Chapter 169

Chapter 169

I Proposed While Drunk and Now the Princesses are Obsessed.

Episode 169: 0th Princess, Reunion, Forced Marriage (44)

“You want me to use all of the five tickets?”

After a brief moment, that was all Jaekiel could say. He spoke calmly, but his heart was troubled.

Even using just one would cause a huge stir, and he couldn’t guarantee how difficult it would be to handle the consequences.

…But he wants him to use all five? Right now?

‘Hmm.’

There are times in life when your mind just goes blank. It happens when you’re at a crossroads in life.

And that was exactly what was happening to Jaekiel right now.

Thump!

Was it because they knew his thoughts? The spirits inside him scratched pictures with branches.

They first drew Jaekiel, then made marks around his neck, arms, legs, and abdomen, indicating his body was divided.

Jaekiel tried his best to ignore the words of the Eternal Blood Spirit, who was shouting at him to survive while raising a fist.

“You said the princesses are upset. I think using all five tickets would only backfire, and it’s not the right time for it.”

“I see now. You don’t understand women’s hearts at all.”

Ilaref laughed just enough so as not to upset Jaekiel’s mood. He was a man who seemed lighthearted yet strangely disciplined.

Ilaref pushed up his monocle.

“The princesses are also reaching their prime. So, understanding a woman’s heart is key. May I offer a bit of advice?”

“Fine, go ahead and tell me.”

“It’s really interesting. The perfect Snow Ghost is struggling with women’s issues like this… it’s amusing, and only I know the fun of it.”

Ilaref spoke with a kind smile.

“The princesses are angry. But at the same time, they ordered the use of all five tickets… This means you should use the tickets to create time to share with them and let them gradually release their anger. That’s how a woman’s heart works.”

“…?”

Jaekiel looked completely confused.

“It can’t be helped. A woman may get angry with a man’s actions, but at the same time, she’ll expect the man to somehow calm her down.”

“Hmm…”

“It’s something the Palace greatly wishes for—the princesses to get along with each other. I hope you realize how heavy Jaekiel’s burden is.”

Ilaref’s voice, as he said this, carried more expectation than concern.

He was clearly looking forward to how Jaekiel would distribute and use the five tickets.

“You’ve stolen the hearts of many women, haven’t you? You must face the consequences. And if those women are the princesses, then even more so. For the sake of continental peace.”

“…Continental peace.”

“No, maybe now it’s a matter of the peace in the Demon Realm as well. After all, the Spider Goddess’s life is at stake too.”

“…”

Jaekiel suddenly felt thirsty and drank the tea in front of him in one gulp. It was supposed to be a very fragrant tea, but given the situation, he didn’t taste anything.

“Alright. I’ll give it a try.”

“That’s what I expect. In my humble opinion, if you don’t handle it well, the next person to be executed will be you.”

“…”

“What’s surprising is that it might not be by decapitation. You might be squeezed to death instead. Surprisingly, strangulation happens quite often.”

“…”

Jaekiel held his aching head.

How should he use the five tickets?

Who should he use them on, and how could he get the three princesses to unanimously agree not to execute Akne?

‘This isn’t something I can solve immediately.’

He decided that he would have to pick a day to seriously think it over. He tried to brush off the thoughts.

“Alright. Let’s stop talking about this for now.”

“Shall we? Alright then. I’m looking forward to seeing your solution.”

Ilaref nodded with a peculiar smile.

But soon, his smile disappeared, and a serious expression took over. The matter at hand was too important.

“Now, let’s move on to the issue of the Purple Tower.”

The Purple Tower, the traitors.

Jaekiel’s expression quickly became serious.

“After gathering various testimonies and evidence, we confirmed that the Purple Tower brazenly committed treason in the underground labyrinth of their territory.”

His tone as he spoke became very sharp.

“They were saved from danger, only to betray the Imperial Tower and repay with enmity? They pretended to be calm, but in the end, they were driven by insecurity.”

“Insecurity.”

“With Jaekiel’s rise, the Imperial Tower started to soar, and the Purple Tower must have worried about losing their authority, which is why they did this. It’s clear.”

A red envelope was soon handed to Jaekiel.

“…”

As soon as Jaekiel saw it, he looked at Ilaref. If this red envelope was what he thought it was, it contained something truly significant.

Ilaref quietly nodded.

It was confirmation that Jaekiel was right in his assumptions.

“This is the murder license issued under the Emperor’s authority. You can use it when you deal with the Purple Tower.”

“Are you telling me to handle it myself?”

“That’s correct. The fact that they betrayed the Imperial Tower is already a crime punishable by death, so killing them is a given, but how you go about it is entirely up to you.”

Ilaref finally took a sip of tea.

“Now you can put your grievances to rest, Jaekiel.”

Jaekiel quietly placed the envelope into his pocket.

Indeed, something remarkable had been placed into his hands. It was a blade that could repay all the hardships he had faced.

“Also, the Emperor has instructed me to tell you that he’s expecting your method. He’s certain you’ll come up with a different approach than his.”

Jaekiel quietly repeated the words to himself.

“Is this also a form of evaluation and negotiation?”

“That’s right. You could simply kill and destroy the Purple Tower, but there might also be a way to punish them while simultaneously raising the Imperial family’s authority. And surely, the appropriate Sun Water would follow…”

He even mentioned Sun Water.

This was an impossible task for Jaekiel to refuse. Punish the Purple Tower while simultaneously elevating the Empire’s authority.

However, the time limit was concerning. After all, the conversation with Ilaref had already touched on several things.

“Is there a deadline?”

“Well, you can think of it leisurely.”

Ilaref spoke as if to reassure him not to worry.

“Since I’ve provided the murder license, when and how you take action is entirely up to you. Besides, there are more urgent matters at hand.”

“More urgent matters?”

“It’s about the princesses and the Spider Goddess. I hope you resolve it well and can reunite.”

Jaekiel quietly nodded and stood up.

To save the Spider Goddess, Akne.

To use the five tickets with the princesses.

The best way to punish the Purple Tower.

Three significant tasks, and naturally, his shoulders felt heavy.

“Jaekiel, we’ll meet again later.”

Ilaref waved his hand and smiled.

Afterward, Jaekiel walked through the Palace.

He was on his way to visit the Tribunal.

“Five tickets… I have no idea who to use them on or how. This is driving me crazy.”

Jaekiel thought as he smoked Sun Grass. The crunching sensation felt off today, the depth of his thoughts weighed heavily on him.

“Should I exclude the First Princess for now?”

After all, he had shared an intimate bond with the First Princess.

Perhaps he could soothe her and ask her to hold off just this once; maybe she would agree.

But even just considering the Second and Third Princesses, it was a huge problem. They already didn’t get along.

“Hedera, Solana… should I split it evenly between them?”

…That was dismissed. They’d probably get even more upset about that.

It was then, lost in thought, that he heard a voice.

“What is your business here?”

A solemn voice suddenly reached his ears.

When he looked up, two large men were blocking his path. He had unknowingly reached the entrance of the Tribunal.

“We asked what your business is.”

“Please wait. No, but…”

Jaekiel almost let out a curse but held back.

It was already frustrating enough dealing with so many worries, and the guards’ attitude at the Tribunal didn’t help.

He sighed, steeled himself, and spoke again.

“I request an audience.”

“An audience?”

“There’s a Demon God inside–”

“That’s not possible.”

Jaekiel blinked in surprise. It was rare for someone to interrupt his words so abruptly.

He asked.

“Aren’t you supposed to listen to the whole sentence?”

“Meeting the Demon God is absolutely forbidden. It doesn’t matter who requests it, unless it’s the Emperor or the Princesses.”

“Is that so?”

Jaekiel nodded.

The Tribunal operated independently, and their behavior showed that clearly. If you weren’t the Emperor or the Princesses, they treated you with disdain.

“Alright. Then report that there’s an intruder.”

“What…?”

Crash!

At the same time, the two guards froze in place.

Their lives weren’t in danger, but their movements and speech were completely frozen with an ice-binding technique.

“Well, it’s something for when you’re able to report it.”

Jaekiel said this and passed through the entrance.

It was time to meet Akne first.