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Although Emperor Renardier was unsettled by Vaan\'s presence, it wasn\'t the time for him to satisfy his curiosity and doubts.

"Now is the time for you to hand over our imperial princess!" one of the two white-armored marquis, a pot-bellied blonde man with chubby cheeks and a swirly mustache, strongly demanded with a threatening tone.

"Of course. That is why we are here," Aeliana amicably announced with a sweet, charming smile, enchanting the pot-bellied marquis in a brief daze. Her beauty easily moved the hearts of men.

But anyone with the slightest awareness of Aeliana\'s true nature would have known that she wasn\'t one to respond to open hostilities with friendly kindness normally. She had to restrain her wild nature for the rare instance.

Nevertheless, Aeliana\'s vines, which restrained Dorothy\'s ability to move, speak, and see, unfurled, freeing her. The vines then joined with other vines, forming interlocking patterns to create a bridge to the white magic airship.

Any disability Dorothy had previously incurred had been restored with dragon magic.

"Come, Dorothy. Over here," Duke Chalfont signaled with a hand gesture.

After Dorothy blindly crossed the vine bridge with a dull look and entered Duke Chalfont\'s arms, Duke Chalfont finally felt some relief in his heart.

However, her lack of response made him frown.

"Don\'t worry. She\'s only sedated. The effects will wear off in a few hours," Astoria calmly explained to the Holy Knight Empire\'s representatives. "Now that your demands have been met, please recall your army. Otherwise, the Kingdom of Black Rose will view it as an act of aggression."

Shortly after, Emperor Renardier finally managed to pull his attention away from Vaan and gazed at Astoria before his eyes brightened, immediately attracted by her beauty.

Her demeanor, aura, and elegance were on a different level from other women. As expected of royal blood, only someone like this could become his main wife – Emperor Renardier thought.

Astoria frowned under Emperor Renardier\'s uncomfortable and unsettling gaze.

"You must be Lady Astoria, my older cousin. The rumors do you no justice; your beauty is without equal, the best I have seen. Won\'t you return to the empire with me and become my empress—?" Emperor Renardier suggested expectantly.

However, his expression suddenly darkened when he noticed Vaan\'s arm wrapping around Astoria\'s waist, pulling her body towards his own.

"I didn\'t know the emperor of the Holy Knight Empire was so unrestrained and lacking in women that he would target other people\'s women," Vaan coolly commented while Astoria blushed in his arms.

He decided to give up the friendly and reasonable approach, figuring it was fine if the empire still looked bad in front of the recordings. It would be even better if his cheap provocations forced the empire\'s representatives to utter disadvantageous words that could be used against them later.

Nevertheless, Vaan\'s comment easily enraged Emperor Renardier as veins protruded on the latter\'s face. Even so, Emperor Renardier forcefully suppressed his emotions to remain calm.

That said, he still wore an ugly expression.

Emperor Renardier felt like he had just found his significant other—only to have her stolen in front of him. It left a bitter feeling in his heart. As the emperor of a country, there was nothing he couldn\'t get if he desired. But here, he was forced to eat the bitter melon.

"Who are you?"

"Her man."

Vaan\'s reply enraged Emperor Renardier even further, as it wasn\'t the answer the latter wanted to hear.

Even so, Vaan\'s answer was still an answer, nonetheless. And even if Vaan wasn\'t feigning ignorance to the real question, Emperor Renardier couldn\'t exactly call him stupid for it.

"Her man… Her man, huh? Very good!" Emperor Renardier uttered with a glaring and intense look in his eyes before he asked, "Do you have any idea who she is? Do you think you are worthy of her?"

"Do I have any idea who she is? Not your woman, that\'s for sure. As for whether I am worthy or not, I don\'t think that\'s any of your business, Your Imperial Majesty," Vaan replied satirically and rudely, enraging the emperor even further.

"We\'ve already returned the imperial princess as per the empire\'s demand. Therefore, our business here is concluded; there\'s nothing left for us to discuss. So withdraw your army and be on your way," Vaan strongly demanded.

"How dare you speak to His Imperial Majesty like that! I should have you executed for your disrespect, peasant!" the pot-bellied marquis drew his Rank 4 silver sword, pointing it at Vaan threateningly in his anger.

However, Vaan remained calm and unfazed; the pot-bellied marquis did not possess the qualities to make him feel threatened.

"How laughable," Vaan mocked.

"The Kingdom of Black Rose and the Holy Knight Empire have a hostile relationship; we do not get along. We do not need to be nice to you, nor do your country\'s laws and rules apply to us. Or is the Holy Knight Empire so arrogant as to believe their laws extend to other countries?"

"You—!"

"Let it go, Marquis Salsburg. This young man is completely right. We are done here. Let us head back," Emperor Renardier acknowledged with a dark look, turning to leave before he suddenly glanced back and added, "However, an amicable and friendly attitude is a necessity to maintaining a long, healthy life. It would be in your best interest to remember that."

"No, I don\'t think I need to. We won\'t be seeing each other ever again, Your Imperial Majesty," Vaan nonchalantly replied, not heeding the advice.

Then, he glanced at Duke Chalfont and uttered a few soundless words only the latter could read.

"Oh, believe me, we\'ll be seeing each other again sooner than you think. Also, I hope Lady Astoria won\'t regret choosing him over me later," Emperor Renardier departed, leaving behind a vague threat.

Whatever he wanted, he\'d take by force.

…

Shortly after, the two parties returned to their respective camps. On the empire\'s white magic airship, the pot-bellied immediately vented his frustration to the emperor.

"Dammit, what an audacious young man! Does he think the witches can protect him? I almost couldn\'t help myself; I wanted to cut him down so badly!"