“Ha-ha-ha-ha!”
The Magic Tower Master laughed cheerfully, then wrapped his arm around the hesitant-looking Minister of Justice and lifted him up.
“Come on, Minister of Justice, get back to your work!
You stopped him because of me, didn’t you?
Ha-ha-ha!
I’ll accompany you to where you were supposed to be!”
If you think about it, the Minister of Justice came here in the first place because of the unauthorized interference by the Magic Tower Master.
Everyone had forgotten this fact, but the Tower Master had not forgotten it.
He raised the Minister of Justice vigorously, he was a really strong old man.
“Wait, I will accompany this man again!
And Namiya Rawabi… No, I have some additional business to take care of with the Minister of Manuscripts!
Wait a minute!”
Without waiting for the Minister of Justice to respond, the Magic Tower Master picked him up and headed out of the Empress's room.
And he left us.
“Foo.”
The Emperor sighed lightly, still holding the Empress's hand tightly.
“It feels like the storm has passed.”
I nodded cautiously, looking at the Emperor and Empress's intertwined hands.
Even though they were a middle-aged couple, their bond seemed very strong.
It seemed as if the Emperor was a little jealous when he noticed the Magic Tower Master and the Empress shaking hands with each other.
‘The Baron and his wife fight over money every day.’
Since I had never seen them get along so well before, it was really nice to witness such a close relationship between the couple.
The Empress seemed embarrassed by my looks and explained awkwardly,
“Well, you see, dragons tend to be rather attached to their partners.”
Ah, right, I think a similar explanation was given in the original story.
The Emperor held the Empress's hand more tightly and added,
“That's why, forgetting their first love…is really not an easy thing for a dragon.
I tried hard myself, but in the end, I failed.”
“Kyak, kihahaha, kihahahahaha!”
The Emperor's embarrassing words caused the Empress to blush and laugh nervously.
It seemed as if the assistant's workload was increasing.
“In this sense...”
I didn't know what to say, so I looked away, but the Emperor smiled kindly and spoke.
“Mrs.
Namia Rawabi, you will be appointed Minister soon...but before that.”
Before that?
Was there something else to do?
The Emperor couldn't contain his excitement, so he turned and looked at Kiaros eagerly.
“Kiaros, do you have anything else to say?”
In contrast to the enthusiastic Emperor, Kiaros seemed largely calm.
Yes, I will do that now.
Kiaros nodded with a solemn expression.
“Ms.
Namia Rawabi.”
The Emperor and Empress shook hands with tense expressions.
Meanwhile, Chiaros asked, showing no sign of annoyance, in his usual perfect tone.
“Do you remember the favor you asked me when you saved me before?”
✧✧✧✧✧✧
Kiaros took a sip of tea amidst the chaos.
Many things have happened in the meantime, but in any case, the work with Namiya is not over yet.
He could already guess Namiya's answer.
[I want to marry a man who has lots, lots, lots of money!]
15 years ago, little Namiya said so.
[What I meant was that no matter how much money he had, I would never marry an old man like him.]
As for Namia now, she said that no matter how much money a person has, she likes people her own age.
Then he was a little curious, a little curious really, and even when she asked him, she gave him the same expected answer.
[Well, as for His Highness the Crown Prince, I think I would marry him if I could in my current situation…]
Then, in fact, it seemed as if the answer was predetermined.
Maybe that's why Chiaros wasn't nervous at all.
Everything will happen reasonably and as expected.
“Mmm, ah.”
“Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?”
“No, just, uh, I'm a little nervous...”
While the Emperor showed an exaggerated reaction, Kiaros glanced at Namiya.
“You are smart, so you will be a valuable member of the imperial family.”
Kiaros thought that he and Namiya could make a good duo.
Even if she became an empress in the future, she was able to manage her affairs skillfully.
And...she seemed to have some ambition.
'Just looking at the ambition for the position of Minister...'
That's why she might have also wanted the position of Crown Princess, as expected.
“Death of laughter.”
Kiaros looked at Namiya with his usual indifferent expression, and commented casually,
“I said then that I would give you everything you wanted.”
“Ah yes.”
“Miss Namiya, at that time you said that you wanted to marry a very rich man.”
Now Namiya's eyes looked like they resembled a dead fish.
It was different from her enthusiasm when the topic of becoming a minister came up.
However, Chiaros decided not to misunderstand her.
Contrary to his thoughts, she internally felt a lot about Kibune Altis.
“Among the people around Miss Namiya, I am the one who has the most money.”
“Okay I see so.”
“I am aware of this fact... and have not yet entered into any relationship.”
Now, the Emperor was holding the Empress's hand tightly, breathing hard.
“So, if Miss Namiya so desires, I can marry you.”
Without any sign of tension, Chiaros elegantly took another sip of tea and asked,
“What do you think, shall we get married?”
✧✧✧✧✧✧
Hmm.
I blinked as I looked at Kiaros, who looked like a carved statue.
Nothing he said contradicted logic.
‘Now that I think about it, I actually heard that he will give me everything I want.
I struggled so hard without even remembering it, didn't I?'
But when I looked at the lively Empress, I didn't feel like I had done anything for nothing.
Saving an oppressed person was in itself a rewarding thing.
'Anyway, it's not related…'
At that time, as a child, I was obsessed with “Operation Cinderella.”
It's a debt owed because of marriage, so let's pay it back through marriage, or something like that.
My father scolded me severely after hearing that.
Marriage should be with someone you love.
‘Ha, honestly… nothing went well because I listened to my father…’
I hesitated for a moment.
My father, who married for love, had his life ruined.
My father, who made repeated decisions filled with good intentions, continued to be devastated...
Should I really listen to my father's latest advice?
‘If I marry Kiaros now…’
It would be nice to become the Crown Princess and gain immense power.
Touring as a featured guest seemed to suit me well.
I enjoyed eating lots of delicious food and dressing nicely every day.
But when I tried to imagine married life...
[I think it's a good time to have a baby.]
[Do you have a preference then?
Just give me the order, and I'll do my best.]
I felt like I lived with a boss all day.
[I think we should have another baby.]
[Concept.
Please let me know anything you were not satisfied with last time, and I will do my best to fix it.]
It was a life with no end of work in sight.
And most importantly.
‘My father said he would find me, and they said they would spare his life even if he was involved in a crime…’
I no longer have any reason to impress the imperial family.
'Even 15 years ago, you saved Kiaros, right?
If their consciences were working properly, they would protect my father no matter how serious the charges against him were.
'I saved them twice'
Of course, just 30 minutes ago, I would have gladly agreed to marry the Crown Prince.
I needed to expand my opportunities to meet Kiaros as much as possible.
‘But now I am a minister.
If I have something to say, I can go to him anytime, right?
I'm no longer just a subordinate.'
So, marrying Kiaros is no longer necessary for me...
“Ah.”
Kiaros didn't seem to have any feelings for me either.
He was doing me a favor by saying he would marry me.
It was natural.
He hadn't even seen my face when we were kids, and this was only the second time we'd spoken properly as adults?
I answered him without hesitation.
"no."
The emperor, who was holding his breath and saying, “Hmm,” suddenly dropped the teacup.
With a noise, the teacup shattered on the floor.