Chapter 103
After breakfast together, while Declan went out to interrogate the assassins, I headed to the palace where Seian was. Of course, even though he was extremely reluctant, he reluctantly allowed it, and the escort doubled instead.
“It is an honor to be able to meet the Savior like this.
Seian acted as if he was surprised by my visit even after he called.
‘…Was he originally like this?’
I thought he was a gentle and kind person, so he was far from the dark side. Now, I couldn’t figure out what was inside him.
“How can I decline your invitation?”
“I just sent you a congratulatory gift for your engagement.”
Saying so, he smiled lightly and showed a troubled face though the light in his eyes passed for a moment.
“Because your gifts always have meaning.”
“It’s quite surprising that you know that.”
I wouldn’t have noticed if I hadn’t been a doll before. However, instead of answering with a smile, he just led me to the sofa.
“Since I am dependent on the Empire, I don’t have anything to treat you. Please forgive me.”
I was rather sorry that such a beautiful man always lowered the corners of his eyes.
“That’s all right.”
“Still, I brewed the tea myself, so I hope you accept my sincerity.”
Elegance flowed in each movement of pouring tea into a teacup.
“Thank you.”
When I took a sip of the teacup, I was greeted with a light yet deep taste.
“It tastes good.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“By the way, why did you want to meet me?”
As soon as I got to the point, Seian smiled broadly.
“I just wondered what kind of person you are. It’s been a thousand years since there was the Savior and the recovery of divine power.”
“I didn’t know you were very religious.”
Even though those words carried deep meaning, Seian only smiled. In the meanwhile, I savored the tea for a while and explored each other, then decided to take the lead in his still bewildering attitude.
“…Do you need my help?”
“You have such a quick sense.”
There was trouble in the slightly furrowed eyebrows, but I pushed on.
“I’m not used to the roundabout way of speaking.”
“You are an interesting person.”
“I am the fiancée of the Emperor. Sooner or later, I will become the Empress.”
As I took a sip of the tea leisurely, I continued my words slowly, “So, I have to figure out who is an ally and who isn’t in a short amount of time.”
“No matter how terrifying His Majesty is, there will be many people who are aiming for the seat next to him.”
I shrugged my shoulders as I was tired of it.
“If I told you that an uninvited guest came last night, would you understand my impatience?”
When I casually mentioned the assassination, his eyes widened a little before they lit up with interest.
“Oh, to think you’ve been through such a dangerous thing. Are you okay?”
“Isn’t it unfortunate that your plan failed?”
Despite openly expressing my doubts, he was relaxed throughout.
‘…This person is as dangerous as Duke Otien.’
Suddenly, a red warning light came on.
“You were suspicious of me.”
“I thought it might be a threat to accept the invitation.”
A small smile fell from his mouth, drawn by an arc.
“I am not foolish enough to do such a reckless thing. Aren’t you familiar with my situation?”
Even though I never thought I would use the power I received to judge the believers like this, I planned to see if he was telling the truth with the ‘truth eye.’
‘Right now, I’m busy concentrating on Duke Otien.’
In this situation, if I had to deal with Seian, I would be at a great disadvantage so I have no choice but to quickly figure out whether he was an enemy or an ally.
When I looked beyond his pupils through the truth eye, an opaque white flame was burning straight and motionless as if there was fog. If the core of the soul was burning unwaveringly, it meant that he spoke the truth.
“I’m glad you’re not lying.”
On the outside, he responded calmly, but on the inside, he swallowed a sigh of relief.
“Do you trust me?”
“Well, I don’t know if you’re an ally though I know what you just said is true.”
“God’s representative is certainly different.”
He smiled pleasantly and lifted the cup.
“Then, tell me the real reason you wanted to meet me.”
I gave him a cool look as if I would not accept any more nonsense.
“My destiny is like a candle in the wind… That is why even small changes cannot be overlooked.”
The eyes that had been staring at me for a moment quickly disappeared.
“Because the fate of me and my country may change because of the Savior, I have no choice but to pay attention.”
Thinking about it from his point of view, it was not incomprehensible.
‘It’s just that I don’t know what’s inside him, so I’m reluctant.
Rather, it was easier to deal with if he revealed his desires as they were, like Jennifer.
“That means… everything depends on what I do.”
Right?
As I smiled and asked, my image was caught in Seian’s transparent eyes. He was willing to join hands with anyone to save his country. I was guessing he was going to judge whether I would be that hand or not.
This might make the story easier.
“If I become your ally, what will you do?”
“Isn’t the Savior the one who bestows mercy and love on people?”
“I’m not that selfless.”
“It seems to be against the will of God.”
“God will understand that I am in a position where I have to look good.”
Hearing those words, Seian burst into laughter.
“You are such an interesting person. You are very different from the image I had in mind.”
Tang.
As he put his hand down on the marble table, a clear sound rang out.
“Your Highness, I don’t like to talk in circles. My patience isn’t that great.”
So, you better be precise.
The next moment, the smile disappeared from Seian’s face. Perhaps he had noticed the subtle threat.
“I have no intention of forcing a unilateral sacrifice.”
I smiled at him.
“If you help me, I promise you the independence of the Jemina kingdom.”
The sound of cracking could be heard in the mask he had shown up until now.
“…Are you making fun of me?”
“I am God’s representative and the one who will become the Empress of the empire.”
It meant that I knew well about the weight of my words.
Meanwhile, Seian rested his chin and thought for a moment.
“…Will His Majesty allow it?”
“Don’t worry about that. I guarantee you.”
It was because everything happened because of Duke Otien and his followers, so there was no need for war or reason not to make the Jemina kingdom independent.
“I can give you a letter of assurance from His Majesty.”
‘So, take my hand. Don’t touch that man’s.’
Recently, a report came in from Shadow that Han was hanging around Seian.
‘Duke, it won’t turn out the way you mean.’
“What do you want from me?”
“Please be the bait to catch the prey.”
His brows furrowed immediately as if he was displeased with not only being a hostage but being asked to serve as bait when he was a country’s crown prince.
“It must be an interesting prey.”
As I smiled, Seian looked puzzled.
I felt sorry for him when I thought he was adjusting to life as a hostage. However, as he talked about it, I couldn’t help but doubt. How could such a meticulous and planned person not have done any spying activities? If so, wouldn’t he also know the inside story of the doll abduction case?
“…I will need some time to think.”
With the independence at hand, I couldn’t believe he was still trying to weigh it. Had Duke Otien already reached out his hand?
“Three days. I can’t afford more.”
As I got up from my seat with a smile, his eyes followed me.
“So, please choose wisely.”
Finishing my words, I bowed politely and left the parlor.
As Seian leaned against the window and looked up at the starry night sky, he took out a dagger at the sudden presence.
“Who are you?!”
Even in a tense situation, his head was busy.
‘…Assassin? Who sent it?’
The first one that came to mind was the Savior, but it was soon erased. She promised ‘three days’ time, and within a few hours of her being gone, she would not have sent an assassin.
‘Then… the Emperor’
No, he wouldn’t have sent just one here.
“Sorry to startle you.”
Not long after, a masked man came closer and knelt down in front of Seian. He took a step back at the sudden action.
“Reveal your identity.”
“My master sent you a letter.”
At those words, he gazed at the letter in his hand without letting go of his guard. The masked person had no choice but to put the letter down on the floor.
“If you leave a reply at the window by tomorrow, I will deliver it to my master.”
The masked man, who bowed his head to greet Seian, disappeared. Even after he disappeared, Seian remained vigilant for a while longer, holding the dagger.
When nothing happened, he soon slumped back in his chair.
“Haa.”
He was so tense that the back of his neck was sore. It wasn’t until his racing heartbeat returned to its proper place that he looked down at the letter lying on the floor.
If the masked man had tried to kill him, he would have been killed. However, just disappearing must mean that the purpose was to deliver this letter in the first place. Still, there might be poison in it, so he put on gloves and opened the envelope.
“…Were that side watching me, too?”
After reading the contents of the letter, he raised an eyebrow. Although unpleasant, the offer was quite tempting.
Things were going very interestingly.
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