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nChapter 86

nAria could easily read the Emperor’s expression.

nAt the same time she felt great discomfort. It meant that in her previous life he had tamed Aria to her liking.

n‘I had to match the mood and comfort of the Emperor one by one.’

nAria’s past life flashed through her mind quickly.

nDays filled with pain and misery. It was a memory she would rather have cut out.

n“I can understand why Grand Prince Valentine looks unfamiliar after not showing his face for a long time, but everyone, please welcome him.”

nIt was about the time she was getting fed up with the ignorant gaze as he scanned them up and down.

nThe Emperor smiled kindly. And he looked at Aria and Lloyd and told the avoiding nobles, as if it was too much.

n“Isn’t he our hero who silently defends the empire in the dark?”

nA hero who defends the empire.

nThe nobles, who had no idea what was going on with Valentine, put on an expression saying, ‘What kind of nonsense is that?

nAs if there was any reason to call the devil a hero.

nAs if they had heard a funny and horrendous joke.

nThey will never know.

nThey will not even try to know.

n‘Pretending to praise, but saying that you’ll be eaten by darkness for the rest of your life and you won’t be able to become a hero.’

nLloyd seemed to read the inside too, but he only raised his eyebrows for a moment, and showed little reaction. Because he didn’t feel anything.

nRather, it was Aria who was angry.

n‘How dare you say such a thing.’

nAria flapped her lips.

nThe only thing that allowed him to safely ascend to the throne. It was because of the sacrifices of each individual Valentine who gave up on love, happiness, and the future.

nShe wanted to shoot back like that. But then she bit her lip.

n‘You can’t mess everything up with one impulsive mistake.’

nInstead, she smiled mischievously.

n– Greetings, Emperor, the sun of all nations and the bright light.

nAria gently curtsied by grabbing the hem of her dress, which Marronnier painstakingly picked, and then releasing it.

nIt was a message using the mana stone.

nHer cheerful voice echoed through the heads of the nobles in the venue. That voice had the power to make people stop all thoughts and listen to her words.

n“Oh, you are the rumored Grand Princess.”

nThe Emperor looked startled at her voice for a moment.

nIt was pure. The sound of clear and transparent water drops falling on the lake reflecting the clear blue sky.

nAnd the Emperor showed a hint of disappointment on his face.

n‘It’s a pity she can’t speak.’

nHe seemed to think so.

nAria had to do her best to gather the expression on her face, which was about to become hideous for a moment.

n“I’ve heard rumors that Grand Prince Valentine fell in love at first sight and gave you a keepsake generously…”

nI don’t think it’s a false rumor.

nThe Emperor’s gaze, which added so, reached Aria’s earring. Exactly the crystal on her earrings.

n‘Field Steel.’

nAt first glance, it seemed worthless as if it was just crafted from a piece of iron.

nBut in fact, it was difficult to obtain even with money, and it was a gem with a value that could never be bought no matter how much you paid. It was because a lot of wizards had to stick together in order to craft that jewel.

n– Oh, you recognized it.

n“I also have a knack for jewelry.”

nThe Emperor replied playfully.

nAria knew it too. Even when the treasury ran out when he went completely crazy, he didn’t spare money on buying jewelry and luxuries.

n‘Valentine’s wealth, are you jealous?’

nIt was already predicted long ago that Valentine’s wealth would be something that even the Emperor would envy.

nSo, she smiled innocently and said,

n– Your Majesty’s eyes are as good as I have heard.

n“Hmm, was it rumored like that?”

nAria spoke to him, who she seemed to be in a good mood, in an elegant tone that showed no sign of malice.

n– To a pig’s eyes, a pearl necklace would just look like a worthless stone.

nA clever twist on the proverb of a pearl necklace around a pig’s neck.

nAt first glance, it sounded like a compliment to the Emperor who recognized the value of the earrings. But the smile slowly disappeared from the Emperor’s face when he heard those words.

n‘I’m glad. He got it.’

nShe was worried, but he seemed to understand what Aria really wanted to say.

nBecause it meant that the Emperor and all nobles who ridiculed Valentine’s value without recognizing it were nothing but pigs.

n“Pig. Sure, that’s right.”

nLloyd muttered next to her. Like talking to himself. His eyes were scanning the Emperor up and down.

nIt was an unexpected reaction.

n‘You can’t say that here?’

nAria forgot to be polite and almost burst out laughing while holding her stomach. But she desperately endured it.

nIt was because she was here right now, and if she laughed, the acting would end without a gain.

nThe Emperor struggled to hide his trembling lips.

n“…you say impressive things.”

nHmm?

n‘It’s strange. At this point, he would throw everything aside and run wild.’

nAria swallowed a puzzlement and looked up at him.

nHiding his anger in an instant, the Emperor said with a polite ‘face that seems to have a plan’.

n“My heart is heavy because of the manamont incident that made me doubt you who are loyal to me.”

nShe doesn’t know if it was because it was before he went crazy. He maintained his composure, even while covering the crazy couple, who turned the Emperor into a pig, with loyalty.

nAria was deeply impressed.

n“After today’s banquet is over, I have prepared a separate dining table for you, so I hope you will come.”

nThen that’s right.

nJudging from the fact that they were summoned separately, it looks like the Emperor was really planning something.

n‘It should rather be good.’

nJust try to play tricks on Lloyd.

nAria thought she would put him to sleep with a song and just get away from the place.

n***

nShe got a contact from Vincent.

nAria, taking a brief break in the break room, accepted without hesitation.

n– Sir Cloud, don’t move it like that! Treat it as delicately as if you were holding a newborn baby!

n– I don’t remember holding a newborn baby.

n– Have you ever seen a person holding one?

n– Yes.

n– Ah, don’t you know a metaphor? Metaphor!

nAs soon as she received it, she could hear Vincent and Cloud fighting again.

nFor some reason, the pattern of conversation between these two people remained the same even after several years.

n– Sister-in-law!

nAt that time, Vincent from the communication greeted her with a bright face.

nAfter having a meaningless argument with Cloud, he belatedly realized that Aria answered the contact.

n– I have some very good news.

nAria rummaged through her bag in anticipation.

nShe couldn’t use even the best mana stones as stacks, so she had to communicate with cards again when using the communication sphere.

nDid you crack the password?

n– Not yet, but it’s almost done. Hopefully, I will be able to solve it all within this month.

nThen why did he call her?

n– You just thought, what am I calling you for then?

nI didn’t say anything.

n– I can read all your facial expressions!

nUmmm, was she too obviously disappointed?

nAria patted her own face with her hand, gently avoiding his gaze.

n– Don’t rush me too much. No matter how much data I have and I am a genius, do you think it’s easy to learn a new language?

nVincent started making lengthy excuses from time to time.

n– Besides, this Atlantean language is so different from the official language of the Empire in its structure…….

nIn any case, the fact that the progress is slower than planned is absolutely not due to his lack.

nIt was a lengthy explanation.

n– Anyway, I’ll let you know as soon as it’s finished. This is not something that takes long…….

nAria picked up the card as she cut his endless excuses halfway through.

nI know. Where in the world is there a talented person like you?

nMaybe it’s because he’s always scolded, but at an unexpected moment, he was given praise.

nVincent didn’t respond right away.

nIt wasn’t an empty word to make him work hard. Her expression was telling him that these words came from the heart.

nVincent hesitated for a moment, unlike him, and then asked with hesitation.

n– Did I become Sister-in-law’s person?

n‘Well? Maybe this is what I said about the 0.1% chance?’

nAria was speechless.

nShe really didn’t know that Vincent would still care about it four years later.

nIt has been like that since a long time ago. Idiot.

nShe showed the card as if to tell him why he was asking something like that.

nThen Vincent, who had been staring blankly, answered with a bright smile like the sun.

n***

n“You’re here.”

nThe dinner the Emperor invited was overly extravagant than expected.

nAnd the place was too wide. It was just that there were no people, but with a little exaggeration, it looked nothing like the banquet hall they had been in a while ago.

n‘Ah, I guess…….’

nAria knew this place well. She would know better than anyone.

nThere was not a trace of it now. But right in the middle of this wide hall, there was going to be a huge cage that could fit a person.

nAria was locked in that cage, and for about two years she sang for the Emperor.

n‘The nursery.’

nThe Emperor called the cage that way.

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