TEWRIT 39

Episode 39

A life-changing decision should come with serious thought. But putting on such an obvious show like this? Honestly, Eliano found it upsetting. Didn’t Flint say that a man who treats his wife like a trophy isn’t worthy? Was that just sweet talk?

Wasn’t this whole event nothing more than showing off women like trophies?

Did I misjudge him again?

Eliano looked a bit down.

“Haha. Flint is my precious friend. So, of course, his wife would also be precious to me.”

Flint Howard was the friend of Heriath—the sly Crown Prince. So it wouldn’t be strange if Flint had a bit of that fox in him too.

She had been tricked.

Eliano stabbed her fork into a piece of fruit. The plate slightly shook from the force. Realising it, she loosened her grip and took a deep breath.

There was no need to get upset. She could use him too.

If Flint was planning to use her like a prize, then she’d use him back—as a stepping stone to escape her father. She wouldn’t hesitate to step all over him.

Just then, Eliano locked eyes with the woman sitting at the highest seat.

It was Empress Beatrice.

The alluring beauty with luscious red hair and mesmerising violet eyes noticed Eliano, her niece Liliana’s friend, and gave her a soft smile. Eliano lowered her eyes, then looked up again.

Beatrice, praised as the most beautiful woman on the continent, was so stunning it was hard to look away. Despite her age, she looked so youthful that people wondered if time moved backward for her.

She was born a Sanders. To make her empress, the Sanders Duke made her a direct relative. Well, it was really because Emperor Leopold had fallen for her at first sight.

The fact that Beatrice was a widow didn’t matter. The Emperor even found it fortunate. The Empress’s seat was empty—wasn’t it fate?

This happened just two years after Empress Juliana, Heriath’s birth mother, had passed away.

So, Heriath hated Beatrice deeply.

Now, they acted like a good mother and son—but the fact that Heriath still called her “stepmother” every time said otherwise. Beatrice probably felt the same.

“How lovely. The Crown Prince enjoys this tea party even more than its hostess. I’m pleased as your mother.”

Beatrice’s tone was cold. Her glare clearly said, Why are you stealing the spotlight at my tea party?

The young ladies sensed the mood and stayed quiet.

Eliano understood her completely.

Some dark-haired man barged into her party, soaking up all the attention. And he wasn’t even her real son—but the child of her husband’s first wife. As the Crown Prince, he couldn’t be kicked out either.

She must want to hire an assassin.

In her past life, Eliano wouldn’t have let this slide. A man who acts like that would only bring trouble later. The Crown Prince had way too much influence for a place that should belong to the Empress.

Heriath smiled sweetly.

“I’m glad you’re happy, Stepmother. I came to check on you, and lucky me—the tea party was just starting. I must be blessed by the fairy of fortune today.”

He clearly planned this. Eliano started to feel sorry for the Empress, who had to deal with this fox.

“I hope the fairy of fortune stays with you too, Crown Prince. Thank you for spending time with your mother.”

It was clearly a polite way of saying, Leave now. But Heriath wasn’t clueless—he was far worse.

“May fortune bless you too, stepmother. By the way, I heard your palace hired a new pastry chef. I think he’s better than mine. This cake just melts in my mouth… I don’t think I can leave.”

He acted like the perfect guest, smiling like a prince while stealing all the attention. The young ladies were mesmerised by his looks.

Even the empress couldn’t go against the mood and force him out.

Now, her eyes burnt with the desire to kill.

Then Heriath casually dropped a new topic.

“Did you hear? Count Nobert’s marriage was actually a kidnap wedding.”

He was truly talented in social games—bringing up shocking topics at the perfect time. Even Eliano, who had been bored, started paying attention.

A kidnap wedding…

That word had a dark history. Long ago, it referred to kidnapping other races to sell them as slaves. One slave per cloth wrap—bosom. Over time, it turned into a term for abducting brides.

It was still practised secretly in rural places where it was hard to find brides. But it was illegal now. If caught, the man would be punished severely.

In her past life, Eliano had made sure to outlaw it in Zacador.

Back then, many nobles and commoners had protested. Some men would kidnap poor girls and turn them into mistresses. Some parents even accepted money to stay quiet.

It was disgusting.

Eliano learnt then just how ugly men could be.

So hearing that Count Nobert, an older man, had taken a young commoner woman as a bride through bosam made her frown.

“No way. Maybe he just proposed in that style. A misunderstanding, perhaps?”

One lady, who knew the Countess, tried to explain.

These days, some people use bosam in a playful way to propose—after getting the parents’ permission.

Even Adele Evans joked about dragging a cute noble to the north by bosom. It had become a romantic trope in love stories.

But if the groom was over 40 and the bride a 20-year-old commoner, it felt wrong.

“No, it was real. It was a tragedy.”

The ladies gasped.

“He’s over 40, right…?”

“If it’s true, shouldn’t he be punished? That’s awful!”

“How could something like that happen in Bianteca? That’s something from backward Jacador!”

Eliano agreed.

In Zacador, a girl who was bosomed and lost her purity had no choice but to marry—even if the man was a dying old man.

At least if he were old, he’d die soon—but he was only forty.

“But the Count seems to really love his wife…?”

“Yes, people say he treasures her. Her family is well off now too.”

“Maybe… it was planned? That’s why no one reported it?”

Count Nobert was said to be smart but ugly and overweight. He had money, but likely not that much by noble standards.

Eliano felt sorry for the bride. It must’ve been a deal for money. That’s why people were so casual about it.

An older lady added,

“People may not know this, but Count Nobert doesn’t have the best reputation. He acts like a loving husband, but really… who knows?”

Eliano started feeling uncomfortable.

Then Beatrice spoke coldly.

“How could someone be happy after being kidnapped into marriage? Poor girl. If she ever gets arrested for killing her husband, I’d grant her a pardon.”

The whole room went silent.

“The Crown Prince should be more careful. That story is either unconfirmed gossip or too tragic to joke about.”

For once, Heriath looked flustered.

“I was only copying my stepmother—using tragedy to liven up the mood. But I guess I failed.”

Beatrice had a habit of attacking people by exposing their weaknesses. Heriath had called her out.

Beatrice’s hand shook. Her beautiful eyes were fierce.

“My love for you is sincere, stepmother. I hope you accept it.”

Eliano couldn’t hide her face this time. What kind of love is that? she thought. If she had a son like him, she’d throw him out—too bad she couldn’t.

She felt sorry for Beatrice.

In her past life, Eliano had often wanted to slap a prince who acted spoilt. At least he was a kid. Heriath was a grown man—dark and clever.

“The Crown Prince should learn to accept advice from his mother. Take the moon’s words to heart.”

“And how can a son like me always be obedient? The moon belongs in the quiet night, Stepmother.”

Clang! A girl dropped her fork.

Eliano made a displeased face. That was crossing the line.

Beatrice looked like she wanted to kill him with her eyes. Heriath just smiled in return.

The tension between them was back. The air turned cold.

While everyone else broke out in sweat, Eliano calmly sipped her tea.

Staying elegant in tense moments was her habit—to stay composed.

Seeing that, Heriath narrowed his eyes.

The party was ruined, but she just sipped tea like nothing. Must be nice to live in a bubble, he thought bitterly.