Queen of Revenge - 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
“….”
“Good afternoon, Your Highness.”
“…Yes, surprisingly so.”
I crossed the Dining Room and stood before him.
I had meant to confront him about this situation the moment we met, but an unsettling feeling held me back.
‘The smell of blood.’
There had been a faint, acrid scent lingering in the air since moments ago.
Subtle, yet unmistakably the metallic tang of blood.
I voiced the suspicion that had haunted me throughout my return.
“You’ve just come from killing Count Castlane, haven’t you?”
“Mm.”
An ambiguous answer came back—neither confirmation nor denial. The man I glanced up at wore an expression of utter indifference.
“I went to declare my intentions to the Crown Princess, but she said it would be difficult since you already have a Fiancé. So I thought, wouldn’t it be simpler if that Fiancé simply disappeared?”
“I’m quite certain… I asked you to come find me. Not to propose marriage out of the blue.”
“That was my intention. Had the security here not been so formidable.”
Kairon Winterbark shrugged his shoulders.
“By that point, I realized the order of things had reversed. There was no other way to see you again except through a proposal.”
“…Yes. That was my mistake.”
A headache bloomed behind my eyes.
Kairon Winterbark had not hesitated or deliberated over my question. Yet that did not make the man himself any clearer to understand.
Of course, it was true that things had become easier thanks to his swift decision-making.
And yet.
I studied his face quietly, noting the faint amusement playing at its edges.
Yet it remained deeply displeasing.
“I would appreciate it if you consulted with me beforehand about such matters in the future.”
Five years still remained before Kairon Winterbark would become the Tyrant of Kalande, and yet I could already sense something ominous emanating from him.
That casual indifference—as though he had merely swatted a fly rather than taken a life—the emotionless gleam in his eyes, the subtle condescension in his gaze.
I understood now why this felt so familiar.
He already possessed the eyes of a king.
A beast that might tear out my throat at any moment. Which meant I had to be the one holding his leash.
“I despise situations that unfold without my knowledge and without my consent. Even if such things exist within my own designs, I find them deeply offensive.”
“Ah, is that so?”
Kairon Winterbark tilted his head to the left. Then he answered with unexpected lightness.
“I see. That must have been difficult for you. My apologies. It has been a long time since I’ve thought to ask anyone’s permission.”
“Yes, thank you for apologizing. From now on, I will retain final decision-making authority over all matters we undertake together.”
“Together….”
Kairon Winterbark repeated my words mid-sentence, then fell silent. A faint blush crept across the tips of his ears.
‘I’ve been wondering about this since yesterday—why does he suddenly flush like that?’
At such moments, that characteristic sharp pressure he exuded would diminish noticeably, and his voice would become remarkably sweet.
Kairon answered as meekly as a lamb.
“In short, ‘obtain permission beforehand.’ I understand. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Watching him comply so docilely with her wishes suggested he wasn’t the difficult type—yet I couldn’t entirely shake the suspicion that he was merely pretending to be.
My throat had grown parched.
Just then, Bara entered carrying a tray laden with a teapot and teacup.
[Black Tea]
[Delicious]
Bara showed me the word cards, then quickly signed to me alone.
‘Frightening guest. Smells of a frozen heart. Be careful.’
“Yes, thank you, Bara. Now return to the Bedroom.”
Bara set down the tray and hastily fled the Chamber.
Kairon shrugged as if the matter were beneath his notice.
“A charming Maidservant. She looked terrified at the sight of me—am I really so frightening?”
“She’s simply incapable of deception. Please, sit.”
As I gestured to a seat, Kairon settled into it without hesitation.
“Then let us continue where we left off yesterday. Your father hardly seemed enthusiastic about my proposal.”
“He will consider it favorably. I assured him as much when I left.”
I saw no need to mention that anyone receiving a marriage proposal out of the blue would be startled.
Kairon leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table.
“I’ve given this considerable thought overnight, and I confess—this arrangement seems to benefit only me.”
“Indeed, it does appear that way.”
“A true agreement requires both parties to gain comparable advantage. Yet I see no benefit for you in becoming my wife.”
“I was destined to marry a man over sixty. The moment my Fiancé recovered, the ceremony would proceed immediately. For me, merely escaping that shameful union is benefit enough.”
Kairon clicked his tongue as if he’d heard the most absurd thing imaginable.
“Crown Princess. The Northern Region is a perilous land.”
“….”
“You would flee marriage by coming to the Northern Region, practically adjacent to the Demon Realm? That’s no different from saying you’d rather enter a living hell than marry an old man. It’s entirely unconvincing.”
“Everyone has a line they cannot cross, a final boundary they must defend.”
“Obscuring the truth and evading the point makes negotiation difficult, Crown Princess. I prefer directness in all things.”
Kairon smiled with a grimace.
“For your information, I am quite capricious, and my resolve is lighter than it appears. I could easily return to the Main Palace right now and beg forgiveness for a proposal made in a fit of pique.”
“….”
“I also dislike men with murky secrets. So why don’t we be honest? What is the real benefit you’ll gain from this marriage?”
The man asked with eyes like polished glass—what was my true intention?
So we’ve arrived at this point after all.
He was not a man who could be manipulated through clever wordplay.
I drew a deep breath, then spoke with conviction, releasing the words all at once.
“I know of the treason you harbor.”
“….”
“You plan to murder your father and brothers within five years and stage a rebellion. If you marry me, I will accelerate your path to the throne.”
The Commander’s pupils dilated sharply, his composure finally cracking.
Iolet declared in an unwavering voice.
“In exactly two years, you will become the King of Kalande. Because I will make it so.”
And she would stand beside him.
A dense silence fell between them.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Iolet lifted her chin defiantly against his piercing gaze.
Just as the suffocating atmosphere made breathing difficult, Kairon Winterbark pressed his forehead with his hand and chuckled. The icy tension melted in an instant.
“So by obtaining me, you obtain Kalande itself.”
“Precisely.”
“Surely Kalande itself isn’t your true objective. Your ultimate goal is to return here as the Queen of Kalande?”
“Yes.”
Every noble in Elovis stood with Catherine.
To achieve victory in this barren wasteland, she needed to secure her own independent power base.
The Northern Region was her starting point. In that unclaimed land spanning Kalande and Elovis, she would make her leap forward.
“I will make you king, and using you as my backing, I will become the Queen of Elovis.”
This arrangement was an unsavory pact—a mutual agreement to aid each other’s treason, stakes being nothing less than their lives.
Kairon Winterbark studied her intently, as if trying to see through her, and Iolet met his gaze without flinching.
“So you mean to devour both kingdoms. Setting aside the basis for such confidence, what exactly about me made you speak such dangerous words? What if I simply run to Crown Princess Catherine and tell her everything?”
“It would gain you nothing, but if you wish to try, do so. My Elder Sister can do nothing but slit the throat of her foolish younger brother.”
For a moment, it seemed his pupils narrowed.
The emotion glinting in those icy eyes was unmistakably fury.
Iolet, who had just been thinking ‘Even if I die, I have Mother’s jewels to resurrect me once,’ flinched.
“…And you would forfeit the opportunity to dominate half of The Continent.”
Had she provoked him too far?
No, but he wasn’t the type to hesitate at this.
Contrary to her fears, the turbulence in his eyes gradually dissipated.
The man, now expressionless, spoke to himself.
“This doesn’t differ much… It seems I should be the one receiving the proposal, though the terms feel rather unbalanced…”
He stroked his chin, lost in thought, his gaze subtle. Then he seemed to reach his own conclusion.
“Well, I suppose I can overlook this much.”
Even though he was smiling, Iolet felt as though he could see not just her exterior, but the very core of her being.
It felt as though all her secrets—not merely the dangerous ambitions she harbored, but far more intimate ones—had been laid bare.
Kairon Winterbark suddenly bowed his head toward her.
Iolet stiffened, raising her shoulders, but his words defied her expectations.
“Tell me you desire me, Princess.”

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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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