Isadora was flustered, she said with a sour face.
"Do you know who the man the Emperor wants to introduce to me is? He's ten years younger than me. Besides, he's never married before!"
"What does that matter? He just has to be a good and upright man."
"I haven't even said anything about accepting his introduction yet but the Emperor is already setting the wedding date. That idiot geezer is seriously…"
"Just meet him once. No way the Emperor will choose someone strange for you. The Tarragon Empire needs to present itself well both to me and you."
"But he's a Duke!"
"What?"
This time, even Lara was surprised.
"That man is a Duke, one of the only four Dukes in the Tarragon Empire. His duchy is bigger than that of the Hautean Kingdom, and he's also a distant relative of the Emperor, so he has the right to succession."
The Emperor risked his life to make Isadora part of his entourage. So he even chose the retainer he cherished the most as her partner for remarriage.
Still, how could the Emperor choose a Duke? A Duke in the Tarragon Empire had more power than the Eastern Union and the King of the Hautean Kingdom. Even the position of a Duke by itself was already burdensome, but on top of that, he was even a relative of the Emperor.
Lara said cautiously.
"I guess he really wants to tie you to the Empire."
"Let's stop talking about this. It will get hectic around the Emperor when the war breaks out, he'll stop bothering me then."
"Before that, it seems like something else is going to get hectic first…"
"What do you mean?"
Can I even talk about this?
Lara pondered for a moment. She thought that even the people involved had no intention to hide about it anyway, so she just casually confided in Isadora.
"Eunice is dating Crown Prince Acerus."
"What? Who is doing what with whom?"
"Eunice and the Crown Prince…"
"How long has it been going on for?"
"A while. She said it was before Crown Prince Acerus left for the northern expedition."
Lara pondered again whether or not to tell Isadora that Eunice and Acerus were meeting solely for each other's bodies. But she thought that even though Isadora was her mother, she could not tell too much of someone else's private story. So she decided to shut her mouth at that point.
But Isadora grabbed her forehead with one head and pointed out something Lara had not thought of.
"She's out of her mind. Does she think the Emperor does not know about that?"
"Pardon?"
"He's the Emperor. Do you really think he doesn't know what kind of woman the only heir he has is meeting with? By now, Eunice's appearance, personality, family, and of course… everyone around her and her past actions must have been made into data and reported to the Emperor."
"Oh."
"I don't think your friend is an inadequate woman, I like Eunice's personality, too. But Lara, Acerus is the Crown Prince. The Tarragon Imperial family is the most exclusive place on the continent and has been inherited by perfect bloodlines."
The criticism and condemnation towards Eunice from Hautean's noble society was nothing compared to that of the Empire's. Tarragon was the best country on the continent, and Acerus was their future. So, of course, they wanted no less than the perfect Crown Princess.
A high status, beautiful appearance, a good and upright heart, a healthy body capable of producing the next heir, high knowledge, and strong charisma to lead the Empire in case of emergency—they would want it all. So that the Imperial family, whom they should respect, would not become a target of ridicule and gossip.
Eunice was a sweet and good friend, but she did not suit the position of the Crown Princess. Isadora got up from her seat with a stiff face and said to Lara.
"I'm against it."
"Mother."
"Those kids are my responsibility from the moment I agreed to Eunice's request to follow you to the Empire. I have a duty to protect Eunice."
The Emperor wanted Isadora to settle down in the Empire so he encouraged her to remarry. He even said differences in nationality and status should not be a problem between a man and a woman. However, as long as he was the Emperor, he would not just let his one and only heir be with a country bumpkin from a small country on the outskirts.
"Unless Eunice loves the Crown Prince to death… I think it would be better to break up before things escalate."
"Even Eunice knows about that."
Lara recalled Eunice's reaction. She enjoyed her relationship with Acerus, but it did not seem like she loved him to death. Moreover, upon learning that the Emperor's entourages were investigating her secretly, Eunice might end her relationship with Acerus, cursing that he and his father were clingy.
"Don't worry."
Lara said.
"It doesn't suit Eunice to play the role of a tragic female lead who gets thrown away after falling in love with someone in power."
Rather, it was Acerus that had to be concerned. In Lara's view, his feelings were sincere to some extent.
"Mother, think nothing of it. I will talk to her. Both Crown Prince Acerus and Eunice…are grown-up. They will understand."
"I hope so."
Isadora nodded her head reluctantly.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
At night, Lara got a message from Acerus. It was a very coincidental timing. Originally, she was going to meet Eunice first, but Acerus said that he had something to say to her and that he had requested a meeting.
"His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince wants to see the saintess. If you wish to choose a time and place convenient for you, we will bring him there."
"Where is he now?"
"Pardon?"
"I'll just meet him now. Lead the way."
"Absolutely."
The messenger sent by Acerus politely led Lara to the carriage. Then, he took her to the Crown Prince's castle.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
At the same time, Acerus was putting on an inspiring performance as a patient so that no one would know about his abnormally quick recuperated body.
"Urgh!"
"Your Imperial Highness, you have to move slowly. Rehabilitation will take a long time, so don't be impatient."
Since returning from the north, Acerus' daily life had become very monotonous. He was just lying on the bed all day pretending to be a patient. Of course, he was secretly meeting Eunice late at night and was monitoring the demon Valac. But most of the time, he would scream on the bed of the pain he was feeling or complain that the medicine was bitter.
"Urgh, it hurts!"
"That's it for today. The wound might get infected."
Acerus sat on a comfortable chair with a frown on his face, smelling of strong herbs. The knights who were supporting him left the room, feeling bad for their liege.
"Have they left?"
"Yes."
After being in a bent position next to Acerus, the restless aide straightened and patted his back with one hand. Then, he grumbled.
"What kind of tomfoolery is this? Just announce that the saintess healed you."
"No! If I do that, all the injured and sick people will visit the saintess. Not only am I not helping her, I'm even causing her trouble."
"If you take even just a hundredth of your feelings for the saintess and think of His Imperial Majesty the same, you will hear that you're the most filial son in the world…"
"What? Gross."
"How can you say a son's feelings for his father are gross? His Imperial Majesty will be disappointed if he knows."
"It's okay. Even if I'm not worried about my dad, he still has the whole world worrying for him."
"That's true."
"Stop nagging and contact a painter, find someone talented. It doesn't matter how much money it costs."
"Why a painter?"
The aide asked. Acerus was not only ignorant of painting and art, he was not even interested at all. His sudden order to bring a painter made the aide suspicious.
Acerus muttered with a serious and earnest face.
"She'll hate it if I ask for her portrait, so I can't just ask for one, right? I'm just going to keep it for myself… But I can't just call a painter and keep a hold of someone busy. Is there anyone who draws well without a reference, just by listening to explanations?"
"What? Who are you going to draw?"
"Who else?"
"No way… Your Imperial Highness."
"Hey, listen to me. Let's say the saintess' portrait was drawn. What if the painting shines all sacred-like? God won't punish me because it's blasphemous, right? I can't believe I will get to keep a portrait of the saintess… Just thinking about it makes me feel overwhelmed. Isn't this something that has never happened in history?"
The aide groaned and nodded. It was already strange for him to follow the saintess like an idol, but for the Crown Prince to secretly draw and keep the saintess' portrait… There was indeed no one like him in history.
"I can hand it over as a national treasure later, right?"
"Your Imperial Highness."
"Whooo! my heart is pounding. Do demon worshippers worship demons with these feelings?"
Yes, you will definitely hit it off with all the weirdos in the world.
The aide showed a faint smile.