Chapter 3

Why did he keep her alive? Gilbert was genuinely confused by the man before him.

Duncan Graham was rather a talkative man. But his son, Alexandro, was not only reticent, but Gilbert also felt sick at the suddenness of his words.

Most of all, he was wary of his looks–placid face devoid of any expression, and fierce eyes that seemed to belittle him since the moment it laid on him.

Why is he so different from his serpent father?Gilbert was trying to figure out how to survive in a kingdom that will soon fall. In his pursuit, he found Duncan Graham, the first ruler of the Empire. Wealthy, powerful and cunning, Duncan was very capable of raising a rebellion against El Pasa and dedicating his success to the Empire.

Faced with Alexandro’s hawk eyes, Gilbert couldn’t help but recall a brief encounter with this man’s father. He had boldly gone to the Imperial Palace in the capital of the Empire to pay respect to Duncan personally. On his way, he used the position of a Chancellor to avoid everyone’s eyes but finding the Imperial Palace of the Empire proved to be not an easy task.

By the time he succeeded in locating the palace and coaxing the guards to allow him in, he was greeted by Duncan sitting on the throne in place of the Puppet Emperor.

Although Duncan was not the Emperor, he looked and acted as though he was. As Duncan was cothed in nothing but luxury, Gilbert, who appeared in colorful clothing, seemed ridiculous to be in the same room as him. An unfavorable position, indeed.

The man’s colossal physique, sharp eyes, and relaxed smile kept Gilbert from even looking up.

They exchanged words. While sweating and trying to have a little private conversation with Duncan, he made a stupid mistake.

“Haha, I heard that the South is as beautiful as Graham’s territory. You should visit it sometime.” As Gilbert managed to speak, Duncan replied with a lax smile. But Gilbert didn’t miss the mischievous light in his eyes upon the mention of El Pasa.

Who in the Empire would dare to stop Duncan Graham? He was a master of negotiation, manipulation and most of all, deception. On the other hand, his son, Alexandro, was like a person who lived independently from the world.

Is the rumor true? Rumor has it that Alexandro drinks human blood and bathes with it every day. Well, he looked like a devil. I don’t see any expression on his face.

Yet, with Alexandro hailed as the Empire’s hero, this scandal silenced.

“She isn’t the daughter of the Empress. Besides, to serve the Empire, I rather have control over the refugees in El Pasa.” Gilbert added quickly, looking at Alexandro’s eyes.

“But, Your Excellency, as a precautionary measure, wouldn’t you rather annihilate all members of the El Pasa royals? You know, uh, get rid of any trace of the lineage that will threaten your father’s hold on the territory they once ruled.”

Listening to Gilbert’s remarks, Alexandro fett nothing but absolute disgust. It was his wife they were talking about, yet not once did he show concern. In fact, it was he who suggested that Beatrice must be killed! Thinking any further conversation with him would be meaningless, he rose from his seat without any particular answer.

There are disgusting people everywhere. Gilbert was the kind of man Alexandro hated most.

He reminded him of his mother, who had hated him his whole life and didn’t hesitate to hurt him to have what she desired–power.

Then, if you do not want her, the Empire will keep your wife as a war slave.”

He felt thirsty; his throat must be moistened with wine right away. Turning a blind eye to Gilbert’s calls and the unmistakable frantic steps that followed him, he left through the door.

* * *

“The princess will be treated as a war slave.”

After he finished speaking, Alexandro brought a glass of red wine to his lips. El Pasa is wholly ruined, and tomorrow, he would return to the Empire with his men. He wanted to finish all this work quickly and rest.

“Huh? Gilbert will get his wife back. Won’t he?” Evan was astonished at the Lord’s sudden announcement that he would take the princess, whose life he spared, as a war slave. Beatrice was the wife of the traitor Gilbert. Hence, she held a special position. She would be more useful as a slave as any ordinary woman from a defeated country becomes, rather than a cold corpse.

Evan was quick to think that this decision was wrong.

“She would be useless as a slave either. Your excellency, wouldn’t it be better to kill her before she becomes a seed of treason?”

“Keep her alive. Her child will not be recognized as royalty anyway.”

There was nothing he could do but nod. Evan could not understand why Alexandro wanted her to live. Although she did not have platinum blonde and blue eyes, which were symbols of the El Pasa royal family, she was still a princess who was named as the heir apparent. What if she decides to retaliate someday?

Despite his disagreement, Evan kept these thoughts to himself. His boss, Alexandro, was a reliable man and was never wrong with his decisions.

Maybe it’s just compassion.

A princess who was stabbed in the back by her husband. From his musings, Evan seemed to know what caused Alexandro to spare Beatrice alive. He was well aware of the captain’s abhorrence to people like Gilbert.

Unlike his father, Alexandro loathed people struggling to seize utmost power over the serpentine imperial palace.

It is because of this reason that he didn’t get along with his father,

Duncan. Nonetheless, Alexandro was the heir of the Graham family and would have the title of an Archduke soon. As preparation, he had been on the battlefield since he was young.

War was one of his easiest and biggest escapes from the capital.

Therefore, the rumors grew scarier, with his unusual physique and fierce expression all the time—the man who lived only on the battlefield.