~Chapter 90~
Aisha couldn’t say anything. She just stared at Belmore.
“I know this is a sudden proposal. But like I said before, if you become my concubine, you won’t have to worry about Duke Kilian anymore, or be afraid that your secret will be exposed.”
“……”
“Of course, you can still keep working as Vivi Bubblemouth, the reporter.”
“Your Majesty, you just want to use me.”
Now she understood.
Why Belmore was saying all this crazy stuff.
“There’s no real press in Draxion. The newspapers that exist are just the palace’s mouthpiece. Everyone knows they can’t be trusted.”
Belmore was silent this time.
“You tried to attack Rune first to secure your power. But after the positive article about Rune in the latest ‘Sunday’s Exposé’… You realized something. The most powerful thing—the thing that will protect your throne—is the press.”
“You’re smart. You’re right. Thanks to that article, I can’t attack Rune now. So, I changed my plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“I know you’re closely connected to Rune.”
“……”
“If you become my concubine, I’ll have Rune in my hands, too.”
Aisha let out a hollow laugh.
She was silent for a moment, then spoke again, this time looking sharply at Belmore.
“Is that your only goal? Or is there another reason you need to control ‘Sunday’s Exposé’ and Rune?”
“Reason?”
“There must be someone you want to fight against, right?”
“……”
“Yes. Kilian Winters. My fake fiancé!”
Roselia had always been wary of Kilian.
Belmore was no different.
Now that the young emperor finally had power, it was obvious Kilian, the war hero, was a huge threat.
Especially since Kilian wasn’t someone you could control.
“What if I tell Kilian about your proposal? You must have thought about that.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Duke Kilian is also watching me carefully. But I don’t think you’re the type to gossip, Lady Aisha.”
Belmore slowly reached out and grabbed Aisha’s chin tightly.
“Do I look stupid enough to let you talk about this to anyone? If you want to tell him, go ahead. But remember—if you talk, so will I.”
Aisha’s teeth clenched with anger as she glared at Belmore.
‘He’s really a bastard.’
“If you need time to think, I’ll give it to you. I’m not like the Empress Dowager—I can wait.”
Roselia was openly crazy. Belmore was crazy behind the scenes.
And Aisha knew well that this kind was the most dangerous.
She thought fast. She had to tell Kilian about all of this. Kilian probably knew the emperor was watching him, but maybe not that it was this serious.
But after that?
Would she or “Sunday’s Exposé” be safe?
“You know, there are plenty of nobles who hate ‘Sunday’s Exposé.’ Don’t you wonder why I never punished the nobles who followed the Empress Dowager? That’s exactly why.”
“……”
“Sometimes things solve themselves without me getting my hands dirty.”
The nobles who had followed Roselia were powerful. If they all targeted her… who knew what would happen?
Publishing the next magazine would be the least of her worries—her life could be at risk.
Rune might help, but… would they really keep protecting her? Or would she just be a burden?
‘Wait.’
Was she really going to stay quiet?
Was she going to act like a coward?
Aisha’s eyes filled with tears—not because she was sad or scared, but from pure rage at Belmore.
And for some reason, seeing her like that made Belmore look even happier.
“Then, I’ll be waiting for your answer.”
Damn him.
“I hope the guild members and the guild master of Rune got my message, too.”
Bastard.
“We could be excellent partners.”
Die, you bastard.
A guy like you really deserves to die.
How could I ever have liked you?
“So, you should go ba—!”
Aisha clenched her fists as Belmore started to end the conversation.
Crash!
Suddenly, the window shattered with a loud noise.
It wasn’t just Aisha who was surprised. Belmore was, too, since his back was to the window—glass cut into him.
In pain, Belmore let go of Aisha, and they both heard footsteps rushing in.
Aisha saw a shadow in the moonlight.
‘Til?’
Thanks for helping, but now everyone will really think I’m connected to Rune…
But then,
A man quickly stood up and looked straight at Aisha.
“Huh…?”
Their eyes met, and Aisha froze.
It wasn’t Til.
It was the only person she had missed and longed for in the past few days.
“Ki-Kilian…”
It was Kilian Winters.
“To call another man’s fiancée out to a lonely place at this hour…”
Kilian stepped in front of Aisha and glared at Belmore.
“You seem more devious than you look, Your Majesty.”
