Leo Kamishiro Chronos.
He was a man rumored to possess both peerless martial prowess and unmatched strategic brilliance.
He hailed from the Galactic Empire, the nation that had finally eradicated the Zork—the very threat we had spent centuries merely trying to repel. He was the hero who had slain the Zork Mother and become the Emperor’s spouse.
His overwhelming strength was acknowledged even by the fearsome people of the Ogre God Nation. Yet, for all his power, he was a master diplomat who sought to understand us Latarnians. He was a monster who had brought both Lepsitol and Parcion to their knees through nothing but diplomatic maneuvering.
I was being sent to serve such a man.
My name is Apollinariya, though I am commonly known as Polina. I am the daughter of the King of Latarnia. However, I hold no right of succession. I was born to my father before he ascended the throne, the child of a previous marriage.
Still, as the King’s daughter, I had been granted every privilege. I grew up in the finest royal environment, received the highest education, and was surrounded by the best of friends. Aside from being separated from my biological mother, I had been given nothing but the best. My life was one of pure luxury. My rank as a First Lieutenant in the Latarnia Army at such a young age was surely another of those privileges.
But special treatment always carries a price.
The time had finally come for me to pay my debt. I was to fulfill my role as a member of the royal bloodline—I was to be a pawn in a marriage alliance.
"I wanted you to remain free."
The King of Latarnia, my father, had apologized to me countless times. But though he reigned, he was politically powerless. In times of peace, he was little more than a ceremonial figure. He had no power to oppose my being sent to the King of Chronos.
I had always known this day would come. In a way, I supposed I was lucky I hadn't been made a bride for a Proone.
And so, I was guided to the dining hall... Wait. A dining hall?
There, I found myself standing before the inner circle of the King of Chronos.
The Galactic Empire Emperor, the Taikyoku Nation Emperor, and even the Zork Mother herself were all present! Even the Saint was there, dressed sloppily in an Officer Academy Tracksuit!
I hadn't realized... What was this place? The seat of the Supreme Council was... the palace dining hall?
And the man grinning and laughing in a floral apron was indeed the King of Chronos, Leo Kamishiro Chronos.
"Latarnia Army Parcion Area Commander, Polina! I offer my greetings to Her Majesty the Galactic Empire Emperor and His Majesty the King of Chronos!"
I saluted sharply.
Even in this bizarre situation, I couldn't help but notice that Lord Leo was remarkably handsome.
"Oh, hey there. Want something to eat?"
He was incredibly casual. There wasn't a trace of the intimidation I had expected.
"The flo— No, my apologies!"
I faltered. It was nearly a slip of the tongue. The image of that floral apron was so jarring that I had almost blurted it out.
As I stood there in confusion, Lord Leo spoke up again. "Want some cake?"
It was delicious. Honestly, he could have sold it in a professional shop.
To my relief, I wasn't treated coldly. Instead, I was appointed as the negotiation liaison for Latarnia, effectively making me a diplomat. This much was as I had anticipated. Everything was going smoothly.
I had heard that Lord Leo was a deeply compassionate man. Once the foundations were laid, he would surely be won over.
And that was how I found myself here.
"Why...?"
We were at a racing track in the suburbs, far from the capital. It was for something called horse racing.
"Well, you see, the Chronos horses are an endangered species," Leo explained. "The only ones left are the ones people hid underground or those on planets that weren't hit by the war. We need to increase their numbers. But horse riding in Chronos has become a niche traditional performing art."
"I see... so that is why you are holding races?"
"Exactly. The final goal is to increase the wild horse population, but we need the public's support for that. People understand cats and dogs, but in the royal capital, few people have actually seen a horse. We need to create a place where they can interact with them to deepen their understanding."
Apparently, the facility would also offer horse riding experiences for children.
As Lord Leo approached the fence, the horses began to gather in a line. Lady Melissa, one of the Queens of Chronos who had joined us, let out a laugh.
"Ahahaha! They think you're one of them, Captain!"
Her observation seemed accurate. The horses all nudged him as if saying hello.
"Yo," Leo greeted them.
One of the horses snorted in response.
"They're so well-behaved in front of His Majesty..." the stable hand remarked with a smile. The horses really did seem to be on their best behavior.
"Do you have horse racing in Latarnia?" Leo asked.
"We do not. Horse riding is merely enjoyed as a traditional performing art."
"So, does that mean you can ride, Polina?"
"Only to a modest degree."
"Oh? Want to give it a try?"
"Well, if it is His Majesty's command."
I was well-versed in the traditional art of riding. While a competitive race might be difficult, I could ride a horse well enough.
"Maybe I'll ride for a bit too. It's been a while," Leo said.
"Wait, Captain, you can ride?" Melissa asked.
"Of course. On my home planet, the main ways to get around were light trucks, mopeds, and horses. Sometimes the bears or wolves would let me ride them, too. My parents and the school would get mad at me, though."
"As expected of the Idiot Lord!" Lord Isono, the man said to be the King's right hand, laughed loudly. He must have been incredibly close to the King to call him an idiot so freely. Their bond of trust was clearly profound.
"Oh, I want to ride too!" Lady Claire chimed in. The rumors that she came from an agricultural planet were likely true.
"What about Rikochi?" Lord Leo asked his newest queen.
"I can't ride a horse! The only thing I've ever ridden is an elephant!"
"Eh?"
An elephant? Like, a real elephant? Those massive creatures?
"Oh, right. That's how it is where Rikochi comes from," Leo said, nodding.
"Yeah. The whole planet protects elephants. My family even keeps a few of them."
They kept... elephants? I decided that if I let myself get hung up on every strange detail, I had already lost.
"I used to get in trouble for riding one to school," Riko added.
"I totally get that. Same here," Leo agreed. "Everyone got mad at me when I rode a bear to school..."
I didn't understand. I truly didn't understand a word Lord Leo was saying.
"I think that's just you, Leo-kun," the Saint remarked.
"No way!"
Thank goodness. It seemed that even a Galactic Empire Person found his stories hard to believe.
"What about you, Wifey?" Lord Leo asked, turning to Galactic Empire Emperor Veronica. The rumors that they were a close couple seemed to be true.
"I cannot."
"Well, that’s a rarity. Want to ride together?"
"Hmm. Very well."
Lord Leo helped the Emperor onto a horse and then mounted it behind her. They slowly completed a lap together. I mounted a horse as well. It was a gentle, well-trained animal. Lady Melissa took a lap as well.
"We might need some ponies for the kids, too," Leo mused.
Chronos was truly a nation that could not be underestimated. Even in the midst of reconstruction, they were prioritizing the protection of animals and natural resources. It was a culturally sophisticated country.
Riding the horse for a while proved to be excellent exercise. I could see this becoming a popular tourist attraction.
As I dismounted, Lord Leo introduced me to someone new.
"Anyway, here's the main point. I've scouted some former jockeys from the Imperial Army to ride here at the track!"
Later, I would come to deeply regret that I had failed to see the profound foresight behind the King of Chronos's words that day.