Chapter 8
The Emperor did not hide his confusion.
“A proposal?”
“The North is a region where undead monsters frequently swarm, so we couldn’t open a gate directly connecting it to the capital, right?”
As if inviting him to imagine what came next, Frey ended her words with a meaningful smile.
The Emperor, who had been about to take a sip of tea, unconsciously set the cup down.
“Don’t tell me… she’s thinking of creating a direct gate from the North to the capital?”
Because undead monsters erupted irregularly, the North did not have a permanent gate linked to the capital.
If monsters crossed through the gate and attacked the capital, the entire nation would be in danger.
This was because the divine power of the House of Praus was not as strong as the imperial bloodline.
As a result, there was no stable connection, and the North lagged behind other regions in development.
But what if Frey—who inherited the imperial divine power—went to the Grand Duchy of the North?
The Emperor naturally began to imagine it.
What would happen if a direct capital gate was opened, and how much the North would develop afterward.
The North was rich in natural resources and also had rare specialties that could not be found elsewhere.
‘If those could just be sold properly in other regions, it would generate immense wealth.’
Perhaps even a merchant group larger than the imperial’s most powerful Zehlon Duke’s trading company could emerge.
After quickly calculating the possibilities, the Emperor cautiously asked his daughter,
“Frey. You’re thinking of going to the North to protect the Grand Duchy with Duke Praus and open a direct gate, aren’t you?”
“Yes. That’s how I plan to start.”
“Start?”
The Emperor’s eyes wavered.
“Frey, do you understand how difficult it is to open a direct gate to the North? First, you would need to raise your divine power to a very high level.”
At his concerned voice, Frey’s lips slowly curved upward.
She had already expected this question. For several days, she had barely eaten properly while digging through old texts.
“I’ve already researched it thoroughly. I believe my divine power will be enough to help the Duke open the gate.”
To be honest, Frey’s divine power was not particularly strong right now.
‘But I know a way to strengthen it in the shortest time.’
If she trained steadily over time, she would be able to use divine power effectively in real situations.
As her father said, she could not yet handle the constant waves of undead monsters in the North.
But preventing them from invading specific regions was possible.
At least that much she could do using the method she learned from the original story.
‘Once I get to the North, I’ll be able to use all the divine power techniques I remembered from my past life.’
She just couldn’t say it out loud yet.
It would be nice if she could explain everything to her father openly.
Suppressing her regret, Frey continued.
“I’ll suppress the undead monsters and open the capital direct gate. After that, I’ll build up a trading company.”
“A trading company?”
“Yes. The power of House Zehlon comes from its merchant company. Even the Magic Tower supports them because of it, which is why they side with the ducal house.”
“I suppose that’s true….”
“So my goal is to surpass the Zehlon trading company.”
A faint rage flickered in Frey’s red eyes.
The Empress and Crown Prince’s family had used their wealth and intelligence network to assassinate her mother, even holding a white chrysanthemum party to humiliate her.
If she followed her emotions, she would have gone straight to the merchant lord’s mansion and burned it down.
‘But I won’t do that anymore. That kind of shallow revenge won’t bring my mother peace.’
Her clenched fists trembled with strength.
The Emperor fell silent as he watched her hands shaking with restraint.
‘She’s not asking for something foolishly emotional… she’s planning to take on Zehlon itself.’
Beneath thick eyelashes, her red eyes burned with determination.
It meant Frey desired something deeply.
And whenever she had that look in her eyes, she always obtained what she wanted.
Even if she had to restrain herself to avoid political turmoil.
‘Roselia. Our daughter is aiming for something very big this time.’
If only I could discuss this with you…
With a bitter smile, the Emperor set down his teacup.
“Frey. I understand this is not something you’ve decided lightly.”
“Father…”
“This is not a decision I can make immediately. Go back for today.”
It seemed he needed time to think.
Frey quietly stood up and prepared to leave.
“Yes, Father. I hope you will consider it positively.”
“Yes. You’re being obedient—”
“Anyway, if you don’t use it now, the absolute obedience right will expire this generation. Prince Tahr can’t use it anyway since he has no divine power.”
“…I was just wondering why you hadn’t brought that up.”
“If you use the absolute obedience right for me, it will not be a waste.”
After bowing politely, Frey returned to her room.
She threw herself onto the bed, her thoughts growing heavier.
‘I wish I could tell Father the most advantageous condition for Daniel Praus.’
According to her research, the Praus Grand Dukes all wanted to abolish their generation’s absolute obedience right.
They disliked living their lives constantly worried about what command the Emperor might issue.
And Daniel Praus likely felt the same.
‘In the original story, the Grand Duke is assassinated, and the children, who lose their guardian, go berserk and attack the palace.’
The assassination of Grand Duke Praus under Emperor Tahr would happen in about two years and seven months.
‘So I just need to say I’ll divorce him in two years and seven months.’
From the Grand Duke’s perspective, it would be beneficial—he could eliminate the obedience right in exchange for a short “show marriage.”
From Frey’s perspective, she could use the position of Grand Duchess to grow her trading company and then divorce.
‘Dragons live long anyway. Three years of a Grand Duchess title won’t matter much.’
He wasn’t the type of man who intended to love anyone sincerely, after all.
Frey hoped her father would make the right decision as she slowly drifted into sleep.
“Your Majesty, you should retire to your chambers.”
The Emperor’s secretary bowed respectfully.
He was truly worried about the Emperor’s health.
‘Ever since Lady Roselia passed away, he hasn’t been able to sleep.’
The Emperor had been exhausted from fighting undead monsters alone.
Losing his lover and suffering from insomnia had worsened his condition.
Already pressured by the Empress and House Zehlon, he was now physically and mentally worn down.
“Your Majesty, your body—”
“Frey made a proposal to me.”
In a calm voice, the Emperor explained his conversation with his daughter.
The secretary, along with several imperial ministers, had their eyes shaken.
“The princess used the absolute obedience right?”
“I thought something would happen when she visited the temple, but…”
“Is she planning to cooperate with House Praus against Zehlon?”
The princess had changed after losing her mother.
But no one expected her to act this quickly and decisively.
Moreover, it was that Princess Frey.
‘We thought she would fall apart after losing her mother, but…’
‘She used to just buy things through servants… how is she doing this?’
‘She’ll probably back down under pressure from the Empress soon.’
‘His Majesty must also be clouded in judgment after Lady Roselia’s death.’
The Emperor glanced at the officials.
He could tell exactly what they were thinking from their expressions.
“I can see what you are thinking.”
“Your Majesty… are you truly planning to use the absolute obedience right to order the marriage between the Princess and Duke Praus?”
“……”
The Emperor stood with his hands behind his back and looked out the window.
“Do you remember? Frey was born at this very time of night.”
Because of the Empress obstructing the physicians and midwives, Roselia had suffered a dangerous and difficult labor.
But Frey was born healthy.
“I thought the room was dark no matter how many lights were lit. But the moment she cried, it felt like the world itself brightened.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
“Strangely enough, she grew up in the opposite way. Timid, careless… she caused you all quite a bit of trouble.”
“Your Majesty…”
Memories of serving the princess flashed through the secretary’s mind.
“Then we will cancel the obedience right—”
“But I know something you do not.”
The ministers exchanged uneasy glances.
“So she may appear to others as a sheltered, temperamental princess… but she is strong inside.”
“…!”
“So from now on, please evaluate the feasibility of what I am about to say.”
“Your Majesty…”
“Even if everyone says it is impossible, I want to believe in her.”
Besides… I may not have much time left.
The Emperor swallowed the sharp pain in his chest that had been recurring for months.
He had to send his daughter somewhere safe before death’s shadow fell.
Somewhere she could survive even if House Zehlon fully seized control of the palace.
“I am her father.”
The Emperor smiled as he recalled his daughter’s face—so similar to his late lover.
