Chapter 94

‘Oh, that is the way he rules the empire!’

I didn’t know the emperor’s real self because he was always kind, generous and smiled at me. But when I saw him smiling at the duke with a murderous expression, I suddenly realized one fact. Namely, if I had not been a daughter of the Monique family, he would not have given me a grace period, and he would have punished me who continued to refuse the imperial family.

And even if I were a daughter of the Monique family, he would have me married to the crown prince if he really had wanted. Then what does he really want me to do? Does he want me to be the crown prince’s wife or the successor of my family?

“Princesses, please come forward.”

With the duke standing behind him, the emperor said, looking at the people around him.

Princess Moira, who stood right before me, came out first, followed by Princess Naima, Princess Beary, Princess Frincia, and Princess Beatrice, who was trembling and pale. After glancing at them one by one, the emperor said, “Princess Frincia?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Please go ahead.”

“You came here to conclude an alliance agreement with the empire. I think we have produced a satisfactory result through the secret negotiations for the past one month. Can I expect a good relationship between the two countries? ”

“Of course, Your Majesty. My king will surely be satisfied. ”

“Thank you. Sooner or later let me send the diplomatic delegation to your kingdom.”

After bowing to him, she stepped back.

‘Now I see why she acted differently from other princesses.’

I realized why she was not interested in the crown prince and why she tried to get along well with me unlike other princesses. She came here to secretly sign an alliance agreement. Her application for the prince’s bride candidate was only a trick to deceive others.

“Princess Naima and Princess Beatrice, I’m sorry, but for the same reason I can’t accept you as the prince’s bride candidate. So, go back to your kingdom safely.”

“… Yes, Your Majesty. ”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

When the two stepped back, with their faces white with shock, the emperor looked at Princess Moira. Unlike his casual gaze at the other princesses, he was staring at her sharply.

“You are no exception, Princess Moira. Are you unhappy with my decision? ”

“… No, Your Majesty.”

“Let’s just say one thing for your own good. The Kingdom of Lua is now an ally of my empire, and I’ll dispatch a delegation to the Kingdom of Lisa. Do you understand what I mean?”

“Yes, I know, Your Majesty.”

“Good.”

Although she was full of anger in her green eyes, she stepped back, biting her lip.

Now, Princess Beatrice was the last turn. She was trembling heavily before him.

“Princess Beatrice.”

“I want to give up, Your Majesty. I didn’t even dream about it. ”

“Is your kingdom on the same page with you?”

“Well, that is…”

When she didn’t answer clearly, the emperor smiled at her gently.

“I don’t think your kingdom would balk at my decision. In some respects, your kingdom should be grateful because it was not destroyed by the empire yet.”

“Your Majesty…”

“Don’t you think so?”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“Good. Let me send an official delegation to the Lisa kingdom sooner or later. I want you to stay here until then.”

“Yes, yes, Your Majesty.”

When Princess Beatrice stepped back, trembling more noticeably, the emperor looked at them once more.

Duke Jena and his followers were standing, nervously looking at the emperor. Whenever their eyes met his eyes, they lowered their heads. In fact, the emperor had never officially mentioned the families of Kaisil, Heidel and Laurel that he disbanded ten years ago. Accordingly Duke Jena and other nobles had no choice but to cringe at his direct mention of the annihilated families. As the emperor had legitimate cause to crack down on them, he could disband their families, too, anytime if he made the decision.

“As all five candidates have given up or have disqualifying factors, I have decided not to select the crown prince’s bride this time. If you have any objection, speak to me now.”

Cold silence fell. Who could dare to raise their objection in this situation? Looking around the quiet banquet hall once more, he said with a satisfied smile, “Fortunately nobody is opposed. Thanks for your loyalty. I won’t forget about it. ”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After everyone bowed to him to show due manners, they remained silent. Looking at them casually as if nothing happened, the emperor said, clicking his tongue, “Well? What are you doing here? Today is the last day of the festival. Enjoy the party fully.”

Of course, it all started from the confrontation between me and Duke Jena, but it was the emperor who froze the jovial atmosphere of the banquet. When I looked at him with a puzzled look, he happened to see me and said with a smile, “Lady Monique?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Can I ask my future daughter-in-law to dance with me?”

“… It is my honor, Your Majesty. ”

I made a forced smile brightly and held his hand. As I knew his true self, I could not deal with him as comfortably as I used to. Even though the band played a song at a very slow tempo, I found myself moving unnaturally. Looking at me quickly, he said with a smile, “Oh, I didn’t intend to surprise you, Lady Monique.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, Your Majesty.”

“When you were young, you often acted cute to me. As you are growing up, you are acting like your father more and more. I’m a bit sad about it. ”

What did he say? Did I act cute to him as a baby? When I opened my eyes as I have never heard it before, he said with a laugh, “Why, are you surprised?”

“…Yes, Your Majesty. ”

“Jeremiah, your mother. When she was alive, she often came to the Imperial Palace, holding you in her arms. When I came to see you, you often toddled along to me, babbling cutely. How cute you were when you reached out as if you wanted me to hug me!”

“… ”

“When I hugged you because you were so cute, you laughed and played with my hair. Yeah, you did so when you were a baby,” he said, as if he was lost in old memories.

‘What should I say?’

I was agonized over how to reply, when the music required me to pull back from him. I let go of his hand and made two turns to the left.

At that moment, I caught the eyes of the crown prince, who was staring at the emperor with some nostalgic feelings. It was something like a deep yearning that I felt for him in the past.

After making one turn, I looked at him again while approaching the emperor. This time, he was looking at me, but I could not read any emotion in his deep blue eyes.

Suddenly, I recalled a question that I had forgotten. Holding the emperor’s hand once again, I thought about it. Can I ask him? As if he noticed I was hesitating to say something, he said playfully, “If I look at the way you are hesitating to say something, you are really acting like your father. So, what do you want to ask me? ”

“Well, Your Majesty.”

“Just make yourself at home. Feel free to ask.”

“When you said you are planning to announce something, is it about the crown prince’s bride candidate?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

When he readily answered, I plucked up courage and continued to ask.

“If you decided not to accept any princess, may I ask why you allowed them to come here from the beginning?”

“Didn’t I tell you the reason before? I just respected my son Rub’s decision.”

“Pardon?”

“Well, with my decision, I kept the noble factions at bay, and broke the alliance that the Eet kingdom was trying to form with the Lisa kingdom. Thanks to that, I won the support of the Lua kingdom as a new ally. Besides, Princess Beatrice caused an unexpected trouble while she was staying here, which worked in favor of us, too. Come to think of it, I gained a lot in return for allowing it.”

“… ”

“What did I say anyway? I told you that my son would not easily give up a precious woman like you. Did you see his expression when you recommended Princess Frincia? Well, she is a smart girl, and it’s good for him to marry her to strengthen the alliance between the two kingdoms. So, I asked for his opinion … And what he replied is what you see now…”

Was it the crown prince’s decision not to accept any princess? Why? Suddenly, I was more confused. When he looked at me, who was blinking with a blank look, he said with a gratifying smile, “You must be confused. There’s still a lot of time until you come of age. So, think about it a little more.”