Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 18

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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 18
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Good heavens. I’d never encountered such an impenetrable wall. I laughed hollowly at myself. Right, of course. Expecting Auredhian to come running whenever I called was far too presumptuous. He was, after all, the Emperor of Belgot.
He wasn’t naturally a leisurely person to begin with, and someone of his stature certainly wouldn’t come and go at my whim.
Following yesterday’s failed seduction attempt, my second bold strategy crumbled before it even began. And he’d assigned me a priest from the Temple directly, no less. Wasn’t this essentially a silent declaration that he wouldn’t even look at me? If I couldn’t see his face, how was I supposed to win him over? My soaring spirits plummeted back to earth.
“Where shall I escort you, Princess?”
The only consolation was that the priest named Diego Schmart was quite handsome. I swallowed my tears and found solace in that fact. Yet my voice emerged thoroughly dejected.
“I wanted to see beyond the garden…”
“Beyond the garden? You’re curious about the eastern side of the Imperial Palace, then?”
Diego Schmart smiled kindly at me. His smiling face was neat and virtuous—truly beautiful. For a moment, I forgot my melancholy and admired those features. It’s only natural to be drawn to beautiful faces.
And Diego, while not quite reaching Auredhian’s otherworldly beauty, was undeniably a handsome man of divine countenance. Puppy-like gentle eyes and clear golden irises. Sharp jawline and a slender frame. From his neatly fastened collar down to his ankles, his white priestly robes draped perfectly. He exuded the refined, ascetic atmosphere befitting a priest who served the divine.
What I wanted was a silver-haired, blue-eyed beauty, but… what good is searching for someone who isn’t here?
“Then shall we take a light stroll around the fence?”
In truth, I had no intention of venturing beyond a five-hundred-meter radius. Who knew what might happen if I wandered too far carelessly?
But feeling guilty about summoning someone on a whim, I ultimately decided to make one complete circuit around the eastern side of the Imperial Palace. I’d simply think of it as familiarizing myself with the palace layout. I pushed my melancholy aside and answered brightly.
“Yes! Let’s take a look!”
“This way then.”
Just before we crossed the fence adorned with white handkerchiefs, Diego gave me firm instructions.
“If you feel any discomfort anywhere, you must tell me immediately. I’ll need to infuse you with divine power right away.”
“Understood.”
“I don’t possess divine power as formidable as His Majesty’s. Therefore, it will take some time to transfer it to you. So if you feel even the slightest discomfort, please tell me immediately.”
Ah. Now I understood. The clear, pristine aura that Auredhian always carried was absent from Diego. I nodded vigorously.
Surely nothing would happen?
My decision to tour the Imperial Palace proved worthwhile after all. For one thing, Diego was quite good company. Being a priest by nature, he was gentle and warm. He kindly explained various parts of the palace as we walked.
“If you head south from your quarters at Bellirook Palace, you’ll find the path leading to the Training Grounds where the Imperial Knights practice. Since His Majesty manages it personally, you likely won’t be able to enter the inner grounds.”
“I see.”
Southern Training Grounds. I quickly committed those words to memory. Auredhian personally managed it, no less. Hotspot number one.
“The garden we just passed is the Central Garden of the Barisha Imperial Palace. The late Emperor and Empress cherished it dearly. Now that the position of Empress is vacant, the palace gardeners maintain it exclusively.”
“Oh. Does His Majesty visit often?”
“Of course.”
My ears perked up instantly. Auredhian hotspot number two: the Central Garden of the Imperial Palace.
I continued walking while listening intently to Diego’s words. The conversation flowed smoothly onward.
“That grand palace facing the garden is the Central Palace—Belgot Palace, the residence of His Majesty the Emperor. Since the garden is right in front, he frequents it often. He often takes tea with Lady Soleia Elad in the Central Garden.”
“Oh. That’s useful information.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
I quickly caught the words that had tumbled out of my mouth unbidden. So he takes tea with Soleia Elad in that garden? Seizing the moment, I carefully broached the subject.
“Um, Priest. About Lady Soleia Elad…”
“Yes. Please go on.”
“Is she… His Majesty’s betrothed, more or less?”
“Hmm….”
Diego tilted his head for a moment before speaking again.
“You’ve never formally been engaged, but you are provisionally designated as the next Empress, Your Highness.”
“Provisionally designated?”
“Yes. For about five years now. Elad has been quite aggressive about it.”
Ah, so it wasn’t a formal engagement after all—Soleia was the one clinging to him unilaterally! I felt a spark of hope at that revelation, only to have it extinguished just as quickly by what came next.
“Moreover, His Majesty doesn’t seem to be rejecting the idea either. In my opinion, he’ll likely become formally engaged before the year is out….”
What’s the difference, really? I pressed my temples. Not rejecting the idea—so Auredhian did have feelings after all? I asked as casually as possible, making sure to sound completely disinterested.
“I see. So His Majesty does have feelings for her.”
“Feelings….”
Diego seemed to be considering something carefully. I worked hard to maintain an expression that said, “I’m not really interested, but I wouldn’t mind hearing your thoughts.”
After a brief silence, Diego answered slowly.
“Well, I’ve never sensed anything like that from him, to be honest.”
“Really?”
I found myself responding with unmistakable delight before I could stop myself, and I wanted to bite my tongue. Don’t show how happy you are, Yerenika!
Fortunately, Diego didn’t seem to notice the color rising in my cheeks. With a thoughtful expression, he continued slowly.
“You may have noticed, Your Highness, but while His Majesty is generally magnanimous, he has fundamentally high walls around himself.”
“Ah, walls….”
“Yes. And while he’s forgiving, if you cross the line of what he’ll tolerate, he becomes somewhat….”
Diego trailed off with an ambiguous smile. I tilted my head.
“Somewhat what? What happens?”
Diego smiled and shook his head.
“Nothing, really. In any case, rather than giving his whole heart to Elad, he likely just finds her acceptable. In truth, Elad would be an excellent strategic partner.”
Strategic partner. The phrase stuck with me. Right—Soleia was supposed to become the next Master of the Magic Tower. With that much power and ability, Auredhian might well have judged her qualified to be Empress.
I tried to recall the original work again. Decarve’s childhood seemed to be scattered throughout the story in flashbacks and intermission side stories.
In fact, Decarve had almost no memories of his father. Recalling the setting that he was always cradled in his mother’s embrace, it wasn’t difficult to infer that his parents’ relationship wasn’t particularly harmonious.
But regardless, if the original story proceeded as written, an engagement or marriage would definitely happen in the near future. If he became formally engaged, it would be too late. My chance to get close to him would be completely cut off.
“Right. If there’s a right time, it’s now….”
What does it matter that he’s not formally engaged yet? He’s still an unattached man!
While I was lost in thought, Diego apparently continued speaking. He called out to me with a puzzled tone.
“From now on, regarding the palaces to the east— Your Highness?”
“Oh, sorry. Please continue.”
“This part is truly important. It concerns Belgot Palace, the main palace of the Imperial Palace and the one used by His Imperial Majesty.”
Diego continued with a somewhat stern tone.
“You must be especially careful with Belgot Palace, Your Highness. Since it’s the palace for His Imperial Majesty and the future Empress, the security is at least ten times more thorough than other palaces. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it’s covered in mana stones.”
“Gasp.”
“So please avoid getting close to Belgot Palace as much as possible, and only venture as far as the courtyard. Even with me there, anything beyond that is dangerous.”
I nodded pale-faced. A palace covered in mana stones—for someone as weak as me, it might as well be the final dungeon.
The only problem was that the handsome Emperor I needed to save lived inside it…?
For some reason, I felt a headache coming on. I was certain that during my stay here, I would never set foot in Belgot Palace. I had absolutely no intention of willingly experiencing that terrible pain.
So what should I do? Whether I separate Soleia Elad from him or seduce him myself, I need to see his face first and stick close to his side. But if I can’t get inside….
I rolled my mind over and over, devising a plan. My eyes gleamed as I spun around to survey the Central Garden I’d already passed through. After all, the first rule of attack is to wait patiently until your target appears!
If I can’t go inside, then I’ll simply wait for that man to come out…!
And from that day forward, I made my nest in the Central Garden before the Imperial Palace.
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My plan was simple but perfect. To lure the Emperor, I would lie in ambush along the path he frequented. After all, I couldn’t summon Auredhian myself, and I couldn’t visit the Imperial Palace—this was the only method available to me.
It was admittedly a crude approach. But I had time to spare, didn’t I? I would try anything within my means. Since I’d obtained the precious intelligence that Auredhian often appeared in the Central Garden or the Training Grounds, there was no reason not to act on it.
I couldn’t enter the Training Grounds, so I’d start by conquering the Garden!

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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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