Adjustment period (not really) (Part 1)

What!

Father Emperor actually annihilated all other nations?

Leaving only Britannia?

And he’s the sole prince?

With Father Emperor’s divine assistance, was I truly forced to marry him?

There was simply no other choice!

Pointing at him, I stammered, “S-Since that’s the case, why didn’t Father Emperor just annihilate your country as well?”

He angrily placed his hands on his hips and retorted, “Hey! Isn’t that an incredibly rude thing to say?”

“You want to conquer Britannia? Your army would first have to cross the Narrow Sea!”

“Oh? So it was the Narrow Sea that saved you?”

However, suffering from amnesia, I had no recollection of where the Narrow Sea was.

I resolved to consult a map later!

Just then, his tone shifted, and he began to ponder, pressing a fist to his lips.

“‘Wait… if it’s that Emperor… he might actually be able to cross the Narrow Sea by himself…’”

“What are you mumbling about? Who could possibly cross the Narrow Sea alone?”

He frowned, glancing at me with a sidelong look.

“‘As his daughter, do you truly know nothing about him?’”

Ah, well…

I certainly wasn’t about to admit my amnesia!

So, I deliberately adopted a righteous stance and declared, “Of course I know him; he’s my own father! I merely wished to hear how others perceive him.”

Excellent, he evidently harbored no suspicion.

“It is well-known that he single-handedly swept across the Six Races.”

“Which Six Races?”

Damn it! I blurted out instinctively.

Noticing his peculiar gaze, I quickly waved my hands in explanation. “N-No, nothing! Please, continue!”

“Are you naturally dense? Of course, it’s the Cat-eared Tribe, the Rabbit-eared Tribe, the Demon Race, Elves, Dwarves, and Humans!”

‘You’re even more like a natural airhead for answering so earnestly,’ I muttered to myself.

“The reason he accomplished what no one had for a thousand years is because he wields magic.”

“Ah…”

An emperor who could use magic?

That seemed utterly fantastical.

Despite my profound astonishment, I had to feign composure, learning about my own father from a stranger—a truly peculiar sensation.

“I’ve heard that none of his imperial princes inherited his power.”

I could only nod, murmuring “Mm” and “Ah.”

In truth, I didn’t even know how many sons he had, let alone whether any inherited his abilities.

“I daresay, if any prince were to inherit his power, the succession to the throne would be all but guaranteed.”

He then surprisingly added, “Not that it concerns you, of course.”

“Yes, yes, indeed. After all, I am a girl, so I’m naturally excluded.”

‘To admit I was a girl, I truly had some nerve…’

Now, here was the dilemma!

As Princess, a boy, I was to marry this man.

Though my first impression of him wasn’t favorable, I truly couldn’t bring myself to deceive him.

Thus, beneath the cherry blossom tree in the garden, amidst the falling petals, I delicately addressed him.

“Um… although there’s an existing betrothal, are you truly unwilling to reconsider? I’m saying this for your own good,” I emphasized.

To my surprise, he immediately bristled upon hearing this.

“What do you mean? Are you trying to break off the engagement?”

“No, that’s not it—”

‘Didn’t I just say it was for his own good?’

“I traveled thousands of miles by boat to get here, and when I heard you’d fallen ill on the journey, I worried about you constantly!”

“Now that I’ve finally seen you, you actually… you actually…”

He spoke, huffing with indignation (and a hint of hurt).

“Tell me! What exactly don’t you like about me? Even if you are Emperor Nero Black’s daughter! Do you think I’m not worthy of you?”

Following this came a torrent of incomprehensible sayings.

Phrases like ‘Don’t bully a young man for being poor’ and ‘Thirty years in the east of the river, thirty years in the west of the river’ left me utterly bewildered!

“I simply cannot explain it to you!”

“If you can’t explain it, then don’t bother!”

“Fine! Then hurry up and take a boat back home to get married!”

‘And when that ‘thirty years in the west of the river’ day arrives, wouldn’t it be glorious to destroy my Father Emperor’s empire to avenge my broken engagement?’

“I can’t believe you would say such a thing!”

He let out an angry “Hmph!”

Then, he turned and walked away.

He ran off, then.

My sharp tongue had, in the end, driven him away…

I stood beneath the cherry blossom tree, lost in thought, watching him gradually recede from my sight.

An undeniable sense of loss washed over me.

I reassured myself that it was alright.

This outcome was, in fact… quite good…

With a resounding ‘thud,’ the Prince of Britannia slammed the door open!

His maid and close friend, who had traveled a great distance with him, stared at him, utterly dumbfounded.

“Your Royal Highness, have you already met Princess Fubai?”

…

The atmosphere, it seemed, was somewhat amiss…?

“Your Royal Highness, why are you… crying…?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t cry in front of outsiders.”

He watched the cherry petals fall like snow outside the window, then sniffled.

“After all,” he murmured, “in front of outsiders, I have to act like a boy.”