Chapter 228

Chapter 228 - A Marriage Proposal?

Millesdusk ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍would soon advance toward the West.

In ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍order to make that path easier, they had to use the routes Wisdom had opened.

For ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that reason, the emperor made an offer to the Youngest Son. In exchange for allowing them to use those routes, he wanted the Youngest Son to arrange a meeting with the Family Head of Millesdusk.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the banquet ended.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Youngest Son moved separately with the emperor and headed to a secret chamber.

It was because he had said that even if the emperor wanted a meeting, there was no particular need to see the other party’s face.

Moreover, the Youngest Son had a technique that made conversation possible even without seeing the other person’s face.

“I will use telepathy to arrange a conversation with the Family Head.”

The emperor was briefly at a loss for words, but soon opened his mouth.

“…I know what kind of magic telepathy is. You mean to connect from here all the way to the East, and to Millesdusk at that, where there is no one who knows how to use magic?”

“There is no one who knows how to use it, but my Clone is by the Family Head’s side.”

“You are versatile.”

“They are only minor tricks.”

The emperor and the Youngest Son entered the secret chamber. However, there was one other person there.

“Leo. Nothing untoward will happen, so do not be so tense.”

“Yes.”

The Fanatical Knight bowed his head without complaint. Ordinarily, he would have been suspicious and vigilant, but the Youngest Son had saved the Crown Prince’s life.

That contribution was enough to make even the Fanatical Knight temper his nature.

“Now I would like to hear it. How exactly do you intend to connect a telepathy link from this secret chamber to the Family Head of Millesdusk in the East?”

“For that, I asked Kairos to bring me one assistant.”

Perhaps that assistant had already come close, because signs of someone’s presence could be heard outside.

The emperor looked at his guard.

“Bring him in.”

“Yes.”

When Leo opened the door, the eyes behind his helmet widened slightly in surprise. It was because the person waiting outside was wearing a Wisdom Robe.

A mage of Wisdom, who should have left and whom they had assumed had all departed, entered the secret chamber.

“Who is this man?”

“He is a prisoner from Wisdom’s Communications Unit. He is highly skilled in telepathy magic, and I also learned telepathy from him.”

“I-I am called Akiell, Your Majesty.”

Akiell awkwardly observed the proper courtesy and knelt. He had been in the middle of dinner when a dragon suddenly dragged him here, only to find none other than the emperor waiting for him.

For a man who still had soup broth at the corner of his mouth, this was far too burdensome a place to be.

Even so, the Youngest Son did not kneel before the emperor and comfortably approached within arm’s reach.

Despite the emperor’s guard watching him sharply, no less. To someone unaware of the circumstances, he would have looked like a man long since out of his mind.

That man gestured toward Akiell.

“Akiell here will assist with the connection to the East and make the transmitted voice’s volume and the connection itself smoother.”

“Wh-what?”

“Let us begin.”

Akiell’s face turned pale as he only just learned why he was here, but the process continued.

“To do so, there is something that must come first.”

The Youngest Son knelt on one knee before the emperor and held out one hand.

“Would you hold it?”

“That is no difficult matter.”

The emperor grasped his fingertips.

“Akiell. Assist me.”

“Damn it….”

Emperor or no emperor, the difficulty was enough to make curses spill out, and Akiell bit his lip.

Then he quietly sent telepathy to the Youngest Son beside him.

―Are you mad? Have you lost your mind? Long-distance telepathy like this cannot be done with talent alone. Not even Mage Georgia could manage this distance!

―You said that as long as I can see the target with my eyes, the difficulty drops exponentially.

―This is a secret chamber to begin with. What exactly do you think you can see? You cannot even see the sky, let alone the East!

―I can see it with my eyes. I can see the emperor before me, and I can see the Family Head of Millesdusk.

Akiell could not understand it at all.

But then the impossible happened.

‘A signal….’

As a telepathy mage, he could feel it. A signal had just entered the Youngest Son’s body. The signal announcing a telepathic connection had lit up.

Even though this was clearly a secret chamber, and there were no other telepathy mages nearby.

―Akiell. From now on, I have to receive an ultra-long-distance signal as well, so I cannot communicate with you through telepathy. Maintaining the connection alone is already difficult.

―…Fine. I understand what I have to do.

―I am counting on you.

I am counting on you.

After the words “thank you” last time, he had now heard another phrase he never thought he would hear from a blood relative of the East.

Yet strangely enough, those words stirred his motivation, and he even found himself thinking that he did not want to disappoint him.

‘I really should say that I surrendered now, rather than that I am a prisoner.’

Akiell let out a small sigh and changed position. He brought both his palms behind the Youngest Son’s back.

Carefully, he connected his mana to the telepathy signal the Youngest Son had received. This would allow him to interfere with the telepathy.

Depending on how it was used, he could disrupt it, but conversely, he could also help.

As the saying went, even a sheet of paper was lighter when lifted together. With Akiell’s help, the telepathy signal became firmer and more resilient.

“Your Majesty. Please steadily pour an even amount of Your Majesty’s mana into the hand you are holding.”

“How much mana should I use?”

“That depends on how long you wish to converse.”

“I understand.”

Golden mana flowed into the hand he held. The adjustment of quantity was almost uncanny, and it was as precise as a machine.

Because of that, the task became easier for the one relaying the telepathy.

This process took place not only here in the secret chamber, but also in the Demon Head Palace where the Clone was, and the two were connected.

“Family Head of Millesdusk. Can you hear my voice?”

―Emperor.

A somewhat faint, yet unmistakable voice rang in the emperor’s head.

It was quite curious that it felt exactly the same as when a dragon spoke to him, but there was something that had to take priority now.

“I have arranged this indirect meeting through the Fifth Son of Millesdusk.”

―Get to the point.

The emperor grinned and responded to the short reply with an equally short one.

“Your youngest. Would you consider sending him into the Imperial Palace as a son-in-law?”

***

Inside the Demon Head Palace, after the other blood relatives had been dismissed, in a secret chamber that seemed drenched in the abyss, the Family Head narrowed his eyes.

“What is your scheme?”

―It is exactly as I said. I am currently quite fond of your youngest son, and I hear he has no marriage proposal yet.

“That is only something my youngest does not know.”

―Then there is a marriage proposal? Tell me which great family it is, and I shall take care of it.

“…….”

The Family Head could not open his mouth. Naturally, no such marriage proposal existed.

From the beginning, Millesdusk did not use marriage to increase its power or influence.

Here in the East, where the strong were the law and power itself was law, there was no one who could reject the lover brought home by the strong.

Moreover, no one had ever requested a marriage first.

The reason for that, too, was because this place was Millesdusk. Yet now, the first marriage proposal had come to this great family of the East.

The target was none other than the Empire’s youngest Princess.

―I am not telling you to decide right now. You may think it over thoroughly and then tell me.

“I heard that my youngest treated the Crown Prince’s illness. Is this the price for that?”

―No. This is an entirely separate matter. I was captivated by the Fifth Son’s decisiveness and ability to act, which he showed throughout the process of curing that illness.

“…You do not hold back in word or deed. I was under the impression that you were not of such a temperament.”

―I tend not to hide my feelings before something I wish to possess. If I have been rude, I shall apologize separately.

The Family Head sank into thought. Since he did not intend to think for long, he chose his words with the other party before him.

“Is this my youngest’s will?”

―The Fifth Son is hearing this for the first time as well.

“Then that is enough. Tell my youngest to decide for himself. We will use the supply routes on our own.”

―Do so.

With that, the hegemons of the Center and the East ended their conversation. Afterward, Family Head Kulsian asked the Clone before him.

“Do you know what my youngest is thinking right now?”

“He is not certain. About any decision.”

The Family Head felt as if he knew what his youngest was thinking.

“On the surface, it would be better to marry, put the Empire’s support at his back, and settle everything from the position of Family Head to the war with the West.”

“Because the main body’s goal does not end with the West, nor does it end with the other great families.”

Unification. That was the goal of Dante Black Millesdusk.

Since that goal would only be complete with the collapse of the Imperial Family, the Youngest Son, if betrothed to the Princess, would one day have to become cruel.

His youngest was probably uncertain because of that point.

“If there is anything you wish to tell him, I will deliver it.”

“…….”

The Family Head was silent for a short while, but soon shook his head.

“No. Dante is a clever child, and he knows how to take responsibility for his words and actions. Whatever choice he makes, he will be able to bear it.”

There was nothing he wished to say, but there was something else he wanted to ask.

“Were there any other offers the Imperial Family made to my youngest?”

“Earlier, the Crown Prince said he would allow the main body to become Family Head using the Empire’s power, but the main body refused it himself.”

“Why?”

“He said that when it came to becoming Family Head, he had to follow the royal path of the East.”

The Family Head was within the darkness, so not a single part of his form could be seen.

Only the skeletal hand the Clone had held a moment ago was visible, but the Clone recognized it just as the Youngest Son would have.

He knew that the Family Head was smiling right now.

“Now go after your siblings, complete your preparations, and return to the Polar Night. The family will provide everything you need, so organize your requests and submit them.”

“Then.”

The Clone withdrew from the Demon Head Palace. He would now gather forces at Eclipse in the main body’s place and march out.

The Messenger approached him.

“Was the reason you deferred your answer truly because you trust the Fifth Son?”

“Yes.”

“Did the Vampire Royal Family have no share at all in that decision?”

“…Why do you ask?”

The Messenger, standing with both hands politely gathered in front of her, smiled.

“I have not seen her many times, but the Vampire Queen seems to cherish her one and only son greatly.”

Meaning, she did not seem likely to choose just any human as the spouse of her only son.

Moreover, there was no guarantee that his spouse would necessarily be human.

“Among the Blood Nobles, a grand duke-class vampire may already have been chosen as a marriage candidate. Therefore, how about conveying today’s marriage proposal to the Queen?”

“That is not a bad idea.”

“Thank you.”

“Then go.”

The Messenger nodded and stepped a few paces back. In addition, she added a few words.

“Once the mission is finished, may I step out for some air for a short while?”

“I know full well that you mean to go see my youngest in the Empire. And I also know perfectly well that you would go even if I told you not to.”

“Yes. I was only asking. I will return after completing the task.”

The Messenger vanished into the soul dimension. Only after his child and his subordinate had both disappeared was the Family Head finally left alone.

None of his children had yet had a marriage arranged, and though the time was gradually approaching for the eldest, it had been postponed because of the war.

Amid that, his youngest had started a marriage proposal, and with the Empire, no less.

Even if it had not been intentional, it was an extraordinary opportunity for the absolute majority of humans in this world.

Whether his youngest belonged to that absolute majority was doubtful, but he would consider it from now on.

However, if his youngest accepted it, if he accepted the marriage proposal with the Princess, what would happen afterward?

“…That is not a matter I can know right away.”

Because he did not know, he had to find out, and to do that, he needed information. He needed information about the Imperial Princess.

A crow made entirely of bones flew over the Pantheon and arrived before the General Manager of Intelligence.

It carried no message, but it was the Family Head’s summons.

The General Manager of Intelligence set aside everything he had been doing and came before the Family Head.

Having arrived faster than tea leaves could steep, the General Manager knelt before the Family Head.

“You called for me?”

“I know you have worked hard in the Empire recently, but there is something further I need you to dig into.”

“Simply give the order.”

“It concerns the Empire’s Princess. I need as much information about her as possible.”

The General Manager of Intelligence sank into thought for a moment. A field mission received directly from the Family Head. In truth, there was someone perfectly suited to this task.

None other than an agent already infiltrating the Princess’s side.

There was Lubosch, the rising star of the Millesdusk Intelligence Department.