“I mean in terms of productivity.”

Erdene Baatar elaborated, but Sophia Bischegelo Fiddlers still couldn’t grasp it. No, she seemed to vaguely understand, but…

Erdene Baatar, who was looking into her half-empty cup of tea, gulped down the remaining tea and put down the cup.

Clack!

Along with the sound that hit the ears, the cup clattered and tilted.

Sophia looked down with disbelief at the saucer that had cracked in the middle and split open.

Erdene Baatar also had a similar expression to Sophia, but after a short while, she frowned and said this:

“Why are Betor’s things all so fragile?”

Sophia cleared away the saucer that could no longer serve its purpose and replied in a calm tone.

“It’s not that Betor’s things are weak, but perhaps Your Highness is too powerful.”

Erdene Baatar’s lips moved in a pout.

Although they hadn’t met for long, she really liked Sophia a little.

For one thing, her attitude of not looking anxious or flinching reminded her of Telma, the adjutant who always moved with her in the empire, and the knights’ commanders.

Sophia turned the topic again.

“Anyway, when Your Highness said it’s inefficient in terms of productivity… were you referring to descendants?”

“That can be considered correct.”

Erdene Baatar tapped the rim of the teacup that had lost its saucer and become lonely with her fingertips.

“Whether a man has several wives, or a woman has several husbands, or each has several lovers… Anyway, wouldn’t it be possible to have more heirs than in a one-to-one relationship, and designate the most outstanding child as the successor? It could be said to be beneficial for the family as well.”

Sophia was even more astounded by Erdene Baatar’s monotonous tone.

But she wasn’t as fussy and conservative as her mother, the Marchioness Fiddlers, or Platt, the king’s chamberlain.

Although Betor’s laws and society were much more familiar, Sophia never let anything color her to the roots.

Sophia said as she filled her cup with a little more tea:

“In the Hirschsten Empire, warriors with excellent martial arts, physical strength, and strong temperaments are most highly valued. So I understand what Your Highness is saying… but Betor is not like that.”

“I’m not just talking about children born with strong temperaments. A child who is quick-witted and intelligent, or if not either of those, at least beautiful. Anyway, wouldn’t it be better for the family to have an heir with at least one more advantage that can overwhelm others?”

After pondering a bit more on Erdene Baatar’s words, Sophia came up with this answer:

“Of course, that’s true, but if the number of children increases, especially children with different mothers or fathers, inevitably there will be succession disputes. Since a person’s ability is not something that can be seen with the eyes, even if the most excellent child is marked as the successor, wouldn’t there be those who rebel? The probability of innocent people being sacrificed in the process would also increase greatly.”

This time, it was Erdene Baatar who remained silent for a moment with a thoughtful expression.

Sophia’s words were not wrong. Rather, as she said, bloodshed occurred almost daily in the noble families of the empire.

Long ago, when the empire was still in chaos and divided, it was said that the heads of families who had built power in various places frequently pointed their blades at friends or relatives, even their own children or parents, to seize the throne.

The remnants of that fierce struggle remained, reduced to the family unit even after the empire was unified.

Erdene Baatar said:

“Well, if I had become emperor, I would have eliminated Tenek without hesitation.”

“By Tenek, do you mean the current empire’s…”

“Yes, my twin brother who took my place. Even if I will never become emperor now, if I ever encounter him, I want to cut his life thread for sure.”

“Umm, yes. That’s for Your Highness to decide.”

Sophia knew how to distinguish between political matters that required her involvement and those that did not.

It was natural for Erdene Baatar to bear a grudge against the new emperor of the empire.

Whether she would take the opportunity to cut his throat, tie a stone to him and drown him, or—unbelievably—show mercy, that was a realm where only Erdene Baatar had the choice.

“But.”

Erdene Baatar, who had been staring blankly at the window where the sunset was about to fall, turned her gaze towards Sophia.

“There seems to be a reason why you’re suddenly telling me this.”

Sophia nodded as if it were obvious.

“It’s because I don’t want Your Highness to receive any unnecessary misunderstandings after becoming the queen consort of Betor.”

“Misunderstandings?”

“It’s true that I have feelings for Bellen Wizard rather than His Majesty the King, but it’s also true that those who serve closely to the queen consort most frequently come face to face with His Majesty.”

Erdene Baatar, who had been staring at Sophia as she replied calmly, suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

“Do you find my concern amusing, Your Highness? I’m being serious.”

Sophia said with a slightly sulky gesture. Erdene Baatar, who had hooked one arm on the back of the chair, crossed one leg and chuckled.

“You seemed bold, but you were worrying about such things? I can’t tell if you’re timid or what, Sophia.”

“It wasn’t just that one thing I was worried about that I mentioned it. I also wanted to make a request to Your Highness.”

“A request to me?”

“Yes. I wanted to say that if you were thinking of taking a concubine, it would be better not to do so.”

The more Erdene Baatar listened to Sophia’s words, the harder it became to maintain an indifferent expression.

However, Sophia looked at Erdene Baatar, who was trying to hold back her laughter with twitching lips, with quite a serious gaze. It was a genuinely concerned expression.

“His Majesty Arkan is a person who seems endlessly gentle and soft, and strangely smooth… but he is an extremely upright person. Probably much more so than Your Highness imagines. And he always walks the right path. He absolutely cannot tolerate anything that deviates.”

Interesting. Erdene Baatar thought.

When she first arrived at the Betor royal palace, she didn’t sense any of that in Arkan’s appearance.

But after having two or three conversations, Erdene Baatar could vaguely detect the aspects Sophia was talking about.

He was a more stubborn man than he appeared and seemed unwilling to compromise with those who touched his core, his roots.

‘As for me, I like to play with such fellows.’

Erdene Baatar smiled quite leisurely, thinking that if Arkan had heard this, he would have launched into another round of nagging.

Sophia continued:

“He will probably be prepared to dedicate his life to Your Highness the moment he makes the marriage vow.”

“That’s a bit burdensome, isn’t it?”

To Erdene Baatar’s words, Sophia calmly nodded.

“That’s why I say His Majesty the King is not my type.”

“Then is that Bellen or Berel man a rogue?”

“Of course not. He’s a simpleton who wants to pretend he’s popular with women and has a lot of dating experience, but it’s obvious he’s never had a proper romance. He’s probably no less, if not more so, than His Majesty Arkan.”

“Yet you still prefer him, is it really because of his face?”

Sophia agreed with a serious attitude.

“Appearance is also important in falling in love. Especially for a virtuous young lady from a noble family who rarely has the chance to have deep conversations, and a knights’ commander who always lives covered in dust in the barracks. The rest can be learned gradually. At least I know well that Bellen Wizard is not a vile person.”

Erdene Baatar sank into thought, her gaze fixed on the now fully reddened sky outside the window.

Listening to Sophia’s words, she couldn’t help but think of Arkan.

His curly hair like a kid goat or lamb, eyes that seemed as warm as summer sunlight or heated sand, skin that looked exceptionally soft for a man, and perfectly balanced, handsome features.

Among the men of the empire, at least among those around Erdene Baatar, there wasn’t a single person with an appearance like Arkan’s.

‘For the most part, they were either bears or wild boars…’

Erdene Baatar chuckled as she recalled the faces of her subordinates one by one.

Among the men close to her, the only one with fair skin was Tenek, but his appearance could not be called handsome by any means. At best, it was just ‘passable’.

Erdene Baatar said:

“I don’t know what Bellen Wizard looks like, but in terms of appearance, Betor’s king seems much better. Usually, those who dedicate their lives to swords and armor can’t escape the level of lumpy potatoes.”

“You’ll probably see him soon, Your Highness. He’s not quite a lumpy potato. He’s more like a smooth potato.”

Either way, the fact that he’s a potato doesn’t change.

Erdene Baatar looked at Sophia with an amused expression.

Realizing that the conversation had strayed, Sophia spoke again to Erdene Baatar as if to reassure her:

“Regardless of whether Bellen is a potato or a taro, please remember what I said. If Your Highness takes a concubine after marriage, and if His Majesty finds out about it, it could become a very serious matter.”

Erdene Baatar gave a light snort.

“At worst, I’d be divorced and become a deposed queen. Isn’t that right?”

However, Sophia tilted her head with a meaningful tone.

“Well, I don’t think so. Divorce might actually be better.”