Chapter 115

“Don’t feel sorry.”

Lancelot calmly accepted my rejection.

“I already knew you would refuse. If anything, I should be sorry. It was just a one-sided confession.”

With a faint, lonely smile, he continued.

“Just… when you feel lonely, or need comfort, or maybe when you get tired of him someday.”

He reached out and lifted my hand.

His cold eyes fixed on the ring around my finger as his lips moved.

“Remember that I, Lancelot Obier, once confessed my feelings to you.”

He was the man who once wisely helped me, instead of carelessly exaggerating my mines to the Rebel Emperor.
I had thought of him as upright, but now his tone felt different.

‘This feels… like a dark temptation.’

Well, since I haven’t even answered Etias’s confession yet, I guess it’s not cheating.
But his dangerous suggestion—that I could switch to him anytime if Etias ever upset me—made my fingertips and toes tingle slightly.

“That will never…”

I pulled my hand away from him and said:

“…happen.”

My eyes were filled with firm conviction.

‘I only love one man.’

Lancelot gazed at me for a long time before whispering quietly:

“I envy him… madly.”

When I finished talking with the Grand Duke and returned to the hall, the ball was in full swing.

Then my eyes caught sight of Etias.
He was standing close to another woman, speaking with her.

‘That woman is…’

It was Gomels, the foreign minister of Barzenka, who had been beside Prince Dale of Gran Orden earlier.

Unlike before, when she had looked pale and shaken, now her face was bright, smiling softly as she spoke with Etias.

Etias’s brows were slightly stiff, but he didn’t look displeased.

‘What are they talking about?’

Barzenka was also one of the five Western nations, just as strong as Gran Orden.
Gran Orden might have been the one who sent assassins and used Rift magicians for cowardly deeds, but if Barzenka sided with them, they were just as guilty.

“If it’s fine, I’d like to talk with His Majesty alone.”

As I walked closer, I heard her clear voice.

My chest prickled and irritation flared.

At that moment, Etias’s eyes met mine.
He gave me a look that seemed to call me over.

Then he said to Gomels:

“I have nothing to say to you alone. But if Duke Katrin Elemore joins, I may listen.”

At those words, Gomels’s brows twitched, and she looked at me.
Her eyes seemed to see me as nothing but an intruder.

But I ignored her and walked right up to Etias’s side.
Because I wasn’t the type to watch another woman try to seduce the man I loved.

‘I used to complain so much about frustrating heroines in stories… not me.’

“If it’s something important, I’ll hear it together.”

Like when Etias refused Prince Dale’s dance on my behalf, I shamelessly spoke.

She pouted and sighed softly.
Then she smiled brightly at Etias and said:

“Then, will you move to a more private place for a moment?”

Without answering, Etias escorted me first, while she followed behind.

It seemed clear she had already calculated that war would not be easy.
After all, she had just seen Montella and Yucubis take our side in real time.

A little later, in a private meeting room prepared at the hall, she checked that the door was shut and then stepped closer to Etias.

“I, Gomels, foreign minister of Barzenka, am the emperor’s most beloved niece. Since His Majesty has no daughter, he cherishes me like one and listens to me carefully.”

So, not a princess by title, but practically treated as one.

“As Your Majesty discovered, Gran Orden is indeed preparing to attack the empire. They even dragged our nation into it. The five Western nations plan to divide fertile Oswell among themselves. But if I persuade my emperor…”

She brushed back her hair, her eyes gleaming.

“…we could choose to ally with your empire instead of Gran Orden, don’t you think?”

Etias said nothing, just looked at her, as if telling her to continue.

“Even in our country, many are displeased that Gran Orden uses Rift magicians. Such evil power only brings disaster.”

She suddenly shot me a cold glance.
Then turned back to Etias.

“So, if Your Majesty permits, I will return home, persuade my emperor, and propose a blood alliance with Oswell.”

And then—

“With marriage.”

At those words, my fingertips flinched.

…Marriage?

She glanced at me and said:

“From the look of it, His Majesty already has someone. Duke Katrin Elemore is said to be the greatest contributor, so I won’t ask to be empress. Just take me in as your first concubine.”

Her words shook my eyes.
Even my heart seemed to tremble.

“I know Oswell practices monogamy, but surely exceptions exist? A solid bond between empires, and peace for the continent—that’s a fine reason.”

With a seductive smile, she looked at Etias, then at me.

“If Duke Elemore truly is a noble woman who supports His Majesty for the sake of the empire, I believe you will understand this.”

My eyes tightened, but I was too shocked to even form words.

What nonsense is she spouting?

“Your proposal is—”

“I refuse.”

Etias and I spoke at the same time.

Etias frowned and looked at me.
With fists clenched, I glared at Gomels coldly.

“You are gravely mistaken.”

Then I stepped forward, closer to her.

Etias’s eyes were on me.

“I didn’t support His Majesty for the empire’s sake.”

At my firm words, Gomels’s brows twitched.

“I supported His Majesty for His Majesty’s sake.”

And I looked straight at Etias with unwavering eyes.

His deep blue gaze was filled with me as he slowly opened his lips.
A sigh, like a heavy breath, slipped out.

I didn’t know exactly what it meant, but I hoped my refusal to share him with anyone was clear.

‘I won’t ever share the man I love with another woman.’

Then Etias turned cold eyes on Gomels and said:

“I refuse.”

“What… what did you say?”

Even she hadn’t expected him to reject her so firmly. Her lips trembled.

The Western nations were polygamous.
Men there couldn’t stand their women with other men, but felt no guilt in taking concubines.

“But, Your Majesty, if you marry me, then my emperor will also…”

“You are slyly trying to use conditions in a matter where there can be none.”

At his sharp rebuke, her shoulders flinched.

Etias’s voice carried a chilling aura.

“You make this offer only because you know joining Gran Orden means defeat. The moment Yucubis and Montella stood with Oswell, the victory shifted to us.”

“…!”

Her face turned pale as his words hit the truth.

She stared blankly at Etias, who was colder and sharper than when he faced me.

‘I almost let anger blind me and missed the logic.’

My heart beat wildly.

“Barzenka has only two choices. Stay with Gran Orden and be destroyed by us, or bow your head with no conditions and join us as allies.”

His growling voice dripped with menace.