I Wasn't Trying to Seduce with the Male Lead - Episode 96

“W-What is this, what kind of sacrilege…”

Zeppelin stuttered, clearly flustered, before raising his voice, his face flushed red.

“Tearing the Emperor’s letter! What are you doing? No matter that you are a Duke, this is a step too far!”

The usually gentle Count Palatine’s anger didn’t faze Minaz.

“My four dukedoms and I have designated His Majesty the Emperor as a persona non grata in our territories, have we not?”

“He did not request entry, Your Grace!”

“No one can interfere with what I do in this dukedom. And I have decided not to allow anything touched by His Majesty’s hands to pass.”

These were fearfully arrogant words, but when coupled with Minaz’s commanding presence, they held a strange kind of persuasion.

“But as I said, I will hear you out. Tell me what you have to say.”

“Here, Your Grace?”

“Yes, here.”

Zeppelin turned his head and scanned his surroundings.

The guards of the Line of Abrot surrounded the perimeter. And beyond them, the Imperial Guard filled the space.

A heavy mouth was a knight’s virtue, but with so many people, there was no guarantee that one or two wouldn’t abandon that virtue.

“I won’t take up much of your time. Please hear me out inside for a moment.”

“Do not dare cross the perimeter of the Line of Abrot without my permission.”

Minaz said firmly, raising her chin.

“Duke. But…”

The moment Zeppelin took a step forward to persuade her, Minaz drew her sword with lightning speed.

“I told you not to cross.”

Minaz did not dislike Zeppelin. On the contrary, she held him in high regard for not giving in to his own greed despite wielding real power as the Emperor’s right-hand man for a long time. She also didn’t dislike his loyalty to his master in any situation.

However, this was not a situation for personal likes and dislikes.

“I am different from the Duchess of Floyd. Anything that crosses the line will be cut away immediately.”

The old count’s face turned pale, and he pressed his lips together.

“I will never agree to any schemes. If you have something to say that cannot be heard by the Imperial Guard here, and by my proud Guardian Knights, then don’t even say it.”

Without glancing at them, she could clearly feel the change in the atmosphere. The knights were visibly murmuring.

Zeppelin’s expression was incredibly grave.

“If you don’t like it, go back. I have nothing to lose.”

Minaz said that and turned around. As expected, Zeppelin’s desperate voice rang out.

“Duke!”

She slowly turned her head and saw the old count’s face, now the color of dirt. She could feel Zeppelin’s desperation.

“Could you… stop tomorrow’s trial?”

It was a low voice, but the ripple effect was not small. The knights’ eyes widened in surprise, and some even leaned out of the watchtowers to hear better.

Claude’s brows furrowed, and Minaz bit her lip to hide her triumphant smile.

“Stop the trial? Then how do we uncover the Princess’s transgressions?”

At the sensitive word, “transgression,” Zeppelin’s brow twitched.

“The Princess has suffered greatly from this incident. She will be leaving the capital for a while to recuperate.”

Recuperate?

Minaz’s eyebrows rose.

“Also, His Majesty has said he will ask for no accountability and will forgive the dukes for this collective action.”

“Forgive?”

Minaz let out a hollow laugh at Zeppelin’s words. The Emperor was still prioritizing his dignity, hoping they would back down. At this point, it was no longer about anger, but just a sense of futility.

“Count Palatine Zeppelin. I have never done anything to be forgiven for.”

Minaz said crisply, raising her chin.

“And it seems the law you know is quite different from mine. I have never heard of ‘recuperation’ as punishment for a crime.”

At her sarcasm, Zeppelin lowered his head but did not stop his plea.

“Please do not reject the hand being offered, for the sake of the people who will suffer in a civil war.”

“How dare you try to pin the blame on us? Everyone knows that it was His Majesty who drove us into our own territories and pushed us into an unwanted civil war!”

Minaz knew that wasn’t Zeppelin’s intention, but she deliberately raised her voice. The Imperial Guard was watching them with wide eyes. She wanted to stir them up by letting them know they had been mobilized for the Emperor’s power play without justification and were being forced to stay in this field for days.

“Count Palatine Cheppelin. There is no such thing as unconditional forgiveness for me.”

Minaz’s clear voice echoed through the Line of Abrot.

“Forgiveness only exists after the price for the sin has been paid. I believe one only has the right to talk about it after revealing all the wrongdoings and taking full responsibility.”

The surroundings were as quiet as if water had been poured over them. Everyone listened to Minaz’s voice without moving.

“I want my justice to be served. Therefore, the trial will proceed as scheduled.”

Having finished her words, Minaz’s lips curled up. She had no specific evidence, but she could feel the knights’ gazes and the energy they were giving off, signaling their agreement with her.

She tilted her face towards Zeppelin as if to pat his shoulder.

“If you don’t want a civil war, go and try to persuade His Majesty.”

After a low whisper, Minaz straightened up. She turned to walk back to the castle, leaving Zeppelin standing there, frozen like a stone.

The Princess, standing by the window, turned around at the sound of someone approaching. Count Idelce was entering through the open door.

“Did you find out what’s going on?”

At the Princess’s sharp question, Count Idelce stammered his reply.

“Well… He’s just mechanically repeating that His Majesty’s health is not good.”

“If his health is not good, it is a daughter’s duty to visit and nurse him. So why won’t His Majesty see me?”

Of course, she wasn’t trying to see the Emperor to help him get better. Even if he was sick in bed, she had to somehow egg him on and get the troops moving. But since the Emperor had strictly forbidden entry to Eogainos, there was no way for her to do anything.

“Tomorrow is the trial, but Count Palatine Zeppelin is nowhere to be seen, and His Majesty has locked his doors. Does no one care what happens to Aileen?”

Frustrated, the Princess yelled in annoyance. She felt like smashing everything.

Count Idelce spoke up with a flattering tone.

“Don’t worry too much, Your Highness. This might be an opportunity instead.”

“An opportunity? What do you mean?”

“If His Majesty does not step forward, you will be the one to lead everything tomorrow.”

The Princess’s eyes changed slightly.

“I couldn’t meet His Majesty, but I met a few others. I subtly checked with Count Pritchard and Marquis Ricardo, and their opinions were the same as ours.”

The Princess didn’t show any reaction, but she raised her eyebrows slightly, signaling she was listening.

“His Majesty has already commanded that the capital be surrounded and prepared for anything. So all we need is the command to strike.”

“But the Imperial Guard only moves on His Majesty’s orders. They won’t listen to me.”

“There is a way to supplement that unstable force.”

“What is it?”

“The disappearance of the Duke of Calabria is already a known fact. We can seize their military power, which is already on standby, and sweep them all away in one go.”

After hearing that much, the Princess’s expression softened somewhat. The Duke of Calabria probably wasn’t dead, but having taken the oath of an attestation, there was no chance he would suddenly appear tomorrow and disrupt her plans.

“Do you want to strike before the trial begins?”

At Count Idelce’s triumphant words, the Princess shook her head.

“When everyone has left for the trial, target the Countess of Calabria.”

“The Countess, Your Highness?”

“I will take that vulgar seductress as a hostage and then go to the courtroom.”

“You are truly brilliant, Your Highness. With that, we can control the Countess of Calabria.”

Count Idelce bowed with an exaggerated gesture.

“I just can’t wait for the day when you become Empress and rule the Empire.”

“How can you say that? His Majesty is still young.”

The Princess waved her hand and stepped back, but Idelce did not miss the momentary gleam in her eyes.

“My apologies, Your Highness. I will go and prepare now.”

Count Idelce’s expression was triumphant as he left the room.

‘Lian Calabria.’ My hand shot out in surprise, and I soon let out a sigh.

I had tossed and turned all night and had only fallen asleep at dawn, but I had been awake for a long time. I was ready to go out, but I couldn’t bring myself to leave the room.

‘What kind of face should I show him?’

When I woke up, Lian was already gone. But his lingering warmth, his touch, and the feeling of his lips were still vivid on my body.

‘What was I thinking, letting him sleep with me?’

It wasn’t that I was thinking anything, I was just swept up in the moment. Just like the first night I spent with him, my whole body felt sensitive and flushed.

If I zoned out for even a moment, Lian’s whispering voice and the feeling of his hands caressing my body would return, and a fire would ignite within me.

‘If I’m like this alone, won’t it be even worse when I see him?’

The Duchess might notice something strange. I felt like kicking the covers away, but Elenor bit her lip.

‘I shouldn’t be thinking about such things on such an important day. Get a hold of yourself.’

I shook my head to clear my thoughts and stood up. Maybe I would feel more stable if I talked about the royal family and the trial with everyone. As for Lian, it would be fine as long as I didn’t look at him.

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