Chapter 142

Two days after Anais was stripped of her title.

I was seated in the office of the solvent factory, which I had set up in a different location from the production facility.

Naturally, it was for business. I had been finding time here and there to collaborate with engineers—sometimes even with mages—to develop a more advanced fractional distillation setup. It wasn’t easy, but I couldn’t keep relying on physical labor forever.

However, that work was short-lived.

In the afternoon, a visitor arrived.

“Such a critical moment, and we have more work, Sir Alan,” said Princess Victoria, dressed as usual in her army uniform.

While her concern for my overwork was appreciated, Victoria herself was the one buried in work. She remotely managed five troops as the senior staff officer and fulfilled her duties as the Imperial Princess.

Yet, there was no sign of fatigue on her face. Instead, she wore a calm smile.

She insisted she wasn’t happy about what had happened to the youngest sister.

“Sir Alan, there is one significant matter remaining.”

There were indeed several pressing issues at the moment. The passing of the young master and the disinheritance of the Third Princess would have been enough to overturn the state in peaceful times. But lately, even the officials seemed desensitized to such stimuli and didn’t appear to feel an overwhelming sense of crisis.

There was, however, something that mattered to Victoria.

“Sir Alan, isn’t it time to announce our engagement?”

“Of course, that’s the matter.”

“Of course! Is there anything more important in the empire right now?”

At a time like this, introducing a different agenda would have been ill-advised—for instance, our troubled diplomacy with Chinguk.

In truth, Victoria didn’t want to discuss serious matters; she was just hinting at her shyness in her way.

“There is nothing more important.”

“Sir Alan, if you think I’m making a big fuss over an engagement rather than marriage.”

“Victoria, an engagement is still a wedding. And what could be more important than the royal wedding in the empire? If this happy news spreads, even people who view the royal court with suspicion will feel more at ease.”

“I appreciate your understanding.”

In a normal country, we wouldn’t have pushed for a wedding at such a time—announcing joy after sending a younger sibling into the abyss.

But Victoria had grown indifferent to her reputation.

Moreover,

‘For Victoria, this engagement isn’t just personal—it’s a matter of state policy.’

So I decided to think of it that way.

First, we needed to discuss how to announce the engagement.

“How should we make the engagement public, Sir Alan? Given that this is unprecedented, we should ensure no controversies arise.”

“Victoria, I’m sorry, but there’s no foolproof way.”

“But still.”

“We’re talking about both direct heirs to the throne marrying someone like me. Even for average noble sisters, their engagement to one man would raise eyebrows… Let alone for royal blood. There will be unrest; it’s unavoidable.”

A faint look of worry crossed Victoria’s face.

Fortunately, I was confident I could ease her concern.

“Just announce it plainly.”

“What…?”

“There’s no need to elaborate on why the two princesses had to be engaged to me, nor do we need the approval of the noble society. Simply declare it and begin the process without hesitation. That’s the best approach, I believe.”

For a moment, Victoria blinked but seemed to understand. Worrying too much about precedent while still planning an unprecedented move would be detrimental. The more cautious we acted, the more it might appear as though we had something to hide. In my past life, people who tried to be too careful often ended up getting criticized anyway.

The best strategy was to just go ahead confidently.

“Will this really work?”

“Yes. Answering questions no one asked will only fuel further suspicions. The best course is to disclose nothing.”

After a moment of silence,

Victoria smiled and slowly nodded.

Did she regret worrying about trivial matters? Or was she surprised by my unconventional suggestion, which wasn’t typical of me?

No, neither was the case.

“Finally, we’re getting engaged.”

“Victoria?”

Her expression had turned wistful.

Watching her left hand, specifically her ring finger, she wore a faint smile. Then she looked back at me.

“Sir Alan?”

“Yes, Your Highness?”

“I’ve never had any connection to men. There were attempts from my late uncles, who died at the stake, and even my aunt still at the labor camp tried several times. Immediately after I entered my third year at the academy, a prestigious family attempted to introduce me to someone… but I refused.”

“I see.”

“Even Ian, my uncle, tried to appoint a captain who was younger than me as my aide—just three weeks before he was executed. Of course, I declined. By then, I had already set my heart on you, Sir Alan. Funny, isn’t it?”

Remembering how her family persistently tried to pair her with men right up until their extinction, Victoria laughed.

To anyone else, it might have seemed unsettling, but I could tell she was excited. Clasping her hand over her chest while her eyes were shut tight was evidence of that anticipation.

“For now, I hope things go smoothly, though that may be greedy. Whatever happens, as long as we’re together, we can overcome.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

I really felt that way.

As though responding to our hopes,

Word came shortly after that the diplomatic delegation from Chinguk would return early.

Though they regularly reported to the court using scrolls and magical techniques they brought from Chinguk, it seemed they had received orders to return.

Strange as it may seem for the delegation to return in this situation,

the controversies were beginning to settle.

The Next Morning. The Imperial Palace Protocol Room.

The delegation from Chinguk said they would visit Emperor here before they left.

I stood by Princess Victoria, as I was scheduled to officially announce the engagement soon after the delegation’s departure. From here on, I was to attend all royal ceremonies.

As we waited, a servant’s voice was heard.

“His Majesty! The envoys from Chinguk have arrived.”

The delegation from Chinguk, which had been neglected during their stay in the Britannia Empire, would likely be punished after their return.

‘Poor souls.’

If not for Anais, they would have gone back home in comfort after two or three weeks of VIP treatment. Now they were heading straight into the chopping block. Though I wouldn’t help them, I didn’t feel like mocking them either.

Then, a group of Eastern people dressed in robes entered in a line.

They all wore solemn expressions,

but they still paid the utmost respect to the Emperor. They kneeled and bowed deeply until their foreheads touched the ground.

The Emperor received their greeting with a troubled expression.

Afterward, the conversation followed a routine.

The envoys expressed gratitude for the warm hospitality, and the Emperor encouraged them for contributing to the alliance between both nations.

‘Sending them back quietly would be best.’

Originally, the plan was to use the delegation as promoters for coca-wine.

However, that plan was temporarily abandoned.

If we gave them about 500 bottles of coca-wine as gifts, it wasn’t hard. But with a high chance of imprisonment upon their return, there was no guarantee they could introduce narcotics into Chinguk.

I wasn’t worried about losing that opportunity. After all, there were plenty of ways to sell narcotics.

“The burden you’ve borne has been great. I will graciously gift you rewards. Please accept them.”

Said the Emperor, who didn’t forget to deliver a private letter to the Emperor of Chinguk, who was also his father-in-law.

However, the envoys hesitated to respond for a while.

Did the translators misinterpret the Emperor’s words? It was unlikely. The Vice Envoy had served as ambassador in the empire before, fluent in the local language.

After a brief silence,

the Vice Envoy stepped forward anxiously.

And spoke.

“To His Majesty, our gratitude knows no bounds for the hospitality we’ve received… However, I cannot ignore the command of Crown Prince. Before carrying out his command, I humbly plead for mercy with a sincere heart.”

“What is this?”

“That…”

“Hurry and explain.”

Even urged by the Emperor, the envoy remained silent, only shifting his eyes.

This was strange.

‘Following the Crown Prince’s order?’

Why would emissaries sent by the Emperor of Chinguk follow an order from the Crown Prince.

Sure, in Chinguk, the Crown Prince is the second-most powerful person after the Emperor, but Chinguk is a nation where all political decisions are carried out through the Emperor’s edict. Unlike the Empire, where royal family members and nobles have some degree of power, it’s structured differently.

The Crown Prince couldn’t possibly give direct orders to the delegation under his own name, unless in exceptionally rare circumstances…

“Ah.”

Right. Exceptional circumstances.

In spite of myself, a small exclamation escaped.

The Vice Envoy glanced at me with a sidelong glance before speaking again.

“Upon assuming the regency, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince decreed that the fief and titles of Princess Songning and her daughter shall be revoked. He declared that due to their betrayal and the crimes against family morality, they’re unworthy of their positions… And furthermore…”

The atmosphere in the protocol room suddenly turned ice cold.

What he was saying was that the Crown Prince of Chinguk had abruptly taken over the administration of the country and, upon gaining power, immediately issued orders to strip Empress Lianhua and her daughter Anais of their noble titles.

Revoking Anais’ title was one thing, but removing the Princess title from the Empress was madness.

This was practically a declaration of severed diplomatic relations.

Perhaps, something more than that.

I looked around, and everyone’s faces were grave.

Perhaps sensing the explanation was insufficient, the envoy continued.

Upon hearing about the recent string of events in the Britannia Empire, the Emperor of Chinguk shed unceasing tears. Then his condition rapidly worsened to the point that he could no longer handle the affairs of state.

If the Emperor’s condition was indeed worsening…

‘He must be nearing death. Ultimately.’

Given the Emperor’s age, it was probably due to old age.

But in Chinguk, this would be akin to the sky falling—especially when the Crown Prince immediately upon taking over began stripping titles from his sister and niece.

“… Huh.”

The Emperor suddenly started chuckling but no one seemed to mind.

‘What the hell is happening here?’

In this uncertain situation, even I could only let out a hollow laugh.

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