Chapter 6

Emperor!?

Why is it different from what I thought? So Seisakoku isnt a monarchy, but an empire?

After coming to the kings audience room deep within the palace, we finally learn about that from Ajira. Because he said, Please wait here for His Imperial Majesty Yelshi to arrive.

Since arriving here, this is my first time hearing my summit opponents name, and the fact that hes not a king, but an emperor.

Hey! Why didnt anyone tell me about this, huh? If so you should have said from the start this is the Empire of Seisa[1]!

Young Master, why are you so freaked out? Whats the difference between His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Emperor~ Its just the title thats a little different. And they dont place much emphasis on hereditary lineage here, so its rather like our country!

Josaks attitude sure is carefree.

But the problem lies in that a little difference!

Speaking of difference, this outfit has a lot of problems too, you know.

He frowns, pinching the material on his shirt.

Young Master too, such pale colors dont suit you at all. The way Gurrier sees it, if you were such coarse clothes to see the leader of another country, now thats a big problem! Really, I just want to take it all off and be done with it!

Dont be like that, d-dont mess around. If you do that, wont I be wearing the Kings New Clothes?

Although in the Kings New Clothes, that king gives the impression of being weak and stupid, but if you change king to emperor, for some reason it just gives a cool air like Scarred Lola[2], I wonder why?

Although amongst the group of kings theres also big names like Alexander, but because this noun was used too much in fairy tales, so it make people think of kindly old grandfathers. Once you mention an emperor, though, people like Napoleon or Nero come to mind, and you cant think of them as gentle at allI have a predisposed opinion when it comes to emperors, assuming that theyre either good at war or tyrants, so either way theyre scary people in power.

Just like there are emperor penguins and king penguins, and the former just gives you a stronger feeling.

If it was Murata, he would surely raise a few more examples like Beckenbauer[3] and Michel Platini[4], such names that I never heard before, huh? For all I know thered be a general in the middle of all that.

Anyway, putting aside my petty concerns, weve come to the Seisakoku emperors audience room. The room is long and rectangular, while the painted-gold ceiling is arched like the bottom of the boat. The floorboards and walls are covered in mosaic, describing the history of the shinzoku according to the years. Just looking at these pictures makes you feel you shouldnt simply step on them, so all of us have no choice but to push forward while jumping like frogs. Really, since its an important piece of art that should never be dirtied, you shouldnt put it on the floor!

The drapes are slowly pulled open as the guards announce the arrival of the guards. I can vaguely sense someone sitting behind the veils.

All the symptoms of the pressure, heart-pulsing, breathlessness, gastric pains, headaches and chest-tightening, all ambush me at once.

Just then His Majesty Yelshi speaks up from behind the thin veils:

Gasgabu?

This emperors words really leave people at a loss. Even in this kind of situation, he still treats every word like gold, and his tone at the end is clearly questioning. According to my super translation skills, its no need to be so formal, come closer, but its completely different to what the experts translation is.

Long trip?

How very simple and concise.

Ah! Thank you for your concern.

I dont know how to answer, so I sneak a glance at Saralegui. If you count the number of days weve been on the throne, he counts as my senior. But the young Shou Shimaron king doesnt particularly greet the other party, all I see is a hint of a smile on the corners of his lips.

True, after all we represent our respective countries too, so we cant act too submissive. A rookie king like me with so little experience its pitiful, can only learn by experiencing it for myself.

The Seisakoku emperor continues with a longer speech than just now. Even if its someone like me, who can use baseball metaphors and annoy the hell out of people, cant bring the baseball logic Im so good at when talking to someone in long, foreign sentences. At times like this, itd be best to rely on Anissinas pride and joy, her mysterious ma-powered devices.

Regarding your visit, we feel very happy. Do you wish to drink anything?

After hearing that completely normal translation, Saralegui suddenly relaxes his shoulders, a smile blossoming across his face,

Heh, Yelshi.

He uses his white hands to push his hair behind his ears, and even a small gesture like that is still elegant on him.

Yelshi, dont bother with those annoying formalities anymore, this is our long-awaited reunion after thirteen years, you know!

The Shou Shimaron king says this cheerfully, and then, ignoring everyone else whos staring wide-eyed and slack-jawed, he reaches his hands out for the veil between us and His Majesty the Emperor.

P-please wait!

He disregards the opposition from the others, pulling aside the pale green veils as naturally as he would push aside his hair.

Wait a sec, Sa Eh?

On the throne one step above us, theres another Saralegui sitting thereNo, to be precise there is a little difference. The hair that brushes his shoulders is shorter than Saras, and he doesnt have pale-colored glasses to hide his light-sensitive eyes. But the two of them cant simply be described as very similar.

Theyre practically twins.

So

My voice is so hoarse it gets stuck in my throat.

So thats it! When I turn around to look, I see that even Josak and Lord Weller look fairly surprised. Even the two younger guards awaiting orders in the room cant hide the wavering of their hearts. The only ones who look unaffected are the slightly older ones.

Saralegui takes off the glasses he usually wears, opening his arms to the emperor of Seisakoku.

Yelshi, long time no see. Youve grown so big! Well, thats unsurprising, after all were not kids anymore.

And with that he runs towards the young king, using equally slender arms to hug his petite body.

We lived separately, so we may not look exactly the same. What do you think, Yuuri?

Two pairs of identical eyes look at me. One pair is completely emotionless, while the other pair of golden eyes is sparkling with joy.

I wonder, do we still look very similar?

Im so surprised Im beyond reacting.

Thats right, didnt I know this a long time ago?

There are a lot of twins among the shinzoku.