episode_0002

Episode 2.

After a hearty dinner, the King called me into the family room.

A comfortable designed room with minimal decoration. In a place where even their attendants were bitten, the king and princess returned to being father and daughter.

My father, King Fehat, opened his mouth somewhat cautiously.

“Sera, how are you…? Carmel’s impression.”

Even if he is the king of a country, he seems like an ordinary person at times like this. Just like this moment when I ask my daughter about a woman she likes.

“I think you are a very wonderful person, father.”

The tone of voice is Sarah’s, but the content remains my true thoughts. Of course, just look away. Carmel is a rotten evil woman on the inside.

“Huh, that’s right. Sarah, I feel relieved when you say that.”

Fehat seemed very happy and stroked his long beard. It looks like you’ve already fallen in love with Carmel’s charm. Well, I’m not in a position to talk about other people’s opinions.

“I feel relieved too, father. You were so busy taking care of national affairs that you never had a day to rest. It’s already been a long time since my mother left this world… I, too, have always hoped that my father would find happiness.”

“Sera… thank you.”

Fehat opened his arms and embraced me. He seemed to be feeling genuine emotion for his daughter, who was now able to understand her father’s feelings.

Of course, he may be relieved that he didn’t reject Carmel.

I feel a little guilty.

Carmel is definitely not a good girl. It can be said that this is the worst choice for a marriage partner. Because I am now asking you to accept her, who clearly intends to destroy your father.

Of course, I really have no intention of letting that happen.

Carmel’s magical arms will be broken before they reach me, my father, and the Kingdom of Lustier. Right by my hand.

As a first step, I spoke to Fehat. In a slightly formal voice.

“Father, what do you plan to do with the sacred ceremony?”

“Ah, ah. Of course I have to pay.”

The sacred ceremony is a ceremony to prove that there is no hostility towards the royal family. It was a ritual that must be completed not only by those directly entering the royal family, but also when working as an employee.

Of course, if Carmel, with his dark evil intentions, performed the sacred ritual normally, it was certain that he would be filtered out immediately.

In the novel, Carmel seduced the king and became queen without receiving sacred rites. There were probably quite a few readers who left the show at that point, lamenting the king’s foolishness.

As long as I’m here, that won’t happen this time.

* * *

Several days have passed.

The marriage talks between my father and Carmel were progressing quickly.

However, there was no talk of preparing for a sacred ceremony.

‘Fehat… you idiot.’

Well, it might be wrong to expect that the plot will change drastically just by requesting it.

It looks like we will have to take action ourselves.

The opportunity came quickly.

Dinner with Fehat, me, and Carmel.

Looking at the two people who seemed to be closer, I threw a rock that caused ripples.

“Carmel, have you ever heard of sacred rites?”

“Sacred rite? What is that?”

It’s a face I’m hearing for the first time. Of course, that can’t be true.

There is no way that Carmel, who had been targeting the Lustier Kingdom from the beginning, would not have investigated the sacred rite corresponding to the first gateway.

I said with an innocent smile.

“Oh, you don’t know? I’m sure His Majesty the King has already told you… The rite of sanctification is a ceremony to prove one’s purity in front of the Lustier royal family. Hehe, if you are Carmel, of course there will be no problem.”

“It’s a proof of purity… How can you prove what’s in your heart?”

“This sacred monument located in the basement of the Lustier Palace has mysterious powers. A divine power that senses hostility toward the royal family. It’s a simple ritual that just requires you to stand in front of them.”

“I have already shared my feelings with His Majesty the King. Is that really necessary?”

Carmel held Fehat’s arm and winked at him hopefully.

“Well, that’s right.”

What’s wrong with that? You idiot.

I adjusted my posture and spoke as a princess, not Sarah.

“The sacred ceremony is not simply a ceremony to protect the royal family. It is also a ritual that establishes legitimacy for members of the royal family. Didn’t His Majesty always emphasize this?”

“Keu…”

It’s hard to make a sound like a king.

Apparently, there had already been talk between Fehat and Carmel that they would not mention the sacred rites.

However, what I said was an honest opinion without any deviation. It is impossible to deny that at a formal dinner, no matter how serious one may be.

“The princess is truly smart.”

Carmel is smiling. Her face was extremely beautiful, but her eyes were extremely cold.

Now, what are you going to do?

Carmel is now wearing a mask. Until she officially ascends to the position of queen, she has no choice but to pretend to comply with the rules of this place.

A completely different situation from the novel where both Sarah and Fehat were silent. Here, refusing the sacred rites is tantamount to declaring that one is not qualified to be queen.

It didn’t take much time for the answer to come out.

“I understand. If necessary, I will receive that sacred rite.”

The mouth is smiling, but the gaze is like ice.

As I received those gazes, I felt as if something deep inside my heart was ringing.

* * *

Knock, knock, knock on the door twice and you are asked who it is. Carmel looked quite surprised when she revealed her identity as Princess Sera.

“…Princess Sera. What’s going on?”

A face full of wariness. That’s natural. Because I was the one who pushed her into a dead end at dinner today.

“Can I come in and talk for a moment?”

Carmel thought for a moment and answered, “Come in.” I entered the room and carefully closed the door.

There is a somewhat exotic scent of perfume in the room. It’s a somewhat sensual smell.

Moreover, Carmel’s appearance is…

A black silk loungewear that seems to tighten the body. It may be intended to seduce Fehat, but it is a very provocative outfit. I almost forgot the purpose of my visit and just stared.

“So? What is your business, princess?”

Is it because it is not in front of the king? Carmel was showing more alertness than during the day. Or maybe it was because I perceived myself as a definite obstacle.

“Carmel, please stop being honest now. What did you come to this country for?”

A face as if asking a ridiculous question. However, he soon put on a mask and gave a pretentious answer.

“I only came here after receiving a recommendation from His Majesty the King whom I met at a resort. Because it was such a beautiful country, I stayed there… and luckily, I even gained the favor of His Majesty the King. It’s an undeserved honor.”

Well, I would say that.

Now it’s time to drag it out again.

“Stop lying, Carmel. You are aiming to become queen with the intention of devouring our kingdom of Lustier, right?”

Carmel’s eyes sharpen. The corner of the mouth that is twisted upward on only one side. She began to reveal her true colors as a villainess.

“Haha, ahahaha. Ahahahahaha!”

Carmel’s laughter bursts out sharply. To be honest, it was a voice that stimulated an erogenous zone in my heart.

“Hehe, hehe. I thought she was a stupid princess with a flower garden in her head, but today I saw that she was surprisingly quick-witted. good. If that’s the case, what can you do?”

Carmel’s hand caresses the blonde hair near my ear. Golden hair flows like sunlight between pure white fingers.

“The king is already in my hands. No matter what you say to your father, it doesn’t change the outcome of me becoming queen. Hehe, why don’t you give up your princess status right now? At least I’ll save you from being miserable.”

“Do you think you can pass the sacred rites? Someone as evil as you?”

“What, are you really trusting those pathetic rocks? There are plenty of ways to fool that old magic, princess.”

“…The sacred ritual is a powerful magic that has been handed down since the ancestors. There’s no way it could break that easily…”

“Do you want to know? Well then, wait and see. Hehe, I’ll show you how weak that famous ancient magic is.”

Carmel’s hand moves from her ear to her chin. He gently tapped my chin as if he were handling a pet dog.

“Please leave now, cute princess. If you don’t want to end up in a situation where people ask you to kill them, you’d better watch your mouth.”

Carmel’s nails press against my lips. Blood flowed from my lips along with the pain as if I had been stabbed by a thorn.

“Ayat…!”

He quickly shook off Carmel’s hand and covered his lips. And then he ran out of Carmel’s room as if he had seen something scary. Leaving behind Carmel’s triumphant expression, as if she had already taken the queen’s seat.

‘Let’s see, is this enough?’

After coming out into the hallway, I review the plan in my head. Carmel’s sacred ritual is a development that did not occur in the novel, but the expected scenario has already been planned.

Now all we have to do is put it into practice. The meeting just now was the cornerstone for that.

‘Now, it’s your turn to struggle, Carmel.’

Thinking like that, I smiled bitterly with my bleeding lips.