If I Throw Myself into His Sea - Episode 2.6

Pereian left the banquet hall and walked. He wanted to go somewhere without people, somewhere where the gazes that scorned him couldn’t reach. The middle-aged man who had spoken to Irene Iphraim was a nobleman who had treated Pereian poorly when he was an illegitimate prince. The man who had splashed tea on Pereian to curry favor with the crown prince.

Pereian remembered the time he had cowered from the crown prince’s kicks. The middle-aged man prodded his body with the dirty end of a cane to make sure he was dead. That day, Pereian saw contempt in his face.

He thought that contempt would disappear when he ascended the throne, but it was still there. He used all sorts of tricks to hold Pereian back.

Just as the cane marks on his shirt never faded, the middle-aged man’s contempt would probably remain intact until the day he died.

He didn’t want to see Irene Iphraim getting close to such a man. It was a more terrible kind of feeling, quite different from what he felt when she became friendly with Sipri.

Pereian’s feet led him to the banquet hall’s garden. He could hear Henelia and some nobles, who had left the banquet hall before him, having a secret conversation.

“It doesn’t seem like my brother is interested in that princess.”

“Let’s take this opportunity to swallow up the Epin forces.”

Pereian, who had been listening silently, shook his head. He didn’t need to hear more to know their purpose.

They were trying to seduce the Epin princess, who seemed to have a strained relationship with her husband, to create a connection with Epin.

Epin, the land nation closest to Deltia. As such, since the time of Deltia’s ancestors, Epin had been seen as having a friendly impression of the undersea people. However, the problem was that Epin didn’t feel so familiar with the undersea kingdom.

In particular, they noticeably distanced themselves from the royal family of the undersea kingdom, to the point of pouring out criticism if the monarch of the undersea kingdom made even a slight mistake.

Because of this, the nobles who were once part of the legitimate royal faction were displeased with Epin, but now that a ruler from a secondary line had come to power, they had no ally as agreeable as Epin.

Nobles who wanted to oust the monarch, and a neighboring country that spoke ill of Deltia. They must have thought that if only a temporary collaboration could be achieved, regaining the glory of the past royal family would be only a matter of time.

Pereian smiled faintly for a moment, the numbers were so clear.

“As it happens, Lord Benik came to pay his respects a little while ago.”

One of the nobles said in a pleased voice. Benik. The name of the middle-aged man who had openly disparaged Pereian at the banquet hall a little while ago.

‘So, that’s why he was so friendly to the Queen.’

Realizing that it was something he had done to win over the princess, he headed back to the banquet hall. Even if she was a fake princess, he had to prevent Irene Iphraim from joining hands with them.

From what he had seen, Irene Iphraim was dull, vacant, and seemed like a woman who had left her vitality on land. Moreover, she was a woman who quickly gave her heart to Sipri, who had approached him in a friendly manner.

‘How would she have reacted?’

Even as he hurried to find Irene Iphraim and the nobles, Pereian speculated. Whether Irene Iphraim had already given her heart to Benik and his group. He was able to find them, having moved to the balcony in the meantime.

Pereian hid his presence for a moment and listened to their conversation from behind the door. He simply wanted to hear if Irene had gone over to those who were hostile to him, and if so, what they were talking about.

It was. As expected, the nobles were still gossiping about Pereian to Irene.

“Before his coronation, you know, he used to squirm every time he got hit, so his nickname was ‘worm cub.'”

“He trembled just at the sight of the Duke’s cane!”

“And that kind of man, relying only on his power, our Deltia, tsk…”

Pereian leaned forward, trying to read Irene’s expression through the gaps in his vision. Despite his efforts, he gained nothing. She was looking at the group in front of her with a face that gave no clue as to what she was thinking. He hadn’t tried to hide his past from the Queen, but he also didn’t think there was any reason to reveal it.

After all, Irene Iphraim didn’t seem like the type to empathize even if she heard about his past. Pereian swallowed and examined Irene’s expression. Her bloodless face caught his eye.

In any case, it seemed certain that she wasn’t shaken by hearing about Pereian’s life.

‘Just as I thought.’

It was as he expected. Pereian was convinced that she couldn’t possibly understand a life mired in the mud. He was relieved that she didn’t seem to agree with the nobles, judging by her disagreement.

With the thought that he hadn’t created a problem, Pereian straightened his crumpled body. He had to retrieve Irene before they wagged their tongues any further. However, Pereian had no choice but to stop moving at Irene’s subsequent reply.

“That word you just spoke.”

It was clearly Irene’s voice, though it was a stark contrast to the powerless and pathetic tone she had used before.

“What else would that be if not an insult to the lord of Deltia?” Pereian’s eyes widened. Irene’s voice was clear. Having been eavesdropping, the mumbling conversation suddenly felt as if it were piercing his ears vividly.

‘I’ve never heard such a voice before.’

Pereian once again took in Irene’s expression. Her face was as serene as ever, but it seemed as if ripples were forming in places.

Was she angry?

Why?

Was Irene Iphraim someone who would speak up for him? Pereian retraced his relationship with Irene. Were we that close? Why are you speaking up for me? He tried to recall their relationship, but strangely, he knew nothing about her.

What words would she continue to utter to the nobles with that small body, that small mouth? He could not guess anything, so he watched silently, filled with curiosity.

Breaking the frozen air, Irene opened her mouth.

“I’ve been thinking for a moment. Whether there was a reason you ridiculed my husband’s past in front of me.”

“Ah, that’s…”

“Did you think I would agree?”

Irene, who had never shown an angry face, cornered the nobles. Pereian swallowed hard as he watched the nobles stammering, unable to grasp the situation. He watched as she stared at each of the nobles with a pale face. Irene turned her head and fixed her gaze on Benik.

“If you disparage Pereian, that person, in front of me one more time.”

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