I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 178

“…Where is Ash?”With that one sentence muttered by the Emperor,*Whirr!*The gazes of everyone in the party hall turned like dominoes, all focusing on me.”Huh?”I mumbled dumbly,”…Hiccup.”Princess Yoon next to me started hiccuping.The Emperor, having found me, nodded and began to slowly walk along the carpet into the grand banquet hall.’Ah.’I finally realized why the Emperor had looked for me first.Behind the Emperor, envoys from the Northern Kingdom were following in a line, and at the very front of them stood people with ivory-colored hair like Princess Yoon.The allied nations of the Northern Front, led by the Arian Kingdom.The Emperor had met with them first for a conference before attending this party.I didn’t know for sure, but there must have been talk about strengthening the alliance, and naturally, the marriage proposal between me and Princess Yoon would have been mentioned.*Rustle…*As the Emperor walked, even though there was already plenty of space on either side of the carpet, people parted even further to the sides as if they had made a promise, creating a wide path.It was like the sea parting.”Ash. Follow me.”The Emperor stood next to me and commanded me in a soft… yet deep and heavy voice.”It seems the Princess of the Arian Kingdom is also here. Come along as well.”How could I dare disobey?Princess Yoon and I quietly followed behind the Emperor, walking on the carpet. The gazes of everyone in the hall were fixed on Princess Yoon and me, who were closely following the Emperor.”Father.”Fernandes, who was waiting in the middle of the carpet path, bowed his head to the Emperor.”Fernandes.”The Emperor nodded back and gestured with his chin.”Follow us.””Yes.”Joining the line, Fernandes winked at me with a smile. I gave him a bitter smile in return.”Father.”Lark, who was waiting at the end of the carpet path, bowed his head. The Emperor smiled brightly.”Lark. Let’s go up together.””It is an honor.”Lark did not join the line but stood next to the Emperor and walked with him to the end of the carpet path.The carpet ended at the bottom of the platform prepared at the innermost part of the grand banquet hall. The Emperor, Lark, Fernandes, and Princess Yoon and I stepped onto the platform.*Flap-!*The Emperor, having reached the top of the platform, turned halfway around and faced the grand banquet hall.The red cloak hanging on his back drew a circular arc in the air.”My subjects, listen!”The nobles, who had been bowing towards the entrance, quickly raised their bodies and bowed again towards the platform.The Emperor shouted in a clear voice that resonated in the ears.”Currently, our Everblack is facing an unprecedented crisis. From all sides, and from within the nation, crises are approaching from everywhere.”It was a sudden, heavy speech that did not fit the light and excited atmosphere of the party just a moment ago.However, the Emperor’s very existence was sufficient context and justification.As he led, the atmosphere of the crowd naturally became serious. All the nobles listened attentively to the Emperor’s words.”I have been secluded for a long time to resolve this situation. And in the meantime, my first son, Lark, has resolved the concerns of the West.”As the Emperor pointed to Lark standing next to him, Lark politely bowed to his father. The Emperor smiled broadly.”I am truly proud of you, my son.””It is all thanks to your grace, Father.”The nobles below the platform began to applaud as if they had made a promise. *Clap clap clap clap…!*The applause filled the grand banquet hall. The Emperor waited for the sound to subside before speaking again.”Today’s gathering was held to commend Lark’s achievements. However, everyone must remember this. There are still other crises remaining, and they are tightening their grip on Everblack.”The Emperor turned his head towards Fernandes.”To overcome this crisis, we must first strengthen the internal affairs of the nation.”Fernandes smiled and bowed. The Emperor smiled at his second son as well.”Also, we must have a stronger relationship with our neighbors, our allies.”The Emperor turned his gaze towards the envoys of the Northern Alliance standing below the platform. The envoys also bowed their heads while looking up.”Therefore, I declare at this gathering!”The Emperor suddenly stretched out his arms and shouted.”The engagement between my third son, Ash, and Princess Yoon, the second daughter of the Arian Kingdom!””… !”I, who had been expecting it, remained calm, but Princess Yoon, who had not expected a confirmation here, trembled in surprise.”The relationship between the brave kingdoms of the North and our Everblack is no longer a simple alliance! It is a blood alliance!”[Blood alliance: A very strong alliance, often sealed by marriage or blood oaths.]At that word, smiles bloomed on the faces of the envoys from the North.After all, there is no better way for two distant countries to become closer than by forming a marital relationship.”My subjects! I ask you to give a warm welcome to the guests who have come from afar.”The Emperor pointed to the envoys from the North and laughed heartily.”They are no longer guests, but members of our Everblack family.”*Clap clap clap clap…!*I don’t know if the imperial etiquette includes how to clap, but anyway, the grand banquet hall was filled with thunderous applause as if they had been trained.”I knew I couldn’t refuse this engagement, but…”Amidst the loud applause, Princess Yoon sighed softly.”I didn’t expect him to announce it so suddenly today.””I know. I didn’t expect it to proceed so quickly either.”I thought we were just going to be introduced to each other this time. The Emperor just pulled the bull by the horns. Leaving out both of our opinions.”Well, I guess our opinions don’t matter anyway.”Princess Yoon gave me a faint smile as I grumbled.”I was born as a royal, so I’ve been living well all this time. I guess I have to pay the price in this way.”Princess Yoon reached out her hand to me.”Nice to meet you, my husband.””…”I hesitated for a moment, but carefully reached out and took her hand.Then, Princess Yoon’s wild, bright yellow eyes sparkled playfully.”Then, let’s see… how well the Empire’s greatest playboy can dance?”The next moment, Princess Yoon pulled me in. Whoa?!’What?! She seems stronger than me?!’I thought she was just saying things like ‘muscle-bound’ and ‘brave like a bear’.Princess Yoon led me down from the platform and rushed to the center of the party hall in one go.I was helplessly dragged along. People laughed and whistled at us.Princess Yoon, who led me to the center of the party hall, bowed to me, who was flustered.”Since it has come to this, let’s become the main characters of this party.””What do you mean?””Originally, the main character of this party is His Highness Prince Lark. But since our engagement has been announced, let’s just take the lead. Let’s make it our engagement celebration party instead of a victory celebration party.”I was stunned for a moment at Princess Yoon’s words, but then I grinned.”That sounds a bit appealing.”I bowed back in return.The next moment, we stood close together, holding each other’s hands, and placing our hands on each other’s shoulders and waists.The quick-witted orchestra began to play a lively waltz.And Princess Yoon and I began to dance.Receiving the attention of everyone in the grand banquet hall, and the Emperor’s gaze.Round and round. Round and round.***”…”Serenade was constantly touching her empty hair ends.The long, beautiful blue hair that had reached past her waist was all cut off below her neck.Because the ends were all singed in the fire last night, only the undamaged parts were left, making it this short.’I’ve been growing it for almost my whole life…’Serenade looked at herself in the mirror with an awkward gaze.The bob cut hair that swayed around her neck was acceptable considering it was done in a hurry, but it was nothing compared to the beauty of her original long hair.Her eyes were hollow because she hadn’t slept a wink last night. She had a slight burn on her leg, which she covered with stockings, but it was still stinging.Her face was not burned, but it was still red and hot as if the heat of the fire remained. Her makeup wouldn’t stick.All of her dresses and shoes were burned, so she had to quickly borrow a set from a nearby clothing store.The problem was that today was the day of the festival, so all the decent dresses were already gone.Serenade had to choose the least bad one from the remaining scraps and put it on.So, her reflection in the mirror was a mess.Her hair was awkwardly short, her makeup wouldn’t stick, and the dress didn’t suit her.’It’s the worst.’To attend a big party hosted by the Imperial Family in this state. Everyone else will be dressed up to the nines, but she looked like a painted crow.’I just want to stay in my room…’But.- Serenade. Let me just say this. I need you tomorrow.Ash had said that to her.He said he needed her.She didn’t want to show this appearance to the person she wanted to look her best for.But if that person needed her, she had to rush to him even if she looked worse.So, Serenade got into the carriage. To attend the party held at the Imperial Palace.”Giddy up!”The maid, Eliza, who was in the driver’s seat, carefully spoke to the inside of the carriage.”Master. As you might have guessed, the people who set fire to the merchant building yesterday might attack again.””…””If they attack again today, going to the Imperial Palace is dangerous. We should go to a safe place immediately…””No. I must reach the Imperial Palace.”Serenade answered in a determined voice.”It’s not just because of Prince Ash’s request. The path for our Winter Silver Merchant Guild to survive is also in that Imperial Palace.””…””Please, Eliza. Help me… reach the Imperial Palace.””…Understood, Master.”Eliza nodded with a firm face.”No matter what obstacles there are, I will crush them all and escort you to the Imperial Palace.””Thank you.”*Clop clop, clop clop, clop clop-!*The carriage began to dash down the road as if it were flying.Eliza, judging that the direct route from the docks to the Imperial Palace was dangerous, took a large detour.Whether her judgment was correct, or whether the enemy attack was just a concern.Even though they had approached a place where the Imperial Palace was visible to the naked eye, there was no attack. Eliza took a short breath.’Well, today is the day of the festival. There’s no way they would attack openly in this bustling and crowded situation-‘…That was the moment she thought that.Because she had to take a detour, she had to pass through an alleyway instead of the main road, and the moment she entered the alleyway, Eliza sensed a bad feeling.The alley was empty.In this city where everywhere was crowded with people due to the festival, this one block of the alley had no pedestrians, no merchants, no children running around, and not even a beggar.Eliza, sensing danger, shouted loudly.”Hold on tight, Master!”The next moment.*Crack-!*A magic-infused arrow that had flown from somewhere pierced the wheel of the carriage, and immediately caused an explosion.Eliza desperately tried to maintain her balance, but the carriage with the broken wheel eventually toppled over.*Crash, bang, crash…!*The carriage, which had fallen and scattered wooden fragments everywhere, crashed into the wall of the alley.As luck would have it, there were piles of dirt and sandbags stacked against the wall, and the bags burst open, causing a thick cloud of dust to rise in the area.*Thud. Thud.*And into that dust and smoke, five shadows approached.The Imperial Family’s direct Black Ops task force.The Aegis Special Forces of the Dark Division.Among them, the 4th team, which is in charge of assassination missions within the Imperial Capital.With crossbows, loaded and glowing blue, in their hands, the Imperial hounds rushed in.