Chapter 50

Back in his room, Braden summoned Shutal and Liber.

“We leave early tomorrow.”

“How many people?”

Shutal asked.

“How many can you teleport at once?”

Braden asked Liber. To arrive as soon as possible, he planned to use Liber’s teleportation magic rather than a warp circle.

“If we bring luggage, ten.”

Ten people, not counting horses and carriages loaded with gifts, was a sizable group. Only someone like Liber could move that many at once.

“When will we arrive?”

“We’ll need three jumps. Four hours’ rest between each.”

“So eight hours total.”

“If it’s just the two of us, we could go in one jump.”

Liber blinked hopefully.

“This is an official mission from Sovaro Empire. We need to be formal. Both of you, dress properly. Especially you, Liber, wear what I tell you.”

Shutal nagged.

“I hate stuffy clothes. I’m a mage.”

Liber grumbled.

“What kind of mage are you? You’re just a horse groom. What’s the point of being a Grand Mage if you look like this?”

“Skill is all that matters. Only the incompetent care about tools and looks.”

Braden was exasperated by Shutal and Liber’s bickering.

“Go fight outside.”

After sending them out, Braden couldn’t settle down and kept pacing instead of sitting.

It had been less than a week, yet it felt endlessly long.

‘Adela, you refused the proposal because of me, didn’t you?’

Adela had said she’d tell him her feelings when they met again, but he’d ended up learning them early.

He couldn’t deny he was happy. He was impatient to see Adela right away.

If he went alone with Liber, they could meet instantly.

But he couldn’t. He’d caused a scandal as a slave gladiator, so the proposal must be made as a Prince.

Now, he could finally approach Adela with a status worthy of her.

The night until morning would be long, but he could bear it. He would restore her reputation with their marriage.

“Adela, just wait a little longer. I’ll come soon.”

Braden’s face held a complex expression of anticipation and longing.

***

Because of the King’s royal wedding, the Kingdom was in a festive mood. The ceremony was held in the temple that morning, and the banquet was in full swing. The celebration would last three days.

In this lively atmosphere, Adela’s office was tense.

“Haa. I didn’t expect the Marquis’s power to be so widespread.”

Adela sighed after hearing the report.

“There’s unusual movement. Mercenaries have infiltrated disguised as members of the delegation.”

Alexa said gravely.

“How many?”

“We’re currently identifying the exact number.”

“What about the news from the spies?”

“I’m sorry. It hasn’t been long since we planted the spies, so it’s hard to access deep information.”

Adela fell into thought.

‘What did the delegation and mercenaries mean?’

‘A honeymoon.’

Adela’s eyes sparkled.

Edel Kingdom was a defensive fortress. If a spy from an enemy country opened the gates, it would be over. That’s why the Kingdom strictly controlled outsiders.

So, with all the people entering as a congratulatory delegation, this was a rare opportunity.

The King would leave the Kingdom for the honeymoon, taking the Royal Guard. It was the perfect chance for a rebellion.

Adamante would probably send assassins after the King.

Adamante’s plan was clear.

‘Should Iask to delay the honeymoon?’

Even if she did, could they handle their military forces?

“How many are truly loyal to the Royal Family?”

“10 percent.”

“The Marquis’s forces?”

“Over 60 percent. The remaining 30 percent can’t be accurately identified.”

“The knight order that came with Princess Elga?”

“Less than 1 percent. Compared to that, who knows how many mercenaries there are.”

At that moment, Logan entered.

“Your Highness.”

Logan’s usually calm voice sounded urgent.

“What’s going on?”

“The Sovaro Empire’s delegation will arrive tomorrow. The head of the delegation is the Prince.”

“What?”

The Sovaro Empire did import magic stones, but after years of succession disputes and conquest wars, diplomatic exchanges had ceased for a long time.

They weren’t supposed to send a congratulatory delegation.

But now they were coming?

Right after the proposal was refused?

“Are they trying to pressure you into marriage?”

Logan said.

Adela felt like a hunted animal. She was anxious and nervous.

Adela bit her lip—a habit she’d picked up lately. It showed how much stress she was under.

Dealing with the Marquis alone was overwhelming. Why did this have to happen now?

“I don’t understand. Why do they want to marry me?”

She’d heard from Holden. If she married, they’d pay an enormous dowry and even sent a list.

But the Sovaro Empire had no reason to do so. The Empire already ruled vast lands and was wealthy.

What could they possibly gain from this small Kingdom?

“They say he survived ten years in the magical beast hunting grounds. Refusing his proposal must have hurt his pride. In short, he’s got a rotten personality.”

Alexa gritted her teeth.

“The Empress of Sovaro is the Bloody Empress. If you refuse the marriage, she might declare war.”

Rebellion and now war.

Things were getting worse and worse.

“Wouldn’t it be better to just marry? You could stop the Marquis. The Sovaro Empire’s power can’t be ignored.”

She understood logically, but hated it.

She didn’t want to be another man’s wife.

She didn’t want to be embraced.

Her heart hurt terribly.

“Ugh!”

Adela clutched her chest and collapsed forward.

“Your Highness!”

Her consciousness faded.

***

Adela opened her eyes.

The surroundings were dim. With autumn deepening, the sun set earlier each day.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

Joy asked tearfully.

“I lost consciousness?”

“Yes. You didn’t wake up for a long time. The palace healer said it was stress-induced exhaustion.”

But she had no time to rest.

She’d worked hard for a long time, but had never collapsed from exhaustion before. Yet here she was, at the most critical moment, collapsing.

Remembering her situation, she felt completely lost.

The Marquis would rebel in three days and crown Adela as the new Monarch, and the Prince of Sovaro Empire wanted to make her his wife.

Why were they tormenting her like this? What had she done wrong?

She’d worked herself to the bone for the Kingdom, so why? Why?

Despair washed over her. Everything she’d done with a sense of duty now felt meaningless.

Had she worked so hard just to go through this?

For whom?

For what?

Why wouldn’t anyone leave her alone?

At that moment, Adela suddenly realized something.

There was one person between the Marquis and the Prince who had no connection at all.

It was herself.

That’s right. Everything would be solved if she disappeared.

The Marquis was obsessed with Adela becoming the Monarch—that’s why he rebelled.

But if she couldn’t become the Monarch? There’d be nothing left to fight for.

The Prince was the same. If there was no one to marry, how could he force a marriage?

But could she really hide from them completely?

Adela slowly sat up.

If she couldn’t hide, only one option remained.

She got off the bed, went to her vanity, and opened a drawer. Pressing a switch inside, a hidden small drawer popped out.

Inside was a small glass vial of deadly poison.

‘Should I drink it now?’

At that moment, the pink diamond on her finger sparkled and caught Adela’s eye.

Her expression twisted.