Chapter 97

So then… Was Layan Aviles the only one who cooperated with Javier? Of course, thinking it over, it seemed unlikely that a single Earl could pull off a coup for the throne alone.

Her curiosity was soon resolved.

“In fact, back when I said something might happen… there was something I wanted to tell you but didn’t.”

She remembered that too. He had said, ‘And, um……,’ as if he was about to continue, but then shook his head and brushed it off, saying it was nothing. There’s an old joke that one of the most annoying things is when someone stops talking right before the important part, so it had naturally bothered her. But she hadn’t pressed, thinking it wasn’t something she needed to know.

A small sigh escaped him, and soon, a string of shocking revelations poured out, enough to make her furrow her brow.

“There were four noble families that collaborated. Aviles, Caballero, Baztan, Soria. But… the problem is, their goal wasn’t simply to seize the throne.”

“If that wasn’t their only goal, then… don’t tell me……”

The reason Earl Aviles, who tried to kill her, was involved.

It was something she could have figured out with just a little thought, but she had stubbornly denied that theory, not wanting to believe it.

“They were planning to enthrone Javier and, at the same time, start a war with Essen.”

“…Ha.”

A breath escaped her lips.

Her head began to ache. Historically, there were always those in power who didn’t care about the weight or the lives sacrificed and ended up obsessed with war, doing foolish things.

But… to go so far as to put Javier on the throne? Of course, if it were Vicente, he would have dismissed talk of war as nonsense. In the short time she’d spent here, Vicente struck her as rational and sensible.

“Earl Soria confessed everything. They wanted to enthrone Javier, and anyone who died or was injured in the process would be from the Essen Empire.”

“……”

“Earl Aviles wanted to kill you so he could claim the inheritance that would return to his own blood. The preparations had been in place for a long time, but Aviles was the most recent to join.”

Perhaps he joined after hearing she was coming to Elvirtein. There was no way to reach her if she stayed in Essen, but once she came to Elvirtein, things changed. And with the calculation that he could push his daughter to Javier’s side, there was nothing left to hesitate about.

What was so special about that inheritance, anyway? She herself had no idea what was in Dinua Garden. Honestly, she’d never been curious before, but now she was dying to know.

Even if Earl Aviles wanted her inheritance and the position of Emperor’s father-in-law, what about the others? Did they really want war that much, even if they were so lacking as human beings…?

“So, those families—Caballero, Baztan, Soria—did they all want war?”

“As absurd as it sounds… yes.”

There were more people lacking humanity.

Unable to understand, her words spilled out like air from a punctured balloon.

“…Why?”

Her question was reasonable. Of course, it was absurd, but that was the first thing anyone would ask. For what reason? The bad blood between Essen and Elvirtein was ancient history, something only found in books now.

They weren’t enemies, nor rivals. Just two empires living on separate lands. So why?

“They were dissatisfied with maintaining the treaty.”

“The Maillak Treaty?”

“They wondered why we didn’t try to expand our territory further.”

There are always those who dislike peace. For her… it was an incomprehensible logic. Unless someone saw human lives as mere street pebbles, how could they wish for war? Every time she felt the ugliness of mankind, her nape stiffened.

“On top of that, Javier’s claim was that he didn’t want the country’s value to be judged by trade alone.”

“…That’s strange. Do you feel the same way, Raihan?”

“Of course not.”

His voice was firm, cutting off any doubt.

“I’m proud of Elvirtein, which has grown through trade. I’d never call it ‘base’ like Javier does.”

“He actually said that? Really……”

Narrow-minded and short-sighted, too. Military power alone couldn’t represent a nation’s strength. The leader’s competence, the people’s consciousness, diplomacy, economy, art, culture… all these combined to form a nation’s image.

And calling trade ‘base’? That was the perfect example of knowing one thing but not the other. It was an incomprehensible way of thinking, but she could guess how he’d reached that conclusion. It was the typical worship of military power often seen in men.

She’d dated someone exactly like that before. Ever since, she couldn’t stand people like him.

While she clicked her tongue inwardly, Raihan, who had been tapping the white blanket with his index finger and furrowing his brow, suddenly stopped.

“Actually, at the time, I didn’t tell you because I thought it might make you anxious for no reason.”

So, his intention back then was not to worry her, even though he knew that more nobles than just Earl Aviles were gathering for the coup.

But since there was a chance weapons might be drawn, he thought it best to let Yurik know, just in case.

“But after you collapsed, I started thinking maybe I should have told you after all.”

…That kind of thinking was always the problem.

Honestly, whether he told her or not probably wouldn’t have made a difference. She had no idea how he’d reached that conclusion. And now he was confessing everything to her? It was absurd, but somehow a little funny. He was laying out all his thoughts without holding back. Apologizing honestly for making someone worry wasn’t easy.

It’s said that admitting one’s own mistakes or faults is the hardest thing for a person.

‘Though I don’t really see this as Raihan’s mistake or fault…….’

After sorting out her thoughts, she only had one thing to say.

“That was a silly thing to worry about. I never thought of it that way.”

“…Really?”

“Really.”

Imitating his tone playfully, Raihan finally smiled, though his face soon turned serious again, making her playful effort seem wasted.

“And there’s one more problem……”

Trailing off, he rubbed his forehead and glanced at her as if gauging her reaction.

“It looks like news of the attack will reach Essen soon.”

“Soon?”

How could that be? The sea route by slow cruise took two whole weeks. With a faster ship, it could arrive earlier, but still, she’d been attacked on coronation night—how much time could have passed…?

Ah, there was one way: using carrier pigeons. But she wasn’t sure if that was even possible. For such a long distance, they’d need to rest along the way, and what about stretches without islands?

“Some used fast ships, and some sent carrier pigeons.”

Even in peacetime, gathering intelligence on foreign affairs was essential, so there were probably spies. Of course, in times like these, spies risked being exposed, but she hadn’t expected they’d actually send carrier pigeons.

“Anyway, when that news gets out……”

Just imagining it made her head hurt. Essen’s reporters loved sensational stories. They didn’t fake the facts, but this incident was both true and sensational, so everyone would be scrambling to publish articles.

And weren’t the three main characters of the ‘Triangle Scandal’ involved?

There would be those claiming the Maillak Treaty had been violated, and others saying that, with things as they were, her chances of going to Elvirtein were now completely zero… There were endless possible reactions.

“So… once you recover, I think it’s best for you to return to Essen, Dione.”

“……”

“That’s not my opinion, but the will of our newly crowned Emperor.”