An Unexpected Proposal-Chapter 72

"I don’t mind staying in the separate palace like before."

Alicia subtly turned her head. She knew exactly what it meant for his room to be next to hers, and that knowledge made her cautious. That room had been prepared for the Grand Duchess of Schwarhan. Even if the position remained vacant, staying there was too much to bear. Their relationship had become too ambiguous to bring up past promises.

"It’s just in case. From this room, you can enter mine without going through the main door."

"…Into your room?"

Alicia’s expression grew even more uncertain at his explanation. She knew that being by his side was the safest place, but she still hesitated to nod.

"I know you won’t like it, but it’s for your safety."

"But…"

"You never know what could happen. Even if it’s uncomfortable, bear with it for a little while. I won’t let what happened before ever happen again."

"No matter what, still…"

Thinking about the past did make her uneasy. And more than anything, the man in front of her had an oddly calm face for someone who could be lying. Alicia hesitated but eventually nodded. It wasn’t just the spies she was worried about, but she couldn’t voice that concern. She simply looked out the window at the snowy landscape, wishing for nothing to appear in that endless white expanse.

"You must be tired. I’ll show you how to use the passageway tomorrow. Not just this one, but others, too. It’ll be useful to know."

"You’re going to show me all the passages in the castle?"

"If you promise not to leave without a word."

"…"

"They were built to escape danger in the first place. It’s only right they’re used for their intended purpose."

Cabelenus tried to maintain a smile. He acted as if it was no big deal, but the mere thought of Alicia leaving made his blood run cold.

"Get some rest. I’ll have a light meal sent up, so don’t push yourself too hard today. Focus on recovering first."

"…Thank you."

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Alicia offered a faint smile. Cabelenus started to smile back, but then he spotted Mikael peeking out from behind her. His expression immediately darkened.

"What are you looking at?"

At Mikael’s gruff tone, Cabelenus clicked his tongue. Just a moment ago, the boy had been jumping around like an excited puppy in the snow, and now he wore a sullen expression.

"You were the one who looked at me first."

"That’s because you were making a weird face at my mom."

"…A weird face?"

He had never heard anyone say that to him in his life. Cabelenus narrowed his eyes. Mikael, not backing down, glared right back.

"Mikael, watch your words. You shouldn’t speak to adults like that."

"But… Fine. Sorry, mister."

Even as he apologized, Mikael continued to glare at Cabelenus, making it painfully obvious he wasn’t the least bit sorry. Cabelenus considered calling him out on it but closed his mouth when he looked at Alicia. Her exhaustion was written all over her face. More than anything, she needed rest.

"It’s fine. Just get some rest. If anything bothers you, let me know. And…"

Should he say it? Cabelenus hesitated, clenching his fist.

"No, it’s nothing. Sleep well."

"Alright. Thank you."

Once she saw Cabelenus leave, Alicia turned straight to the window. Only after scanning the outside several times and confirming there was nothing there did she finally let out a sigh of relief.

***

'This place…'

Alicia blankly looked around and froze.

It was watching her.

A massive, unidentifiable shape loomed over her. Alicia swallowed dryly and slowly lowered her gaze. That was when she finally noticed the shattered carriage, the frozen blood on the ground, and the sword in her trembling hand.

'…That dream again.'

She exhaled sharply and looked up once more.

Even through the raging blizzard, those golden eyes remained unmistakably clear.

[Found you.]

The monster growled.

Rather than a voice, it was more like a vibration—a sound so distorted that the words barely made sense. It was as if a beast was trying to mimic human speech. Then again, she wasn’t even sure if calling that thing a "beast" was accurate.

Alicia tightened her grip on the sword.

[Finally, found you.]

Blackened limbs stretched toward her. They were all covered in thick fur, ending in razor-sharp claws. But she wasn’t afraid.

Alicia stared into those glowing golden eyes, at first with curiosity, then with certainty, and finally… with awe.

There was no hostility in those creatures’ gazes. If anything, they looked joyful.

[Our great king.]

The monsters smiled. At least, that’s how it appeared to Alicia. But even as she realized this, she couldn’t bring herself to lower her sword.

[We’ve always, always searched for our king.]

[Promised… Judgment.]

[Must return. It’s time.]

[This land… is lonely.]

Alicia couldn’t fully understand their words, but one thing was clear.

They wanted her child.

"…Don’t come any closer."

[Why?]

[Why not?]

[We’ve waited so long.]

[We waited… our entire lives.]

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not your king."

She only wanted to protect her child.

Gritting her teeth, Alicia barely managed to raise her sword.

She pointed it directly at the monsters, her gaze sharp with determination.

Even knowing this was a fight she couldn’t win, she had no choice but to fight.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

***

"Haa… haa…"

The moment Alicia opened her eyes, she immediately checked on the sleeping child beside her.

Even though she knew it had only been a dream, her heart pounded wildly, and her entire body was drenched in cold sweat.

"…It’s fine. Nothing happened. It’s really fine."

Murmuring to herself, Alicia pulled Mikael into her arms.

She was trembling like a leaf, but the warmth of her child brought her a fragile sense of relief. She held him for a long time before finally lifting her head.

Through the slightly parted curtains, soft morning light seeped in.

A new day in Schwarhan had begun.

***

"Please, have a cup. The aroma of the tea is excellent."

With a graceful motion, Jerpeneus extended a teacup.

Hermann, however, didn’t even glance at the steaming tea before him. Instead, he smiled at Jerpeneus.

"You’re not drinking?"

"I must decline. Malsian leaves are forbidden by the temple."

"Oh dear. It seems my subordinates have made a mistake. I’ll have them bring a different tea immediately, so please wait a moment."

"There’s no need. I didn’t come here for tea, after all."

Still sharp as ever.

Jerpeneus masked his thoughts as he subtly pushed his teacup aside.

To think Hermann had instantly recognized the small amount of Malsian blended into the tea—it meant it was still too early to resort to poisoning.

"Then what brings you here?"

"I heard there was some trouble in the Condola region."

"Trouble? What kind?"

"I believe Your Majesty knows better than I do."

"…"

"Your Majesty, do not attempt to deceive the eyes of God. He is everywhere."

Hermann stroked his long, flowing beard at a leisurely pace. His face, lined with deep wrinkles, bore a smile.

Yet beneath his thick white brows, his eyes busily scrutinized Jerpeneus.

It wasn’t the fact that Jerpeneus had mobilized his troops that concerned him.

What truly mattered was what he had gained from it.

"I merely heard of some unruly elements causing disturbances."

"Unruly elements?"

"As you know, my situation as of late has been… less than ideal."

"And what about Your Majesty’s situation?"

As if you don’t already know.

Jerpeneus silently clicked his tongue.

The slander spreading about him recently—every single word of it—was orchestrated by the temple.

"They say I am not the true emperor."

"How absurd. How could Your Majesty not be the rightful emperor? You inherited the throne through proper succession. You are the ruler of the empire."

"Do you truly believe that?"

Jerpeneus’s eyes curled into a smile.

"Of course."

Hermann responded with a warm, benevolent grin.

"Then this conversation just got much easier."

"What conversation would that be?"

"The child is now under Cabelenus’s protection."

For a brief moment, Hermann’s expression shifted.

Even though he had already realized Jerpeneus had gained nothing from his recent efforts, the news still didn’t sit well with him.

"Your Highness, you were unaware of the child’s existence, were you?"

"Not anymore."

"…And how did you find out? You claimed she was well hidden, did you not?"

"There is no such thing as an eternal secret. Especially when there’s a traitor involved."

You placed too much trust in her.

Jerpeneus smirked slyly.

"Natalie?"

"More precisely, it was the High Priest’s failure. You let vital information slip simply because you couldn’t manage a subordinate properly."

All this, despite trying to tie his brother’s woman to him.

Jerpeneus idly touched the bracelet on his wrist.

God’s blessings to humans were limited.

Even Natalie’s healing power—no matter how great—would eventually deplete with use.

It wasn’t surprising that the High Priest intended to sell her off before that happened.

Natalie wasn’t just a beauty—her background made her an irresistible temptation.

She had once been betrothed to the emperor.

She had once been a devoted servant of God.

There were more than a few men who desired her as a mistress.

"If only you had sold her to me at a reasonable price, none of this would have happened."

"Natalie refused. It would be unbecoming for a servant of God to be reduced to an experiment, would it not?"

"Do you think I would have turned her into an experiment?"

"One never knows. A man who once discarded her could very well do so again."

And whose fault was that?

Jerpeneus’s lips twisted, but he quickly regained his composure.

Now was not the time to show his irritation.

"Enough about Natalie. Let’s finish our earlier discussion. That is what truly matters, isn’t it?"

"Who knows?"

"Don’t take this lightly. Cabelenus is more relentless than before. When you lose something and regain it, you become even more attached to it."

Jerpeneus tilted his head slightly.

The ease with which Cabelenus had crushed the troops sent against him had been telling.

He was stronger than Jerpeneus had anticipated.

With the High Priest lurking beside him, biding his time, Cabelenus was not an enemy to take lightly.

"I’m not just saying this because he’s my brother—Cabelenus is an incredibly troublesome opponent. Not only does he wield magic, but he also has the High Priest’s backing."

"I simply follow the will of God."

Hermann’s transparent attempts to feign ignorance irritated Jerpeneus, but there was no helping it.

He was the one who needed something.

If he wanted to shake the alliance between Hermann and Cabelenus, he had to stir the High Priest’s greed.

Of course, it would be best if the two fought and destroyed each other.

But Hermann wasn’t a fool.

Jerpeneus hated to admit it, but the sly old man was quite similar to himself.

And just as Jerpeneus sought to use Hermann, the High Priest was likely planning to do the same.

The moment Jerpeneus and Cabelenus clashed, Hermann would seize the opportunity to benefit from both sides.

"In that case, why not ask your God something for me?"

"And what would that be?"

"Does He not require a guardian to carry out His will?"

"A guardian… to uphold the will of God."

Hermann’s gaze darkened slightly.

As he recalled the child he had failed to obtain eight years ago, his mouth instinctively dried.

The emperor, oblivious to everything, remained fixated on his obsession with monsters.

But the child’s worth extended far beyond that.

If the child was truly what Hermann suspected, then his long-cherished desire might finally come within reach.

That knowledge made Jerpeneus’s transparent ploy all the more tempting.

"If the High Priest is willing, I would like to resume the story that was left unfinished eight years ago."

"You would hand over the child?"

"Of course, if God wills it."

It was an obvious lie.

Neither the one speaking nor the one listening believed it.

And yet, both Jerpeneus and Hermann smiled.

Once you had one thing in your grasp, the next would come easily.