"Marrying his highness Mo is going to change the balance," Amanda said. "Nobles who supported the church and had been secretly supporting Prince Mo is going to choose sides and obviously since the Prince just married the saintess of the church then… they would clearly show their support. As you can see, this marriage is going to upset the balance. It would be dangerous."
"Ah, so you are concerned about me." Rhea nodded. "Thank you! Sister!"
"Con — Concern?" Amanda's jaw dropped. "What do you— "
"Are you saying these things because you are concern that the imperial family would… try to kill me?" Rhea was only clearly acting dumb. Seeing Amanda's face turn so ugly when she heard her words gave Rhea a sense of satisfaction. "Ah, this reminds me, how was your pregnancy. You should take care of yourself more, sister. I believe it is not good to act like this when you are… pregnant, right?"
"Ah? Eh… Of course… I can't just let them harm you. So this is really stressing me out."
"Amanda is right…" Gaspar chimed in. "She is pregnant, yet she still has to worry about you. Rhea, if you still value this family, I suggest you cancel this engagement."
Since Rhea is not just a nobody, Gaspar couldn't just cancel her engagement, even if he wanted to.
"No," Rhea said with a smile on her face. "I won't."
"You — Does this mean — you are trying to rebel?"
"Father… deceiving a monarch is not a good thing. Are you really going to join them in fooling the emperor?" Rhea said.
"What — What are you talking about?"
"Did you think…" Rhea opened her palm, revealing a fire in one of her fingers. "Did you think… being a witch is a joke?" These people love calling her a witch. Isn't it time to show them the power of a genuine witch?
"You — what are you trying to do?"
Just as Rhea expected, Jiya immediately moved in front of her husband. She spread her arms as she tried to protect her husband and daughter. But isn't this the other way around? In normal circumstances, the one that would act like this is Gaspar, no? Gaspar should have stood in front of his wife and daughter, protecting them from her. But — that wasn't the case.
It was as if Gaspar didn't want to defend himself or his family at all.
Obviously, the attack that they anticipated never arrive. In the first place, she was here to help these people out.
"Did you really think you could hide the fact that she wasn't pregnant? You could hide it from the Emperor. Not me."
"How did you know… how did you know I am not pregnant?" Even the priest who checked on Amanda said she was pregnant even when she was not. All the physicians who examined her also said she was pregnant.
The Bishop said that not even they could see through this lie. So… why?
She only responded with a mysterious smile. "You are playing with fire, father. Did you really think that the Church wouldn't — Oh wait — " Rhea nodded. "I see… so the church must have already asked for your help in exchange for a fake pregnancy?" Earlier, Gaspar and everyone else acted surprise. It was like they didn't know that she was pregnant at all.
At that time, she left to talk to the emperor with Mo Li. However, during the conversation, the Emperor only congratulated them before asking someone to escort her to the garden for some beautiful view.
She had to leave Mo Li and the Emperor alone.
But was it really possible that the Crown Prince is accepting the help of the church? If that is indeed the case then, does this mean an uprising will happen soon?
A war?
'Robot, my mission is just to stop the destruction of the gates, yes?'
[Yes]
'Good'
At least this system is not going to send her to stop other wars. Speaking of wars….
Her presence should have changed some events on this continent. Meaning, her presence might be the indirect cause of these wars. So, should just stop it?
Oh, well…. That's not going to benefit her at all.
"You — why are you slandering the church?" Jiya clenched her hands into two tight fists. "Isn't it enough that you are trying to cause trouble for our family? You also wanted to slander the church and gain its hate?"
"You are fortunate," Rhea sighed. Why does she need to save this family again? Clearly, these people were stupid and malicious. She thought the mission had something to do with her creating a palace or a base in the Larsen territory. But why the Larsens?
Why not just buy her own land?
"It seems that you still don't understand your position," Rhea said. "Prince Mo will arrive in a few minutes to escort me back to the place that I am staying. I only came here to pay my respects. But I quickly realized that something is wrong. What do you think would happen if… he knew that you are trying to deceive the emperor?"
"Are you trying to blackmail your own family?"
"Ah? You only realized this now?" She had been scaring them earlier about this pregnancy. Did they think she isn't going to use this against them? Isn't that a bit stupid?
"Rhea, you — " Amanda's eyes were so wide as she paled. "Are you going to ask the emperor to kill us? Your family?"
"Huh?" How did it come to this? Rhea could only sigh. It cannot be helped at all. After all, Amanda is not really an easy opponent. "Yes, unless you do as I want."
Before anyone could react, she clarified. "Give me half of the unattended lands that the Larsen's own."
"What?" Gaspar bellowed. A territory needed land. Moreover, the land size would depend on the title. Gasper is a Duke now. Meaning, his territory is the biggest one among all nobles. "Are you insane?"
"Well… I wasn't exactly asking, father. I was trying to tell you. Give me the land…" she leaned forward and smiled. "Or you die."
