Published: January 4, 2026
Serialization resumes; I will write another hundred thousand characters or so.
Late at night, the tent was filled with a sweet, intoxicating scent.
A fragrance that maximized a woman’s sexual allure and stirred a man’s emotions.
Incense refined into that scent was burning, permeating the entire tent.
Amidst that aroma, I found myself alone with Alice.
Alice sat beside me, attentively close, like a devoted wife.
She quickly moved to pour more wine into the glass I had emptied.
“Aah! I-I’m so sorry!!”
Her trembling hands caused the wine to spill over the edge of the glass, dribbling slightly onto my thigh.
Flustered, she set the bottle down, grabbed a cloth, and began wiping the wine off my leg.
I held my glass and let her do as she pleased.
“I truly apologize! I’ll pour it properly next time—”
“Don’t worry. I am not bothered.”
“B-But—”
“On the contrary, it actually puts my mind at ease.”
I smiled lightly, and Alice gave me a puzzled look.
She seemed to wonder how there could be anything reassuring about this.
“If you are a songstress like you, interacting with customers is naturally part of the job.
To handle that, you must learn through experience, one step at a time.”
“Uh, yes.”
“But you haven’t learned that, because you have never had to face ‘real situations.’”
“Yes... thanks to Your Majesty’s protection...”
Alice averted her eyes slightly and looked up at me hesitantly.
In those eyes was a deep feeling of gratitude.
Indeed, someone like her walks a fine line from a straightforward courtesan.
There’s no doubt that her profession is that of a songstress who performs at establishments.
However, when a woman possesses both beauty and talent, it’s inevitable that men with money or power—or both—will set their sights on her.
And ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the reason those men approach is purely physical desire to possess her.
It’s neither good nor bad; that’s simply reality, and as long as men remain men, I believe it will never disappear.
Yet Alice was different.
That’s because I noticed her before she gained fame, and I backed her financially.
Once the thirteenth prince, then the wise prince, and now the emperor of the empire.
No one in the Imperial Capital dared to touch a woman under my “protection.”
Thus, Alice never needed to do that kind of “work” and possessed no skills for it.
“I understand, so I’m not concerned.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I will learn quickly—”
“No, there’s no need.”
“Huh?”
“You don’t need to learn that. I’ve let you try for now, but once this expedition ends, you can forget everything.”
“But—”
“What do you think of this sword?”
As I spoke, I drew the sword placed beside me.
It’s not Leviathan; the emperor always carries various ornamental items, and this sword is one of them.
Both the hilt and sheath are lavishly decorated—it’s a ceremonial sword with minimal practicality.
I held it up and asked Alice.
“Um... it’s a magnificent sword, right?”
“Indeed. What do you think if I told you to use this to clean fish or cut radishes?”
“Wha—!? That would be such a waste!”
“That’s exactly my point.”
“...Ah.”
After a few seconds of blankness, Alice suddenly understood.
By comparing this sword to her, I meant it would be a shame to make her do the work of a prostitute selling her body.
“Your Majesty...”
“I’m not flattering you. You moved the hearts of a large audience on Vanadin Street. I want you to keep singing, not learn such things.”
“Your Majesty is... overestimating me.”
“Really? I even think I might be underestimating you.”
“That can’t be...”
“If you think I’m overestimating, then strive to live up to that evaluation.”
“Yes... I will.”
“Very well.”
“You truly are an incredible person, Your Majesty...”
I just smiled gently.
Though I said nothing more, Alice’s face lit up with admiration as she poured me more wine.
It was the appropriate behavior for the moment, and I saw no reason to stop her.