Flying airships were a new means of transport in the Empire ever since the Dwarven Kingdom released the blueprints that were needed to build one. It was exclusively to the dwarven kingdom, however, after the empire made ties with the dwarven race, many services including the production of airships and skilled engineers, became available to them. Following them, the other nations also acquired these benefits. The Theocracy excluded.
One could choose to build airships with weapons—it would thus be known as a battleship. Or one could simply build one for enjoyment purposes.
The battleships could be used if countries wage war with each other. It is the perfect self-defense against ground and air troops. What made the battleships special were the advanced weaponry built on each one.
Instead of needing cannonballs and boulders for catapults, the weapons use magic power and aura to fire projectiles.
Three people were sitting in one of the Empire's luxury cruise ships. The ship wasn't big but the interior was very luxurious. Only people of high status and those who have lots of money could afford to even rent one.
However, this ship was bearing the flag of the Imperial family. Thus, it was the property of the Emperor. When one is flying in the air then that means that at least one royal is occupying it.
Gathered around one of the tables inside such a ship were three people. Two women and one man.
"—And then he grabbed me by the throat, that fucking bastard! I want to rip him apart! Hey, Liv, are you listening!?"
"Haa…" A loud sigh escaped out of the mouth of a girl with long brown hair. She was wearing a luxurious gown that was fit for a young lady of a middle class noble family.
"Elder brother, I can definitely hear you." Olivia Fernici Ledfia Eulia answered her brother who was literally screaming in her ears.
She was a young woman at 17 years old; she had long silver hair and blue eyes. Her sharp facial features were elegant and was as perfect as the painting of an artist. Owing to her status, her gown was made from an unknown but expensive fabric resembling silk.
The gown wrapped perfectly around her slim figure.
Her ample bosom was neither big nor small and her legs were long and slender. Her skin was as fair as a maiden's skin ought to be—unblemished and smooth.
"Your Highness, thank you again for inviting us to go along with you." Grace, who was one of the three sitting by the table, gracefully bowed her head.
Olivia smiled amiably and shook her head.
"I feel that it is better to bring more people if I am meeting my husband. As you two are my closest family, it is only obvious that I would choose you."
'What about your elder sister though?'
"My, I am thankful that you brought us along to meet Your Highness' new husband."
In response to Grace's innocent words, Olivia's brow twitched.
"Yes. Indeed."
'She's so young yet this is her second engagement.' Grace shook her head in pity.
It was a complete embarrassment to her if those who don't know her situation, judge her due to this second engagement. There were already rumors of why Olivia got a new fiancé.
One such rumor stated that Arnold was impotent and there was no way for him to give the family an heir. They say that Arnold was cursed for cuckholding so many men and sleeping with many women.
Olivia was obviously troubled by these kinds of rumors.
Another one stated that Arnold didn't love Olivia anymore. If anything, that rumor was something she probably wanted to be true with all her heart.
Grace had done some digging and found out from the Berkley castle's servants that a strange young boy had been living in the castle while the rest of the family was in the second residence. The duke had ordered everyone to keep quiet about this.
Grace put two and two together and theorized that Luke was some illegitimate son of the duke. However, when her informant gave her the most recent news, she was shocked.
Arnold lost the position of heir and that boy would take over the household one day.
'The household would fall in Arnold's hands anyway. The duke would be killed and his wives and children would live a life of slavery. Even the Emperor can't stop an assault from multiple noble houses.'
She wasn't guessing this, it was actually what could happen. It was what happens to many houses in power. The weak join together to overthrow the strong.
Arnold had many enemies and so did his father. His father's enemies would join hands with his enemies and find a way to make the household fall from grace. The Berkley household was indeed powerful but that didn't mean they were omnipotent.
'The duke probably also predicted this. I wonder what idiot can't come to the same conclusion and then still question why the duke forced Arnold to step down?'
Grace heard that many people were complaining about the duke's decision. Of course, there weren't that many who were brave enough to say it to his face.
'Marcus von Berkley really planned out ahead. I wonder how the household's enemies took this news?'
Grace's thoughts halted when she heard her husband speak.
"Liv, are you sure you want to go through with this?" Jurius held Olivia's hand with an uncertain expression on his face.
Grace's face almost distorted by his rather bold action. Although they were siblings, it was completely unnatural that they were this close. His other hand was even on her leg, though she didn't seem to care about that.
"Through with what? Meeting my fiancé? This is my duty as the one who has the blood of the emperor of this nation. I must join and unite the Berkley and Imperial families. This was something all the women of our family did. It is our duty." Olivia answered without a particular change in her expression. Although her gaze turned slightly cold hearing her brother's words.
"Yes, but…" Jurius looked at her fingers. Particularly, her ring finger. On it was a diamond ring. It was a ring that Arnold bought for her in the past. Despite the fact that she openly shows how much she despises him, she never took it off and is always seen wearing it.
"Dear husband," Grace took Jurius' hand which was holding Olivia's. "—this is not our decision. Her highness has already showed her resolve."
'Don't act so chummy with her, you dumb fool. People will start believing that rumor that you love your own sister.' Grace wanted to slap Jurius.
The servants and knights who were in the room all had strange expressions on their faces.
"Kyuu~!"
A small silver fox jumped onto Olivia's lap.
"See? Even Pluffy agrees." Grace rubbed the ears of the cute fox.
Seeing that cute gesture of the small animal, both Olivia and Grace had smiles on their faces.
"Weren't you asleep, little one?" Olivia took out a brush and brushed its fur. It stretched its back which showed that it enjoyed being groomed.
"By the way, Your Highness."
"You can call me Olivia, Grace. Do not be so stiff with me. We are family, after all." Olivia remarked but Grace knew that it was rude to do that.
Addressing someone of royalty without any particular title was basically disrespecting that person's entire family.
"Miss…Olivia, where did you find this little guy? He has the ears of a fox but his eyes and pelt is strange. I can't even tell what animal it really is."
"Oh, you're curious. I found him when I was exploring the Western Flower Bloom event that happened last week near my villa. Many people were there yet none of them saw this little guy who was lying deep in the forest. He was injured, see?" The little fox whined when Olivia lifted his right leg. The leg was bandaged and a small stick was keeping it in place.
"Maybe it was abandoned by its parents?"
"I also considered that, Grace. But none of the trackers I've hired managed to find anything. Maybe it's too soon to rule that out."
"Kyuu~!" The little animal rubbed itself against Olivia. Grace could tell that Olivia was trying her best not to smile too much.
'What the hell? Since when has this woman liked cute and small things?'
It just didn't fit someone like Olivia. She was mature and calculative. She wouldn't have been surprised if Olivia was someone who preferred dark colors and would look upon dead bodies with unmoving eyes.
She would probably willfully bear the child of the king who destroys her nation.
'What a strange woman.'
"We are arriving at the city, your highnesses." One of the female knights approached the three.
"Good." Olivia stood up. "Elna, tell the captain to show the flag of the imperial family so that the defense force of the city do not attack."
"Certainly." The knight called Elna bowed before heading towards the cockpit.
"She seems too young to be protecting a royal, isn't she?" Grace's eyes followed the girl's back.
Her hair was black and her eyes were as red as a ruby. She was tall and slender which was the average physique of a knight who followed the training program.
"She is only two years older than me but I can vouch for her skills. Besides Arno—that man, she is also a prodigy and a 5th star knight. Her specialty is ice magic."
Grace's eyes widened.
'What the hell? Why didn't I know that such an overpowered knight was right next to the princess?'
She thought that Elna was just like any ordinary noble girl who got to prideful in her strength and became a knight, only to regret not marrying early and dying alone.
She met many girls like that at the academy, after all.
"Now then, let us go and meet my future husband."
**
Luke stared wide-eyed at the giant flying airship that was about to land in the backyard of the castle's grounds. Despite the castle's property being fairly large, the airship took about 50% of the entire space.
The airship slowed down before landing and anchored itself to the ground using special magic chains. The airship was probably of the luxury kind since there were no noticeable weapons. Perhaps there were emergency weapons inside the ship.
The shuttle door opened up at that moment.
Luke tensed up. Noticing that, Sebastian chuckled.
"She will not bite. Just do not adopt any of young master Arnold's traits."
'What does that mean? What traits?'
Before he could ask, he saw many knights walked down the stairs extending out of the ship. They were Imperial Knights.
Their armour were a dazzling white and there were blue capes for each, except the captain who had a red mantle.
A spokesperson came forth and loudly declared:
"Announcing the arrival of Her Highness, Olivia!" Said person made an appearance. Before Luke could gaze up to see her, the spokesperson shouted again. "And his Highness, Jurius!"
'Huh? Isn't that the man big brother almost hit at the auction that day?'
Luke's curious thought was answered the moment Jurius stepped out of the airship.
"Whew! Little sis, did we have to ride such a long way?" A tired voice spoke.
"I was interested in seeing the blooming flowers in the east. I couldn't help it, so I ordered them to circle around the countryside first."
What followed was the voice of the young woman with silver hair.
'She…She's gorgeous!' That was Luke's thought when he saw Olivia, Grace and Jurius descend the airship.
His attention was solely on his future wife, Olivia.
Her eyelashes were long and silver. Her skin was unblemished and shined like a diamond among gems. Her beautiful face was without emotion and looked at everything indifferent.
She was gorgeous. Luke didn't have a wide vocabulary so he could only call her that in his head.
He knew he had to say something.
'She's coming!'
Jurius, Grace and Olivia neared Sebastian and Luke who were the only people to welcome them. The other family members were busy with the preparations for later today so only Sebastian and Luke were here.
Olivia finally arrived in front of Luke.
"It is an honour to welcome you, Highnesses and lady Grace of the Lewan household." Sebastian did a perfect curtsy to welcome them.
"Humph." Jurius only lifted his head with a carefree grin.
Grace smiled and Olivia gave no response.
"So you are lord Luke? You are younger and smaller than I expected." Olivia was perhaps a head taller than Luke.
Her eyes were looking down on him. Literally, of course.
"Uuuh…" Luke's gaze swam around the backyard. "H-Hi! I-I-I am L-L-Luke…!"
Luke also bowed, although his posture was much worse than Sebastian. His face flushed red.
"…Seriously…?" Jurius chuckled.
"…." Olivia gazed at him for a few seconds. "I see. I guess I have a lot of work to do."
'Huh? What does she mean by that?'
Luke wanted to ask but Olivia only walked past him. She was ignoring him completely.
"I will inform the madam of their arrival. You should head upstairs and change, young master."
Luke nodded to Sebastian's words. Sebastian followed behind the trio as they entered the castle from the garden. Olivia's knights and attendants boarded back on the airship.
Luke was left standing alone in the backyard.
'That was so embarrassing!'