Chapter 12 (1/2)

Chapter 12

“What about marrying the princess? You’ll be able to control the royal family completely like that.”

“Are you crazy?”

Eric spat back fiercely.

“No, well. Why are you so angry? It’s disconcerting.”

Daniel scratched the back of his head and murmured.

“I just think that marrying the princess would produce the best results. I think it’ll be difficult to make the Second Prince into a loyal dog like the King is now.”

“……”

“After marrying into the royal family, you can wield their power. Isn’t that something you’re good at? Hitting the back of the head of the people who trust you.”

“Watch your mouth.”

“Of course.”

He then turned away from Daniel, who had his mouth shut tight, then he glanced up at the ceiling.

What Daniel said wasn’t wrong.

As he said, it wasn’t a bad idea to marry the princess and have the entire royal family in the palm of his hand. No, Eric admits that this was the best method.

However.

What would happen to Chloe?

If he divorces her, what would happen to her? How would she live? Will her family afford the debts of her older brother?

It’s clear that they would be left on the streets. If the noble, dignified Chloe Rolphe would be left begging on the streets… sh*t.

Eric grabbed the screwdriver again. He focused on only the machine in front of him and assembled it one screw at a time.

“If the Second Prince becomes King, he won’t let you go easy.”

“I know, Daniel. I’m not an idiot.”

“Will it be solved if you just know? Shouldn’t you come up with a solution? Just close your eyes and remarry!”

“Haven’t I said it clearly that I don’t want to.”

“Ah, seriously. You don’t like this, you don’t like that. If you hate everything, why then? Because I really don’t understand.”

Daniel strode to Eric’s side.

“Why did you marry the Madam when you don’t even love her, huh?”

Eric scowled. He took off the glasses over his eyes that suddenly felt constricting.

“That’s why you’re convincing me to get a divorce? Should I just throw everything away?”

“Your Excellency will be in danger otherwise!”

“I won’t. Even if they try to bite, I hold them in my hands.”

Eric wore his glasses again. He lifted a small cog using a metal tweezer and carefully assembled the machine in front of him.

“I have a plan. I’m still considering how I should go about it.”

“There’s no guarantee that Your Excellency’s plan will be successful. You shouldn’t be complacent.”

“Sure, I’ll continue listening to your criticism that’s thinly veiled as advice.”

“Was it obvious?”

Daniel took a step back and grinned.

He knew that he’d push Eric’s buttons if he said anything more. Besides, he already said what he needed to say.

Eric assembled the last cogwheel. Then, he shifted his gaze towards Daniel.

“If you’re going to say such useless things, you should have gone to Chloe instead.”

“Pardon?”

Daniel widened his eyes in surprise as though this was truly something he didn’t think about.

“What? But why?”

“Go see if her physical condition is fine.”

“The Madam will feel uncomfortable if I go.”

Uncomfortable?

Eric raised an eyebrow, wondering about this.

“Why? Shouldn’t someone be by her side since she’s sick?”

“Umm…”

Daniel shook his head, his nose scrunched up.

“It depends on who the person is. I don’t think the Madam will like it. She’s a noble.”

Aristocrats never revealed their true feelings.

Their thoughts, their condition.

Wasn’t there one case where a noblewoman died because she refused to show her skin, even when she was being eaten away by an infectious disease?

Eric, who was reminded of this anecdote, suddenly had a thought.

Then was it wrong for him to stay by Chloe’s side earlier? That’s why she looked displeased?

Eric frowned.

“Damn. I just really don’t know how to treat her.”

Eric said this as he assembled the remaining iron plates of the machine.

As he continued to do so, the pieces that were nothing more than scraps of metal earlier began to take shape. It was a small puppy.

“A lump of metal could be assembled and brought to life, but Chloe is like soft, tender pudding, not scrap metal. The slightest touch would unravel her.”

Huh? What did Daniel just hear? He stared blankly at Eric.

“…The Madam is like… pudding?”

Daniel repeated this, trying to read Eric’s expression.

“She doesn’t seem like that to me…”

The Chloe who Daniel saw was a cool-headed Marchioness who was a perfect match for Eric.

She was a person who did not show her emotions, making it hard for anyone to read her.

But… soft, tender pudding?

Daniel thought there was nothing more opposite than pudding to her.

‘Perhaps…’

Daniel narrowed his eyes in suspicion as he observed Eric’s face.

Eric’s eyes were fierce and emotionless as usual, but one corner of his lips was slightly upturned.

It was a very, very slight smile.

But could a man who had no blood or tears make a face like that?

Daniel rubbed his eyes and rubbed his arms as he felt goosebumps rising over his skin.

“Wow, okay, I shouldn’t have mentioned Your Excellency remarrying with the princess.”

“What are you blathering on about now?”

“Yup. I almost became trash.”

“What?”

“No, never mind. I don’t think Your Excellency has realized it anyway.”

“What nonsense are you saying…”

“Anyway. Would you like to know how the Madam should be treated?”

Eric hesitated for a moment, but he soon met Daniel’s eyes.

It was a wordless command for him to speak now. Daniel’s smile deepened.

“I know the right way.”