Tyllo had heard from Elise about what Bennet had been doing behind his back.
How long her relationship with the man she had been secretly meeting had lasted.
Once he began to doubt her, everything about Bennet felt like a lie.
He knew she committed many indiscretions using his power as backing, but Tyllo didn’t want to lose his second empress.
It wasn’t so much that he loved Bennet, but rather that he found the various procedures and problem-solving processes that would arise from it troublesome.
Tyllo was getting older now, after all.
But Bennet’s misdeeds that Elise told him about crossed a line he could tolerate.
Tyllo felt like he would go mad with loathing for Bennet.
He wanted to kill her. No, he had to kill her.
What if he gave Bennet’s head to Karan as a gift for his Crown Prince appointment?
Tyllo’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
Hiccup. Bennet hiccupped and slowly backed away.
“Your Majesty, I… I…”
But Elise had asked him to wait. To leave Bennet’s treatment to Karan.
Tyllo exhaled deeply and turned away without a word.
Bennet, her legs giving way, collapsed in the corridor. Elise approached her as she sat there in a daze.
“Shall I help you up?”
Elise extended her hand with a fresh smile.
Bennet looked up and glared at her.
Elise grabbed Bennet’s arm even though she hadn’t given permission.
“There are other people watching, Your Majesty Bennet.”
Bennet, who had raised her arm to strike Elise’s cheek, bit the inside of her mouth hard. She lowered the raised arm, pretending to brush her hair.
Then, accepting Elise’s help to stand up, she stood close to Elise.
“You’ve been up to something, haven’t you?”
“It wasn’t me who was up to something.”
Elise smiled brightly. As if she was truly enjoying this.
“It was you, Your Majesty Bennet, who committed the acts. I simply relayed that fact to His Majesty Tyllo.”
Bennet staggered greatly but didn’t fall this time. Elise gestured at the right moment, and her warriors supported Bennet.
“You don’t look well at all. Please escort Her Majesty Bennet to her chambers.”
“Let go of me. I can go by myself.”
“Your Majesty, please accept my help at times like this, even if it’s uncomfortable.”
Elise put on a sad face. The nobles pouring out of the meeting room whispered as they saw the two.
“It seems true that Her Majesty Bennet dislikes Lady Elise. Oh dear… the palace will be in an uproar again.”
“Isn’t it time for Her Majesty Bennet to accept it? Lady Elise keeps proving herself. Is the only reason for opposition that she’s from Bedrokka?”
The nobles lowered their voices considerably, but Elise and Bennet, who were listening intently, could hear their conversation clearly.
Public opinion about Elise had completely reversed.
Bennet clenched her fists so tightly that her long nails dug into her flesh.
“We’ll see each other later.”
Bennet growled, setting her jaw firmly.
Elise bowed politely. Finding even that gesture offensive, Bennet headed towards the palace before Elise could straighten up.
She wanted to walk proudly, but surrounded by Elise’s warriors, she looked like a prisoner.
****
“This can’t be happening, Father!”
As soon as Bennet arrived at her bedroom, she summoned Twain.
“Calm down, Your Majesty.”
Twain had to turn his carriage around and return to the palace when he was already on his way home.
Twain sighed as he saw Bennet’s disheveled bedroom.
“Calm down? How can you tell me to calm down now? What have you been doing? You should have kept the nobles in check!”
While Bennet’s anger was understandable, he was equally bewildered.
To think they would discuss Karan’s Crown Prince appointment at such a suddenly called meeting. It felt like they had fallen into someone’s trap.
Moreover, those he had believed to be on their side had taken Karan’s side as if they had made a prior agreement.
“Contact those people immediately. We need to overturn this before the Crown Prince appointment preparations begin in earnest. Do you understand?”
“You want me to meet with those who expressed opposing opinions today?”
“Is that all you’re going to do? You know what I want, Father.”
To kill Karan.
That was what Bennet wanted.
“The timing is not good, Your Majesty.”
“We’ve been postponing it for too long. Because Cowett was too young, because His Majesty’s heart was already mine, because we needed a dog to protect the country! Look at the result of such postponements. We’re about to have a well-prepared meal stolen by a dog. A dog that doesn’t even know what good food is, one that should only eat garbage! Aaargh!”
Unable to contain her anger, Bennet swept everything off the table. Vases and luxurious ornaments fell to the floor with a loud crash.
Twain’s mouth felt dry. He couldn’t bring himself to readily agree to her wishes.
Twain valued his family more than his daughter. He had gone along with her wishes and anger until now because he believed his grandson would become king.
Greater glory, power, and wealth.
The difference between when these were guaranteed and when they were not was stark.
He didn’t particularly want to take risks.
“Ha, even you, Father, are going to betray me?”
Noticing Twain’s hesitation, Bennet laughed dejectedly and brushed her hair back.
She glared at Twain with her head tilted.
“If Karan becomes king, it’s all over. Just for me? No! It’s over for you too! Our family will fall from grace.”
How much had they tormented him all this time?
“Losing a little money is nothing. We’ll lose our lives. Wake up, Lord Twain. What you need to do now is! Figure out how to survive. And there’s only one way for you to live!”
Bennet grabbed Twain by the collar.
“Kill him, kill Karan.”
Her eyes gleamed with madness.
****
“So that’s what she said?”
Haila, a maid with greenish hair and freckles on her face, finished reporting to Elise and withdrew.
She was one of Bennet’s maids who had come to Elise one night, asking to be taken in.
Elise had avoided answering with a smile, but Haila often reported Bennet’s movements to prove her loyalty.
Like today.
[She said she would kill Karan.]
Elise hadn’t expected Bennet to stay quiet after losing her pawns, but she didn’t think she would act so foolishly.
Even though Elise had intended to spare her life, if Bennet was rushing towards her end, Elise would have to make a decision.
Would Cowett be alright?
Since meeting Cowett, Elise thought of him every time she dealt with matters related to Bennet.
Although Bennet wasn’t a good mother, Cowett might love her. And a young child needs his mother.
That’s why she had stopped Tyllo from immediately killing Bennet.
At the very least, she didn’t want to show a child the sight of his father killing his mother.
But she couldn’t just leave Bennet alone, who might cause trouble at any time.
Was it too much to hope that she would realize her mistakes and repent?
Perhaps she would have to keep Cowett and Bennet separated for life.
At the very least, she should send Bennet somewhere she couldn’t escape from.
Before that, there was something to do.
–Your Highness.
Elise called for Karan. Her empty ring finger sparkled.
–Elise? What’s the matter. You’re looking for me.
Karan’s breath was a bit rough. It seemed he received the contact while in battle with monsters.
–You seem busy. I’ll contact you again later.
–No, it’s fine. Speak freely.
She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was bothering a busy person unnecessarily.
But it was important for Karan to know in order to prevent Bennet and Twain, who might cause trouble at any time.
–Lord Twain is preparing to harm you, Your Highness.
–Ah…
Karan’s reaction was lukewarm.
–I understand. But Elise, what about you?
–Yes, Your Highness?
–If Twain is concerned about me who’s far away, he probably won’t leave you alone who’s close by. I’m asking if you’re alright.
Elise had only worried about Karan. She hadn’t thought about her own safety.
–Haa, Elise.
Karan sighed more heavily than when she had told him about Twain’s intention to harm him.
–I’ll be careful, Your Highness.
–You must be careful. You need to be safe until I return. Or else…
–Or else what?
–I’ll… those bastards…
With those words, the conversation with Karan was cut off. Perhaps the gate situation had worsened.
“What was he going to say?”
It was so frustrating. She wanted to see Karan’s face and talk to him in person.
Elise looked at the calendar, counting the days until his return.
‘It’s still far off.’
Elise’s lips protruded in a pout.
****
A few days passed like a storm.
Gates 4 and 5 were conquered, and Karan returned.
He sought out Elise as soon as he finished reporting to Tyllo. But she was meeting with a guest who had arrived first.
“Cowett, why are you here?”
Karan’s eyes turned sharp.
