How extravagant…
Ron clicked his tongue inwardly.
This heating magic array didn't even have a switch. Once used, it was basically scrapped.
A single elemental stone cost at least ten gold coins to start with—and fire-element ones were even more expensive. And it was being used just to heat the hotpot?
So this was the life of a feudal emperor?
Love it. Absolutely love it.
If elemental stones were promoted for daily use among the general population, the current mining output would barely make a dent in demand.
But if they were supplied solely for Emperor André III's personal use, he probably wouldn't run out even if he used them for a lifetime.
If Illya—who was wholeheartedly devoted to popularizing magic arrays among ordinary people—saw this scene, she'd probably feel the urge to shove Emperor André III's head straight into the hotpot.
"That is quite convenient…" Ron said, placing a hand over his heart as he spoke.
It was basically an induction cooker.
A disposable one.
What a waste.
The two of them ate hotpot and drank wine.
Under Emperor André III's deliberate guidance, their conversation drifted from Ron's life in the City of Chaos to the Emperor's first time eating hotpot, then to his reminiscence about a deceased concubine, and eventually to the Element Cards.
"The Element Cards you invented are quite interesting. They've become very popular among the nobility lately." Emperor André III dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "I've also looked into your Legendary Kill. Recently, I heard you created another one—War of the Gods?"
"Yes. Just some small amusements."
"Do you happen to have it with you? We have nothing to do tonight—why not let me see it for myself?"
"Of course. But War of the Gods requires four players…"
"No matter. Isn't Sister Sylvie here? We'll call Mia over as well."
So, about ten minutes later, in a reception room of the side hall, Emperor André III, Ron, and Sylvie were seated around a square table.
A maid pushed open the door and ushered Princess Mia inside.
"Greetings, Father… Huh?" Mia curtsied upon entering, but when she saw Ron and Sylvie, she visibly froze.
"Mia, come sit." Emperor André III beckoned.
Still slightly confused, Mia sat down at her father's right-hand side. Looking at the pile of strange square cards on the table, she asked curiously, "What are these?"
"This is War of the Gods, invented by Ron. Like Element Cards, it's meant for entertainment." Emperor André III patiently explained that his tone toward Mia was completely different from how he addressed others. "It requires four players. We were short one, so I had you come."
"I see!" Mia's eyes lit up. The moment she heard it was something invented by Brother Ron, she became immediately interested.
Ron then began explaining the rules to Emperor André III and Mia, and the four of them officially started playing.
Emperor André III followed the War of the Gods, while Mia followed the Healing God. Accordingly, their wildcard cards were the "Twin Blades" card and the "Holy Light" card.
As for the specific course of battle, no need to elaborate. Sylvie remained as steady and reassuring in combat strength as ever.
Mia, playing for the first time—and with Ron as the player before her—basically had no gaming experience to speak of.
Still, she was fully immersed, clearly enjoying the game mechanics.
After an entire round, the newcomer Emperor André III emerged as the biggest winner.
When the final game ended, Mia puffed up her cheeks and flipped her cards face down, then coquettishly complained to Emperor André III, "Father~ Go easy on me~ I hardly won at all~."
"Heh, I was merely lucky." Emperor André III watched as Ron flipped his own cards face down without revealing them, then pushed them into the pile and shuffled them together. A faint, unreadable smile appeared on his face. "Ron, you're the one who created this game—why is it that you rarely win?"
The room suddenly fell silent.
Ron looked at Emperor André III, a modest smile appearing on his face as he replied pointedly, "When one isn't truly interested in something, whether one wins or loses doesn't really matter."
Sylvie glanced at Ron, then out of the corner of her eye at Emperor André III.
"You are rather open-minded," Emperor André III said, his smile fading. His fingers idly rubbed over the "Twin Blades" and "Holy Light" cards—symbols of the Church of the God of War and the Church of the Healing God—before he slowly added, "But people do change."
Hearing this, Ron sighed inwardly.
Lowering his gaze, he replied calmly, "Then let time be the proof."
Mia's suspicious gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them, unable to tell whether her father and brother were discussing Gods' War—or something else entirely.
Only Sylvie understood the deeper meaning beneath their words. Yet at that moment, she simply stared at the cards on the table, wondering whether they could hurry up and start the next round.
…
After the entertainment concluded, Ron and Sylvie left the side hall.
They boarded the carriage, which slowly departed from the palace.
Through the carriage window, Ron looked up at the faintly glowing top of the Royal Observatory Tower against the night sky, wondering whether the view from the highest point—overlooking the entire empire—would look completely different.
Anyone would yearn for such a view.
If not yearn for it, at least be curious.
If someone claimed at that moment that they had no interest whatsoever in the view from above, wouldn't it simply sound like attention-seeking?
But he truly had little interest…
Why was communication between people so difficult?
"Your Highness Ron." Seeing the carriage pass through the palace gates, Sylvie finally asked, "Are you truly… uninterested in that position?"
"Heh…" Ron slumped in his seat, staring speechlessly at the night outside. "If I say I'm not interested, would you believe me?"
"But if you truly aren't interested, why return to the Royal Capital?" Sylvie pressed seriously.
"…" Ron looked at Sylvie and sighed, his tone sincere. "If I say I really just came to open a flower shop in the Royal Capital, you'd believe me, right?"
Sylvie fell silent, neither nodding nor shaking her head.
At this point, she genuinely couldn't figure out Ron's true intentions anymore.
"Forget it. Whether you believe me or not doesn't matter." Ron waved his hand impatiently. "Once I finish opening the shop and deal with the hotpot restaurant and Element Cards, I'll head straight back to the City of Chaos."
"Everyone's questioning my motives. I'm not a broken record—do I have to go knocking on every door to explain myself?"
"The Royal Capital isn't some sweet, adorable young lady that everyone has to flock to."
"If it weren't for spreading the Goddess's plants here and bringing benefits to the people, who would waste time in this place?"
"My little Nora is still waiting at the shop for me to come back and ask for hugs!"
Ron's disgruntled rant echoed inside the carriage.
Sylvie remained silent.
If all of this was merely His Highness Ron's disguise—
Then he was truly impressive.