Chapter 445. Return (1)
Alon expected some problem to arise when trying to cross the eastern border.
He knew perfectly well that the only reason he could enter the East without problems before was due to a misunderstanding by the nobles: they believed Alon had passed through the Eastern Empire to deliver an answer to Serdea.
But, the moment he left for the destroyed West without meeting Serdea, that misunderstanding had already been broken.
It was evident that something would happen when crossing the border. He had thought about it…
But even so—
"You seem quite surprised. That I am here, I mean."
...He would never have imagined that Serdea Polanticia, the imperial princess of the East, would come personally to the border.
He couldn't stay silent forever. In the end, Alon opened his mouth.
"...Honestly, yes. I am."
"Hm~ But I haven't come just to wait for you. I was in the area for other matters. Yes, by chance."
Serdea added that with a carefree tone. But unlike her, the noble standing next to her didn't seem comfortable at all.
"But since I found you by chance, I would like to hear your answer."
"How many more times is she going to say 'by chance'...?"
Penia murmured from behind. Alon broke into a cold sweat, fearing Serdea had heard her, and thought about his situation.
Of course, Alon had no intention whatsoever of marrying Serdea.
Sure, marrying her implied a gigantic social ascent.
She was the princess leading the four divided factions of the Eastern Empire. Just the territory of the Eastern Empire was already equivalent to half the lands of the Allied United Kingdoms.
Furthermore, the power of the Empire was not like that of the kingdoms.
In the Allied United Kingdoms the king is absolute, yes, but he must still consider the nobles. In contrast, in the Empire all power resides in the Emperor.
Marrying her would be equivalent to giving Alon absolute power.
Even so, his thinking didn't change.
First: Alon had no ambition for power.
His first goal upon entering Psychedelia was "to go to Rodmillo and live a normal life without anyone chasing him."
And second: if he ever married, it would be to someone he loved.
A mindset that didn't fit a medieval fantasy noble... but that was how he was.
That's why he was thinking about what to do to overcome this situation without problems and cross the border.
When—
"Imperial Princess."
A voice rang out behind Alon.
"Who are you? Ah~ you... the one from that time, the one with the Rosary—"
"I am Cardinal Yutia Bloodia."
Yutia's gentle voice.
Alon turned slightly and saw Yutia smiling, while Penia looked at her with clenched fists and an expression of "it's time to attack!".
"Hm~ I didn't expect you to be traveling with him too."
"I am always with my master, as if we were a single body."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
"Then it would be better if you started keeping your distance. My husband should only look at me."
"You speak as if my master had already accepted."
"And why wouldn't he? With this that is me."
Serdea stuck out her chest with absolute confidence. But Yutia, seeing her, smiled with a hidden meaning.
"Yes, princess, I think you have reasons to feel so confident."
"Of course. Because it's me."
Serdea nodded confidently.
"You are noble and, although your stature is small, the presence you emanate is enough to entrap any man."
But after so much praise, Serdea was left confused.
"But my master prefers big women."
The princess went blank instantly.
She seemed not to understand her words...
But seconds later—
"Ha."
Understanding the meaning, Serdea let out a disbelieving laugh and frowned.
Then, almost immediately, she faked a forced smile.
"Ha... what a funny joke."
Serdea was an imperial princess. She could order the execution of that insolent woman right this instant.
Here they were in the Eastern Empire, and she was its owner.
But she couldn't do it, and all because of pride.
She couldn't order an execution just because her pride had been wounded. Although the Emperor's power was absolute, dividing it into four factions made it fragile against impulsive decisions.
...Besides—
The biggest reason was that she didn't want to appear as a woman who got furious over a simple comment.
"Oh, but it wasn't a lie."
Yutia acted innocent, causing Serdea's lip to tremble.
Suppressing her anger as best she could, the princess spoke:
"Then you don't seem to be his type either."
"Me?"
"Yes. You don't seem taller than me."
And it was true.
Serdea was small, but Yutia only surpassed her by a little. Both were similar in stature.
"Hm~ in stature, yes. In stature."
But Yutia replied without losing her smile.
Serdea, bewildered, looked at her again...
"!"
Then she realized something.
Yutia's priestly robe, which should look flat, showed a very marked presence at the chest.
Serdea, on the other hand, confirmed the opposite in herself.
"Get out!!!"
And finally, she kicked them out.
"...In the end, she kicked us out."
"That's right."
Expelled by Serdea's anger, Alon and his group moved away from the border gate.
Evan caught his breath and then looked ahead.
"But those two are happy for having been kicked out."
Alon directed his gaze toward Yutia and Penia, who were walking together with a satisfied expression.
"As expected of the Empire, they are petty even emotionally."
"I agree, Penia."
"Yes! The Cardinal only told the truth. That's why I hate the little ones of the Empire—"
Both were enjoying their aversion towards the imperials.
"...Did some imperial scam them before?"
Evan murmured, in disbelief, and then asked Alon:
"So, what do we do? It seems we won't be able to set foot on the Eastern border again."
"There was no way. Even if Yutia hadn't intervened, it would have ended like this."
Alon planned to reject Serdea's proposal anyway.
The result would have been the same, so he was thinking of alternatives when—
"...Hm?"
He saw a group approaching in the distance. After a few minutes, he recognized the banners and faces.
"...Contanias?"
Contanias, prince of the Northern Empire.
Alon murmured upon recognizing him and reached his hand into his pocket.
He didn't understand why he was here. Besides, he and Contanias didn't get along.
Alon formed a seal with his fingers inside his pocket, preparing himself.
He didn't think he would lose against Contanias and his men, but it was better to be safe.
The group approached and, when Alon raised his guard—
"!"
Contanias jumped off the horse as soon as he saw him.
"What—"
Before Alon could ask:
"Greetings to the Great Dragon!"
The prince, who seemed to be coming to provoke him, bowed abruptly with desperation.
Alon was left perplexed.
Evan leaned towards him and whispered in a bland tone:
"Alon-nim, are you a dragon now?"
"...If you know the answer, don't ask."
Alon sighed deeply.
Serdea kept grumbling, unable to release her frustration.
She couldn't stop thinking about Alon's group. It was unforgivable to her.
Trembling with her small body, she took a deep breath and regained her composure.
She knew the truth.
In the end, at the decisive moment, she would be the winner.
"If they return to the Allied United Kingdoms, they will have no choice but to pass through here."
There was no way to return to the Allied United Kingdoms without crossing the imperial border, be it the Northern or the Southern one.
But the prince of the North despised Alon, and the princess of the South would never allow an uncontrollable element to walk freely through her lands.
In other words, sooner or later, Alon would have to return to the East, and then he would have to bow his head before her.
Serdea planned to open the border just to obtain that gesture of submission. She was generous.
Although she deeply detested the cardinal accompanying him, she could tolerate it.
After all, once Alon was hers, that woman would disappear from his life.
"'After all, he is only a king of a country. I don't think he is worth so much effort, princess.'"
She remembered the words of one of her subordinates.
She had also thought so.
He was inferior to her in status and the rumors about him were nothing more than unconfirmed rumors.
But now, seeing that he rejected her, her desire increased.
It was not love nor reasonable emotions.
It was interest.
A man when no one had ever rejected her... and he did.
That awakened something she had never felt.
A desire to possess him. To have the man who had rejected her.
She thought about his face for a moment, until—
"Princess—"
Someone called her. Serdea smiled immediately.
She had ordered to be informed of any news regarding Alon.
"What is it? Have they asked for permission again?"
She asked in a cheerful tone.
But shortly after—
"That is..."
"That what?"
"...Contanias... seems to have gone out to take them to the Northern Empire."
The captain of the guard spoke with a bitter expression.
"...Eh?"
A hollow voice escaped Serdea's lips.
