Chapter 226: Heading Inside

I am going to start doing a scheduled posting for my current fanfics.

There will be an exception for this week, and chapters will be posted on Wednesday/Thursday/Friday.

If you guys haven't checked out my other new fanfic, it is A Frost Demon In DBZ.

But going forward, my posting schedule will now be:

Sunday/Tuesday/Thursday: A Frost Demon In DBZ

Sunday/Monday/Wednesday: A Gamer Into Trails

Friday/Saturday: Going back to my past fanfics, being Marvel ReverSal, A Reincarnated Tale: Pokemon, or Rebirth.

On posting days, if I am on a roll in writing, it could end up being more than one chapter, but at minimum, expect one chapter that day.

As always, Giliath demands your power stones!

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Chapter 226: Heading Inside

The winter ball had successfully come to a close. The nobles were now gone, leaving Esmelas Garden vacated. The others that were with either me or Princess Alfin joined the Empress's side, retreating to several guest rooms to stay the night.

There was one exception to that, and that was of course me, and Princess Alfin. The two of us remained behind in the garden. We were greeted by an additional person after all of the festivities ended, and that was Claire. She personally stood by the large door, standing quietly without disturbing us. It made sense since she was on active duty. I know very well who rested behind these doors, but that wasn't the only thing that remained with us.

I could see a golden-blonde haired man decked out in vermillion splendor, having aged quite a bit since I saw him last over ten years ago. It was hard to believe so much time had passed since my first visit. Compared to his relaxed expression from the ball earlier in the evening, I could see a more composed and dignified look in his eyes now. This person was the one who stood at the top over all of Erebonia, the current ruling Emperor, His Majesty Emperor Eugent III. Despite being the reigning Emperor, he was also the father of Prince Olivert and Prince Cedric, as well as the girl who was standing beside me. A firm look could be seen in her eyes as she sported a smile.

Well, despite his imposing look as he silently observed the two of us in this passing moment, I do wonder, is it too early to start calling him father-in-law? After all, we used the winter ball earlier in the evening to declare the engagement of Princess Alfin and I to literally all of Zemuria. On top of it being used as a way to strengthen a relationship between the two countries that used to be at war with each other not too long ago, it also acts as an allied support between the two, in case other countries start displaying their interest in waging war. This engagement held a lot of significance.

I did not know what was going on in my father's mind at the time, but this is a great step in the plan I had mentioned to the girls back in the castle, my plan to unify Western Zemuria. Father has great insight into how he manages things, even going as far as playing the villain to accomplish what he wants to do. He tried to use war and legends to try and unify western Zemuria. Perhaps he had already caught on to what I am trying to accomplish here, due to the insight he holds. His title is not just for show. Father is called the Blood and Iron Chancellor for a reason. I do wonder if he already had seen through what I was trying to accomplish lately, going with such a bold plan in suggesting the engagement between Princess Alfin and I?

Grandmother hadn't spoken of my engagement of Princess Klaudia and I to the Chancellor, so I wonder if he knew that had already happened a while back. He wouldn't even bat an eye to wage war if it meant benefiting the world as a whole, while I am almost the polar opposite in trying to fight against father for this unification, by strengthening the bonds and relationships I hold with the connections I've developed since I was born. The Gamer System does play a large role in this too.

And well, if this topic does get brought up in the discussion tonight, I will be prepared to answer in kind. Princess Alfin beside me likely won't have a clue what is going on. That doesn't deny the fact that I could see that Princess Alfin likes me, and quite a lot too. On top of that, I am curious to see how Grandmother will react to this giant debacle once I make my return to Grancel Castle in two months' time.

Right now though, I could just see Princess Alfin smiling at her father while she stood beside me. It didn't take long for His Majesty to start talking to the two of us.

"It would seem you found tonight's ball enjoyable, Prince Naoto. I cannot be happier to see my daughter enjoying herself tonight. Hopefully it served up to your expectations.", Emperor Eugent said to me, causing me to smile.

"Of course. I even got to dance with a couple folks I wasn't expecting to see tonight. I'd say tonight was well worth it, if you include the banquet into the mix. I'm even walking away with such a cute fiancée too.", I said, only to turn my head toward Princess Alfin, and reach out my hand, suddenly plopping it over her head. Princess Alfin didn't shy away, and she let me pat her head a bit. Doing this caused her to giggle.

"Heehee, Big Brother Naoto, you're such a teaser. You definitely showed off your skill tonight though. You could even keep up with Musse's dancing. She's still a year younger than me but she's already starting to take her etiquette seriously. She's already had a practice partner here and there, but Musse's fervor would always cause them to quit halfway through. Even I found it surprising to see her dance to that song's completion. She'll definitely be sleeping with a satisfied face tonight.", Princess Alfin responded as she enjoyed my hand ruffling through her hair. As I did, Emperor Eugent stared at his daughter as he listened to her. His eyes raised up slightly.

'Perhaps there was some context behind in me unlocking Musse's favorability then.', I inwardly mused to myself for a moment.

"Was there such a thing?", Emperor Eugent asked, since he didn't know what his daughter was referring to.

"But of course. You need to be with the crowd as they say, Papa. You needn't distance yourself from others.", Princess Alfin responded as she puffed her cheeks a bit.

"Haha, perhaps I have been working too much lately. There's still lingering effects sprouting up in our borders since the Hundred Days War ended, so I've been focused on doing some reformations of our military, with the Chancellor's assistance. But perhaps I've been working too lately in overseeing project after project. Would you like it if I took a week off here and there to spend some time back at our imperial villa?", Emperor Eugent asked, causing Princess Alfin's eyes to light up.

"That would be splendid. I could even show Big Brother around our villa! You said you'd be around for another two months at least, right?", Princess Alfin looked my way.

"Indeed. I will be under the care of the Vander Dojo, but I should have plenty of free time.", I said with a nod of my head.

"Very good then. I'll have a talk about it with Priscilla, but I'm sure she won't mind it either. And while that does seem fun and all, we mustn't spend too much time conversing like this. You know the Chancellor is a very busy man, even more busy than me.", Emperor Eugent said, sporting a more serious look in his eyes. Seeing his seriousness, Princess Alfin nodded her head.

"Yes...I've encountered the Chancellor on a few occasions. His work for our Empire is top notch from what I hear. Rifts among nobles have been growing, but he's been trying to patch that while trying to make it easier on the commoners' lives. That alone is not easy to handle.", Princess Alfin said with a look of respect in her eyes. "But I do get wanting to meet with Big Brother, but why would he go out of his way to invite me?", Princess Alfin asked, not knowing the answer. She saw Emperor Eugent remain silent for a brief moment, before he unexpectedly looked my way. I could see it in his eyes, but it was as if the Emperor had come to an understanding of sorts.

I wonder, what does he think he knows? It wasn't explained verbally at all, but having the Chancellor bring a tiny kid with him of an unknown origin didn't mean nothing. While not particularly strong as some powerhouses are in Zemuria, the Emperor definitely did have his wits on him. Like Claire's special ability of piecing the full story together in mere moments, it was possible Emperor Eugent here had already started to piece together who I really was.

Or perhaps, did he know all along, since father was on military leave at the time, and only kept it as a secret not known to anyone?

Either way, I could see it in his eyes, and silently, I nodded my head at him, causing Emperor Eugent to smile. He then turned toward Princess Alfin again and answered her.

"There is a reason for everything, my daughter. The Chancellor has spared a few moments, and he reached his hand out to include you. Everything will be explained inside. But I will warn you now, everything beyond these doors and into the Chancellor's private room, none of it is to be whispered outside of it. Not a peep. Understand?", Emperor Eugent asked, causing Princess Alfin's eyes to become surprised, since she didn't expect her father to be so serious on the matter.

Princess Alfin could only silently nod her head as Claire observed our conversation in silence. Still, she knew what to do, and opened the door to a rather long and stylish hallway, eventually letting us reach a particular room deep within Esmelas Garden, one that isn't allowed for many folks to enter