This princess cooked four dishes and a soup overnight (Part 1)

“How strange,” I mused, falling into a thoughtful silence. “Did the potion for temporary arousal really not work?”

Maple, who had been sipping his Fubai, nearly spat out his drink.

“Did you put something in the coffee?!” he exclaimed, wide-eyed.

“Where did your mind go? I was talking about the arena just now!” I retorted, feigning innocence.

Seeing his flustered expression, I made a mental note: ‘Perhaps I should try it next time?’

Maple took a dignified sip of his coffee. “It only proves that even with performance enhancers, he couldn’t bridge the gap between us.”

I gestured towards Maple’s petite frame. “I think your target was too small. He couldn’t land a hit on you, which is why he lost!”

“That’s my ‘racial talent’! Got a problem with that?” he declared, completely unabashed.

‘Oh?’ I thought. ‘I always assumed he was sensitive about his height. I didn’t expect him to make a joke about it today.’

“You don’t have to mock my height either,” he continued. “I think we’re quite a good match in that regard.”

Correction—‘That’s the only regard!’

“Oh? But did you consider, before coming to the Empire, that Princess Fubai might be a fierce older woman whose chest you only reach?”

“With an engagement already in place, even if you were a dinosaur, I’d still have to endure it,” he replied, taking another sip of coffee.

I desperately wanted to retort, ‘So, even if I’m a boy, he still has to endure it?’

“Never mind, I won’t tease you anymore. Since you defeated my Second Brother, who is your next opponent?”

“His next opponent is me.”

The voice was calm and composed.

The tent flap was pushed aside, and a tall, slender man entered. He wore a black cape, identical to the royal guard’s, and his long, silver-blue hair was pulled back. Though human, his demeanor was as refined as an elf’s.

“A pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Ivan Black, Fubai’s elder brother,” he stated elegantly.

‘The First Prince?’

It was a good thing he introduced himself, otherwise, I would have been utterly clueless as to who he was!

“Fubai, it truly is wonderful that you’ve awakened. I’ve been quite worried about you,” he said, turning to me with a smile.

“Worried about me…?”

Because of his single expression of concern, my first impression of him was far better than that of the Second Prince.

“I will give my all in our next match. As the saying goes, ‘an elder brother is like a father.’ If you defeat me, I will consent to my sister marrying you,” he told Maple, a smile playing on his lips.

‘Hey! Don’t use me as a bargaining chip!’

“Indeed, I will also give my all,” Maple replied without hesitation.

“Well then, I won’t be a third wheel. You and my sister can continue your chat.”

“We weren’t even talking about anything!” I grumbled, staring at his graceful retreating figure.

Maple sighed with emotion. “To think my opponent in the finals would be the First Prince.”

“What’s so special about the First Prince?”

“You don’t know? Rumor has it he’s the most likely candidate to become the next Emperor of the Frankish Empire.”

‘Wait, I want to complain again!’

“Father Emperor is already taking elixirs of immortality. Why would he need an heir?”

Having bid farewell to Fubai and Maple, the First Prince made no pause, heading directly to the Second Prince’s resting tent.

Upon arrival, he pulled back the curtain to find the Second Prince lying on a bed, surrounded by five or six maids helping him remove his armor.

The First Prince stepped inside, observing the thin blanket covering the Second Prince’s waist with a cold gaze. He remarked, “I specifically came to see if you were injured. It seems your condition is ‘far from optimistic’ now.”

“I feel like I could conquer ten women tonight!”

The First Prince frowned. “What exactly did that witch give you?”

“How did you know? Ah! Never mind that, Big Brother! You must avenge me—!”

“You expect me to avenge you?”

“Now is the time to set aside internal strife and unite against outsiders! You wouldn’t want an outsider to win the martial arts tournament, would you?”

“…Even our aunt, who guards the frontier, sent an urgent carrier pigeon, specifically instructing me to win the martial arts tournament,” the First Prince stated.

“To preserve the Empire’s honor, you should be the one to win! What kind of person is that Prince from Britannia? Perhaps I should send someone tonight to slip some potent medicine into his food…”

Upon hearing this, the First Prince’s face immediately darkened. He sternly rebuked him, “I warn you, do not resort to such petty tricks! Furthermore, can’t you see? That witch Sharabelle is clearly setting you up!”

“Setting me up? I just wanted to ask her for a potion to temporarily enhance strength!”

The First Prince cast a cold glance at the Second Prince’s rigid member. “How do you think this state will help you in the tournament? I truly don’t understand why Father Emperor made her Chancellor!”

He turned and swept out, his parting words chilling. “As for tomorrow’s final, I will give my all!”