I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 78

The Emperor looked at his daughter, the Princess, who was sitting in the office chair with a worried expression.

“Are you really going to be okay?”

“Please don’t worry about me.”

The Princess nodded with a somewhat resolute expression.

“This is what I must do from now on. Please, let me join you.”

For the past few days, she had been so overcome with extreme anger that she could barely stand. It was only because of her hatred and desire for revenge that she was able to calm her raging emotions and regain her reason. She couldn’t allow everything to end while she was still a victim. The moment her tears stopped, she immediately rushed to the Emperor and pleaded with him to allow her to participate in the governance of Aeogainos.

“I had hoped you wouldn’t have to get involved in governance directly, but… given the situation, I can’t stop you.”

The Emperor, who had been reluctant all along, seemed to have made up his mind after a long time.

When the start of governance was announced, the first to enter, as always, was Count Zepellin. But today, he wasn’t alone. Zepellin introduced the man who had come with him.

“Your Highness, the Princess. This is Count Idelche.”

The Princess had heard his name before.

“You are the one who accompanied the subjugation of Hakmercia.”

“That’s right. I tried to persuade Count Calabria, but he wouldn’t listen at all. My heart was broken when I thought about Your Highness’s feelings.”

He bowed to the Princess, his words a flattering excuse. His shifty eyes were filled with a cunningness that suggested he would do anything for his own advancement.

“I called him because I thought you would need an assistant. Count Idelche has worked in the court for a long time, so he is very knowledgeable and quick-witted. He is good at handling things on his own, so he will be a great help to you now in many ways,” the Emperor explained in a gentle tone. He seemed to be meant to serve as an aide, just like Zepellin.

‘What a rat-like man,’ she thought with contempt, but the Princess didn’t show it. For her, this type of person, who was openly obsessed with self-interest, was much easier to handle than those who were driven by a sense of justice or a calling.

“I look forward to working with you.”

After the Princess’s brief greeting, the Emperor immediately gave Zepellin an order.

“Report on the situation outside.”

“The assembly of the standing army is proceeding smoothly. The nobles of the Troian Council are sending the promised troops without any setbacks.”

Even though it had only been a few days, the area around Palli City was packed with knights and legions gathered from all directions. At this point, it was impossible for the news not to have spread among the nobles within the capital.

“What is the reaction of the nobles other than the Royalists?”

“Opinions are divided. It will take some time to rally them,” Zepellin said cautiously. “Proceeding without the nobles will likely cause problems later. It would be better to act after we have gathered at least some support.”

“Hmm. How much time will it take to convene a noble council and negotiate with each faction?”

“If we move as quickly as possible, we can get over half of them within two weeks.”

The Princess, who had been listening to the two men’s conversation, spoke up.

“I once read a passage in a book on military strategy.” The three men’s gazes all turned to the Princess. “If a garrison is prolonged, rats will begin to swarm. A clumsy general thinks only of the rats that eat the grain, but the rat called anxiety is a much bigger problem.”

It was a very famous passage left behind by the founding Emperor of the Empire.

“If they wait outside the capital for two weeks, anxiety will begin to sprout. With this many people gathered, it’s better for everyone to finish the situation in one swift blow rather than to drag it out.”

The Princess’s reason for wanting to get involved in governance was to encourage a swift response. It wasn’t about the military strategy issues she had just mentioned, but because she feared that if they waited, hidden problems would begin to surface.

The escape of that damned Eleanor Mariche was a blow that went beyond simply losing a love rival. She knew too many secrets that shouldn’t be revealed to the outside world. Beatrice also seemed to have escaped and was nowhere to be found. She couldn’t sleep peacefully until she had caught and punished these moving time bombs.

“The Princess is right. We will surround Count Calabria’s house and finish this quickly.”

The Emperor adopted the Princess’s opinion without hesitation. However, Zepellin couldn’t give up his point.

“Even if we hurry, we won’t be able to finish this quickly. We haven’t gathered enough troops to threaten Count Calabria, who is holding out in a fortress.”

“That’s all right. We can ask the Duke of Calabria for help,” the Princess offered the answer once again. “The Duke of Calabria will gladly cooperate with Your Majesty.”

“Now that the marriage has been called off, why would the Duke of Calabria do that?”

For the Duke of Calabria, there was nothing to gain from cooperating with the Imperial Family. Perhaps that was why the Duke had subtly left Palli City a while ago and was staying in the Duchy of Calabria.

However, the Princess repeated herself with a confident tone. “The Duke will definitely agree. Please trust me and go make the request.”

“…I will do my best to persuade him,” Zepellin replied reluctantly.

“And please order the Duke of Calabria to personally command the troops,” the Princess added, and Zepellin’s eyes widened.

“Are you saying you want to put the father at the forefront of a campaign to subdue his son?”

Even the Emperor showed his discomfort this time, but the Princess didn’t back down.

“There are no taboos in war. I have been taught that anything that can shake the enemy must be used.”

“But that is impossible. Making an unreasonable request could cause things to go wrong.”

As Zepellin continued to object, Count Idelche took the Princess’s side.

“Isn’t it the duty of the Court Count to make things happen, rather than to say ‘no, it can’t be done’? If the Court Count won’t do it, I will go.”

However, their differences of opinion were not easily reconciled. After arguing for a while, the three men’s gazes turned to the Emperor, the ultimate decision-maker.

“Bring him here and have him personally atone for his son’s sins.”

Ultimately, the Emperor’s command was given. The Princess smiled, and Zepellin left the meeting room with an even more exhausted look.

The situation at Count Calabria’s house was the exact opposite of Mina’s worries. Eleanor had not met Lian, nor had she heard any news of him. After Sky left, no one came to find Eleanor, and she couldn’t go outside, so she had nothing to do all day but sit alone in her room, consumed by anxiety.

The only person she had to talk to was the worst.

[Don’t you think he’s dead by now? Aren’t you getting anxious?]

The one who spoke to her was Beatrice, who had followed her after the escape. The monster that Lian had killed was not guarding the dungeon, but was Beatrice’s seal. Once she was able to leave the dungeon, Beatrice had moved to Count Calabria’s house and was now tormenting Eleanor.

“You finally got out, don’t you have anything better to do than spy on me?”

[Why would I leave when it’s this comfortable and nice?]

She spoke as if she was staying of her own free will, but in reality, Lian must have taken measures to prevent her from leaving his vicinity.

[And what could be more fun than watching you be so dejected?]

Beatrice began to cackle. Her supernatural powers, which she could use in the dungeon, seemed to be effective outside as well, and she could still observe the surrounding area without revealing her form. She must have known Lian’s whereabouts, but she had no intention of reassuring Eleanor. On the contrary, she kept provoking Eleanor by saying that Lian was dead.

[You don’t have to be loyal to a corpse, do you? You should find a decent man and run away. Isn’t there anyone useful you’re secretly meeting?]

At Beatrice’s taunt, Eleanor suddenly remembered Sky and frowned.

‘Something was definitely strange,’ she thought. At the time, she had been too surprised and had left in a fit of anger, but now that she thought about it, there were too many suspicious things. If Sky had wanted to take her by force, he had had many opportunities. Why did he suddenly change his behavior now? Besides, Sky was different from usual back then. He was impatient, had no composure, and his voice was rough. His face was thin. She had a feeling that there was another reason for his strange behavior.

She tried to retrace what he had said and done to find a clue, but other than the suspicious circumstances, there was nothing she could pinpoint. Her thoughts soon turned to the kiss she had shared with Sky. There was nothing particularly strange about that either. Other than the fact that he was very skillful, as a man who was confident in his own prowess, he had a rough but soft touch. The sensation of his lips and what was inside his mouth was still vivid. Unconsciously, her face flushed.

[Why is your face red? Are you thinking about a man?]

Eleanor’s thoughts were broken by the ringing voice.

‘At least that witch didn’t see it, that’s a relief.’

Beatrice’s supernatural power seemed to be more like seeing a specific location in a crystal ball than sensing an entire area. The mansion was so big that it took her a while to find Eleanor, and thanks to that, Eleanor was able to spend the first few days quietly without any interruptions. If Beatrice had seen what happened with Sky, she would have surely gone straight to Lian and blabbed everything.

“Did the Count say anything to you? Did he give you an order not to tell me anything?”

[Do you think I would listen to that guy?]

Beatrice retorted with a sharp voice, but Eleanor didn’t miss the moment she paused. It seemed that Lian had indeed ordered her to keep quiet. If so, it meant that he was at least well enough to threaten Beatrice.

‘Now I have to see for myself.’

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