Chapter 87

“Haha……”

“Hehehe……”

Kairon and Artemis drank together until they were thoroughly drunk.

The winner of the Swordsmanship Competition, and the Empress of the great Rimpos Empire.

Since the people gathered at the banquet hall wouldn’t leave them alone, they each carried a large barrel of alcohol and fled far from the banquet hall.

“Your Majesty, you’re weaker with alcohol than I thought? Your body, as an Emperor, is losing its dignity and swaying uncontrollably.”

“The same goes for you. Do you even know how many cups we’ve had so far?”

“Too many to count. I stopped counting after about eight cups.”

“Hoho, it seems you’re weaker than I am. I stopped counting after about fifteen cups, twice as much as you. I thought you’d collapse soon, stumbling around. But you’re holding up well. As expected of the man who defeated me in the Swordsmanship Competition.”

“Thanks to you, I have a lifetime of drinking stories. Like how I won the Swordsmanship Competition by defeating the Empress of the Rimpos Empire.”

“Thanks to you, my subjects are in mourning. They were sure I would win, emphasizing that only my victory would raise the flag of Rimpos high. But what can we do about the result? And there’s a reason my subjects can only remain as my subjects.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“The Rimpos I rule is already the most powerful nation in the world. We’re already at the top, so there’s no need to strive to raise our name higher.”

“Is that what you call leisure? The leisure of a ruler, a sovereign. I agree that I don’t need to be obsessed with winning either.”

“Is that also leisure, you? The leisure of a winner. But for a winner to say that winning is not so valuable, as a loser, I feel like slapping your face.”

“I told you. I only came to fulfill my master’s dying wish, to win the Swordsmanship Competition in his place. Think about it. Do you really think a fight where you genuinely kill your opponent is a real fight, rather than one where you must never kill your opponent?”

“I agree with you. It seems we have more in common than I thought. It’s truly fortunate to meet someone like you who I can communicate so well with.”

“I feel the same. Having grown up in an honest countryside, I used to feel nauseated by city folks who smile brightly but hide knives behind their backs. But I like how straightforward and refreshing you are, Artemis. Like the thunderbolt you struck me with without hesitation when our fight just began.”

“Ah……”

At Kairon’s words, Artemis’s cheerful expression turned gloomy.

“W-What’s wrong? We were having such a good conversation, why are you making that face all of a sudden?”

“I’m sorry. The legacy your master left saved you, but I almost impulsively killed you.”

“But you didn’t. I’m alive and well, having a drink with you, aren’t I? Why are you so depressed…… huh?”

Kairon witnessed an unbelievable scene.

The bold and spirited Empress of the great Empire.

Yet, small teardrops were falling from her eyes.

Kairon clicked his tongue at the astonishing sight.

“Tsk tsk, alcohol is truly something. It makes the Empress of a great Empire shed tears.”

“But it’s been a long time since I met someone I can communicate with so well. If I had killed you then, we wouldn’t be having this conversation, would we? The more I think about what would have happened if you had died, the more I feel pathetic!”

Tears began to flow more abundantly from Artemis’s eyes.

The bigger and stronger the dam, the greater the flood when it breaks.

“Damn it……”

Then, Kairon acted impulsively.

Kairon gently embraced the pitifully crying Artemis.

And then, like a parent comforting a child, he softly and slowly patted her back.

Fortunately, the impulsive and rude act of hugging the Empress of the Rimpos Empire seemed to have an effect, as Artemis’s sobs gradually began to subside.

When Artemis’s shoulders finally stopped heaving after crying her heart out, Kairon cautiously asked.

“Now tell me, Your Majesty. When was the last time you cried?”

“I can’t even remember. A member of the Rimpos family can only cry three times in their lifetime.”

“Only three times? That’s an excessively harsh and cruel rule. Surely there aren’t more detailed restrictions besides the limit?”

“No, it’s very specifically defined. Once when born, once when the parents who bore you pass away.”

“It would be strange not to cry at those times. And the last time?”

“When the nation is lost.”

“Wow, that’s much cooler than most men. So, Artemis, you?”

“……”

Artemis didn’t answer.

“You can be honest. I won’t tell anyone.”

“…… Countless times.”

“Really? The world would be shocked to know that the Empress of the Rimpos Empire is such a crybaby.”

“Don’t tease me. I cried many times when I was young, but not once since becoming Emperor.”

“So, I burst your tear ducts that had been dry for so long? No, they weren’t dry. They must have been building up to burst someday. By the way, I feel strange. Beating you in the Swordsmanship Competition feels less exhilarating than making you cry now.”

“My tear ducts weren’t just building up to overflow. It’s all because of you.”

“Haha, because of me? What did I do wrong?”

“It’s the first time. Since my mother passed away when I was young, you’re the first to make me feel this comfortable.”

“Oh. Talking about your mother……”

As the conversation turned too heavy, Kairon subtly let go of Artemis’s shoulder and stepped back.

Then, he filled two empty cups and handed one to Artemis, asking.

“Was she a good person?”

“Yes. While my father protected the Empire with sword and spear, my mother warmly and gently embraced the people. And she taught me. To be a ruler who possesses both the power to protect the people and the benevolence to embrace them.”

“Yeah, she sounds like a good person. Honestly, I could tell just by looking at you, Artemis.”

“Are you saying you can tell my mother was a good person just by looking at me?”

“A child resembles their parents. And I saw your father’s strong and cool demeanor in you, and your warm heart when you blamed yourself for almost killing me. With a ruler like you, the Rimpos Empire is blessed. Maybe a new golden age is beginning.”

“…… The more I listen to you, the more beautifully you speak. At first, you seemed a bit rough and I didn’t like you, but now I see you differently. Did you win the Swordsmanship Competition just to flatter me and gain wealth and glory?”

“Do I look like that kind of person? If that were my goal, I wouldn’t have run away with you like this. I’d probably be mingling with the crowd, auctioning myself off and measuring my worth.”

“Let me be clear, I don’t fall behind anyone in the banquet hall. Do I seem like I don’t want to keep you by my side?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t come here thinking about that. I just wanted to share a drink with someone I get along with.”

“You’re a man with too little greed. Then, should I abandon my plan?”

“Were you planning to use me too? Let’s hear what kind of plan it is. If it’s interesting, I might follow along willingly. And lower my price a bit.”

“…… Can I really say it?”

“Sure, sure.”

“Then, promise me one thing.”

“Alright, no problem. But I can’t promise to do anything difficult.”

“That’s a shame. Instead, no matter what I say to you now, you must not try to distance yourself from me. You must stay close and friendly, just like now.”

“That’s what I want too. So, what is it? Tell me. It sounds like an interesting proposal, so let’s have another drink with that as a snack. Shall we toast first?”

“Alright.”

Kairon and Artemis clinked their cups lightly, unlike before.

Then, Kairon noticed Artemis’s hand trembling slightly.

It definitely wasn’t because of the alcohol.

And at that moment, he had a strange premonition.

“Kairon, you. Become my husband.”

“…… What?”

“I said, become my husband.”

“Really?”

“……”

When Kairon asked twice, Artemis couldn’t answer and her face turned bright red.

Then she rushed at Kairon and started pounding his chest with her fists.

Of course, none of the hits were painful.

“You’re bad, utterly wicked! You clearly understood but kept asking to embarrass me!”

“No, no! It’s just that the proposal was so unbelievable! Ow, stop hitting me! You’re hitting harder! Have some mercy!!”