Redfield continued to speak as she sorted through her memories.
“I called you here because I have a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“Yes. As you know, in the Ruford Empire it’s quite common for the future generations of emperors to inherit the young, beautiful concubines of the prior ones. Looking at it broadly, they’re all family, and it’s not considered shameful.”
It was a history that Elena didn’t understand, but she nodded because she knew there were such circumstances. Then Redfield revealed his real intentions.
“Either my brother or I will become emperor. And so, wouldn’t it be better to prepare a path where you can live nicely no matter who becomes emperor?”
“I don’t understand…”
“I mean that I become an emperor, it means I will take you–who has married my brother–for myself.”
“…!”
Elena’s eyes widened. She never imagined that Redfield would dare say this to her. He carried on with a leering expression.
“Why don’t you put yourself in my arms and cozy up to me? Hm? Not just to dance. Judge who’s better, my brother or me.”
Elena was so shocked that she was about to storm out. But the moment she tried to get up, the room spun violently, and she forced herself back in her seat. Redfield grinned.
“Did the drug finally work?”
At that moment, a dormant memory of a flower came to her.
The Payan flower. When it was burned, the person who inhaled it would gradually lose their senses and fall into delirium. The dose here was stronger than the original medicine. It did not fully drain her energy after short exposure, but she found herself barely able to move.
“First, how about we share the burning affections between man and woman, and then you can think carefully about my offer. Hahaha.”
Redfield reached out to remove the mask she was wearing.
Jjaag!
Elena struck his hand in one swift motion.
Her emotions flared up to such intensity that she couldn’t control her strength. Redfield was staring at the place she struck him in surprise, and Elena suddenly felt relieved at how lucky she was to have Carlisle.
‘It was only a simple contract marriage at first…’
Before, she didn’t care about her potential husband’s personality, appearance, mind, or anything. The only thing that mattered was that the emperor’s crown was placed on Carlisle’s head. But what if he were a man like Redfield? What if she had been forced to choose Redfield and make him the emperor to save her family? If Carlisle was this kind of man, would she still marry him?
There was only one answer, unpleasant as it was. She would do it. She felt as if a bug crawled on her palm from when she briefly touched Redfield’s hand. It didn’t matter to her who she married before, but Elena knew for certain that she didn’t want to hold Redfield’s hand.
Paveluc was the last enemy Elena had to defeat. If she maintained a favorable relationship with Redfield, she could still have the chance to survive if Carlisle was defeated. However…Carlisle was the better choice to make emperor, instead of complying with the Second Prince’s dirty demands. Elena had wondered the kind of man that stood between Carlisle and the throne, but now she knew exactly.
‘…Trash.’
Second Prince Redfield was the lowest of trash to use drugs on women and force himself on them. Elena gazed coolly at him through her mask, and he stared back at her in utter amazement.
“How did you do that? You shouldn’t be able to move–”
“Do what?”
She rose to her feet. It would have been impossible if she were an ordinary, untrained aristocratic woman, but she was Elena. Although she had less immunity from her last life and the drug slowed down her ability to react she was not so helpless that she could not deal with Redfield before her. If she were that weak, then she could not claim to be Carlisle’s sharpest sword.
‘I want to be rid of this place.’
She clenched her fist to stop herself from attacking Redfield. When Carlisle was crowned emperor, Redfield would be the first one to be removed.
“Listen carefully, Second Prince. I refuse your dirty proposal. If you try such a shallow trick in front of me–”
Elena’s voice changed more than ever.
“–I’ll kill you with my own hands.”
At the end of her words, Elena swung around and walked away. In either case, it was better to leave the room where the scent continued to rise.
Before exiting the room completely, Elena paused at an area where Redfield couldn’t see her. With a sleight of hand she collected a sample of the powder and tucked it in her handkerchief, then finally left the room with a perfectly steady gait. She would never let this pass, and she intended to take this opportunity to investigate the party in detail.
Redfield had frozen in place the moment Elena stood up, but soon his face purpled in fury. He just realized the humiliation he suffered.
“This, this–!”
Redfield raced out the room to catch up to Elena–
Kwadangtang!
He crashed into a waiter with a serving tray.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“My apologies.”
The waiter had dark blue hair and pale white skin. Knowing that Elena was attending Redfield’s party, some of Carlisle’s subordinates had already infiltrated the staff to protect her. Including Kuhn.
Redfield cursed at the empty place where Elena disappeared.
“Damn it.”
*
*
*
Elena stepped straight out of Redfield’s party, hastening to get back to the Blaise carriage.
Jeobeog jeobeog–
Someone unexpected was approaching her–someone with black hair and chilly blue eyes. It was none other than Carlisle, with his handsome face and his perfectly carved features.
“How did you…?”
As soon as she spoke, she realized that she was still wearing the mask. Carlisle would pass by without knowing it was her, so she lifted a hand to remove it.
Taak.
Carlisle stopped in front of her.
“You should have notified me the day before. Don’t make me worry about you.”
“How did you–”
Elena suddenly stumbled, unable to finish her sentence. She had been repressing the effects of the drug all this time, but now it finally caught up to her. Or perhaps it was because the tension lifted as soon as she saw Carlisle.
Carlisle quickly grabbed Elena’s shoulders and frowned. She was in poor condition. He didn’t yell at her, but the anger in his tone was evident.
“What happened?”
“No, I’m fine–ah!”
Before Elena could finish talking, Carlisle lifted her body up with both his arms. Her eyes widened in surprise, but Carlisle pulled her close in his embrace.
