Chapter : 17
The envoy quickly spoke.
“Then the escort soldiers….”
“I will punish them in Machi. The crime happened in Machi, after all. And we will provide sufficient financial compensation to the victims’ families. That is my condition.”
It was not just reasonable—it was almost a generous demand. The Makaeri envoy’s face brightened, and he was about to nod when—
“Ah, I missed one thing.”
“Ah, yes. Please speak.”
“Princess Serina must apologize to us for this incident.”
“…Pardon?”
At that single sentence, the envoy’s bright expression cracked. He looked as if he had misheard.
“Why would Her Highness Princess Serina…?”
“This crime happened under the princess’s silent approval, did it not? Then it is only right that she apologizes.”
“That… is…”
“Is it difficult?”
Ainar looked directly at the troubled envoy and asked. The pressure made it hard for the envoy to even breathe properly.
From the moment he had entered this room and been left alone with the king, he had already been overwhelmed by Ainar’s presence. Compared to the emperor of Makaeri, Ainar felt far superior—and even when compared to the founding emperor Gunnar, his aura did not fall short at all.
His massive build and tall frame created an imposing atmosphere, but what was truly overwhelming was the deep dark green eyes that carried an unmistakable charisma.
The envoy felt as if he were standing before someone it was dangerous even to speak “difficult” to. Saying no was impossible—but agreeing was just as impossible.
Princess Serina would never apologize for something like this!
The word “apology” and Serina simply did not belong together. Everyone in the empire knew her arrogant nature. However, politically, there was no room to refuse.
The envoy turned pale, looking as if he might collapse at any moment. As the silence stretched, Ainar let out a slow, irritated sigh. The sound felt like a lion before a hunt, sending a chill down the envoy’s spine.
Finally, the envoy stammered.
“Y-Your Majesty… I deeply apologize, but could that final condition be… replaced with something else?”
“……”
“Anything else. Any form of compensation. Please… so that His Majesty the Emperor is not offended by this matter…”
“I have no interest in selling the dead for profit. If compensation is to be given, it must go to the victims’ families.”
“But that is…”
Since it was already a stated condition, there was no room to change it.
The envoy, helpless, glanced toward Elfreda. His eyes silently asked, You understand the princess’s personality, don’t you?
Elfreda did understand—but this was not something she could help with.
Just as she was trying to quietly avoid his gaze—
“Ah….”
Suddenly, Ainar reached out and took Elfreda’s hand. His large hand completely enveloped her small one.
Startled, Elfreda looked at him, but Ainar continued speaking while looking forward.
“The princess nearly damaged the friendly relations between Machi and Makaeri with this incident. And she also put the position of my newly married queen in an awkward situation within Machi.”
It was clearly words spoken in her defense. Elfreda froze for a moment and looked at him.
“So I want the princess to formally apologize—to me and to the queen.”
At that moment, Ainar and Elfreda’s eyes met. Elfreda felt her heart beat faster, but she did not look away. Neither did he.
After a brief silence, he finished.
“That is the only condition.”
His firm attitude left no room for argument. The envoy finally closed his eyes with a miserable expression.
“P-Please give me some time. I will speak with Her Highness.”
“Do so.”
Ainar nodded generously.
The envoy, legs trembling, stood and respectfully bowed before leaving. Only then did Ainar release Elfreda’s hand.
Elfreda stared at her hand, still feeling his warmth lingering there. The audience chamber was quiet again, and unable to bear the awkwardness, she spoke.
“…I am sorry.”
Ainar looked at her as if he had heard something strange.
“Are you Princess Serina?”
“Pardon?”
“I do not understand why you are apologizing.”
“…That is…”
“Are you truly her sister?”
At those words, Elfreda’s heart dropped.
When she looked at him with a pale face, Ainar met her gaze calmly and said:
“She seems extremely unwilling to apologize, yet you make apologies sound as natural as breathing.”
“Ah…”
“I do not want meaningless apologies. So stop it. Understood?”
“Sorry—”
Elfreda only managed the first syllable before quickly closing her mouth. It was a bad habit.
Ainar glanced at her and shook his head slightly.
Then Elfreda’s small voice was heard.
“…I thought you were angry with me.”
Ainar frowned slightly.
“I failed to manage my younger sister properly…”
“……”
“I should have paid more attention.”
Normally, she would have ended that with “I’m sorry.” Ainar let out a short laugh.
“She doesn’t seem like someone who lacks judgment.”
“…Even so.”
Elfreda hesitated, then finally spoke what she had been keeping deep inside.
“After that… you didn’t come.”
The moment she said it, Ainar’s expression changed slightly.
Startled, Elfreda quickly realized what she had said.
“…Ah. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
She quickly stood up.
“I will take my leave…”
At that moment, Ainar stood up and kissed her.
Caught off guard, Elfreda froze—but then her eyelashes trembled and she closed her eyes.
Ainar, now fully standing, pulled her closer with much more urgency than before. Instead of pulling away, Elfreda tightly grabbed his collar and accepted him.
His hand cupped her cheek, sliding across her soft lips and deeper inside with intense persistence. Wet sounds quietly echoed through the vast audience chamber.
“Ahh…”
Elfreda let out a short gasp as she swayed, and Ainar grabbed her waist, lifting her and pressing her against the wall. When his hand moved to lift her dress, she hurriedly stopped him.
“Your Majesty, wait…!”
“Why?”
He smiled crookedly without stopping.
“Isn’t this what you wanted?”
“But… someone might come in…”
“Maybe.”
He spoke as if it were someone else’s problem.
“So what? Is it strange for a king and queen to be together?”
His tone was calm, almost gentle, as if trying to convince her. It sounded like nonsense, yet she could not find a way to refute it, so Elfreda hesitated.
“……”
Seeing this, Ainar sighed softly and stepped back.
Surprised, Elfreda looked at him.
Ainar said coldly:
“I told you on the first day. If you don’t like it, I won’t continue.”
“Ah…”
“Go back, then.”
His tone was as cold as if nothing had happened moments ago. He quickly fixed his disordered clothes and looked ready to leave.
Elfreda felt panic. She weighed her thoughts quickly—whether she feared losing him more, or feared being discovered.
Her decision was quick.
Still hesitant to touch him directly, she barely grabbed his collar.
When Ainar looked at her, she slowly lifted her dress.
Seeing her exposed skin, heat surged in him immediately. When he looked at her face again, it was bright red—she had gathered real courage.
“Are you sure we can do this here—”
“Mm.”
He did not want to hear any more hesitation.
Ainar kissed her again, cutting off her words.
