TOOCM | Chapter 007

Episode 7

He doesn’t trust easily.

Reina swallowed hard at the Emperor’s probing question.

It wasn’t a casual inquiry.

His “questions” always hid traps.

Lie, and the trap would spring, leaving her like a rat in a cage, unable to move.

The Emperor could discern lies.

That was his divine power, the “Game of Truth.”

But Reina knew his power better than anyone.

She knew its blind spot.

He’d told her himself.

Likely assuming she had nowhere to escape, he let his guard down.

Did he ever imagine?

How long Reina had waited for that moment.

How desperately she’d struggled to find his weakness.

After grasping the power’s core, she’d deceived him with a false prophecy.

Having done it once, there was no reason she couldn’t do it again.

Reina said calmly,

“Three years ago, at the Founding Festival, Duke Crencia helped me.”

“Helped?”

“I was distraught over my brother’s disappearance. That’s when I first met him.”

“Unexpected. I didn’t know the Duke could comfort anyone. So, you’ve fancied him since?”

“Thinking of him constantly, it just happened.”

Reina lowered her eyes, confessing calmly.

She wove only truth into her answer.

Her first memory of the Duke was three years ago.

He didn’t recognize her then.

She’d worn a hood pulled low.

His words were more scolding than comforting.

But sometimes, a careless remark touches deeper than deliberate solace.

After a moment, the Emperor studied her, then released her hand.

“I see. The Duke has a tender side. Different before a lover, I suppose.”

“Yes. He’s very kind to me.”

Reina smiled shyly, like a woman in love.

The Emperor, doubts dispelled, laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! I nearly went down the wrong path. I troubled the Duke by suggesting Isabelle.”

At Isabelle’s name, Scal’s eyes widened, interjecting.

“What? He rejected Isabelle for her? Is the Duke’s taste weird?”

Reina blinked, surprised by the mentioned name.

‘Isabelle was recommended?’

Isabelle Julid Mernie.

The princess most frequently invited to the Emperor’s banquets, backed by a powerful ducal family.

Also, in her past life, a sister who tormented Reina for no reason.

To the palace, the unremarkable Reina was an easy target.

Compared to the Emperor, her cruelty was trivial, so Reina had forgotten her.

But she remained an uncomfortable figure.

Realizing she’d proposed to a man who rejected Isabelle, Reina’s face flushed.

Her proposal was bold in ignorance.

“Love tends to cloud reason. Though I didn’t expect it of the Duke.”

Siegfried gazed at Reina with snake-like eyes.

Scal scratched his head, still baffled.

Just as the topic seemed to pass smoothly, the Emperor said meaningfully,

“Come to think of it, your birthday’s soon, isn’t it?”

Thud.

Reina froze at the sudden mention.

She hadn’t expected him to remember her birthday.

Fearing he’d ask her to stay for it, he continued,

“The Duke wants to return to the North before your birthday. But it’s your twentieth. How about a modest banquet to announce your engagement before leaving?”

Reina’s eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.

In the past, her birthday passed quietly.

She was ill with fever, and not significant enough for a grand event.

A banquet now?

Reina raced to gauge his intent.

Ignoring cold sweat, she said calmly,

“Thank you, Your Majesty, but he’s busy with Northern matters and can’t stay long.”

She spoke with feigned regret, and the Emperor narrowed his eyes.

“Even so, it’s your twentieth birthday. The Duke seems too indifferent. He knows its importance to royals.”

Oh, that’s it?

The Emperor likely wanted to test how much the Duke valued her.

If she was precious to him, she’d be a valuable pawn.

She needed to convey moderate interest.

Too little, and he might suspect the marriage.

The Emperor was a suspicious, cunning man.

To ease his guard, she had to take risks.

Reina subtly leaked Northern affairs.

“A dangerous monster appeared in the North. A messenger arrived days ago. Waiting until my birthday is likely impossible.”

“Dangerous monster?”

The Emperor asked, puzzled, and Michael chimed in.

“Now that you mention it, it’s near the century cycle of demonic activity. If the messenger’s about a Class-1 restricted monster, his haste makes sense.”

Nice, Michael!

Thanks to Michael’s unexpected support, the Emperor seemed less suspicious.

“Then it can’t be helped. A messenger means it’s urgent. I hope the North fares well.”

His words mimicked a benevolent ruler, but his eyes were chillingly cold.

As if hoping the North would falter, they held an eerie glint.

“Still, sending you off like this might make the North slight you.”

“Your Majesty?”

“He leaves in five days, so let’s hold a grand farewell banquet beforehand. Consider it my wedding gift. Don’t refuse.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Unable to decline further, Reina accepted, and the Emperor smiled, pleased.

* * *

Meanwhile, Isabelle’s maid, learning of Reina’s banquet invitation, exploded.

“This makes no sense! That gloomy princess outdid Lady Isabelle for a banquet invite? She must’ve used dirty tricks!”

Isabelle, equally shocked, was unsettled.

Without a deal between Reina and the Emperor, this was impossible.

What could it be?

“His Majesty must have a plan.”

Suppressing her turmoil, Isabelle gazed out the window.

The banquet should be over by now.

A maid sent to spy returned, whispering to Isabelle.

Her composed face cracked.

“What? Crencia? They’re suddenly marrying? You heard right?”

“Yes, clearly. They’ll head North in five days. His Majesty will hold a farewell banquet the day before.”

“Impossible! How did she ensnare the Duke?”

Isabelle’s voice sharpened with disbelief.

That Crencia, unyielding even to the Emperor, chose that insignificant princess?

Having been tasked to win over Crencia, this was mortifying.

Reina had outmaneuvered her before she could act.

Losing to the sister she most despised doubled her shame.

That banquet seat should’ve been hers.

“How dare that wretch covet my place?”