Chapter 20

“Regardless, it is true that the Duke has demonstrated his loyalty.”

“…I am honored, Your Majesty.”

“Then a reward for the victory is in order. Head Attendant, grant one thousand gold to the Gloucester estate.”

Just as the Head Attendant, standing like a statue beside the throne, was about to carry out the command, Aiden’s voice stopped him.

“Your Majesty, forgive me, but instead of a victory reward, I have a request.”

Mary’s bored green eyes, which had been directed toward the Head Attendant, turned forward once more.

Raising one eyebrow, she tilted her head slightly.

“Speak.”

“I wish for Your Majesty to grant me marriage with the person I desire.”

“For you to ask such a thing of me, Duke, the other party must be quite difficult to obtain.”

She waved a hand dismissively.

“Speak. I’ll arrange it however I please.”

Marriage could determine the course of a person’s entire life.

But to Mary, it was hardly worth consideration.

She possessed absolute power that could disregard even a person’s heart.

Mary felt no hesitation in using authority to trample on the dignity of others.

However, the words that followed were enough to crack her indifferent expression.

“I wish to marry Princess Evelyn.”

“…Marry the Princess?”

“Yes. I ask for Your Majesty’s permission.”

“It cannot be allowed.”

Robert shot to his feet.

His earnest voice rang throughout the arena.

“Your Majesty, did you not say that you would give Princess Evelyn to me?”

“Hm.”

Meanwhile, Mary, who had been thinking only of ending the tedious ceremony as quickly as possible, found the current situation quite entertaining.

The green eyes that had finally regained a spark of interest drifted downward.

Unfortunately, she could not see Evelyn’s expression from where she sat.

‘Is she feeling humiliated?’

‘Is she flustered?’

‘Or has she already become detached from everything?’

Imagining her half-sister’s face was amusing enough on its own, and Mary let out a thoughtful hum.

“Both the Duke and the Count could be considered meritorious subjects. This truly is a difficult decision.”

It was not a lie.

Mary began calculating busily.

Which of them should she give Evelyn to for the greatest amusement?

That was the question occupying her thoughts.

The nobles watching the situation could hardly contain their excitement.

“If it comes to this, wouldn’t the Duke win? His title is higher.”

“No, no. The Count is Her Majesty’s closest confidant!”

To them, the fact that Evelyn was a princess no longer held any meaning.

When the absolute ruler herself viewed her as a prize to be awarded, who would still treat her with reverence?

Curious gazes gathered on the princess as though she were an expensive commodity.

Yet not a trace of emotion could be seen on Evelyn’s face.

Like a doll, she merely displayed her flawless beauty.

Sitting perfectly upright with her shoulders squared, the princess resembled a work of art.

And that only drew even more attention from the crowd.

“Evelyn, what do you think?”

At last, the Emperor’s attention turned to the one person who had been excluded from the entire discussion despite being its subject.

“Between Duke Gloucester and Count Edenbarker, which do you prefer?”

“I will follow Your Majesty’s judgment.”

Evelyn answered without hesitation.

“Your Majesty’s will is my will.”

Since Evelyn had not awakened her aura, her voice could not carry very far.

Seeing the confusion written across the faces of the audience, Mary’s smile widened.

“Head Attendant, repeat the Princess’s words.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Nodding, the Head Attendant raised his voice and relayed Evelyn’s answer.

“Her Highness says that she will wholly follow Her Majesty’s judgment.”

As Aiden silently watched Evelyn, he recalled the conversation they had shared a few days earlier in the secret passage.

“I will help you, Your Highness. I shall ask for your hand during the victory celebration. But will the Emperor permit it?”

“She won’t agree immediately. She was planning to give me to Edenbarker in the first place.”

“Give… you?”

“Yes. In the end she’ll do as she pleases anyway. But she’ll ask my opinion first, if only to test me. And when she does, I intend to choose neither of you.”

“Then what should I do?”

“Oppose Edenbarker and emphasize your love for me. Upset him as much as possible.”

Just as she had predicted, Evelyn behaved with complete indifference toward the current situation.

“My, my. My younger sister is so devoted to me that I wonder whether I should allow either of you to marry her.”

“I too am Your Majesty’s loyal servant. Would I not be a suitable spouse for Princess Evelyn?”

Robert hurriedly listed his merits.

“Even our marriage would proceed according to Your Majesty’s wishes. How much deeper would our loyalty become when two devoted subjects are joined together?”

He looked as though anxiety were burning him alive from the inside.

“Please grant her to me as originally intended.. So.”

Aiden’s voice cut in coolly.

“For someone who calls himself a loyal subject, it seems the Count has no intention of blindly accepting Her Majesty’s decision.”

At Aiden’s needling remark, Robert’s handsome face twisted.

The corners of his lips, which always carried a faint smile, flattened for the first time.

“Duke, do you really think you can act so arrogantly just because fortune favored you in battle?”

“Arrogant? Not at all. Like Princess Evelyn, I merely intend to follow Her Majesty’s will. Is that not the proper respect one should show both the woman he loves and the sovereign he serves?”

“Hah.”

Robert let out a derisive laugh.

His blue eyes, filled with murderous intent as though he wanted to tear Aiden apart on the spot, glared at him.

Aiden’s amber eyes met that gaze head-on.

Despite the distance between them, a palpable tension settled over the two men.

“This is quite troublesome.”

Contrary to her thoughtful tone, the crescent smile on Mary’s lips showed no intention of hiding her amusement.

She thoroughly enjoyed the sight of the two men confronting one another, as well as Evelyn’s reaction—continuing to repeat the same answer like a cuckoo, carefully watching the Emperor’s mood.

Truthfully, Mary did not particularly care who ended up beside the princess.

If Robert claimed her, she would be thoroughly used and eventually discarded, and Mary would get to watch her despair.

If Aiden claimed her, Mary could make her suffer by killing her husband before her eyes.

The only question was:

‘Which outcome would entertain me more?’

That was all.

Meanwhile, Evelyn quietly surveyed those around her.

Mary, deliberating over how best to inflict the worst hell upon her.

Robert, anxious that the Emperor’s attention might shift away from him.

And Aiden, moving exactly as she had intended.

Everything was proceeding according to plan.

If Mary was the Emperor Evelyn knew, she would not make a decision immediately.

Like a horse breeder choosing a stallion for a prized mare, she would place Evelyn between Robert and Aiden and simply watch what happened.

Watching Evelyn suffer through the process would be entertaining in itself.

Of course, if she were to say here and now that she wanted Aiden, Mary would immediately arrange the marriage.

But it could not happen that way.

‘If she thinks I’m interested in him, she’ll eventually try to kill him.’

This marriage could never be influenced by her personal feelings.

No matter how complicated or time-consuming it became, she had to choose the safest path.

That was the core of this plan.

And for his sake, she could endure being treated like a broodmare a hundred times over.

There was just one thing bothering her.

‘The Head Attendant is being far too quiet.’

Evelyn’s gaze shifted toward the side of the throne.

The man was still standing at attention, and a meaningful smile lingered on his face.

“Your Majesty.”

At last, he spoke.

“What do you think of this idea?”

“Let’s hear it.”

A moment later, after whispering into Mary’s ear and stepping back, a satisfied smile spread across the Emperor’s face.

A powerful sense of unease washed over Evelyn.

“How amusing.”

Having received the Emperor’s approval, the Head Attendant moved without hesitation.

“Duke Gloucester, I’ve heard the knights of House Gloucester are exceptionally skilled. I understand that you personally train them. Is that correct?”

“…It is.”

“Her Majesty also personally instructs the Imperial Knights from time to time. Would it not benefit the Empire’s military strength if two such distinguished knight orders were to spar?”

Instead of answering, Aiden stared at him.

They had been discussing Princess Evelyn’s future, and suddenly the topic had shifted to knightly combat?

The nobles in the audience began murmuring among themselves.

Ignoring every reaction, Wilcock continued.

“It would be even better if Count Edenbarker could participate as well. Unfortunately, in the name of demonstrating his loyalty, he maintains no knight order of his own aside from a small number of personal guards.”

Like everyone else, Robert could not grasp the Head Attendant’s intentions.

His blue eyes turned toward Mary in confusion.

“Your Majesty, a sparring match all of a sudden—”

“The Head Attendant’s proposal is quite entertaining.”

Mary cut him off.

A smile spread across her lips.

She slowly swept her gaze around the arena.