Chapter 61

Chapter 61

Looking at the meeting like this, it was clear that Jennifer had communicated with each other before coming to the Empire.

“Have you only heard half of the news?”

At Declan’s words, the nobles put on a puzzled expression.

“The marriage union has been rejected, and they will be leaving sooner or later.”

Most of the nobles showed a bewildered look at those words.

“Your Majesty, I ask you to think more carefully and make a decision.”

Count Noyke, a nobleman, shook his head and said, “As Your Majesty knows, marriage is the best means of stabilizing the empire and strengthening the imperial power.”

“You’re right. It’s a way to put a foreign country under an empire without going to war.”

“Isn’t that enough? Isn’t she a princess with the right to the throne…?”

Starting with Count Noyke’s words, the nobles joined in.

“There is no reason why we, the empires, must listen to the proposal of a mere small kingdom.”

Marquis Berzen spat out with a terrifying face. He was one who moved from faction to faction according to the truth.

“Yes. Your Majesty, who was the party of the marriage, rejected it, so isn’t it over already?”

Count Rossien, who belonged to the imperial faction, quickly agreed and stepped forward, “And, everyone seems to be forgetting the most important question, are we going to give up the position of the Empress of this country to a foreigner?”

Marquis Berzen slapped the table lightly as if displeased just thinking about it. Meanwhile, the others did not dispute whether they agreed with the idea.

‘They still haven’t given up on their greed for the position of the Empress…’

Among them, I stared closely at Marquis Berzen.

He was the one who tried hard to make his daughters the Empress.

“The Kingdom of Tierra wanted the seat of Queen. They said they didn’t even dare to want the Empress’s position.”

Duke Otien then glanced at the Marquis Berzen and responded leisurely.

“We don’t have to worry about the Queen’s position, don’t we?”

“That’s right. The more we see descendants, the stronger the succession will be, so there should be several wives.”

“Isn’t that natural? All the previous Emperors did the same.”

It was absurd to discuss the future of the Imperial Family among themselves over the person himself.

‘…How disgusting.’

When I glanced at Declan, there was already a chill flowing as if he would freeze me if his eyes touched me.

“This is an important matter for the country, but His Majesty’s will is probably the most important. Isn’t it?”

As Duke Buccleuch, who had been listening quietly until this point, stepped forward, everyone stared at him, “Hmm, it’s fair to say that, but aren’t you worried about Your Majesty’s continued decision not to marry?”

“That’s right. How great is this opportunity? It can provide a cause and national interest and lessen the worries of the imperial family.”

The nobleman who uttered the last words secretly peeked at Declan.

‘If you’re that scared, you shouldn’t come forward!’

His pathetic behavior was funny.

“Your Majesty, are you willing to change your decision about the marriage alliance with Tierra?” Asked Duke Buccleuch politely.

“No.”

Despite Declan’s firm answer, the nobles and the neutrals continued to argue.

“Your Majesty, did you threaten the Tierra delegation with your sword and spread murderous energy?”

“Is that true? This could escalate into a diplomatic dispute…!”

At Duke Otien’s words, the nobles belonging to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were astonished and furious.

“Even if you said you didn’t want to get married, you were too harsh.”

Declan’s eyebrows furrowed at the childish tone.

“I think the Duke misunderstood.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I was angry with them because they deceived me.”

“Of course, it is true that there are political calculations in this case, but the Princess seemed sincere.”

Duke Otien, who turned his head from Declan, asked the gathered nobles, “Am I the only one who felt that way…?”

“No. I felt it,m too.”

“Anyone who attended the last banquet wouldn’t know.”

The nobles hurried to affirm.

‘Are they very determined and swaying public opinion?’

Nonetheless, it was apparent that he was trying to attach Jennifer to Declan somehow.

“I have not yet told you what they deceived me with.”

A warning came in not to guess ahead.

“They lied about the right to the throne that the princess had.”

“Is it possible? Isn’t it a known fact that, unlike Ielro, the right of succession is given to both Princes and Princesses?”

Declan grinned at the expression as they tried to find fault with it.

Then, he told the story.

“Huh… They were hiding something like that.”

“This is something you just can’t get over!”

“How dare they try to deceive the Empire. They must be punished.”

The imperial nobles rose up like a swarm of bees and became angry. At the same time, the face of Duke Otien, who had always been smiling softly, was slightly cracked.

‘Did he know about this? Didn’t he know…?’

Even though it must have been that he was in an unpleasant state because it was out of sync with his plans, it was difficult to gauge his inner feelings.

“I’m planning to expel them soon. The King of Tierra will have to pay the price well.”

“You have made a wise decision. You cannot form a marriage alliance with Tierra, who has betrayed your faith.”

When Duke Buccleuch finished it neatly, there was no objection from even the nobles.

“I never thought that something like that would happen. Had it not been for Your Majesty’s wisdom, we would have been in trouble.”

‘Ugh, that pretense.’

Duke Otien quickly changed his attitude.

“Then, shouldn’t Tiera also be held hostage like Ielro?”

“I’m going to ask for something else without having to do that.”

As he cut off even the slightest possibility, Duke Otien’s eyebrows narrowed slightly, “We both have a hostage from Jemina and Ielro. Why is Tierra the only exception?”

Duke Otien was subtly insistent.

‘I don’t usually go this far…’

…Was this the beginning of the original story?

“Ielro is the has a pledge that must be fulfilled there, and I want to cut off all interactions with Tierra.”

At those words, Duke Otien’s lips were swollen.

“We trade with Tierra more than other kingdoms. It doesn’t seem like an easy decision to make.”

Duke Buccleuch politely offered his opinion.

“Your Majesty, please reconsider.”

In this matter, even the imperial nobles pleaded.

“In a month, the Second Prince will come from Tierra on a trade agreement. Why not reserve judgment until then?”

Rolling his head in the meantime, Duke Otien took a step back. This time, the imperial nobles and the neutrals also agreed with him.

After thinking for a moment, Declan nodded his head.

“Then, I will send the envoys who are here now.”

“A good hand may have come in, but we should not just throw it away. We should increase what we can gain from the trade agreement.”

“Your Majesty’s words are true.”

“Your Majesty, a month is not very long.”

One by one, the nobles agreed with Duke Otien’s opinion. Declan then turned his head and asked what he meant.

‘At this point, should he accept their opinion?’

Somehow, at times like this, I prayed that it would be better for him to just be a tyrant.

He reluctantly nodded his head.

‘I have to find a way to weave Jennifer and Duke Otien together and send them away.’

…In a way, Jennifer coming on her own feet could have been an opportunity.

“It is one month. We will return them all as soon as the trade agreement is over.”

* * *

Towards the end of the meeting, there was a brief commotion in the detached palace where the Tierra delegation was staying.

Crash!

As the vases and ornaments on the table spilled over, broken pieces splattered in all directions.

“How dare he make me kneel.”

Jennifer huffed and spat out words as if chewing them. After all, she had never experienced such an insult in her life. She had lived trying to please to get what she wanted, though she never got to her knees.

“To this Jennifer, to me, who is called the Goddess of Tierra…!”

She clenched her fists.

Appearance, ability, status… She had everything, still, she couldn’t be king.

So, she changed her strategy.

She would like to get a man who would give her all the continents as well as Tierra. The moment she heard that the new emperor of the Burgundy Empire had conquered the Jemina Kingdom, she thought it would be this man.

After killing both his father and his brothers, he became Emperor. She felt a sense of vicarious satisfaction there.

When she saw other nations trembling at the Emperor, it felt like she had to stand there. She wanted to see him herself because she was confident in seducing him.

The Emperor she saw for the first time in the Empire, who came to show himself as a cute older brother, was a much more beautiful man than she expected. Looking at him, she was greedy at first glance.

If this was the man who would shine by her side, shouldn’t he be like that…?

But, he had no interest in her… No, he was rather annoyed with her.

‘…While casually spitting out the word that he would kill me.’

It was a shock that turned the world upside down for Jennifer.

‘Why was he looking at me like that? Why didn’t he fall for me?’

From the moment she was born, she was exalted as a noble being, and she was brought up only by the love of her parents and siblings. From her mid-teens and beyond, men blushed just by passing by her. There was no one who did not fall for her smile, and there was no man who did not harbor enthusiasm for her.

“But, why—!”

Her pride was shattered. It was the first defeat in her life.

‘Is he an eunuch? Or, does he like men…?’

On the contrary, she prepared more thoroughly this time because she was motivated. Though as if she was dirty, he threw out her hand and looked down at her with contempt.

“…What’s the matter, where did it go wrong?”

She bit her lip until it bled, so upset that she couldn’t stand it. As she was trembling on the couch, she heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

The handmaid who entered the room was the one she had brought from Tierra. She wasn’t even surprised to see the room that had become a mess.

“Your Highness, I have prepared a meal.”

“Put it down there.”

The handmaid put the food on the table before approaching Jennifer, “The message has arrived. And, only use it to communicate with each other.”

After saying so, the maid handed the inkwell along with a small envelope.