“Who! Without my permission! Gave you the right to match your belly with another man! If I had known you were so loose, I would…!”

The angry gaze of Hector briefly met Evelyn’s eyes. He pressed his lips tightly shut.

Hector gripped his glass firmly while breathing heavily. The glass shattered, blood flowing from his hand onto the table. While the servant behind him anxiously called for a physician, he let out a deep sigh.

“…Go back and rest.”

“Thank you, Your Imperial Majesty.”

Evelyn left the Imperial Palace with her back perfectly straight. After leaving, she could hear the sound of breaking plates and furious shouting from inside. Evelyn shook her head and clutched her growling stomach.

It was difficult to eat while with Hector. The way his eyes looked at her like he wanted to devour her was nothing new.

‘Perhaps he’s tired of the palace women…. Though Andrew rounded up quite a few women on the way here.’

Of course, Evelyn had released them all midway, and Andrew had become angry. But even Andrew couldn’t scold the princess and could only sulk.

When she arrived at her palace, Sarah was waiting to greet her. She looked extremely happy to see Evelyn.

“Lady Evelyn!”

“Sarah.”

“I heard you dined with His Majesty. But I thought you might be hungry, so I prepared some sweet snacks.”

“You’re the only one who understands me.”

“Hehe.”

Evelyn entered her residence with Sarah. She would stay here until she was sent to the Peshar Empire as a bride.

* * *

A week later, Jenkins and his guard knight Max arrived at the Peshar Imperial Palace. The soldier guarding the gate hurriedly opened the main entrance upon seeing Jenkins and Max on horseback. A new recruit standing nearby tilted his head in confusion at the sight of Jenkins and Max with dust on their clothes.

“Who are you?”

“Shh! It’s His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“What? Oh my…!”

He hadn’t been gone that long, yet someone didn’t recognize his face. Jenkins clicked his tongue as he passed by the new recruit. When the two dismounted, a servant directed another attendant to take the horses to the stable. The emperor’s attendant bowed deeply to Jenkins.

“His Imperial Majesty is waiting for you, Your Highness.”

“…Can’t I wash up before meeting him?”

“His Imperial Majesty is in poor health and wishes to see you immediately.”

“How sick can that old man possibly be?”

The attendant cleared his throat before guiding Jenkins to the Imperial Palace. Even before entering, they could hear angry shouting.

“I’m certain I ordered Jenkins to be brought here!”

“I-I sent the letter as ordered…”

“Then why is he so late! Even after I told him I was ill…!”

When Jenkins entered the hall with the attendant, the emperor stopped mid-curse and closed his mouth. Jenkins stood before the emperor with his usual nonchalant posture.

“You don’t look sick at all.”

“…Hmph. How long has it been since I summoned you, and you arrive this late!”

“…At least I came.”

When a servant offered him a chair, Jenkins sat down. The Peshar Emperor, a man over 60, looked more hollow-cheeked than before Jenkins had departed. Jenkins frowned at the sight.

“Haven’t you even had gruel? Why do you look so haggard?”

“Sigh…. My body grows weaker by the day, and I can’t even digest food properly.”

Normally, the emperor would have thrown something at Jenkins for such remarks, but he was clearly frail. The emperor heaved a deep sigh.

“Jenkins. Take a crown princess immediately. Once I see you married, I will hand over the throne right away. Understand?”

“…That again? I told you I don’t want to get married.”

“Huh…. This… before this father dies, this is my wish, and you can’t grant it!”

When the emperor shouted, Jenkins covered his ears.

“You’ve taken enough concubines to make up for my lack of marriage, haven’t you? You’ve already had 299 concubines, so why do you want a daughter-in-law too?”

“You, you….”

The emperor ground his teeth. Jenkins mentioned news he had heard on his way.

“…I heard the Astian princess has agreed to become your 300th concubine?”

“That’s why I called you.”

“Why? …To kill her?”

Jenkins had pierced through the emperor’s intentions without him saying a word. The emperor smiled with a face full of greed.

“…Astia Empire is rotten now. There are rumors that the current Astian Emperor doesn’t carry the blood of the previous emperor. The only one with the previous emperor’s bloodline is the Astian princess, and the emperor is keeping her in check. If we kill the princess first, the Astian Empire will fall into great chaos.”

“…Ah, so that’s why you requested her as your 300th concubine even though you can’t get it up?”

“This rascal! You have no respect for your father!”

The emperor threw a glass at Jenkins, who dodged it easily. Jenkins smiled and said:

“Father’s wish isn’t something as trivial as seeing a daughter-in-law, is it? You’re thinking of conquering the Astian Empire, aren’t you? I came quickly to fulfill your wish.”

“Sigh…. Didn’t you just recently complain it was troublesome? Wasn’t it just yesterday that you criticized me, saying what war does an old man on his deathbed need?”

Jenkins recalled someone. The woman who had abandoned him.

“I’ve changed my mind.”

“Hmm…. Well, fine. If you won’t let me see a daughter-in-law, then place the Astian Empire in my hands before I die.”

“…Agreed. Before you pass away, I will present the Astian Empire to you.”

‘And I’ll take what I want for myself too.’

His attendant Harvey was very skilled at finding people. So tracking the whereabouts of a commoner knight like Evelyn would be easy.

‘But first, I need to kill the Astian princess.’

If they killed the legitimate heir, the Astian Empire would quickly crumble.

The current Astian Emperor was already facing questions about his legitimacy and had no children. 

Jenkins had heard that many supporters of the previous emperor still remained and didn’t recognize the current emperor. With such complicated internal affairs, it would be easy to collapse if they just ignited the spark.

If they conquered the Astian Empire, Evelyn would have nowhere to run. Even her homeland would be in his grasp. He had no personal feelings toward the Astian princess. He would kill her cleanly with a single stroke.

‘Keeping royal family members alive is dangerous anyway.’

Jenkins’ blue eyes gleamed coldly again. As he left the Imperial Palace, his guard knight Max approached and handed him a small note.

“…What’s this?”

“It’s from Harvey. If you read it carefully…”

When Jenkins unfolded the note, tiny handwriting covered it. It seemed Harvey had used carrier pigeons.

<There are 1,200 commoners named Evelyn in the Astian Empire. It will take some time to investigate each one. I’ve also put in a request with the guild, so soon…>

Jenkins tore up the note. The pieces scattered on the ground.

“Recruit soldiers to invade the Astian Empire.”

“…War, sir?”

“Yes. We should instruct the soldiers. Tell them that women with silver hair and purple eyes must not be killed. Of course, they shouldn’t be violated either.”

“…”

“Evelyn is mine.”

As Jenkins walked away, his guard knight Max followed. Max’s expression was dark. Jenkins had always opposed war with the Astian Empire. The reason for his change was obvious. If that certain someone appeared, would Jenkins stop the war?

Max couldn’t be sure.

He could only hope that Harvey would find Evelyn soon.