Episode 15

Aiden stared at me with a disapproving look before letting out a short sigh and nodding.

If he hadn’t muttered, “I can kill them anytime,” under his breath, I might have praised him as a well-behaved dog.

The big dog seemed to have accepted the situation, but Lothania still wore a sullen expression.

“Aunt Bonita must have instigated this. She wants to drive you out of the Empire and take over the palace.”

“Don’t worry, Lotti. I’m not going anywhere. A few nobles gathering their opinions won’t be enough.”

It wasn’t just bravado in front of my stepdaughter; I truly believed it.

Thinking about it, I had become quite bold.

If I were still the fourth princess of Dirmil, I would have felt intimidated by people conspiring to overthrow me.

Maybe it’s true that the position shapes the person, or perhaps having someone to protect has made me stronger.

Or perhaps dealing with insolent beasts had merely toughened me up.

Compared to these beasts who could go mad at any moment, the nobles were almost cute.

Feeling proud of myself, I shrugged my shoulders, and Lothania, with her hands clasped together, looked at me with sparkling crimson eyes.

“Mother, you’re amazing! No matter how much the nobles scheme, you, the Empress, are the best. Absolutely!”

I laughed at Lothania’s cheerful praise and patted her head.

She looked pleased, like a puppy nuzzling into a human’s hand, then snuggled into my side.

The reason I could boldly stand against the nobles wasn’t because of my title as Empress.

Without a husband, children to inherit the throne, or even a powerful family to back me, what strength did I have?

It was partly because the three beasts, in their mutual rivalry, solidified my authority through an unspoken pact.

But the most crucial factor was undoubtedly Lothania’s wholehearted support.

If Lothania, the Empire’s sole Crown Princess and legitimate heir to the throne, had resented my presence, I would have been sent back to Dirmil long ago.

Hugging Lothania tightly, I spoke.

“Lotti, when you say things like that, it makes me feel like I really am someone amazing.”

“Mother, you truly are amazing!”

Lothania’s crimson eyes widened with delight as she laughed brightly.

Aiden, watching us from the opposite sofa, muttered in disbelief.

“I’ve always thought it strange how close you two are.”

Still holding me, Lothania looked at Aiden and let out a smug chuckle.

“Of course, we are! Mother and I are the best team.”

Aiden’s expression softened slightly as he looked at us, his earlier hostility fading a bit. The tension in the room eased, and I felt a sense of relief.

In this volatile world, having Lothania by my side made all the difference. She was not just a source of strength but also a reminder of what I was fighting for.

“If you’re jealous, just say so, Duke Tilender.”

“Jealous? Hardly. Now, would you please leave, Your Highness? I have something to report to Her Majesty.”

Aiden, looking somewhat sullen, made his request. Lothania gazed up at me with puppy-like eyes.

Aiden’s report would undoubtedly be about Neriad’s death.

Not wanting to expose Lothania to news about her father’s death, I gently stroked her cheek to console her.

“Lotti, why don’t we talk again at dinner?”

“Yes, Mother.”

Lothania, being the perceptive child she was, answered obediently and stood up.

She gave me a glowing smile, then Aiden mouthed the word ‘list’ to her. Lothania read his lips and gave a slight nod. She then gave me an elegant bow and left the parlor.

They really do get along in the strangest ways.

“I told you not to kill anyone.”

“I’ll only keep them under surveillance. It’s my fault for not noticing their schemes earlier.”

Aiden muttered something about a hole in the white shadow and then changed his expression as he looked at me.

“As I mentioned earlier, if you need to leave the palace, call for me. Especially when you’re with the snake.”

“Why? Do you think he’ll kill me?”

“If someone were to assassinate you, the snake would be the most likely suspect.”

Though I asked playfully, his answer was anything but.

Bitren had said the same thing—that Rian would kill me.

And Aiden had said he would kill Lothania.

With these three dangerous and untrustworthy beasts constantly talking about killing, reality was becoming increasingly surreal.

“If Duke Zernia kills me, wouldn’t that give you the justification to take him down? It would also make your release from the oath easier.”

I spoke, trying to gauge Aiden’s reaction, but my voice sounded self-deprecating even to my own ears.

I bit the inside of my cheek to regain my composure, feeling as though I had revealed too much accumulated fatigue.

Then I looked up to see his expression, which was nothing like I expected.

It was a strange mixture of what seemed to be resentment and sadness.

“Do you think I want you dead, Your Majesty?”

Do you not?

I almost asked. Nearly.

The fastest way to free himself from the oath was Lothania’s death, and I, blocking that path, was an obstacle, wasn’t I?

They all acted friendly in front of me to avoid the other beasts’ scrutiny, but ultimately, they wished for my death, didn’t they?

I wasn’t that naïve.

Yet, bizarrely enough, I felt that if I asked directly, Aiden might actually cry.

No, surely this insolent dog wouldn’t cry, but his eyes were filled with an unjust sorrow as he said,

“The snake must have wagged its tongue. Did he tell you I would kill you? Do you believe him?”

“Duke Aiden, I don’t trust anyone.”

I thought it was the most obvious statement, yet Aiden’s expression grew even stranger.

It was as if he were silently asking, ‘How could you do this to me?’

What did I do?

Lowering his gaze gloomily, he muttered in a small voice,

“I thought you trusted me, which is why you made the pact with me.”

I chose Aiden because he seemed easier to manage than the other beasts.

His emotions were written all over his face, like now.

I thought we both understood that our agreement wasn’t based on trust.

Yet he wore the face of a puppy abandoned by its master.

When did I ever agree to take care of you? Why are you acting like this?

I was so taken aback that I couldn’t respond, and Aiden turned away with an even more dejected expression.

In a small voice, he muttered, “I even gave you my sword.”

The sword? The one he gave me as a birthday gift? The one he promised would be drawn in my defense?

As incredulity threatened to overwhelm me again, I realized that the gift might have been a significant decision for him.

He had promised to become a berserker for me, someone who wasn’t even his master.

Now that I knew his father had gone mad after becoming a berserker twice, the weight of that promise felt even heavier.

So, was it something like this?

Out of the three beasts, I was the only one he had made a pact with, and despite the risk of madness, he gave me his sword. But now, I had drawn a line, saying I didn’t trust him, and he felt hurt.

Seriously? That pact, what was it even worth? How could someone with such a fierce demeanor be so easy to sway?

If I were to say I trusted only him, he might flip over in joy.

For a moment, a mischievous thought crossed my mind, but I suppressed it. It wouldn’t do any good if he started groveling at my feet.

Instead, I decided to mix some truth with a little lie and spoke to him.

“Duke Aiden, Duke Zernia didn’t say such things. And I don’t think you’re going to kill me.”

“I won’t kill you, Your Majesty.”

Aiden’s head shot up, and he responded immediately.

I could almost see large, perky ears atop his head.

Realizing his reply had been too quick even for his liking, he cleared his throat and added with a stoic face,

“Your Majesty must be alive for Crown Princess Lothania to remove my mark.”

So, he wanted to imply that he couldn’t kill me out of necessity, but his earlier answer had been so resolute that it sounded like a weak excuse.

Suppressing a smile, I replied,

“And to earn that mark, you must bring me the one who assassinated His Majesty.”

“I have something to report on that matter.”

Finally, Aiden got to the main point of why he had come to see me.