Chapter 67

As if to meet my expectations, Austin gently brushed the hair behind my ear and added sweetly, “But in return.”

Of course.

“Take my hand, Lady Minuelle. Stay by my side.”

“And if I do?”

“I’ll make you Empress.”

“……!”

From what I thought was the last matryoshka doll, something even larger than everything so far popped out.

“That’s… that’s…”

I was so shocked that I repeated the same word a couple of times before I could speak properly.

“That’s treason.”

Wasn’t he just venting his twisted rebellion by harassing Esadien? I’d even heard the Emperor and Austin had been getting along nicely since he returned. What a disaster!

But shamelessly, Austin shook his head slowly.

“No, this is revenge for my mother.”

“What a ridiculous excuse.”

I cut him off flatly.

Never mind whether Austin would patiently wait for the Emperor to pass. The real issue was that for him to become the next ruler, he’d have to eliminate the Crown Princess.

But what on earth did his mother’s revenge have to do with the Crown Princess?

“Calling my sincerity treason—maybe your bond with the Grand Duchess isn’t as strong as I thought?”

What a joke.

“Ha… My mother would never ask anyone to carry out her revenge for her.”

“Ah, well, true. Unlike my mother, the Grand Duchess was strong. The kind of person who would eliminate all her enemies herself before dying.”

“……”

It was the first time I’d agreed with Austin. But far from feeling pleased, it just made me even more disheartened.

“Well then, I guess I have no choice.”

His voice, tinged with feigned resignation, made me think he’d finally back off. I relaxed a little. After all that tension, my shoulders ached.

But I must’ve underestimated Austin.

“I’ll have to seduce you physically, then.”

“What did you say?”

As I blinked in disbelief, Austin casually lowered himself in front of me.

Kneeling with only one knee on the floor and his back straight, he slowly began to unbutton his shirt. His left hand, gripping my leg to keep me from bolting, was annoyingly strategic.

‘What is even happening right now?’

Just moments ago, we were talking about treason. Wasn’t I rejecting a political proposal?

My thoughts floated away, unable to cope with the absurdity of the scene.

Why are the men of the Roquate royal family so eager to kneel?

Does everyone in Chitrum go shirtless? His skin’s tan too.

Not as much as Esadien, but still—he’s got a decent chest under that shirt.

Etcetera.

“Miyaaak!”

What brought my mind back from orbit was El’s sharp cry from within my arms.

Startled, I quickly set El down and grabbed Austin by the collar.

“You don’t just show that to a woman out of nowhere!”

“You really care about me—so rough.”

This lunatic even chuckled while I was gripping his collar.

“I’ve never met such a consistent woman before. You really should marry me.”

“You—!”

That was it. I’d had enough. I clenched my jaw and aimed a righteous kick.

But maybe because we were so close, Austin caught my foot with ease.

“Not falling for that again. It really hurt last time.”

I had no idea a smiling face could be so infuriating. That saying about not spitting on a smiling face? Total lie.

His hand started sliding up from my ankle, and I shuddered, letting go of his collar and yelling,

“Let go of me!”

“Nope.”

Maybe I should just kill him.

Grinding my teeth, I spat the words like venom.

“I’ll report this to His Majesty and the Crown Princess. That you’re plotting treason.”

But Austin’s relaxed expression never wavered. He calmly summed up the situation in a single sentence: “Do you have proof?”

Oh, my blood pressure…

I didn’t, but I had two feet. So instead of the trapped right foot, I swung the left with all my strength.

Thwack!

“……!”

The sound of impact was satisfying. Austin froze with his mouth open. His smug face flushed deep red, then turned pale repeatedly.

Just because I’m a noble lady doesn’t mean I don’t know where to aim.

‘Serves you right for messing around.’

“Humph.”

I snorted and yanked my right foot free. Austin collapsed to the side, unable to hold on any longer—not my problem. The servants will come soon anyway.

“El, let’s go.”

El stood frozen, tense and in a battle-ready pose. He must’ve been seriously stunned by what just happened.

“You’re not coming? I’ll leave you behind.”

Only then did he hesitantly follow, butt sticking out awkwardly. The sight was ridiculous.

“It’s fine. I won’t hurt your peanuts… oof.”

“Myak!”

El abruptly slapped his paw over my mouth, as if to say “Stop talking!”

I grinned, and he sighed as if giving in, quietly snuggling into my arms. Though, somehow, he flinched every time I patted his butt.

* * *

As expected, my parents were hesitant about immediately reporting Austin.

“If we act rashly, we might end up suffering a bigger blow.”

I already knew how important evidence was, but I still couldn’t help but sigh.

How was I supposed to get evidence? He wasn’t dumb enough to write, ‘I am planning treason’ on some document.

“But Minuelle.”

My father, seeing my distress, gave me a strangely sly smile. It was the first time I’d seen that look from him, and I was a bit flustered, so my answer came late.

“…Yes, Dad?”

“What do you think? Don’t you want to be Empress?”

“Ugh, no way.”

I waved my hands automatically in refusal—then realized he was testing me.

“Dad!”

“Haha. You never know. Humans naturally look upward.”

“I like things just the way they are. The higher you climb, the more exhausting life gets.”

And right now, I already live pretty high up.

A life where I stand above most, where I never have to worry about food, shelter, or clothes. A life rich with a loving family and friends.

Right now, my health has gotten much better. Sure, I had to help the spirit in exchange, but that just felt like the final hurdle in life.

“I don’t wish for anything more.”

When I repeated that, my parents looked at me like I was some old soul in a child’s body.

‘I am an adult, you know.’

But they say a child is always a child in their parents’ eyes. As the youngest, that probably went double.

I put on a cheerful smile to match their expectations and added a reason.

“Besides, Her Highness the Crown Princess is Elga’s dearest friend. His Majesty and Her Highness have always been kind to me… I wouldn’t want to betray them.”

I’m sure they had many reasons for their kindness—because I was Esadien’s fiancée, because I was Elga’s sister. But I didn’t believe their affection was completely fake.

“I understand, Minuelle. His Majesty is a stern ruler, but he’s shown a lot of trust in Karnian and also some humanity.”

I nodded quietly.

I’d been a little scared at first too, having heard how the Emperor used to storm battlefields in his youth.

‘If only Esadien were here right now.’

As if I could just summon him, when even the Emperor’s elite forces couldn’t track him down. But at moments like this, I couldn’t help thinking of him.

If a noble accuses someone of treason and fails to prove it, it’s total ruin. But between royals, it could be brushed off as a “family matter.”

Esadien wasn’t just any knight—he was formidable. Austin had also shown stronger reactions in front of him.

Even after the broken engagement, after all the hurt, I still wanted to use him. I couldn’t deny feeling guilty about that.

‘But I have to stop this before it gets worse.’

Yes. Before Austin actually moves to act. Before the Emperor or the Crown Pincess gets hurt—or worse.

‘So wherever you are, Esadien… please come back soon.’

* * *

But there was one thing I hadn’t expected.

Even after I gave him a beating, Austin kept clinging to me like a persistent stain.

“Shouldn’t a suitor at least be given a fair chance to win your heart?”

He said that, endlessly yapping.

Over time, I started avoiding him whenever I saw even a glimmer of that shiny hair.

‘I’m not afraid of crap—I just don’t want to deal with it!’

Eventually, Austin gave up on pretending to run into me by coincidence and started openly following me around.

‘Do cousins really take after each other?’

I couldn’t help but think of Esadien.

Didn’t he once wait outside the Roquate estate until I came out? He even persuaded the priest to arrange a meeting in the temple and showed up at the magic school’s entrance ceremony as a “representative” of the Crown Princess.

“Esadien…”

The name slipped out unconsciously, and El, who was lying down, perked up his ears. He stared at me.

“No, no, not you. That wasn’t your name.”

“Mew…”

El lowered his head dejectedly. He’d been noticeably more down lately, and I didn’t know why, which made me worry.

“Even Ramande said you’re healthy…”

Then why was he acting like this?

‘Is it stress?’

There were a lot of unfamiliar people in the castle these days. I’d heard animals could get stressed out from such things.

But somehow, that didn’t seem to explain it all.

That time when I barely escaped from Austin and ran into my room—I definitely felt the conversation inside abruptly stop. An awkward silence followed.

The only ones inside had been El and Gabbie. When El was asleep, what could they have been talking about? I’d pressed Gabbie for answers, but—

— Why are you grilling me behind his back? I’m not that kind of petty spirit!

…and only got scolded.

It’s not like I didn’t want to ask El directly! But how can I, when we don’t even speak the same language?!