Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 55

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

Chapter 55
“Haha, so you were worried about me.”
“You make it impossible for me to look away. Always.”
He exhaled a suppressed sigh. I forgot what a pitiful state I was in and broke into a foolish grin.
“Don’t smile like it’s nothing serious.”
“Ow.”
And I was promptly punished for it. My cheeks stretched out like mochi as Auredhian pinched them firmly—though there was no real force behind it, so it didn’t hurt. Still, my already lightning-struck face must have looked even more pathetic. He scolded me while squeezing my cheeks.
“If you knew how frightened I was, you wouldn’t be able to say such things.”
“I’m sorryyyy….”
A fleeting expression crossed his usually relaxed face. I stammered out an excuse before catching myself. Wait, I mean… he really did seem quite worried… But that expression lasted only a moment. His straight lips curved upward, and Auredhian whispered teasingly.
“So, shall we eat first? Or would you prefer to bathe?”
My face flushed crimson again. This man—why does he say such improper things so casually! It was hardly appropriate to hear such words from bed first thing in the morning. Or was it? Something about it felt oddly fitting!
Either way, there was only one thing I could manage to say aloud.
“I’ll eat something….”
* * *
It turned out I had opened my eyes not in the morning, but around midday.
Auredhian seemed to have urgent matters to attend to, so he left me in the care of the attendants. That was actually better—my face kept flushing, making it difficult to meet his eyes.
Auredhian had reminded me repeatedly before leaving, clearly still concerned.
“Please stay put until I return, Princess.”
Since I didn’t have the energy to wander about anyway, I simply nodded. After that, everything moved swiftly. Before I could even protest, I found myself eating an elaborate feast spread before me, and after finishing, I was whisked away to the bathing chamber. When I saw my reflection in the bathroom mirror, I nearly fainted again.
“What is this!”
From crying so much, my eyes were hollow and sunken, my complexion deathly pale. And my hair—instead of being soft, it was matted and disheveled. I looked like a ghost. I had faced that man looking like this! Any hope of enchanting him was long gone. I screamed silently. Nothing in life ever goes according to plan!
While I was reeling from this shock, the Imperial Palace attendants scrubbed me clean. After blinking a few times, I had been restored to human form, gleaming from head to toe. I stood dazed before the mirror, now dressed in a light coral-colored gown.
“My, such efficiency….”
So fast!
“This way, Your Highness?”
The Imperial Palace attendant smiled warmly and guided me. We arrived at a room located about two doors down from the Emperor’s bedroom.
“Please take a look inside. It’s a bit untidy since we prepared it in such haste….”
Of course, to my eyes it looked three times nicer than my room at Bellirook Palace.
“His Majesty has ordered you to stay here for the time being. Since we cannot completely remove the security measures protecting the Imperial Palace, we have cleared only this third floor for now.”
Right, the Imperial Palace was said to be heavily secured with magical artifacts. The attendant continued kindly.
“So while it may feel somewhat confining, His Majesty wishes for you to remain here for the time being, if you would be so kind.”
“Yes, of course.”
I nodded quickly. Auredhian had said similar things multiple times before leaving—asking if I could please stay put, even if just for a few days.
I mean, what had I done to deserve being called such a troublemaker? I felt slightly wronged, but truthfully, his concern was justified. A foreign princess could not possibly be allowed to die coldly in the Imperial Palace, of all places—especially not in the Emperor’s quarters.
But if I stayed here, I wouldn’t be able to check on Bellirook Palace….
The dark withered flowers lying around Bellirook Palace were clearly acting as catalysts for some form of dark magic. I had to find a way to destroy them.
I glanced around the room briefly, then ventured to speak to the attendant who stood waiting respectfully.
“Um, what has become of Bellirook Palace?”
“Please don’t even ask, Your Highness. It’s in quite an uproar right now. His Majesty has been so stern about it….”
“Pardon?”
A flicker of realization crossed the maidservant’s face. I stopped in my tracks and seized her arm.
“How could His Majesty be so stern? A commotion, you said? What sort of commotion…?”
Could Auredhian have already discovered that this was Soleia’s doing? If so, that would be good news…!
After a long hesitation, the maidservant finally spoke with careful deliberation.
“It’s just… all the servants of Bellirook Palace are being interrogated right now…”
“What?”
I let out a sharp cry before she could even finish her sentence. That wasn’t it at all!
* * *
“You mustn’t, Princess!”
Roxanne, a maidservant of the Imperial Palace, blocked my path.
“You cannot go down to the lower levels. It is still dangerous for you, Princess!”
“Then please fetch His Majesty at once!”
I was throwing a tantrum—the most childish, unreasonable sort of tantrum.
“Otherwise, I’ll jump down to the lower levels myself…!”
What absurd blackmail this was! My entire body flushed with embarrassment. The situation was this: I, unable to move freely within the Imperial Palace, was throwing a fit demanding that Auredhian come to me—the master of Belgot himself. Roxanne and the other maidservants, at a loss, tried to soothe me.
“He will arrive shortly, Princess.”
“Please come here and wait just a moment!”
And here I was, acting like—
[How childish you are, little crumb.]
“I know that!”
I cried out, and Roxanne and the maidservants grew even more flustered. I lowered my voice and continued.
“I don’t want to be like this either…! Truly, if you would just come down here quickly, everything would be resolved!”
[Stop pestering me for the impossible, child. There are limits to what I can do.]
What kind of god was so utterly useless…! I swallowed my frustration and glanced down the stairwell below. This was the furthest I could venture.
Of course, I had no genuine intention of jumping down. I had no desire to willingly endure such pain. But I was equally desperate to know what Auredhian Belgot was doing at Bellirook Palace.
In the end, all I could do was throw a tantrum. Would that man truly come to indulge my childish demands?
Roxanne spoke with an expression as though she might weep.
“His Majesty is… right now, we dare not approach him…”
“What on earth is he doing?”
Marienne and my sister maidservants are innocent, you understand! Of course, no matter how much I beat my chest in frustration, my telepathy would never reach Auredhian. The solution came from an unexpected quarter.
“Princess?”
“Diego!”
I spun around at the welcome voice, my neck nearly snapping from the motion. Diego, the Vice-Priest of Barishard with black hair and gentle golden eyes, was staring at me in surprise. My eyes widened instantly. A priest! Diego approached me in a flustered hurry.
“I heard you had collapsed, but what are you doing standing before the staircase?”
[Oh, Raduer. You were one of the children I was particularly fond of.]
“Radu…?”
“Yes?”
“It’s nothing.”
I realized that Raduer was Diego’s baptismal name and hastily closed my mouth. Don’t reveal such intimate secrets! I cried out internally while forcing a smile on my face.
“I want to return to Bellirook Palace, but I can’t get down on my own. I heard that Belgot Palace has many devices powered by magic….”
“Ah, yes. It’s true that you shouldn’t wander about carelessly.”
“So, that’s why….”
I quickly seized the opportunity to speak.
“Would you be willing to accompany me?”
Fortunately, the kind priest did not refuse my request. The moment I saw Diego Schmart nod his head, fanfare erupted in my mind.
“As expected, Diego Schmart is the only one I can trust!”
[What about me?]
You’re too loud!
I desperately fought to keep those words from spilling out of my mouth. Diego Schmart let out a somewhat embarrassed laugh and kindly extended his hand.
“Shall we go then?”
* * *
The journey to Bellirook Palace was not far. I carefully followed Diego Schmart out of Belgot Palace, and before long, we arrived at the entrance of Bellirook Palace.
Beneath my feet, the grass of the garden rustled. An icy chill immediately crept up my legs. I swept my wary gaze across the garden before the palace.
“They’re gone….”
The towering black flowers the size of a person that I had seen that dawn had vanished without a trace. Those carnivorous plants that had gaped their mouths wide as if to swallow a person whole were nowhere to be found, no matter how hard I searched.
I couldn’t tell whether I should feel relieved or anxious….
I exhaled a deep sigh and carefully made my way across the garden. The white, onion-shaped palace drew gradually closer.
After experiencing what happened that dawn, Bellirook Palace looked so ominous. It was a palace that had reminded me fondly of the Royal Palace of Lebovni. I never imagined its image would change so drastically in a single night. I trembled and quickened my pace across the garden.
And the moment I stepped into the palace entrance, my footsteps came to an abrupt halt. A chillingly cold voice resonated through the hall beyond the entrance.

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