[Side Story 4] Annoying men (1)

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Julius, the Emperor of Ronta, held a grand party that was truly magnificent, the first in a long time.

Rather than simply being beautifully decorated, the Atilchard Hall, covered in overwhelming blue and gold, showed the true essence of a Ronta royal banquet, making those who saw it feel intimidated.

The main character of this royal party, which was even grander than the Crown Prince's enthronement party, was not the Emperor or the Crown Prince couple.

Today was the 100th day since the birth of the long-awaited grandchildren of the Ronta royal family.

Countless nobles from the capital flocked to see the twin grandchildren who had been given the middle name 'Kozma', which was revealed to be proof of powerful magic.

Invitations to this grand event were not only sent to the nobles of Ronta but also to neighboring countries.

However, there were also uninvited guests.

"You should have stopped her, Victor!"

"I. Have. No. Power. You. Know. That."

"I don't care! I'm already in a bad mood, and now you bring someone like that?"

"I've done my best. I've stopped her. For a year!"

Epero, who had met his old friend after a year, rubbed his head, seeing the flamboyant figure following behind.

One of Victor's more than ten older sisters, Oxana Vansheik, the Queen of Elacon.

It was absurd that she had called early in the morning and said she was in front of the palace, but even more absurd that it was the queen.

When he tried to listen to her story, the answers he got were even more absurd.

Because the answer was that she had been wandering around the empire without permission for a whole year.

"You've been sneaking around like a rat in this vast Ronta for a whole year. You know this could cause diplomatic problems, right?"

"Well done, sister. Your Imperial language."

"That's the problem, you jerk."

Even before arriving at Atilchard Hall, the rumor spread faster.

Oxana, the queen of Elacon, famous for her jewels, was wearing a uniform adorned with jewels, and it was unclear whether the jewels were swallowing her up, showing off her splendor. The jewels that highlighted her tanned skin shone brightly as if asking her to look at them. Her high bun pink hair swayed playfully and confidently, unaware of her situation.

It was natural for the plain-clothed palace officials and the nobles who had gathered for the party to be wide-eyed whenever Oxana passed by.

"Epero. When can I meet the handsome Crown Prince?"

"Your Majesty. I warn you, you should never behave like that even when you see my brother."

"You're still as rude as ever. But I like you for that."

Oxana, who was clinging to Epero as if she were breathing, was familiar to him.

The queen, who had been confident and arrogant since birth, was a woman who had never been rejected.

When the famous 'Second Prince of Ronta' expressed his intention to visit, she was the woman who had blatantly ordered a new bedroom to be prepared in her palace.

She was truly a queen who loved all things beautiful.

She had been looking forward to Roardnes' visit, but she was a little annoyed that after Roardnes canceled his visit plan, he didn't even come back to Elacon, let alone send any news.

No matter how much Epero explained it in letters and Victor explained it verbally, it was different from hearing it directly from himself.

In other words, it was Epero and Victor who had endured the queen's temper and anger for the past year while Roardnes was enjoying the sweetness of newlywed life.

With those who were eager to find any opportunity to discredit Crown Prince Roardnes lurking in the shadows, Epero was struggling to avoid creating new controversies.

Moreover, since becoming Crown Prince and getting married, Roardnes' attention had been completely focused on his wife and children, so all matters related to Elacon had been passed on to Epero.

But it turned out that Oxana had secretly watched the Crown Prince's wedding and, captivated by the Crown Prince's beauty, had been wandering around this vast Ronta, looking for a similar man.

'She's really crazy.'

Epero stopped in front of Atilchard Hall with a bored expression.

The servants who were busy welcoming the guests rushed over at the sudden news of the queen's visit.

"Epero. Where is the Crown Prince?"

"Should Your Highness come out and greet her personally? You should have sent an official letter and visited. This is all I can do with my authority. And let me tell you in advance, the palace has been very peaceful since the birth of your nephews. Don't cause any unnecessary trouble and have fun and leave."

Epero gestured to the head servant who had run up to him to go back.

He had no choice but to take charge, even though it was troublesome. He had planned to slow down the meeting between the two, but there was no way he could drive the queen away in front of the palace.

He had given a heads-up to Roardnes, but his reaction was lukewarm as his attention was completely focused on Adriene.

He had only said, 'Let her play.'

However, as someone who had to know everything about matters related to Elacon, Epero's heart was cold.

If she came to an uninvited party and said something unfavorable about Roardnes, wouldn't it only give the nobles a reason to attack him, especially since the two countries were already not on good terms?

'I can't really say anything because she did help me find Lottie...'

Since Roardnes became Crown Prince, Ronta had been gradually lifting the bans and restrictions on magic.

Cooperation with Elacon, which virtually monopolized mana stone mines throughout the continent, was no longer a choice but a necessity.

All Epero could hope for was that Oxana and Roardnes would not clash in any way and that the friendly relationship he had barely maintained would not be broken.

If anything, it would strengthen Roardnes' position if he could make the nobles aware that the relationship between him and Elacon was not so bad.

****

On the second floor of Atilchard Hall, a meeting with the "most beautiful stars of the empire," who had just turned 100 days old, was in full swing.

Starting from the landing on the second floor, nobles of high rank and envoys from neighboring countries took turns meeting the grandchildren in their golden cradles.

Roardnes maintained a cold expression except when he whispered something to Adriene or shook the cradle.

His nerves were a little on edge because it was the first time he had introduced his precious children to the public.

And the group that upset his nerves finally climbed the stairs.

"Brother. These are the guests from Elacon that I told you about this morning."

"Nice to see you again."

Epero's anxious gaze moved past the cheerful Victor and onto Oxana, who couldn't take her eyes off Roardnes' face.

He was so nervous about what kind of bombshell would come out of that plump, cheeky mouth that his hands and feet felt numb.

The tense atmosphere was also transmitted to the other guests, and people began to look up and whisper.

Oxana stared blankly at Roardnes without saying a word, then moved her gaze to Adriene standing beside him.

For a moment, her gray eyes, as deep and analytical as if she were appraising a jewel, lingered there.

Just before Roardnes' eyebrows twitched, Oxana extended her hand to Adriene first.

"My respects to the most beautifully shining people I have ever seen."

Contrary to Epero's worries, Oxana greeted Adriene and Roardnes in turn, and then approached the twins, the protagonists of the day, just like the other people.

Epero reached out worriedly, but Roardnes nodded quietly, as if to say it was okay to see the child.

The two Ronta grandchildren, who had been entertaining guests in a giant golden cradle, were lifted out by their nannies and showed their faces.

Retina, the first-born twin, had deep blond hair just like Adriene's and bright red eyes like Roardnes', and she greeted the unfamiliar Oxana with a smile.

Even though she was born prematurely and was only 100 days old, it was clear that she couldn't distinguish many people, but she smiled as if to welcome them, melting people's hearts.

It was as if the whole world lit up when the baby smiled and clapped her hands together. Epero unconsciously tried to keep his lips from loosening.

"My daughter is kind even to uninvited guests."

Roardnes muttered, holding his daughter in his arms from the nanny.

No matter how well he wore his formal attire, he couldn't hide his agitated body, and the sight of a huge man holding a baby was a bit comical.

The baby looked as small as a piece of bread in his hand.

"Roan."

"Yes."

He lowered his head at the sound of Adriene's scolding voice and willingly kissed her.

Even a slight touch had a big impact. It was extremely rare for a member of the royal family to openly show affection in such a public place.

"Could you be a little more discreet, Your Highness?"

"Why? It's a beautiful sight."

Oxana didn't seem upset at all, and instead, she stopped Epero.

Fortunately, Roardnes didn't seem to mind Epero's remark very much, and he started focusing on kissing his daughter's cheek.

"Your Majesty, please greet my son Caldeion as well."

Adriene suggested, changing the atmosphere.

The nanny carrying Caldeion stepped forward a little more.

It was the perfect position to hide Roardnes, who was completely immersed in his time with Retina and couldn't see his surroundings.

"Oh."

Oxana, who was already half-in love with Retina, looked at the second child as if she was being drawn in.

Caldeion, who had just woken up and was barely lifting his heavy eyelids, met Oxana's gaze.

The eyes that met were the same pale green as Adriene's, who was smiling brightly right beside her.

A deep blue-green color, the highest quality emerald among countless emeralds.

And the same color as the mana stone found in the heart of a magical beast.

There was a small dot close to the mucous membrane in one eye, and it drew attention even though it was nothing special.

The nose, with its clear outline even as a baby, and the bright platinum hair that seemed to have been taken from his father, resembled his father's.

"They are truly beautiful children."

"Your Majesty, Your Highness values beauty and brilliance above all else. It's rare for her to say something is beautiful so many times directly."

Epero hastily explained Oxana's words.

Roardnes, who was busy sucking on his daughter's cheek, didn't even care, and only Adriene widened her eyes.

Adriene blinked a few times, momentarily taken aback, and smiled faintly.

-"Since my father is the most handsome man in Ronta, they can only be beautiful."

Oxana's eyes widened at the Elacon language that flowed slowly but accurately.

It was a voice that instantly refreshed the tense atmosphere.

After blinking her eyes a few times, a smile that didn't seem unpleasant appeared on Oxana's lips.

"Aha, ha. But the Crown Princess, who says such things, possesses the most enviable beauty."

Oxana laughed rather savagely, contrary to her warm words. Her deep gray eyes quickly scanned the beautiful family and then looked away.

Despite the seemingly harmonious atmosphere, the people enjoying the party below were even more tense as the Queen of Elacon and the Crown Prince couple got closer.

Just a year ago, there was a lot of speculation about why Roardnes, who was the Second Prince, had gone to Elacon and then returned to the palace.

There were reasonable suspicions that it was due to a dispute with Elacon.

There were even a few nobles who, out of fear of Elacon, wanted to make Epero, who had a good relationship with Elacon, the Crown Prince.

"I, Oxana Vansheik, today..."

Epero was startled and shouted when Oxana suddenly opened her mouth to address the people gathered on the first floor.

"Your Majesty...!"

"I want to announce that I have met a truly heir couple with magic."

Victor was also surprised and reached out to stop his sister.

"Sister!"

"From today, Elacon will open all borders bordering the Ronta Empire and normalize the stagnant diplomatic relations, and I want to establish a new relationship between Elacon and Ronta!"

The nobles who had been tense looked bewildered at Oxana's voice.

And when Oxana gently wrapped her arm around Crown Princess Adriene's shoulder and raised the champagne brought by the servant, applause erupted.

"...What's her plan?"

Amid the applause, Roardnes warily removed Oxana's hand from Adriene's shoulder.

"It seems that the twin grandchildren have inherited more than just their parents' beautiful appearance."

Oxana leaned affectionately on Victor's arm and smiled languidly. But a sharp intuition was dangling from the end of her relaxed lips.

"Two heirs with powerful magic have been born in Ronta. If we don't make peace beforehand, they will surely become talents who will threaten our Elacon in the future."

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