BXBX NOVEL Chapter 108: Wedding Night (?) (2)
“What…”
That was Ezekiel’s initial reaction, the words escaping his lips before he could even process what he’d just heard.
The Emperor’s words were that shocking.
When the Emperor mentioned there was a way, Ezekiel expected it to involve preparing dilute Sun Elixir. However, what followed was beyond his imagination.
‘Union? With the First Princess?’
He couldn’t believe what he heard.
“So, to dilute the Sun Elixir… the 1st Princess would consume it first. And then, after she has absorbed it, I am to bed her. Is that correct?”“You’ve understood it correctly.”
“…But why all of a sudden?”
Ezekiel’s mind was filled with nothing but questions.
The desire to obtain the Sun Elixir momentarily paled in comparison to his bewilderment. The Emperor’s behavior was utterly perplexing.
‘The Emperor cherishes the Princess above all others.’
The Emperor had always been fiercely protective of his daughters, displeased even by the mere suggestion of Ezekiel spending time with them, or even just exchanging words. And yet, now he was suddenly suggesting that he bed the First Princess? Asking him to take her purity? It was too outrageous.
“The First Princess’s purity… all of a sudden?”
He knew it was disrespectful to bring up such a delicate topic, but he couldn’t help but question the Emperor’s motives.
The Emperor let out a peculiar noise, which sounded like a significant chuckle.
“I am just presenting an option.”
The golden chalice chimed softly.
“I am merely informing you that such a method exists.”
With those words, the heat in the room dissipated, returning to the temperature Ezekiel was familiar with in the audience chamber.
But the sensation of the Sun Elixir… that remained, seared into his very soul.
Although the Emperor claimed to just be presenting a method, for Ezekiel, who was living on borrowed time, it was a desperate option. However, the fact that it involved bedding the First Princess required serious contemplation. ℞
The First Princess of the Empire was no ordinary woman.
There were many aspects to consider carefully.
“I will inform the 1st Princess. And I will entrust the Sun Elixir to her as well. Work out the details… between yourselves.”
The Emperor muttered softly.
The fact that he would personally speak to the First Princess and leave the Sun Elixir with her indicated an unusual level of enthusiasm. Could it be that the Emperor had finally changed his attitude toward Ezekiel?
Everything remained ambiguous and unclear.
*Creak—*
Finally, the door to the audience chamber opened.
It was time for him to leave.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ll consider it. Thank you.”
Ezekiel silently paid his respects.
*Ssshhk—*
The long robe atop the throne draped comfortably. It seemed the Emperor had leaned back on the throne to rest.
Ezekiel maintained his composure and respect until the door to the audience chamber was completely closed. With so many thoughts swirling in his head, he found it hard to leave the spot immediately.
‘I never imagined the Sun Elixir would be something like that.’
A privilege reserved only for the strong. Not a panacea for the weak.
The knowledge, newly acquired, left him feeling… unsettled. It also ignited a fierce determination within him. He would push himself harder, further, to reach a level where he could accept the Sun Elixir without hesitation.
‘But to actually receive it…’
He would have to take the purity of the First Princess.
Was that a privilege? An honor? He wasn’t sure. The 1st Princess’s feelings on the matter were paramount.
Then, he suddenly recalled a statement from the First Princess.
— Very well. When I catch you… I’ll squeeze you dry.
…Perhaps her feelings weren’t that different from what he heard?
Maybe this was about more than just his own survival.
*Step— Step—*
He began to walk quietly.
He needed to head to the First Princess immediately; there was no time to waste.
But…
“My dear Inspector… found you here.”
He stopped, his path blocked by the 2nd Princess.
***
The Imperial Palace, within the domain of the 1st Princess.
The palace, a testament to the wonders of the four seasons, was divided into several domains. The 1st Princess resided within the domain of winter, surrounded by a perfectly crafted snowy landscape.
*Swoosh…*
A flurry of snow danced in the air, as a booming voice echoed through the wintry domain.
“What is the First Princess thinking─!”
Shouting at the First Princess, no less?
It was unthinkable.
A group of burly, muscle-bound Northern warriors stood impatiently before the massive gates. They’d been there for a week, their leader bellowing his frustration to the heavens. The herald, caught in the middle, was at his wit’s end.
‘This is a nightmare…’
The First Princess’s herald thought as he rubbed his head. The bruise he’d received from the 1st Princess’s sword hilt still throbbing painfully.
“First Princess! At least answer! First Princess─!”
Despite the absurdity of the situation, the herald understood.
This was not entirely unexpected.
‘In the North, we speak only with muscle and blood.’
That saying perfectly encapsulated the Northern way of life.
The North had its own set of rules.
A harsh and unforgiving land, bordering the Demon Realm, where constant battles were a way of life. Bravery and battlefield achievements were valued above all else. Etiquette… not so much.
So, this… this wasn’t entirely out of place.
Hierarchy meant little in the North. What truly mattered was the support of the warriors. The one who displayed the greatest valor, earned the most respect, held the most sway.
“The First Princess should answer as a warrior! Right now!”
Brolka, the warrior currently shouting at the 1st Princess, was a prime example. His countless achievements on the battlefield had earned him the unwavering support of his fellow warriors, granting him the right… to speak his mind.
Even if it meant challenging the 1st Princess herself.
And his reason for doing so was actually quite valid.
“Why do you hesitate to return to the North! Have you lost your pride as a warrior?! Explain yourself!”
The herald who heard the shouting sighed deeply.
Yes, the problem was the First Princess’s refusal to return.
‘…I can’t tell them it’s because of a man.’
He was the only one who knew the truth. And the Northern warriors, left in the dark, had every right to be furious. They loved and respected their leader, the 1st Princess. And he understood their frustration.
Caught in the middle, understanding both the First Princess’s feelings for Ezekiel and the northern warriors’ sentiments, the herald was nearly driven mad.
“First Princess! Answer as a warrior! Answer us now!”
This had been going on for a week.
Buried beneath a thick layer of snow, the Northern warriors, their muscles rippling beneath their furs, resembled giant snowmen. They hadn’t slept, refusing to leave until they received an answer from their leader.
In the end, the First Princess’s herald cautiously spoke up.
“Everyone, please calm down. Let’s wait patiently for the 1st Princess’s response.”
“We’ve been waiting for a week!”
“We’re not fools! We know how to tell time!”
The herald forced a smile.
“Still, let’s try to stay calm….”
“Herald Rizolta! Then let’s settle it with a life-and-death duel!”
Reason and logic had no place in the North. They were a people of action, quick to resort to axes and fangs, their muscles always ready for a fight. There was no reasoning with them.
And then… he heard it.
The 1st Princess’s voice.
— Why all the commotion?
“It’s the 1st Princess!”
“Our leader warrior! The First Princess!”
All the warriors reacted fervently.
“1st Princess! Answer us! Are you abandoning the North?! Why are you delaying your return?!”
— I already gave you my answer.
Even though the gate remained closed, making it impossible to see what expression the First Princess Ider had or what she was doing, her voice was clear and imbued with true energy.
— I have… something I must hunt.
“What could possibly be more important than the North?!”
“Tell us!”
“Are you saying this… prey… is more important than your people?!”
They bombarded her with questions, but Ether remained unfazed.
— This hunt is of the utmost importance to me.
— I will not return until it is finished.
A tense standoff, separated by the massive gates.
On one side, Ether, the 1st Princess. On the other side, Brolka, a respected warrior of the North. Two of the most powerful figures in the North, locked in a fierce battle of wills.
“The North is in turmoil! We need our leader!”
“The 1st Princess must return to her duties!”
“Have you abandoned us?!”
The herald, unable to contain himself any longer, interjected cautiously.
“Your Highness… perhaps the fact that you made this decision alone is why they’re reacting so strongly…”
In the North, where the respect and support of the warriors was paramount, making unilateral decisions was practically unheard of.
The 1st Princess had known this, and yet she’d done it anyway.
— Return to the North. I will be back soon.
“Tell us what you’re hunting!”
“Speak!”
— It’s none of your concern. Now…
But at that moment…
“…What’s all this commotion?”
Someone entered the 1st Princess’s domain.
In the intensely cold territory, he showed no signs of being affected by the cold. Neither did he seem intimidated by the murderous glares and formidable builds of the northern warriors.
The man, with a sunweed in his mouth, spoke.
“I have some business with the First Princess.”
It was Ezekiel, the Inspector from the Imperial Magic Tower.
And at that moment…
*Crash!*
The gates, which had remained firmly shut, burst open.
The 1st Princess, clad in her nightgown, stood there.
And pointing her index finger directly at Ezekiel, she shouted…
“…Catch him! Capture him!”