#67. Jealousy
“Why are you asking me that? Have I finally lost my mind in my old age?”
In truth, matters as important as opening Shanetane Avenue should have been discussed directly with the King of Ronica.
The fact that such a significant issue was brought to Velia suggested that the emperor had already spoken with the King of Ronica—but had not received a favorable response.
“I just asked him to try speaking to the Kingdom of Ronica properly. I think he just wanted to poke at it,” Velia said.
Kalid leaned back deeply in his chair.
“So… a conquest war is about to begin?”
Velia nodded, agreeing with his observation.
“We still need to find a way to delay it as long as possible.”
The emperor had his eyes on not just Ronica, but also the Kingdom of Yakum—and surely his ambitions included Ronica as well.
In her previous life, Velia had thought she was settling in well as the First Princess, never imagining that the next empress’s homeland would be invaded.
Moreover, when Shanetane Avenue had first opened, the exchange between the two kingdoms had been genuinely active, producing many positive effects.
That’s why I let my guard down…
Everything had become so familiar that no one suspected the empire. And just as he had planned from the start, Raul, now emperor, had swiftly imprisoned the empress and invaded Ronica.
He deliberately cut off all information reaching Velia, leaving her unaware until the moment her country crumbled.
Velia clenched her fists.
“This time, I won’t let that happen.”
Yes. She couldn’t afford to forget. She needed to consciously keep herself disciplined, never letting her guard down. Even a moment of carelessness could become a shortcut to ruin.
No matter how happy she felt right now…
I can’t let temporary happiness make me neglect my goal.
The emperor’s demand to open Shanetane Avenue signaled that the beginning of all this was imminent.
“We need to come up with a plan to stall. At the very least, we must hold on until next winter.”
Until public opinion demanded that the empire stabilize the chaos caused by unprecedented cold. If they could endure until then, the empire would face a full-scale struggle for the throne before it launched a war for territorial expansion.
“Ah, and you asked if I personally wanted anything… I did have one request…”
Velia scratched her cheek, feeling embarrassed, before speaking.
“Don’t get angry, okay?”
“I won’t. How could I be angry with you?”
Encouraged by Kalid’s gentle tone, Velia carefully continued.
“Well… I asked that Her Majesty the Empress attend our wedding.”
“…What?”
“I know I should have consulted first, but it was such a rare opportunity, I couldn’t let it slip by.”
Velia tried to explain herself, while subtly observing Kalid’s expression. To her surprise, he didn’t seem particularly concerned.
Seeing her confusion, Kalid chuckled softly.
“There’s nothing left with my mother for personal feelings to get in the way.”
He quickly calculated the benefits of having both the empress and emperor present at the wedding.
“And… he agreed?” Kalid asked curiously. “The emperor would have surely refused.”
Velia grinned.
“He didn’t really want to, but he said it would look strange if Her Majesty wasn’t there while the ministers of the New Kingdom were attending.”
“Oh, that was clever,” Kalid remarked.
“Involving the New Kingdom was definitely the right move,” he added.
“Exactly! It’s such a perfect excuse for anything,” Velia said, smiling joyfully.
“Anyway, I told them I didn’t want our wedding criticized by Ronica or the New Kingdom, so they agreed.”
“That old man couldn’t stand losing face,” Kalid nodded.
The emperor must have been displeased, but he could never outright refuse Velia’s request.
Bang!
A loud noise erupted somewhere, followed by clattering and commotion. The first sound had been so loud it resonated through the walls.
It was the first time such a noise had been heard in the usually calm Second Prince’s Palace.
“…Come to think of it, I think we had a visitor today.”
“Ah, that’s right. Lady Kinetra arrived at the palace today. That sound didn’t seem ordinary; I should go check.”
Velia, worried, prepared to step outside, but a maid’s voice called from the door.
“Your Highness, Princess, are you alright?”
Velia gestured for Kalid to stay behind and quietly stepped outside, closing the door.
“It’s fine here. But I need to check what that sound was.”
“It… it was from the guest falling off the bed.”
The bed?
Velia raised a hand to her cheek in surprise.
“Did Lady Kinetra get hurt?”
“No. The guest said it’s nothing to worry about.”
She must have been very excited about the room Erze had arranged for her and rolled off the bed in her excitement.
Velia chuckled softly and returned inside.
“It’s nothing serious.”
“Is that so?” Kalid said, stroking his chin.
“Sorry, but I think you should focus entirely on Lady Kinetra. You’ve got too much to do these days.”
“Don’t worry about that. But…”
“Yes?”
Velia wanted to ask Kalid what he thought about Erze—if seeing her sparked any new feelings, if he found himself watching her more than he intended.
But asking suddenly would certainly make Kalid suspicious. He was perceptive, after all.
And earlier, Erze seemed more curious about Raul than Kalid.
Since there was no connection between them, there was no need to worry prematurely.
Velia shook her head and changed the topic.
“No, I’ll take care of Lady Erze. You focus on what you need to do.”
“I won’t force you to answer what you don’t want to. But Velia, I don’t think you need to take a difficult path alone. If you don’t like the baroness, you can dismiss her immediately. You’re in a position to do that.”
Kalid gently stroked her cheek with his fingers.
He seemed aware that Velia had intentionally brought Erze into the palace—and knew her intentions weren’t entirely pure.
Embarrassed, Velia smiled awkwardly. She felt the weight of his concern.
Erze was interested in Raul; Kalid had no interest in her. Her earlier worries had been fueled by overactive imagination. Velia decided to let go of unnecessary concerns.
As she tried to calm herself, Kalid spoke.
“Then, let’s go back. What exactly did Raul say?”
Velia realized it wasn’t easy to divert the topic.
Hmm… what should I do…
She sighed and spoke calmly.
“He asked if I held your hand to refuse him.”
“Hah…”
Kalid was angry at Raul’s predictable obsession, ignoring even his carefully built reputation.
Does fate really exist?
Velia and Raul should have been together, but because Kalid intervened, perhaps fate was trying to force them together.
Kalid’s mind raced with endless thoughts.
“But I told him firmly,” Velia said proudly.
“What did you say?”
“I told him the reason I refused was simply that I disliked him.”
Velia smiled, pleased with herself, while Kalid’s expression darkened.
“So now, there’s truly nothing to worry about.”
Today, there was no helping it. Even Kalid would have wanted to spend time with Raul.
Velia approached him to ease his feelings.
Kalid looked at her intently and said clearly,
“I’m jealous.”
…What did he just say?
“Just thinking that you were with Raul drives me crazy.”
“Kalid…”
“So don’t leave out a single word of what he said. Okay, Velia?”
It had been a long time since he had shown such raw emotion. Paradoxically, it was reassuring.
Her attempt to test him using Erze suddenly felt foolish.
“I can’t stand thinking about what tricks he might have played on you when I wasn’t there.”
Kalid’s gaze was dangerous.
“Did he say he still likes you?”
Velia felt frozen under his stare, her body tense.
Swallowing hard, she answered,
“No.”
“Then… did he say he couldn’t give you up?”
Velia nodded slowly.
Kalid’s expression twisted, as if restraining some inner force.
“Damn it.”
Unable to control his emotions, Kalid ran a hand over his face and exhaled sharply.
Velia, seemingly entranced, reached out and pulled him close, holding him in her arms.
“Calm down, Kalid.”
Could someone like him really change?
Raul must have been under some illusion.
Though anger shadowed his eyes, Velia couldn’t help but smile. His jealousy was uncomfortable, overwhelming—but that only heightened her thrill.
“I wasn’t myself the moment I heard you were taking a walk with Raul.”
The more he obsessed, the more he was jealous and anxious, the more satisfying it felt.
“To the point I can’t even tell how we got here.”
Kalid lifted his head, his eyes brimming with unrestrained desire.
He no longer hid his longing.
“How can I make you entirely mine? I thought I had you, yet you keep slipping away.”
No matter how much he held, it was never enough.
Kalid had no intention of letting Velia go, but being in his arms alone wasn’t enough to satisfy him.
Naturally, he would never allow Raul to take her away.
“Kalid.”
Velia laughed as he tightened his grip, anxious and possessive.
“Are you nervous?”
Then she turned Raul’s question back on him.
