Chapter 67: CH 67

I was drinking tea leisurely with Rex after a long time. Since I started practicing archery, I wasn’t able to spend much time with Rex, so I promised to be with him today. The three black-haired brothers will play on their own.

The time I spent with Rex felt comfortable without the need to talk. I felt like I was becoming more like Rex, who was so relaxed. Yes, this unwinding……This is what a noble life is like. I’ve been living so fiercely lately.

“Miss Mary!”

“Why?”

Carol suddenly came running, calling my name. She seemed out of breath from running in a hurry.

“There’s a present for you!”

“Present…?”

“Come quickly!”

I went with Rex. There were two boxes in the hall that looked quite luxurious. What’s this?

“One was sent by Count Stein and the other..”

When I didn’t open the box and just looked at it with my head tilted, Carol told me the name of the sender who sent the gift. Oh, I told Count Stein that he didn’t need to send me a gift, but he still did. Count Stein repeatedly thanked me, claiming that it was because of me that he had learned there were demons in the forest and so he was able to set up a stone tablet. He expressed regret and made a pledge not to repeat it. The present he promised to give me has arrived. What about the other one? Carol hesitated to reveal the name of the person who sent the gift.

“The first prince…”

“Cameron?”

Cameron sent me a present. The size of the box was larger than that sent by Count Stein. Obviously, the size does not determine the value, but.. it’s really weird, isn’t it?

For now, I decided to open the box sent by Count Stein first. When I opened the luxurious brown box, there was a dagger inside.

“Wow, it’s so beautiful.”

Rex admired the beautiful dagger. The sheath and handle were engraved with an eagle and snapdragon. The eagle was likely carved because it is Conler’s symbol, but why was a snapdragon engraved? I found a letter with a dagger in the box.

[The bow that Miss Mary handles well is, of course, a good weapon, but a dagger is also quite useful. Do you recognize the flower carved on the dagger? It’s a flower called snapdragon. It means “Merciful Lady” in the flower language. Thanks to the benevolent lady, I was able to find the demon and set up a stone tablet. Thank you very much.]

I said I wouldn’t accept a gift, but… a dagger was a pretty good present. I find it a little uncomfortable to carry a bow and arrows, but I can manage a dagger this small.

Now that I’ve checked Count Stein’s gift, the next is Cameron’s gift…….

Somehow, I didn’t want to open the box. Will Cameron give me a pleasant present?

“If you’re worried, should I open it?”

Rex was also worried, so he volunteered to open it for me, but I refused. Did he send something weird? However, I felt uncomfortable putting the box inside, so I just sat down in the hall and opened the box.

When I saw the contents of the box, I couldn’t even scream and just froze for a while. I covered my mouth in surprise.

“What’s wrong with him?”

Maybe curious about my reaction, Rex carefully looked into the box. Rex froze just like I did.

“What, what is this?”

I took the card out of the box without saying a word. According to the card, he sent it after much thought because it seemed like a gift that would suit both Rex and me.

[May the lady be happy.]

Cameron sent me a gift, hoping I’d be happy. It was stuffed with rabbits.

“He’s really cheap! How could he!”

Do you know what’s even worse? What’s in this box right now is the rabbit, Kangchong, I saw at Count Stein’s hunting ground.

At that time, I thought I liked this rabbit and wanted to keep it forever.

I’m so sorry Kangchong. I’ll bury you in the garden. I’m really sorry.With my heart, I expressed regret numerous times.It’s all my fault that this lovely beast has turned out this way..

“What is written on the card?”

“Just… he just wants me to be happy.”

“……what a bad guy.”

I tore the card to pieces in case Rex saw it later.This good Rex might believe it’s his fault if he looks at the card. I’ve had enough of Cameron’s cruelty. If Cameron’s purpose was to piss me off, he did a great job.

“I’ll pay him back as much as I got.”

Rex nodded at my words.

What does Cameron hate the most?

And suddenly, I thought Maybe there’s another way I can pay Demimore back.

***

Elizabeth, who was sixteen, was unable to love the foreign nation she married into. In contrast to the romantic marriage she had imagined as a child, the reality was full of disappointment.

No matter how political the marriage was, she was not happy with her husband, who was 12 years older than him. Unlike the palace in Larvian, which was always cool, the Britina Empire was so bright and colorful that it seemed artificial. In the castle, Elizabeth was as foreign as the pale moon in bright daylight.

Elizabeth cried for a year, lamenting her misfortune. Initially, the emperor tried to appease such a young empress with various jewels and ornaments but when Cameron was born, the emperor did not force himself to spend time with his beautiful but melancholy empress. The only thing that mattered was posterity.

In the end, the emperor had a child out of wedlock with a lowly one of unknown origin. He even gave her a palace. Elizabeth came to her senses when she found out. Life is not meant to be taken, but to be pioneered.

as long as Cameron becomes emperor.

Elizabeth’s fate rested with Cameron, but Cameron didn’t follow her heart.

So it was the case this time. Elizabeth was half worried and half excited when the emperor instructed Cameron to stay at Conler’s castle for a week. She hoped Cameron would get along with the Conlers. She did not doubt that the Conlers would be of significant help to Cameron.

“Why on earth is the prince…?”

When Elizabeth spoke in a reproachful tone, Cameron obstinately closed his mouth. Elizabeth, who saw it, sighed and lifted the teacup. Although he came from her belly, she doesn’t know what to do if he’s being stubborn.

Elizabeth sighed and brought it up to Cameron.

“Being close to Conler is beneficial..”

“Isn’t that too much?”

“Prince.”

Cameron felt wronged. The daughter of the Grand Duke aimed an arrow at him, the first prince, and Rex Bluea threatened himself with his ability. He will never forgive them for the rest of his life. They even bluffed to cut his finger, so they wouldn’t be forced to live as a marionette.

But why?

“When I become the emperor, I will completely destroy the Grand Duchy of Conler.”

“…….”

“Or I’ll charge them tens of times the tax. It will stop them from deceiving or playing tricks on me.”

“You’ll need their strength.”

“No!”

Cameron’s voice was firm. The more agitated his son was, the calmer Elizabeth became.

“Do you think it’s over once you get the throne?”

“Mother.”

“It’s the start. You have to keep your place; you have to gain their trust.”

“So? Can’t I kill anyone who doesn’t obey me?”

Cameron replied roughly. Who would dare disobey the first prince? Elizabeth asked back.

“What if the people revolt?”

“We will ask the Larvian Empire for troops.”

“You’re using your mother very well.”

Elizabeth smiled in vain. How are the father’s and son’s perspectives so similar? However, the current emperor was clever; he had a friendly relationship with Conler.

“What if Demimore gets close to Conler?”

Elizabeth asked in a whisper. Cameron paused when he heard it. Then he closed his mouth and looked at Elizabeth. Elizabeth smiled gracefully and elegantly.

“The power that Conler has is not only in Britina, but in the Kaya Empire. This time, they proved it again with Rex Bluea’s power. The prince experienced it first hand, right?”

“…….”

“If you can’t beat Conler, you have to make them on your side.”

Cameron nodded as if he understood Elizabeth’s request. However, she did not expect Cameron to accept all of her words. She took a deep breath. Deep inside Cameron’s mind, there was resentment against the Grand Duke.

“I’ve already told your Majesty everything.”

“…… Yes.”

“Grand Duke Estin will be visiting soon.”

Cameron’s resentment was clearly inherited from the emperor. However, since the emperor fears Estin as much as he despises him, the punishment won’t be as severe as Cameron desires.

“Lausanne’s salon is next week.”

“…… Mother.”

“You have to support Lausanne and the Young miss Conler’s friendship.”