Scarlett lowered her gaze. She wasn't an actress like Kiara. It was already tough for her to narrate a false story to her grandfather, and now she had to think more? The princess decided not to answer.
The Emperor let the silence stretch for a moment before speaking again.
"Miss Kiara," he said, his voice carrying the weight of his position. "It is admirable that you are willing to accept Scarlett, but you also need to understand something. A royal princess doesn't belong only to her family. She belongs to the Empire. Her marriage affects diplomacy, the court, the military, and the confidence of the nobility. Even if I wanted to agree right away for the sake of her happiness… I cannot."
He glanced at Arceus.
