The Price of Breaching the Contract - Chapter 103

The words had barely left his mouth when Santia could no longer contain himself. His voice was cold and clear.

“Is that His Majesty’s command?”

The question was couched in polite form, but in reality, it bordered on anger. He and Yulania had never once coveted the throne. Rather, they had distanced themselves from it, carefully cultivating their position to maintain the peace they currently enjoyed.

And now, in this very place, they were being doubted and placated based on mere possibility.

Yulania gently placed her hand on Santia’s tense hand. She didn’t speak, but conveyed that his anger was not his alone. She, too, was bewildered and confused.

Duke Jensen quietly observed Santia before shaking his head. His face remained devoid of any emotional trace.

“No. I came here today purely of my own volition. His Majesty knows nothing of this meeting or this proposal.”

His words were firm. His tone, emphasizing the private nature of the visit, carried a subtle weight and a cautious resolve. The words that followed were even more shocking.

“I am not asking you to relinquish your claim without offering something in return. Instead, how would you feel about gaining autonomy for the Duchy of Makari?”

Santia’s eyebrows twitched again. Yulania, too, couldn’t hide her surprise.

Autonomy.

That meant being able to manage administration and security largely independently from the crown. A structure that minimized royal intervention and granted free decision-making power over internal affairs.

It was authority that went beyond simply governing land, akin to a small kingdom.

Jensen seized their silence as an opportunity to continue.

“I know better than anyone that the two of you have no interest in the throne. But making that clear will reassure His Majesty. And it will naturally alleviate the tension that exists within the Kingdom of Tinley.”

He set down his teacup and quietly continued.

“The Makari territory already enjoys the trust of many people, and its influence has only grown since the Holy Stone incident. If the right of succession remains intact, it becomes a threat to others. Sometimes, even without intention, mere existence can shake the political landscape.”

Yulania listened quietly to his words. His tone was polite, and his content logical. He was making a blatantly rude proposal, yet delivering it in the most courteous and careful manner possible.

“The Duchy of Makari is already a firmly established pillar. The autonomy I propose is, in a sense, a clear liberation from the royal family. His Majesty the King will no longer need to check, monitor, or entangle you in personal feelings.”

Santia was still on edge, but he moved his head very slowly, as if he couldn’t deny the logic of the words.

Duke Jensen carefully concluded.

“Of course, I will persuade His Majesty. As Chancellor, I will take that responsibility. All you have to do is attend the Four-Party Conference in ten days and sign the waiver of succession that I propose.”

Santia stared at Duke Jensen without a word. His gaze was cold, and Yulania gripped his hand a little tighter. Jensen left his final greetings and slowly rose.

“You don’t have to give me an answer now. I will give you time to think and discuss it thoroughly.”

He bowed deeply and quietly left the room. His footsteps gradually faded away and disappeared beyond the door.

The silence that remained in the room was heavier than before.

Even after the Chancellor had left, silence lingered in the drawing room for some time.

Although the visit had ended, its lingering effects did not easily dissipate. Duke Jensen’s words, which had left behind a heavy proposal, left a deep and distinct mark, as did his calm tone.

Yulania quietly picked up her cold teacup. The tea was already lukewarm, but she took a sip as if to moisten her lips. The aftertaste lingered, and her mind was not easily settled.

Santia, on the other side, was just as silent as she was. Both of them hesitated over who would break the silence first.

And in the end, it was Yulania who spoke first.

“It seems like a good offer.”

Santia raised his head slightly. The look in his eyes as he looked at her was more of confirmation than surprise. He lightly accepted her faster-than-expected conclusion and asked back.

“Are you sure?”

Yulania nodded. Her eyes were now calm and unwavering.

“Yes. Actually, we’re not very politically savvy, are we? I know that too. We’ve always been in a position of following, and we’ve been far from calculation or ambition. But rather, the Chancellor made a clear proposal. We have no intention of ascending to the throne. That damn right of succession, let’s just give it away.”

Santia listened quietly to her words. Her tone was calm, but it contained traces of deep consideration of the entire situation. Yulania had sincerely judged that this choice was the most peaceful path.

She continued.

“If that alone can bring peace to our family, it’s a good deal. Especially if it can protect Shuria.”

Santia slowly exhaled and lifted his teacup. And in the same way that Yulania had done, he quietly took a sip of the cold tea. Then he nodded.

“Politics, you’ll be better than me. No, much better.”

Yulania laughed lightly.

“Are you saying I have a good way with words?”

“Way with words, emotional control, situational judgment. All of it.”

Santia’s tone was joking, but the respect within it was sincere. He put down his teacup again and said in a soft but firm voice.

“Since it’s the right of succession that comes down to you anyway, I’ll follow your will.”

Yulania listened to his words and quietly nodded. His trust and attitude were always her greatest comfort. His attitude of delegating decision-making power without being irresponsible, and respecting judgment without being indifferent, was why Yulania trusted her husband.

Until just a moment ago, the conversation with Duke Jensen had been full of tension, intertwined with political weight and hidden intentions. But the decision made between the two of them, left alone with a teacup between them, was concluded so simply and peacefully.

There was no long fight or clash of opinions. Perhaps that was because they were looking at the same thing. What was important to them was neither the throne nor honor nor external recognition. The life they were protecting now, and the child who smiled within it. Because they wanted no more and no less than that, this decision was rather natural.

Yulania looked at Santia again and said.

“I should prepare for the next ten days. I don’t know what will be said at the conference.”

Santia nodded and smiled at those words.

“As you wish.”

A small smile appeared on Yulania’s lips at the reliable support.

Ten days later, a conference room deep inside the Imperial Palace.

On the surface, it looked like just a small consultation space, but the four people gathered in this place alone were enough to determine the power map of the kingdom.

Yulania and Santia sat side by side on one side of the long conference table, and on the opposite side, the King and Chancellor Duke Jensen were seated. The atmosphere was unexpectedly soft. It was unknown how Jensen had persuaded the King, but the King greeted the two with a hearty laugh as soon as the meeting began.

“To organize it with such sincerity, you care more about state affairs than I do, Jensen.”

The King put down his teacup and burst into a hearty laugh. The laughter was closer to leisure and pleasant satisfaction than to intimidation. The heavy silence or sharp emotions he usually showed when dealing with his daughter could not be found today.

Yulania quietly lowered her eyes and only smiled, while Santia stared straight ahead with a blank face. Jensen organized the documents without the slightest disturbance, as if he did not want to miss the flow of the work.

“This document here is the waiver of succession.”

Support