Chapter 92

Conrad, the emperor, did not try to hide his displeased expression in response to the playful former emperor. When they were ushered into the shop, the two of them sat at a table in the back, side by side. It was a curious seating arrangement. Were more guests to come later? The man with the hawk nose hung a flag on the wall behind them. It depicted a three-headed dragon with an eagle's claw, surely the former emperor's emblem.

Conrad opened his mouth.

"Grandfather, what is the meaning of this?"

Conrad, who was tapping the table with his fingertips, was met with an apologetic look from the former emperor.

"Ah, indeed, an explanation is necessary."

"Yes, it is. Very much so."

"...The tavern was chosen as a venue to throw them off."

The former emperor, eyes closed, continued in a solemn tone.

"I considered using a famous inn as the venue, but I chose this tavern for this meeting to outmaneuver the enemy. A messenger is waiting at the place we told them, so when they hear the story, they will come to this tavern later. Besides, the food here is quite delicious."

When the food was praised, Shinobu's knife rhythm changed. It was one of Shinobu's good points to be genuinely pleased when praised.

"That's not what I'm asking about!"

Conrad, who raised his voice without thinking, was met with a nod from the former emperor.

"I understand. It's rare for you to get so agitated."

"Of course. Suddenly a meeting, and with the Regent Princess of the Eastern Kingdom!"

At the mention of a meeting, Shinobu's chest ached. It felt as if something had been pushed into an old, half-healed wound. Shinobu had run away from home and ended up opening a tavern here because she was about to be forced into an unwanted meeting. She thought it had been forgotten for over a year, but it seemed the wound was deeper than she thought.

What was more concerning was Conrad. What was the woman named Selene, who seemed so happy with him, all about? Though they were of different ages, even as an outsider, Shinobu could clearly see that they were deeply in love. How could there be a meeting so soon after yesterday? Shinobu tilted her head in confusion.

"That's right. The Regent Princess. She is a bit older, but they say she is beautiful and, above all, very intelligent."

"But she is the princess of an enemy country, and she holds the real power in politics."

"If you say that, you are the emperor of the empire. If you don't want to marry the leader of an enemy country, the same applies to her."

"That's not the point. You can't say you don't know about that woman's ruthless tactics. Compared to her, even the horned witch of the Tarancus Mountains seems to fade into the background. Why do you think she accepted this meeting? It's a scheme."

"But that ruthlessness is what your politics lack the most."

The former emperor sipped his brown rice tea, a favorite since the market days.

"My politics lack ruthlessness, you say?"

"They do. Your politics are clean and have a good reputation. But they lack ruthlessness and muddiness."

"That's good. To put it bluntly, if you can avoid such things, it's better to avoid them."

"True. But someone has to take on that role."

The former emperor's sharp gaze pierced the hawk-nosed man standing near the entrance. The man, called Sebastian, lowered his eyes and cleared his throat.

Shinobu didn't understand politics, but she understood business.

For a young and clean second-generation CEO to thrive, a seasoned executive who can handle both the good and the bad must support him. In the current empire, that would be the former emperor and Sebastian. Conrad, despite his age, had a childlike way of thinking. It would be nice if he could always be supported, but both the former emperor and Sebastian were getting old.

The former emperor continued.

"The current empire is at peace. The most peaceful it has been in a hundred years. Peace is precious. Peace must be protected. For that, we must be prepared for everything."

"I understand that peace is important. But how does a meeting with the Regent Princess relate to that?"

"Well, now."

The emperor, understanding what the former emperor meant, was dodging the question.

Marry someone with a different personality to incorporate good qualities. That's what it means. Of course, there must be various political maneuvers involved as well. But this is all the former emperor can say to his grandson.

The emperor sipped his tea, and the sound of sipping echoed in the silence.

Shinobu was secretly cheering for Conrad. It wasn't because she was projecting her own experience of being forced into a political marriage. She wasn't projecting, but perhaps there was some overlap. She felt resistance to not being able to choose her partner by her own will.

She couldn't interfere, but she still wanted to say something. Just as she thought this, Conrad spoke.

"I am against this meeting."

Conrad's firm words caused the former emperor, who had his eyes closed, to open one eye and then close it again.

"Unusual. For you to speak so clearly."

"I speak when I have to. I just haven't had the opportunity until now."

"I see. That's true."

Despite being contradicted, a smile appeared on the former emperor's lips. It seemed to fuel Conrad's anger.

"The Eastern Kingdom is the enemy. And the Regent Princess is the princess of that enemy country. This meeting could invite external threats."

"It could, but it could also not. They could build a happy family. That's what marriage is about."

"I'm not playing with words, Grandfather."

"I'm not indulging in fantasy either. I recommend this meeting because I believe you can do it."

"I never said I wanted to marry."

"I didn't say you have to. It's a meeting."

It was a familiar exchange, and Shinobu sighed softly.

"It's the same thing. A meeting between the emperor and the Regent Princess. If it fails, it could lead to war. So if we have a meeting, we must marry."

The content of their conversation was like a typical parent-child argument, but given their status, the scale was unnecessarily large. Moreover, it was not a peaceful topic for Shinobu to listen to. She was on edge while helping with the cooking, and Shinobu felt a hand on her shoulder. Looking up, she saw Shinji nodding seriously. It seemed he was telling her to focus on her job and not get involved in the guests' affairs. She realized he was right. Her own issues were already resolved, and now she needed to focus on the preparations. As she worked, her mind gradually calmed down. Yes, her own issues were already resolved, and that realization settled in her mind.

"Today's meeting is a preliminary one. To that end, I had the old capital council reserve this rustic tavern. If it were a formal inn, it would have a public connotation, but here, it could be said that two royals happened to meet and have a meal."

"That's not possible. This is a tavern on the outskirts of the old capital. Even if the food here is good, it's impossible for royals to happen to meet here."

When it was stated so clearly, Shinobu could only smile wryly. Indeed, this was just a tavern on the outskirts of the old capital. Still, as the former emperor said, this place often attracted high-ranking guests. It was a case of one connection leading to another.

"Or is there something else? Perhaps you've fallen for a girl?"

It was a sharp question. Conrad was at a loss for words, and his eyes darted around. It was clear he was thinking of Selene, but he seemed to be keeping it to himself. After declaring to the former emperor that he had no intention of marrying, he probably thought mentioning Selene would complicate things.

"More importantly, this is it."

Conrad cleared his throat and nodded, and Sebastian respectfully handed over a piece of parchment. The former emperor, upon receiving it, scanned it, but his expression did not change.

"You may not know, but this is solid evidence that the Regent Princess has plotted against our empire."

"Hmm, a document demanding the release of someone named Damian."

Damian was also related to the tavern. He was an enemy during the Triazena incident and the witch scandal. After the witch scandal, it was thought he had escaped through a back door that should have been impossible to pass through, but he was eventually captured and now held in the old capital's prison. The request for his release was news to Shinobu.

"The Regent Princess, Selene de Oria, has signed this. The person mentioned was a minor who moved around the old capital, and after his capture, a letter was sent to the council. I have also received a report from Marcel, the chairman of the old capital council. This is evidence that the poison woman has plotted against our country."

"Evidence, you say. But this letter has no wax seal."

A wax seal is used to seal a letter with melted wax, which is then stamped with a seal to identify the sender.

"That's true, but it's a minor issue."

"Have you not considered the possibility of forgery?"

"Without a wax seal, anyone could have written it."

"Sebastian, what does this mean, with you accompanying me?"

The emperor's voice was low. Sebastian bowed respectfully.

"I have no excuse. The parchment used is very similar to that used in official letters from the Eastern Kingdom, so I believed it."

"There are things that can and cannot be trusted. Since you are no longer my subject, I will leave your punishment to Conrad."

"But, Grandfather, it's not yet proven to be a forgery, and even if it is, it doesn't mean the Regent Princess is innocent."

Conrad's rebuttal, which seemed to be out of frustration, was met with a nod from the former emperor.

"That's right. That's good."

The emperor's attendant laid out the contents of a bag on the table. To Shinobu, all the parchments looked the same. They were of the same quality.

"To evaluate a plot, you need the quality and quantity of information. Quality is like the presence or absence of a wax seal. Quantity is like this."

"What is this, Grandfather?"

Conrad scanned each piece of parchment as he picked them up. The former emperor, who had his hands clasped in front of his face, answered.

"These are letters in the name of the Regent Princess that have been confirmed within the empire over the past few months. They are all written on high-quality parchment without a wax seal."

"What does that mean?"

"They are all forgeries."

"...Forgeries?"

"The Regent Princess is being framed."

Just as the former emperor said this, another carriage stopped in front of the tavern. The face that peered through the glass door, knocking, was Reinhold. Reinhold, who looked somewhat tense, puffed out his chest and declared.

"The Regent Princess of the Eastern Kingdom, Selene de Oria, has arrived."