“What do you mean?” Gallota, not understanding my intention, asked blankly.
“Mahach wants to catch the murderer of the crown prince more than anyone. So when he hears this, even if the recording is erased, he will become a more powerful witness than the recording itself.”
Gallota seemed to finally grasp my intention and nodded vigorously.
“Yes! When that old man hears the recording, he’ll tear the fourth prince to pieces! I won’t even have to do anything but give a little nudge. Hahaha!”
Gallota burst into a maniacal laugh.
I stared at Gallota with cold eyes.
At that moment, there was a loud crash as the door was broken down. Two men, whom I had seen before, rushed through the broken door.
‘They’re Brantley’s mercenary subordinates, aren’t they?’
“Your Highness!”
“Are you safe?”
They seemed relieved to see that I was unharmed, then immediately pointed their swords at Gallota.
“Let the princess go!”
Gallota quickly drew his sword as well.
“So, the rats that were following me were you guys. But it seems you lost me at some point since you showed up late this time?”
Gallota’s words darkened the atmosphere among the mercenaries.
It was a situation where a fight could break out at any moment.
I stepped between the three of them.
“Don’t fight! Prince Gallota found me collapsed on the road and brought me here.”
The mercenaries looked at Gallota in surprise at my words. Gallota was momentarily confused but quickly caught on to my intention and smiled shamelessly.
“It’s disheartening to have my good intentions misunderstood. Would you mind putting away those swords?”
***
The place I had been taken to was a small, abandoned house on the outskirts of the capital.
‘He even prepared a confinement location in advance.’
I shuddered at Gallota’s meticulousness.
But I showed no sign of this and pretended to thank him while leaving the house with the mercenaries.
It was a relief that Brantley had secretly assigned someone to follow Gallota.
Although the mercenaries had lost him, they quickly found the location where I had been taken, based on the paths they had followed while tailing him.
“Hanelope!”
As we crossed the overgrown garden, Brantley came running with his subordinates from the entrance.
I felt a wave of relief and unknowingly smiled.
“Brantley… Ah!”
Was it because my body suddenly relaxed with relief? As I tried to run to Brantley, my legs gave out. Brantley caught me and supported me.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt badly?”
After he got rid of the mask, I could see his face pale with anxiousness. Beads of cold sweat from anxiety were on his forehead.
I touched his forehead with the back of my hand and shook my head.
“I’m okay. You came just in time.”
“Are you really okay? Gallota, that b*stard, did he…?”
“I set an interesting trap for that trash.”
“What?”
I smiled at Brantley, who didn’t understand.
“He walked right into the trap himself. Now to orchestrate it, I need your help.”
“My help?”
“Yeah. Will you help me?”
Brantley, still looking puzzled, nodded his head.
***
The day before the Eastern Continent delegation was to leave finally arrived.
‘It’s been such a long time.’
I sat at the banquet table with a weary expression.
Grandfather had organized a final banquet to celebrate the signing of the friendship treaty and to bid farewell to the departing guests.
Gallota looked pleased, having gotten what he wanted.
Mahach seemed eager to leave as soon as possible, and Palleta was sulking.
‘He thought he’d marry me instead of Gallota, but since nothing happened, that’s why he’s pouting.’
For someone of his size, he was quite petty.
In contrast, Grandfather was cheerful, thanks to Gallota’s change of heart.
“This meeting has been good in all respects, except for the second prince’s mischievous joke, which frankly startled me.”
“Your Majesty, I apologize. I didn’t expect you to take my joke about the marriage alliance with the princess so seriously.”
“I didn’t know it was a common joke in the East.”
Gallota had changed his story, now claiming that the talk of a ‘marriage alliance’ was just a type of ‘Eastern Continental joke.’
Of course, not everyone was aware of Gallota’s change of heart.
“A joke… What do you mean? Wasn’t the marriage alliance the basis for the friendship treaty?”
Duke Eisen, who hadn’t heard the news, looked flustered.
He wasn’t the only one.
Yenna, who had been invited as the representative of the Grand Temple, also looked visibly upset.
“Even so, to solidify our ties with the Eastern Continent, the Princess should…”
“You sound like you want to send my daughter far away,” Father said, glaring at Duke Eisen as if he wanted to kill him.
Because of this, Yenan had to close her mouth.
Duke Eisen, who had been cornered, retorted, “I’m only speaking out of loyalty. Please don’t misunderstand me!”
“Indeed. Duke Eisen’s words have merit,” Yenna said cautiously, siding with Duke Eisen.
She glanced at me, unable to hide her irritation.
“I don’t know why the Prince changed his mind, but I’ve heard that friendship treaties can be dissolved at any time.”
With a face feigning innocence, Yenna said, “I don’t know much about complicated and difficult things like politics. I am only here to serve the gods. However, I believe that if the princess were to enter a marriage alliance, the connection between Berg and the Eastern Continent would remain unbroken.”
Her expression, pretending to be purely benevolent, was impressive. It was different from Asta’s demeanor.
‘But I can pull off an innocent look quite well too.’
After all, I had pretended to be an innocent child with the mentality of an adult.
‘I’m better at this than Yenna.’
I lowered my eyes sadly and, with a dejected face, my eyes welled up with tears. Resembling a rabbit whose carrot had been taken away.
“The friendship treaty is a result of the Emperor’s efforts to bring comfort to his people’s lives. But to say that it ‘can be broken at any time’ is to belittle that achievement.”
I covered my mouth with my hand as if in shock.
Grandfather also cleared his throat just in time. It was a clear reprimand.
Yenna bit her lip at my counterattack.
In the uncomfortable atmosphere, someone spoke up courageously, “I don’t think Saint Yenna is entirely wrong.”
Gallota sided with Yenna. Yenna’s eyes sparkled as if she believed Gallota was wavering. But his next words completely betrayed her expectations.
“I didn’t realize the Saint was so thoughtful. I would rather propose to the Saint than the princess for the sake of a marriage alliance between Berk and the Eastern Continent.”
“What?”
“For the unbreakable bond between Berk and the Eastern Continent, would you accept my proposal?”
Gallota bowed politely and extended his hand.
Yenna’s face twisted in shock.
“I, I am the Saintess sent by the gods to Berg! How could I possibly go to the Eastern Continent?”
“Well, well. It was just a joke. No need to get so worked up.”
At Gallota’s words, the nobles at the table snickered.
Yenna’s face turned bright red. Gallota, enjoying himself, pulled out a pendant from his pocket.
“Even without a marriage alliance, the bond between Berg and the Eastern Continent will not be broken. The princess gave me a farewell gift, after all.”
A farewell gift from the princess who was avoiding him! People looked at the pendant in Gallota’s hand with curiosity. Even Palleta, who had been sulking, lifted his head at the sight of the pendant.
“T- That’s the one I gave to the Princess!”
Palleta exclaimed in Eastern Continent language, his excitement palpable.
Gallota, instead of answering, smiled leisurely and said, “I would like everyone here to witness this symbol of friendship between Berg and the Eastern Continent.”
He opened the pendant and a horrific conversation spilled out.
“You fool! How could you kill the crown prince without consulting me?”
“But we couldn’t miss this golden opportunity, could we? We wouldn’t be able to assassinate the Crown Prince if not injured.”
“I used my family’s connections to erase all evidence. Not even the cunning Second Prince will find proof that you are the culprit.”
The people began to murmur at the sudden, booming sound.
Those who understood the Eastern Continent language were shocked.
Palleta was trembling, pale with fear. He broke into a cold sweat, unable to grasp the situation.
Mahach glared at Palleta as if he wanted to kill him, “Palleta, you filthy murderer!”
Mahach, having lost his temper, lunged at Palleta.
The attendants tried to restrain him, but Mahach overpowered them with his immense strength, knocking Palleta down and strangling him.
Gallota, who had been watching with a cold smile, suddenly cried out and grabbed Mahach.
“Uncle, please calm down! Please! Shouldn’t we let His Majesty judge him? Please!”
Gallota sobbed as if he were a man who had lost his mind due to an unforeseen tragedy. But to me, his sobs sounded like cruel laughter.
It was the foolish laughter of someone unaware that he too would be judged.
