Princess Adrina

He decided to grant permission. Given her status as a princess of the Magnia Empire—and since she had approached him under so many watching eyes—he thought refusing would be discourteous.

“Very well. Let us talk.”

“Thank you for granting me the audience.”

The Royal Guards stepped aside, and she approached him. As she drew nearer, he could see more clearly: a dress in sky blue and white, lavish with floral ornamentation, which made her beauty stand out all the more.

‘She really is beautiful.’

He could not help but feel genuine admiration. He had seen many women, and his standards had grown exacting; still, he thought she ranked above any woman he had laid eyes on.

‘It would be rude to remain seated.’

He rose from his chair and went to meet her. Standing close, he saw the top of her head reached just under his chin. Assuming she wore heels, he judged her on the tall side. For reference, he himself now stood at 185 centimeters.

‘Even allowing for heels, she must be at least 170.’

She pinched the skirt lightly and dipped her knees—an elegant curtsey.

“I greet the Ruler of the Great Ocean. Thank you for accepting my request to speak.”

“I merely answered your boldness. Unlike the other ladies, you were forthright—that piqued my curiosity.”

“If that is how you see it, then I chose well.”

She smiled faintly—the sort of smile that could unsteady a man’s heart. He almost smiled back without thinking, but by will alone kept his expression steady.

‘This takes as much willpower as drinking to the limit. She’s a real fox.’

Whether she meant to beguile him or not, he had almost been drawn in. He deliberately kept his demeanor calm. Princess Adrina, seeing no change in his expression, felt a flicker of surprise, then regained her poise.

“Your Majesty is different from others.”

“Different how?”

“You look straight into my eyes.”

“We are conversing; where else should I look?”

“Indeed. That is as it should be.”

She smiled again—dizzying even in that small motion. On Earth, he thought, she would have become a star, or taken some profession that drew every gaze. In any case, he wondered what she wished to say and prompted her.

“You said you had something to discuss.”

“Could we speak somewhere quieter?”

“Somewhere quieter?”

Ian glanced across the ballroom. Many were watching them now. People were surely guessing who the lady speaking with the king was. He asked, a bit wary of appearances:

“Will that be all right?”

“It is, for me.”

“Don’t take this amiss. If you and I spend time alone, people will misunderstand.”

“Ah, I see. I don’t mind. But would that make it difficult for Your Majesty?”

“Not difficult—but I would not cause you trouble through needless rumors.”

At that, Princess Adrina regarded him with a curious look. He was unlike any power-holder she had known. Those she knew were proud and indifferent to others’ feelings—especially in dealing with women.

“As I said, I don’t mind.”

“Then let us go somewhere quiet, and I will hear you out.”

Ian nodded toward Mardin, who had been waiting nearby. Understanding at once, Mardin arranged a passage and the Guards formed a cordon to a side door. Ian gestured for her to proceed.

Princess Adrina inclined her head and walked with him. As they moved, so did the room’s attention, following them with whispers until they passed out through the doorway.

Around the hall, noble ladies could only seethe at the stolen opportunity. One even bit her handkerchief in frustration.

Ian and Princess Adrina went to one of the palace reception rooms, richly appointed. Since Ian’s accession, the only “luxury” he had allowed was birthday gifts for his mother and younger sister; otherwise, the palace still bore the lavish décor of the previous king.

Facing the princess, Ian accepted a teacup the maids brought and gestured.

“Please, drink.”

She lifted the cup with perfect economy of motion; even the way she sipped showed the faultless training of a royal. Ian also drank slowly.

When the maids had withdrawn and the room fell quiet, she set down her cup and fixed her gaze on him.

“First, forgive my impertinence. It was forward of me to request such a meeting from Your Majesty.”

“It is fine. I assume you have your reasons. I would now like to hear what they are.”

What did she wish to say that required such a step? He had considered several possibilities. Bold as she was, perhaps she meant to broach a betrothal.

‘The Magnia imperial house—on paper, not a bad match.’

An alliance with the greatest empire would have its merits. But it would also be fraught: it would be a political marriage, and tie Polia to Magnia’s future moves.

‘They are sitting out the war for now, but they could still join. If so, would we be dragged in as well?’

As he weighed these complications, her words caught him off guard.

“What I wish to ask first is… invest in me.”

“Hmm?”

“Is something wrong?”

“No, ahem. Investment—what do you mean? In what?”

He had not expected that at all—and felt a little foolish for his earlier guesses. Invest—into what?

“Please fund an expedition to a set of ancient ruins.”

“Ancient ruins?”

“Yes. Ancient ruins.”

Her confident eyes made him blink. From a princess’s lips, “ancient ruins” sounded odd. And why ask him? What precisely did she want funded?

“This is unexpected. Why ask me? And why call it an investment—surely the Magnia court could fund such a thing?”

“Because I don’t want the imperial family to know.”

“And why is that?”

“Because my brother, Emperor Jedic, is seeking the same ruins.”

“Emperor Jedic is searching for them? What exactly are these ruins?”

She hesitated, clearly unsure how much to reveal. Ian’s tone hardened.

“I do not invest in what I do not understand. You are not asking me to fund a search while telling me nothing, are you?”

“Of course not. How could one invest in the unknown? …Sigh. I came resolved to tell you, but now that I must speak, I hesitate.”

“What are these ruins that make you so cautious?”

“What I can tell you is this: the ruins lie somewhere in the Marin Archipelago, Polia’s territory.”

“The Marin Archipelago?”

He had once led a battleship there to suppress rebels. Over two hundred islands, many blanketed in jungle—such a place could well hide ruins.

But what were they, to draw Emperor Jedic’s interest—and why approach Ian secretly for funds? He must have looked puzzled, because she went on.

“Since they’re within Polian territory, I want a proper search—backed by Your Majesty.”

“Then Emperor Jedic also knows there are ruins in the Marin Archipelago?”

“Yes. Without question.”

“Unlike you, he seems to be operating secretly within my domain—without informing me.”

“Most likely. My brother will want to secure the ruins first, in secret.”

It stung his pride. That something within his own realm could be unknown to him—worse, that Magnia might already be moving in Marin—was galling.

Annoyance aside, his curiosity about the ruins sharpened.

“What are these ruins, that he wants them so badly? You are not asking me to help while telling me nothing, I trust.”

“I’m sorry. I truly don’t know.”

“You don’t? Are you hiding something from me?”

When his eyes hardened, she shook her head.

“What I know is incomplete. I only know that my brother covets the ruins—and that he has already obtained something from other ruins.”

“He has already gained something—elsewhere?”

That made sense of how Jedic had risen so swiftly from prince to emperor. Ian had suspected there was something more; perhaps the ruins had helped him. If so, Jedic would certainly pursue whatever lay in Marin.

“Very likely.”

“Then why keep your search secret from the emperor? Do you aim for the throne?”

“What? Of course not! How could I? I only want to keep my fate in my own hands. To gain power—and leave the imperial cage behind.”

Her words made him think of his sister Teresa. She too had tried to choose her own fate, only to yield to a political marriage that scarred her—though she was now divorced and, he had heard, living well with her child.

“Do I seem strange to you?”

“No. I find your resolve admirable.”

“Thank you. So—have you decided?”

She looked at him, nerves drawn taut. She had now told him a secret; if he refused, she would return to Magnia empty-handed—and, if discovered, could lose her title that very day.

Meeting her anxious gaze, Ian gave a small nod.

“Very well. I will invest.”

“Truly?! Thank you!”

“But I will expect returns.”

Only a fool invested without gain. He intended to assign his own people to her—ones securely conditioned by Mental Manipulation.

“Of course. If I take your investment, I will repay Your Majesty.”

“What if there is only one treasure?”

“There won’t be just one.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because my brother spoke of several.”

Ian nodded. Several treasures, then. He wondered what they were, but as Adrina herself did not know, the answer would have to wait for discovery.

“Do you at least have a map to find the site?”

“Not a map, but I have information on the island’s features—what it looks like, and from what direction one must view it to locate the ruins.”

“I see. And you learned this without being caught?”

“I was terrified at the time. If I hadn’t hidden perfectly, I never would have heard it.”

“If you had been discovered, it could have been dangerous.”

She was his sister, but if Jedic learned she knew his secret, he might have had her killed. Once, Ian had thought Jedic’s temperament decent; but people changed, and emperors grew cold.

“In the end, I wasn’t discovered. That’s enough.”

“You have quite the steady nerves. In any case, remain here for a time. I’ll prepare personnel and equipment.”

“To remain, I’ll need a reason, won’t I?”

“Hm. True. Do you have a plan?”

For a princess to linger in Polia would raise eyebrows. She raised one finger, eyes smiling.

“How about this?”

“What do you mean?”

As she explained, Ian could not help looking startled.