The Cooking Princess - Chapter 119

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The important thing wasn’t to execute the Empress, but rather ‘to spread word that she would be executed.’

Shuel gave the soldiers various instructions that would be difficult for Chloe to understand.

Meanwhile, Chloe hadn’t been idle either.

She criticized to the international community the reality of the Northern Continent trying to arbitrarily seize another country’s throne under the pretext of succession wars.

Chloe’s warning that if the powerful Luzhiere Empire could suffer this fate, they too could be stabbed in the back at any time, was surprisingly well-received.

Other empires and kingdoms also harbored unease about the Northern Continent’s king who had illegally married his daughter to Duke Claude.

If they simply stood by and watched the disaster befalling the Luzhiere Empire,

anxiety that the Northern Continent’s king might interfere in the same way when ‘they’ tried to inherit the throne moved the royal families of each nation.

Chloe’s years of building relationships with various countries through trade hadn’t been in vain.

They expressed regret over the misfortune that had befallen Chloe, a wise and reasonable trading partner, and began subtly ostracizing the Northern Continent’s king.

Though they didn’t immediately sever diplomatic ties, it was enough to plant the anxiety that ‘they too could suffer the same fate,’ so Chloe succeeded in achieving her goal.

Claude seemed to have tried to win over Imperial Palace personnel as quickly as possible to somehow assassinate Shuel as well.

However, since Chloe meticulously took responsibility for all food in the Imperial Palace, Chloe and Shuel avoided being poisoned.

And since Chloe’s martial prowess was more than sufficient to protect herself, she managed to survive the countless kidnapping attempts directed at her.

‘But since I’m constantly under stress, it would be good if we could uproot Claude’s pawns from within the Imperial Palace as quickly as possible.’

Not long after, Shuel discovered those who had conspired with the Empress to poison the Emperor, and had them bound in the Imperial Palace while exposing their crimes in detail.

“They secretly exchanged opinions about the assassination through written correspondence while visiting the imprisoned Empress.”

The bound nobles cried out that it was absurd, but the circumstantial evidence and physical proof that Shuel brought forth fit together perfectly.

“Since we are currently at war due to Claude’s rebellion, they will be disposed of by summary execution.”

Chloe had never seen Shuel make such a cold expression before.

Without even time to mourn his father’s death, Shuel succeeded in arresting and executing those who had murdered his father for the crime of regicide.

Shuel’s face as he exposed the reasons and evidence for their guilt in the Imperial Court was completely different from his usual gentle expression.

The nobles naturally became wary of Shuel due to his murderous aura…

The nobles who had previously supported Claude, perhaps thinking they too might die under the charge of treason, lowered themselves and groveled.

The fear that internal enemies could kill Shuel’s supporters at any time was also greatly reduced.

Meanwhile, the Magic Tower and Temple united under the single purpose of subjugating Claude.

‘They say when there’s a common enemy, you cooperate even with competitors. But to think it would make even the Magic Tower and Temple cooperate with each other.’

While preparing separate meals for herself and Shuel to reduce the risk of poisoning, Chloe inwardly marveled as she recalled the current situation.

***

Shuel ordered the execution of the eight who had deceived the Imperial Court and arbitrarily assassinated the Emperor.

“This cannot be, this cannot be! Do you think my son will stand idle if you kill me!”

The Empress screamed until the end as she was dragged to the execution ground, but Shuel resolutely executed her.

Thanks to the thorough groundwork Chloe and Shuel had laid before announcing the execution, it was carried out in an atmosphere where it was considered natural rather than met with resistance.

As the situation deviated from expectations, Claude grew increasingly anxious.

He had expected disadvantages, but Chloe Garnet’s unexpected friendships with foreign nobles became poison to him.

The Northern Continent, which had joined hands with Claude to begin the struggle for the Luzhiere Empire’s throne, began to be subtly ostracized by international society.

There were even those who formally protested that their business ventures with Duchess Chloe had been overturned by the sudden rebellion, which was troublesome.

‘Damn it. What exactly had you been doing, Chloe Garnet.’

He had already known that she was always busy running around, but he hadn’t known her network was this extensive.

In reality, she wasn’t just excellent at cooking, but also quite skilled at winning people’s hearts with that cooking. Whether nobles or royalty, everyone wanted to try her unique and fantastic cuisine.

The goodwill that had unknowingly accumulated toward Chloe Garnet was now having a major impact. When Chloe argued that this rebellion was unjust and even gained the agreement of the Temple and Magic Tower, various empires and kingdoms began supporting her one by one.

Additionally, they began competing to isolate the Northern Continent in order to curry favor with the Luzhiere Empire.

For now it was just ostracism and protests, but if this standoff continued, quite a few nations might cut off relations with the Northern Continent.

So the Northern Continent’s king was pressing him to seize the Luzhiere Empire as quickly as possible.

‘As if it’s that easy.’

If he could have done it, he would have finished long ago.

In fact, if he only had to face the Luzhiere Empire’s Imperial forces, occupation wouldn’t have been difficult.

Even though Shuel was intentionally avoiding one-on-one situations with him, making it difficult to kill him immediately…

It would have been a simple matter of wearing down the Imperial Palace’s strength and dealing with Shuel while his judgment was clouded.

But then the Magic Tower and Temple interfered.

What he learned later was that when the rebellion had just begun, the Mage Tower Master and Pope happened to be in a secret meeting.

The current Mage Tower Master and Pope, who wanted to form an alliance between the Magic Tower and Temple to coexist peacefully, were said to have been earnestly discussing this matter.

‘Of all times, those two had to be together.’

All his efforts to cut off communications to prevent contact had been worthless.

Claude pressed his throbbing forehead firmly.

And both the Pope and Mage Tower Master had friendships with Chloe Garnet.

The two interfered with Claude at every turn.

The Temple claimed that the recent death of a priest was Claude’s scheme, and the Magic Tower also asserted that Claude had killed the mage they had dispatched for his own greed, with each attacking Claude separately…

In the end, the two formed an alliance.

Priests healed mages, and mages protected priests from attacks.

He shouldn’t have allowed the Temple and Magic Tower to join forces.

These useless organizations joining hands and forming an alliance only gave Claude more headaches.

The Pope and Mage Tower Master, and the foreign nobles currently supporting Shuel.

All of them were connected to Chloe in some way.

So.

‘If only Chloe Garnet hadn’t been by Shuel Siclamene’s side… I could have won.’

Without thinking at all about the benefits he had gained from the Empress’s shadow or Shuel’s hardships, Claude thought only this with a dazed mind.

That the dead Emperor had unfortunately paired the incompetent Shuel with Chloe Garnet, and because of that, he had been placed in such a disadvantageous situation.

Meanwhile, the war situation was gradually being resolved.

The rebel army’s forces finally succeeded in advancing all the way inside the Imperial Palace.

The entry to the Imperial Palace had been too easy, and crucially, the fact that the nobles were gathered together should have made Claude suspicious.

But Claude failed to notice this fact upon finally seeing Chloe Garnet’s face.

Clear green eyes met murky black pupils head-on.

Only then did Claude… realize the complex feelings he harbored toward Chloe Garnet.

He stared at Chloe with a dazed expression for a moment,

then instantly approached her and drew his sword.

If I cannot have her, then no one else should be able to either.

With that thought, Claude swung his sword toward the pale-faced Chloe.

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