Synopsis and Starting Chapter Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
Chapter 75
Chapter 76
Chapter 77
Chapter 78
Chapter 79
Chapter 80
Chapter 81
Chapter 82
Chapter 83
Chapter 84
Chapter 85
Chapter 86
Chapter 87
Chapter 88
Chapter 89
Chapter 90 - Light And Shadow>
Chapter 91
Chapter 92
Chapter 93
Chapter 94
Chapter 95
Chapter 96
Chapter 97
Chapter 98
Chapter 99
Chapter 100
Chapter 101
Chapter 102
Chapter 103
Chapter 104
Chapter 105
Chapter 106
Chapter 107
Chapter 108
Chapter 109
Chapter 110
Chapter 111
Chapter 112 - The Morning Comes>
Chapter 113
Chapter 114
Chapter 115
Chapter 116
Chapter 117
Chapter 118 - After The Storm
Chapter 119
Chapter 120
Chapter 121
Chapter 122
Chapter 123
Chapter 124
Chapter 125
Chapter 126
Chapter 127
Chapter 128
Chapter 129
Chapter 130
Chapter 131
Chapter 132 -
Chapter 133
Chapter 134 - Epilogue 1.3
Chapter 135 - Epilogue 2.1: Traces Of Life
Chapter 136
Chapter 137 - Epilogue 2.3
Chapter 138
Chapter 139
Chapter 140
Chapter 141 - Epilogue 4.1: Ever After>
Chapter 142 - Epilogue 4.2
Chapter 143 - Epilogue 4.3
Chapter 144 - Epilogue 5.1>
Chapter 145 - Epilogue 5.2
Chapter 146 - The Most Romantic Weekend>
Chapter 147 - Short Stories 1.2
Chapter 148 -
Chapter 149 -
Chapter 150 -
Chapter 151 -
Chapter 152 -
Chapter 153 -
Chapter 154 - Short Stories 3.1: Unexpected Things Happen>
Chapter 155 - Short Stories 3.2>
Chapter 156 -
Chapter 157 -
Chapter 158 -
Chapter 159 -
Chapter 160 -
Chapter 161 - Short Stories 5.1: The Man Behind The Mask>
Chapter 162
Chapter 163
Chapter 164 -
Chapter 165 -
Chapter 166
Chapter 167 - Short Stories 6.2
Chapter 168 - Short Stories 6.3
Chapter 169
Chapter 170
Chapter 171
Chapter 172
Chapter 173
Chapter 174
Chapter 175
Chapter 176
Chapter 177
Chapter 178
Chapter 179
Chapter 180
Chapter 181
Chapter 182
Chapter 183
Chapter 184
Chapter 185
Chapter 186
Chapter 187
Chapter 188
Chapter 189 (End)
Categories Genre: All, Completed, Fantasy Status: Completed ______
Total Chapters in book: 189
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
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LIST OF LAST 10 CHAPTERS:
Page No. 189 Page No. 188 Page No. 187 Page No. 186 Page No. 185 Page No. 184 Page No. 183 Page No. 182 Page No. 181 Page No. 180 Page No. 179 Chapter 71
Chapter 71:
Surprisingly, Clodys didn’t seem surprised at all by my sudden appearance. He turned around casually. I could no longer see any traces of anger in his eyes. He looked calm as if nothing happened.
I felt cold with fear. I could think of two reasons how Clodys could act calm so suddenly. Either the concern he showed in front of Liliana was an act, or the calmness he’s displaying now is a lie.
Either way, I thought he could be useful to me.
After a brief and tense silence, he finally opened his mouth.
“I didn’t know your highness has a nasty habit of eavesdropping.”
So he knew who I was.
I replied, “I apologize. I didn’t mean to do it. It was not intentional.”
“… I hope you are telling the truth.” After another short silence, he continued, “I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. Even if you tell people what you heard here, it won’t be any use to you. It is only a silly story between a man who lost his title and a powerless princess.”
He turned around to leave.
He obviously wanted to leave, which made sense. This was an embarrassing situation, but I had no intention of letting him go. Not yet.
“Wait.”
He replied angrily, “Do you need something from me? I can’t think of anything you would want from me.”
His words were sharp. He most likely saw me as one of the people who caused his mother’s death. I felt sympathetic, but this didn’t mean I would let him go.
“I do feel bad about your situation.”
Clodys frowned harshly.
I continued, “I can’t forgive your mother for poisoning me, but… I don’t agree with punishing you for your mother’s crime. To lose your title like that… I don’t think it’s fair.”
Of course, I knew his mother was innocent of the crime, but I obviously couldn’t let him know. I decided to go with the story.
He asked, “Are you kidding me?!”
“Of course not.”
I knew I was making him angrier, but I wasn’t worried.
He said impatiently, “Then are you asking me to apologize for what happened to you?”
“Of course not. You shouldn’t have to pay for your mother’s crime. That wouldn’t be right.”
“… Then I don’t understand why you are talking to me.”
He looked like he wanted to kill me. I hid my nervousness by smiling calmly.
I replied, “I think it would be best to just get to the point.” I paused with another smile and continued, “I will be direct. Would you like to work with me? Be on my side?”
“…”
The silence was killing me, but I continued to maintain a smile. I looked at his eyes and kept my mouth shut. I couldn’t show any weakness.
He finally opened his mouth.
“Are you kidding me?”
“How many times do I have to tell you that this is a serious matter? I am a busy woman, so why would I waste my time kidding with a nobody?”
He became angry at the word “nobody.” I knew it would, but it was done on purpose. I added.
“I just want to give you a chance.” I added.
“… A chance?”
He looked confused, so I decided to explain it a little better.
“Yes. A chance for you and… poor Princess Liliana.”
“…”
“You and your father aren’t in the same boat. Your father will regain everything if the dowager empress wins, but you won’t.”
“… If the dowager empress wins, she will reinstate my mother to a position of honor. With this, my brother and I will get everything back as well. When that happens, you, of course, won’t be around anymore.”
This was true. If the dowager empress won, I would be gone. Either I would be sent to the dungeon or be poisoned to death.
I grinned on purpose and replied, “Do you really think it will be that easy? I heard your father the marquis is actively looking for a new wife to get another heir.”
“…”
“If he gets another son, you won’t ever be able to get your title back.”
This was true. Whoever was going to marry the marquis would want a contract that promised her son to inherit the title. I knew the marquis would sign this contract without hesitation.
Clodys was in a precarious position. His future was full of uncertainty.
He replied, “It doesn’t matter. The dowager empress will be triumphant very soon, so I am not worried at all.”
He was smart and I liked that about him. He clearly hated the dowager empress, but he was hiding it very well.
I smiled at his smooth face.
“Really? Do you really think it will be that easy?”
“Are you threatening me?”
“I am only telling you the truth. We don’t know if the dowager empress’ baby is a boy or a girl.”
He replied too quickly, “It will be a prince.”
I answered him nonchalantly, “Even then, she won’t win.”
“Pardon?”
“Even if it is a prince, it is only a newborn. What do you think the chances are for the baby prince to survive and become an adult?”
“Are you threatening to harm the unborn prince?!”
I smiled and shook my head. If someone would harm the new prince, it wouldn’t be me. It would be Lucretius.
“I am telling you it won’t even be necessary for me to harm the baby.”
“Pardon?”
“A newborn baby prince against the 27-year-old emperor. Do you really think it would be a fair match?”
It would be a fully-grown adult against a baby. Of course, the baby would have his mother, the dowager empress, to fight the battle, but I didn’t mention this fact.
“Besides, many things can happen while the baby grows up. Remember what happened to the dowager empress’ other prince? He died before he turned one.”
The death rate of babies in this world was much higher than on earth. Many of Lucretius’s other siblings apparently died before they became adults.
“…”
“I admit the dowager empress is ambitious and a formidable woman, but her limitation is too great. You know this, right?”
He couldn’t say anything. I could feel that I was winning this argument, so I pushed on.
“And for the sake of argument, let’s say the dowager empress won. Even then, how much do you think she will do to help you?”
“…”
“This is the woman who abandoned your mother, who was her most devoted maid in waiting. Also… look at how she treats her own daughter.”
“That’s…!”
I shook my head.
“I already knew how the princesses are treated by the dowager empress. I’ve seen it myself.”
I took a step towards him. Suddenly, the fully-grown young man looked small and fragile like a young boy.
I continued, “And have you heard the rumor?”
“What… rumor?”
I knew I had him now.
“The dowager empress is thinking about getting Princess Liliana to marry Marquis Galisia.”
“What?!”
The boy looked shocked and despairing. I knew I won this game.
I also realized that Clodys was truly in love with Liliana. This was a good thing.
The way he acted in front of Liliana reminded me of someone. Someone with green eyes.
No, it couldn’t be. I was thinking nonsense.
Clodys exclaimed, “Marquis Galisia is over 50 years old! He has been married three times already!”
“But he is powerful, especially in the south. He also has a sizable military.”
“But…!”
“I heard… that Marquis Galisia has an… unusual taste. In fact, one of his divorced wives asked to be separated from him because of his perverted way.”
“…!”
The boy’s eyes wavered. It was game over.
Clodys asked, “Just… what do you want me to do? Do you want me to run to the emperor and tell him that my father and the dowager empress are committing treason against him?”
“No. Even if you do that, it won’t do any good. The dowager empress will deny it and without any proof, it will be you who ends up in the dungeon.”
“Then…”
“Even if the baby is a boy or a girl, the dowager empress will try something. Whatever she does, it will be something very dangerous and most likely, she will fail. When she fails, you and Princess Liliana will also be in danger.”
“…” Clodys bit his lips.
I continued, “So before that happens, you better find a way to save yourself.” I said enough. It was time to leave. I smiled kindly and added, “I am not telling you that you need to think of something right now. I will give you some time. And… I am only telling you this because I feel bad for the princess. Even if you don’t accept my offer to work together, please do your best to stop the princess’ marriage to that old man. I don’t know if it will help, but I will ask the emperor as well.”
Clodys seemed confused when he asked, “She is the daughter of your enemy who caused you to lose your baby. Why would you try to help her?”
“… Princess Liliana reminds me of my old friend. In my homeland, the sins of the parents don’t get passed onto their children. I don’t want that to happen here.”
I meant what I said.
I picked up a thick book with a black leather binding.
I said to him, “Think carefully about my offer. If you accept it, please leave a note in this book here. I will visit this place twice every week to check.”
“…”
I turned around gracefully. I wanted to leave like a cool heroine in the movies, but I remembered something.
I didn’t want to, but I knew I had to ask.
I said to him in embarrassment, “Um… and… can you tell me the way out of this library? I’m lost.”
“…”
Total Chapters in book: 189
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 290059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1450(@200wpm)___ 1160(@250wpm)___ 967(@300wpm)
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