THVS 20

Chapter 20

The moment he saw it, the Emperor’s face went blank, as if his mind had gone completely numb.

“Are you serious, young lady?”

A letter of immunity—one that promised to overlook even three misdeeds, no matter what I did.

Instead of answering, I picked up the quill and boldly crossed out the very first clause.

“Then may I take my leave?”

“I’ll give you a chance to withdraw it. Think again, young lady. It isn’t a bad offer for you either.”

“It is a bad offer. All I did was destroy the Mage Tower, yet Your Majesty is dragging the Elopes family into a battle for the throne.”

Of course, generally speaking, destroying a national institution like the Mage Tower could hardly be dismissed as “all I did.”

But compared to being pulled into a succession struggle…

‘Yes. “All I did” is exactly right.’

The cost-benefit balance didn’t just fail to add up—it was absurdly unfair.

What, did he think he could just take advantage of us?

The Emperor spoke lightly, almost playfully, but getting involved in a fight for the throne carried enormous risk.

Choosing the side of a prince who failed to ascend meant making the future Emperor your enemy.

In extreme cases, once a new Emperor took the throne, it wasn’t uncommon for him to crush the families that had supported another heir.

And in the original story, the Crown Prince was not the Second Prince, Ciel.

It was the First Prince, Euclid.

‘Honestly, it’s best not to get close to royals who won’t become Emperor.’

The situation differed from the original work.

In the novel, Ciel had an aggressive personality and enough power that he could still help Leila even without becoming Crown Prince.

Besides, their engagement was still intact.

Even a madman like Euclid couldn’t recklessly interfere with another prince’s fiancée.

And I wasn’t much different.

‘We haven’t even officially broken off the engagement, and he’s already talking about me becoming Crown Princess.’

That said, if Elopes truly decided to support the Second Prince, the advantage would overwhelmingly swing toward Ciel.

The First Prince had only legitimacy and a strong maternal family behind him.

But if Ciel gained Elopes as his backing, he could easily overcome that.

In terms of talent and ability, the Second Prince was far superior.

Still, the reason I refused the Emperor’s proposal until the end was simple.

‘Because this is a novel.’

Possession stories, regression stories—I’d read them all.

Even if the transmigrated character twisted the plot, the story always tended to return to its original course to preserve plausibility.

In other words, even if Elopes supported Ciel, there was still a strong chance Euclid would end up on the throne.

And if that happened, everything I’d prepared could collapse in an instant.

I had to secure my own survival, save Leila from her miserable ending, keep my family safe…

I was busy enough already.

So why was that damned Emperor so obsessed?

If only he would firmly appoint Ciel Percent as Crown Prince, half the danger would disappear.

‘No.’

Just becoming Crown Prince wasn’t enough.

He would need to ascend the throne for true stability.

“To call becoming a prince’s consort a bad offer… If you look around, there are plenty of noble ladies who would kill for that position.”

“If there are so many, then why are you telling me to become the prince’s consort?”

“…I like how bold you are. Speaking so freely even before the Emperor.”

“It’s not as though I’m in a position where I can’t.”

For a duke’s daughter, it was a rather presumptuous way to speak to the Emperor.

But I needed to make one thing clear.

“In the end, this isn’t merely my personal matter. It concerns my family.”

On this issue, bending would be worse than breaking.

“May I offer one piece of advice?”

“……”

“Not as a young lady, but as the one who was meant to become the next Master of the Mage Tower.”

“So you intend to strike without holding back. Very well. Speak.”

Without avoiding the Emperor’s gaze even slightly, I opened my mouth.

“You are someone who can arrive at the right answer without relying on others. You already know which choice is correct.”

“…Even when one side is clearly winning?”

“It seems you’ve forgotten why the Elopes family does not involve itself in succession struggles.”

“…Hmph.”

“Even without making me a prince’s consort, couldn’t you grant sufficient justification?”

The Elopes family had always been loyal to the Emperor.

They never took part in battles for the throne, but they offered absolute devotion to the reigning Emperor.

So outwardly they seemed neutral—but that was not truly the case.

The Emperor burst into hearty laughter, clearly understanding my meaning.

Then he wiped the smile from his face and asked,

“One more thing. Don’t you need justification to create the right answer?”

“Is there any need to create it? When right and wrong are laid before you, no one chooses wrong.”

“I see.”

With a satisfied nod, the Emperor restored the first clause of the immunity letter that I had crossed out.

‘…What is he plotting?’

When I looked at him suspiciously, he let out a low chuckle.

“Who said that just because you lost your mana, the next Master of the Mage Tower would be weak? I never said such a thing.”

“…Pardon?”

“You will do it. Next Master of the Mage Tower.”

“…Even without mana?”

“Magic isn’t the only thing that matters. Just because you lack mana, does that mean you can’t solve formulas?”

“That’s different.”

“Then it’s settled. You spend every day buried in the tower researching equations, and you’re the best at that.”

“I won’t deny it.”

I wasn’t boasting—it was simply true.

Those tower mages were so incompetent, what was I supposed to do?

When I said it bluntly, the Emperor clutched his stomach and roared with laughter.

“Ahahahahaha!”

What is wrong with him?

I almost blurted it out loud instead of keeping it in my head.

“Being the next Tower Master is qualification enough to smash the tower, isn’t it?”

He asked his aide beside him as if seeking agreement.

The aide nodded with the expression of someone being told, ‘The answer is already decided, just nod.’

“And in that sense…”

Oh no. What now?

If he was about to say something strange again, I wished he would just stay silent.

I worked hard not to let my exhaustion show.

“What if it’s not prince’s consort… but Crown Prince’s consort? Would that change your mind?”

“……”

“To be honest, even if it weren’t Elopes, I’d want you as my daughter-in-law.”

…Who said I would agree?

The only reason I could speak so boldly was because I was Elopes.

Partly genetics, partly being raised in the empire’s sole ducal house.

But I’d already challenged the Emperor too much, so this time I kept my thoughts to myself.

“If it’s not Crown Princess, but Empress… then I’ll consider it.”

“So you’re not completely uninterested.”

“I never said that.”

He looked like he might abdicate to the Second Prince on the spot if I admitted it.

…Should I have said yes?

Coldly speaking, the position of Empress wasn’t bad.

No—it was the best possible choice.

I would have to marry anyway, but among the central noble families, there was no young lord who would truly want to marry me.

Even if there were, Father would never approve.

And becoming Empress would greatly increase my chances of safety.

No matter how insane Lionel was, he wouldn’t dare touch the Empress.

‘…Though he’s more insane than I can imagine.’

And if possible, marrying someone who actually liked me wasn’t so bad either.

All things considered, it was the best option.

Only advantages, no disadvantages.

Not that I’d live by eating someone’s face, but it certainly didn’t hurt if he was handsome.

‘Someone like Ciel Percent…’

“Looks, ability, family! Where in the world do you find a man with all three?”

…Why did my past self ever say something like that?

If I’d known those words would someday be used not to tempt Leila, but to tempt me, I never would have said them.

I already knew.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, it was over.