"Father... I-I'm scared."
Passing through the luxuriously decorated corridor and walking toward the depths of the palace's rear court, although Shirahoshi had stepped out of the Hard-Shell Tower and into the outside world, and though undisguised curiosity lingered between her brows, far more than that was her fear of this unfamiliar environment.
All around them, the motionless Royal Guards in golden armor standing at every corner of the corridor filled her with suffocating pressure. Their icy gazes spread a sense of powerlessness through her body, and the scent of death seemed to linger at the tip of her nose.
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
The heavy power-armored boots struck the palace corridor floor with crisp echoes. Smoothed pale-blue crystals were pieced together into swirling wave patterns like spiraling droplets. Bright sunlight streamed through half-open floor-to-ceiling windows and shone upon them.
"Relax, Shirahoshi. You're so adorable—Her Majesty definitely won't hurt you... ho ho ho ho, Neptune."
Following behind Liver and Sanguinius, Neptune slightly turned his head and forced himself to stay spirited as he tried to comfort Shirahoshi. To show how relaxed he was, he even added his habitual catchphrase—"Neptune"—and feigned a hearty ease.
"R-Really?"
At the same time, Neptune cautiously observed their surroundings.
Along the way, his first impression of every structure within the so-called Holy Selene Empire was that they were built far too large.
This was clearly a palace for humans—weren't they tired from all this walking?
Neptune, a twelve-meter-tall merman, walked through the "narrow" corridors of the palace without feeling cramped in the slightest. In fact, he even felt it was somewhat spacious.
Mm. Confirmed. Either the Empire's Empress—or the palace's architect—one of them must be an obsessive enthusiast of colossal scale.
It had to be said that the palace was extremely beautiful, utterly different from the architectural style of Fish-Man Island. It carried a strong continental flavor.
Through arrow-shaped arches, a broad imperial road stretched ahead, flanked by lush trees and flowers. Along the roadside, buildings displayed red banners bearing golden double-headed aquilas.
Including the Glazed Palace, the structures within Shanglin Garden were not as grand and solemn as the great halls of Schönbrunn Palace and similar imperial palaces. Instead, the architectural style here was more delicate and indulgent, with fresh and gentle colors that exuded feminine softness and alluring charm.
Aside from necessary banners, Shanglin Garden made extensive use of blues, greens, and pinks—some vibrant, some tender—while the heavy tones of gold, red, and black were greatly reduced.
It could be said that poetry and paintings were everywhere in the garden. Enchanting melodies drifted through the air, and the fragrance of flowers and grass lingered throughout.
Finally, beside a shimmering fountain lake, they saw more than a dozen heavily armored giants holding "toothpicks" and gesturing fiercely toward the water as if they were fishing.
"Little Arisa, go play over there for now."
Seeing the great mermaid arrive, Selene immediately ended her "decadent and indulgent" fishing state and rather shamelessly pushed Arisa—who had been dozing against her thigh—aside.
"Filling the palace with rare treasures and precious curios..."
She had no particular reason for it. Selene simply felt as though she had awakened a certain peculiar hobby.
...
"This general, Liver, pays respects to Your Majesty."
"This general, Sanguinius, pays respects to Your Majesty."
Raising her hand, Selene lifted the two men to their feet from a distance and revealed a faint smile.
"I won't ask further about the situation. I've saved seats for you both."
Pointing toward the Astartes Legion Commanders seated around the lake, Selene chuckled.
"Take your seats quickly. Today's fishing contest comes with additional supply rewards for the winner. They've already had a head start. I won't adjust the timing just for you."
"Understood!"
Hearing this, Liver's eyes lit up. He glanced at Sanguinius, and the two exchanged smiles. Without further delay, they bowed to Selene and immediately inserted themselves into the Legion Commanders' fishing ranks according to their legion sequence numbers.
"Your Majesty."
The attendants and escorting Royal Guards had already withdrawn. Noticing Selene's gaze shifting toward them, Neptune pulled Shirahoshi along. His fish tail bent decisively as he knelt, lowering his head.
"Raise your head."
Selene's gentle voice was like divine music descending from the heavens, carrying an unquestionable decree. Before her brain could even process the command, Shirahoshi's body obeyed instinctively and lifted her head to meet Selene's gaze.
"Yes!"
It was clear that before Selene's eyes had settled on them, Shirahoshi had been softly sobbing. Yet the moment Selene spoke, her sobs immediately ceased.
However, tears still shimmered in her bright blue eyes.
Her gaze toward Selene was filled with fear, not daring to meet her eyes for long.
Just as in the original impression, Shirahoshi was timid and prone to tears. Shaking her head, Selene suddenly stood up and, believing herself to be very amiable, extended her hand.
"Hi, let's get acquainted. I am Selene von Habsburg. What is your na—huh?"
"Waaah—! Empress Selene, please don't hit me! Please don't hurt my father or my brothers!"
Perhaps Selene had stood up too abruptly. Shirahoshi mistook the motion as an attempt to deal with their family. Her already taut nerves snapped instantly, and she burst into loud tears.
Visible to the naked eye, crystalline teardrops sprayed outward at an exaggerated speed like rain scattering in all directions...
Ah...
Somewhat awkwardly, Selene withdrew her extended right hand without a trace.
For some reason, although Selene and Cecilia looked almost as if they had been carved from the same mold, Selene did not possess Cecilia's saintly purity or natural affinity.
Not even the slightest bit.
Especially when Selene frowned in embarrassment, the golden-armored Royal Guards, ever perceptive of subtle cues, cooperatively drew their blades and stepped forward in perfect unison.
Vrrr—!
The synchronized activation of the finely crafted power greatswords' disruption fields made the air itself seem to freeze.
Though they stood in the temperate Shanglin Garden, everyone present felt the temperature plummet sharply.
"Hey, what are you doing? Sheathe your weapons. How can you treat guests so rudely? Don't make the Empire look like some barbaric nation that only knows how to draw swords. Who taught you that, hm?" Selene scolded with a helpless smile, turning her head.
Wasn't this your long-standing rule, Your Majesty?
Back when Your Majesty was still a general, this was exactly how things were done—"smash the cup as the signal," and five hundred axemen would spring from ambush. Now reading the room and acting accordingly was simply the next step forward...
Ah... it could only be said that the Royal Guards were far too considerate.
Honestly, where did you all learn to look so murderous, as if you were ready to hack someone into minced meat at any moment...
"All of you, stand down." Selene waved her hand, looking utterly numb.
Watching Shirahoshi stop crying after the Royal Guards withdrew, Selene thought, I see now!
No wonder I haven't had much affinity in recent years. It's all because I've spent too long around you bunch of killing machines.
Ending the farce of "smashing a cup as a signal"—ahem, no, "frowning as a signal"—Selene once again examined the enormous Neptune family before her.
The royal family of the Ryugu Kingdom—Neptune's family—were all quite large in stature, among the biggest of the merfolk.
"Stand up." Selene showed no anger at Shirahoshi's tears and instead spoke with a smile.
Shirahoshi was far too timid. She habitually placed herself in a position of weakness and added "Lord" or "Lady" after addressing everyone. Her personality was so pure that even Selene felt embarrassed to bully her.
"I won't kill you, nor will I hit you. I've already introduced myself. Now it's your turn. That's basic etiquette."
With a flash, Selene appeared floating beside Shirahoshi's cheek and reached out to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eye, speaking gently.
It had to be said—so big. Even the smallest teardrop was larger than Selene's fist.
"Really?" The giant mermaid princess cautiously extended a finger and lightly touched Selene's palm. "Lady Selene... m-my name is Shirahoshi."
"Really. I won't kill you, and I won't hit you. From now on, you'll stay with Arisa. I'll leave your two elder brothers behind to manage the merfolk relocated to the palace's Celestial Pool."
Glancing back at Arisa, who was standing there grinning foolishly, Selene shook her head lightly, speaking without the slightest airs.
There was no concern about damaging imperial dignity. Selene was neither a paranoid tyrant nor a mad, chaotic evil god. She did not believe her authority needed to be maintained by bullying or punishing a mere mermaid princess.
After speaking, Selene turned her gaze to Neptune and Fukaboshi, who were drenched in sweat, kneeling on the ground and gasping for breath.
"As for the two of you, someone will take you shortly to the Imperial Ministry of Administration to process the Empire's Legal Activity Permit for Alien Races."
What was an Imperial Legal Activity Permit for Alien Races? Simply put, it was official administrative recognition of an alien race by the Empire.
During the Empire's conquests, alien races were generally handled in three ways.
The first—Exterminatus. Reasons included, but were not limited to: too ugly, feeding on humans, incompatible with the Empire's universal values, or low utilitarian value... such as ghouls and vampires.
The second—if they did not look like something straight out of Cthulhu, and if they were large in number, easy to sustain, highly reproductive, resilient, and durable—then their organized resistance would be crushed and they would be enslaved. Examples included goblins, orcs, fish-men, and werewolves.
The third—those of higher value to the Empire, aligned with human aesthetics, compatible with the Empire's universal values, and sensible enough to recognize the times—would generally sign the Imperial Legal Activity Permit for Alien Races and become lawful alien residents of the Empire.
Such as merfolk, elves, Danger Beasts, and giants.
"After returning to the Ryugu Kingdom, I require Fish-Man Island to assist the Blood Angels with post-war reconstruction... you understand what must be done."
"I... this subject understands."
"The merfolk relocated to the Imperial Capital will be placed in the water palaces within the palace city..."
Just as Selene continued explaining her arrangements for the merfolk, an attendant approached.
"Your Majesty, the leader recruited by Legion Commander Liver has arrived."
"Mm. Let them come. I'll receive them together."
"Yes."
Soon after Selene instructed Arisa to take Shirahoshi away to play, Neptune and his three sons also slowly withdrew.
Back in the corridor, they encountered someone unexpected.
"The Navy?"
"Merfolk?"
A group of humans in uniforms of varying colors yet exuding strong military bearing crossed paths with Neptune's party.
Surrendered as well?
Without any exchange—no, without any communication—the two forces simply passed each other.
Walking out of the corridor and through the towering arches, warm sunlight bathed them, bringing a comforting warmth as the view suddenly opened wide.
Silver-white long hair was tied high into a single ponytail. Sharp, upward-slanting brows. Cherry lips pressed lightly together. Eyes like crimson blood gemstones.
Although Selene's hairstyle and attire had changed considerably and she was turned sideways, Sakazuki recognized her at a glance.
"Your Majesty."
Sakazuki knelt directly on one knee. "Your Majesty, I have come to fulfill my promise."
"Your Majesty." ×N
Even the Fleet Admiral Sakazuki performed a formal salute. The other Navy Headquarters admirals behind him immediately followed suit, kneeling on one knee as well.
It was nothing unusual. Including Sengoku, before they had risen to flag rank, who among them had not bowed when meeting the Five Elders in Mary Geoise?
"Sakazuki, I told you—the Empire is where your talents truly belong. Well? After everything you've seen along the way, is it worthy of entrusting your life's value to it?"
Sakazuki straightened, chest out and head held high. "From what I have seen, under Your Majesty's rule, the nation is prosperous and strong, harmonious and orderly. The people are filled with vitality and upward drive."
He did not answer directly, yet he had already given Selene her answer.
"These are the personnel you selected to bring to the Imperial Capital?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then I'll be brief. If a brutal battle were to arrive very soon, would you hesitate? Would those behind you shrink back?"
Realizing that both trial and opportunity had arrived, Sakazuki's back straightened like a steel rod. He clenched his fist and struck it against his left chest, every inch the iron-blooded soldier, and shouted, "No!"
He drew a deep breath. "They have all served under me for many years. Perhaps the scale of war in Your Majesty's eyes is but a minor skirmish, but they are indeed battle-hardened. I stake my head on it!"
"Then prepare yourselves."
Selene nodded. In the next instant, her tone shifted.
"I appreciate you greatly. I had originally intended to transfer you directly into the Inquisition, but without a single merit earned, such charity would likely be something you would not accept either."
"Merit is earned on the battlefield. The opportunity is right before you." At this, Selene paused slightly and turned her head to call out, "Budo, Liver, Alex!"
"Present!" ×3
"I'm stuffing a few people into your ranks."