I Will Become the Queen of the Enemy Country

“How is it?”

Chase asked the aide, his eyes shining.

“It’s splendid, Your Highness.”

“Splendid isn’t enough.”

Chase muttered, then called for the decorative attendant.

“Change the shirt. Bring one with ruffles on the sleeves.”

In the past, Elise liked Chase to dress up like a prince from a picture book.

Decorations large, clothes fancy, and a bright smile.

Chase looked in the mirror and forced the corners of his mouth upward.

His appearance was always excellent. Elise really liked this face too.

Chase changed into the shirt the attendant brought. Throughout his preparation, the smile never left his face.

He was really looking forward to the party.

All because of Elise.

How would Elise react to seeing his changed status? And what expression would Karan make when Elise took his hand?

Surely it would be a mess, like crumpled paper?

Just imagining it made him burst into laughter.

****

“Entering His Highness Karan Lysandro Tetris and his fiancée, Lady Elise.”

The doorkeeper of the banquet hall announced as he opened the doors.

Elise and Karan entered the hall arm in arm.

Dozens of gazes converged on them.

“Gasp!”

“P-Prince of Tetris and Elise? Elise, that Elise Worton?”

Everyone looked surprised.

Here and there, people gossiped about outdated topics like the fall of the Worton family, Iris, and Elise and Chase’s engagement.

“More importantly, was she always this pretty?”

“She was always pretty in her own way, just overshadowed by Iris. But now she’s… strangely… more beautiful. And being with Prince Karan…”

The lady who trailed off covered her face with a fan. Her neck and cheeks were red as if she had a fever.

“They’re sensual.”

People openly observed Elise and Karan.

The two exuded a mature charm and a sticky affection rarely seen in Bedrokka’s noble couples.

Karan never took his eyes off Elise, and even as Elise greeted people around them, she listened attentively to his voice.

They would occasionally make eye contact and smile, and each time, the women’s hearts would flutter, and the men’s mouths would gape.

“Aren’t you two too beautiful? I’m embarrassed to stand next to you.”

Ilaria approached, gently pushing aside people trying to greet Elise and Karan.

“Your Highness Ilaria, you flatter us.”

Elise curtsied.

“Why the sudden compliment? Surely you’ve long known that standing next to Elise makes you look like a kraken?”

Elise lightly tapped Karan’s arm. Karan raised both eyebrows and gave an innocent smile.

“I’d like to say something about your appearance too, but I’ll refrain today.”

Honestly, Karan looked splendid today.

“I wish peace for both of you.”

Elise handed a glass of lemonade each to Karan and Ilaria.

Just then, Deboa and Jasmine spotted Elise and approached.

“Elise, have you been well?”

Karan nodded to the two and politely stepped aside with Ilaria to give them space.

Elise showed an apologetic look to Karan and Ilaria but quickly became engrossed in conversation with her friends.

“Bedrokka is really good at this. Partying and drinking, I mean.”

Ilaria and Karan stood behind a pillar, away from people’s gazes.

Ilaria drank her lemonade after making this unenthusiastic comment.

The dazzling chandeliers and lighting, marble sculptures placed here and there, and music that delighted the ears… It was impressive how much they had prepared in such a short time.

“It’s a shame you can’t enjoy it.”

Karan put aside the plain lemonade.

“Can’t be helped. For now, it’s abstinence from alcohol and pleasure. That applies to you too.”

Ilaria said, but Karan avoided answering. Abstaining from alcohol was possible, but abstaining from pleasure was too much.

“Didn’t you say the meeting was at dawn tomorrow? Why suddenly a banquet? Since when did Bedrokka treat Magnus and Tetris delegations so well? Even if they like to party, isn’t the timing a bit off? With the mastermind behind the crown prince’s assassination attempt still not found, the crown prince’s fate unknown, and a large-scale battle expected at this point? Has Prince Chase really gone mad?”

Karan just nodded vaguely. It felt incredibly comfortable to have someone else badmouth a person he disliked.

“I just want to go back to the bedroom and sleep.”

Ilaria, who had been rambling alone for a while, stretched as if bored.

“Then go.”

Karan’s gaze was fixed on Elise.

“But shouldn’t we at least see Chase’s face before leaving?”

“Looks like we’ll be able to soon.”

Karan frowned, pointing towards the door.

There was a commotion around the wide-open door, and then the doorkeeper announced loudly:

“Entering His Highness Chase Royal Bedrokka!”

Music much grander than when Karan and Elise entered started playing.

Everyone lowered their knees and bowed their heads in unison. Only Karan, Ilaria, and Elise didn’t bow.

This made Chase’s triumphant appearance even more visible.

“He acts like he’s the king himself.”

Karan sneered.

“In a nest without a dragon, the wyvern becomes king, they say. With His Highness David gone, that guy is running wild. We should quickly greet him and leave. If only to avoid seeing his smug face.”

Ilaria moved. However, Chase was faster in approaching Elise than she was.

“Elise, can we talk for a moment?”

Chase had kept his eyes fixed on Elise ever since he entered the banquet hall.

His clear voice in the quiet atmosphere aroused people’s curiosity.

“Your Highness, I have nothing to say to you.”

Elise firmly refused. A murmur spread among the people. Elise frowned, displeased by the attention.

“Elise, really, just for a moment. The time it takes to drink a glass of lemonade. We don’t even need to go far. On the balcony, okay?”

Chase moved very close to Elise. Elise stepped back in resistance, but the distance didn’t decrease. That’s because Chase moved closer by the same amount.

“Elise…”

He spoke as if pleading.

“The air feels stuffy. I’m going out.”

After hesitating, Elise chose to leave. If Chase had any sense, he wouldn’t follow her.

But unfortunately, Chase had no sense.

“If it’s a walk, I’d like that too.”

He followed after Elise.

“Oh my, goodness!”

“Did His Highness Chase just follow Miss Elise?”

“Are they getting back together?”

As soon as the two left, the banquet hall became noisy. Karan’s insides were completely turned upside down.

“Karan, no murder.”

Ilaria said to the enraged Karan.

****

Elise had walked far from the banquet hall. Walking with the intention of avoiding him, when she came to her senses, she found herself in a maze garden.

“Elise, wait. Just stop for a moment.”

“How far do you intend to follow me, Your Highness!”

Elise turned around and shouted angrily.

“Finally, you stopped, Elise.”

Chase smiled brightly. Elise was dumbfounded.

“Elise, I’m so glad to see you back in Bedrokka. This is really where you belong.”

Chase started talking nonsense.

“Elise, did you take care of Iris well? Both you and I suffered so much because of Iris. When I think about how Iris came between us and ruined our relationship, strangling her wouldn’t be enough.”

For a moment, a murderous glint passed through Chase’s eyes.

“Thanks to that, I realized that I love you.”

He soon smiled. If she hadn’t known the past Chase, if she hadn’t met Karan, it was a smile lovely enough to be momentarily deceived by.

“So, Elise, stop this and come back to me. I’ll pretend nothing happened with that barbarian. I’ll forgive everything.”

His tone was quite benevolent.

“Forgive?”

“Yes, forgive. Honestly, you want to come back to me too, right? But you couldn’t because of Iris. Isn’t that right?”

“No, Your Highness.”

Elise answered as soon as Chase finished speaking.

“It wasn’t because of Iris. The reason I left you.”

The atmosphere surrounding Elise completely changed. A cold aura emanated from her.

“It was because I disliked you.”

“Elise, don’t be shy. I know you loved me.”

Chase ran his hand through his hair. His golden locks, cascading down, sparkled in the moonlight. It was a beautiful shell. Literally, an empty shell.

“Elise, I’ll make you my queen. I’ve removed everything that was in my way. You saw, didn’t you? You just need to enjoy yourself comfortably by my side.”

Elise’s eyes narrowed.

“You saw today, right? I prepared this whole banquet. One word from me and everything happens.”

Chase’s smile deepened. Once, she would have given everything to see that smile, but now, if she could tear that smile off his face, she’d be willing to give billions.

“I love you, Elise.”

It was a repulsive confession. Chase’s confession was selfish. Just like his life.

He didn’t consider Elise’s feelings at all.

For him, that’s what love was. Something the other person should rightfully receive when he gives it.

From beginning to end, there was no respect for Elise.

Elise shook her head and smirked. She brushed back her hair fluttering in the wind and stared at Chase. Her face was cold and expressionless.

“It’s nauseating.”

“What did you say, Elise?”

“Your love makes me nauseous and tired.”

Chase couldn’t understand Elise’s words. He blinked rapidly.

“Listen well, Chase. Even if you gave me all of Bedrokka, I’d still dislike you.”

“E-E-Elise?”

Chase staggered as if he’d received a great shock.

“And don’t be mistaken. Make me your queen? You? You could never do that.”

“Why do you think that? Elise, I’m qualified to be king! I have the ability!”

Chase’s chest heaved.

“Then try it.”

Elise scoffed. At this blatant disrespect, Chase’s eyes rolled back.

“Elise, you really!”

He lunged towards Elise.

I’ll lock her up.

I’ll keep her by my side and make her look only at me.

Chase’s reason was completely paralyzed. He reached out towards Elise.

But he couldn’t even touch a fingertip to her.

“Your manners are terrible.”

Karan, who suddenly appeared, grabbed Chase’s wrist and twisted it.

“Argh!”

Chase screamed.