Yellow, red, and blue wallpaper, swirling patterns spinning round and round… Orbs sparkling in all directions and exotic instruments… This was a sight not visible in Riester.
Emma Corleone extended her hooked arm from the highest seat in the room. Marquis François Duhem elegantly kissed her metal hook. Chu. The Admiral intensely gazed at his face and lips. I lowered my head in embarrassment. I thought it was amazing that the Marquis could withstand such a gaze as if it was nothing.
“I heard you used the portal I created in your territory.” The Admiral’s voice was so coarse that I couldn’t help but think that she smoked a lot. “I understand bringing your guard knight and an attendant, but bringing two of your siblings with you…”
The rest of the group had stood there silently after showing our respects. Sir Johann seemed to be suppressing his presence quite a bit, but it was probably because he didn’t want a sharp fighter like the Admiral noticing his identity. We acted as simply as possible as we had planned in advance.
‘Only the Marquis will speak. The rest of us will stay silent.’
“I’m sure they are not here as dowry… Are they witnesses for our marriage?”
“Madam, we have not come here with such intentions,” he Marquis calmly answered.
‘Ho.’ The Admiral scoffed through her teeth. I raised my head slightly to check her face. She was openly showing her discontent. The middle-aged woman bluntly remarked, “How cruel of you. I even threw away my second and third husbands for you.”
‘What……?’ My jaws dropped as I looked toward Maria. The young lady of the House of Duhem’s jaw looked ready to fall off as well.
As a part of the very openly affectionate Corleone vassal state, I never thought that the Admiral would be chaste. Even Maria had called her brother a plaything. However, I never imagined that she would have three husbands. ‘And she threw away two of them!’
“Madam, Thank you ever so much for looking so favorably upon me, but I am here today with a request.”
“My goodness.”
She scowled. I could hear the faint sounds of music and laughter somewhere in the Estate. The Admiral scratched her chest with her hook and changed positions. I quickly looked down after belatedly realizing that she was not wearing anything inside her shirt. Based on what I just saw, all of her buttons were undone as well. ‘Ahh!’
This was so different from the QNW that I had heard about and experienced until now!
“You are playing so hard to get.”
“Madam, as I have explained many times before, I have no desire to be your second husband.”
The Marquis gently answered. The Admiral twitched her scratched eyebrow.
“Is it because you wish to be the first husband? I suppose you have always been one for loyalty. But that guy is an extremely jealous one. It is also hard to throw him away because he comes from a good family,” she answered, as if she was delivering extremely useful information.
I felt like I was watching < The Clinic for Married Couples: Love and War >.
“I will provide adequate compensation if you are willing to fulfill my request, madam.” The Marquis spoke in a formal manner.
It was only then that I realized that he was hiding his true feelings on purpose. He had not shown his usual attention-seeking attitude since coming to the vassal state. If it was anybody else, I would think that this was his true self and the attention seeker was the mask, but François Duhem was different. He was pretending to be calm in order to not show any gaps. ‘It probably means that he wants to maintain his distance from her.’
The Admiral’s half-opened greyish-green eyes scowled.
“If you would allow us to use the Zeboim portal to head to the Imperial Capital, I will advocate for Seigneur Lorenzo’s new trade policy in front of her Majesty.”
“……”
“This will further smooth out trade between Riester and Corleone. I’m sure that would help solidify young master Alessio’s position as well.”
His voice sounded as sweet as honey. I did my best to figure out what was going on.
‘So the Marquis… He has no intention of using himself as leverage.”
This new trade policy seemed to be something that the Seigneur’s son, Alessio, had proposed. He was offering them political support.
I heard that the Admiral grew up being loved by her family and had a great relationship with them.
‘She probably wouldn’t reject a deal that helps her father and her older brother…’
“You wish to use the international portal?”
Flinch. The woman’s tone was sharp. She almost sounded as if she was mocking him. I nervously looked up at her.
‘I wonder what the issue is? Isn’t it a decent offer for a single use of the portal?’
It was also for a Pair de Riester whose identity was completely verified. Corleone would not lose out in any way with this deal.
“Zeboim has been in quite the turmoil the last few days.”
“……”
I suddenly got the chills.
“There’s a shady thug, a master-less pirate ship, and now a Marquis of the Empire asking for my help to cross the border…”
The Admiral motioned toward us with her chin. I did my best to quiet my gulp. I didn’t know much about what was going on, but it was quite chaotic here too.
“It is a great offer, but something seems off based on the timing. Tsk.” She clicked her tongue and picked up a cigar box from a corner of her seat.
François reacted immediately. He pulled out an expensive matchbox from his pocket before lighting it with a natural movement that resembled flowing water.
Tap! Chhhh……
“You even know how to flatter.”
The Admiral teased him. The Marquis gently curled his light pink eyes.
Today I learned that it takes extremely long to light a cigar.
‘The match is very long as well.’
“Please simply consider this as courtesy.”
“You also know how to play coy.”
She bit down on the cigar and smiled at the Marquis. I didn’t know why, but this seemed extremely dangerous. I couldn’t help but touch my veil. ‘Please let things go well, please.’
“It is suspicious that a Pair de Riester, someone who could request an audience with her Majesty at any time, is trying to go through Zeboim like this.”
Her voice became chillingly low. My eyes opened wide.
“Madam.”
“Don’t you dare think about using me.”
The Admiral sharply cut him off. ‘Huuuuuu.’ A thick puff of cigar smoke flew out.
Maria and I held our breaths. It would be great if Sir Johann helped us out, but he could not use his powers right now.
“I was going to hold you in my arms because your face of sorrow looked so beautiful, but…”
“……”
“All you are thinking about is how to use my goodwill for your own benefit.”
Her voice sounded as scary as boiling lava because of her gloomy voice and the sound of her chewing on the cigar. A strong pressure made me feel suffocated. It wasn’t as strong as the pressure from a sword master the Empress released toward me, but it felt much less controlled. I looked at Captain Hervé, who was withstanding it from the front, with an anxious gaze.
‘Wouldn’t it be better to reveal my identity and honestly ask for help? No…… We decided to let the Marquis handle it. Let’s just stay quiet.’
“Madam, this is a misunderstanding.”
“This fox-like cunning look of yours isn’t bad either, but the way you cried after losing your parents was much more beautiful.”
I could feel Maria tensing up. I urgently turned my head. ‘What did she just-’
“You were such an obedient boy when we spread the ashes across the Sea of Silence. Has it already been around twenty years since then?”
“……”
The Marquis’ fingertips were faintly shaking. Captain Hervé slowly clenched his fists. I opened and closed my mouth without being able to say anything in shock and disbelief. ‘That- Something like that is too much.’
“It is I who wishes that you do not misunderstand the situation. I like this current determined look of yours as well. However, I am different from your master.” Her rough voice continued. Her algae-like dark eyes looked cruelly mischievous. The Admiral raised the Marquis’ chin with her hook. This was clearly a provocation. “When someone acts up like this in front of me to protect something, I want to break them.”
“……”
“It makes me want to see them weak and sobbing.”
She laughed while blowing out some smoke. I clenched my teeth. I knew that this was a lowly provocation to get a reaction and see through his intentions. I knew that, but…
“If you do not wish to do so, send one of your younger siblings to my bedroom. Then I will open the portal for you.”
“My goodness.”
Captain Hervé turned pale and hugged Maria. I couldn’t help but shout in anger.
“Excuse me!”
I felt like I heard Sir Johann groaning behind me. The Admiral turned toward me as if she had been waiting for this. François turned toward me completely pale. ‘I’m sorry.’
“Couldn’t you just ask the reason? You could have just asked why he needs the portal or what was going on. Why are you digging through his wounds and making him suffer? Threatening him would be better than this.”
“……You are the rumored widower.” She mumbled.
Maria was holding onto her second brother’s waist as she looked back and forth at the Admiral and myself. I almost stomped past them, grabbed François’s arm, and headed down the steps.
‘Your highness?’ He urgently whispered but I pretended not to hear him. I decided to keep being angry since I already started.
“I do not know what happened in the past, but it doesn’t seem like you are the Marquis’ lover, Admiral. If it is only a one-sided relationship, I can’t sit by and watch even as an outsider.”
“Hoooo.”
“Even if you are used to loveless acts, you are the worst for demanding one of his younger siblings. They are siblings who care for each other. They can’t make such a decision as easily as if offering a sacrifice. As foreigners with different cultural values, you should at least have a modicum of respect.”
“I see.”
“I do not expect an apology from you. These three will never agree to something like that. So please give……”
“You are right.”
I flinched. The Admiral smiled as she bit on her cigar. I suddenly got goosebumps. I quickly covered the Duhem siblings and Sir Johann sighed before standing in front of me. The formation had completely flipped. The middle-aged woman scoffed.
“I’m intrigued.”
I stood on tippy-toes to look past the Holy Knight’s shoulder.
“Why don’t we calmly discuss things, Admiral? We request your cooperation. We are ready to provide adequate compensation. If you are unable to trust the Marquis, we can also give you a full explanation.”
“No. I have a better idea.” She instantly cut me off. This woman really did as she pleased. Despite both of them growing up as precious young ladies now in power, she had a completely different personality than Empress Frédérique. She always sought out the greatest of stimulations, got bored of things easily, and did not care about being tactful around anybody. She listened only to what she wanted to hear and said whatever she wanted to say. She feared nothing and lived a life with no obstacles. She only lived a life full of affection and awe.
A spoiled thug.
“Let me make you an offer you cannot refuse.”
The Admiral slowly looked me up and down. The stinging scent of smoke swirled around me. I kept my eyes open despite the pain and did not step back.
*
That night…
“Over there! Scaramuccia went that way!”
“Get him! Run!”
“The Captain has given his orders! Run!”
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” The city guards shouted as they ran.
The residents of the vassal state watched the guards in confusion before realizing that there wasn’t much going on and disappeared into the darkness.
‘Scaramuccia’ sighed underneath the shadow of the moon. He would have personally pulled out his sword to teach them a lesson if they were the Imperial Guard or the Garrison for the Imperial Capital. It would have continued until they properly learned their lesson. However, this was not his home country.
– Squeeeeee
“Quiet.”
– Pruu
“I’m very much aware.”
The divine beasts dangling on his wide shoulders each made a comment. They were saying this was not the place. However, the young man could not give up. He had not felt the prince’s ether in Seigneur Lorenzo’s castle, which was located on the southern part of the island. That meant that there was only one place for the prince’s group to ask for permission to use the portal. The Imperial Crown Prince’s jewel-like eyes underneath the mask looked up as he stared at the estate at the top of the island. They were too far from him to sense anything.
‘Casa di Corleone.’
– Piiiii
The divine item in Cédric’s arm chirped.
He quietly looked down at Percy de Riester before making a comment.
“I’m sure you are aware that you still sound the same.”
– ……
The crow completely ignored him.
He was aware of the divine item’s ability to transform, but he had no idea that it could transform into other birds. However, it did not seem to have much experience as it could not caw like a crow. It just did this useless transformation to make itself heavier for no reason……
“The attendant! She is going to bring the attendant to her bedroom later!”
“What?! Not that handsome Marquis of the Empire?!”
The crown prince quickly turned his head. He could hear the excited voices outside the alley.
“I heard it directly from the coachman’s cousin’s wife’s boyfriend. An attendant wearing a black veil came with the Marquis but he was so bold that the Signora fell for him right away. He is apparently that amazing. His blonde hair resembled the sun of Admah!”
“Wow, then will the first husband finally be thrown away?”
The divine beasts stuck their tongues out in shock. A man with a bold personality, blonde hair, and disguised as the attendant of a Marquis from the Empire… It was clearly talking about the prince. Crunch… The black glove tightly clenched on the Sword of Wisdom.
If he was going to make a senseless deal to use the portal…
Flinch.
The crown prince glared in the opposite direction. He could not believe what he had just sensed. It was extremely faint, but the presence was clear. It was a firm and clear power of water that was different from the winter sea.
“……”
‘Christelle de Sarnez?’
—
Translator’s Comments
The coachman’s cousin’s wife’s boyfriend can’t be wrong. A blondie? OUR BLONDIE?!!!
