Kallian raised his head and looked directly at the ambassador with eyes that showed no sign of concern.

Then he asked in return, “It’s Her Highness, the Crown Princess, isn’t it?”

It was actually Elliopé who was taken aback. There was something reproachful in his tone, as if he were accusing her of underestimating her value.

Unconsciously, Elliopé flinched and curled her hand at Kallian’s touch. Kallian pressed his thumb gently into her palm. Her neck grew warm.

“And what are you going to do now?”

The Emperor’s ambassador said with obvious irritation. Theodor also leaned back and took a sip from his glass.

“Will you pay a larger amount, Kallian Icerick?”

Theodor called him Icerick instead of Elsen and laughed.

“Truly, you are a loyal servant. There’s no one like you.”

“….”

“So, are you going to fill the Duke’s granary with Elsen’s blood and pus?”

There was a mocking tone at the end of his words. Elliopé stared at Theodor with cold eyes.

“The people of Elsen’s territory will be so grateful that they’ll die of joy. As for me, I wouldn’t refuse.”

The sound of the glass being set down on the table was so loud it was almost disturbing.

“But… wouldn’t there be a cleaner and better way?”

Theodor said so far, before turning to look at Elliopé.

“For example…”

“….”

“Divorcing your wife…”

Theodor’s words stretched out slowly. Elliopé stared at him, forgetting to breathe for a moment.

“Perhaps enter my harem instead.”

The shock came a beat later.

Unable to believe what she had just heard, every hair on her body stood on end. It felt as if her mouth was filled with a bitter liquid.

‘Such words.’

How dare he speak such filthy words.

‘A concubine?’

The reason why he specifically mentioned concubine was clear. Since her body had already been defiled by Kallian, he probably didn’t want her as a wife, but as a concubine to play with.

“Ha.”

A bitter laugh escaped her lips without thinking. Theodor’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, but she didn’t care.

In her previous life, while she was withering and dying as a stone woman, that despicable man had been with every woman in the Duke’s territory.

If anyone had rejected her, it wasn’t Elliopé, it was Theodor of Ilmos. If anyone had called Theodor a ‘fop’, Elliopé would have agreed.

For a moment, she felt a surge of intense anger, but it faded quickly. Her stomach tightened and a dull pain began to spread.

Nevertheless, Theodor continued to speak casually.

“Anyway, there’s an easier way.”

He said, as if suggesting that if she became his concubine, all would be forgiven, including the compensation.

These words were hard for Elliopé to comprehend, especially as she had expected Theodor to ask the Imperial Family for Leanne.

‘What nonsense is he talking now?’

Even the Emperor’s ambassador didn’t react to his words, which meant that their agreement had already been made. Elliopé felt as if her vision was clouded with red. Without realising it, she clenched her fist tightly, her nails digging into the palm of her hand until it felt like it might start to bleed.

Then she felt a finger press gently into her palm again.

“….”

It was as if he was being stopped, the finger pressing gently into her palm, urging her to release the tension building within her. Just as she was momentarily stunned, a familiar voice cut through the air.

“She’s my wife, Your Excellency.”

Theodor slowly turned his head towards Kallian.

“She is my wife, to whom I have sworn an oath in the name of God.”

There was something else in Theodor’s voice, a weight that made the words fall differently.

“She is mine.”

It felt like that was exactly what he was implying. An image of a dog refusing to let go of the piece of meat it had been given flashed through her mind.

“She is not someone else’s concubine, she is my wife.”

A faint smile appeared on Kallian’s lips as he spoke. Theodor, aware that it was rare to see Kallian smile, visibly changed his expression. l

“Even if Her Highness wishes to divorce me, I have no intention of letting her go.”

“….”

“I must abandon that plan.”

With this firm declaration, the atmosphere around the table turned cold. Elliopé felt as if her heart had fallen to the floor, only to rise again in her chest.

Soon the hand that had been gently stroking her palm tightened.

“I hope you understand.”

Though his tone was soft, there was an unmistakable air of finality in Kallian’s words, as if he would not accept any objections. Theodor, clearly uncomfortable, curled his lips in frustration.

“She was supposed to be my wife.”

Kallian said, smiling as if unaffected by the remark.

“And still, I had an offer to make as well.”

Both the Ambassador and Theodor rolled their eyes at the same time and turned their attention to Kallian.

“I think it’s a better offer than the mere 50 million gold.”

The ambassador’s face twisted in an instant, as if he wondered if this made any sense.

“Excuse me, Viscount Elsen…”

“I wonder if the Imperial Family is aware of this.”

Kallian cut the ambassador off. Theodor continued to look at Kallian with a furrowed brow.

“The Seor army is stationed on the Nahir plains.”

Elliopé was familiar with Nahir.

It was further north in the Duke’s territory, bordering Seor. She had once learned that Ilmos’ cavalry had grazed their horses there many decades ago.

“So what? What does that mean?” Theodor asked, clearly frustrated.

“Now it is treated as a neutral zone, but originally it was part of the Empire’s land.”

“….”

“Actually, it is still part of the Empire’s land.”

In reality, it was the place where Seor began its military occupation when Theodor ascended to the position of Duke. After the sudden death of the previous Duke, Theodor quickly succeeded him, and while the Duke’s territory was in turmoil, Seor seized the opportunity.

At the time, Theodor had failed to respond appropriately. Both the Empire and the Duke’s territory were facing internal instability, leaving the situation with the territory uncertain.

With the loss of the Nahir Plains, the number of cavalry in the Duke’s territory had decreased significantly. Meanwhile, Seor’s cavalry numbers had increased. In battles where Kallian didn’t intervene, Seor’s cavalry had the upper hand over Ilmos’ forces.

‘Not only that.’

The Nahir Plains were also an important trade route that the Empire could have used in the north. It bordered not only Seor, but also several other lands that traded with the Empire.

Unable to cross Nahir, they had no choice but to travel by sea. The northern seas of the Empire were notorious for their violent storms and treacherous routes. In reality, by losing control of Nahir, the Empire had effectively lost two valuable trade routes.

Kallian spoke without changing his expression.

“If you give me permission to fight…”

“….”

“I will return the Nahir Plains to both the Duke’s territory and the Empire.”

Kallian’s voice echoed through the hall, calm and measured, yet carrying weight. Some of the servants waiting to serve the meal exchanged meaningful glances. Even the knights stationed in the hall for the Duke’s protection couldn’t hide the gleam in their eyes as they watched. The ambassador and Theodor froze.

Elliopé was equally shocked.

‘Why Seor of all people?’

She wondered for a moment if there might be some connection with Zenya.

Kallian continued.

“You don’t need to send many soldiers. It would be better to move with a small, elite group.”

There was a confidence in Kallian’s voice that suggested he truly believed he could succeed. The faces of the knights lit up with excitement.

Theodor scowled, unable to hide his displeasure. Elliopé noticed that the Emperor’s ambassador was also constantly changing his expression. It was as if the sound of intense calculation could almost be heard in the air, but Elliopé couldn’t shake her growing concern.

‘But Seor is a dangerous opponent.’

She knew how strong he was from the time they crossed the canyon together. She also knew that he was capable of killing a man with a single blow.

Still, she would be facing an entire nation. While Elliopé hesitated, Kallian continued calmly.

“In the long run, this will be a better way than 50 million gold.”

“….”

“What do you think?”

The silence in the dining room continued. The Emperor’s ambassador opened his mouth several times before finally speaking in a stern voice for no apparent reason.

“If it fails…”

“Do you think it will fail?”

“….”

“I have no intention of leaving my wife unprotected.”

Elliopé jumped at these words.

The Emperor’s ambassador continued to stroke his chin, obviously beginning to think deeply. Theodor, however, didn’t answer and just stared at Kallian.

“Ahem. Excuse me, just a moment.”
Still seemingly lost in thought, the Emperor’s ambassador rose to his feet. He probably wanted to return to his room and report back to the Emperor.

“We will take our leave as well. Your Excellency may need some time to think.”

Kallian said casually as he took Elliopé’s hand and rose from his seat.

Theodor didn’t let go until they were gone. But his eyes seemed to linger on Elliopé’s back and waist, as if it were impossible to escape his watchful gaze. When they left the dining hall, Kallian led her quickly, almost in a hurry, and she couldn’t help but feel Theodor’s gaze flowing over her body, lingering with a disturbing intensity.

As the unpleasant chill returned, Elliopé held Kallian’s hand tightly.

“….!”

Elliopé’s body was pushed into an alcove at the corner of the hallway. It was a small alcove with a window in the wall.

Then Kallian knelt in front of her and quickly pressed into the inside of her thighs.