Chapter 33 : Was this a Romance Novel? (5)

Now that Theodore had defected from the Kingdom, Jaiha had two choices: sit idly and await ruin, or forcibly intervene to disrupt the situation.

Jaiha chose the latter, achieving a partial success. By acting quickly, he ensured that Wolfgang never fully heard how Lana’s downfall had unfolded.

The real problem started now. Jaiha exhaled deeply, staring at Wolfgang, who sat across from him. Her golden eyes burned more fiercely than ever.

In the early hours before dawn, the leaders of the Kingdom and the Empire had gathered in one place. The report that someone from the Kingdom had arrived was expected, but no one thought Crown Prince Jaiha himself would show up.

Wolfgang knew from experience that smoking in front of high-ranking individuals was considered rude.

That’s precisely why she pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

Her message was clear: she didn’t appreciate her tent being turned into a conference room without her consent.

The warning worked; Jaiha felt as if he’d walked straight into a lion’s den.

‘Interrupting the flow was a good move, but this approach was far too reckless.’

Arriving unannounced at such a late hour was already a breach of etiquette, especially when dealing with the Empire, with whom relations were far from friendly.

If Wolfgang used this as an excuse to expel them outright, the reckless gamble would yield no results.

Thus, Jaiha had no choice but to lower his head.

Even between two hostile nations, a prince’s humility carried weight.

If a royal offered an apology, even the Empire couldn’t completely dismiss them.

“I deeply apologize for disturbing you at such a late hour,” Jaiha began, bowing his head.

“There is no excuse for our actions. I sincerely beg your forgiveness, Lady Leonhart.”

“But please understand that this is a matter of great national importance.”

Wolfgang took a long drag from her cigarette before exhaling, her posture exuding dominance.

“Fine,” she said. “Let’s hear what you have to say.”

Her tone grew harsher, and the knights accompanying Jaiha flinched at the palpable shift.

Jaiha, however, had expected this and merely nodded.

‘This much was anticipated. At least she didn’t throw us out immediately—that’s a small victory.’

Believing the first hurdle cleared, Jaiha swiftly moved to the next step.

Before Wolfgang could change her mind, he got straight to the point.

“I’ve come to apprehend Theodore von Frost, who deserted the Kingdom’s forces in violation of military law.”

“And why do you believe he’s here?” Wolfgang asked, her tone sharp.

“Because Theodore von Frost himself stated that he was heading here.”

“That’s correct. He is here.”

“If you turn him over to us, we’re prepared to offer significant compensation. Furthermore, we won’t forget to make amends for the breach of etiquette we’ve committed tonight.”

Jaiha maintained a deferential tone, offering compensation and apologies to show sincerity.

As a commander of the Eastern Defense Forces, Wolfgang was fully aware of how serious the crime of desertion was, especially for a high-ranking noble like Theodore.

By revealing the Kingdom’s desperate situation, Jaiha aimed to elicit sympathy while subtly highlighting their urgency.

It was a tactful move befitting royalty, but unfortunately for him, the opponent was Wolfgang.

Had Wolfgang been her usual self—focused only on her personal well-being and disengaged from unnecessary conflicts—his strategy might have worked.

But Wolfgang was not ordinary.

She was a monster.

A being whose power made even wild beasts seem insignificant.

Logic and diplomacy did not apply to monsters.

“And why should I?” Wolfgang asked bluntly.

“…Pardon?” Jaiha stammered, caught off guard.

“The mistake is yours, isn’t it?”

If the matter was resolved, they should have returned to their respective camps without unnecessary posturing. Instead, they had engaged in pointless power games, ignoring the threat of monsters at their doorstep.

Wolfgang, already annoyed by their arrival, had just heard disturbing stories about Theodore’s past.

Though she hadn’t gotten all the details due to Jaiha’s untimely interruption, she knew enough to feel her anger simmering.

Now, the Crown Prince and his entourage were barging into her territory, adding fuel to the fire.

From start to finish, everything about them rubbed her the wrong way.

Jaiha’s actions were akin to setting a house drenched in oil ablaze.

The anger Wolfgang had been suppressing for so long finally erupted.

She crushed the cigarette in her hand, the sound of its destruction echoing in the tense air.

Her golden eyes gleamed with a deadly intensity.

“There will be no negotiation,” she declared coldly.

“I will neither cooperate with you nor hand over Theodore.”

Jaiha’s breath caught in his throat.

‘So this is the true nature of the monster disguised as a human.’

The weight of her words bore down on him, suffocating him. Even breathing felt laborious.

“This… this is outrageous!” one of Jaiha’s knights finally burst out.

“No matter how esteemed you are, Lady Leonhart, you cannot treat Crown Prince Jaiha with such disrespect—”

Thwack!

A sharp, deafening sound rang out.

Before anyone realized it, the knight who had spoken lay crumpled on the ground.

Standing over him was a figure exuding raw menace—Galina.

The fourth-ranked member of the Vendetta Legion and Wolfgang’s adjutant.

The Kingdom of Mines prided itself on its knights, and those accompanying Jaiha were elite warriors.

Even Jaiha himself was an accomplished fighter.

Yet not a single one of them had perceived Galina’s movements.

She hadn’t even been Wolfgang herself, merely her subordinate.

The implications were clear to everyone present.

Galina growled, her voice low and threatening.

“Who gave you permission to raise your voice here?”

“…Is this truly the Empire’s stance?” Jaiha asked, his voice trembling.

“Prince Jaiha, you have two options,” Galina hissed.

“Leave quietly.”

“Or die here by my hand.”

Diplomacy, as they say, is a push-and-pull game. Push too hard, and the rope slips from your grasp. Pull too hard, and it snaps.

But for diplomacy to work, power is essential.

Jaiha lacked the power to sway Wolfgang.

No offer could pique her interest; no appeal could temper her rage.

All he had accomplished was to provoke her further.

Facing overwhelming power, Jaiha had no choice but to retreat.

He could feel it in her presence—Wolfgang could kill them all and still walk away unscathed.

“…Understood,” Jaiha muttered finally, his voice strained.

Galina snorted, stepping aside to let them leave.

As Jaiha’s entourage exited, he felt a strange sensation in his head—a faint cracking, as though something in his mind had fractured.

“Prince Jaiha, is something wrong?” one of his knights asked.

“No, it’s nothing,” Jaiha replied, raising a hand to his temple.

It was nothing serious. Or so he told himself.

But the crack had taken root, growing steadily within him.

Slowly but surely.