Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 1
Prologue. It Begins with a Rejected Proposal
“Your Majesty.”
I opened my eyes wide and looked up at the man standing before me. I watched his neat eyebrows rise in a crooked arch. His handsome face bore an expression of utter bewilderment.
“Your Majesty?”
A soft laugh escaped him.
And I realized I’d made another slip of the tongue. This wretched mouth of mine. This wretched mouth! I quickly corrected myself.
“I mean—that is, Your Majesty.”
…
His Majesty, already visibly displeased, didn’t even deign to respond. Well, it was my fault for constantly mistaking this perfectly eligible young man for a father figure.
I quickly flashed a brilliant smile. My eyes crinkled charmingly whenever I smiled—the kind of expression that would appear quite beautiful even to a man whose aesthetic standards belonged to the heavens themselves. I laughed with such radiance that my face trembled, and cried out:
“Marry me!”
Not that terrifying Elad, but me. Marriage. Yes? I fixed him with eyes as wide and innocent as a cat in boots, pressing close against him. And Auredhian Belgot, the young emperor of Belgot with his shimmering silver hair and deep crimson-violet eyes, immediately wore an expression of utter shock.
“Princess.”
He insisted on calling me Yerenika. This man with his absolute defensive walls showed no sign of relenting. I gathered all my strength once more, my eyes sparkling as I gazed up at Auredhian. Now he looked somewhat troubled.
“I didn’t abduct you in order to marry you.”
“I know that.”
“Then why?”
I paused to consider. Why? Because our marriage would be the path to your survival and, as a bonus, mine as well. But I couldn’t lay bare all my true intentions. In the end, I wrapped my answer in a sufficiently pretty package.
“Because I love Your Majesty very much. From the moment I first saw you—”
“I do not love you, Princess.”
A sharp blow.
“Besides, as you know, I have a betrothed.”
Two merciless direct hits left my head spinning. I barely managed to suppress my crumbling expression and laughed brightly. Though I couldn’t help but clench my teeth involuntarily.
“But you said you didn’t have a betrothed.”
“Well then, let me correct that—a future intended betrothed.”
There it is. I knew perfectly well it wasn’t true, so where did this man get off lying like that! I barely restrained the urge to grit my teeth and laughed even more brightly.
“Fine. The future is uncertain anyway, so let’s say that’s true. Then, does Your Majesty love Elad?”
“I cannot say that I do, but…”
“Then don’t I have a chance?”
Auredhian responded lightly to my challenging question.
“And why should I give you a chance?”
“Because you like me…?”
I spoke uncertainly, then faltered at his expression. Auredhian was smiling with profound meaning. His face was so stunningly handsome it hurt to look at, with a languid beauty that naturally drew one in. Again, again. To be captivated so instantly like this!
“I don’t think so.”
Hearing that, I abandoned my earlier belief that this man was kind and gentle. He was truly a suspicious man with high walls. I said I liked you. I said I love you! What could be a more absolute reason than that…!
Troublesome as it is, at least he said he doesn’t love that woman, so there’s still hope. I quickly regained my composure and began to appeal to him.
“If you marry me instead of Elad, you’ll gain far more.”
“For instance?”
“Well, I happen to control the western granary lands of Lebovni. You know about that, don’t you? How the western regions of Lebovni are blessed by the gods.”
“If blessed lands are overflowing anywhere, it would be in Belgot—”
“And! I’m the last remaining princess of Lebovni. So Father will surely provide a generous dowry. The amount is quite substantial, so it would be difficult for you to refuse….”
“A princess of Lebovni worrying about Belgot’s treasury?”
I refused to give up. What about this, then!
“If you marry me, Father will open the Glucaman Road immediately!”
And his response came with genuine curiosity.
“It seems the road will open soon enough without marrying a princess. The Glucaman Road, I mean.”
I was left speechless at those words. At times like this, I resented how my kingdom was nothing but a speck of dust—weak and insignificant. If this man knew why I was doing this, he would accept without hesitation.
Instead of speaking aloud, I screamed silently within. If you marry Elad, you’ll definitely father a terrifying villain! That woman will raise your son to be an evil dark sorcerer, and you’ll be murdered by him before you even reach forty! I’m trying to save you!
But if I spoke those words aloud, I’d be branded mad on the spot. Or worse, interrogated about my sources. In the end, I played my final card. I really didn’t want to say this, but—!
“Am I not beautiful to you?!”
“I’m not sure. I couldn’t say.”
His answer was devastatingly immediate. I was rendered utterly speechless. Let me correct myself: Auredhian Belgot was not only an inflexible iron wall of a man but also a cold-blooded creature devoid of mercy. This was the first time my beauty had failed to work on anyone!
Of course, it wasn’t a new realization. This man was so breathtakingly handsome that Yerenika’s own beauty paled in comparison. Ugh, how infuriating.
As I made a face like I’d eaten something foul, Auredhian chuckled and continued.
“Ah. Will you be angry with such an answer? You, the stubborn cat-like princess of Lebovni.”
“….”
“This style of proposal is novel, I’ll admit, but I’d appreciate it if you understood clearly that I have no intention of marrying a princess. I don’t entertain loveless marriages.”
I was so exasperated I snorted. Hey, you said you don’t love Elad!
And as if reading my expression, Auredhian shrugged. His languid, bored face was full of amusement at whatever he found so entertaining.
“I’m currently attempting to love her.”
“What?”
“Once the king of Lebovni opens the Glucaman Road, I shall send you back.”
Wow, an impenetrable iron wall with no cracks to exploit. Trying to love that wicked woman. You have no idea what you’re talking about. That woman will teach your son dark magic!
I felt like I would die of frustration. This wasn’t merely Auredhian Belgot’s problem—it was a matter of my own peace and safety going forward. As long as I possessed this absurd, driftfish-like body that had to stay close to him. And as long as this world insisted on following the original story’s trajectory!
“Ugh….”
I swallowed my tears of bitter resentment and retreated for now. For now, it was a strategic withdrawal.
But…! My eyes blazed with renewed determination. Did you really think I’d give up just because you’re being difficult? Now that I’ve been dragged all the way to Belgot, I’ll see this marriage through to the end!
Auredhian looked at me with eyes that found me utterly amusing, then turned and strode away with long steps. Infuriating man.
It had been nearly a year since I fell into this book’s world. And roughly twenty years remained until the original story’s true first chapter would begin.
My desperate efforts to save these two pitiful supporting characters were met with ruthless rejection from the villain’s father.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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