Adjustment period (not really) (Part 3)

Ugh! A shiver ran down my spine.

‘My Imperial Father can tear someone to pieces just by blinking?’

That sounded utterly preposterous; it had to be an exaggeration!

Yet, she spoke of it with such relish, making me wonder if this young lady was, perhaps, a little off.

Could she be a natural airhead who simply adored violence?

I struck a pose, as if accusing a culprit, and pointed at her. “Oh! I get it now! You merely worship my Imperial Father’s power, don’t you?”

“Is there anything wrong with the weak worshipping the strong?”

We stared at each other for a few seconds, the scene momentarily frozen.

“…Perhaps we should just continue looking at the map.”

“Mm-hmm~”

“So, where exactly is the Narrow Sea?”

The young lady waved her hand erratically across the map. “Roughly… here?”

“Isn’t this called the Sunset Sea?!”

‘I realized her geography knowledge was just as terrible as mine!’

Just then, a knock echoed at the door.

The half-elf loli I had briefly met earlier in the day appeared.

Standing in the doorway, she exuded an aura completely at odds with her tender age.

“Sharabelle…?” the Maid said, speaking her name aloud.

She let out a soft huff. “Shouldn’t you also address me as Prime Minister?”

‘Caught between them, I sensed the atmosphere growing tense. Did they have some prior grudge?’

After a few seconds of their gazes clashing like daggers—

“Princess, your Imperial Father sent me to check on you,” Sharabelle said to me, her tone polite.

A flicker of annoyance crossed my face. “Hmph, and what is Imperial Father doing himself? Busy flipping concubine cards?”

“That would be impossible—”

‘Hey? Their voices had synchronized!’

“Your Imperial Father is burdened with myriad affairs of state; of course, he is currently busy reviewing memorials,” Sharabelle explained.

Noticing the map on the table, she then asked, “Princess, what are you doing with a map?”

“I’m trying to find the Narrow Sea, because the Prince of Britannia arrived by ship, you see.”

‘Don’t misunderstand; I wasn’t concerned with his origins, merely bored.’

Without a word, Sharabelle pulled a pointer stick from her sleeve.

Then, donning a pair of round-rimmed spectacles, she began to lecture me. “This strait is the Narrow Sea. Britannia’s fleet is renowned as the world’s finest, making it exceedingly difficult for our own fleet to land there. Even riding griffins, it would be challenging to fly across the Narrow Sea in one go, as there are no suitable places to rest…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa… Could you please not explain this from a military perspective…?” I interjected.

‘This Prime Minister is a bit strange too…!’

“So, is this why Imperial Father unified the six races, yet left only Britannia unconquered?”

Sharabelle crossed her arms and replied, “No, if His Imperial Majesty truly wished it, splitting the sea in two would not be impossible.”

‘I truly gave up. Another Imperial Father worshipper.’

‘Even if that old man sent countless people to sing his praises, I still wouldn’t hold him in awe! Hmph!’

“However…”

“However what?”

“It seems the Frankish Empire and Britannia are destined for a century of good relations.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because you are about to marry into their royal family,” they said in unison.

“Don’t, don’t bring that up!” I said, my face flushing.

“Any true conflict would be a matter for the next generation.”

‘Ugh! The Prince of Britannia and I could never have a next generation!’

‘The thought of marrying him and effectively ending the Britannian royal bloodline… A wave of guilt washed over me!’

Knock, knock, knock—!

‘Why was someone knocking again?’

‘Please don’t tell me it’s another Imperial Father worshipper!?’

The Maid went to open the door.

She paused for a moment in the doorway, then turned back, smiling at me. “I have good news for you, Princess. The Prince of Britannia has come to see you~”

“Huh—?”