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Chapter 207: A Royal Widow Grand Princess
🕑 Added 2025-01-22 00:57:41 +0000 UTCAfter finishing his meal, Charlot parted ways with Aurora Soumet. He even declined her suggestion to go shopping together. Not having any weapons on him felt unsettling. Normally, Charlot would carry the Blood Rose, and before he had that, he would always have the Vampiric Hand Axe and a Magnum Mauler with him.
Aurora didn’t say much, merely asking Charlot to escort her back to the Foreign Minister’s residence.
Once Charlot dropped her off, he hurried back to Embassy Street. Finding Dolores Soumet, he reclaimed the Blood Rose and the Withered Rose, storing them inside the Blood Vortex in his left arm. Only then did he let out a long breath of relief, the sense of security washing over him once more.
He thought to himself, "It’s a shame the Anti-Space Long-Range Rifle and both Silver Rhinos are still at Machubi. Otherwise, I’d feel even safer."
Charlot also retrieved two Knight’s Lances and two Vampiric Rapiers. By the time he was finished, night had fallen. Returning to his room, he practiced Blood Glory for a while. Just as he was about to go to bed, he remembered the two letters he had set aside.
One letter was from High Priest Auguslatin, but since the priest had not returned yet, Charlot decided not to open it, preferring to avoid distractions before the upcoming duel. Instead, he opened the letter addressed to himself. Breaking the wax seal, he drew out the official royal document.
It was a standard royal missive. After commending Charlot for his contributions to the alliance between the two nations, the only substantive information was his promotion: Charlot Mecklenburg was advanced to the rank of Level 27, Grade 3 Chief Clerk.
Though it was a promotion, it still didn’t place Charlot among the Unreachable Class (Level 24 and above). This was a lower status than his position in the Ingrima Empire.
Even so, Charlot understood that his unique situation in the Ingrima Empire was an anomaly—few were fortunate enough to be personally received and appreciated by the emperor himself.
Satisfied, he carefully stored the important document away.
The next morning, High Priest Auguslatin made a rare appearance at the embassy. No one knew where he had been these past days. He looked utterly exhausted, his legs trembling as though he’d undertaken some grueling “physical labor.”
Charlot immediately handed the letter over to him.
Unsealing the letter, High Priest Auguslatin read it briefly before remarking flatly, “Sir Charlot Mecklenburg, your pleasant life in Ingrima is over.”
“You will soon return to Strasbourg, where a new assignment awaits you.”
He handed the letter to Charlot, who glanced over it. Sure enough, it contained orders urging his return to the Fars Empire. This wasn’t some ploy by High Priest Auguslatin. Confused, Charlot asked, “Why am I the only one being sent back?”
With a broad smile, High Priest Auguslatin replied, “I have no idea why they want only you back. But this is good news for you. I too miss Strasbourg, but for the sake of the emperor and the Fars Empire, I must remain in Ingrima.”
Charlot couldn’t see any sign of reluctance in the priest’s expression, which practically radiated happiness.
In truth, Charlot did feel a twinge of longing for Strasbourg, mainly because of Annie Bretagne. Though he had started forming a small social circle in Britain, figures like Julian Arsilo and others were destined to return to their own lands. Meanwhile, Aurora’s charm simply couldn’t compare to Annie’s.
Furthermore, Dolores Soumet, Anastasia, and Belisa would all accompany him back, making the thought even more appealing.
After discussing matters with the High Priest for a while, Charlot drafted a letter to the Foreign Minister’s residence, formally applying for permission to return to the Fars Empire. As a diplomat, every move he made had to follow proper protocol to avoid creating any friction between the two nations.
The response from the Foreign Minister’s residence came swiftly. Along with wishes for a smooth journey, the letter also granted Charlot the rare honor of traveling aboard an Ingrima Empire warship to return to the Fars Empire.
In the afternoon, a messenger from the palace arrived, summoning Charlot for an audience.
Under the envious gazes of other embassy staff, Charlot boarded the royal carriage. He carried no weapons this time, passing through numerous security checkpoints and enduring inspections by eunuchs before once again meeting Emperor Alfred Guillaume, the Red Dragon Emperor.
The emperor greeted Charlot warmly and invited him to a grand royal banquet. The main dishes were almost identical to those Aurora had served him the previous day, but they were more refined. One dish, in particular, stood out—a bowl of sticky vegetable puree topped with a ring of fried fish heads. It was larger and even more grotesque than Aurora’s version, with fish heads sporting expressions of utter despair.
During the meal, Emperor Alfred Guillaume remarked proudly, “I’ve also arranged for a diplomatic delegation to accompany you to Strasbourg.”
“The delegation’s Special Envoy with Full Authority is my aunt—a royal widow Grand Princess. I chose her especially for you. Make sure to seize this opportunity.”
Charlot involuntarily swallowed a mouthful of fish head, utterly baffled by the emperor’s intentions. A widow? A Grand Princess? Each term was respectable, yet coming from the emperor, they all carried a lewd undertone.
Seeing Charlot’s stunned expression, the emperor assumed he was overcome with joy. Brimming with enthusiasm, he added, “Besides the feast, I’ve prepared a little appetizer for you as well. Accompanying my aunt will be Miss Aurora Soumet.”
“Well? Have I treated you well or not?”
“You must give it your all, Sir Charlot Mecklenburg!”
Charlot nodded repeatedly, though he wasn’t sure if this was an opportunity worth pursuing. What exactly would “giving it his all” entail? What kind of serious consequences might follow?
The emperor, apparently in high spirits, spent the entire dinner detailing his aunt’s preferences—from her love for New Continent silk lingerie to her favorite dishes, novels, and poetry. Charlot knew more about the Grand Princess’s habits by the end of the meal than anyone outside her inner circle should.
Ordinarily, only a lady-in-waiting or a steward would have such intimate knowledge.
Charlot finished the meal feeling as if he were sitting on needles. He hadn’t expected to leave the palace with such a peculiar assignment. Although the emperor never explicitly stated his intentions, the implications were glaringly obvious. The phrase “I’m here for the entertainment” might as well have been written on the emperor’s face.
Under this immense pressure, Charlot even found the peculiar Ingrima cuisine less unbearable.
After dinner, the emperor draped an arm around Charlot’s shoulders, personally escorting him through two layers of palace gates. Along the way, countless eyes drilled into him, as if he were some sycophantic foreign minister seducing the emperor.
It felt as though he were being embraced by a real Red Dragon, constantly on edge, afraid that a sudden mood swing might lead to him being devoured alive.
Not until he left the palace did Charlot let out a deep sigh of relief, feeling as though he had just escaped from a dragon’s lair.
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