Volume 2 Chapter 42 Spoiled by the Emperor
On a certain day, some time after the alliance between our Demon Lord Nation and the Empire was forged.
In the reception room of the Demon Lord Nation.
"Mr. Zeke, it's been a while."
"Larc, how've you been?"
The young merchant Larc nodded with a smile.
"Yes, thanks to you, everything's been going well. Um... truly, thank you... for always using our services so frequently."
Larc was one of the few merchants who procured goods from the Demon Lord Nation.
Recently, merchants had started coming to us bit by bit.
However, many still harbored a strong aversion to monsters and the Demon Lord.
"Don't worry about it. Honestly, thank you. You're one of the rare and precious friends who doesn't look at monsters with prejudice."
"Mr. Zeke... truly, why is it that even though you're so kind and such an incredible person, people still avoid you! I can't understand it! Mr. Zeke is genuinely a good person!"
And then, it happened.
"Indeed, exactly as you say!"
The one who entered the reception room was none other than the Empire's leader, Emperor Sasha.
In Sasha's hands was a tray holding a teacup and a piece of cake.
"Sir Larc, was it? You are absolutely right! Sir Zeke is the most virtuous and exceptional person I have ever encountered! Is that not so?"
"W-Well... um, who might you be? I feel like I know you very well, yet you seem like someone entirely different... no, but, could it be...?"
Before Larc, Sasha offered a graceful bow.
"I am Sasha von Madeucas."
"E-Eh? Ehhhhhhhh!?"
Larc stared at Sasha as though witnessing the unbelievable.
"Y-You... Lady Sasha? As in, *the* [Ice Emperor]?!"
"[Ice Emperor]? What's that?"
"Ah, no... um... that's... in front of the person themselves..."
Ignoring Larc's awkward hesitation, Sasha began to explain.
"[Ice Emperor]... that is what I seem to be called by the masses. Isn't that right?"
"L-Lady! I-I just found out now!"
Trembling!
Larc shook his head, his face turning pale.
Meanwhile, Sasha smiled and spoke.
"It's fine, Sir Larc. Please tell Sir Zeke."
"S-Sir!? N-no, I insist, just Larc is fine!"
He sighed deeply.
"I'm surprised. The cold-hearted, capable, and ruthless Lady Ice Emperor... I never imagined she'd have such a lovely smile."
Smiling brightly, Sasha sat next to me.
She hugged my arm tightly, nuzzling against me.
"Sir Zeke♡ I made a cake♡ Here, open wide♡"
"Ah, later."
"Ah~n♡"
She directed a fork at me with undeniable pressure.
"A-Ah~n."
I took a bite of the cake.
"Is it good?"
"Ah, yes... very."
"Yay♡ Hehe♡ I worked so hard to make it for you, Sir Zeke♡ I'm glad you liked it~...♡"
Larc stared with wide eyes as he watched Sasha nuzzle against me.
"I-I can't believe it... The Lady Ice Emperor is so open-hearted... Mr. Zeke, how did you manage this?"
"Well, it's a long story. Don't worry about it."
"I-I see... I won't ask further. But truly, Mr. Zeke, everyone seems to like you."
"Exactly! Larc, you seem to have a good eye. Would you consider doing business with us?"
Larc gaped, eyes and mouth wide open.
"Ah, um... I-I must have misunderstood. A small-time merchant like me, doing business directly with the Madeucas Empire? T-This is a joke, right?"
"This is no joke. You are a merchant trusted by Sir Zeke, so we'd love to do business with you as well."
"E-EEEEH!? R-Really!? Is it truly alright!?"
Sasha smiled brightly.
On the other hand, Larc bowed repeatedly.
"Thank you, Lady Sasha! And Mr. Zeke!"
"Huh, why me?"
"Mr. Zeke, without you, the deal with the Empire would have been nothing but a pipe dream! Thank you! You truly are an incredible person!"
I didn't really get it, but I ended up being showered with gratitude.
After some time.
"Mr. Zeke, I hear you've been coming and going from the Empire several times disguised as Zekefried. Why is that?"
As expected of a merchant, it seems Larc had already caught wind of the information.
"To be honest, I've got some business with their Forbidden Archive."
"Wh-What!? The Forbidden Archive... Is that the one owned by the Great Sage and Emperor, [Emperor Anti von Madeucas], who transformed the Empire into a mighty nation!? That Forbidden Archive!?"
I nodded in response.
"I've heard the books owned by the Sage Emperor are incredibly rare. I'm hoping to find a complete recipe for an artificial Mana Crystal there."
"I-I see... B-But the Forbidden Archive is heavily guarded by the Empire, right? I thought only royalty could enter..."
Sasha answered ahead of me.
"Well, Sir Zeke is considered an exception. I've secured permission in my name."
"E-EEEEH!? This... This is unprecedented! A commoner being allowed into the [Forbidden Archive of the Sage Emperor]... That's unheard of! Amazing... Absolutely incredible!"
"Larc really exaggerates, doesn't he?"
"Not at all, I swear! You're just too extraordinary!"
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)