Chapter 196 - The Princess is in the Next Room
We flew west for four days.
The black ship, which had been flying over neutral territory, had at so point entered the Imperial Family's airspace.
It did not go deep inside, but circled around until soone ca out to et it.
Nothing special happened because of that. Except that combat ships bearing the Imperial Family's flag sward like a flock of birds and surrounded it on all sides.
It was a wonder that they didn't imdiately pour down fire, even though a massive ship decorated with black sails and white bones had entered the empire's land.
There was only one reason why the firing was delayed. It was because of Millesdusk's symbol.
―Millesdusk. You have now invaded the empire's land. Whatever your intentions may be, return now. Otherwise, we will open fire.
The Imperial Family's mothership amplified its volu towards the black ship.
―I repeat. You have now invaded the empire's land. Whatever your intentions may be, turn your ship around now. Otherwise, we will open fire.
From Millesdusk's black ship, soone ca up onto the deck instead of an answer.
Above the clouds, where a wind that seed capable of blowing away a person raged, soone walked out.
All the combat ships that surrounded the black ship, including the Imperial Family's mothership, witnessed it.
The one who ca out onto the deck was a man with dark purple hair fluttering wildly.
His pale face, exposed without anything to cover it, had bloodshot eyes shining brightly within.
They were symbols of soone everyone knew, and the man on the deck was indeed that soone.
The one who had cast a shadow of war over the east, the west, and the Imperial Family in between was here.
―...Fifth Son of Millesdusk. For what purpose have you co here?
The Fifth Son, who had at so point stood on the bow of the ship, opened his mouth.
[Peace.]
Even though it was impossible to hear his voice in this high altitude, the Fifth Son's voice was transmitted to the mothership and all the combat ships.
[We have co here as an envoy of Millesdusk, and our family's ssenger has announced our visit.]
―If the white bone rose left at the main gate of the imperial palace is the announcent, I will correct you right here that such a thing is not an announcent.
Certainly, the Imperial soldier in the mothership was not wrong. But diplomacy is about turning even a wrong answer into a correct one.
[The rose is the national flower of the empire. The white bone is one of Millesdusk's symbols. It is an object that expresses the well-being of the east and the Imperial Family, so do not look upon it with disfavor.]
―…….
[Furthermore, a soldier cannot turn away an envoy led by a blood relative. Even if we are to be refused, it will be by His Majesty.]
―I believe I have told you. The empire does not currently permit visits from other great families.
[Then why did you let Wisdom through?]
The reply from the mothership was a tad slower.
―...Who is spreading such baseless rumors? The Imperial Family has not allowed any family into the empire's land.
[How about we both stop with the obvious lies?]
No slow reply ca from the mothership this ti. They were probably in a hurry to confirm where the information had leaked, but it was already too late.
[I will overlook the sin of lying to Millesdusk. So, open the way.]
―We cannot allow such a flying ship into the empire's land, especially the imperial palace.
[Then the entire envoy will board your ship. We will not resist, so connect to our side. After that, you can search our ship or do whatever you want.]
―...If you are willing to go that far, I understand.
A small airship flew from the mothership and ca close to the black ship.
Just as the Youngest Son had said, the envoys followed the Imperial soldiers' lead without a word.
Although they did not thrust their swords and spears at them, the envoys were comfortable even amidst the killing intent that seed ready to stab them at any mont.
“It was ti for lunch. I wonder if they will give us so.”
The Head Maid replied to the Forest Witch's words.
“The Youngest Son will take care of it.”
“Right. The president also can't stand being hungry for long.”
“But what is the situation right now?”
At Kairos's question, the soldiers on the airship looked at them with a montary look of disbelief.
This is an envoy? Such gazes flew from all over, but the dragon's eyes behind the sunglasses were pure.
“It is not a wrong or a bad situation. Rather, we can now go to the imperial capital safely and legally.”
“Are these people our guides?”
“Sothing similar.”
The small airship soon moved towards the mothership. In the anti, the combat airships lowered their chains and connected them to various parts of the black ship.
Like dozens of dogs pulling a sled, the chains were pulled taut, and the black ship moved as they intended.
Kuuuuung—
The airship entered the opened mothership and slowly landed.
To the envoys surrounded by soldiers, soone with a tail of soldiers approached.
His gray beard was neatly trimd, and his matching gray hair was swept back.
His military uniform shone with insignia, and the cape that fell from his shoulders fluttered majestically with his steps.
An attire that made one think he might be a hero, even if one didn't know who he was.
The middle-aged man stopped in front of the envoys with a frown.
“Are you all of the Millesdusk envoy?”
“That is correct.”
“Where is the Fifth Son?”
“I wonder. He is a person who moves as he pleases. He is also not in a position to be surrounded by swords and spears like this. So….”
The Head Maid's eyes, as cold as frost, looked at the entrance where the airship had just entered.
“You will have to open it once more.”
“……”
“If you do not open it now, a rather rough knock will follow.”
“...Does Millesdusk seek to gain the upper hand even while coming to the empire's land as an envoy? It is childish to no end.”
“And what about you, General, who has dozens of elites behind you to pressure an envoy of only four people?”
The gray-bearded imperial general chuckled. He then gestured.
“Open it.”
At his single word, the massive mothership opened its mouth once again.
Woooooooooong—
A deafening wind rushed inside, and the tied-up airships shook.
Soon, a black dot appeared in the blue sky visible beyond the opened mouth, and the dot grew larger and closer.
It was not the form of a demon, but a demon itself, and it was the owner of the voice from a mont ago.
Kuuuuuuung—
A crimson blood demon landed on the alloy floor. The demon's fire was so hot that the floor turned bright red.
“My apologies. I had to manipulate several things to make the ship listen to others.”
As the mothership's mouth closed, the Fifth Son, who had shed the demon's rock skin, wings, and horns, revealed his true form.
“This is our first face-to-face eting, isn't it? General Raymond.”
“Do you know ?”
“It would be wrong for an envoy not to know one of the empire's three generals. Then, do you know ?”
“You are the cause of this war. It would be wrong not to know you.”
The red lips beneath the bloodshot eyes curved into a smile.
“Since we know each other well, we can skip the unnecessary words.”
“Everything you say from now on will be heard by His Majesty. There will be no secret deals.”
“I don't expect any secret deals from a soldier like you. You wouldn't accept them anyway.”
Furthermore, he was saying that everything he said now would be conveyed to the emperor. Where else could there be such a grateful mont?
The Youngest Son opened his smiling mouth. However, he did not make a sound. He just opened and closed his mouth repeatedly.
And yet.
“……!!”
A ripple instantly appeared in General Raymond's steel-like eyes.
His posture, as stiff as an old tree, and his calm deanor were shattered into pieces.
The general, who had approached as if to grab him by the collar, asked very slowly and clearly.
“If what you just said gets out. The empire will put its na on the line and annihilate Millesdusk.”
“As you wish.”
Unlike Raymond, whose eyes were bloodshot, the Youngest Son calmly put his hands behind his back.
“So, you should also show courtesy to the envoy.”
“...I understand.”
General Raymond raised his white-gloved hand.
At that signal, a man in a peacock feather hat took a step forward.
“I am David, the general's attendant. I will guide you to your rooms, so please follow .”
Following David's guidance, they moved inside the mothership.
Josephine, who liked machines, observed everything she saw with interest, her eyes shining.
Of course, her blue eyes were not visible due to the robe and hood she wore whenever she went outside.
The robe, long enough to cover her fingertips, dragged on the floor, but her excited steps could still be felt.
“The rooms are a bit far apart, but they are not lacking in accommodating the envoys. Please understand.”
“It does not matter. You may rest now. However, personal actions of leaving the room are forbidden.”
“Understood.”
The Head Maid replied on behalf of everyone. With only the Youngest Son's room left, David walked ahead.
“The room where the Youngest Son will be staying is one of only three VIP rooms on the ship. However….”
But his hesitation in both guiding and speaking was sowhat strange.
“Is there sothing you want to hide in the next room?”
“There is nothing to hide. It's just….”
“Just what.”
It's 'just' again. And David just mumbled.
“Since we'll be facing each other directly anyway, if it's difficult to say, you can just be quiet.”
“...Thank you.”
They arrived in front of the VIP room, of which there were only three on the mothership.
There were exactly three doors on this floor, and since one would be the general's, there were two empty rooms.
But judging by the cold sweat that had ford on David's forehead, it seed there was a guest in the next room as well.
“We will take care of any special notices or als on the ship.”
It ant not to leave the room for any reason. It was no different from confinent, but it was a confinent worth enduring.
“I understand.”
“Then I wish you a comfortable day.”
After the attendant left, the Youngest Son walked around the VIP room.
Since it was the inside of a shaking ship, there were no glass items like vases, but the well-frad pictures on the walls were worth looking at.
The bed was also so fluffy that it seed like it would relieve any fatigue, but this was clearly enemy territory.
If I lay my head down in the wrong place, it could be the guillotine.
“Still, I should enjoy what I can.”
Thud—
I sat on the bed as if jumping onto it. My body, which had been bouncing with the cushion, soon regained its stability, and Enad snorted.
[Did you get on this ship just to lie on a good bed?]
“I can go all the way to the imperial castle while lying on a good bed. This is a big difference.”
Lying on the bed like this makes my body comfortable, so it's easier to use my head.
The sick crown prince episode is one of the important events in Act 2, and since there are nurous choices.
Depending on what words and actions I take in the Youngest Son's body here, the results could be in the hundreds.
So, being able to enter the imperial castle without bloodshed was a very welco start.
[Hey. By the way, there's soone in the next room.]
“Yes. I felt it too.”
Clank—
[She's coming out.]
“I heard that too.”
Thud, thud, thud—
[She's coming this way.]
“She'll pass by.”
Knock, knock, knock—
No, she didn't. The tenant in the next room suddenly knocked on the door.
Judging by the intensity, it didn't seem like she had co for a good reason.
“Should I just ignore her?”
[I think she's already heard our voices.]
-I heard everything, so show yourself.
[That's what she said.]
“...Tsk.”
I got up from the bed in less than five minutes.
The woman's voice I heard from outside the door. Whether it was misfortune or fortune, it was a very familiar voice.
Creak—
When I opened the door to the VIP room, the face I expected popped out. But it was more crumpled than the face I usually saw.
It was obvious at a glance that 'I'm angry' was written on her face, and although I seed to know why, I asked as if I didn't.
“What brings the princess to an imperial ship?”
The imperial princess narrowed her eyes and questioned.
“That's what I should be asking. What brings the Fifth Son of Millesdusk to an imperial ship?”
“I'm not sure how far I should answer, but at least it's not for a walk.”
Unless it was the Family Head, I had to use honorifics with the Imperial Family.
At this point in ti, the Imperial Family could perfectly defend against the attacks of all the other great families.
Conquering all the great families would be impossible, but if it was defense, the current Imperial Family was worth a try.
The daughter of an empire with that much national power was standing in front of , angry.
Perhaps....
“It seems you have a lot to say. Would you like to co in?”
It might be ti to roll the dice.
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