2. On the Strategic Alliance with the Insolent Beast

Episode 5

After taking the exhausted, tearful Lothania to her room, I summoned Chief Attendant Tito and gave him an order.

“Bar the Marchioness of Senwood from entering the Imperial Palace.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

It was the first time since Nerian’s death that I heard Tito’s cheerful voice.

The Emperor’s death had left the elderly attendant gaunt and weary, yet he continued to protect the Crown Princess and me in his own way.

“Tito.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The late Emperor told me that I could trust you.”

Nerian had said this when we first arrived at the palace.

He had assured me that if anything troubled me, I should speak to the chief attendant, who had been a reliable servant by his side for many years.

Upon hearing the late Emperor’s words relayed to him, tears welled up in Tito’s bleary eyes.

“I will devote the rest of my life to serving Your Majesty and the Crown Princess, Your Majesty.”

Having a trustworthy person was invaluable to me, and his words brought immense gratitude and relief.

Praising the loyal attendant, I asked him, “Do you know why the Marchioness of Senwood is trying to send me away?”

“Because, Your Majesty, if you are absent, the Marchioness would be the only one claiming to be the protector of Crown Princess Lothania. It seems she wishes to act as your proxy.”

“In other words, she wants to become the Emperor?”

“That appears to be the case. Even in her younger years, she regretted that it was not she who awakened to the power but the late Emperor.”

“The three Dukes will not sit idly by, though.”

These were the beasts who had made bold proposals to me, the Empress.

They would not let Bonita play the role of Emperor. Does she have something else to rely on?

Tito seemed to have no idea about that part either.

After dismissing the chief attendant, I took a walk in the garden. My mind was cluttered, and I needed to clear my thoughts.

Bonita, despite her despicable actions towards Lothania, was manageable. As long as I held my ground here, she could do nothing.

But the beasts…

As Bonita said, the moment their patience ran out could be the end for both me and Lothania.

This can’t continue.

I needed to find a more proactive solution.

Moonlight poured over the rose garden, which was cultivated for the Emperor.

Though my heart was in turmoil, the garden remained beautiful.

While I sighed under the moonlight, I recalled Nerian, who had been my husband for just one night.

I resented him for leaving behind his beasts and younger sister in such a state.

Was his death truly an accident?

I had neither the capability nor the composure to investigate it until now, but the suspicious death of the Emperor needed to be probed.

Everyone suspected that the Emperor’s death was no accident, yet the three Dukes, who held actual power, remained silent about their master’s death.

They had no intention of revealing the culprit.

Perhaps they were grateful to whoever had cut their leash.

Those wretched beasts.

Plucking at innocent rose petals in frustration, I realized that the only option before the beasts breached the palace walls was to align with one of them.

Tame one beast to hunt the others.

Handling all three at once was overwhelming, but dealing with one might be possible.

As I considered which of the three was the most impatient, the words of an insolent dog came to mind.

‘The reason I participated in this nonsense is that if Your Majesty makes a foolish decision, I might have to serve one of those two bastards as emperor. I have no interest in the throne..’

Tito had mentioned that among the three, Aiden was the least likely to have assassinated the Emperor.

Given that all of Brincia’s military power was in his hands, Aiden losing his patience would be the most troublesome.

It might be better to deal with someone whose thoughts show on their face rather than those whose intentions are unreadable.

Moreover, he was the head of the Empire’s top intelligence agency.

For a hunt, a dog is better than a snake or an eagle. A dog with a white shadow would be even more ideal.

As I nodded to myself, I realized I had wandered far from the main palace.

Turning back, I glanced up at the sky, where the round, full moon shone mockingly.

* * *

Time passed, and it was July 15th.

Steeling myself, I walked to the separate palace.

Lian greeted me with a radiant smile, as if he were blooming.

The thought that he might be plotting to decapitate me with that bright face made shivers run down my spine.

To hide my expression, I lowered my gaze to the teacup, but Lian asked in an intrigued voice.

“I heard you’ve barred the Marchioness of Senwood from entering the palace?”

“How do you know that?”

“There is nothing in Brincia that I do not know, Your Majesty.”

“Then you must also know why I barred her.”

“Princess Bonita is a very ambitious person.”

Just moments ago, he referred to her as the Marchioness of Senwood, and now she’s Princess Bonita.

He’s doing this on purpose. He knows exactly what Bonita is aiming for and is curious about my reaction.

Despite his angelic face, he had a very wicked nature.

I turned away from Lian, who was smiling mischievously.

Seeing a rich, dense-looking chocolate cake on the table, I picked up a fork without much thought.

To avoid continuing the conversation with Lian, I took a bite of the cake. The cold chocolate melted smoothly on my tongue.

I had always liked chocolate, but this was the best chocolate cake I had ever tasted.

“Do you like it?”

Lian asked, looking pleased as I chewed on the cake.

I used the cake in my mouth as an excuse not to answer, but he proudly took credit for it without me even asking.

“It’s known as the best chocolate cake in Brincia. I had it prepared because I heard you like it.”

He claimed to know everything, and it seemed he knew my taste as well.

Someone in the palace might be acting as Lian’s eyes and ears. Suddenly, the sweet chocolate tasted bitter.

As I put down my fork, Lian leaned closer, whispering as if sharing a secret.

“Is just barring the Marchioness of Senwood enough? Princess Bonita won’t give up so easily.”

“What if she doesn’t? I am the Empress, and Lothania is the late Emperor’s only legitimate heir.”

“But Princess Bonita and her son also carry Luminael’s blood.”

“Are you suggesting that the Marchioness or her son could awaken the power of the Oath?”

I asked urgently, shocked by the possibility, and Lian shrugged with a smug smile.

So, that’s why Bonita was so persistent. She harbored such expectations.

They say the power of the Oath can skip generations, but could it awaken in someone not of the direct line?

Currently, she was just a Marchioness, but if she awakened the power of the Oath and became the master of the beasts, everything would change.

The three beasts alone were enough to give me a headache, and the situation was becoming more complicated.

As I clutched my throbbing forehead and leaned back in my chair, Lian continued to watch me with that infuriating smile.

It was strange when I thought about it.

The beasts were willing to marry to secure the throne before Lothania’s awakening.

If the Marchioness or her son could become their master, they wouldn’t leave them alone.

Straightening my back, I spoke coldly to Lian.

“I dislike men who lie.”

“I did not lie, Your Majesty.”

“If what you say is true, any one of the three would have already torn them apart.”

Lian chuckled as if he had heard something amusing. After a moment of hearty laughter, he spoke.

“I truly didn’t lie, but I appreciate your shrewdness, so I’ll tell you one more thing. There is a way for them to awaken.”

“What is it?”

“If there are no living direct descendants.”

That was absolutely not something to say with a smile.

Currently, Lothania was the only direct descendant of Luminael. I wondered why Bonita kept her distance despite being her only blood relative…

Recalling the image of Lothania clinging to my skirt even while in Bonita’s arms made it hard to breathe.

How great was the danger facing that small child? Why was the life of the Crown Princess of the vast Belpator Empire so precarious?

I finally understood the tears of the child who clung to me, begging me not to leave and promising to protect me once she awakened.

As I sighed in disbelief and anger, Lian smiled gently, trying to comfort me.

“Don’t worry. I don’t want things to get that complicated either. The Marchioness of Senwood will find it hard to achieve her ambitions.”

If he had stopped there, I might have thought he was trying his best despite his lack of empathy, but Lian was an incorrigible snake.

“If you marry me, I’ll erase the name Senwood from Belpator.”

The cunning yellow snake extended his hand subtly, his mysterious purple eyes gleaming.