Chapter 7

My heart thumped furiously, aligning with my quick breaths.

‘How should the female protagonist act at times like these?’

Usually, they would go to the male protagonists using their buffs* and say things like, ‘I’ll help you solve your problems!’

*T/N: Buffs here refers to giving support, similar to how the same term is used in MMORPG games.

The female protagonists would then use their knowledge of the original story’s future as a stepping stone to gain the male protagonist’s trust and make rapid advancement to a contract marriage.

But as for me…

“… What?”

No, this was not right.

Just looking at the Emperor’s relaxed yet vicious expression made even delusions of a contract marriage disappear.

It would be better to just die instead.

Moreover, I was not a ‘poor but smart female protagonist,’ but rather, a ‘widow with three daughters who don’t even know her husband’s face.’

“Your Majesty, I…”

What did they want from me?

Their eyes gleamed dangerously as they closed in as if waiting for me to give some important prophecy.

‘Why are they acting like this?’

Even the Fourth Prince Tenon was staring at my hair the entire time.

I subconsciously glanced at his hand that approached and almost touched my hair.

“Ehem.”

When the Emperor also looked over, Tenon quickly withdrew his arm and let out an awkward cough.

Rashid shifted his fierce eyes from Tenon to me.

I could feel the tension in the surrounding air as his patience thinned.

‘I’m going crazy.’

I knew that he would draw his sword if I did not give him an answer soon.

As time passed, the savage king’s aura suppressed us further as he became more aloof.

“May I remind you what you said that day: ‘There are things that shouldn’t be seen by others in this vast world.’”

“Someone might be after Your Majesty!”

“…”

“That’s what I wanted to tell you.”

The three brothers did not change their stance, but their eyes had widened.

The Emperor’s expression, in particular, was cold as he laid on his back like a satiated beast.

“And how do you know?”

“Pardon?”

Why bother asking?

Reflect on your actions and behavior, you tyrant.

After being on the battlefield for so long, did you expect to not have any vengeful enemies?

Although it was a different claim from other female protagonists’ “I know your future!”, It was not entirely false.

As a result, from now on, they will probably pressure me to provide evidence of the problem.

“…”

What else can I say?

Now that I had mentioned the Emperor’s life, the three bloodsucking brothers would never let me go…

“True!”

“…”

Huh?

My eyes narrowed at Tenon’s sudden exclamation.

What?

Though I was grateful that there weren’t any other questions, it devastated me to see how they were taking it so seriously.

“Duchess.” The top predator clung onto my consciousness that was trying to escape.

However.

“Your Majesty, that was all I wanted to tell you.”

If they were dangerous predators, then I would be a herbivore with maxed out survival skills.

I’ve already survived in similar situations twice before, so I can’t not die here.

Yeah, let’s go all the way.

With my eyes lowered, my face turned sorrowful.

“Honestly, there are things that I can understand just by observing this vast world, without anyone telling me. So to answer your question, I know it through the energy felt from the rain, wind, and ripples on the lake.”

“…”

As ambiguous as possible.

My lips are no longer mine.

If I could extend my life by 10 seconds for every answer, I would say anything for our princess and me to stay together for a hundred years.

I need to be more serious in front of the three serious men if I want to survive.

“Of course, my words may sound ridiculous to you, but looking at the lake’s energy flow, I felt…”

“Stop.”

The Emperor raised a hand and interrupted me mid-sentence.

That pair of mysterious and indifferent crimson eyes scrutinized me– from head to toe and back up.

They were akin to rubies that were so clear that I could even see my reflection in them.