His headache was getting worse.
Before things grew worse, he had to take Delphina and Prince Ruan to a certain place.
