The Incompetent Emperor Who Changes the World from the Shadows: Iron, Gunpowder, and the Young Maidens of Favor - Chapter 24: A Small Smile and Bonds from a Foreign Land

Chapter 24: A Small Smile and Bonds from a Foreign Land

The Daroisia faith—

In my original world, it’s as widespread as Christianity.

Between the Rontesia Republic to the west and the Mesiano Duchy to its south lies a narrow neutral zone.

There, like the Vatican City, stands the headquarters of the Daroisia faith.

“Why would they start a war?”

I don’t know the full extent.

But when Iris visited her parents’ graves, I touched the tombstone and read its data.

The killers were an assassination squad from the Daroisia faith.

Sopina’s information-gathering isn’t limited to living people.

It works on corpses and tombstones too, apparently.

“Whoa, the church has an assassination squad?”

Yeah, pretty dark, right?

Assassination is just an efficient way to eliminate inconvenient people.

If so, the church’s goal might be straightforward.

“Maybe their aim is something like this.”

Like what?

“Starting a great war to exhaust major powers.

Or weakening all nations globally.

The more unstable society becomes, the more people turn to religion.”

Is that how it works?

But from the data I gathered, people’s reliance on religion is already high.

I don’t think they need to destabilize society to gain followers.

“…”

My theory seems off.

I sounded so confident, but now I feel like an idiot…

Your thinking’s a bit shallow, huh?

“Yeah, I oversimplified it.

Now the goal’s unclear.”

Exactly.

That’s what makes it creepy.

“Wait, there was a priest at the ceremony, right?

Did you get anything from him?”

Henry, the priest?

He’s closer to a low-level believer.

The church splits into moderates and fundamentalists.

He’s a moderate, so I doubt he knows much.

Knock, knock.

A soft knock at the door is followed by a small voice.

“It’s Iris.”

My wife has arrived.

I tell Sopina to step back, then open the door to greet her.

Her hair, hidden during the daytime ceremony, is now visible—soft, wavy blonde locks.

The delicate shimmer of her golden hair complements her refined features.

She’s breathtakingly beautiful.

At 13, she still has a youthful air, but as rumored, she’ll likely grow into a stunning woman.

When she grows up…

Her chest is still quite flat.

Not that I mind a petite figure—I’ve got a pretty wide strike zone.

Though, my strike zone leans toward younger women.

“Hey, glad you came.

Come on in…?”

Her outfit catches my eye.

Instead of easy-to-remove sleepwear, she’s wearing an extravagant dress, like one for a lavish party.

“If I interrupted your work, I’m sorry.”

Iris says this apologetically, trembling as she did during the ceremony—or even more so.

Am I that scary?

It’s our wedding night, so it’s understandable.

Plus, we’re practically strangers.

I should do something to ease her tension…

“I’ll have a maid bring tea.”

“No, I’ve prepared some myself today.”

At her words, an unfamiliar maid, who must have been waiting behind her, enters with a cart alongside Iris.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty.”

The maid bows, a rare black-haired girl in the capital.

Iris gestures for me to look at the teapot on the cart.

“I-I brought the finest tea leaves from my country.

I had my maid bring them so Your Majesty could try them.”

If it helps her relax, I’m grateful.

The girl with the cart must be Iris’s personal maid.

“Let’s drink on the terrace.

The starry sky there is spectacular.”

“Thank you.”

I take her trembling hand and lead her to the terrace seats.

She’s still tense, but drinking familiar tea from her homeland might calm her.

We both sit, and the maid skillfully pours tea into our cups.

“I hope it suits Your Majesty’s taste.”

The maid says with a shy smile, placing a cup and saucer before me.

“…In my country, we have a custom of drinking warm tea and eating cookies or pastries my mother baked before bed.

On tense days, eating sweets like this helps us dream sweetly…

I baked these myself, hoping Your Majesty would enjoy them.”

Small biscuits, honey-glazed baked apples, and fragrant herbal tea.

Each bite carries a gentle sweetness that melts my tension.

“This… is really delicious.

You’re a princess, yet you can cook?”

“Yes.

This is my mother’s recipe.

In my country, sharing a nighttime ‘relaxation tea’ with family is an important tradition…

I’m glad if it suits your taste.”

Iris offers a small smile, her tension easing slightly.

“It’s a very gentle flavor.

Thanks to you, I feel much more at ease.”

“I’m so glad…

I’m happy to talk calmly with Your Majesty like this.”

As Iris speaks, the maid—Corinna—lifts the teapot softly.

“Would you like a refill, Your Majesty?”

Corinna smiles discreetly, pouring tea carefully into my cup.

“Thanks.

You’re quite attentive.”

I notice the maid’s graceful movements.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

“I’m not worthy of giving my name to the emperor.

It wouldn’t do to overshadow the princess.”

“You’re Iris’s maid, right?

Like family, in a way.

I just want to treat you and Iris with care.

I don’t want to dismiss you with ‘names don’t matter.’”

The maid glances at Iris for confirmation, and Iris nods.

With that, the maid bows humbly.

“My name is Corinna.

Please look after me and the princess.”

“Nice to meet you, Corinna.”

I sip the tea and turn my gaze back to Iris.

“…”

Her hand, holding the cup, still trembles—she’s not fully relaxed.

I don’t know how the original emperor was, but I don’t want a wedding night that feels like assault.

Consent is better.

Then again, I feel a pang of self-awareness, lusting after a girl who’d be a middle schooler in my world.

Am I really being pulled by the original emperor’s body?

For now, I focus on relaxing her, speaking gently, cracking jokes, and creating a pleasant moment.

She starts to open up, showing smiles.

“Princess, haven’t we been mistaken about His Majesty?”

Corinna asks Iris.

“…Maybe so.”

Iris shrugs, as if reflecting, and answers.

“Hm?

What’s that about?”

I’m used to being misunderstood, but how was I seen?