Epilogue 1...
Leonard Valor Veinfield - current emperor of Duran empire, a newly established settlement of humans formed just about a hundred years in the recent past. After his grandfather married a royal princess, a nation was built under their name. Despite being a much younger nation than any in the continent, they were able to grow significantly stronger both economically and militarily. All of the achievements of this new great empire was because of the intellect and leadership capabilities of all who came before Leox.
With the previous emperor sick and bedridden, Prince Leonard took it upon himself to lead the empire, along with the emperor's trusted minister. In his five year reign, he was able to take the nation to even greater heights, enabling it to become one of the biggest power houses in the continent. At the death of his father, he was immediately crowned the emperor, and he became the nation's absolute ruler. All of this success, he accomplished in the ripe age of 20.
"Kuku... who would've thought, that the young brat who people deemed a coward became the most successful ruler of this nation," Wilbur, the minister of the east, laughed as he stares at the back of the napping emperor.
Wilbur Yui is the sole minister the late emperor assigned to watch over the empire, but because of the sudden increase of workload that came together with the growth of economic affairs, another person was given the same supposedly exclusive title. Now, while the other was titled as the minister of the west, in parallel, he was titled as the minister of the east.
"Who says I'm a coward, Wilbur?" with a voice so slow and unmotivated, you wouldn't expect that it came from the emperor himself.
"Y-you're not asleep, young master!?"
"Don't just suddenly change your tone like that. I don't like it."
"P-pardon me..."
"It's fine, it's fine... although I said I don't like it, you're already a family to me, so it's not like I care that much."
"Young master... to say such things to this old, dying self... I'm truly grateful!"
Wilbur is already passing the age of 80. When he was in his peak at the age of 20, he worked under Leonard's grandfather, when he turned 40, he became a subordinate of his father, and when he was 60, he was turned into the nation's minister, and along that, he became similar to a caretaker to Leonard.
He lived an eventful life, and he thought that all of that culminated into the recent crowning of the previous prince, now emperor, Leonard Valor Veinfield. Being acknowledged as a family by that same person provided him with so much pride that he wanted to shout into the heavens with joy.
"Kuku..." he wanted to shout, but he chuckled instead, to not be rude to the emperor.
"Hmph... so, what did you came here for?"
"Uhum... before that, young master, I think it would be wise if you would step down from the ledge first."
Leonard, although he was called a coward, likes the thrill of the world, and the wind that's pushing against him at the tallest tower of his castle was a joy to him.
"The wind is strongest at this time of the day, let me enjoy it a bit more."
"I see... then, if you will allow me to report to you like this..."
A bit reluctant, Wilbur reported everything he has gathered as a minister of the empire to Leox.
"Good news, good news... as for those things, I'll let you handle the easier stuff as usual, I'll take care of the others in my spare time."
"Please do so."
"Haa... this feels nice," so nonchalantly, Leox changed his posture as he laid on the ledge of the balcony.
"Oh... this as well... as you're 20 now, you should have a wife of your own already. Me and the others have gathered these candidates for you to choose from. Of course, if you're not satisfied with one, you can choose as many as you want to become your mistresses as well."
Carefully, Wilbur handed Leonard a thin but well-crafted book, containing all the names of the most beautiful women in the empire, along with a few more in the other nations in and out of the continent.
"I haven't seen most of these princesses yet, but I heard they're as pretty as it can get... Even more so when you meet them in person..."
"I assure you that they will suit your taste. Please, see their illustrations."
"Hmmp... an elf princess is included here as well... even a beastkin princess...? She's pretty as well... but a beastkin, huh? What's your opinion on her?
"Aside from the fur in her limbs being a turn off, I say she's extremely gorgeous."
"I was asking about her personality... but whatever.... You've seen her yourself?"
"Indeed... she's definitely more endowed than most human female. Mm? She has... what was that obscene saying? Something like, a bountiful woman with cow tits? Similar to that, I suppose..."
"Fufu... I can see that..."
"Did she peak your interest?"
"Who wouldn't? Fufu... I'm sure my friend would go crazy if he sees breasts as big as these!"
"That same friend who you said would lust even for mothers?"
Wilbur reminiscent of the time when he heard the young prince Leonard say that his very own mother was exactly the type of person his friend would lust for.
"Yes, that same person..."
"I've never actually seen this person before, is he from another country?"
"Huh? Didn't I tell you already? He's dead."
"I-is that so?" taken aback, Wilbur stuttered.
So the emperor's friend he was hearing so much about was actually dead? It was a shock to him, since unlike what Leonard-sama claimed, he never actually told him about his death before.
"Well, enough about that. Let's go back to the subject at hand... So, who do you think I should marry?"
"In my most humble opinion - the princess of the neighboring kingdom, Marik. If you marry her, the hostility we've built up with her kingdom will disappear."
"I see... I've seen her before, and she's pretty enough."
"I-if that's what you think! Then!?"
"Don't rush about it too much! Before that, what about her personality? Is she competent enough to rule an empire with me?"
"I heard she's like any other princesses... although I have never heard a bad rumor about her, all the information I have about her is her hobby of socializing with other aristocratic women... she also has not accomplished that much academically."
"Hmph... are you indirectly telling me that she's just a typical spoiled brat?"
"That's... exactly it."
"Then, let's try for another... Hm? This person... no noble relations? Also not much influential..."
"Oh, that?"
"Eria... she's not even an S rank adventurer... and she doesn't even have her own illustration...? Why is she even included here?"
"You might not know about her, Leonard-sama... but she's a very prominent figure in history. She's as influential in this continent as any other ruler, and she's renowned as a hero, even a deity by the people."
"Huh...? Why did I never hear about her before then?"
"I'm surprise about that as well, after all, the founding emperor's father was completely obsessed with her. She's an important figure in the history of this empire, and she's the reason why the founding emperor's father pushed him to establish a country of his own. This nation was supposed to be a gift to her."
"Eh...!? Isn't she a big deal then!?"
"Of course! This empire wouldn't have been made if it wasn't for her."
"But... she's supposed to be dead now, isn't she? There's no reason to put her here anymore."
"Well, about that... she's actually an elf... so she's living in the world still."
"Is that so...? But... is she even still worth it now?"
"Worth it? You would gain the most benefit if you marry her! She's a person worshipped as a hero and a goddess in this continent, just imagine the influence you would gain!"
"Mm... have you seen her before?"
"Never personally... but... Kuku... Have you seen the book written by the famous sage Zehn?"
"I haven't even heard of it..."
"Then I think you should read it... Only then you will understand why the masses claim her as a goddess. She's the most beautiful person you will ever see."
After his reincarnation, Leonard Valor Veinfield has seen all the variation of beauty in this world. He thought everyone was beautiful, and he finally felt as if he was ordinary among the masses, unlike how it was before. That's why... in a world full of beautiful people, just how beautiful can one be to be named a goddess? He can't even imagine.