Beguiling the Enemy’s Patriarch - Chapter 71

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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 71
The letter that arrived was not written in my father’s, mother’s, or Tezebia’s hand. What was printed on the document was a roster—the list of the 18th Lebovni Delegation coming to Belgot.
“A delegation…? Gasp.”
I discovered several familiar names near the top of that roster. The name written in the delegation representative column was…
“My brother-in-law.”
“Your brother-in-law?”
Whether Auredhian Belgot questioned me or not, I scanned the roster multiple times with an astonished expression. The delegation’s representative was Duke Lebanon—Tezebia’s husband. But that wasn’t all.
“Fernandis and… goodness, even Sergei Lebanon.”
I muttered in bewilderment. Wait, all these people are coming to Belgot?
“All male names.”
Auredhian Belgot’s expression seemed displeased about something. But I was too preoccupied, my mind spinning furiously, to properly register his words.
I wasn’t sure about Sergei Lebanon, but Duke Lebanon and Fernandis coming to Belgot made me uneasy. In the original story, weren’t they the ones who embarked on an expedition to Belgot to reclaim Tezebia, only to meet with disaster? And now they were coming to Belgot again? Surely they weren’t planning to follow the original narrative. They couldn’t be. I concealed my anxiety and cautiously asked Auredhian Belgot.
“This is naturally a goodwill delegation, correct?”
“Perhaps.”
And a rather curt response came back. Auredhian Belgot’s lips curved upward at an angle.
“If they’re cooperative with Belgot, then it’s a goodwill delegation.”
“Please, don’t frighten me like that. Surely you don’t have any other intentions…?”
“Other intentions? For example, what?”
“Well… like perhaps you’re thinking of swallowing a trivial kingdom like Lebovni in one bite…?”
Somehow, it sounded plausible. A small kingdom like Lebovni would crumble the moment Belgot so much as touched it. Besides, it seemed Lebovni still hadn’t opened the Glucaman Road…
I smiled as beautifully as I could, brainwashing myself that my face was Lebovni’s face.
“Surely you wouldn’t do such a thing, at least for my sake? Your Majesty?”
“When you say it like that, I feel like being contrary.”
Auredhian Belgot answered mischievously.
“Belgot’s future foreign policy depends on Lebovni’s attitude in these Three-Nation Talks.”
Why did my heart suddenly ache? Even when I racked my memory seriously, there was nothing specific I could pinpoint.
“As long as I’m in your hands, Lebovni won’t be the first to draw a sword. You know that.”
“Hmm.”
“And even if I return to Lebovni, my father won’t make such unreasonable demands like this time.”
“Right, whatever.”
“I’m serious.”
It was almost a vow to myself. Because the moment I returned, I planned to pour out all my whining and tearful pleas to my father until I extracted a promise that he would never be so greedy again. Auredhian Belgot, who was barely listening, asked something completely unexpected.
“Who is Sergei Lebanon?”
“Ah. He’s my childhood friend. He’s also my sister’s husband’s younger brother.”
Sergei Lebanon’s arrival was truly unexpected. Without realizing it, I frowned deeply. That bastard, Sergei Lebanon. I had trusted only him, and then he had kidnapped me in a surprise attack. But the moment I looked at the man before me again, my lips naturally curved into a bright smile.
“In any case, I’m not sure if this is a good thing or not…?”
“”
“Well, what’s good is good. I’ll get to see my Lebovni family’s faces after so long.”
I reached out and gently touched the shimmering silver hair, smiling contentedly. But the realization came quickly. What the fact that a delegation from Lebovni was coming truly meant was something else entirely. That Auredhian Belgot had personally delivered this news to me was undoubtedly his indirect way of telling me when I should return.
“….”
Yet he said nothing. I held myself for a moment, then quietly observed his violet eyes as they cast downward beneath his lashes. The buoyant mood that had been swelling just moments before deflated instantly. The day of departure, which I had only vaguely contemplated, was now completely confirmed.
He wasn’t speaking to me, but it was obvious what Auredhian was thinking. The thoughts I had deliberately postponed for days came rushing back like an avalanche. If things continued this way, would it truly be the end?
“So you’ve been busy with this lately.”
I consciously blocked my thoughts. If I allowed myself to dwell on it, I feared my spirits would sink endlessly. Besides, this man had come here to rest, and I didn’t want to broach such melancholy subjects. I smiled brightly as though nothing troubled me.
“If it’s the Three-Nation Talks, then Azekhien will be sending representatives too. Oh my, that’s the country with all the mana stones, isn’t it? How daunting.”
“…Yes.”
“Now that I think about it, it must be frustrating for you. The Glucaman Accord renegotiation—wasn’t that fifty years ago?”
Auredhian merely nodded briefly. I quickly racked my brain for another topic.
“Well then. How has Elad been lately?”
And I had failed to find an appropriate subject. The moment the words left my lips, I screamed internally. Foolish, foolish Yerenika—why would you bring up that woman here?
“…I don’t even want to concern myself with her.”
His loosely composed expression hardened instantly. Auredhian spoke as though spitting out the words.
“And yet I’ll have to pursue her tail. Until I can seize her by the scruff and throw her into the Underground Dungeon. The thought of it leaves a foul taste in my mouth.”
It was an unusually vehement tone from him. I could only laugh awkwardly. Had I broached the subject poorly? But this was a conversation that needed to happen eventually regardless. Now was simply the time. I took his cheeks in both hands and met his eyes.
“Your Majesty, I must say—absolutely, absolutely, absolutely, absolutely.”
I spoke each word with deliberate emphasis.
“You must never, ever marry her. Do you understand?”
“Have I lost my mind?”
The answer came immediately. Auredhian’s expression twisted as though he’d heard something preposterous. Yet I couldn’t immediately feel reassured. Regardless of the original story, Soleia Elad had wagered nothing less than the empire itself—and me—against Auredhian.
In my estimation, Auredhian Belgot had a very high likelihood of moving according to that woman’s designs. Soleia had struck precisely at the points that would make Auredhian see her as an attractive option. To place a leash on herself directly. To keep her within his grasp and under his watch.
I pressed his cheek firmly and spoke again.
“Never. No matter what that woman offers. No matter what she does. Marriage is absolutely forbidden. Betrothal is absolutely forbidden. Do you understand?”
A flicker of something crossed his violet eyes. His lips parted as though he meant to say more. But I was faster.
“Don’t you dare think something ridiculous like ‘she’s a dangerous woman, so rather than make her an enemy, I should keep her close and watch her.’ I won’t stand for it as long as I draw breath.”
“….”
“You need to answer me.”
Auredhian seemed to study my heart for a moment. Then a short, almost pained sound escaped him.
“Ah, so you’ve been worried about that from the beginning?”
“Pardon?”
It wasn’t the answer I’d been waiting for. Bewildered, I looked at him and suddenly understood the meaning of his words. From the beginning…. From the moment I first laid eyes on you.
“I thought something was odd about it, from when you suddenly proposed.”
I felt somewhat reassured by Auredhian’s following murmur. You’ve misunderstood, Your Majesty. My beginning wasn’t from that moment…. It was earlier…. I hid my true feelings and smiled sweetly as I pressed for his answer.
“In any case. Please, give me your answer.”
“Very well.”
Auredhian answered more readily than I expected.
“I have no intention of doing as that woman wishes. Though I’m not certain what she wants from me.”
Unfortunately, I knew. What Soleia desired was the most powerful divinity in existence. To use that divinity to reach the distant realm of gods beyond Udeta. Since I couldn’t state this plainly, I chose instead to point it out playfully.
“It’s probably because you’re far too handsome. And since Your Majesty keeps being kind to her, she’s getting presumptuous. Just erect the same iron wall toward her that you did toward me—multiply it by ten.”
“It was already more than ten times over to begin with.”
Only then did Auredhian’s expression soften, and he laughed like a sigh. He continued to toy with my hair, then gently pressed his lips against mine. It was an action that seemed almost natural.
“Ah…”
And in that brief contact, every stray thought scattered from my mind like leaves in wind. Feeling the heat rise not just to my ears but across my entire face, I simply pulled him close and held him tight.
* * *
After that day, Auredhian visited the Temple roughly once every three days. There was no particularly clear reason, yet he continued coming. It was almost unprecedented for this man to seek me out first. So at first it felt a bit awkward, but humans are creatures of habit, and I quickly grew accustomed to his visits to the Temple. In truth, even accounting for once every three days, there were only a handful of meetings left in the time I had remaining in Belgot.
Yet despite visiting the Temple so frequently, Auredhian still never broached the subject of my return to Lebovni. What would be the point of bringing it up anyway? I had always assumed our meetings would end the moment I left the Imperial Palace, so I was grateful that they continued, however sporadically. Besides, for reasons I couldn’t quite explain, the meetings that had begun to occur regularly were not limited to those with Auredhian alone.

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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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