TMLOP 48

Chapter 48 

How to Drive You Mad

Become the Empress.

Selenia got her idea from Cliffd’s threat.

Being Yenelophe Pendragon wasn’t enough.

To provoke Venerucia, she needed to be someone who could truly threaten him.

And in this country, the only man who could make Venerucia feel a sense of crisis was, of course, Cliffd.

“Are you telling me to put on a show for you?”

Cliffd’s voice rumbled low with pressure.

But there was no way such a shrewd emperor couldn’t see through Selenia’s intentions.

She counted on that and continued speaking.

Either way, if she was going to die for failing in her mission or become the Empress, then what difference would it make if she died here?

“The Grand Duke and Sir Ellihan are a fate determined by God. To obstruct that fate, an even greater human willpower is needed.”

At least Cliffd didn’t have his sword at her throat at this moment, so her plan was already halfway to success.

“The Grand Duke is someone who has never been denied anything—people included—except for Sir Ellihan.”

Trials and hardships that deepen the bond between the male and female leads—
They were essential to forging destiny.

“In contrast, no matter how much I refuse the Grand Duke, in the end, I have no other choice but him.”

Selenia evaluated herself with cold, ruthless objectivity.

She didn’t think of it as degrading herself—it was simply reality.

It wasn’t possible to stop and reflect on every little thing she had done to survive.

“However, if Your Majesty names me as a candidate for Empress, the story changes. Sir Ellihan wants the Grand Duke, and I have refused the Grand Duke.”

In short, she was saying she would raise her own value.

But it was also a gamble—if she failed, every path ahead of her would be cut off.

She would be branded a woman who went between two brothers, and her reputation in society would be ruined.

If she failed to become either Grand Duchess or Empress, she would never recover.

“So, you’re telling me to stage a sordid love triangle with my brother?”

Cliffd rose from his seat and strode toward her.

It was absurd, considering he was the one who had arbitrarily told her to become Empress in the first place.

“I know it’s hard for a dull head to guess the thoughts of the sun…”

Still, Selenia went on.

The fact that Cliffd hadn’t cut her off meant she could continue.

“There are few noble houses with suitable history and honor, without power, who neither covet it nor are far in age from Your Majesty. I imagine that’s why Your Majesty considered me a viable Empress candidate.”

When she had approached Venerucia, Selenia had memorized most of the noble family trees.

From what she knew, there were only seven families—including Daphne—that met the conditions she had just listed.

And recently, she had learned that four of those families’ daughters were already married.

At least three candidates were needed for an Empress selection.

In other words, if Cliffd wanted to compile a list of candidates he could marry without consequence, Selenia was indispensable.

“With this reasoning, the Grand Duke couldn’t do anything to Your Majesty without a proper justification.”

And that “proper justification” would be created by Venerucia—
Because only then would he not let his brother take Selenia away.

“So…”

She continued speaking, but at that moment, Cliffd, who had suddenly closed the distance, grabbed her chin and tilted it upward.

The Emperor, a Sword Master, often crept up on her like this, killing his presence on purpose just to startle her.

She instinctively glanced up at him before quickly lowering her eyes.

“And if my beloved brother doesn’t act as you wish? I hadn’t even intended to take an Empress yet—wouldn’t you make it troublesome to deal with?”

Again—he was the one who had first told her to become Empress.

But because he looked down on her, he easily changed his words.

“First, we leak the news only to the Grand Duke.”

If Venerucia came to block the Empress selection order, there would be no need to make any public announcement.

“And if he doesn’t react?”

Cliffd and Selenia’s relationship was a strict secret from Venerucia.

So if the news reached him and he didn’t stop it, they would have to officially issue the selection order to avoid suspicion.

“In that case… as Your Majesty says, I will either become Empress…”

A slow smile curled Cliffd’s lips.

“…Or I will make sure the Empress selection is canceled, even if it kills me.”

Then, for the first time, Selenia heard him burst into loud laughter.

“Kuh… Ahahahahaha!!!”

If someone died during an Empress selection, the process would obviously be halted.

Cliffd could then use the candidate’s death as an excuse to delay his marriage even further.

It perfectly matched his intention when he had considered taking Selenia as Empress—mainly to silence the ministers endlessly barking at him to wed.

“Ah… my pet has gotten much smarter.”

After laughing for a while, Cliffd said with open satisfaction.

If she died that way, he wouldn’t punish Daphne.

Because even her death would serve him perfectly.

Just as he said—she had come up with a very clever answer, even if the price was her life.

Yes—Selenia had resolved herself to die.

“Very well, I’ll do as you wish.”

Finally, Cliffd nodded.

When his chess piece was willing to risk her life for him, there was no reason to refuse such a request.

“However…”

Of course, that didn’t mean he would let everything go according to her plan.

“If Venerucia doesn’t act as expected, whether you become my Empress or die will depend on my decision. Don’t forget that.”

His hand, icy enough to send chills down her spine, slid from her cheek to stroke her nape.

Even if the Emperor went further with her now, she couldn’t resist—
Because only then could she survive.

A beautiful, intelligent, and controllable doll—
That was exactly what she was to him.

And Cliffd didn’t bother hiding it.

That touch carried the implication that he was leaning toward making this convenient doll his Empress.

For Selenia, it was a truly dreadful moment.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Still, she answered obediently, as if nothing were wrong.

When Venerucia awoke, Selenia was not by his side.

He was startled.

No matter how sleep-deprived he had been lately, he couldn’t believe that, as a Sword Master, he had slept through her departure without noticing.

At the same time, he suddenly realized just how important she was to him.

He hastily pulled the bell cord to ask where she had gone.

Knock knock knock.

The butler entered at his permission.

“You’re awake, Your Grace.”

“Where is Selli?”

“…At dawn, she called for a carriage and left.”

Venerucia frowned.

It was just like Selenia to deliberately avoid using the Grand Duke’s carriage—the most comfortable one available.

And he didn’t like that.

She had collapsed just the day before—why sleep late in the morning, and what harm was there in using his carriage?

Public carriages were, of course, inferior to those belonging to noble families.

The thought of her riding home in one when she wasn’t feeling well irritated him.

“How did she seem?”

“She appeared much better than yesterday.”

He quickly felt relieved at the butler’s words, though he still grumbled.

“You should have kept her here longer. At least for breakfast…”

But then he realized how unreasonable that was.

Even the Grand Duke couldn’t stop Selenia if she wanted to leave—how could a butler?

He swallowed a sigh.

Besides, hadn’t he told her the night before that he would let her go?

It wasn’t the butler’s fault he hadn’t gotten to properly share what might be their last morning together—it was his own stupidity.

Knock knock knock.

“Your Grace, it’s Samuel. I have urgent news.”

His self-reproach was cut short by the urgent voice of Ardante Samuel, vice-captain of the order, from outside the door.

Since it was rare for Ardante to act like this, Venerucia allowed him in immediately.

“What is it?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Ardante dropped a verbal bomb.

“…His Majesty has named Lady Daphne as a candidate for Empress!”