10.
“Really… if that’s really the case! Then how am I supposed to assert my rights? Honestly, I’m not confident!”
Evwa, who completely trusted me, didn’t hide her inner thoughts.
“I always thought this engagement happened because of my stubbornness, and I believed I was always the lesser one… Should I first ask Father why he agreed to such an unfair deal? No, should I just storm into His Majesty and His Highness’s faces and demand they pay back the dowry?!”
Her voice rose, clearly flustered and upset.
I turned to Modway, who was preening its wings on my shoulder, and asked,
‘Modway, you’re blocking this entire conversation right now, right?’
[Of course, Master! I’m protecting it even more securely than the palace’s magic barrier!]
After receiving confirmation from the spirit, I calmly tried to soothe Evwa.
“Well then, Miss Evwa. I’ll help you!”
“Really?!”
“Of course. But you’ll trust me, right? And do exactly as I say?”
“Absolutely! In this empire, the person I trust the most is Princess Neroli! Even Father would follow any word you say!”
That’s likely true. The Duke of Bobonshire thinks quite highly of me.
I never expected to use Bobonshire’s trust this way.
Smiling gently, I made eye contact with Evwa.
“Then, first of all, do this.”
***
“Evwa, are you sure about this?”
“Of course, Father.”
Evwa walked ahead with a confident expression.
The Duke of Bobonshire looked at his daughter with a worried gaze.
“I’ll handle your marriage. It might take a bit of time, but either way, you’re the only one suitable for His Highness.”
“I can’t wait any longer, Father.”
Evwa narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at the duke.
“If you had just explained the details about the dowry earlier, I wouldn’t have sat back like a fool.”
“Ahem, I thought it would just trouble you. You always said you hated these kinds of talks.”
“Only when they didn’t concern me!”
If it weren’t for Princess Neroli, she’d have never known these details and continued to suffer in silence.
All that time spent worrying felt wasted.
“I really can’t wait another moment!”
“But what are you planning to say to His Majesty? You know how frightening he is.”
“Just trust me, Father!”
While they exchanged sharp words, the father and daughter arrived at the Emperor’s private reception room.
The steward of the Imperial Palace bowed politely.
“We’ve been expecting you, Your Grace Duke Bobonshire, and Lady Bobonshire.”
“Yes, open the doors.”
“As you command.”
At the steward’s signal, the waiting servants silently opened the reception room doors.
Inside, in an elegantly decorated room, the Emperor sat on the main sofa, with Gobard seated to his right.
The Emperor smiled and welcomed them.
“Welcome, Duke Bobonshire. It’s been a while, young lady.”
“We greet the Lord of the Great Lorrenord and His heir.”
After their formal greeting, the Bobonshires sat on the sofa.
The Duke discreetly glanced at Gobard, whose expression was visibly displeased.
He clicked his tongue inwardly and then looked at Evwa.
Despite what she said earlier in the hallway, she now looked very tense.
That’s why I told you to just stay in the manor.
But then again, it was difficult to remain calm before two royals who carried the blood of the dragon.
Even he, who had sailed treacherous seas for years, sometimes found it hard to breathe in the Emperor’s presence.
As the maids prepared the tea, the Duke tried to ease the atmosphere with small talk.
“It’s been quite a while since we’ve all gathered like this.”
“Yes, the Crown Prince has been very busy lately.”
“My apologies, Your Majesty.”
“Lady Bobonshire rarely visits the palace except to see Neroli, which saddens me greatly.”
“M-my apologies, Your Majesty.”
“As the Crown Prince’s fiancée, you are practically already a part of Lorrenord. You should come visit more often.”
At that, the Duke let out a quiet sigh of relief.
At least His Majesty still remembers Evwa is the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
With how relaxed the Emperor had been lately, he was worried the matter had been forgotten.
Unlike the somewhat relieved Duke, Gobard slightly scowled.
He didn’t like what the Emperor had said.
Evwa, noticing his expression, clenched her fists.
What right does he have to look like that?
He’s the one at fault here!
Suddenly, Neroli’s words came to mind.
I believe it’s time for you to confidently assert your rights, Miss Evwa.
That’s right. Now was the time.
Regaining her confidence, Evwa glanced sideways at the Crown Prince and spoke up.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Actually, I came today because I have something to say on that very topic!”
The Emperor’s eyes sparkled with interest at Evwa’s bold voice.
“Oh ho? Now I’m curious. What is it you’d like to say?”
“Your Majesty, it’s been five years since His Highness and I were engaged. I believe we can no longer delay our marriage!”
“Lady Bobonshire,”
Gobard interrupted in a sharp tone.
“I’ve told you multiple times that I’m busy with national affairs.”
“That’s right. Don’t be impatient. Your marriage will happen in due time.”
Of course he sides with his son, just because he’s the Crown Prince.
As if his daughter didn’t matter.
While the Duke secretly ground his teeth, Evwa looked straight into Gobard’s blue eyes.
“I used to think that way too, up until a few days ago. But there’s something I must inform you of now.”
“What is it?”
Evwa opened the bag she had brought herself and pulled out a very thick book.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow, recognizing it.
“Isn’t that the Lorrenord Empire’s Grand Law Code?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“My goodness, Evwa. Did you carry that heavy thing yourself?”
Ignoring her father’s whisper, Evwa opened the law book with a flick.
“This book contains the Empire’s strict laws and numerous precedents. I’ve found a case in here that is particularly relevant to our situation.”
She had practiced this line many times in front of Neroli, so her delivery was smooth and clear.
“In Imperial Year 574, the third son of House Helta passed away, canceling his engagement with House Kedmon. Kedmon demanded the return of the dowry and compensation, but Helta argued that the engagement had ended due to an unfortunate accident and refused compensation.”
She continued confidently,
“Kedmon took the matter to the Imperial Supreme Court. After thorough review by all the judges and Emperor Crippen III, the court ruled as follows—”
“Lady Bobonshire—”
Gobard attempted to interrupt, but Evwa ignored him.
“Kedmon had paid a significant dowry and waited four years. Typically, noble marriages occur within one year of engagement, making this wait highly irregular. Therefore, Helta was ordered to compensate Kedmon not just with the returned dowry, but an additional amount equivalent to three times the value of the years lost.”
Evwa heard Neroli’s voice echo in her memory again.
Miss Evwa, the Bobonshire family waited a whole year longer than Kedmon.
The smile on Neroli’s face as she explained that still lingered in her mind.
So if your engagement were to be broken, the Bobonshires could demand compensation of four times the original dowry.
Evwa now repeated those words aloud.
“Our Bobonshire family’s dowry was 17 warships. At four times the compensation, that means aside from the 17 ships already paid, we would be entitled to an additional 68 ships as damages!”
She tilted her head slightly, mimicking Neroli’s mannerisms.
“I thought I should inform you of this, though… Perhaps to the great royal family of Lorrenord, such an amount is trivial?”
Of course, it wasn’t.
Gobard’s face turned pale as ice, just like his eyes.
“How dare you!”
He slammed the table with a bang.
Imperial Year 574? That was a case from 200 years ago!
Where did she even dig that dusty precedent up from?!
Even Gobard, who was well-versed in law, had long forgotten that case.
Frowning, he raised his voice.
“Besides, that ruling—!”
But then the Emperor cut him off.
“Silence.”
Gobard clenched his lips and backed down.
And rightly so.
That precedent favored House Kedmon, who were long-standing royal relatives.
At the time, intermarriage between royals was encouraged to strengthen the dragon bloodline.
Kedmon and the royal family were all blood relatives, and many favors were granted.
That’s why this precedent was an uncomfortable part of royal history—something the Emperor didn’t want revisited.
The Duke of Bobonshire quickly assessed the situation.
Honestly, he hadn’t even known this precedent existed, but he did know how close Kedmon and the royal family had once been.
And that meant… this was a highly sensitive topic for the crown.
But Evwa…
Evwa, who had just slapped both the Emperor and Crown Prince with the law, looked utterly fearless.
Everyone in high society knew she had no interest in politics or history.
Ironically, that made her brave enough to say these things.
Ignorance is bold, after all.
The only problem is the aftermath.
How would she wrap this up?
While the Duke worried, the Emperor finally spoke, his voice low.
“How unfortunate. It seems our royal family has failed to earn Lady Bobonshire’s trust.”
His blood-red eyes gleamed oddly.
“To bring up that precedent… You must be already considering the Crown Prince’s death, hmm?”
Oh no. This is bad.
If she said yes, she could be punished for treason. But if she said no, everything she had said would be for nothing.
