Chapter 96
“Your Majesty, the Nabel Empire’s delegation says they’ve finished preparing to pay their respects.”
At the report from the official who entered the audience hall, the Emperor glanced at the Empress, the Crown Prince, and Ephinia seated beside the Crown Prince. The Second Prince, Wolfgang, wasn’t here. He attended a boarding school, and he only returned to the imperial palace when it was vacation.
Only an empty chair sat there, announcing his absence. The Emperor gave a light nod and turned back to the official.
“Let them in.”
With the Emperor’s permission, the official signaled to the soldiers guarding the entrance to the audience hall. When two of them each clung to the massive doors and opened them, the delegation could be seen lined up in formation, properly observing protocol.
“The Nabel Empire’s First Prince, Crown Prince Jeremiah de Hirdenan, and Princess Ibella de Hirdenan, are entering!”
* * *
Even with the commotion at the North Gate, the atmosphere had been clear when only a single Transcendent, and not royalty, had come out to grasp the situation.
Jeremiah walked in holding Ibella’s hand, keeping his cynical gaze hidden. As if her training until now had been effective, Ibella stepped lightly and cast her gaze toward the Emperor and Empress of the Karnan Empire, and even the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince wasn’t sitting alone. The Second Prince’s seat was empty, and in the seat beside him, a beautiful woman with long black hair was holding his hand.
‘Who is she? Is that woman the Crown Prince’s A-Class Guide?’
Ibella’s heart pounded loudly. Her real rank was only D-Class, so ordinarily, she wouldn’t even be a competitor.
‘No. I’m a princess of the great Nabel Empire.’
Whatever the reality, here and now, that was how it was. This status would save her life even if her true identity was exposed later.
Jeremiah, escorting Ibella, was also looking toward the woman sitting beside the Crown Prince. She was the second objective of this visit.
Drawing Kasselard into their own country was the true goal, but if they made that Guide his, then the goal could be considered achieved.
‘Black hair, golden eyes. She’s pretty, but nothing special.’
Being an A-Class Guide wasn’t bad, but the Nabel Empire also had A-Class Guides, it was just that none of them had a high match rate with him. Among them, he had made Hesna, the one with the highest match rate with him, his mistress, but guiding with her always brought only discomfort.
‘But they say that woman matched waves even with that difficult bastard, so maybe she’s different.’
“The Nabel Empire’s Crown Prince, Jeremiah de Hirdenan, offers greetings to His Majesty Anox de Rutinerus, Emperor of the Karnan Empire.”
As Jeremiah, holding Ibella’s hand high, bowed his head to the Emperor, the Nabel Empire envoys lined behind him bent at the waist all at once. Emperor Anox watched and slowly nodded, while Empress Yekaterina fixed them with a cold gaze.
‘He still has a face that reminds me of his father. I want to tear it apart.’
Yekaterina held a deep-rooted grudge against the current Nabel Emperor. He had taken an interest in her out of curiosity simply because she was Anox’s Guide, and he had wanted to have her.
When that didn’t happen, he tried to harm her by any means. Until she became Crown Princess and gave birth to Kasselard, an SS-Class Transcendent, many people had died protecting her.
Among them were a cherished knight, and a lady-in-waiting she had regarded like a friend. To Yekaterina, their lives had been precious too.
Not everyone throws away their life for the master they serve.
Even if they were people who hadn’t formed personal ties with her, she still had an obligation to claim the price of their blood.
“You’ve worked hard to come such a long way, Crown Prince. The Karnan Empire welcomes you.”
Empress Yekaterina said, in a voice cold beyond measure, contrary to the content of her words. Jeremiah, knowing the Empress loathed the Nabel Empire, answered with a faint smile.
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
He paused briefly, then turned to Ibella, who was sending Kasselard a meaningful look at his side.
“This beautiful young lady here is my younger sister, and our Empire’s Princess, Ibella. As I wrote in my letter before, she is an S-Class Guide, so she will make a good couple with the Karnan Empire’s Crown Prince, who is an SS-Class Transcendent.”
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