Queen of Revenge - Chapter 52

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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 52
Kairon Winterbark, who had grown pale in the span of a moment, declared flatly.
“Kissing is permitted.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“You may kiss me, touch me, undress me. I am yours anyway, so it matters not how you handle me.”
“No, I—”
“Do not provoke me for trivial reasons—as a substitute for someone else, to forget something, or to deceive yourself needlessly. I am not in the mood for such games. If you claim to be my true wife, then treat me as such.”
“Yes… I understand.”
Iolet nodded ambiguously.
She did not fully comprehend when she was meant to engage in such acts if not for those three reasons, but she decided to pretend she understood.
There were too many matters to discuss this night to waste time arguing further.
“Have you requested reinforcements from the Royal Family?”
“I sent a messenger that day. In approximately five more days, a carrier pigeon should return from the Capital with their response—if they are willing to send one.”
“Once the Royal Family replies, I would like to visit the Northern Fortress myself. Would that be possible?”
“You? Personally? To see me?”
Life returned to Kairon Winterbark’s cold eyes. They became transparent only at moments like these.
“Of course it is possible. However, to cross the border, must we not inform King Elovis as well?”
“The messenger will need a fortnight to make the round trip to the Capital anyway. We can go in secret. I wish to tour the fortress and visit the nearby villages as well. As quickly as possible.”
The Royal Inspector had not yet arrived.
It was only recently that the Capital had been thrown into turmoil by the incident in which The King had nearly drunk poisoned tea.
With the enactment of the Dedication Prohibition Law, the political situation was in complete chaos, and matters at the border had clearly fallen down the list of priorities.
But Catherine would not leave her alone. She would send an inspector to monitor her every move.
Moreover, there was no knowing what Benedix Valer might discover or how he might wield it.
There was no time to delay. I had to move forward to the next phase.
‘I must elevate Kairon’s status. He must become a noble as quickly as possible. Only then can he receive a territory and accumulate personal wealth.’
I had already laid the groundwork for my plan and cast the line.
The three princes of Kalande were surely exploring the bait of the Northern Fortress by now. The best scenario would be if two or more princes came to the fortress.
Iolet picked up three pebbles from a flowerpot on the windowsill.
“Which of the three princes do you most wish to eliminate first? Do you have a predetermined order?”
“If I am to eliminate them all anyway, the order matters little. I simply kill whichever one I can draw before me first.”
As the conversation shifted, Kairon Winterbark’s interest faded immediately. He seemed genuinely indifferent to how I proceeded.
‘Indeed, he shows no interest.’
Kairon Winterbark seemed like a man who regarded most of his life—everything except me—as trivial.
Sometimes I felt that our contract, my plan to seize the throne, even my revenge against his brothers were nothing more than light amusement to him.
Iolet grew somewhat anxious.
Did he truly not wish for revenge?
Then why had he staged a rebellion in his previous life?
Kairon Winterbark’s rebellion had been of such magnitude that it would have been impossible without personal grievance.
When the King of Kalande changed, the neighboring kingdoms trembled.
Even allied nations bound by marriage to Kalande dared not send reinforcements, and Catherine, who had been Queen of Elovis at the time, had also attempted to make peace with him.
It was an event that had upended the entire Continent.
The news had reached even Iolet’s ears, despite being confined to Castlaine Territory and cut off from Capital information, which spoke volumes about the magnitude of its repercussions.
Yet the very man at the center of it all displayed such a lack of ambition?
“You do want to become The King, don’t you?”
“Well, it hardly makes sense that the throne wouldn’t be mine. I suppose it’s more of a sentiment along those lines.”
Was it not a lack of ambition, but rather overflowing confidence?
Iolet grew increasingly confused.
Or perhaps he preferred to wait and sweep away his enemies all at once rather than eliminate them one by one?
Did he simply not feel any urgency?
It mattered little to Iolet whether Kairon seized the throne through blood and steel. As long as that method didn’t consume five years of time.
I didn’t have the luxury of waiting that long.
“Shall we play a simple game as a sign of reconciliation?”
Iolet decided to change her approach—employing a method perfectly suited for a man who viewed the world as a game.
“What sort of game?”
“We exchange questions one at a time. If you can’t answer, you empty the glass before you.”
“I like that.”
Iolet poured wine into the glass.
Kairon sank deeper into his chair and nodded—a signal for her to begin.
“What sort of woman was your mother?”
“A topic not unrelated to politics, I see.”
“I should at least know something of my husband’s family history.”
Kairon let out a soft laugh, as if he’d decided to play along.
“A weak and foolish woman. She was a maidservant to the Queen, but I’m told she harbored empty hopes that by seducing The King and becoming a Royal Concubine, she could lift her debt-ridden family from ruin.”
….
“Unfortunately, the position of Royal Concubine to King Kalande cannot be obtained through the King’s favor alone. When the Royal Family already has three sons and the Queen and concubines have firmly divided power among themselves, there is even less room to wedge oneself in.”
He spoke as though recounting someone else’s tale, his voice devoid of emotion.
“That woman bore me and happened to receive the King’s affection, thus surviving. Yet in the end, her family was annihilated and her son was driven to the Border. She herself did not die peacefully either. In any case, there’s likely almost nothing useful I can gain from my mother’s side.”
It was a darker story than expected. Yet Kairon shrugged as though it were nothing.
“Now it’s my turn, yes? Your first love?”
“Me? Right now?”
So suddenly?
I was taken aback.
Iolet answered almost without thinking.
“Well, I had a Fiancé…”
“Duke Valer?”
“Yes. When my mother was pregnant with me, she made an arrangement with Duke Valer, with whom she had connections. If the child was a daughter, she would marry the Duke’s son; if a son, the Duke’s daughter. …So when I was born, the entire Valer household came rushing to the Queen’s Palace, or so I’ve heard.”
“Then you must have been quite close.”
“It would be difficult for it to be otherwise….”
How much should I answer honestly?
Kairon pressed in with keen insight.
“How intimate were you with him? As much as that uncouth Guard Knight?”
“You mean Lucian?”
“Isn’t he also a candidate to be your Royal Concubine?”
“What?”
“No? Then why did you match your outfit with his yesterday?”
So he saw that too…!
Iolet managed to change the subject.
“Your questions are finished now, sir. It’s my turn.”
Kairon Winterbark seemed to have much more to say, but for now, he held his tongue.
Iolet dreaded what question he would ask next.
“I’m curious about your half-brothers’ personalities. I’d like to know more details about what kind of power each of them wields.”
“First Prince Leonhilt maintains his power based on the Royal Steward and the bureaucratic faction, along with conservative noble forces. As the Queen’s son, he has the highest legitimacy. Currently, as you know, he also controls the purse strings. He’s a cautious man of principle. Second Prince Dietrich is the Supreme Commander of the Kingdom’s military—more of a warlord than a politician. Third Prince Emeric overwhelms the other two princes in terms of intelligence. He excels at public opinion management and propaganda politics. He himself is the head of Kalande’s largest Information Guild.”
Kairon answered without pausing for breath. His response was remarkably precise and lucid.
Just as Iolet’s curiosity was satisfied and her mind went blank, a question came flying at her.
“What was your most brilliant time and your most terrible time?”
“…My most brilliant time was when my mother was still alive…”
Why on earth was he curious about this?
Iolet’s lips, which wouldn’t stop trembling, moved.
“When a dear friend was by my side.”
“Then what was your most terrible time?”
“Every moment when those two were not beside me.”
“It seems you were quite intimate with the Duke. A kiss is nothing compared to that.”
“Could we stop talking about that? Do I need to apologize for something I’m no longer giving meaning to?”
“Is that a question?”
“No!”
Iolet was about to flare up in anger but held herself back.
“How far can you deal with Demons? Can you predict their movements, lure them to a desired location, or even capture them alive?”
“Prediction, luring, capture, killing—all possible. I’ve caught and killed so many of them that they fear me quite a bit. My turn again. Does Benedix Valer perhaps know about that necklace as well?”
Unlike before, Kairon’s eyes grew serious.

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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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