Chapter 445 : Return (1)
Alon had expected that there might be issues when crossing the eastern border.
Because he knew that the reason he had been able to enter the east without any problems before was due to a noble’s misunderstanding. That misunderstanding being that Alon had come to the Eastern Empire to give Serdea an answer.
However, by the time he had left for the ruined west without meeting Serdea, that misunderstanding had already been shattered.
So he thought that something would definitely happen when crossing the border.
He did think that, but—
“Indeed, you seem quite surprised. That I am here, I mean.”
He truly hadn’t imagined that Serdea, the princess of the Eastern Empire, would personally come to the border.
He couldn’t just remain silent.
In the end, Alon opened his mouth.
“…Honestly, yes.”
“Hmm— It is not that I came solely to wait for you. I simply happened to come here as well. Yes, merely coincidentally.”
Serdea added leisurely.
However, unlike her, the noble standing beside her didn’t look very pleased for some reason.
“But since I happened to come here like this, and happened to meet you, I would like to hear your answer.”
“How many times are you going to say ‘coincidentally’…...”
Penia muttered quietly from behind.
Wondering if Serdea might have heard that, Alon broke into a slight cold sweat and fell into thought.
Of course, Alon had no intention of marrying Serdea.
It was true that marrying her would elevate his status in many ways.
She was the princess leading the Eastern Empire split into four, and even just the Eastern Empire alone could fill half the territory of the Allied Kingdom Alliance.
Moreover, the power structure of the Empire was different from that of the Allied Kingdom Alliance.
Although the king in the Allied Kingdom Alliance held absolute power, he still couldn’t completely ignore the nobles.
However, in the Empire, all authority was concentrated in the emperor.
In other words, if he married her, it would be no different from gaining absolute power.
Even knowing that clearly, Alon’s thoughts did not change.
First of all, Alon wasn’t particularly obsessed with power.
From the very beginning, after entering Psychedelia, his first goal had been to go to Rodmil and live an ordinary life where no one would target him.
Secondly, Alon firmly believed that if he were to marry, he wanted it to be with someone he loved.
Of course, that mindset didn’t suit a medieval fantasy noble, but still.
Thus, Alon pondered.
How he could smoothly get through this situation and pass the border of the Eastern Empire.
And then—
“Your Highness?”
A voice came from behind Alon.
“And you are? Ah— you’re that one from before, from Rosario—”
“I am Cardinal Yutia.”
Yutia’s gentle voice followed.
When Alon glanced back, he saw Yutia smiling, and for some reason, Penia clenching her fist slightly and looking at her with a face that seemed to say ‘It’s time to sortie!’
“Hm~? I didn’t expect you to be moving together as well.”
“I always move together with my lord as if we are one.”
“…Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“Then perhaps it would be best to start keeping some distance. The one my husband will look at is me alone.”
“You speak as if he has already accepted.”
“Didn’t I say last time? There is no way he wouldn’t. After all, it is me.”
Serdea puffed out her chest confidently.
But Yutia, looking at the princess, soon smiled in a strange way.
“Mm— I do think Your Highness has every right to have such confidence.”
“Of course. Because it is me.”
Serdea nodded confidently at Yutia’s words.
“Your Highness is noble, and the dignity felt from your small frame is more than enough to captivate many men.”
“?”
However, as the praise continued a bit excessively, Serdea made a puzzled expression.
“But my lord prefers… more developed women.”
At that final sentence, Serdea froze for a moment.
As if she didn’t understand Yutia’s words.
But shortly after—
“Ha.”
Realizing the meaning, Serdea let out a hollow laugh and was about to frown—
“Haha… yes, quite an amusing joke.”
She quickly forced a smile.
Serdea was a princess.
She could order that insolent woman executed on the spot.
This was the Eastern Empire, and she was its ruler.
However, she couldn’t do that because of her pride.
If the woman had insulted the Empire, that would be different—but to order execution over something like this?
Even though imperial authority was overwhelming, in this era where that authority was split into four, killing someone just because she felt offended would be dangerous.
…Above all—the biggest reason was that she didn’t want to appear as someone who got provoked over a mere remark.
“Oh my, but I wasn’t lying.”
As Yutia feigned innocence teasingly, the corners of Serdea’s lips trembled.
Suppressing her anger somehow, she maintained her forced smile.
“Then you don’t seem to be his preferred type either.”
“Oh my, me?”
“You’re not any more developed than I am.”
That was true.
Although Serdea was small, Yutia was only slightly taller, so their heights were similar.
“Mm~ that’s true. Height-wise, yes.”
Yet even at the princess’s attack(?), Yutia responded without losing her smile.
And Serdea, making another puzzled expression—
“!”
soon realized something and looked toward the center of Yutia’s holy robe.
From the robe that should have looked flat, a very clear presence stood out—
In contrast, confirming her own rather girlish figure, Serdea—
“Get out!!!”
finally ordered them to leave.
“…In the end, we got kicked out.”
“Indeed.”
At Serdea’s order filled with anger, Alon’s group left the eastern border gate.
As Alon let out a sigh, Evan also caught his breath and looked ahead.
“But those two seem awfully happy for people who just got kicked out.”
Following his gaze, Alon saw Yutia and Penia getting along well.
“Mm, as expected of imperial people, even their inner thoughts are petty.”
“I think so too, Miss Penia.”
“Yes, yes! The Cardinal only spoke the truth, after all. This is why short imperial people are—”
The two cheerfully expressing their disdain for imperial people.
“…Did they get scammed by someone from the Empire before?”
Evan muttered, unable to understand them, then soon asked Alon,
“So what now? It looks like we won’t be able to set foot on the eastern border anymore.”
“Well, it can’t be helped. Even if Yutia hadn’t stepped in, it would’ve turned out like this anyway.”
Naturally, Alon had intended to reject Serdea’s proposal.
Even without Yutia’s involvement, the result would have been the same.
Just as he was wondering how to resolve this situation—
“Hm?”
He noticed someone approaching from afar.
And soon recognized who it was.
“…Contanias?”
The northern empire’s prince, Contanias.
Seeing the flag fluttering above and the face ahead, Alon muttered and quietly slipped his hand into his pocket.
He didn’t understand why he was here, but Alon and Contanias were not on good terms.
Inside his pocket, Alon formed a hand seal.
Of course, he didn’t think he would lose even if he fought Contanias and his subordinates, but he prepared just in case.
As Contanias’s group drew near and Alon heightened his guard—
“!”
The moment Contanias spotted Alon, he immediately jumped off his horse.
“What brings you—”
Before Alon could even finish asking—
“I greet the great dragon!”
Contanias, who had approached as if to pick a fight, suddenly bowed deeply and shouted.
As Alon felt puzzled by the sudden situation—
“…Lord Alon, were you a dragon?”
Evan whispered by his ear as if he already knew the answer.
“If you already know, don’t ask.”
Alon let out a deep sigh.
***
“Ugh—!”
Serdea, still unable to calm her anger, frowned deeply and let out several sounds. No matter how she thought about it, Alon’s group annoyed her.
Her small body trembling, she soon steadied her breathing and regained her composure.
Because she knew.
That in the end, she would be the victor.
‘Since he has to return to the Allied Kingdom Alliance anyway, he will have to pass through here no matter what.’
Naturally, there was practically no way to reach the Allied Kingdom Alliance from the west without crossing the border.
Whether through the north or the south, it was unavoidable.
But of course, aside from her, no one else would allow Alon’s group to pass.
The fool of the north hated Alon, and the southern princess wouldn’t like letting an uncontrollable being run wild on her land.
In other words, the only place Alon could knock on to return was ultimately the Eastern Empire.
And that meant he would have no choice but to bow his head to her.
Serdea intended to open the path to the Allied Kingdom Alliance if Alon simply bowed his head.
Because she was generous.
Of course, she didn’t like the cardinal traveling with him at all, but it didn’t matter.
Once she took Alon in, that woman would naturally lose anyway.
‘Even so, he is merely the king of a single nation. Is it really necessary for Your Highness to go that far just to take him in?’
As Serdea cooled her overheated mind slightly, she recalled what her subordinate had once said.
In truth, she had thought the same.
After all, compared to her, his status was lower, and the rumors she believed in had not been confirmed.
But today, the moment she realized he did not want her—she desired Alon even more.
Of course, it wasn’t anything like love or emotion.
Interest.
Interest in a man who had dared to reject her, whom no one had ever refused.
It was something she had never experienced before in the world she knew.
That was why she became even more interested.
And that was why she wanted him even more.
She wanted to take into her hands the man who had rejected her.
As she briefly recalled the face she had seen earlier—
“Your Highness—”
At the voice calling her, she smiled.
Because she had ordered that anything related to Alon’s group be reported immediately.
“What is it? Have they returned?”
She asked with delight.
But a moment later—
“That is—”
“That is?”
“…It seems Contanias has come to take them to the Northern Empire.”
The captain of the guard spoke hesitantly with an uneasy expression.
And from between Serdea’s lips came a dazed sound.
“…Huh?”