“I’m glad you came, Sean Rock.

Please, make yourself comfortable.”

The voice calling out was as beautiful as bells tumbling together, but Sean had no room to appreciate it.

“I-I could never refuse a summons from Her Majesty the Empress.”

The empress, who looked impossibly youthful and beautiful despite having an adult son, laughed elegantly.

“Oh my.

For my son’s chief guard to be this nervous, whatever could be the matter?”

Even the empress’s playful tone only heightened Sean’s fear.

“Sean, how long do you intend to keep your head lowered?

I told you to relax, didn’t I?”

“Y-yes…”

Bracing himself, Sean lifted his head, tilted it upward, closed his eyes, and let out a long sigh.

As the crown prince’s chief guard, Sean had survived countless battlefields.

He had faced death more than once.

Yet now, he felt the greatest crisis of his entire life.

He sensed something terrifying radiating even from the smiling empress, but the woman seated with her exuded pressure that felt like it could crush him outright.

“Is this your first time meeting her?

This is Martha.

You might recognize her better as the ‘Mage of Twilight.’”

I know, Sean screamed inwardly.

The Mage of Twilight was a legendary figure who, despite being a commoner, rose to the pinnacle of the royal court mages at the youngest age in history and left behind countless legends.

She was also famous for falling madly in love with an S-rank adventurer, pursuing him relentlessly until marriage, and then retiring without hesitation.

“I heard my husband and daughter were quite the trouble the other day.

I wanted to properly introduce myself.”

Though her tone was gentle, the former royal court mage’s smile carried killing intent, and cold sweat poured down Sean’s back.

He cursed the crown prince, who was away from the palace on inspection, and desperately wanted to punch his carefree self from just hours earlier when he had been enjoying a rare day off.

“Sean.

I heard something utterly unbelievable from Martha.

Since you are both my son’s chief guard and his childhood friend, I would very much like to confirm the truth with you.

Would that be all right?”

At the empress’s graceful tilt of the head, Sean could only nod stiffly, utterly speechless.

Sean knew all too well how terrifying this delicate-looking empress could be when angered.

Ever since childhood, whenever he and the crown prince caused mischief, they had received severe punishments together.

“Apparently, Mark tried to use his authority to take Martha’s youngest daughter as his consort without her consent.

And because of that, the Adventurers’ Guild, the Mages’ Guild, the Apothecaries’ Guild, and the Blacksmiths’ Guild have all lodged formal protests.

Is that true?”

The blood drained from Sean’s face.

Rise, the Adventurers’ Guild master, had warned him this might happen, but he never imagined it would actually come to pass.

And worse, the Mages’ Guild had joined in, and the empress already knew.

“Apparently, Martha’s husband is especially furious.

Naturally so, since it concerns his daughter.

He’s even talking about leaving the empire.

If one of our legendary S-rank adventurers were to leave the country, what do you think would happen to us?”

The loss of an adventurer capable of slaying dragons alone was not merely a loss of strength.

Dalkas was widely respected, devoted to training the next generation, and thanks to him, the empire’s adventurers maintained exceptional quality.

If Dalkas left, the many skilled adventurers who admired him would surely follow.

“And then there’s the Apothecaries’ Guild and the Blacksmiths’ Guild as well.

It would be troublesome if the high-quality, affordable potions and weapons they supply to the imperial army were cut off.”

Shanti, the young genius apothecary, belonged to the Apothecaries’ Guild.

The mana mushrooms and repellent herbs she researched and developed had become indispensable for monster hunting.

Their rights were tightly protected by Shanti and the Apothecaries’ Guild, and antagonizing them would make access to those items extremely difficult.

Then there was the Blacksmiths’ Guild, home to the prodigy Andy.

The swords and armor he designed were far superior to conventional weapons, lighter and stronger, and were traded at high prices by devoted fans.

If those became unavailable due to royal interference, riots might break out.

Making enemies of Shanti and Andy would weaken the imperial army, and by extension, the empire itself.

“And the Mages’ Guild would be completely opposed as well.

A mage that Martha herself acknowledges as a genius is far too rare for them to ignore.”

“Yes.

That child is incredibly talented.

The guild master and the elders all have very high expectations for her.”

The Mages’ Guild, to which Martha belonged, governed the mages of the magic-superpower empire.

Even the royal family could not afford to antagonize it.

The empress’s eyes sparkled.

“Not only is she sweet and adorable, but she’s talented too.

I’d love to meet her myself.”

At those words, however, Martha shook her head sadly.

“She’s become terribly frightened of the empire.

I don’t think a meeting would be possible…”

“Oh my, how unfortunate.

I’d so love to meet such a talented and adorable girl.”

Even knowing it was a jab meant for him, Sean couldn’t stop the cold sweat.

Still, for Mark’s honor, there was something he had to say.

“I apologize for my mishandling of the situation.

I regret giving Lady Liana the wrong impression and frightening her.

However, it is true that Lord Mark was desperate to meet the creator of that magic circle.

He was that deeply moved by the barrier spell.

When he learned that the crown prince of Karzin was not the creator, his disappointment was painful to witness.

When it became clear that Lady Liana was the true creator, that very Mark—who was rumored to be so uninterested in others that people joked he was a magical automaton created by the empire—declared that he wanted her as his consort.

And while magic was the catalyst, he seems to genuinely care for Lady Liana herself.

Mark is so worried that she now hates him that he can’t even focus on magic.”

“Eh?”

For once, the empress stared blankly.

In all her years as empress, no one had ever seen such an expression on her face.

“S-Sean?

Is that true?

Are you really talking about that magic-obsessed son of mine?

The same dullard who turned down tea with Princess Eliza of Vienna—praised as the most beautiful woman on the continent—because there was a Mages’ Guild symposium?”

“Yes.

Mark is currently studying ‘How to Escort a Lady’ and ‘Fail-Proof Gift Selections’ in earnest, hoping to apologize and invite Lady Liana on a date.”

“…Those manuals meant for provincial rookie soldiers?

They’re far too cliché and would get you laughed at by a refined lady.

So despite being born and raised in the capital as royalty, he has less romantic knowledge than a beginner…”

“Well, Lady Liana lived an extremely poor—no, modest—life in Karzin, so she’d probably sparkle with joy even at such clichés…”

Martha pressed a hand to her cheek and sighed.

She could easily imagine Liana blushing bright red over a bouquet of roses or expensive sweets.

Yes, very easy.

“Sean.

My husband said the crown prince only cares about Liana’s magic and her chest, you know?”

When Martha applied pressure with her gaze, Sean went pale and protested frantically.

“T-that’s a misunderstanding!”

Sean explained desperately.

That Mark had only cared about magic before was true, but that he also liked Liana’s sincerity, and that the chest issue was a misunderstanding on Liana’s part.

When he explained everything step by step, Martha finally seemed to understand.

“I see…

My husband was careless, but you all were too hasty as well.

You pushed things forward without considering Liana’s feelings, and this is the result.”

“I-I’m truly sorry.

But this is the first time Mark has ever taken an interest in a woman.

And Lady Liana is perfect in every way except her status.

If we let her go, I fear Mark will remain single forever…”

Tears welled in Sean’s eyes.

Sensing the hardships of the chief guard’s daily life, the empress and Martha allowed their anger to ease slightly.

The empress glanced at Martha.

Martha deliberately looked away, pretending not to notice.

“Martha, wouldn’t you consider letting Liana marry into our family?”

“She doesn’t want that.”

Martha brushed aside the hopeful question effortlessly.

“Our Mark may be a magic fool, but he handles his duties properly and is an excellent crown prince, you know?”

“I can tell he’s not a bad man from what your guard has said.

But marrying him would make Liana the future empress.

That’s too much for her.

Political marriages are a noble duty, aren’t they?

I can’t tell a girl who’s lived worse than a commoner to marry a man she doesn’t love.

She’s dreaming of a love match right now.”

Liana now yearned for a mutual love marriage like Shanti and Andy’s.

With her painfully low self-esteem, she believed even such ordinary happiness was beyond her.

“Well!

Then if Liana falls in love with Mark, you’d let her marry him!”

“Your Majesty.

If you try to force things, we really will leave the country.”

“I know, Martha.

Do you really think I’d make such a blunder?

I’ll properly discipline my foolish son and let him try again.

Honestly, having my son and the empire backing her would make you feel safer, wouldn’t it?”

Martha met the empress’s gaze and shook her head.

“My husband is strong enough to protect her on his own.”

“Martha.

I want a cute daughter and grandchildren…”

At last revealing her true feelings, the empress clenched her handkerchief tightly.

“I came to this empire with only a handful of attendants, struggled with foreign customs, and supported my work-obsessed dullard of a husband for over twenty years.

My precious son was adorable until he turned five.

Then he grew into his father’s spitting image, talking about nothing but magic and work.

No interest in marriage, barely any interest in people, rambling about this-or-that theory.

I’ve worked myself to the bone to keep the country peaceful and fed, and my reward is growing old surrounded by those two?

I hate it.

I want comfort.

I want to drink tea and laugh with a daughter and grandchildren.

Is that really such a selfish dream?

Am I not allowed to seek comfort as an empress?”

As the empress poured out her heart, Sean mentally covered his ears.

This was something a mere guard should never hear.

Yet somewhere deep down, he couldn’t entirely disagree.

Mark was a crown prince worthy of lifelong loyalty, but when absorbed in magic, he was truly exhausting.

“Yes, I understand.

But Liana has suffered terribly in her homeland.

I absolutely refuse to force her to marry someone she doesn’t love.

Every parent wants their child to be happy, don’t they?”

Even so, the empress did not give up.

Drawing on all her cultivated negotiation skills, she pressed on.

“…Martha.

I agree that proposing marriage outright is unreasonable.

So instead, would you let Liana be friends with Mark?

If he could slowly learn to talk with a sweet girl, he might finally take an interest in women.”

“She doesn’t want that.”

“But she understands now that much of this was a misunderstanding, right?

Mark may be a magic fool, but he doesn’t intend to exploit her.

In his own way, he wants to protect and cherish her.

Please, Martha.

Give him a chance.

My foolish son has finally discovered ordinary emotions, and as his mother, I want to support him.”

The empress clasped her hands tightly, looking at Martha with pleading eyes.

Her large eyes shimmered, on the verge of tears.

Sean felt his chest warm at the sight of her maternal side.

“Your Majesty.

That won’t work on me.”

“Tch.”

At Martha’s cool stare, the empress clicked her tongue.

Sean, who had almost been swayed himself, began silently reciting military manuals in his head.

This conversation was far too terrifying.

“We don’t want our daughter burdened with becoming empress.

Even if she and the crown prince fell in love, I couldn’t approve.

She’s a former commoner and an orphan.

No matter how capable she is, status matters.

She’d face constant backlash.

As her parent, I can’t recommend such a difficult marriage.”

Martha said calmly and stood up.

The empress looked disappointed, but she likely hadn’t given up.

Martha sighed bitterly, thinking this might have been a mistake.

Her original goal had been to have the empress rein in the crown prince’s behavior.

That would surely happen.

The empress would thoroughly reeducate Mark, who had no understanding of women.

The miscalculation was how deeply the empress had taken an interest in Liana.

The prospect of finally having a daughter-in-law and grandchildren had captured her heart completely.

Martha shuddered at the thought of what would happen if Liana were brought before her.

The elders’ doting behavior when Liana met the Mages’ Guild came to mind.

Those elders were some of the most stubborn eccentrics among mages, yet even they had adored Liana like a grandchild.

That alone made her remarkable.

“She’s a troublesome girl.

She charms everyone without even trying.”

It was the weary lament of a mother burdened by her youngest daughter’s unconscious allure.

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