“I’ll tell the princess.”
“Yes.”
When the housekeeper was away, Yohan walked to the window. His gaze briefly turned to the distant mountain, but soon returned to the newspaper.
When he opened the newspaper, his fingertips moved slowly. What this newspaper article meant was not just for the imperial family to make their intentions known.
It was a kind of trick that made Yohan have no choice but to accept his marriage with the imperial family.
It was an act of spreading their will to the world as if it were a given, and engraving the aristocracy’s perception that ‘Yohan is connected with Lary or the Empress’.
In this way, if Yohan defied the imperial family’s intentions, it was a meticulous trick with the possibility that he would be seen as a traitor against the emperor.
“This was the best you guys chose.”
There was a fishy sneer around Yohan’s mouth.
His lover is the successor of the writer Ferbache, one of the four generations of families. Compared with the imperial family, he is not short at all.
On top of that, Francia is a master of healing magic who is also greatly supported by the Senate. She is a wizard called the saint of the empire.
Even the relationship is known to be special, so there is no time to squeeze in.
“Hmm…”
Yohan caressed his chin.
Gossip was largely unrelated to the truth. People’s perceptions were sufficiently changed by just the rumor.
“The Earl of Rahardt marries the princess.” If this one sentence is engraved in the aristocratic society, it will not be easy to get out of it.
When rumors stick like that, it becomes ‘fact’ before you know it. That was exactly what the imperial family wanted, and now it was a process for him.
Tuk. Yohan casually threw the crumpled newspaper on the table.
“If the work goes smoothly like this, we will officially talk about it then.”
The imperial family had to monopolize Yohan’s power no matter what.
It wasn’t just a fragmentary reason that strong power should be occupied by themselves.
The balance of the family of the four generations collapses when Yohan enters the public author of Ferbache as it is.
It can be a sharp knife that threatens the imperial family, which boasts absolute authority.
If the power of other aristocrats is concentrated on it, Ferbache transforms beyond a simple family into a ‘power’.
Is such power out of imperial control? This shook the empire’s order from the ground up.
“Ugh…”
While Yohan was pondering, Francia, who was asleep, rose up.
She hugged her white blanket and looked around for Yohan.
“Oh, you were there.”
Soon after, she found Yohan and laughed. Even though she had just woken up, her beauty remained.
“You’re up.”
“Yes… Ugh, I slept too long.”
Francia rubbed her eyes and yawned loudly. Then, when she realized that Yohan’s expression had hardened, she asked.
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Because the imperial family made a lame trick.”
“…A trick?”
She tilted her head and put on a white gown. Then she came up to Yohan and read the newspaper on the table.
“What’s this?”
Francia’s face, which checked the front, was crumpled at once. Rather than anger at the imperial move, it was ridiculous.
“Your Majesty must want to connect me with Lary or the Queen.”
Yohan let out a little laugh.
“…..”
Francia paused her hand holding the newspaper and drooled. Soon, she turned the corner of her mouth and laughed silently.
“Oh, that’s amazing. You’re making such a trick in the imperial family.”
She put the newspaper down on the table and looked at Yohan. The usual soft eyes disappeared, and the cold subdued momentum settled down.
“This can’t go over well.”
A whisper. Francia’s cool voice clambered up on the back of her neck.
“My father is coming soon, and I’ll have to talk properly then.”
Despite being involved with the imperial family, Francia was not agitated at all. Rather, the coldness spurred her calculation.
“What are you going to do?”
Yohan asked. There was much to deal with, but I decided to listen to her before that.
“I’ll have to talk about the details with my father, but I’m going to end the engagement first.”
In Francia’s opinion, there was no need to respond right now.
Anyway, the duke is coming to the imperial road, and it is the imperial family that is nervous as time goes by.
We must deal with the rumors before they get out of hand and become true, but we must not rush out.
It was at the heart of this response.
“First of all, your father should come to the zodiac, so I think you’d better be quiet until then.”
If the Duke of Ferbache comes, things will get bigger even if you don’t want to.
There will be a conflict with the imperial family in public.
“Yes, sir.”
Knowing that, Yohan readily accepted her proposal.
* * *
The Garden of Diamond Palace
Laryana sat at the table breathing in the cold air from the garden. It was winter weather, but the garden at Diamond Palace was warm.
The garden of the palace was basically magical, and there was a madogu that made the mana flowing in the atmosphere hot.
However, the magical warmth that surrounded her did not warm her to her heart.
Slurping….
Laryana, lifting the teacup, slowly took a sip of tea. A deep scent brushed the tip of her nose, but the deep wrinkles on her forehead did not come out.
“I heard you’re going to talk alone”
Zevella, sitting across from her, asked.
“Oh, that’s what happened.”
“Are you satisfied?”
“Well…”
Laryana let out a small sigh and shook his head.
“Honestly, I don’t like the situation.”
Although he was interested and wanted to have a conversation with Yohan, Laryana was not very satisfied.
“Which part?”
“It’s coercive.”
Laryana said firmly, putting down the teacup.
The reason why the marriage took place was not only because of her power to change Yohan’s decision, but because of the influence of the emperor and the crown prince.
The fact that someone’s influence was involved did not match Laryana’s disposition. Free-spirited, she hates meddling.
“Hmm… Come to think of it, it’s the situation that the princess hates the most.”
Zevella, who knew him well, smiled quietly. She could tell by the strangely distorted expression on Laryana’s face.
That Laryana, like Yohan, doesn’t quite like the way things are now.
“Then what would you do?”
“I don’t have a choice, anyway.”
Laryana, which was only called the flower of Rogino because the emperor didn’t care, has a different use than before.
Because she needed to make Yohan a member of the imperial family.
“We have a situation that we don’t want.”
Yohan, who had a lover, and Laryana, who wanted to turn his decision solely on his own charm, were in an unpleasant situation.
“Well… I don’t think it’s bad though.”
Laryana lifted the teacup again. The white steam came up and spread the scent.
“Because my future fate is in my hands.”
The success of this marriage was very important because the emperor himself led and prepared. It wasn’t just about authority.
“Should I break this marriage? I don’t like it.”
When Laryana smiled and said…. Zevella flinched and hurriedly looked around. Fortunately, no one had heard of the servants because they had been bitten.
“…Be careful. It’s called the Diamond Palace, but you may have ears that listen.”
“Where is anyone watching you and me chatting?”
In Zevella’s view, what Laryana just said was quite dangerous. It was no different from rejecting the emperor’s will.
Furthermore, this marriage is related to the royal authority and the aristocratic society of Rogino. It was not a matter to be joked about.
“Hoo-hoo, I’m just saying it.”
Laryana smiled lightly and shrugged. In fact, it was a bit of a real intention, but there was no need to reveal the truth.
“Do you have any schedule?”
Sighing at her slickness, Zevella brought up the question to turn the subject around.
“Nothing has been decided yet. I guess I’m waiting for the rumor to spread further.”
Currently, rumors that Laryana and Yohan will be having a wedding are spreading smoothly. It was an indispensable gossip in the social world.
The fate of the imperial family depends on this, so it should never be rushed or delayed. This is why I am coming out carefully.
“By the way. The rumor is spreading like this, and it’s a little strange that the co-writer Ferbache is quiet. It’s already been nearly a week.”
Laryana smiled softly.
“….Certainly. That’s true. They can’t be unaware of our intentions.”
Zevella slowly recited her head.
“Well, it’s up to you and your brother-in-law. I don’t have to get involved, and there’s no reason for that.”
However, Laryana did not think deeply; her questions were not of much importance in this royal family of Rogino.
“Do you think the marriage will be successful?”
Zevella asked a new question. Laryana looked into the air for a moment, thought deeply, then smiled and shrugged.
“Well. I can’t guarantee it, but can’t Yohan Rahardt ignore me easily?”
Laryana Rogino, the third queen, was an overwhelming beauty and a woman of the highest lineage in the empire, called the flower of the imperial family.
How many men can refuse her temptation?
Even if it wasn’t for the whirlwind of the imperial family, her charm was sufficient.
“But… I’ve known before that he’s a very loyal man to his lover, so first of all, I need to know his taste.”
Laryana looked at Zevella with a gentle face.
“Yohan Rahardt will not simply be influenced by appearance or imperial authority. He has strong beliefs and his own standards. To sway his mind… we must approach them accordingly.”
She added, her golden eyes shining.
“You’ve got to find what he likes, his values, and the weakest link, because it’s not going to be very good to go blind.”
Laryana was aware that her appearance was eerily beautiful, but she did not blindly trust her.
Appearance only helps you to be likable, but it doesn’t even determine your mind.
“It’s a relief that Your Majesty seems to have rejuvenated. You are as confident as ever.”
Zevella smiled lightly and picked up the teacup.
“I’ve always been full of confidence.”
Laryana’s blonde hair, which flowed down the shoulder line, shone even more brilliantly in the sunlight.
“I’m sorry for Princess Ferbache, for I’m taking away her man.”
She thought the process of turning Yohan’s mind was not easy, but she didn’t think it would be impossible.