episode_0063

“I will tell the princess.”

“Yes.”

When the butler left, John walked to the window. His eyes briefly turned to the distant mountains, but soon returned to the newspaper.

His fingers moved slowly as he opened the newspaper. What this newspaper article meant was not simply that the royal family was subtly revealing their intentions.

It was a kind of trick to force John to accept the marriage proposal from the royal family.

Because it was an act of widely publicizing their intentions as if they were a fait accompli and imprinting the awareness among the nobles that ‘Johann is connected to Princess Lariana.’

This was a meticulous scheme that took into account the possibility that if John went against the imperial intentions, he would be seen as a traitor who opposed the emperor.

‘This was the best choice you guys could have made.’

A bitter sneer lingered on John’s lips.

His lover is the heir to the House of Perbace, one of the four great families. He is no less powerful than the imperial family.

There, Francia is a master of healing magic who is greatly supported by the Senate. She is a sorceress called the Saintess of the Empire.

Even the relationship between them is known to be special, so there is no room for criticism.

‘hmm.’

John stroked his chin.

Gossip was usually unrelated to the truth. Just a widely spread rumor was enough to change people’s perceptions.

‘Count Lahart marries the princess.’ If this one sentence is engraved in the aristocratic society, it will not be easy to escape from it.

When a rumor becomes so entrenched that it soon becomes ‘fact’. That was exactly what the royal family wanted, and now it was the process for him.

Thud. John tossed the crumpled newspaper carelessly onto the table.

‘If things go smoothly like this, we’ll bring it up formally then.’

The imperial family had to monopolize John’s power no matter what.

It wasn’t just a simple reason that they had to have strong power.

If John enters the Perbace Duke’s household like this, the balance of the four major families will collapse.

It could be a sharp sword that threatens the imperial family, which boasts absolute authority.

If the power of other nobles is concentrated there, Perbace will transform from a simple family into a ‘force’.

Such power being outside the control of the imperial family? This would shake the order of the empire to its core.

“Ugh…”

While John was lost in thought, Francia, who had been fast asleep, woke up.

She hugged the pure white blanket and looked around for John.

“Ah… you were there.”

And soon she found John and smiled bashfully. Even though she had just woken up from sleep, her beauty was still there.

“You’re up.”

“Yeah… Ugh, I slept for too long.”

Francia yawned widely, rubbing her eyes. Then, realizing that Johan’s expression had hardened, she asked.

“What’s wrong?”

“Because the royal family is doing something stupid.”

“…A trick?”

She tilted her head and put on her pure white gown. Then she came over to John and read the newspaper on the table.

“…What is this?”

Francia’s face crumpled as she checked the front. Rather than feeling angry at the imperial family’s actions, she felt bewildered.

“I think His Majesty would like to connect me with Princess Lariana.”

John let out a small laugh.

“Um…”

Francia paused for a moment, holding the newspaper in her hand, then smiled silently, one corner of her mouth quirking up.

“Wow, this is incredible. For the royal family to do something like this.”

She put the newspaper down on the table and looked at John. Her usual gentle gaze was gone, replaced by a cold, subdued air.

“This can’t go over well.”

Whisper. Francia’s cool voice crawled up the back of my neck.

“My father will be here soon, so I’ll have to have a proper talk with him then.”

Despite her involvement with the royal family, Francia was not at all shaken. Rather, her cold heart only served to spur her calculations.

“What are you going to do?”

John asked. There were many things he could have done, but he decided to hear her opinion first.

“I’ll have to talk to my father about the details, but I’m thinking of ending the engagement first.”

Francia thought there was no need to respond right away.

Anyway, the Duke is coming to the Imperial Palace, and as time passes, the Imperial Family becomes more and more anxious.

Rumors must be dealt with before they spread out of control and become truth, but that doesn’t mean we should rush into anything.

This was the core of this response.

“First of all, my father has to come to the palace, so I think it would be better to stay quiet until then.”

If Duke Perbace comes, things will get worse, even if we don’t want it to.

Because it would create public conflict with the royal family.

“Yes, that’s right.”

Knowing that, John readily accepted her offer.

* * *

The garden of the Diamond Palace.

Lariana sat at the table, breathing in the cool air of the garden. Although it was winter, the garden of the Diamond Palace was warm.

The palace gardens were basically magically processed, and there were magical tools that heated up the mana flowing in the air.

But the magical warmth that surrounded her did not warm her heart.

Horok.

Lariana lifted her teacup and slowly took a sip of tea. The fragrant aroma tickled her nose, but the deep wrinkles on her forehead did not disappear.

“You said you were discussing marriage?”

Jebella, sitting across from her, asked.

“Yeah. That’s what happened.”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Well…”

Lariana sighed softly and shook her head.

“To be honest, I don’t like the situation.”

Although she was about to have a marriage proposal with Johan, who had shown interest in her and wanted her, Lariana was not very satisfied.

“What part?”

“That’s coercive.”

Lariana put down her teacup and spoke firmly.

The reason the marriage was arranged was not because she had the power to change John’s decision, but because of the influence of the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

The idea of being influenced by someone else didn’t sit well with Lariana’s personality. She was free-spirited and hated meddling.

“Hmm… Now that I think about it, this is the situation that the princess hates the most.”

Jebella, who knew him well, smiled slightly. She could tell just by looking at Lariana’s strangely distorted expression.

Lariana, like John, is also quite unhappy with the current situation.

“Then what should I do?”

“Well, I have no choice.”

Lariana, who was simply called the flower of Rosino because the emperor did not care about it, now has a purpose different from before.

Because she was needed to make John a member of the royal family.

“We’ve come to a situation where neither of us wants it.”

It was an unpleasant situation for both Johan, who had a lover, and Lariana, who only wanted to change his decision with her own charm.

“Well… I don’t think it’s all that bad.”

Lariana lifted her teacup again. Pure white steam rose, spreading its fragrance.

“Because my future fate is in my hands.”

Since the Emperor himself had personally led and prepared the marriage, the success of this marriage was very important. It was not simply a matter of authority.

“Should I just break off this marriage proposal? I don’t like it.”

As Lariana spoke with a smile, Jebella flinched and looked around hurriedly. Fortunately, no one heard her because she had bitten all the attendants.

“…Be careful. Even though it’s a diamond palace, there may be ears listening.”

“Where is the person who watches you and I chatting?”

In Jebella’s view, what Lariana had just said was quite dangerous, as it was tantamount to rejecting the Emperor’s will.

Moreover, this marriage proposal had to do with the aristocratic society of Rosino and the authority of the imperial family. It was not a matter that could be joked about.

“Hehe, I was just saying that.”

Lariana smiled lightly and shrugged. In fact, she had some intentions mixed up, but there was no need to reveal the truth.

“…Isn’t there a set schedule?”

Jevella sighed at her slyness and asked a question to change the subject.

“Nothing has been decided yet. It seems like they’re waiting for the rumors to spread further.”

The rumor that Lariana and Johan are currently engaged is spreading like wildfire. It is an unmissable gossip topic in social circles.

This matter, as it involves the fate of the royal family, cannot be rushed or delayed. That is why I am proceeding cautiously.

“By the way. The rumor is spreading like this, but it’s a bit strange that the Pervace dukedom is so quiet. It’s already been almost a week.”

Lariana smiled softly.

“… Certainly. That’s true. There’s no way they wouldn’t know what I mean.”

Jebella nodded slowly.

“Well, that’s a matter for your father and brother to handle. I don’t need to get involved, and I have no reason to.”

However, Lariana did not think deeply about it. Her question was not very important in this royal palace of Rosino.

“Do you think the marriage proposal will be successful?”

Jebella asked a new question. Lariana looked into space for a moment, thought deeply, then smiled and shrugged.

“Well, I can’t guarantee it, but I don’t think Johan Rahard would be able to ignore me that easily, right?”

The third princess, Lariana Rosino, was an overwhelming beauty who was called the flower of the imperial family and a woman of the highest bloodline in the empire.

How many men can resist her seduction?

Even without the royal prestige, she had plenty of charm.

“But… I already knew that he was a man who was extremely loyal to his lover, so I guess I should get to know his tastes first.”

Lariana met Jebella’s gaze with a gentle face.

“Yohan Rahart won’t be fooled by mere appearance or imperial authority. He’s a man with strong beliefs and his own standards. If you want to sway his heart… you’ll have to approach him according to those standards.”

She added, her golden eyes shining.

“You have to find out what he likes, his values, and his weakest link. Just going at it blindly won’t do you any good.”

Lariana was aware that her own appearance was eerily beautiful, but that did not mean she trusted blindly.

Appearance only helps in making someone feel good, but it doesn’t determine the heart.

“I’m glad that Her Highness the Princess has regained her spirits. She’s as confident as ever.”

Rebela smiled faintly and lifted her teacup.

“I’ve always been confident.”

Lariana’s blonde hair, flowing down her shoulders, shone even more brilliantly in the sunlight.

“I feel sorry for Princess Pervace. Because I’m stealing her man.”

She didn’t think it would be easy to change John’s mind, but she didn’t think it would be impossible.