Chapter 27

‘The high priest doesn’t know me well.’

He must have only heard of me through rumors.

Therefore, it would be an important matter for the high priest to figure out how many of the rumors were true and how many of them were false.

Since if I was that woman in the rumors, rather than bring peace, I must instead have ambitions to destroy Aktoum.

If he wanted to see my nature, it would be most efficient to drive me into a corner. The high priest deliberately asked a test question so that I could be in trouble.

‘Then… What should I look like here?’

The answer was simple.

I just needed to show the image of a queen who was gentle and bright, contrary to the notoriety; and strong enough to never be shaken by the attacks of enemies.

Only a monarch with such qualities could handle this national marriage.

After thinking about it, I looked at the numerous eyes that touched me sharply.

Some of them were only hoping for my failure.

The habit of not wanting to lose was slowly rising from within.

It was the competitive desire that I had developed and honed in the endless battles against my natural enemy called Rixus. I had never lost to anyone other than Rixus.

“The High Priest.”

I looked him in the eye and called him.

“Yes… Your Majesty the Queen.”

“I’m not pursuing this marriage just for ‘sentimental reasons’.”

“If so… What is the benefit of this marriage?”

“There is no greater gain than preventing a huge loss in the future.”

The high priest’s eyebrows rose curiously at my firm answer.

“The two countries have been enemies for hundreds of years. The losses suffered by both countries are indescribable.”

I continued speaking in a clear voice.

“First, the increase in defense costs. Second, the decrease in trade efficiency due to the complicated procedures required for trade. Third, the risk of war that may occur at any time.”

These were reasons anyone could understand. These were problems that had consistently plagued both countries.

“The fastest way to overcome this national loss is only ‘guaranteed peace’.”

“……”

“The Crown Prince and I have chosen to marry to make up for these national losses.”

Was it an illusion? In an instant, the high priest’s lips rose in satisfaction.

‘…I think he liked my answer.’

I wanted to look relieved, but I maintained a noble expression, still sitting in the golden seat.

As I looked at the nobles with a face that expressed they could not hurt my toes no matter how hard they tried, everyone looked back at me.

However, there was someone who was not deceived by such reasoning.

“Is ‘guaranteed peace’ possible?”

Prime Minister Bernard went on to refute my words head-on.

“Whether this holy marriage will bring peace or war, no one knows!”

At the provocative word, ‘war’, the nobility began to stir again.

Prime Minister Bernard scornfully twisted his beard and teased his snake-like cold tongue.

“Queen of Spinel, are you confident that you’ll always be fair?”

“What do you mean by asking such a question?”

I hit back without shaking a single bit.

Prime Minister Bernard was always behind Deborah, so I couldn’t figure out his personality, but now that I was facing him, he seemed very confident.

He got up from his seat and trudged out. Then, in the middle of the banquet hall, he faced the nobles and shouted, 

“As the High Priest said, we were once a unified empire, but now we’re clearly different countries!”

His voice resounded in the conference hall.

He captured not only the attention of the nobles, but also the attention of the high-ranking officials all at once.

“Until now, we have only acted for our own benefit. Spinel pursued the benefit of Spinel, and Aktoum pursued the benefit of Aktoum. Even if the two countries are in harmony, there will definitely be a moment when their interests conflict.”

“……”

“At that moment…”

Prime Minister Bernard turned his gaze towards me and asked a sharp question.

“Will Your Majesty, the Queen of Spinel, really be for Aktoum?”

“……”

As I was quietly looking at him, I heard a voice assisting from the nobles’ side.

“Well, it’s not wrong. Arms are always bent inward…?”(TL/N: meaning, people’s hearts tend to lean towards those who are close to them.)

As Deborah added at an amazing timing, the voices of the nobles’ voices grew louder.

The eyes of Prime Minister Bernard and Deborah, who succeeded in swaying public opinion perfectly, were intoxicated with a sense of victory.

I sat quietly and stared at the noisy crowd.

‘Even one wrong word can lead me off a cliff.’

If public opinion could not be overturned, I would have no choice but to return to Spinel and accept the war as it is.

My heart sank coldly as I remembered the eyes of the people whom I had met.

I took a deep breath slowly.

And then with a very quiet voice…… It was accurately recited.

“With the night skills learned by the promiscuous and prodigal Queen of Spinel in her harem, she tamed the crown prince with pleasure and clouded his judgment.”

“!”

At the provocative words pouring out of my mouth, it only took the nobles one second to shut their mouths without a sound.

“The Queen will devour Aktoum and satisfy her greed like a pig.”

I smiled calmly and asked,

“Are the rumors like that?”

The nobles’ faces filled with embarrassment and they looked at each other.

It must have felt different to hear the dirty content they secretly talked about behind the scenes spoken out loud. Among them, there was a lady who blushed and covered her mouth.

“I had a miserable childhood living in the swamp.”

I drew people’s attention completely and brought up words that they would never have thought of.

“Fighting the threat of death and not being able to enjoy basic food, clothing and shelter can devastate humans… I have lived through it myself.”

It was one hundred percent true.

“So, I just want peace… so that my people don’t suffer like me.”

“……”

“I am also well aware that for that to happen, I have to strike a fair balance between the two countries.”

The nobles and high priest listened to my personal and sincere story.

They would think it was surprising.

People would think that my past of living in the swamp was a disgrace that I would want to hide as a king.

So saying it would be more appealing…

I had already figured it out.

“I’ll promise here. I will document and transparently disclose everything about the state affairs that I am responsible for in Aktoum.”

“!”

“If you see any injustice, you are welcome to rebuke me at any time. I will be happy to correct it.”

The high priest made a ‘hmm’ sound and nodded quietly.

Not only the few nobles who supported me, but also some who opposed me were seen nodding their heads.

They were influenced by my words.

‘It’s a success. If it’s like this…’

Then, Prime Minister Bernard hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Fellow nobles, do you all naively believe those words?”

No… Why was this guy intervening at such a good time?!

‘Hey, shut up.’

However, realizing that public opinion had changed, Prime Minister Bernard cried out desperately like he was grasping at straws.

“That document can be manipulated at any point in time!”

“Kek, kek. That’s right.”

At that time, the man who was holding a glass of water next to Prime Minister Bernard, chipped in.

‘Isn’t that his servant?’

Bernard’s servant. His henchman.

That man with a morbidly bent back was Bernard’s troubleshooter, taking care of all the dirty work that the prime minister was doing.

He was a character who enjoyed killing people very much, and thanks to that, he was a memorable character in the original story.

To think he would treat him like his hands and feet and drag him all the way here……

“If you become the Crown Princess, you will be entrusted with the huge budget of the Aktoum Imperial Family. But we won’t know it even if it is stolen by Spinel,right?”

A fire broke out in me.

Didn’t that statement cross the line? He was the one stealing the money!

But it was clear that Bernard thought this was his last chance.

He was desperate to crush me anyway.

He pointed right at me.

“That woman sitting over there is, in fact, Aktoum’s main enemy!”

The servant next to him chuckled, showing his yellow teeth.

At that time, the fire within me blazed at the insulting remarks.

Whoosh.

A black figure stood up next to me and turned to Prime Minister Bernard.

It was Rixus.

Keeping his eyes on Bernard, he was walking slowly towards the center. 

“!”

I didn’t know what Bernard read from those chilly blue-purple eyes, but… It was clear that he was terrified for a moment.

And at the next moment.

Paak–!

The eyes of his henchman who had been laughing grew big enough to pop out, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

“Argh, ugh!”

Rixus, who had quickly unleashed his sword at an undetectable speed, had pierced the henchman’s body like a skewer.

Thud. That human just became a wretched and miserable piece of meat.

From the nobility seat, some young ladies let out a small scream.

“I, I, Your Highness…”

In front of the crown prince looking down coldly with hot blood on his left cheek… 

Prime Minister Bernard fell on his stomach with a face of terror.

“Please stop this violence. Oh- Oh, my god!”

Rixus’ cold blade dug into Bernard’s mouth.

“You.”

Rixus’ eyes were softly curved. However, his pupils were shining in a dark blue color, which gave the viewers a chill.

“The monarch of Spinel… my wife.”

“H-Heuk, ah!”

Dripping blood-stained saliva, Prime Minister Bernard trembled like an aspen.

If he moved his tongue even a little, his tongue would be cut off by the blade of the sword.

“How dare you…….”

“…….”

“I was insulted.”

Rixus leaned down slowly, and stared down at Prime Minister Bernard, who raised his head like a dog while lying on his stomach.

Although I could only see his back, I could feel that the current Rixus was like a demon with no mercy.

“Should I slice you alive and throw you into the river, piece by piece? Only then will you realize your sin.”

The content of his words were terribly cruel and merciless.

Burning tears welled up in Bernard’s wide eyes.

“Heuk, haah…”

Then, Rixus turned his head and looked at me.

“…….”

I immediately recognized the meaning of those blue eyes.

‘He’s waiting for my order.’

What if I told him to cut his tongue off right away?

Since he dared to call a queen ‘that woman’, no one would criticize me even if I killed him.

If I eliminate Bernard now, Deborah would lose a great part of her power.

But for now, I slowly looked around.

Among the rigid nobles, Deborah was biting her lower lip with a tired face.

And the high priest was contemplating this situation with an expressionless face that did not reveal his inner feelings… 

‘Everyone is looking at my lips.’

‘How I react now is very important.’

Finally. I slowly parted my lips.