Fight the Emperor?
Lara quickly grabbed Isadora’s arm. Just because her mother was a plutocrat and the mother of a saintess, it did not mean she could stand up to the Emperor, who was no different than the owner of the land.
“Mother!”
“Lara, why are you fighting the demon alone? You need to know how many are on your side first.”
My side?
Lara blinked her eyes.
“Hey there, mother!”
From afar, Oscar ran towards Isadora while shouting.
“They’re released!”
“What do you mean released?”
“Demian and the two idiots! They’re released now!”
Said Oscar with a smile. He did think it would work but he did not expect them to be released this quickly. He added that this was all thanks to Lara and Isadora.
“How?”
Lara asked. Oscar rubbed his lips and explained.
“The dessert shop and the people involved in the incident went to the watchmen station and asked them to release the Barbarians. They said that they were at fault too.”
“After all this time?”
“It’s obvious that they got scared. They’re scared of us camping here, but they are also scared of becoming victims to the Emperor’s criticism should they be blamed for the Barbarians becoming Tarragon’s enemy.”
“What cowards.”
“That’s right.”
“Where’s Demian?”
“There he is.”
Oscar pointed one hand behind him. Three horses were approaching at full speed. Riding on top were Demian, Lampion, and Domino.
Demian was the first to get off the horse. He effortlessly jumped off the horse and walked straight towards Lara. Then, he bowed his head and greeted Isadora.
“How are you?”
“Demian.”
Isadora scanned through Demian. He was just in prison but he wore fine attire and did not seem too skinny. His face was perfectly good looking and his abilities were outstanding, making him a perfect match for Lara. He did not have the personality to be taken advantage of like a pushover and he was not the type to enjoy tormenting others.
Above all, it was obvious that he loved Lara like crazy.
And that was what Isadora liked the most. He did not seem too bad as her daughter’s romantic partner. Having come to such a conclusion, Isadora said to Demian.
“Just call me mother.”
This kind of development was so sudden. While Lara, who was about to welcome the three people, hesitated and got flustered, Demian smiled at Isadora and said.
“Yes, mother.”
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
[The Barbarians are angry and will no longer fight for Tarragon.
The law enforcement knights have realized their mistakes and have issued an apology. But the Barbarians, infuriated as they were, did not accept their apology.
Realizing the severity of the situation, the Imperial family has asked a foreign merchant to bring the Barbarians to Dandelion after long consideration. They are working under the table to make them the people of Tarragon.]
“…That’s what it says.”
Demian raised the corner of his lips to one side. Knowing that it was his style of smiling, Lara put down the weekly magazine she was holding and asked a little louder.
“Are you really not going?”
“Not going.”
“Even though Crown Prince Acerus is your dearest friend?”
“Not that dearest.”
If Acerus had listened to Demian just now, he might have burst into tears. Hearing that Demian had come out of prison, he came to the hotel late at night with his aide and complained all night long.
“I was scolded by my dad! You bastard, huuh? I will be 30 anytime soon. Do you know how shitty it feels to be scolded by your dad like a kid when you have reached this age? Do you even know? And I even got punished! He told me to go to the North and catch the demon. He looked like he would kick my ass if I whined to you for help!”
Dandelion was noisy with the news of the two subjugation expeditions from early in the morning. One would go to the Western Gorgon Mountain Range to hunt the demonic beasts and the other would go to the Northern border to hunt the demon. And the commander of the subjugation expedition heading North was Acerus, the Crown Prince of Tarragon.
“Mother, what kind of person is the Emperor of Tarragon?”
Lara asked Isadora, who was sitting and eating to her right. She was cutting vegetables impressively decorated on a wide plate.
“The Emperor of Tarragon?”
“Yes.”
“He was a passionate fool when he was young, but after getting married, getting a child, and being involved in politics for 30 years, he became a passionate snake.”
What type of snake is passionate?
Lara tilted her head. Demian once again smiled by raising the corner of his lips to one side. Then he told Isadora.
“That was the most appropriate evaluation of the Emperor I have ever heard while living in Tarragon.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Isadora smiled at Demian. When the two people—who did not know how to smile properly—smiled with only one side of their lips and cheeks, the atmosphere became brutal. It was as if they were fighting. After the waiters put down the plates, they hurried back to their original position as soon as they saw the two people.
“The Emperor is someone who looks far away.”
Isadora finished eating first and continued talking to Lara.
“Apologizing to the Barbarians right away is nothing for him. He could soothe the Barbarians by listening to whatever they want, or he could give a harsh reprimand to the law enforcement knights. But if things repeat a second time, then repeat for a third time again…”
“Will the knights become lazy?”
“They will put off their own responsibilities.”
The Emperor was a man who never forgot that Tarragon was a country at war. If they weaken, they would be attacked. The power to make the Empire what it is today came from the sword. That was what he believed.
If this was a peaceful era, he might have been called a tyrant, but that was not the case. As such, The Emperor was able to make Tarragon the last hope for a human encampment.
Demian skilfully cut the meat and vegetables on Lara’s plate for her as she was lost in thought. Looking at the food divided into uniform bite-sized pieces, Isadora flashed a smile.
“I have to go to the Imperial Palace today. No matter how small Hautean is, there’s still a process in diplomacy. Being the King’s deputy is really annoying and bothersome.”
“Yes, go ahead.”
“What about you two?”
Isadora asked Lara and Demian about what they were going to do that day.
“I’m going to visit my comrades.”
Demian answered sincerely. The 2,000 Barbarians have entered Dandelion and were scattered here and there to see the capital.
“What about you, Lara?”
“I’m going to hang out with Eunice and Ximena.”
“Okay. where are you going?”
“Well… I don’t know. Eunice said she had a plan but she didn’t tell me about it.”
Lara and Isadora thought that Eunice was probably planning to order dresses that were in style with the Tarragon nobles.
After the meal, Isadora left for the Imperial Palace with Sebastian and Demian went out to meet his scattered comrades with Oscar. Lara went to the room where Eunice and Ximena were using together.
“Girls?”
She knocked several times but neither of them answered.
‘Are they still washing up? Did they oversleep or something?’
As Lara frowned and put her ears close to the door, Konny coughed slowly behind her back.
“Milady, you look like a perv. Don’t eavesdrop.”
“It’s not like that.”
When Lara was just thinking about whether to just open the door and enter, the door suddenly opened. It was Ximena.
“Our dear Lara is here.”
“What are you doing?”
“Come on in, come on in. Konny! You come in too.”
Ximena seemed very excited. Her voice was higher than usual, her shoulders moved up and down. She and Eunice kept smiling with their eyes.
“Lara! You came just in time. Change your dress into this and wear these shoes. This is your hat and… the coat! Where’s the coat?”
“It’s here.”
Eunice gave Lara a heavy dress in her arms. Konny followed Lara in on impulse and helped the three ladies wear the clothes they wanted.
“What’s all this?”
While dressing according to Eunice’s instructions, Lara could not hold back her curiosity and ask.
“Lara, do you know what Tarragon’s nobles call Hautean?”
“Nope.”
“A country of nobles, a country of culture, a country of elegant dancers.”
Come to think of it, she remembered hearing something similar before. Lara nodded and tied the dress knot tightly.
“What’s with that?”
“What do you mean? We’re the best talk of the town who make and spread the trend in Hautean.”
“She’s right. Before he passed away, my grandfather had a habit of saying this. Ximena, just like how big fish must swim in deep waters, humans also need to go somewhere bigger to become bigger.”
What does that have to do with this?
Lara burst into laughter with a face saying they were out of control.
Lara wore a bright yellow top and a shiny black skirt. Eunice wore a red and black ombre dress. Ximena wore a bright pink dress and a coat decorated with black feathers.
Lara, Eunice, and Ximena were all set and stood in front of the mirror. Then, they looked at Konny at the same time.
“Wow, miladies.”
Konny smiled broadly.
“Please pretend you don’t know me outside.”
“Great.”
Eunice beamed a satisfied smile on her face.
