Chapter 136

Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultiverse

“Don’t tell me you had the Emperor drink your blood too?!” I blurted out.

That would make everything make so much sense. Originally, the emperor of the Hazurattoon Empire was a mild-mannered man, with good relations with all of his vassal states. Yet, ever since I became a candidate for Edward’s hand in marriage, the Emperor’s behavior had taken a strange turn.

He began invading countries he had good relations with and sent Edward into various nations as if he were a spy. Usually, a spy would be chosen based on their longstanding relationship with the country they were spying on. It didn’t make sense for Edward to be sent to many of these nations. That had been a mystery for quite some time.

It would be way too risky of a move to send him on these missions just to have him gain experience. On the contrary, it felt much more like he was being sent to put him in danger and have him killed.

I hadn’t been able to understand why the emperor had changed so drastically, so suddenly, until now. I’m sure many citizens were confused about this, as well.

“That’s right. Well done. I was thinking that you, Ray, wouldn’t be able to see through that. You’ve changed, Ray. I don’t really like that. I preferred the obedient Ray that couldn’t think for herself at all. It’s too bad, really. Not to worry, though. I’ll teach you how to be good from square one,” said Lord Naaotto, smiling.

His smile was more like a smirk stained with insanity. I shivered just looking at it.

“Hmm, yes. It seems everyone is present,” said the King as he stepped in with the crown prince Yaakummo. The time was exactly the hour we had agreed upon.

Lord Naaotto and I respectfully bowed to the King. Then, after watching the King sit down in his chair, we sat down as well.

The crown prince Yaakummo sat beside the king, and there was nothing about him that seemed out of the ordinary. Surely, this was because Lord Naaotto wasn’t commanding him to do anything at all.

“Brother-in-law Yaakummo, this is my fiancee, Rachel,” said Lord Naaotto, making him, not the king, the first to speak. [Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]

The usual customs of the palace dictated that inferiors should not speak before receiving permission from their superiors. Lord Naaotto was breaking this unspoken rule.

“She is very beautiful. We welcome her. Ah, you may already know, my lady, but I am the first-born son of the king, Yaakummo,” he said, grinning. His smile was an ordinary smile of a prince.

“Thank you. Please call me Rachel,” I said. 

I wondered if he really was under Lord Naaotto’s control at all. There was something about him that was different from the other people I had seen who had drunk Lord Naaotto’s blood.

It was then that I decided that I would directly ask him a question that would normally be out of line.

“I seem to recall that you, Lord Yaakummo, were supposed to be first in line to the throne. Could you tell me why Lord Naaotto has recently taken up that position?” I asked bluntly.

I had already heard from other people about this situation. It shouldn’t be that much of a problem to ask him about it.

“I’ve taken up the position of next in line to the throne because Brother-in-law Yaakummo considers it too heavy a burden for him. Why do you ask such a thing?” Lord Naaotto answered very quickly on this issue.

The king had fallen silent and remained unspeaking. Lord Yaakummo simply stayed grinning.

“No, it’s just that – I’m surprised such a thing was decided so suddenly,” I said, “I mean, Lord Yaakummo is related by blood to the king, and you, Lord Naaotto, aren’t, correct? I was just curious about that. Is that wrong of me?” At this point, I was just spitting out words just to challenge Lord Naaotto.

Lord Naaotto’s looked as though he had just swallowed a fly.

However, both the king and Lord Naaotto kept their composure.

“It’s because I am more fit to take the throne. If I were to be king, I would expand this nation greatly. I am destined to be king of this entire world,” said Lord Naaotto. He may be able to control the king and Lord Yaakummo, but he had just uttered an undeniably arrogant thing. The king, who up until this point, hadn’t so much as twitched his face, frowned slightly.

Lord Yaakummo’s expression didn’t change, though. He never stopped grinning for a moment. It was possible that he had been ordered by Lord Naaotto to continue smiling.

“Lord Yaakummo, you don’t have any doubts towards Lord Naaotto?” I asked.

“Of course, he doesn’t! Why would you ask something some stupid?” Lord Naaotto answered, despite me having asked Lord Yaakummo.

I could tell Lord Naaotto was getting a little bit annoyed. He apparently didn’t like my line of questioning.

“Well, I’m going to be part of this royal court, aren’t I? It wouldn’t be right for me to cause any disruptions in the court once I’m admitted. If there’s any chance of that happening, I want my marriage to you to be canceled,” I said to Lord Naaotto, flashing him a smirk.

Lord Naaotto’s mouth distorted into a horrendous frown.

“So? Lord Yaakummo, do you have any doubts?” I asked again, locking eyes with him directly, this time.[Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the “Novel Multiverse dot com” website @ novelmultiverse.com]