Chapter 60

Chapter 60

“Even those who are of foreign blood are not recognized with the right to succession.”

Tierra was a country where blood was very important.

So, not only the royal family but also the high-ranking nobles never married foreigners. In the original story, Jennifer was trying to trample on Tierra with Declan’s power because she could not have taken the throne in a legitimate way.

“How do you know that?”

“These days, I’m digging through all kinds of books and materials.”

As I turned around, Declan accepted my words without any doubt.

“Now, all sorts of things seem to be playing with me.”

Squeezed by his energy, Jennifer bowed down to the floor.

“Do you not know that the right to succession to the throne that you have been talking about cannot be done on a piece of paper?”

The envoy’s face turned white as if he didn’t know about it. Only Duke Hawke kept his composure, with his eyes widening a little.

“What do you mean by that?”

I clicked my tongue at his arrogance.

“Those who inherit the blood of the royal family are given the same right of succession to the throne.”

“It seems that your life is not worth it.”

Suddenly from his seat, Declan drew his sword and made his descent. At that, I was terrified and followed him.

“Please, be patient! Don’t give the King of Tierra a chance!”

I didn’t tell him not to cause an accident like this. I regretted it, thinking that I should not say anything.

Jennifer, who barely raised her head, saw him and the sword. Immediately, her eyes trembled slightly. Declan strode in front of them, staring coldly at Duke Hawke.

“Your Majesty, please. I said I didn’t want people to die.”

Declan winked his eyes as I rolled my feet to and fro, not knowing what to do. Why was he winking after making the situation a horror…?

‘…Is he doing this on purpose?’

When I thought back to what I’d been through. Despite the dire situation, I had a strange belief that everything would be okay.

Declan stiffened his body as he rested his sword against Duke Hawk’s neck.

“Even if Tierra goes out now, it can be conquered within a month.”

The Duke could neither affirm nor deny, and only blew a cold sweat as he squinted at the sword pointed at him.

“Even if I cut all of you in this place, your king won’t even be able to say a word.”

In an instant, the air of the audience room, engulfed in silence, was pulled tight. Slowly removed the sword from the Duke, Declan’s arm swung upward.

“Your Majesty! Please, forgive me.”

At that moment, Jennifer’s trembling voice cut through the air.

With trembling hands, she grabbed the hem of Declan’s trousers and clung to it. At that moment, the swords of the Guard Knights were pointed at her. Declan immediately shook her hand as if he had touched something dirty.

“Please, forgive me. Everything Your Majesty has said is true.”

Jennifer barely spoke in a trembling voice.

“My father dared to deceive Your Majesty, and I will bear the sin.”

Unable to understand what she was thinking, I stared at her.

“Leave me as a hostage. Then, my father won’t be able to do anything stupid.”

“Even in this kind of situation, it was amazing you’re still trying to get married?”

Uttering so, deep contempt flashed through Declan’s rust.

“Absolutely not. How dare I wish for it in a situation like this. I just want to ask for Your Majesty’s forgiveness.”

Barely raising herself with trembling arms, she knelt before Declan. The way she bit her lip was quite determined.

“My father loves me so much, and he will be able to get you what you want with me as a hostage.”

“A child who uses her father’s love to sell her country…”

“No! I’m trying to save my homeland from Your Majesty’s blade. That’s my duty as a princess.”

Despite the sarcastic remarks, Jennifer still had something to say back. It was true that Jennifer grew up in a completely different environment from Stella.

‘…Because she was quite clever.’

However, the King did not love her enough to sacrifice the kingdom for her. He had two capable princes, and they were as greedy and ambitious as Jennifer. So, what she said now may have been something else.

‘Then, I’ll have to dig it out.’

I stared coldly at the back of Jennifer’s head.

“If I need Tierra, I can just take it.”

It was arrogant to say, but in reality, if he only made up his mind, Declan could have conquered Tierra enough.

As Jennifer knew that, too, a look of disappointment appeared on her face.

“The generosity I can give you is to banish you alive.”

At the end of those words, an order was issued to lock up the Tierra delegation in a room and monitor it. It was only when I saw that all the delegations were being dragged that the tension that had been on my shoulders was released.

“I did what you wanted. Are you feeling any better?”

Where did the wild beast that spat out its ferocious murderous energy go…? Now, there was a large dog standing there waiting for praise with a triumphant expression.

‘Why is he doing this all of a sudden? He didn’t even threaten them to pay the price.’

Although I blinked quietly, the smiling Declan did not disappear.

“Uh… Thank you, Your Majesty.”

When I spoke with an awkward smile, it seemed that the corners of his mouth were drooping for some reason.

Should I said it looks dull…?

I thought that I had become a master of reading Declan’s facial expressions, though this was the first time I’d ever seen an expression like this.

I was thinking about what to do, and eventually, I slowly lifted up my toes.

“Um, you did well?”

I gently stroked Declan’s head.

…Was this correct?

‘If I put my hand on the Emperor’s head, he won’t be alarmed, right?’

I was suddenly nervous as I remembered the last time he had shaken Jennifer’s hand like it was dirty. Nonetheless, his eyes widened a little. Soon, the corners of his lips rose slowly.

‘Really, is this what he wanted?’

The sight of Declan, who was quietly closing his eyes, was startling.I was anxious about why he was suddenly like this, but I thought it was cute, so I burst out laughing.

“Let’s go sunbathing.”

“What else is sunbathing?”

Declan asked with a chuckle.

“It’s just sitting quietly and basking in the sun. It was said to make you feel good because you will have good energy in your body.”

“Where else does that come from?”

“I said I read a lot of books these days.”

“It seems like a field that has nothing to do with the Holy Relic.”

Hey, why was he trying to argue with the facts?

“If I say so, then it will be so.”

“You will be the only one who says such disrespectful things to the Emperor.”

I gazed at him with a puzzled expression.

“It’s okay because Your Majesty will treat me with the same generosity.”

I smiled and lifted my chin. Seeing that, he lightly touched my nose and laughed, saying he couldn’t stop me.

“I want you to know that you are the only one who looks at me like this.”

“It is a family honor.”

He bowed his back, waving his hands exaggeratedly, and finally, Declan laughed out loud. I was pleased to hear that refreshing laugh and laughed along with it.

***

We went out to the fountain in the middle of the garden and sunbathed to our heart’s content. The sunlight was dazzling, and as I sat quietly with my eyes closed, the sound of water gushing out of the fountain was peaceful.

“Ha, so nice.”

“Ordinary women don’t like sunlight, don’t they?”

“Is that so?”

After all, they prefer pale white skin here.

“Your Majesty doesn’t like it either?”

Opening his eyes slightly, he shrugged.

“When I become a human later, I want to bask in the sun like this sometimes.”

“I’ll come out often.”

He pondered for a moment, then nodded seriously. I quietly admired his figure as I painted him against the backdrop of the water drops fluttering from the fountain.

“Your Majesty, the nobles have requested an emergency meeting.”

The brief peace ended as Noah ran. Declan’s eyes, which had been loosely relaxed, suddenly became sharp.

“What is the agenda?”

“It is said to be about the marriage alliance of the Kingdom of Tierra. What should I do?”

Noah stomped his feet and didn’t know what to do.

‘In the meantime, the news has already reached out…?’

I guessed who was the instigator who convened the conference.

“What about the chancellor?”

“He is looking into the situation now.”

“Those who dream in vain abound here, too.”

Declan stood up from his seat, raising the corners of his lips sullenly, “Tell the chancellor to approve the meeting. Let’s get ready as well.”

In the end, I nodded and followed him.

***

“I heard that Tierra proposed a marriage alliance, is that true?”

“It seems so. His Majesty was very angry…:”

“How dare Tiera aim for the position of Empress. Is that a logical thing to say?”

“You’re right. The Empress, of course, must be from the Empire. How could a foreigner be the noblest woman of the empire?”

As we approached the conference room, the voices of the agitated novels were heard through the cracks in the door.

“…Today’s meeting must be quite noisy.”

“You don’t have to worry about the dogs barking.”

Declan’s face was stiff, though he replied harshly.

“His Majesty enters.”

As the servant shouted, a bustling sound was heard. Eventually, the door opened, and the nobles were seated solemnly as if they never bustled around.

“Well, what is the reason for such an emergency meeting?”

Declan pretended not to know even though he had heard of the agenda.

“Your Majesty, I heard that the Kingdom of Tierra offered a marriage alliance.”

It was Duke Otien asked softly first.

“The news is quick. I’ll have to clean the Imperial Palace soon.”

“The alliance is a crucial matter for the country, isn’t it? Of course, we should know,” At the sarcastic remarks, Duke Otien calmly responded.

“So, what do you want to say?”

“Your Majesty’s marriage issue is of national importance, so we want to discuss it together.”

Just by looking at it, I could tell that the person in charge of this meeting was Duke Otien.

‘As expected…’

In the original story, Jennifer and Duke Otien worked hand in hand to target Declan. At that time, he reached out first to Jennifer, who had been sacrificed as a hostage.

‘Who was the first to reach out this time?’

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