Chapter 357

The princess was trying to evade my serious question with vague and rambling answers.

I couldn’t help but be dumbfounded.

She had created such a serious atmosphere with the dagger and now she was acting like this?

It even made me doubt her previous sincerity.

“Might change my mind later?”

I couldn’t back down.

I had to get a definite answer from her.

So,

*Thud*

I grabbed the dagger for the first time.

“Do you think I’ll be satisfied with such a vague answer and back down?”

“Y-Yes?”

She looked surprised and flustered.

…It was good that it was working, but something felt off.

She was acting so unlike herself.

Was she acting?

No, that couldn’t be it.

Why would she start acting now?

I couldn’t let my guard down, but this wasn’t an act.

She was genuinely flustered by my question.

I finally understood her psychology.

‘So being assertive was the right approach.’

The princess I knew from the past would never even consider sharing power with anyone.

She had always been the one to seize absolute power and rule with an iron fist.

But this time was different.

Because I had changed the situation.

Now that I, her most trusted subject, had built up such a powerful force, it was impossible for her to seize absolute power like she had done in the past.

Unless she got rid of me and my faction.

Of course, I had no intention of letting that happen.

Anyway,

It seemed like she was struggling with an internal conflict.

Her flustered reaction was proof of that.

She wanted to get rid of me, but it wasn’t easy. And she couldn’t bring herself to compromise.

That’s why she was being so evasive.

“B-But I’m the princess, and I’m about to become the emperor…”

So what?

That’s why we’re having this conversation.

“…It’s not the right time to make a decision, for the sake of the empire…”

Wow, she sounded like a saint who only cared about the empire.

“This question is for the sake of the empire.”

“I-Is there someone else who’s more suitable to be the emperor?”

What was she talking about?

“Of course not. You’re the only one who’s fit to be the emperor. That’s why you have to make a decision.”

Whether she wanted to join forces with me or not.

“I-I’m saying it’s not the right time!”

She raised her voice in frustration.

What was she so frustrated about?

I was the one who was frustrated.

“B-But it’s not a definite no. D-Don’t misunderstand me. Who knows what might happen in the future?”

“…”

She was still being vague.

It seemed like this was her true intention.

She couldn’t bring herself to give up, but she couldn’t bring herself to get rid of me either.

It was a perfect representation of her conflict.

But it was unexpected.

I had thought that the monstrous princess was never indecisive.

So even monsters were human after all.

“I understand.”

I stood up.

“It seems like it’s pointless to continue this truth game. Do you agree, Your Highness?”

“…”

She was speechless.

Even she must have realized how pathetic she had been.

“Then,”

I bowed and turned to leave.

But then,

“B-But I was telling the truth.”

She sounded aggrieved.

Well, she couldn’t complain after giving such a vague answer.

But…

Why was she looking at me with those puppy-dog eyes?

She must have been acting.

She had to be.

But she had been sincere for a while, so I was confused.

Ugh, what was going on?

My heart wavered.

I shouldn’t have, but I did.

That was the scary thing about the princess.

“Alright. It wasn’t a clear answer, but I’ll believe that you weren’t lying.”

I sighed and nodded.

It was a vague answer, but it wasn’t a lie, so it wasn’t a wrong decision.

“T-Then,”

“What is it now?”

“Please answer one… just one question from me.”

She pleaded with me.

This was troublesome.

If she kept showing me her vulnerable side, I might let my guard down.

Was she doing this on purpose?

No, even thinking about it was dangerous.

I decided to be cold and logical.

‘I’ve asked three questions, and she’s asked two. It’s not unreasonable for her to ask one more question. It would be a clean ending if we balanced it out.’

I made a decision.

Even though I might get a difficult question, it was better than leaving things unresolved.

“Alright. I’ll answer your question.”

I sat back down.

Her face brightened noticeably.

“Thank you, Senior.”

“No, it’s nothing. Ask your question.”

“Yes, Senior.”

She nodded, her face slightly flushed.

“You… You said earlier that you hoped I would live a happy life.”

“Yes, I did.”

I confirmed it.

I didn’t want to see her shed blood, even though we had a long and bitter history.

It meant that I wanted her to accept my proposal and live a peaceful life.

It would be good for both of us.

Of course, there was also a hint of sympathy in my words.

It was an emotion that had been triggered by the situation.

But why was she bringing it up now?

“I want to know what you mean by ‘a happy life’.”

Her question.

It wasn’t the difficult question I had expected, but it was still a difficult question to answer.

Because happiness was a subjective concept.

And the princess’s definition of happiness would be completely different from that of a normal person.

But she was asking about my definition of happiness.

All I had to do was answer truthfully.

Then,

“If you become a wise ruler,”

“Huh?”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s not too late. The world only knows your good side. So please become a wise ruler. If you do, both of us will be happy.”

I would be happy too, of course.

There would be no more bloodshed, and the empire’s problems would be solved.

I poured my heart out.

Please, become a wise ruler, even if it’s just for a short time, so that both of us can be happy.

“…”

She blinked blankly at my words.

She seemed dumbfounded.

Well, it was understandable.

The word “wise ruler” must have been meaningless to her.

But I had been sincere.

It was up to her to decide what to do with my words.

The fate of our relationship depended on her choice.

“I believe I’ve given you a sufficient answer.”

I stood up.

“Then I’ll wish you a happy life once again.”

I turned and walked towards the door.

This time, she didn’t stop me.

* * *

Regina looked surprised when she saw my expression.

“Something definitely happened.”

“Why do you think so?”

“You’re covered in sweat.”

She reached out and wiped the sweat from my neck.

I realized that my entire body was drenched in sweat.

‘Ah, I see.’

I chuckled.

I had been tense.

It might have seemed like I had been in control of the situation, but it had been a nerve-wracking experience for me.

Because of who she was.

It had taken a lot out of me mentally.

But,

It had been worth it.

I had conveyed my message.

The princess had heard me, so she knew what I wanted.

The ball was in her court now.

I would make my decision based on her response.

“Something did happen.”

“Did something go wrong?”

“Not yet. Let’s wait and see. But we’ll be prepared.”

I grinned and pulled her hand.

We left the Imperial Palace.

* * *

*Gulp, gulp*

The princess, who was alone in her chambers, gulped down the rest of the wine.

*Thud*

She slammed the glass down on the table, her face flushed, as if she were drunk.

“Sigh, to confess his feelings so suddenly… Senior is so unpredictable.”

She had sensed something was off when he had started talking about feeling sorry for her and hoping she would live a happy life.

But she hadn’t expected him to confess his feelings out of the blue.

She had been so surprised that she had been completely flustered.

“To ask me if I’m willing to join forces with him… Senior, you really…”

She fidgeted with her fingers, her face a mixture of joy and embarrassment.

If Max had seen her, he would have said, “…Who are you?”

He would never have imagined,

That his instinctive act of saving her and his emotional words before losing consciousness would have such an effect on her.

The monstrous princess, who had been a heartless demon since birth.

He had ignited a spark in the depths of her heart, a spark of love.

It was almost a miracle.

Hiresia, Regina, and Riviera, the “legendary heroines” with a “transcendental” difficulty level in the relationship system.

The monstrous princess was an “incomprehensible heroine” with an “impossible” difficulty level, a level that transcended even “transcendental.”

Her clear conditions were even hidden.

Max’s actions, the situation, his relationships, the plot, and countless other variables had aligned perfectly, creating a miracle.

“This is troublesome. Very troublesome. You know the situation…”

And the words Max had spoken had fanned the flames of that miracle.

He had said those words thinking that she would understand.

But she had misunderstood them completely.

A series of coincidences had created a strange situation.

“Sigh, seriously.”

The princess was deep in thought.

The meeting, which had been intended to help her make a decision, had only made her more confused.

But she had confirmed one thing.

That her feelings were real.

This couldn’t be a delusion.

She definitely…

“Li…”

She couldn’t bring herself to say the word out loud, even though she was alone.

So this was love.

This was the feeling that everyone else felt.

“Ah, ah.”

She tilted her head back and looked at the ceiling.

Max’s words echoed in her mind.

Live a happy life.

Become a wise ruler.

We can both be happy if you become a wise ruler.

“A wise ruler…”

It was a path she had never considered.

She had never been interested in such a boring and meaningless path.

But…

Max’s words had moved her.

Her heart was stirred.

It was a strange feeling.

She raised her hand and covered her eyes.

“…It must have been an insufficient answer, right?”

Her answer to his last question.

He had looked disappointed.

Then,

“I should give him a better answer soon.”

Her voice was firm.

She had made a decision.