Chapter 26: 26

The place in which the high priest’s visit was held was a huge dome-shaped great conference hall.

Inside, the coat of arms of the Aktoum imperial family was painted in black. And as expected, black seats were arranged around the high-rise chair in the center.

It was reminiscent of the Colosseum. The only difference was that the meeting was held in the middle instead of the gladiators.

However, everyone knew that many more lives compared to gladiators depend on the high priest’s decision today.

I walked towards the golden seat right in front of the chair in the center.

That was where Rixus and I would sit.

“……”

Rixus found me easily despite the large crowd.

To be exact… He found me, who was wearing the necklace.

His expressionless face, which had been frighteningly cold, collapsed, and it quickly became a friendly gaze.

I was mesmerized by his gaze.

I had the illusion that it was just him and I in this large conference hall.

“Berylia.”

As I approached, Rixus gracefully reached out and escorted me.

There was a soft, relaxed smile on his lips.

“Sit this way. Be careful of your feet.”

“……Yes.”

We sat side by side on the golden seat, and Rixus held my hand.

He didn’t say a word about the necklace, but… It felt like we were fully conscious of each other.

An unfamiliar, tickling emotion kept rising in my chest. I felt embarrassed as if we were dating secretly.

Then, he clasped my hand with his big hand.

‘……Why are you looking like that? I’m just wearing a necklace.’

He had excited eyes like that of a boy.

I felt like I was shaking for no reason in the face of his unfiltered eyes.

I thought my face would turn red at this rate, so I deliberately turned my attention to the entrance.

“Look, Rixus. The haters are coming in.”

At my words, only then did Rixus, who was looking at me, stared at the entrance. He checked the faces that came in and smiled.

Nobles with hateful faces were entering the conference hall one by one.

To be precise, those who laughed out loud and laughed too hard at my welcome reception.

Those who preferred war rather than unity.

The group was the so-called ‘Nine Nobles’.

“I’m already tired of talking about how much I’m going to talk today…”

I narrowed one eye slightly and muttered words of disdain.

Deborah, adorned in dazzling colors and jewels like a peacock, entered arm in arm with Duke Douglas.

It was a contrast to me, who wore a noble and elegant dress prepared by the maids.

‘Even on a day like today, she couldn’t throw away her main character’s disease.’

Marquis Kalen hurriedly followed right behind her, glancing furtively. At the end of his peeking gaze, was Deborah and Duke Douglas.

‘Oh my God, I can’t believe she has her boyfriend right behind her!’

Even when entering with her arm crossed with her husband’s.

‘…Isn’t that crazy?’

The eyes of the beautiful young man with light blond hair and blue eyes were filled with impatience and intense jealousy.

Anyway, it was only an exciting sight for the watching third party.

Soon, the last man of the nine nobles entered.

He was not quite as tall as Rixus, and he had black hair and black eyes.

“Who is that person?”

“……”

“I don’t think he attended my welcome banquet.”

Rixus simply replied softly.

“Johann Marquis. My uncle.”

“Ah…….”

I then nodded my head. I know who he is.

The younger brother of the emperor, and the man who currently shares the imperial power with Rixus.

And the person who the nine nobles were constantly trying to crown as emperor.

I stopped reading about halfway through the original story, but I still remember the part where Johann appeared quite impressively.

Everyone was trying to make him emperor, but it was strange that he didn’t seem interested in the throne.

And in a way, the nine nobles were enemies of Rixus. The fact that the leader of such enemies was kind to Rixus also seemed special.

‘Sometimes, I felt relieved when he scolded Madam Deborah…’

In particular, it was good to see him tell Deborah not to do it whenever he found out that she was harassing Rixus.

I looked at Johann’s face and muttered unknowingly.

“You’re a pretty handsome man… It’s more than I imagined.”

“What……?”

Rixus immediately looked at me with eyes that seemed to be protesting.

I chewed on the gaze as if I didn’t know it and was deep in thought.

‘Hmm. It would be great if we could bring Johann to our side.’

Johann Marquis was portrayed in the original work as a ‘principalist’ who truly wanted the prosperity of Aktum.

Originally, he insisted on conquest because he thought that it would be more conducive to the prosperity of Aktum.

So, if he judged that our marriage was more beneficial to Aktoum than Spinel’s conquest… Would he be persuaded? If we could pull out the central point of the nine nobles, our enemies would crumble like a house without a solid foundation.

‘It means that he is a very desirable talent.’

As I was keeping my eyes on Johann, he approached me.

Although he resembled Rixus a lot, his dark, deep eyes and easy smile looked attractive.

“I am sorry for not being able to greet you at the last banquet, Your Majesty. I am Archduke Johann Marquis.”

Unlike my usual self, I replied with a bright smile.

“No. I look forward to your kind cooperation.”

I even used honorifics, not treating him like the other nobles. It was a courtesy to an imperial family member, one who shared the power of the emperor in half.

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“Will you give me the honor of kissing the back of your hand?”

“Of course.”

Giving the back of the right hand during the first greeting was a common greeting used across the continent.

But when I was willing to give the back of my hand…

Tug–

Rixus didn’t let go of the hand he was holding.

“…….”

“…….”

A rather awkward silence lingered between me and Johann.

Meanwhile, the brazen man next to me was just looking ahead with a sullen face.

Johann, who was a little perplexed, looked up and smiled.

“Then I’ll take my leave. I hope you get good results.”

“…Yes, Archduke Marquis. It would be great if we had a chance to talk for a long time next time.”

…He had a more childish side than I thought?!

After Johann had left, I looked at Rixus with the eyes of strong protest, but he calmly squeezed my hand again.

“It’s just a greeting. Don’t be childish.”

“Is my uncle that handsome?”

“…How childish!”

“If you like someone, you’re usually childish. Who made me jealous, my queen?”

As I was shooting a glare, I heard the sound of a long blowing of the horn.

“!”

In an instant, all the nobles stood up.

A person, with a somewhat quaint atmosphere, entered the room overwhelmingly.

It was the high priest.

* * *

Various agendas were usually presented on the day of the high priest’s visit.

The visit was the time to fairly discuss the power of the emperor and various issues that go beyond the law.

However, there was only one agenda for today, and that was the ‘Marriage of Spinel and Aktoum’.

This was proof that it was being treated as a very important issue.

“Today’s agenda is, in particular, the sacred marriage between His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Queen.”

The high priest was an old man with long white eyebrows, so long that one could hardly see his eyes, and a thick white beard.

Even so, his slightly exposed eyes were shaped like an old tiger’s.

“Today, this official promises to make an impartial judgment that will benefit both countries. Well then, let’s begin.”

Bang, bang. When he hit the priest’s staff against his seat twice, the nobility gave thunderous applause.

‘Don’t be nervous, I should organize my thoughts.’

First of all, the high priest was definitely on our side.

Because he was a peacemaker, more than anyone else.

If it was judged that the marriage between Rixus and I would be beneficial to both countries, he would be more favorable to this marriage than anyone else.

But the problem was that my reputation was so low.

‘Aren’t I a witch-like queen with all kinds of notoriety attached?’

‘But I don’t think this will be a problem.’

Because today’s conversation would reveal that I am not the notorious queen of that recklessness and stupidity.

So, the only problem was Deborah and Prime Minister Bernard. How would they come out?

Actually, it wasn’t that hard of a fight. If there were only two main enemies.

‘The high priest, who is the decision maker, is on our side. Isn’t it an easy discussion?’

I squinted at that little relaxed thought.

On the opposite side, Deborah and Bernard’s eyes shifted towards the high priest. Perhaps they were thinking of the same thing.

Then, just as Deborah was about to open her mouth.

Someone snatched the chance to make a statement. 

“I will ask the Queen a question first.”

…The high priest?

Before I could even be a little flustered, I was shocked by the blow.

“This High Priest is quite skeptical of this marriage.”

“!”

My eyes shook slightly without realization.

Without regard to my reaction, the high priest made heavy remarks, his tiger-like eyes shining.

“Although Aktoum and Spinel were one empire in the distant past, hundreds of years have passed since they became different nations.”

“……”

“So, this is not a holy marriage that will be carried out solely for the sentimental reason that it was once one nation.”

The high priest continued speaking sternly, with a face as hard as lead without a gap.

“But why do you want to be a part of this holy marriage?”

“……”

All the nobles’ eyes turned to me. It was like they were stabbing me.

In particular, Deborah had a very pleasant and arrogant smile on her lips.

The change in the high priest’s attitude probably made her feel reassured, like a golden rope had come down.

But it was exactly the opposite for me.

I tried to remain calm and perceive the intentions of the high priest with keen eyes.

Could he change the stance he had held throughout his whole life at once?

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‘He can’t.’

So, what was the reason for taking such action against this holy marriage?

“……”

…Ahh.

I was able to quickly discern the inside of the high priest.

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