MTLNOVEL Chapter 120
Far away, the sound of Di, attached to the hidden Rakrensius’s waist, laughing loudly echoed in Selleana’s mind.
“You’ve become quite close with the fifth prince… haven’t you?”
“I understand that my father has already discussed this matter with Your Majesty…”
“We only considered alternatives to formalize the engagement between the imperial family and Elard in another way. It was said that Lady didn’t get along with the crown prince.”
So, he really spread the word everywhere. Selleana gritted her teeth, thinking of Pavellian.
“To be precise, I initially did not participate in the selection process because I thought I fell in love with him at first sight and believed it was fate.”
It was a completely honest truth. Although she initially had Collin in mind… in any case, it was Rakrensius.
“I see…” Tashur III took a sip from his teacup with a very pleased expression.
Don’t you think His Majesty seems to favor the tower master?
[Even during his birthday celebration, he talked to Rakrensius so much that it became annoying. It seems to be true.]
It seems like we can communicate well. Anyways, since I’ve already been imprisoned for insulting the imperial family, what more could happen if I push further?
Di did not relay Selleana’s confident thoughts to his former contractor.
“I heard from him. Your Majesty feels some guilt towards him and has promised to help me because of that.”
Rakrensius, who didn’t expect this to be said so openly, swallowed dryly.
Tashur III’s eyebrow twitched at her bold statement.
“So I must ask… does Your Majesty cherish him as a son?”
Selleana’s amber eyes boldly looked directly at the emperor. Even though she was detained in the underground prison, stripped of her accessories and shoes, and sitting in what was practically indoor clothing… her posture and attitude were unyielding.
“After spending seven years hiding within the imperial palace and only being released after giving up his claim to the throne? Even though he was deemed an idiot by the imperial tutors and has been constantly monitored, unable to freely pursue romantic relationships?”
Her tone was audaciously direct, making the emperor let out a laugh despite himself.
Since she refused the marriage with Pavellian, I knew she was quite audacious.
She was a rare type in Nepelsian. Given the public’s view of Lady Elard, it was unlikely this true nature had been revealed before. And perhaps this boldness, resembling Titi, was what made Rakrensius fall for her so helplessly.
…It might be the unqualified affection of an unworthy father.
A bitter smile crossed Tashur III’s lips.
Both the daring Selleana, who had taken a gamble, and the anxious Rakrensius momentarily felt relieved.
“As for that… I truly have nothing to say.”
The emperor’s expression showed regret. Despite expecting him to help in this situation, Selleana felt a bit of anger.
“When my father asked Your Majesty about your intentions regarding my marriage with him, do you remember how you responded?”
“Milady, your words are too—!”
The chamberlain tried to intervene, but Tashur III raised his hand to stop him. Though her tone was outrageously bold, neither Selleana nor Tashur III seemed to mind.
Selleana was angry at Rakrensius’s father for neglecting him, and Tashur III felt indebted to Selleana for wanting to be part of Rakrensius’s family.
Only Rakrensius felt uncomfortable with this situation. He expected his biological father, Tashur III, to help, but he didn’t want to know about his father’s soft heart.
“At that time, I answered that the empress’s opinion was important…”
“Did you discuss it with the empress then?”
“No.” The emperor’s direct answer carried no embarrassment.
…I figured as much.
[
Hmm
.]
Given that it had been over a month since Duke Elard’s private audience with the emperor and there had been no response, Selleana had expected this. Especially since the empress had pressed for the selection process despite knowing Rakrensius was her lover.
His Majesty… hoped my father would realize something from his evasive response.
Di couldn’t be sure about human emotions despite all its knowledge, so it remained silent.
Selleana’s guess was indeed accurate.
It was cowardly but unavoidable…
The emperor couldn’t personally take away Rakrensius’s happiness. But he knew the empress wouldn’t let it be. He closed his eyes.
“Your Majesty seems to have many regrets.”
More than ten years ago, shortly after Tashur III lost his second empress, a saintess suddenly came to see him and said those words. The saintess, who had been on pilgrimage across the continent since appearing at the temple in her early teens, came to see him as a fully grown adult and spoke to him for the first time.
“If I could, how about I relieve you of that regret?”
“How could you, Saintess…”
“You only need to promise me one thing. As a saintess succeeding Asmion and Orot’s promise, you must unconditionally support what I do for the imperial family.”
The dedication of Nepelsian to Orot happened during the time of King Asmion, the founder of the empire. Based on the stories passed down, he thought the saintess’s role was to ensure Orot’s eternal blessing. Unaware of the saintess’s ambition to control him and make her alter ego the ruler of the continent, he agreed.
“The seed of Your Majesty remains in the forgotten lands of Arancha. It’s uncertain whether it will be a consequence or a blessing, so you should keep it close for now.”
“Does that mean…”
“Yes. Your Majesty’s long-lost lover from the past is there as well.”
As he wished, the saintess quickly found his unforgettable past lover. But Titi did not come to the capital, and what remained was a boy who resembled him.
The boy had silver hair, like Titi’s, and fearful eyes, like his own. Because the boy seemed lacking and unambitious, he left him be.
“That child… the son the empress brought. What was his name again… It’s strange. My memory of him is always so vague…”
“He’s a non-existent person. Neither in the temple of Orot nor in the future of Nepelsian. Therefore, Your Majesty doesn’t need to remember him.”
Believing he was fulfilling the role he pledged to the saintess through a political marriage, he did not question why the first and fifth princes were never mentioned in her plans.
The child, constantly reminding him of Titi’s loss, was not something he questioned further. Thinking it was his own decision, he never doubted the saintess’s subtle manipulations.
Just as Selleana’s friends believed they chose their paths in life by their own will, he mistook his compliance with the saintess’s plans as his own decision. Therefore, he could not fully support Rakrensius and Selleana’s happiness. He also couldn’t push Selleana to marry Pavellian, as the empress wanted. His guilt towards Rakrensius made him cherish Pavellian as his successor.
“Your Majesty.”
Selleana’s voice brought him back from his thoughts. Her amber eyes seemed to accuse him of indecisiveness.
“Do you know what’s happening outside right now?”
“You mean the movements of the nobles regarding Lady’s imprisonment…”
“Yes. Didn’t you anticipate Elard wouldn’t overlook this?”
“Yes… I heard that Elard’s private soldiers defeated the 2nd battalion of the imperial knights surrounding the duchy and are now marching towards the imperial palace.”
Has it progressed that far already?
Selleana found the emperor’s nonchalant tone a bit absurd. Despite Elard’s power, a noble mobilizing troops without the emperor’s permission was an outright rebellion.
[Your father is outraged and intends to truly defy the imperial family since you’ve already been imprisoned for insulting them.]
Based on the message the duke left in Rakrensius’s book, that seemed to be the intention.
“Your Majesty, you need to make a decision.”
“What decision do you mean? About your imprisonment?”
“No.” Selleana smiled faintly. “Your Majesty must choose between my lover, the fifth prince, and the fourth prince. Who will you choose?”
“What do you mean…?”
“I recently discovered through a certain event that Her Majesty’s divine power doesn’t work on me.”
Tashur III’s eyes twitched. “That means…”
“Yes. It means Her Majesty used divine power on me. If my father finds out about this, won’t the situation become even more interesting?”