Chapter 90 – 90
The carriage departed early in the morning, traveling all day and stopping at inns by night. As the capital drew closer, Euro could not hide his growing anxiety.
It was because he had yet to find a clear solution despite the long journey. Of course, there was plenty of time; it was the carriage that was rushing, not Euro.
After the second day, when he had been out of it due to a hangover, he didn’t share the carriage with Melione. After a brief, meaningless conversation, he woke up to find Melione sitting in front of him as if nothing had happened.
The situation wasn’t one where they could resume their conversation, nor was the atmosphere right for him to apologize for falling asleep first.
After getting off the carriage and spending the night at an inn, Euro hadn’t spoken a single word to him. They stayed in separate rooms and ate separate meals.
“We’ll be arriving soon,” Dent said, looking at the scenery outside the window while sitting opposite Euro.
Euro asked him, “Have you been to the capital before?”
“Briefly, a long time ago. How about you, my lady?”
“Me too, briefly, a long time ago.”
Since he had met Melione there, Euro Leches had visited once or twice, but this was Euro’s first time. Even when traveling from Norden to Silon, he hadn’t taken the route that passed through the capital.
He didn’t know what might happen if he stopped by the capital. Because of that, the road to Silon had been longer and more treacherous, as he had to take a detour instead of using the well-paved main road.
“Please get some deep rest once we arrive. There is a separate mansion in the capital. I sent word as soon as we departed, so it should be prepared.”
“Not staying at the Imperial Palace?”
“No. One’s own home is always more comfortable. Come to think of it, you must have stayed in the quarters provided by the Imperial Palace.”
Euro nodded at Dent’s words. He had never stayed there himself, but that was how he understood it.
Since they came from the Kingdom of Norden, they were treated as state guests and stayed at the Imperial Palace. Even for those who weren’t royalty, accommodations were provided for guests during events like birthday banquets.
This was because nobles coming from afar often didn’t have their own mansions in the capital. The same applied to those from Norden.
“My sister is probably staying somewhere other than the Imperial Palace, right?”
“Isn’t that highly Read on Read BL Novelslikely? I suspect His Majesty [unauthorized copy]the Emperor would [unauthorized copy]not have permitted it.”
“I think so too.”
“…….”
“But, what about me?”
“Pardon?” Dent asked back, as if wondering what he meant.
“His Majesty said he wouldn’t recognize me as the Duchess. That means he intends to treat the marriage as if it never happened.”
“That is correct.”
“Still, I have the status of Norden royalty. That’s why the invitation was sent that way.”
“…….”
“Then wouldn’t a residence be prepared for me?”
“I’m not sure; I cannot [Read on Read BL Novels]say for certain. Seeing as the invitation arrived somewhat late in Silon, I suspect something may [stolen content]have happened regarding this matter.”
Euro nodded at Dent’s words. It made sense. The invitation had indeed felt a bit delayed.
That could have been because Gail sent it secretly behind the Emperor’s back, or perhaps because they were arranging a residence for him. In a situation where he didn’t even know where Clope was staying, everything was merely speculation.
“I can’t tell if I was called secretly, or if the plan took into account me staying at the palace. There might be a reason why I need to be at the palace rather than the Spiorene mansion.”
“Is there a specific reason you must be at the palace? It would be better if His Majesty the Emperor remained unaware until just before the birthday banquet….”
“No, it’s the opposite.”
“…….”
“He might actually prefer to know where I am. In fact, it’s more likely he’d be displeased that I’m accompanying the Excellency and staying at the mansion.”
The talk of nullifying the marriage was equivalent to telling him to marry Clope as ordered. If so, the Emperor wouldn’t want Euro at the Spiorene mansion.
After all, Euro appearing alongside Melione was a problem in itself. He would want to separate them and treat the whole thing as if it never happened. That was likely why only one invitation had been sent in the name of Spiorene.
Furthermore, the Emperor was a man who had even sent [unauthorized copy]assassins to kill Clope for marrying Melione. Thus, Euro, who hindered his plans, was no different.
If he intended to kill Euro at any time, the Imperial Palace was certainly better than the Spiorene mansion. He could dispose of the body cleanly and simply make it look as if Euro had run away.
Conversely, if someone died at the Spiorene mansion, it would be more difficult to force Clope into marriage. While it was known that those who married into the Spiorene Family died from the curse, a murder scene was a completely different matter.
Though it was a place sent to die, even for the Emperor, it wouldn’t be easy to marry someone off to a man who had truly gone mad and started stabbing people to death.
Melione must not be branded with such a reputation yet. Even if he were, it should happen after Clope was married off and dealt with cleanly. Only then could he easily swallow both Norden and Silon.
Either way, people died, but the Emperor was a man who wanted to maintain a certain level of dignity. If someone died due to the curse, he could claim he wasn’t the one who killed them.
He was a cowardly and petty human being. It was malicious how he left room for excuses, even though everyone else thought the same thing.
“My head hurts, seriously. I can’t tell what he’s thinking….”
“For now, let us go to the Spiorene mansion. If there is another plan, wouldn’t His Royal Highness the Crown Prince send someone?”
“…….”
“After all, as soon as we arrive [stolen content]in the capital, word will reach Read on Read BL Novelsthe Crown Prince immediately.”
“I suppose so.”
Euro decided not to think any deeper. If his plans were being thwarted, the Crown Prince would come to correct them. Surely he hadn’t failed to predict this much while sending the invitations.
“However, there is something I am curious about.”
“What is it?”
“Is this related to breaking the curse?”
At Dent’s question, Euro pondered for a moment. Indeed, Dent was only playing along because Euro insisted that Clope and Gail must marry and that he had to help them.
Dent didn’t know why Euro was so passionate about the marriage of those two.
Dent only knew that the Emperor did not want the marriage of Gail and Clope, nor did he want the marriage of Euro and Melione.
“It is. I can’t explain in detail, but….”
“…….”
“Regardless of whether the curse is broken, if my sister dies in Silon, things will get complicated. It would provoke the Crown Prince’s wrath.”
“……That would certainly be the case.”
“Of course, it wouldn’t matter after the curse is broken. But there was another reason why His Majesty sent my sister to Silon in the first place. There was an implication that he wanted her to die. If so, there’s a high possibility he’ll frame the Excellency by making it look as if the curse wasn’t removed.”
“…….”
“Because His Majesty views both Norden and Silon as thorns in his side.”
“Then you mean His Majesty had another objective?”
“……It’s just a guess.”
Since it was something that hadn’t happened yet, Euro held his tongue. If he explained the objective, he would have to explain how he knew, which made him even more cautious.
“How can I make sure those two get married before the curse is broken?”
“…….”
“After the curse is broken, I don’t care who becomes the Duchess, but it can’t be my sister.”
For that to happen, the person who needed to be most alert was Gail. Only he could save Clope.
Euro could help to some extent, but given the state of his body, there were clear limits. He didn’t have much time left, and just trying to break the curse was enough to make his head explode.
“As I thought, I should just kill the cause….”
Dent was startled by Euro’s mutterings and instinctively looked around. Although only he and Euro were in the carriage, he felt he knew exactly who Euro was referring to.
“My lady, please do not speak so recklessly….”
“I don’t say this anywhere else.”
“Please be careful even in front of me. You never know what might happen.”
“If someone asks while threatening to kill me, I’ll just tell them exactly what they heard.”
“Would someone making death threats actually let [stolen content]you live just because you told [unauthorized copy]the truth? They’d probably just kill me too after listening.”
“……True.”
Euro easily conceded to Dent’s point. Thinking about it, it made sense.
“And from what I’ve observed, you are not the type of person to kill someone. How could you possibly do it alone, especially to that person? You’re more likely to save them.”
“……Save them?”
“Yes, you make it look as if the dragon’s curse has vanished; surely you can save someone who has been stabbed?”
“I’ve never tried, but….”
It didn’t seem entirely impossible. Even Larry, a dragon, had said he was amazing. That meant his healing ability was on a level incomparable to Helen’s.
He might be able to save someone who had been stabbed, but he was not a person who could stab someone. What he needed right now was the ability to just kill at least one person.
“……Right, that’s it.”
“Pardon?”
“Why didn’t I think of that?”
Euro’s eyes suddenly sparkled. He then gave Dent a thumbs-up.
“You’re a real genius, Dent.”
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