It was a place so desolate that one might question if people actually lived there. Still, perhaps because the Emperor was there, there were quite a few personnel guarding the entrance.

“I am the Empress. I informed in advance that I would be visiting.”

“Please enter.”

As if waiting, one knight bowed his head slightly and guided me. Not long after, the place I was guided to was a wide garden. What was a bit strange was that most of the trees in the garden were Arim-dri trees.

It felt awkward, as if low trees were planted to prevent assassins or others from hiding. Near the tea table in the center of the garden, there were no signs of grass or anything else.

And in the center, there was an old man with white hair sitting. It wasn’t difficult to realize that he was Emperor Lahel.

“From here, you can go alone.”

“Me alone?”

“Yes.”

I glanced at Tethel for a moment. Tethel also seemed puzzled and confused about this part.

“The Empress Mama should not be alone.”

“But for safety reasons, there’s no other choice.”

“Are you saying I might harm Emperor Lahel?”

The knight looked at me with widened eyes.

“It’s not that, but…”

“Even though Emperor Lahel has attendants and knights by his side, do I have to sit alone?”

“But,”

“For my safety, I should bring at least one person. If I bring Tethel, there shouldn’t be much to worry about, right? Anyway, if that happens… I might not win either.”

“Empress Mama…!”

Tethel protruded his lips as if disappointed, but I ignored his gaze a little.

“Well… I understand. I will inform Emperor Lahel. Please wait a moment.”

The knight immediately rushed to Emperor Lahel. Only then did I make eye contact with Tethel.

“I’m sorry. If I didn’t say this, I thought I wouldn’t be allowed.”

“…Do I really look that weak?”

“Yes. It will be a great help. If they think we’re bringing a knight, they won’t refuse. If that happens… Tethel can hear everything Emperor Lahel and I talk about and tell Lian.”

“…For that reason…”

Finally, he nodded his head as if realizing something.

“Empress Mama… You are indeed perceptive.”

“I just got faster at reading the situation.”

While we were talking, the knight who had run away came back to us.

“The Chief Advisor should be fine. Please go in now.”
While we were talking, it seems Emperor Lahel saw Tethel. The knight now had a much more relaxed expression than before.

In the end, I could meet Emperor Lahel with Tethel.

Looking at him, who closely resembled Liandro, I couldn’t close my mouth for a while. It felt like this might be Liandro’s appearance as he aged. Except for the fact that his hair wasn’t blonde but snowy white, they looked exactly the same.

“You’ve finally arrived.”

“Yes.”

“You’ve come really early. You lack manners, considering it’s almost the wedding.”

The feeling with Liandro and Lahel was similar. However, if Liandro had a somewhat tsundere feel, Emperor Lahel was just genuine. Just an unfortunate person.

“Well…”

“Maybe you didn’t learn proper etiquette. That’s why I told you not to associate with insignificant people. Tsk…”

Liandro seemed to know what I was worried about.

“Anyway, I don’t like that child. If you just listen to me, good things will happen, but he keeps acting on his own.”

“Ah…”

“You are a good child, right?”

“Me?”

“There’s something you need to take care of.”

And he went straight to the point without paying attention to what I was saying. Although I promised to come to see Emperor Lahel because he asked to see me, it seemed the situation was going the other way. Emperor Lahel asked to see me, and I felt like I came here.

So, I just blinked my eyes and looked at him.

“Take care of something?”

“Take care of my son.”

“Yes…? Your son… Liandro…?”

It didn’t seem like an age where someone needed care.

When I mentioned Liandro, Emperor Lahel’s face stiffened more than before.

“Did he not learn any manners, was disrespectful, and foolish?”

Liandro’s words about treating everyone except himself as bugs came to mind.

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t sympathize with things he hasn’t learned. Tsk.”

“…”

“Well, you’re the only one to speak right now.”

Emperor Lahel, who was sipping tea and talking, didn’t ask me to sit down or offer me a cup. Just displaying his temper.

So, I gradually became more irritated.

“I heard that you brought an unknown child and said he would become a crown prince or something. Is that child unrelated to you?”

“Lerdelo?”

“Yes.”

“That child is Liandro’s child. He will become the crown prince.”

“Whether that child is Liandro’s son or not doesn’t matter to me. But becoming the crown prince is a separate issue. I decide the next crown prince. And the next crown prince will be my son.”