449 – The Reason I Wish To Be Queen -8-

The kindly-faced old man, clad in prison garb, smiled as he approached Shartia.

“It has been too long, Your Highness.”

A smile of greeting.

His expression held a tender warmth, as if seeing his granddaughter after decades.

“Fifteen years, wasn’t it?”

“Indeed, Your Highness.”

“…”

“You’ve become a splendid woman.”

“…”

Shartia extended a hand towards me, standing silently, signaling me to stay put. She was conveying her determination that this was something she had to do herself.

*She’ll be alright, won’t she.*

Even if she hadn’t stopped me, I wasn’t planning on interfering. It wasn’t that I wanted the story to follow the original script, but I at least wanted her to find the courage to confront her own relationships.

I decided to patiently observe their reunion, waiting. If an opportune moment to intervene arose, it would be more than sufficient to act then.

“…”

At Ricardo’s nod, Shartia sighed and turned over the Prime Minister’s words.

‘A splendid woman, is it…’

She didn’t think those words suited her. To him, she would always appear as a child, even when she herself grew old. Shartia ignored the rising tide of questions within her heart and spoke to the Prime Minister.

“Grandfather has truly become an old man.”

“Haha… Even the strongest warrior cannot conquer the years. Women used to flock to me when I was young, but prison life is so difficult that I’ve been hit head-on by the passage of time, it seems.”

“…I heard the rumors.”

“…”

“That it was very hard in prison.”

“…It was peaceful. I spent the time reflecting on the deeds I committed and repenting.”

“…”

“To think you’d consider an old man who’ll rot in prison for life… I am truly grateful, Princess.”

The Chancellor did not avert his gaze from Shartia. He wanted to imprint the image of the woman Shartia had become upon his eyes.

“In my memory, you were but a child, Princess…”

“…”

“Now you have grown into a woman.”

“…”

Shartia squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to quell the stifling frustration within her.

-Grandfather…!

The task at hand would be cruel, indeed.

“Why…”

“…”

“Why this?”

As Shartia’s resentful question hung in the air, the Chancellor simply shrugged, a look of feigned ignorance upon his face.

“Have you forgotten what I told you, Princess?”

“…”

“Humans are creatures of greed.”

“…”

“Creatures incapable of concealing their avarice and desires. I, too, am one who has failed to conquer such desires.”

“It was enough, wasn’t it? Chancellor… Wasn’t Chancellor enough?”

Shartia, her eyes trembling as she looked at the Chancellor, spoke with mounting bitterness.

Wasn’t the position of Chancellor enough to satisfy him?

Chancellor(在上)

An official who assists the Emperor from beside his throne, the highest ranking among all officials.

A position of great importance.

For the Chancellor is one who holds the Emperor’s greatest trust.

An individual of exceptional intellect, possessing not only shrewd strategy but also the empathy and skill to soothe a troubled mind – such was the Chancellor.

If the Emperor had erred in any way,

It was in keeping his own blood so close.

The Chancellor was the Emperor’s elder brother.

Not of the direct line, but a distant, collateral branch.

The late Emperor, a man of many dalliances, sired a multitude of children; a much older brother was hardly a surprising occurrence.

And the Chancellor, born of a concubine, had been passed over in the line of succession, escaping scrutiny. The Emperor had never bothered with the b*stard, Eric, to begin with. The boy, raised by a courtesan, abandoned and all but forgotten.

It was only after the late Emperor’s passing that his lineage came to light, but by then, he was already beside the current Emperor, a strong support. He possessed the ability to overcome any challenges borne from his blood.

That man now stood before her.

“Chancellor…”

He could not relinquish his hunger for power.

“I am destined to remain a subject, wouldn’t you agree?”

The Chancellor, who had been silently observing Shartia, spoke with a weighty tone as he addressed her.

“The Princess ought to be at her duties.”

“…”

“You haven’t come to execute me, have you?”

“…”

At the Chancellor’s blunt inquiry, Shartia nodded wordlessly.

“It’s an order.”

“…”

“An imperial decree to summarily execute the escaped convicts.”

“I see. A most appropriate measure.”

“…”

A chill settled over her.

“You have no intention of being taken easily, do you?”

“I refuse to return there and rot.”

“Surrender peacefully, and your life can be spared.”

“A meaningless life. To decay in prison, or to perish resisting the Princess – the end result remains the same.”

“…”

Shartia inhaled deeply, calming herself, and turned to the Chancellor.

“Might I ask you one thing?”

“…If I am able, I shall answer most gladly.”

“Since when has my grandfather planned to use me?”

“…”

“And here I was, believing in him, following him with all my heart.”

“…”

“The fact that I, who used to pick flowers just to become friends with my brothers, even considered becoming king—it was all because of that.”

“…”

“Just… why did you do that to me?”

The Chancellor scoffed, shaking his head with a smirk.

“What does it matter now?”

“…”

“It’s already all over.”

“Tell me.”

“…”

“I need to know.”

Shartia’s mind raced through the past.

-King…?

-Yes, you will become king. The Third Princess will become king and punish the wicked, creating a world filled with good people.

-I… I can’t do that. Only my eldest brother can be king.

-You can.

-…

-You will surely become a wise and benevolent ruler, Princess.

The image of the Chancellor, believing in her, patiently guiding her, flashed through her mind. Herself, diligently trying to learn everything, fooled by his flattering words.

And then.

-Grandfather…?

-…!!!

-What did you put in my brother’s carriage?

-Princess…

-Why not put it in mine…?

Recalling the moment that led him to ruin, she waited for the words to leave the Chancellor’s lips.

“…”

The Chancellor, his lips pressed into a firm line, offered a gentle smile as he spoke.

“From the very beginning.”

The moment he began tormenting her.

“From the moment I sought out the Princess.”

“…”

“I watched over the Princess, waiting for a moment of weakness to exploit.”

“…”

“By using the Princess, I believed I could mold the empire to my liking. No, I was certain I could.”

“…Why.”

“Because… the empire is far too peaceful.”

Shartia nodded, clenching both fists tightly.

“I see…”

-Hwooosh-.

Shartia’s hair began to swirl. The wind, born from and resonating with her magic, began to dance, laced with killing intent.

The Chancellor, clutching a bloodied dagger, asked as he looked at Shartia, who radiated a chilling power.

“Can you truly handle this?”

“…”

“I acknowledge that you’ve grown in the time that has passed, Princess. But…”

“…”

“I am the one who taught you everything.”

“…”

“From how to live to how to protect your own flesh.”

“…”

“Who do you think taught you that magic you wield?”

“…”

“It was I.”

“…”

“You learned everything from me.”

“…”

“Do you honestly believe you can handle someone like me?”

The Chancellor glanced at me, standing behind Shartia, and spat out derisively. Offering the enlightened advice to use a knight instead of struggling so.

“Use a knight.”

“…”

“Your Imperial Highness, preserve your precious self and use him as a chess piece. Your Imperial Highness.”

Shartia answered with a fixed expression at the Chancellor’s question.

“He’s not a chess piece.”

“…”

“He’s a precious person…”

“A precious person, you say… So such a person has appeared even for Your Imperial Highness.”

“…”

“He seems like a good person. I have a keen eye for people, you see.”

Shartia swallowed her resentment and clenched her fist.

“Let’s begin. Grandfather.”

The Chancellor wore a faint smile and kicked off the ground, beginning to run.

In a sewer with no side passages, the only direction that could bring harm to Shartia was a straight line.

-Whoosh…

Along with the cold wind, the Chancellor’s dagger, laden with killing intent, began to move swiftly towards Shartia’s vital points.

It was a fast attack for an aging body. Like watching the Archbishop’s attack, even skilled swordsmen couldn’t follow its speed with their eyes.

“Aqua Blast.”

The moment the Chancellor’s dagger was about to reach Shartia, along with Shartia’s quietly resounding voice, numerous spheres brimming with sewer water began to writhe around the Chancellor.

“Such magic can’t—”

“Burst.”

“…!!”

-KABoooM!!!

The moment the sphere filled with sewer water burst before the Chancellor’s eyes, thorns as sharp as spears shot out, blocking the Chancellor’s path.

The Chancellor’s pupils trembled.

While he staggered, numerous spheres had begun to float in the air.

“It seems it wasn’t just your body that grew. Your Imperial Highness.”

Shartia’s magic, which had developed in the time he wasn’t watching, had surpassed the category of a student. It was blinding to see such talent.

‘She wouldn’t be able to create so many spells in a short time. Surely… it must be magic created with illusions.’

He knew.

He was the one who taught Shartia illusion magic, after all.

-If you don’t want to be ignored, you must embellish the exterior.

“-…Decorate? You mean it?”

“Yes, so ornate and impressive that even the enemy will be fooled…”

But the magic that Shartia was now conceiving had long surpassed the level he had taught her. Exceeded even his own prowess in his younger years.

“…It’s difficult to discern what is truly a trap.”

Consumed by lingering regret over his ambition to seize the Empire, the Chancellor clicked his tongue. If he had managed to make Shartia his, the Empire would now be a great power unafraid of war.

In the past, she lacked heart.

Character.

Intelligence.

Talent.

She was outstanding in many areas, but he had believed her fragile nature was beyond repair. No matter how much he pointed it out, her vulnerability remained unchanged.

“…You have developed remarkably.”

If only he had known it would turn out like this…

He would have waited patiently.

“Burst.”

Shartia’s magic, unforgiving of the Chancellor’s reminiscing, once again unleashed a myriad of thorns, dancing in a deadly ballet.

“…”

Dodge one, and another seeks the opening.

Cleave the magic, and it’s an illusion.

Ignore it, deeming it a mirage, and the true magic strikes.

The relentless manipulation toyed with the Chancellor, deceiving him again and again, as if mocking him.

“…Magnificent.”

She shines.

The light he had once coveted, now brighter than ever, bore down upon him.

If he had known she would shine so brightly…

“I should have observed a little longer.”

He would have waited until she had fully blossomed.

He had intended to possess the Empire through Shartia.

Through her, he had planned to secretly eradicate the savage nations that were perpetrating massacres, and forge peace with other countries. His once strong king had grown weak with age.

“…Just a little longer.”

If he had exploited her vulnerable heart, he was certain he could have possessed her entirely. And his plan had, initially, succeeded.

Cherished like my own daughter.

Though not born of my flesh, that smile held such guileless innocence.

-“…Perhaps it is best we cease here.”

And so, I relinquished.

Before my ambition for power swelled further, entering a darkness I could control, believing it would usher in a brighter future for the empire.

For I thought it the only way to protect the child I cherished like a daughter.

‘She is being shown consideration.’

The Princess’s heart remains fragile.

“…It is not yet hardened.”

Her unhardened heart meant she had not yet attained the qualities of a king. The hesitation born of sentiment, even with her enemy before her, was plain to see.

The Chancellor, gripping his dagger in reverse, smiled.

“This duel, then, is my victory.”

His death would steel the heart of the wavering Princess, that was his intent.

“…”

He, who was far from exceptional.

“It has been an honour, witnessing the future Empress.”

He would forge her into the Empire’s king.

In that instant, the dagger, hurtling forth, neared the corner of Shartia’s eye.

“Enough.”

The Chancellor turned his gaze towards the man who had halted his blade with his fingers.

“Look now, Chancellor.”

“…”

“Is this truly the scene you desired?”

Before the Chancellor stood Shartia, tears streaming down her face. Her eyes, like those of a doe, reaching out with her hands, the desperate expression of a child, filling the air with magic.

“…”

The Princess’s knight addressed him.

“You never truly intended to kill her, did you?”

“…”

“Why foist such a cruel decision upon another? Such cowardice.”

The Chancellor bowed his head heavily.

“…A loyal subject…”

A loyal subject’s mouth must be heavy.