Chapter 16 

“Don’t invent lies or frame someone — just use what you actually know.”

That should be clear enough.

I took a sip of the now-cold tea, turned my head, and met Ottilie’s eyes. She smiled faintly, then — in a quietly bitter, gentle voice — said, “You two whispering away so happily — won’t you let your mother join in?”

“No.”

My curt answer wilted Ottilie instantly. Kinesia glared at me.

Well, why would I? If I let her join, I’d have to make up a story — what a hassle.

I glanced at Kinesia, who was trying to talk to Ottilie, then turned my head. The greenhouse door was opening.

A graceful silver-white light flashed beyond it.

Logriye walked in. Without looking around, he found me at once and waved his hand.

Why would he come here?

There are male nobles at afternoon teas sometimes. When Raphaël carried out the empress’s duties, there were even more male nobles than women. But it was rare for a fourteen-year-old to come to a tea party of his own accord.

I was curious about his purpose, but before I could learn anything he was already surrounded by nobles.

I’d thought he was just another kid because he hung out with our scruffy lot, but he’s quite popular, huh?

I tugged Kinesia’s sleeve. “He’s your friend, right?”

“Yeah, Logriye Amir. Oh! That ointment you gave me then? It helped a lot. Thanks.”

“It was nothing — just happened to have some to spare, no need to thank me. By the way, Amir Duchy? I’ve never heard of them.”

“They’re a family that rules as lords over Triste and the surrounding region.”

“What?”

Who’s ruling Triste?

That port city practically handles Epiphanes’s trade. And how much I cherished it! I spent every summer in Triste, keeping it safe while others drooled and schemed over it.

My blood boiled.

No sane king would hand over a city second only to the capital. There had to have been threats, schemes, and deals behind it.

‘It was a mistake to glance through the royal records with tired eyes.’

If I’d known, the moment I heard the name Amir I would have grabbed the kid by the collar. Even if that was something his ancestor did, they’re kin — I couldn’t look on them kindly. I gave him an annoyed look and stood up.

I’d told Kinesia everything I needed to, and I was going to suggest we go elsewhere.

But she looked troubled.

Fine. You think things over here and go play with your mother.

“I’m leaving. This got boring.”

I gave Ottilie a perfunctory farewell, passed by Logriye who was still some distance away, and left the greenhouse.

There is still so much to do.

I needed to check finances, assess international affairs, and see how much foreign powers were meddling in internal politics.

I thought death would give me a break, but somehow I’ve gotten busier.

“Sigh.”

“What are you sighing about?”

“Ah! You surprised me.”

Logriye had popped his head in and was grinning.

No — I’m the one who’s dead, so why is he the one acting like a ghost and causing a fuss?

Even under my sharp glare he didn’t care and threw an arm around my shoulder.

Heavy, you know.

I shoved him off, and this time one of his arms slipped through and linked with mine.

He put his arm around me as naturally as if we were siblings — overly familiar for someone who might be a friend’s younger brother.

‘Could he be the betrothed of the body’s original owner?’

In royal families, engagements can be arranged before birth. If he were the original owner’s fiancée, his initial reaction when he saw me would make sense, and his casual closeness would too.

It would be easy to ask directly — but he might find it suspicious that I don’t remember the fiancé.

I wasn’t sure whether he’d heard my conversation with Kinesia or not; there’s no need to give any more clues.

This was a job for a light prod.

I’d ask in the gentlest way possible. If he took it too seriously, I could pass it off as a joke.

“Why are you being so clingy? Are you my fiancé or something?”

Before I finished the question his face lit up.

“Shall I be? Do you want to be engaged? Want to? I’d like that.”

So he wasn’t the fiancé. But his reaction was odd — why did “Could you be my fiancé?” become “I want to be engaged to you”?

‘Did that phrase somehow change meaning over the last hundred years?’

No way.

He didn’t care that I looked cold and expressionless; he just took my hand tightly, cheeks flushed.

“You’re young, so I was going to wait a bit, but I didn’t think the princess would feel that way,” he said.

Right. What does that even mean.

“Should I go and tell them right now? Engagement? Or marriage?”

Are you insane…? Of course he was.

I shook my head because I had no answer.

Then something heavy settled on my shoulders and back.

He must have climbed on or hung onto me.

“Marry me, Princess. I’ll take good care of you. Okay? Let’s do it. Let’s do it.”

Logriye swayed his body and kept nagging in a whining voice.

Every time he moved my view shook; it was unpleasant. I was about to push his arm away sternly when—

“If I become a duke, I’ll give Triste to the princess. So marry me, okay?”

My feet stopped dead.

“You’d give away territory?”

“If you want it.”

The boy smiled at me sweetly. But only the syllables ‘land’ and ‘territory’ registered in my head.

For a moment I was tempted, then I shook my head hard to clear it.

Don’t fall for it. What’s his angle? The way he pounced at the word “fiancé” made it clear there must be some scheme.

…But I’m still curious. Triste — I want it.

It used to be mine!

‘Alright. Let’s do it.’

As soon as I made up my mind I softened my voice as much as I could.

“Logriye. Your order of things is wrong.”

“Order?”

“Yes. You give away the territory first, and then you propose.”

“Oh!”

Logriye nodded in agreement at once. His grin was still a little insane-looking, which worried me, but a child can’t do much harm.

No way would an Amir duke risk marrying his son to the princess of a country that might collapse tomorrow — especially while giving away land first.

Who in their right mind would be that reckless?

“There you are.”

“Haha. What did you say, Princess?”

A man who looked just like Logriye smiled at me, friendly.

“Nothing.”

I hid the sigh I wanted to let out and shook my head.

Duke Amir’s gaze returned to King Luxor across from him.

Luxor, who had been staring blankly while Ottilie read the marriage agreement, looked up.

“So you say you will give a quarter of Triste and some of your lands as the price for this marriage?” he said.

“That is correct, Your Majesty.”

Luxor stammered, his face blank.

“Wh–why…? Of course our Lia is kind and lovable and smart and cute and all that, but still — land…”

His gush of subjective, embarrassing praise poured out.

I couldn’t lift my head. They weren’t complimenting me — they were praising the person who owned my body.

I felt ashamed that my descendant was so doting.

I covered my face with my palm and tried to hide my smile, but I heard laughter. I peeked through my fingers.

Logriye was watching me, chin propped on his hands, grinning.

I leaned slightly toward him. He leaned forward too.

I whispered with barely moving lips, “You madman. How did you sweet-talk the duke?”

“I — love you too.”

“How did you sweet-talk him?”

“With the power of true love?”

He made no sense.

I stared at him, incredulous. He winked.

Floretta gasped and pulled me back, while Ponent hurriedly covered my eyes.

Ponent leaned back comfortably and made some grumbling sound like “grr.”

“Don’t hit on my sister.”

It looked like the proud older-brother protecting his sister from a scoundrel.

Kinesia had apparently forgotten her sulk from before she’d come.

Whatever — Logriye muttered and made an irritating sound.

“Would you marry without hitting on her?”

“Why are you suddenly so noisy after being quiet for a while? Are you crazy?”

Watching them bicker, King Luxor’s voice snatched my attention.

“Accepting the territory… is burdensome, Duke. You know our situation. I’m not sure I can lead properly…”

Ugh. How frustrating. You shouldn’t say that, even if you’re unsure.

Lords who hold land are enemies.

They outwardly pledge loyalty but might be waiting for the chance to strike and take the throne.

Those who appear docile while sitting on rich lands are the ones you must watch most carefully.

If you give any sign of weakness they’ll swallow the country in a heartbeat.

‘So that’s it.’

Now I understood. The Duke Amir intends that by marrying his son to me and putting me on the throne, he’ll hold actual power.

If he slowly absorbs control this way, he can take Epiphanes’s lands without bloodshed.

He plans to give flesh and take the bones.

‘This is why you must be careful with those who smile all the time.’