Chapter 17.
“It’s part of a generous policy of inclusion, treating the people of the conquered nation as before—that’s what this is, and I’ve only now realized it in my dullness.”
Whoa, even if interpretation is better than the dream itself, to twist it like this.
I was dumbfounded by Joachim’s utterly misguided words, my mouth hanging open in disbelief.
In the midst of it, he seemed to misinterpret that too. Joachim spoke with a proud expression, like someone who’d solved a difficult puzzle.
“As expected, you’re wise. You can conquer the world on horseback, but you can’t rule it that way.”
This is driving me crazy.
“From ancient times, holding onto conquered territory has been harder than taking it.”
“There’s no grand plan like that. I’m just marrying him because his beauty suits my taste.”
“Appearances matter in propaganda too.”
This is maddening. Of course, with Friedrich’s face, even I’d fall for any excuse.
“…I was trying not to say this if I could help it.”
But now that he’s seen Friedrich’s face, it should be fine. I looked into Joachim’s sparkling, expectant eyes and stated clearly.
“I’ve lost interest in inheriting the throne.”
At those words, Joachim’s expression went blank for a moment. At least this guy doesn’t drop things like Elsa.
‘He’s not that shocked?’
“Don’t worry.”
As I wondered, Joachim surprisingly quickly returned to his original expression.
Huh, there’s no way this would go down that easily…
“You don’t have to lie to me like that; I won’t pester you to marry me anymore.”
…Of course.
“Why do you think it’s a lie? After fighting a few wars, everything just got exhausting. I want to live like a commoner in the countryside with a rabbit-like husband and fox-like children.”
“Then we can expand the gardens in the imperial palace and create streams and forests.”
“No, I mean I want to leave the palace and live quietly and peacefully.”
When I emphasized it with force in my voice, he finally showed a bit of belief.
Joachim furrowed his brows as if he’d heard something bizarre and asked.
“How can someone born as a tiger aspire to live as a cat?”
If I had magic, I might have lived like the original Rene.
But!
I don’t have magic now, you know? I’m not even a cat—barely a mouse.
“No need to nitpick my decision. It has nothing to do with you anyway, right?”
As I coldly drew the line, Joachim bit his lip hard. He looked quite hurt, and if I consoled him wrong here, it might lead to another misunderstanding.
“…I can’t believe it.”
“Whether you believe it or not, it’s my decision…”
“Please give me a chance to believe Your Highness’s words.”
It was when I opened my mouth to snap at Joachim for interrupting me rudely.
“Make me your lover and keep me by your side. Serving you closely might make me believe it.”
I froze solid at the shocking words. I just became a person with my mouth hanging open.
“That’s why I came to say this.”
In contrast, Joachim was utterly calm. As if it wasn’t an impulsive decision at all.
But I couldn’t take it at face value.
“So, you’re saying you’d be my lover, with Friedrich as my official husband?”
“Yes.”
“You, the sole duke of Stade? Accepting treatment lower than a prince of a fallen nation?”
I narrowed my eyes and tried to intimidate him.
“There’s no benefit for you at all? You’d become a laughingstock instead. The sole duke of Stade as a mere lover…”
“A lover to none other than Your Highness. Who will one day be the first empress of Stade.”
No, I’m not becoming empress!
“If anyone looks down on me, it’ll be the sour grapes jealousy of those who didn’t get the honor of serving Your Highness. How vulgar.”
Joachim kept repeating “vulgar,” probably because Friedrich’s words from yesterday had hit hard.
“Last night, I seriously reflected on what my true feelings are. While waiting for Your Highness, I’ve prepared to serve you.”
Joachim rose from his seat with a serious expression and knelt on one knee before me.
The sight briefly reminded me of the victory banquet, making me furrow my brows for a moment.
“So, it doesn’t matter if it’s not the position of official husband. Please give me the chance to offer my devotion to Your Highness.”
Joachim pleaded, looking at me with earnest eyes. But I sighed and shook my head.
“Unfortunately, I have no particular intention of taking a lover.”
“Does my face not please you?”
“No, how could you say that. Of course, your beauty is excellent too.”
“Then take me. The more treasures, the better. Why refuse when there’s no reason to?”
I was momentarily at a loss for words. As he said, the greedy Rene isn’t the type to turn down something she can have.
So, to avoid suspicion, I held my tongue, and Joachim seemed to think I was deliberating.
“I’ll wait. My request might feel sudden to you.”
Joachim said to me with a very harmless smile.
“I only hope you’ll kindly regard my fidelity, having waited only for Your Highness all this time.”
It’s extremely burdensome. We weren’t even engaged—why didn’t he see any women in the meantime?
“…Go back for now. I’ll think about it more and give you an answer.”
Then a glimmer of hope appeared in Joachim’s eyes.
Seeing that made me feel a bit guilty. Because I have no intention of changing my mind.
Later, divorcing Friedrich would be a hassle in itself. Sorting out a lover too would double the trouble? No thanks.
***
“What did Duke Rommel say? I figured he came to apologize.”
As I sent Joachim away and returned to my room, Elsa asked. I replied in a tired voice.
“He asked me to make him my lover.”
Crash!
That’s when I heard something shattering. It wasn’t Elsa. Then who broke it?
“Ah…”
When I turned my head, a vase lay shattered at Friedrich’s feet. Flowers were scattered beneath it.
…Did he hear?
The moment I met Friedrich’s eyes in tension, I realized.
He heard!
We haven’t even married yet, and it already feels like I’ve been caught cheating.
‘No, I was just unilaterally confessed to!’
At that moment, Friedrich suddenly crouched down and started fumbling to pick up the broken porcelain shards.
He might hurt himself like that. I finally snapped back and was about to tell him to have a maid do it.
“Urk.”
Right then, Friedrich grimaced briefly with a short groan. I rushed over to him in surprise.
“Are you okay?”
Hurriedly checking his hand, I saw his palm was cut and bleeding. I frowned and scolded him.
“How could you just grab it barehanded without gloves!”
Unlike other noble ladies of Stade, Rene was a tomboy who didn’t carry handkerchiefs or the like.
Irritated, I tore off the lining of my dress and clumsily wrapped it around Friedrich’s palm.
“Elsa, hurry and get the palace physician…”
That’s when a clear, transparent droplet fell onto the blood-spattered floor.
Wondering what it was, I looked at Friedrich, but his head was bowed low, hiding his face.
“…Friedrich, are you crying?”
Belatedly realizing I might have been too harsh, I thought uh-oh. It wasn’t even a serious injury. I should have played it cool.
But seeing him bleeding from his palm, I didn’t have the bandwidth to think that far. I just got annoyed.
“Hey, no need to cry over it. I didn’t say it that harshly…”
“…”
“I’m sorry for getting angry. Lift your face a bit. Huh?”
It’s not like it’s after midnight when his body turns into a child’s.
Coaxing a grown man twice my size like a baby felt utterly unfamiliar, but I gritted my teeth and kept my voice gentle.
“I just got startled seeing the blood. You understand? Huh?”
“…I’m not crying.”
Friedrich lied in a voice that anyone could tell was tearful. I almost snorted but kept coaxing him.
“Okay, I get it, so lift your head and show me your face, huh?”
“…”
Then Friedrich slowly raised his head, and our eyes met.
Perhaps because he’d shed tears, the poignant beauty emanating from his face was no joke, like a flower holding rainwater.
‘…What am I thinking in front of someone crying.’
Feeling a sudden pang of conscience, I hurriedly turned my head away. Then Friedrich’s dazed voice reached me.
“…Do you find my face unpleasant?”
