Chapter 99
Despite the warning words, Reina showed no sign of wavering.
“I absolutely won’t die. No matter what it takes, I’ll restore Jeffrey to his original self.”
At Reina’s meaningfully uttered words, Mikael blinked.
“It seems you have some confidence in this.”
“I have no obligation to tell you.”
When Reina curtly dismissed him, Mikael let out a hollow laugh.
Even in her emotionally stirred state, she never committed the folly of letting slip important information.
The more he saw of them, the more this pair of siblings appealed to him.
Mikael smirked and tossed out his preamble.
“Originally, I intended to use your brother as leverage for a deal, but I’ll change the plan.”
Reina’s face hardened at his bold admission that he’d planned to hold her brother hostage.
“Are you saying you were going to blackmail me with my brother?”
“Just for a moment, yes.”
The overly honest response left her speechless.
It was then that Mikael extended a key.
“Instead, take this as a token of apology.”
“You’re giving this to me?”
Reina wore a suspicious expression at how readily he handed over the key.
As she stared at him as if demanding to know his ulterior motive, Mikael said,
“I want an alliance with you, not a transaction.”
“An alliance?”
“Yes. You can think of it as a partnership based on mutual interests. I’ll help in rescuing Jeffrey, so I hope you won’t refuse.”
Mikael suddenly adopted a humble posture. His shift in stance was seamless, as if he’d finished assessing his opponent.
“You’re saying our interests align?”
“Something like that.”
Mikael was sincere. Having confirmed his genuineness through Ritsi’s power, Reina broached the main topic.
“Then what is this key for?”
“See for yourself at the banquet.”
“And the location?”
“During this banquet, excuse yourself from the hall claiming indigestion and head to the infirmary. There, one of my people will tell you where to go. You’ll be able to use the key there.”
Mikael revealed his intentions as if he’d been waiting for the question. Whatever lay at the key’s destination seemed to hold a secret he couldn’t speak of directly.
Perhaps a place where she could obtain a clue to save Jeffrey.
With a determined expression, Reina asked,
“In exchange for the key, what do I need to do for you? If it’s mutual interests, there must be something in it for you as well.”
“It was meant as an apology.”
“But you called it an alliance. If it’s only beneficial to one side, that’s not an alliance—it’s a transaction.”
At Reina’s pointed remark, Mikael blinked.
A moment later, he subtly smiled.
“Actually, what I want might be a bit difficult for you.”
“Tell me first.”
With her attitude of hearing him out before deciding, Mikael spoke seriously.
“To formally challenge for the right to the imperial succession. That’s the condition I originally intended to propose.”
Reina and Kaiden flinched. They’d come prepared for just that, wondering if Mikael knew something.
Reina said calmly,
“Imperial succession challenge……. Are you telling me to compete with the crown prince?”
“While designating Siegfried as crown prince, the emperor enacted a law allowing another worthy successor to challenge for the position if one emerges. He even created the game rules for it. That…….”
“Sollícĭto.”
As Reina mentioned the name of the succession contest, Mikael smiled with satisfaction.
“That’s right. I want you to formally apply for Sollícĭto.”
The mention of Sollícĭto brought a hush over the room.
Sollícĭto.
An act where a royal with lower succession rights challenges one with higher rights.
The winner of the game gains higher succession rights and a advantageous position to become the next emperor.
The challenger and the challenged must compete through the game to prove who is more suited to be the next emperor.
It was similar to a duel in that no fault was assigned even if someone died during the game.
Reina spoke as if stepping back.
“I didn’t know you were interested in the throne. Wouldn’t it be better for you to do it yourself rather than me?”
“I’m not particularly interested in the throne.”
Mikael smirked and poured wine into his glass.
As the red wine filled the glass to the brim, he spoke.
“Aren’t you curious why the emperor wants a child between you and the duke?”
The abrupt preamble caught Reina off guard.
She hadn’t expected him to know that the emperor desired a child.
Reina let out a deep sigh.
“Isn’t it to use it like Jeffrey?”
“That’s incomparable.”
Mikael savored his wine leisurely. As Reina waited calmly, he suddenly shifted to another topic.
“The pact between Crencia and Mernie includes a non-aggression clause toward each other.”
“I know.”
“Mernie cannot exercise authority over Crencia, and Crencia cannot harm Mernie. The emperor, representing Mernie, is especially strongly bound by the pact.”
Reina stared at Mikael intently, as if wondering what he was getting at.
She’d learned in her past life that the emperor couldn’t harm Crencia.
That’s why the emperor had used her to pressure Kaiden.
He’d exploited the fact that royals other than the emperor were less restricted.
Of course, the restrictions weren’t entirely absent, so the life force Reina had to expend had been more than double.
She was frustrated now, not understanding why he was bringing this up.
As if sensing this, Mikael pinpointed the issue he wanted to address.
“This clause that seems to protect each other has a loophole. A being who is both Mernie and Crencia is entirely unrestricted.”
“……You don’t mean.”
As Kaiden frowned in response, Mikael nodded.
“The emperor wants to be an exception to the pact. Through a child of you and the duke. Ultimately, he desires to wield even Crencia’s dragon power in his own hands.”
“!”
What a madman.
Reina shuddered at the emperor’s greed.
A wave of dizziness hit her, making her sway, and Kaiden supported her.
“Are you okay?”
“……Yes.”
She’d already known the emperor dreamed of continental domination.
But she hadn’t imagined he’d exploit the pact’s loophole to seize Crencia’s power and become an omnipotent being.
Mikael’s ash-gray eyes gleamed sharply.
“As things stand, you’re the only one who can break this cycle, Reina.”
“Why me?”
“Because you have the person the emperor covets most under your control.”
Mikael’s gaze turned to Kaiden.
As long as the emperor desired Crencia’s power, Reina could never be free from him.
In the past and now, the emperor wouldn’t leave her and him alone.
And since returning to the past, everyone had demanded the same from her.
To become the emperor.
Reina had no choice but to accept now that this was her destiny.
She alone could sever this ill-fated cycle.
“It’s impossible to confront the crown prince right away.”
“Of course. I’ll help set the stage before that. But I hope it doesn’t go beyond this year.”
“Fine.”
As Reina readily agreed, Mikael sighed in relief. He extended his hand for a shake.
“From now on, call me Mikael.”
“Then you call me Reina as well.”
“Gladly.”
Mikael smiled contentedly and shook her hand.
A short while later, the pierrot vanished, and Mikael rose from his seat.
“Well then, since our talk is done, shall we go meet your brother?”
