BXBX NOVEL Side Story Chapter 275
Side Story Chapter 275
The ongoing war between Avalon and Hubalt was beneficial for Swallow because Swallow was not involved. The standard strategy in a situation like this was to conquer nearby areas little by little so that they wouldn’t be caught off guard when the war intensified. Joining the war between Avalon and Hubalt right now would result in Hubalt and Avalon joining forces when a sense of crisis overcame them.
Anna expected Swallow’s nobles to be vehemently against the idea.
“Yes, Your Highness. As the empress commands,” Voltaire answered on the nobles’ behalf.
“...What?”
“We will follow your orders,” Voltaire repeated.
Anna gaped blankly.
“Of course, I assume this is happening after you take the throne.” Voltaire gestured at a servant standing behind him. “So allow me to be sure: will you take the throne?”
The servant politely held up a radiant gold crown, covering his hands with a red cloth to avoid touching it directly.
“...I never imagined the nobles would give up their pride and listen to a fugitive like me.”
“That isn’t your fault. The world forced you,” Voltaire gently answered.
Anna didn’t trust Voltaire for obvious reasons.
“Hmph. I guess the Killian Family got a lot stronger while I was away.”
Even in Swallow, a country of fierce warriors, the Killian family’s men were regarded as strongest and fought like beasts. In fact, the current head of the Killian family was known to possess an ability that surpassed Grand Duke Lucifer. However, the family’s influence hadn’t been this strong at the time—not a single noble family in Swallow had been that influential, in fact.
‘They must have gotten a lot stronger after Grand Duke Lucifer’s death,’ Anna thought.
She might have left Swallow, but that didn’t mean she’d stopped paying attention to the empire’s affairs. The Killian Family had never used their full power, but Anna was certain that they would be able to defeat every one of the nobles here.
“Be honest with me, Duke Voltaire.” Anna scoffed.
“Pardon?”
“The head of the Killian Family terrifies you, doesn’t he.”
Anna deliberately insulted Voltaire in front of all the nobles, but Voltaire continued to smile.
“The Killian Family is also a part of the empire, so there is no reason to fear them, but I believe bringing them to their knees won\'t be a problem once you and I join forces, Your Highness.”
“You want to control Vaikals using me since they only follow the emperor’s orders, don’t you?”
The nobles tilted their heads in confusion. No one there had heard about Vaikals except for one person.
Voltaire’s lip trembled, his first slip.
-...How do you know about Vaikals? That information is only passed down among the emperors.
Anna grinned.
-It’s probably because of the same reason as you. Unlike you, snake, someone was kind enough to tell me about them.
Voltaire gritted his teeth. “Fox Master...!”
* * *
A knight came running into the middle of Kireua and Arash’s showdown.
“Fox Master!” he urgently shouted. When he reached Arash, he paused, eyeing Kireua warily.
Arash gestured at the knight. “It’s fine, go on.”
“An imperial order has been issued summoning all nobles in the empire.”
Arash twitched but calmly asked, “Only the emperor can give out such an order. Did she choose to claim the throne?”
“That is correct.”
“She made a wise choice.” Arash smiled behind the mask; it seemed that sending the message at the last moment had been the right call. She turned to look at Kireua, silently telling him she was right.
“...I’m curious. What is up with your name? ‘Fox Master’?”
“It’s just my name. I may be known as the princess of the Swallow Empire, but I’m from a humble background. Nothing good will happen if the public learns of that.”
“Is it really possible for you to hide your identity like that?” Kireua asked with his brow furrowed.
“As you can see, it’s working. It’ll continue to work for as long as those in control of the country can keep the story straight.” Arash took a step forward. “We seem to have gotten a little sidetracked. Let me tell you one more time: go back to your country, Kireua Sanders.”
Kireua shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
He hadn’t heard a word from Anna herself. Even if Anna had actually agreed to take the throne, he should at least say goodbye before he left.
“You know that Her Majesty Anna bel Grace has become this empire’s ruler since she accepted the throne. Even if you’re the Second Prince of Avalon, insisting on meeting Her Majesty without making an appointment beforehand is an obvious discourtesy.”
“I’m going to hear it from Anna herself because I don’t believe a word you say.”
After looking at Kireua silently for a moment, Arash looked at the Swallow knights. “Can everyone give us a moment, please?”
“Pardon? But Fox Master—”
“The next emperor has already been decided, so I’m useless now, aren’t I? You don’t have to worry about my safety.”
The captain boggled at her for a moment but didn’t yield. “...Not at all. The Swallow Empire still needs your wisdom.”
“If you truly think so, then that’s all the more reason to give us privacy; I am trying to use that wisdom.”
The captain held back a grunt and gestured at his knights. “...Stand down.”
“Yes, sir.”
The knights quickly scattered at the captain’s instruction, despite not budging at Arash’s order.
“Imperial power here must be a lot weaker than I thought.”
“It’s been like that for decades, ever since a grand duke began to rule the empire instead of the emperor.”
If the emperor had been strong, Kireua and Arash wouldn’t have had any privacy because the knights wouldn’t have allowed a member of the imperial family to be in such a risky situation.
“Before you leave, I would like to make a proposal.”
“What kind of proposal?” Kireua asked.
Arash held out her hand. “Take Swallow’s hand.”
“What in the world are you talking about all of su—”
Before Kireua could finish speaking, Arash took off her mask. Kireua’s jaw dropped.
“Can you feel my sincerity?” Arash asked.
“...This is a surprise. I thought you were wearing your mask because you’re ugly, but you’re actually...”
“Quite the opposite?”
“...I don’t know about that, but I can tell that you have thick skin,” Kireua grumbled.
Despite what he had said, Kireua had to admit that Arash was very beautiful. Her blonde hair shone, her eyes resembled the ocean, and not a single blemish could be seen on her face. Among the women he had met until now, Kireua had believed that the most beautiful women were the First and Second Avalon Queen Consorts—Iceline and Icarus—but had changed today.
“Hahaha.” Arash chuckled. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“So what exactly are you suggesting?”
“You’re the unwelcomed Second Prince of Avalon, and I’m a bastard like the emperor of Avalon. Aren’t we a good match?”
“What?” Kireua frowned. “What are you on about...?”
“Marry me.”
Kireua’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
“To my knowledge, Her Majesty doesn’t have a child, so the bloodline of bel Grace will end with her. It won’t be easy for her to bear a child; she’s of an age where her menopause could start at any day. Even if she gets married in the near future, there is no guarantee that she’ll bear a child.”
Arash slowly walked toward Kireua. She finished using her magic artifact, perhaps wary of the people nearby.
-She has legitimacy, so once she unites the nobles and supports me... At least my child will be able to inherit the throne. The chances will be higher if the child has a prince from another country as their father.
Kireua’s lip trembled. “...This was your endgame all along, wasn\'t it?”
Although he was shocked at Arash’s ability to stay ten steps ahead.
“...This is unpleasant. Do you always try to manipulate people?” Kireua asked, frowning.
“Should I not? This is the world I’ve been living in.”
Kireua found that, yes, he couldn’t criticize Arash for it. The world she had been living in was one where Arash would fall behind unless she manipulated other people. Her brilliant mind couldn’t achieve anything unless she put it to use.
“Well, it’s a little embarrassing to admit, but...” Arash trailed off, flashing Kireua a beautiful smile that would have made most men would have fallen head over heels for her “...I think I proved my worth as a woman. Am I wrong?”
Kireua pondered for a moment. To be honest, the proposal wasn’t a bad deal for Kireua given that he was expected to get married someday. He wasn’t against the concept of marriage and he was seeking to be the next emperor of Avalon. On top of that, Avalon was at war, so it would be good to make an ally using marriage. He wouldn’t have to worry about being betrayed by Arash at least until the war against Hubalt came to an end.
“So what is it going to be?” Arash prompted, pulling Kireua back to reality.
“...My answer is...”