Married to a Man who Wants to Kill me

 

 

Now that Theo has taken two, there will surely be someone among the rest of them who will go home empty-handed.

 

The nobles, who had only now realized the intentions of the Marquis, who was in league with the Empress, felt a sense of crisis and began to shout out the high price.

 

“21,000 Knets.”

 

“22,000 Knets.”

 

“23,000 Knets.”

 

Nothing in this auction was worth more than 1,000 knets.

 

I thought it was a satisfactory achievement just by ripping off 5,000 knet per person, but the stakes were unintentionally increased.

 

After repeating the process a few times, Theo didn’t have to raise the price, but the nobles who hadn’t won the auction would spontaneously call in exorbitant bids.

 

And so it was that the last item, which seemed to be worth only 500 knets at most, sold for a staggering 50,000 knets, and the auction was closed.

 

The excitement in the square intensified as applause and cheers erupted from all sides.

 

I stared off into the distance at Theo, whose face was calm, as if he had seen this coming.

 

Then I made eye contact with him.

 

Our eyes met, and he smiled slightly, exchanging a silent greeting. His smile caused faint warmth to spread across my cheeks.

 

The proceeds from today’s charity auction must have been a thoughtful gift from him.

 

××××××××××××××××××××××

 

Erita Kundras, Princess of Delua, was in Asha.

 

Her visit was a bit of a surprise, given the delicate tension between the two countries due to the border battle.

 

It was not a pre-arranged visit as a head of state, but simply a stopover for a tour in Asha.

 

However, given her status, the palace was bound to be a bit bustling.

 

“Princess Erita is also very famous in Delua but not in a good way.”

 

Stella began to explain what she knew about Princess Erita.

 

Emperor Mokhan Kundras of Delua loved Erita very much, the youngest of his four children.

 

Under his care, she grew up like a plant in a greenhouse and became one of the most notorious reputations in Delua.

 

Perhaps due to her poor upbringing, she had become so spoiled that she felt the need to obtain whatever she desired.

 

She also had an extremely fickle temper that caused her to change her courtiers dozens of times a year.

 

Anyone who spoke out about her wrongdoings was hated by the Emperor of Delua.

 

As a result, there was no one in Delua to stop her from doing as she pleased.

 

Given this situation, it was better for the imperial family of Asha to treat her with care, lest it become a diplomatic issue.

 

Upon her arrival, Erita requested an official audience with the Emperor and Empress of Asha.

 

I, the empress, greeted her in the audience room with Ian.

 

“The blessings of the great goddess Lumitaras be with you. I greet Your Majesties, Emperor and Empress, the holy sun and glorious moon of Asha. I am Erita Kundras, Princess of Delua.”

 

Erita has hair that resembles the color of red wine, lovely pink eyes, and a small figure like a fairy.

 

Even though she hadn’t undergone her coming-of-age ceremony, she looked significantly younger than her actual age.

 

As if to regard everyone as insignificant, she tilted her head slightly, and one corner of her mouth was lifted higher than the other.

 

She had a strangely arrogant air about her. Perhaps because she was a princess who was the sole recipient of the Emperor’s affections.

 

She looked at me up and down and gave me a meaningful glance.

 

I don’t know if it was because of national sentiment or her natural tendency to look down on others, but it was easy to see that she did not have a favorable opinion of the Asha imperial family.

 

“Please forgive my rudeness in coming to the Asha Imperial Palace without any prior notice. Although this visit is unofficial, it is actually on behalf of my father, Emperor Mokhan Kundras.”

 

Erita’s visit was at the behest of Emperor Delua. What could he possibly want to say, sending his favorite daughter to Asha in person?

 

Ian looked down at the princess with a wary glance, but she continued unperturbed.

 

“My father, Emperor Mokhan Kundras, would like to know the opinion of Emperor Cassel before sending an official document in the future.”

 

“My opinion?”

 

“That’s right. I think it is only right that I should come personally to convey the wishes of the Imperial family of Delua, as this matter concerns me above all else. I wish to prevent any unfavorable sentiments between our countries.”

 

The princess wasted no time with pleasantries and immediately laid out her business. Her tone felt highly aggressive, like someone who had come to fight.

 

Her pink eyes showed unwavering determination. I wondered what she was trying to say.

 

Ian spoke, his face still impassive, but in a much sharper tone.

 

“Tell me.”

 

“Emperor Kundras is considering a state marriage to unite our two nations.”

 

My eyes involuntarily narrowed a little at the word ‘state marriage’.

 

It was unexpected that Emperor Delua would even consider giving his precious daughter to his enemy, Asha.

 

As with most imperial and aristocratic families, no matter how precious a girl is, there will always be some crooked judge who will try to profit from her marriage.

 

There was a faint sense of strangeness in the way the girl, who seemed to be a middle schooler at best in this life, spoke so boldly about her marriage.

 

Erita’s expression never wavered.

 

So the reason for her personal visit was to choose her own husband…….

 

Ian opened his mouth with his usual doll-like smile.

 

“Is it possible that Emperor Kundras has someone in mind for you?”

 

“Yes.”

 

He waited for her answer with inexplicable tension.

 

“Lord Theo Claflin.”

 

Theo Claflin. I felt my heart sink as I heard the name.

 

Erita’s smug smile deepened as she read my agitation.

 

“As a great noble family of Asha, the Claflin’s have enjoyed the undying trust of the Asha Imperial Family for generations. If such a family were to join forces with the Delua Imperial Family, it would be a meaningful step toward true unity and peace between our two nations.”

 

“There are many fine families worthy of a state marriage with Delua. Why do you single out Lord Claflin?”

 

“…….”

 

“I doubt Emperor Kundras will be pleased with Lord Claflin, and with the fate of two nations at stake, a more reasonable explanation is in order.”

 

Ian turned to her as if considering something.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor Kundras has graciously agreed to bend to my wishes in the matter of marriage. Choosing Lord Claflin is entirely my own.”

 

Erita spoke in a bitterly determined tone, as if she were making a sacred oath. Her will seemed firmer than I thought.

 

In most cases, a princess in the royal family was often used as a political pawn through marriage.

 

However, considering that Emperor Delua had raised Erita with the utmost devotion, as if she were his own life, it occurred to me that this might not be the case.

 

Maybe it’s a father’s desire to protect the happiness of the daughter he loves so much that he would reach out to a rival nation first.

 

“Do you have a personal connection with Lord Claflin?”

 

Erita gave him an oddly competitive glance.

 

“He has promised me a future.”

 

I couldn’t help but be taken aback by her decisive answer. He has promised a future…… The words pierce my heart.

 

I wondered if his rejection of me was because of his promise to the princess.

 

She raised one eyebrow and stared at me with an enigmatic gaze.

 

“I had no idea that Lord Claflin had such ties to the princess, but this is not a matter to be decided so quickly, and I suggest you take a little more time to think about it.”

 

Ian glanced at my expression and ended the conversation. At that moment, Erita turned to me and said in a provocative tone.

 

“Your Majesty, if you don’t mind me asking, may I have a word with you?”

 

××××××××××××××××××××××

 

Erita seemed to have something to say to me, something about Theo, of course.

 

There must be a spy from Delua hiding in Asha as well.

 

The story of Empress Lethenia and her paramour, Lord Claflin, that has been making the rounds, may have reached beyond Asha to the Imperial family of Delua.

 

I didn’t like the idea of a private audience with someone who harbored so much animosity toward me, but I had no reason to refuse.

 

I made my way to the audience room in the Empress’ palace and faced her.

 

Erita spoke first, looking even more determined than before.

 

“I have a message for Her Majesty the Empress.”

 

“Is it about Lord Claflin?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

She said with a slight wryness that went beyond her fake smile.

 

“I am familiar with the uncomfortable rumor that Her Majesty has about Lord Claflin as a paramour.”

 

“…….”

 

“Are you planning to continue keeping him by your side, even with the mention of a marriage alliance with the Princess of Delua?”

 

A fierce gleam of contempt flashed in her eyes.

 

She seemed to have forgotten that I was the Empress of Asha, for she spoke as if interrogating a criminal.

 

“That’s a pretty personal question.”

 

“I don’t care how you’ve behaved up to this point, please let go of Lord Claflin.”

 

She had a brazen demeanor, as if Theo was already her husband.

 

 

 

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊