Chapter 81

Chapter 81

Andra looked around, and Jonathan asked in a puzzled tone.

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s… nothing.”

Does Jonathan not feel it? Andra decided to keep it for herself for now. She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. The feeling of someone’s gaze suddenly disappeared.

“Anyway, Your Highness…”

As soon as Andra continued her words, Jonathan raised his index finger and placed it to his lips. Andra stayed quiet and looked at him.

“I was just asking Mother to make a choice. Three years is a long time to repeat things. I think I’ve done enough for this. Doesn’t it seem so? Let me get out of this blind spot too.”

“…Your Highness was never in a blind spot. Why are you saying that? If my father hears that, he will be angry with you.”

The mention of the former Marquis Avellin made Jonathan shake his head tiredly. Please don’t tell Sir Albert. I’m still afraid of him. Seeing Jonathan talking exaggeratedly, Andra sighed lightly.

“Prince.”

“Yes, at first I thought I wanted to be next in line. Naturally, I expected my sister to succeed Mother, but I was given a chance as well.”

“And that fact has not changed. The successor position is vacant. That’s what’s important above all. It’s been going on for the last three years, yet Her Majesty has not appointed a successor. So there is no need to jump to that conclusion already…”

“Well. Even if no conclusion has been reached. Maybe the problem is with me.”

Jonathan opened his mouth with a slightly somber face.

“It is very natural for Sister to become the next monarch, but it is so awkward for me to become the emperor. Do you really think I can become the emperor?”

It wasn’t long before he realized that it was a battle for the throne only in words, and that he was just a chess piece moving on the board laid out by Her Majesty the Emperor. Until then, Jonathan thought he would be able to surpass Viola if he did his best. In recognition of that, his mother might pass on the throne to him as the heir.

But it wasn’t like that.

All of this was being done as the emperor wanted under the emperor’s watch. The fine details may be decided by him or the princess, but the larger picture was being controlled tightly by the emperor and would not be released from her hold. His mother created all this and would decide his future from start to finish.

“Mother is still as uncertain today as she was three years ago. Anna, according to what you said, I might really be the emperor. But the problem is that I’m not sure about it either. How dare I take the throne?”

As if to represent Jonathan’s complex feelings, his voice was hoarse. Then Andra quietly replied.

“Father often said this, that if you don’t change, then it won’t change. And if you want to change, it will change.”

Jonathan laughed softly at that. It was also what the emperor said to himself when he asked why she was keeping the battle for the throne in vain while she had his sister as the successor.

“Jonathan, you are right. From a long time ago, I have marked Viola as my successor. But I can’t be sure of that child.”

“Didn’t you drag me along for the past three years for that assurance? Please make up your mind, Mother. I want to end this pointless fight.”

“Then that is also what you should do. Convince me. Your sister already has. You, too, should move to stop that useless fight. If you don’t change, it won’t change, and if you want to change, it will change.”

‘Right. If you don’t change it won’t change….’

Along the way, Jonathan wrote a letter to Albert, who was the Marquis of Avellin. Jonathan decided to fight and create a situation in which both his sister and his mother had no choice but to make a choice. Even himself.

That was the loophole in which he stabbed Viola this time. Even Viola wouldn’t have expected that he would throw a boomerang himself.

“Don’t worry, Anna. I am about to reach the end this time.”

Jonathan raised his lips in a smile and answered her who was looking at him with concern. To this, Andra answered relaxedly.

“I want Your Highness to walk the path you want. Her Highness the Princess is already doing that. There’s nothing I can’t tell you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

The two returned to the place where the carriage was. As they were about to end the short walk.

“Anna.”

Jonathan, who had not yet released Andra’s hand, called her by her nickname in a sweet voice. Andra looked up at him with a puzzled face.

“I want to ask if your answer to the question I asked before is still the same.”

Andra quietly lowered her gaze.

“I’m still thinking.”

“I see.”

Then Jonathan released Andra’s hand. Instead, he pulled Andra and left a small kiss on her forehead. It was Jonathan’s farewell.

“I’ll be here for you any time, waiting. You know that, right?”

To the touch of the soft lips touching and falling apart was clearly felt. Andra unknowingly drew her head down. It was a kiss that she would normally brush off casually, but today, she just felt bitter.

“…Yes.”

Andra, who moved only after Jonathan’s carriage disappeared into a dot, almost bumped into someone standing behind her. Andra, who was about to stumble and fall, was supported by the familiar hands that pulled her into an embrace.

Dustin, who she had been looking for, was now in front of her.

“You…!”

Andra almost raised her voice in rage as soon as she saw him, but she managed to hold it in, thinking about the people around them who might hear her.

She took a deep breath and pushed Dustin away, who was holding her. She couldn’t be hugged by him outside, where she never knew when others would see her. But Dustin stood still.

“Dustin Airak, stop it.”

Andra twisted her body against Dustin, who had already grabbed her left hand. I told you to stop. What if other people see… Suddenly, Dustin opened his mouth.

“Ring.”

“What?”

“I’ve never seen this before.”

Dustin grabbed Andra’s left wrist tightly and dragged her to his side, then he asked with a heavy, subdued voice. His gaze was fixed on a ring with the blue gem on Andra’s ring finger. So Andra’s gaze turned to the ring on her finger.

“What does that have to do with you?”

“Did the Prince give it to you?”

“How do you… Were you watching me?”

I didn’t even see you around… No. That’s not the point now. Andra waved her wrist, which was caught by Dustin. Forget it, let go. Other people can see us here. Andra urged Dustin as she glanced for anyone passing by.

But Dustin never thought of letting her go. It was when Andra was trying to fight him once more because she couldn’t stand it.

“Dustin Airak, what are you doing, ah, mmph!”

Dustin bowed his head and swallowed Andra’s lips. As she tried to resist, the gap between her lips opened even more, and he stirred it with his tongue. Andra had no idea that Dustin would kiss her in this exposed space, so she was accepting whatever he was pushing at her.

Andra, who was suddenly aware, bit Dustin’s tongue as hard as he could, but Dustin didn’t care.

“Ah, hu, mmh, mmph!”

Andra felt so lightheaded from her breathlessness. Dustin then slowed the stirring in her mouth little by little. Andra took the time to bite Dustin’s tongue and lips harder than ever before. His lips ripped open, and she felt the taste of blood. At the same time, Dustin finally stepped back from her just as his lips were pushed away as well.

Dustin spat the blood from his mouth. Blood gushed from his lips, which had been torn by Andra. He wiped the blood with the back of his hand as if nothing had happened. It didn’t hurt. It was because all his nerves were focused on Andra.

Andra breathed heavily and looked at Dustin with an astonished gaze.

“Hey, are you crazy? Why are you doing this all of a sudden, if you’re not crazy?”

“I know it’s crazy. Should I show you something that’s even more crazy?”

Dustin hurriedly approached Andra again. He grabbed Andra before she could escape. He cruelly grabbed Andra’s left arm and pulled her over to him. Then he pulled the ring out of her ring finger like tearing it off.

The ring that had shone brightly collapsed in an instant at the power of his hand. The gemstone was shattered in an instant.

As Dustin shook his hand, the remains of what had been the ring fell. It rolled on the floor with the dirt.

Andra looked at them in disbelief. The gemstone is broken…? No, could someone break that by hand in the first place?

“What… did you just do?”

“Did you not just see?”

Andra slowly raised her head and looked at Dustin. Not even the slightest bit of guilt could be seen in his eyes. Rather, he shattered Andra’s ring and was unapologetic about it.

Andra couldn’t take it any longer and raised her hand and aimed for his cheek.

SLAP!

Accompanied by the loud sound, Dustin’s head turned to the side.

“Do you think I’m asking for you to make a display of your strength?”

Dustin’s head, which had returned to Andra’s ferocious voice, quickly returned. Even though she slapped him so loudly, his face was still intact as before. There was no sign of remorse on his face.

She raised her hand to slap him on the cheek again. But it was simply interrupted by Dustin.

“Let go— Let go of me right now.”

“What if I don’t want to let go?”

“Are you trying to break my hand like that ring just now?”

Andra, who met Dustin’s gaze, scoffed at him. Immediately she raised her chin and shouted.

“Go ahead, try it! Try breaking my hands and arms like you did before!”

“What if I don’t want that either?”

“Then let me go! You crazy bastard! Do you know what you did?!”

Andra screamed, her arms still imprisoned. Dustin snorted at this.

“What’s the point of breaking just a ring?”

“Just a ring?!”

“I don’t care. If you want rings, I can give you any number of rings. How many do you want? I can fill up all ten of your fingers.”

Andra thought deeply. What was this lunatic talking about…?

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