I Will Become the Queen of the Enemy Country

“Well, Elise. Is it by hitting?”

Karan answered promptly, knowing that she wasn’t asking him. He liked exchanging even a word with Elise.

“No, it’s by feeding. If you keep feeding, the beast forgets that it’s a beast. And it becomes submissive. Whether you hit it or starve it.”

Ilaria’s eyebrows twitched.

Watching her reaction, Elise asked Karan again.

“Do you think there is a way for the beast to break away from its master, His Highness Karan?”

“That’s difficult, Elise. What is it?”

Karan pondered very seriously.

Of course, he didn’t give the answer that it could bite its master, not knowing Elise’s intentions.

“You just have to kick the food bowl. And find a new food bowl. By the way, have you heard that the descendants of the black leopard are from the Magnus royal family? The black leopard is famous for its bravery among beasts.”

Ilaria blushed, realizing that the master Elise was talking about was the king of Bedrokka.

As the atmosphere became fierce, other people gradually avoided the place.

Now, only Elise, Karan, and Ilaria were left.

“Does the noble of Bedrokka like riddles? Or am I not understanding that you’re openly insulting?”

Ilaria put her weight on one leg and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

When she even lifted her chin, her height, which was already 10cm taller than Elise, looked even taller.

The momentum was so overwhelming that Elise felt oppressed. Nevertheless, she stood up straight without being daunted.

‘If you show weakness in front of a beast, it will bite your neck right away.’

Elise stepped forward towards Ilaria, raising her spirits.

“A general who can’t distinguish between enemies and allies.”

Elise approached Ilaria and raised her head.

“They’re bound to lose in war. Ilaria, are you a losing general?”

“It was said that one needed to be wary of those who push their weaknesses and ask for conversation. They could be spies or frauds sent by the enemy.”

“Who says that?”

“My master.”

“…I think it’s a good teaching. But he didn’t teach his disciple how to recognize nobles. Unfortunately.”

“If you have something to say, say it directly. Not in the Bedrokka noble style.”

“Do you need land?”

One of Ilaria’s eyebrows shot up like a mountain.

Elise slightly lowered her eyes and then raised them.

“Land to feed the people of the Magnus Kingdom, should I give you that?”

Elise’s eyes sparkled.

“What? You want to sell me something? I don’t want to mix words with a mere merchant.”

Ilaria coldly rebuked.

“Do you know? If you sell 100 items, you become a shop owner, and if you sell 1,000 items, you become a business owner. But what if you sell 10,000?”

Ilaria narrowed her eyes. She had no idea what Elise was talking about, but she was intrigued.

“From then on, it’s not business, it’s politics, Your Highness.”

“Do you want to do politics with me?”

Ha, Ilaria let out a sigh.

Even if she was ignored, she was dignified. A mere noble with a princess like herself!

“It’s not just doing it. If you like my gift, then let’s think about it.”

Elise took out a note she had kept in her possession and handed it to Ilaria.

It was clearly visible on Ilaria’s face whether she would take it or not.

“Take it. It’s just paper.”

Ilaria, while glaring at Elise, only reached out and grabbed the paper.

“I hope you like my gift. And if you like the gift.”

“I knew it would be like this. You want something from me.”

Ilaria grumbled. She acted like a protagonist who had seen through the villain’s intentions.

“The gift will be worthless, but I’m curious. What do you want from me.”

Elise reached out to Ilaria’s crooked collar that had been bothering her for a while.

Ilaria reflexively tried to draw her sword, but hesitated.

Because of the momentum of Karan standing behind Elise.

Ilaria was a skilled person. That’s why she knew she could never beat Karan.

While Ilaria hesitated, Elise properly fixed her collar and stepped back.

“What I want is simple. It’s to have a conversation with me. But don’t speak informally to me then, Your Highness Ilaria. I’m two years older than you. And.”

Elise stepped back a few steps and stood next to Karan.

“I’m His Highness Karan’s fiancée.”

Ilaria, who had been staring at Elise, let out a sigh.

She bent over and looked closely at Elise.

From her stunned expression, Elise believed that she would definitely contact her.

****

The first day of the New Year’s party ended. As soon as she arrived at the mansion, Elise collapsed from exhaustion.

Her body was as heavy as a thousand pounds, even though she hadn’t drunk much. It was harder than when she had played hard in the past.

Was it because she was tense?

Elise rubbed her throbbing head and recalled the faces she had met at the party.

Chase, Iris, Deboa, Ilaria…

‘All of them are formidable opponents.’

She had exhausted too much mental energy.

On top of that, she couldn’t rest because Karan kept asking her to dance.

Ugh. Elise barely lifted her swollen feet and put them on the pillow.

‘I’ve got a taste for dancing.’

If it had been someone else, she would have refused moderately, but Karan was excited like a puppy seeing for the first time, so she danced every time he reached out his hand.

‘Ah, I made a promise for tomorrow.’

Elise recalled the conversation she had with Karan.

[I like it, the New Year’s party.]

[The outside of the banquet hall will be better. There’s a lot of fun.]

[Really? I’ve never been there.]

He spoke with a tone full of regret, and that tone made Elise uncomfortable.

So Elise made a promise as if she was bewitched.

[I’ll show you around tomorrow.]

Karan smiled brighter than ever when he heard that.

It would be rude to say now that she can’t go.

‘It would not be rudeness, but disappointment.’

She had no choice but to sleep quickly.

Elise let go of the last string of tension.

“Miss, you should wash and sleep.”

“Sorry, Regina. I can’t move at all.”

“I know, Miss.”

Elise entrusted her body to Regina. She was skilled. So Elise fell asleep without knowing when she fell asleep.

And she opened her eyes quickly. At least she thought so.

“Regina, where did the night and morning go?”

Elise, who woke up at noon, muttered in vain.

“It’s not a new thing. You’ve been like this every New Year’s party.”

“This year is different. It has to be.”

Elise had promised Karan to show him the New Year’s festival. Elise jumped out of bed.

“Miss, if you get up suddenly, you’ll get dizzy. Just a moment, Miss! You can’t run around barefoot.”

Elise, listening to Regina’s nagging, checked the time first. It was already heading towards 3 p.m.

Although there was no exact time promised, considering the start time of the party, they should meet at least at 12 o’clock.

Karan is a sensible person, so he would be waiting, having prepared in advance.

Thinking about it, she lost the leisure to care about her face.

“Dress!”

“Miss, are you already preparing to go to the party? You should eat first…”

“No! Outing dress!”

“Outing? Where are you going? If you need something, tell me. If you go out now, you won’t be able to make it to the party time…”

“I’ll take care of it. Regina, dress.”

Elise grabbed Regina’s arm. Regina couldn’t say any more words.

Elise moved busily.

****

On the same day, early in the morning, Karan opened his eyes.

Considering the time he returned from the party, his sleep time was just a blink of an eye.

His head was throbbing from the short sleep time, but his mind was clearer than ever.

Should I sleep a little more?

Karan closed his eyes, looking at the blue sky. But he couldn’t sleep.

It wasn’t insomnia.

His insomnia was completely cured after spending the night with Elise.

He just couldn’t sleep because he was chewing on every single action and word of Elise.

Karan straightened his body and opened his eyes.

It was a clear and transparent gaze that couldn’t be believed to be a person who had just woken up from sleep.

“Elise.”

He still couldn’t believe that she, who had felt so far away, had chosen him.

If he didn’t call out loud, he thought she might disappear like a mirage, so he often uttered Elise’s name in his mouth.

He had spent more than half of yesterday’s party together, but he wondered if it was a delusion created by his desperate wish.

That’s why..That’s why he asked Elise to dance all night yesterday.

Because then he could touch her. Because he could feel her breath close to him.

When he danced with Elise, Karan felt like he had the world.

He wanted to hold her like this and go to a place where no one was and spend time just for the two of them.

He regretted it when he saw her tired face later.

Does Elise know his desperate heart? It was clear that she would never know.

The heart she wants him would not be half of what he has.

What is half?

Would it be half of half of half if she gave it a lot?

It’s not her fault. She was just kind.

Neither she, who had empty eyes, nor the child, who also had empty eyes, knew what result her kindness would bring when it caught the eye of the empty child.

Elise was still kind.

She was more sorry to hear his unfair story and tried to protect him.

When she stood as if to protect herself from the sharp eyes of the Bedrokka people, Karan almost kissed her neck.

Trying to protect himself with a body that is not even half.

It was a ridiculous thing. But Karan felt an indescribable solidity. He was happy at the same time.

He knew well what he had to do to protect this happiness.

He has to hide himself.

The contract is nothing more than a piece of paper. If she wants to, it’s not a big deal to invalidate the contract.

When he thought of Elise, his body got hot.

This appearance should also not be caught by Elise.

Hot breath burst out. Thirst grew more and more.