#81. Don’t Be Petulant
Beliya stared blankly out the window, lost in thought.
The information she had heard about Raoul yesterday kept unsettling her. No matter how she thought about it, events were unfolding much faster than she had predicted compared to her previous life.
“It couldn’t have been easy to unite the Eastern nobles.”
She remembered struggling to gather the Eastern nobles in her past life. Unlike the Northern nobles, who were tightly united, the Eastern nobles were fragmented, with no central point to bring them together.
Yet how on earth had Raoul…
“Haah…”
Beliya let out a deep sigh.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door, and it soon creaked open slightly. Cloze peeked her head in.
“Sis?”
Then Herald cleared his throat softly behind her.
Beliya couldn’t help but relax her tense expression at the sight.
“Come in.”
Today, the siblings had planned to spend time together for the first time in a while.
Though Beliya felt a twinge of bitterness seeing her younger sister right after hearing Derek’s feelings for Cloze last night, she hid it deep inside and greeted them with a bright expression.
“You look quite thin.”
Yesterday, Herald hadn’t had the chance to speak much with Beliya, as he had immediately gone to talk with the Emperor.
When Beliya came to greet him, he seemed so flustered that he only now took the time to look her over properly.
“Did the Second Prince give you a hard time?”
“No, brother. I’m really doing fine.”
“Then why do you look so thin? I told you in my letter to make sure you were eating well…”
As Herald started to launch into a scolding disguised as advice, Beliya quickly led them to the seats prepared for them.
“The weather is nice, so I prepared seats near the window. I’ve closed it, so it shouldn’t be too cold, but let me know if you feel chilly, okay?”
Cloze sat primly in her seat, giving Beliya a look as if to say, “Why are you fussing over such a small thing?”
In fact, Cloze and Herald had already remarked in the carriage how surprisingly mild the Empire’s weather was.
“It’s still a bit windy, though.”
Beliya said, almost chastising them. Her tone carried the concern that they might catch a chill from coming here.
But Cloze, with elegant composure, brushed her sister’s words aside and encouraged them to sit.
“This is fully spring-like now. Come on, sit down. Both of you.”
Beliya chuckled faintly at her younger sister’s casual confidence, as if she were the mistress of the house, and took a seat across from her.
Soon, the maids brought the pre-prepared dishes and placed them in front of each person. Then they left, giving the family a chance to enjoy a private meal together.
Beliya ate with her sister and brother, asking after their well-being. When the conversation shifted to the current continental situation, Herald asked cautiously:
“Does the Emperor treat you well?”
“Hmm. Well, it’s just a formal relationship, but he hasn’t treated me unfairly.”
As long as the Emperor still wanted something from her, he could never be openly hostile.
“Is that so? That’s a relief.”
Beliya could see the worry etched into her brother’s expression. Something was clearly troubling him.
“Is the Emperor still pressing for the opening of the Shanetan Road?”
Herald sighed and nodded at the question.
She had anticipated as much. Even after he had subtly instructed Beliya to inform the Kingdom of Ronica, the Emperor had continued pressing for the road’s opening.
Beliya set down her fork and asked seriously:
“And the conditions?”
“After a few refusals, he started offering better terms. That’s what makes it suspicious. Isn’t it odd that he demands the road be opened while offering terms favorable to us? Unless there’s another purpose, he wouldn’t try to secure personal gain in international trade.”
Beliya nodded.
“Exactly. That’s why we can’t just accept him completely.”
But Herald’s expression darkened.
“Still, Beliya, if we keep resisting, the Emperor might take it out on you. You could end up living your entire life here, and I can’t let you suffer that humiliation because of us.”
His concern for his family was warm, but Beliya had already experienced that kind of humiliation in her past life—when the Shanetan Road had been opened.
Once the Emperor and Raoul had taken everything they wanted from her, she was no longer valued. As soon as they decided on a conquest war, the Princess of Ronica had become useless to them.
“I’m fine. But you, brother, are the Crown Prince of Ronica. You have to think of the country first.”
“I know. But what good would it be if we were happy while using your misfortune as a stepping stone?”
“No. Enduring it prevents me from being unhappy, brother. If we give in easily, they’ll surely underestimate Ronica. We just need to hold out for a few years…”
Beliya knew it wouldn’t be easy.
But she had to endure at least until the end of this winter.
At that moment, Cloze, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.
“Then how about opening it partially? We can get some benefits while stalling for time.”
Beliya looked at Cloze, surprised.
“You said the Empire is offering terms favorable to us anyway. Then why not accept a few conditions, open it only as a trade route, and observe the situation before making a final decision? That way, as you said, we can hold out for a few years.”
Remembering the tragedy caused by the full opening of the Shanetan Road in her previous life, Beliya had been determined to block it completely. No opening could be allowed.
But Cloze’s idea of a temporary treaty with partial opening seemed like it could actually benefit Ronica tremendously.
“The Emperor wants to make a treaty even with favorable terms for us, so he’ll probably agree willingly.”
He would likely think that full opening was imminent.
Moreover, with a temporary treaty, when Khalid becomes Emperor, they could renegotiate under suitable conditions.
Beliya’s expression brightened.
Partial opening of the Shanetan Road would give Ronica great advantages and temporarily curb the Emperor’s ambitions.
Gaining a few years’ reprieve would also be advantageous for Beliya and Khalid. During that time, the Emperor would die, and a succession struggle between Khalid and Raoul would arise.
“Don’t overthink it, Sis. We’re all looking out for our own gains. We just need to secure ours. And you know you’ll get what you want while we stall for time, right?”
“How do you… know that?”
“Know what? It’s obvious from the situation.”
Cloze winked playfully.
“Surprised I’m smarter than you thought?”
Beliya nodded absentmindedly.
Cloze let out a clear, cheerful laugh.
“Ha ha ha. I see. Then we should hold a meeting about this as soon as we return to Ronica.”
Herald’s expression brightened, clearly satisfied with the idea.
Cloze poked at the salad with her fork and said:
“So let’s not talk about gloomy things over the meal. There’s not even enough time for all the fun stories, right?”
Indeed.
Beliya and Herald exchanged glances, then burst into laughter.
Cloze really didn’t need to worry.
Just yesterday, Beliya had been anxious about Cloze liking Derek. But today, Cloze seemed more mature and clever than expected.
“And earlier, before we parted, she promised she’d behave until she becomes an adult.”
Beliya had firmly instructed Cloze to speak with ordinary guild members rather than Derek when she needed information. Cloze had pouted in dissatisfaction, but it seemed to have been resolved well.
“Haah…”
Beliya flopped onto her bed, exhausted.
“Eek!”
She screamed in surprise at the strange sensation, sitting upright in an instant. She hadn’t even realized someone was lying on the bed.
“Ha ha ha.”
Her heart raced, but hearing someone laughing from under the covers was somehow comforting, though it also made her angry.
Beliya grabbed a pillow and hit it down in annoyance.
“Really, what are you doing?!”
Why had he hidden under the covers without a word?
Khalid laughed, even as the pillow struck him.
The situation was so absurd that Beliya’s anger gave way to a reluctant chuckle.
Khalid immediately caught her expression, reached out, pulled her into his arms, and lay back on the bed.
“Surprised?”
“…Of course I am.”
“Ha ha.”
“Don’t laugh! I thought my heart was going to fall out.”
Beliya grumbled against his chest.
Khalid held her tightly and said:
“I came to see you, but you weren’t here. So I bathed and got ready while waiting.”
He asked with a warm smile:
“Did you enjoy time with your family?”
Beliya smiled faintly and nodded.
Khalid bit her shoulder playfully.
“Had fun without me, huh?”
“Don’t be petulant. I told you I’d spend time with my family today.”
“But I always want you in front of me,” Khalid said with a grin.
Beliya felt her cheeks flush.
“Ugh! I’m not over being mad at you yet… don’t get clingy like this…”
She muttered while burying her face in his chest. Khalid laughed heartily.
“Beliya.”
Tap.
His lips brushed her forehead lightly and pulled away.
“I told you not to drag out your words.”
His smile was bright, but the laughter in his voice faded.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
“If you say it like that…”
Beliya raised her head to meet his gaze as he spoke slowly.
Ah…
She felt herself being swallowed by him.
His eyes were fixed on her, unshaking, like a predator before its prey.
“All I hear is you hurrying the next step.”
With that, he pressed his lips onto hers in an instant.
