Chapter 68
How to Defeat Him
Venerucia thought that Clifd would naturally welcome the complete separation between himself and Lucalina.
“If Senelia Daphnen is in charge of preparing the hunting festival, then I’ll grant your request.”
However, Clifd demanded something else in exchange for Senelia inheriting the title of Countess.
And the requirement meant that she would inevitably have to enter the Imperial Palace.
“That is impossible.”
Venerucia, of course, refused Clifd’s words.
Yet Clifd calmly countered her objection.
“It is customary for women of the royal family to oversee the Empire’s festivals. But now, there is no Empress, nor are there any remaining members of the royal bloodline.”
Clifd’s statement was not wrong.
By his logic, the only person qualified to take charge at this moment was Senelia.
Venerucia still held the right to the throne, and she was set to become the Grand Duchess by marrying him.
“So, Your Majesty expects me to relinquish my right to the throne.”
Venerucia glared at Clifd with a cold expression.
Clifd had not taken an Empress for over a decade since his ascension.
Yet throughout all those years, the Empire’s festivals had been carried out smoothly.
So even if tradition dictated otherwise, Clifd handling the hunting festival alone posed no problem.
And yet, he insisted on involving Senelia.
Anyone who knew Clifd would understand immediately that he had a purpose in using Senelia.
And Venerucia suspected it was because of her own right to the throne.
If he relinquished his succession rights, Senelia would no longer have the qualification to oversee the festival in the first place.
“Well, I don’t quite understand. It has always been the role of a royal woman to manage the Empire’s festivals.”
Yet Clifd did not reveal his true intentions.
Venerucia clenched her teeth at his sly answer.
“My beloved younger brother, I don’t understand why you are acting so irritable.”
Clifd narrowed his eyes and instead seemed to blame Venerucia.
“Whether you sent Senelia or not, she is mine now. Do not attempt to wield her carelessly.”
Venerucia’s eyes darkened.
He had no hesitation in protecting Senelia and confronting Clifd.
“No. She is mine.”
Yet Clifd was equally resolute.
That… is mine.
It was a clear declaration that he regarded Senelia as his possession.
Venerucia’s voice rose in anger.
“Senelia is not an object! Do not speak of her that way—!”
Before she could finish, Clifd interrupted.
“Venerucia Apron.”
Clifd’s lips curved slightly as he looked at her.
“Have you forgotten that Selly’s life is in my hands?”
At that moment, Venerucia froze.
Clifd smiled as he watched her reaction.
“When I told my dog to wear a leash, it seems you took my words very seriously.”
Snap.
The tip of the brooch on Venerucia’s clothing lodged against Clifd’s feet.
“One more time… if you call Selly a dog or use such words…”
Clifd watched leisurely.
As a Swordmaster, Venerucia could have aimed directly at Clifd, not just at his feet.
And if she had, Clifd—also a Swordmaster—would have dodged.
The fact that Clifd remained seated, unflinching, meant he knew Venerucia could not land a blow.
“I will use my right to succession to make things difficult for Your Majesty.”
Venerucia’s warning was genuine.
He could exploit any flaw Clifd had, despite Clifd having killed all his brothers to ascend the throne.
Moreover, Venerucia was still remembered by people as a war hero.
If he made up his mind, Clifd could indeed find himself in a difficult situation.
“Even if Selly’s life is in danger?”
Yet Clifd continued to provoke Venerucia.
Because he wanted to check if Senelia was truly serving as Venerucia’s proper leash.
“Brother!!!”
Venerucia knew this as well.
But despite knowing it, he could not remain indifferent.
How could one stay calm when the life of a beloved person was at stake?
“I endured when you deceived me with my own feelings. And now, you wish to manipulate me with those same feelings?”
Venerucia ground his teeth as he spoke.
Clifd remained unchanged.
When Venerucia loved Lucalina, Clifd had always made him cautious by manipulating his heart.
Now, with Senelia as an even stronger restraint, Clifd would not miss this opportunity.
“Was your endurance for my sake?”
Clifd smirked.
He had thoroughly trained Senelia to be his dog through fear.
Such a life diminishes much of a person.
Who would love a human living a life that is human yet not human?
Senelia would never know.
That he had truly and completely succeeded.
She was the perfect leash of Venerucia Apron.
“…No. It’s… because of Selly.”
Venerucia twisted his mouth after a long silence, staring at Clifd who seemed to know everything.
“So even if I speak out boldly or act defiantly, Your Majesty cannot immediately harm Selly, can you?”
Finally, Clifd’s smile vanished from his face.
Senelia being Venerucia’s leash meant that the moment the leash was broken, there would be no way to control him.
Venerucia pointed this out precisely.
“You are correct. As long as Selly’s life is in your hands, I cannot help but be swayed by you.”
By striking at Clifd’s weakness, it was Venerucia who regained composure this time.
“However… only as long as Selly’s life remains in your hands.”
Venerucia’s words were a warning: he could touch her as much as he liked, but do not harm Senelia.
Clifd’s lips twisted into a shape similar to Venerucia’s earlier expression.
“My younger brother is always far too clever for his own good.”
Clifd did not hide his displeasure.
At the same time, he was warning Venerucia: do not try to outshine me.
“You flatter me. How could I compare to Your Majesty?”
Only then did Venerucia bow slightly, speaking again in a polite tone.
He could easily keep up this game.
Clifd did not fully trust even his own siblings, but Venerucia genuinely had no interest in the throne—provided it did not concern Senelia.
Clifd’s gaze grew colder as he observed this.
Though Venerucia acted respectfully, he never once said that Senelia would oversee the festival.
It was a clear indication that he had no intention of following Clifd’s orders.
“If the prospective Grand Duchess cannot assist the royal family, then so be it.”
Clifd had no intention of accepting Venerucia’s refusal.
He was a tyrant who insisted everything go his way.
“I am busy and barely have time to prepare the hunting festival, so it will have to be postponed by about two weeks.”
“…Is this how you intend to proceed?”
Venerucia’s face hardened once more.
Postponing the festival by two weeks would push it to mid-next month.
This would mean adjusting the Grand Ducal wedding accordingly.
If moved forward, the wedding would need to be prepared in roughly two weeks.
Two weeks was too short for foreign envoys to schedule and arrive in Heliosa Empire to celebrate the Grand Ducal wedding.
Thus, the wedding would inevitably be delayed by another two weeks.
Venerucia gritted his teeth.
Senelia was already anxious about the first delay.
How could he explain yet another delay to her?
“If you dislike that, the prospective Grand Duchess only needs to help the royal family a little. Yet you persist—aren’t you my younger brother?”
Clifd’s lost smile returned.
“I care for you, so I will give you a choice.”
Clifd teased Venerucia further.
“You can either postpone the hunting festival or assign the task I gave to the prospective Grand Duchess—the choice is yours, Venerucia.”
Clifd’s voice sounded as gentle as an older brother.
This twisted Venerucia’s insides even further.
Clifd always imitated a kind older brother at times like this.
“So, choose.”
Of course, whichever option Venerucia chose, the outcome would be disastrous for both him and Senelia.
“…I’ll discuss it with the Grand Duchess.”
In the end, postponing the decision was the only solution for Venerucia.
This time, it was Venerucia’s defeat.
