TYND 34

Chapter 34

Silence lingered. Darkness receded outside the window, and soon a pale dawn began to illuminate the world.

“This is the longest night I’ve ever experienced,” Whis muttered to himself as he straightened a stray feather.

He had never read of such a reckless strategy in any military manual: using Rafi to escape, creating double diversions, spreading false intelligence to confuse the enemy, and then turning the stronghold against them to isolate the foe.

Rather than fighting each enemy individually, Lucy seemed determined to annihilate one side completely. She lured the main army to the royal palace and poured almost all of her forces into the central command.

Since it was a defensive rather than offensive battle and the power disparity was large, the enemy’s chance of winning was slim. Still, there was no room for complacency. Things might go smoothly at the command post, but what about the royal palace?

Whis stared at the window in worry, tapping his beak in thought.

“I wonder if things are going well at the palace,” he muttered.

As if reading his mind, Lucy echoed the same concern, slipping into his thoughts. Whis pecked at her lightly in puzzlement.

“By the way, I’ve been wondering… where did you gather the two thousand soldiers defending the royal palace?”

When she explained that all forces were concentrated at the command post, Walter had suggested that even the border troops should be gathered just in case, but Lucy dismissed his advice, saying not to worry—she had help.

And indeed, as she said, two thousand uniformed soldiers suddenly appeared to put pressure on the duke.

Two thousand soldiers, and properly trained ones at that, gathered in such a short time—it was the most astonishing part of the operation. Whis asked with a serious expression, and Lucy shrugged her shoulders.

“They’re not soldiers. They’re peasants.”

“Excuse me?”

“I borrowed the support of Marquis Rutherford and Marquis Ras. These are their vassals. They may handle farming tools well, but their swordsmanship is practically useless.”

Whis had no idea what she meant.

Marquis Rutherford? Marquis Ras?

The lords hadn’t yet recognized her as queen, so how had she gained their support? And more importantly, why bring peasants useless in battle, arm them, and make them look like soldiers?

Whis furrowed his brows in confusion. Lucy, looking refreshed as if she had answered a question, saw Whis’s expression of disbelief and let out a small exclamation.

“No, there’s no need to actually fight. I only needed an army to intimidate the duke. When faced with such an overwhelming difference in force, most people lose morale.”

“What do you mean…? Wouldn’t they have been exposed if a real battle had occurred?”

“Exactly. It’s a gamble. But the Duke Kill is a rational man. I figured he wouldn’t recklessly charge at an enemy more than twice his size.”

Whis stared at her as if she were insane.

Her courage was incredible.

Not only was most of her plan slapdash, but at the crucial moment, she was willing to gamble like this? I thought such a meticulously designed strategy only existed in her mind, but it seemed that wasn’t entirely true.

Whis shot her a look of betrayal, but Lucy, nonchalant as if nothing was wrong, pulled the blanket over herself.

About ten minutes passed.

“Your Majesty!”

The door swung open, and an officer appeared. Squinting at the dim light, Lucy, who had been fidgeting with the blanket, immediately stood.

“Your Majesty! The central command situation has been resolved. And… the duke—”

“Has he been defeated?”

“He admitted defeat and promised to disband his forces. The general has just exchanged hostages with the duke and taken him to the command post!”

Instead of shouting in triumph, Lucy exhaled deeply and rubbed her chest. Relief washed over her along with fatigue, as if she could collapse at any moment. She wiped her eyes and sank back into her seat. Whis immediately brought a blanket and draped it over her.

“I honestly had my doubts… but we won.”

“Yes. We won.”

“Thank you for your hard work, Your Majesty.”

“It’s not over yet. There’s still much to deal with—the enemy’s retreat, the duke’s treatment, reorganizing the palace, gathering the lords… The general will handle it, but for now—”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to nap, so wake me in two hours.”

Lucy pulled the blanket over her head and walked to a corner, closing her eyes.

The officer and Whis exchanged glances, realizing she wasn’t joking, and quietly closed the villa door.

A breeze drifted in from beyond the imperial palace, circling the cosmos flower petals before gently entering the room.

The lace curtains at the window swayed with the wind. Lucy, observing the dancing lace with interest, lowered her gaze and carefully checked her outfit.

The dress, crafted stitch by stitch by a master, was a warm gold with a subtle brown tint, complementing her dark brown hair perfectly. Each movement made the yellow topaz ornaments sparkle, highlighting her beauty even more.

—No matter what anyone says, Arsinoe-sama will be the queen of tonight’s banquet. How could she be so beautiful?

Hearing her maid’s words, she lifted her gaze to the mirror.

A tiara, glittering as if gold lace had been woven atop her half-updo, rested on her head. The necklace around her neck was densely set with diamonds, sparkling relentlessly.

Her luxurious appearance was undeniably beautiful and elegant, even to herself.

But the true purpose of this adornment was clear: it was a tool to impress the man who held her leash, nothing more, nothing less.

—When did His Highness say he would arrive?

—He promised to come before the banquet begins. Don’t worry, Arsinoe-sama.

Despite the maid’s reassurance, Lucy’s brows remained furrowed.

It wasn’t disappointment that the crown prince hadn’t arrived—it was the thought of him interrogating and berating her.

Her husband was obsessed with war.

Since the emperor fell ill, he had taken the regency as if waiting for the opportunity, preparing to conquer the continent. Without command over the army, yet somehow, he mobilized troops, swiftly conquering Dopein and Antebasilla, and now he aimed to swallow her homeland, Parnas.

—I wonder if he’ll arrive on time. He seems particularly irritable lately.

The reason for Alec’s foul mood was obvious: she had refused his request, angering him.

For days he had pestered her, demanding secret passageways within the Parnas palace, claiming that was all he wanted.

He offered to grant her anything, even making her the empire’s unparalleled empress, but Lucy could not betray her homeland for his selfish desire.

—I hope His Highness changes his mind…

She fiddled with the ring on her finger. The diamond wedding ring felt like a shackle.

She was the crown prince’s third consort. She married for the sake of peace, but if that peace became meaningless, what would become of her?

Empress… nonsense.

There were countless women suitable to be empress: noble, talented, eloquent, with pure royal blood, not a half-blood like her.

There was no way he would have made her empress over all those women. He had probably never loved her.

Since their marriage, he had never shared a bed with her. He made excuses to postpone intimacy, and now, if there was no reason, he didn’t even visit.

No matter how beautifully she dressed, he had no interest in a hostage bride. It was only when he began coveting Parnas that he seemed to plan to use her.

Empress…

But what if, just perhaps… his words were true?