Chapter 12 (2/2)
“I have a business, so hurry up and call your master.”
After speaking confidently and waiting, Elijah appeared a moment later.
“What’s going on?”
She looked down pitifully at Riya, who stood in front of her.
Her eyes were different from before. Her eyes fluttered coldly as if it would be okay if she tore the woman in front of her to death.
* * * * *
“Ah, Hyung-nim, you’re here”
“……”
Yucal, who strode into Seir’s office, stood on his back and took a book out of the bookshelf.
‘Why did the second brother, who would not stop by even if he passed by without an exact purpose, have come?’
Seir quickly stood up and organized the documents piled up on his desk.
The Hernian Empire is a country whose territories are divided according to power.
The territories were accurately divided according to each of the three princes below the emperor, and the lords belonging to each territory were only scarecrows.
The strong protection of the royal authority was explaining the position of the Hernian Empire well.
Therefore, the territory of Prince Elton, the current official successor, was the largest, followed by Yucal, and the rest is by the youngest Seir.
It was never easy to rule over a territory.
It was the exclusive authority and ability of the princes to have jurisdiction over the ferocious and ruthless local lords, and this often became a problem.
Seir was the most appeased of the princes, so he was always in a situation where he had no choice but to live with work.
“Seir, I advised you not to keep the nobles living in the eastern province alive.”
“Yes, brother. But I want to give them one more chance. So…”
Already, the Baron’s men almost lost their lives on the battlefield against Seir’s men, and only the elderly, children, and women remained in the eastern province. That’s why Seir promised to give them another chance when they begged.
“There has already been a lesson. Keep in mind that if you keep them alive, they may join forces with other powers to threaten your territory again.”
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind, Hyung-nim.”
It was also an unwritten rule that no matter how clear the superiority between brothers was, they would not interfere with each other’s territory other than advice.
As a result, Seir’s complexion was hardening.
Excessive interference from the second older brother, which was rare before. How should he interpret it?
“Hyung-nim, what do you want to say?”
It will be impossible for Yucal, who does not repeat what he said once, to come to warn this fact again.
“I have a question about your wife.”
“What? Are you talking about Elijah?”
“No. Riya Lisburn.”
As Yucal’s expression was unusual, Seir carefully asked in a worried tone.
“Did she ever disrespect you?”
“No, that’s not it. I just wonder how you met her and got married.”
Seir sighed in surprise.
It was rare for his older brother to show interest in other humans, and it was only in very limited cases, such as before killing he pays attention to other human beings for a while and then relentlessly gets rid of them.
Therefore, receiving attention from Yucal was directly related to death.
“I once attended the king’s birthday party for goodwill with the kingdom of Annabel. That’s when Princess Riya Lisburn danced with me, and after that, the official proposal came in.”
“No matter how small the kingdom is, isn’t it funny that a princess of another kingdom became the concubine of a prince?”
“That’s true. That’s why I’m being more careful.”
“Is that why you locked her in the basement last time?”
When Yucal asked sarcastically, Seir’s face changed.
“How did you know?”
“She is a princess, but I can’t believe you’re leaving her to a mere knight. Will you be responsible if a war breaks out because you treat her so carelessly, Seir Brian?”
When Yucal called him by his full name, Seir’s complexion became even paler.
“I know she’s such a pain, but use your head to deal with her. Don’t let the lower ones handle it and don’t let the Kingdom of Annabelle catch your weaknesses. Anyway, whether it’s your wife or concubine, if you can’t handle the problem properly, I’ll come out, so take care of it.“
It was excessive interference.
Seir’s expression was crumpled, but in this country, where the hierarchical order between brothers was clear, it was unconditionally absolute obedience.
Above all, the part he was most concerned about was the sudden change of Yucal’s attitude.
It was a bad sign in many ways that he, who had not interfered at all, had now begun to step up.
* * * * *
“Hey, Hyung-nim, stop saying such vicious things. Do you think I’ll ever surpass your position?”
In the middle of the colorful parlour room, Elijah and Riya’s drinking party took place, and Elijah’s servants and maids stood in a line and watched her breathlessly without losing their guard.
The wine made with pink lantern flowers was absolutely delicious.
Riya asked for alcohol to break down the boundaries with Elijah, but Riya’s thoughts were elsewhere at the moment.
She thought she had to find out about something.
‘Yeah, how do I find out?’
As she entered the essay academy, she fell into this world, but there was no information at all about how or why she came in.
But didn’t Elijah say it as if she already knew everything at that time?
There must be something. And more than that, Riya felt that Elijah’s eyes were not unfamiliar.
‘It’s clear that she knows something.’
Then she might know how to survive or go back to her world, right?
Fortunately, Elijah seemed very weak with alcohol.
Riya, who has grown up in the drinking family for generations and is exceptionally strong in drinking, has now taken a good opportunity to grill Elijah and dig up information.
“Hyung-nim, actually, Seir is not my cup of tea. Since the Annabel Kingdom is a small kingdom and a frustrating country, I just wanted this marriage to escape. If you help me, I’m going to leave here and become independent alone.”
Elijah, who was tempted by her words, asked again with her rounded eyes.
“Really? Are you really going to get out of here?”
“Of course! I like being free-spirited.”
As Elijah’s eyes eased their vigilance, Riya quietly spoke out.
“Is there anything you want to say to me? For example, whether you and I knew each other well in a different world, or something like that.”