Chapter 149 (1/2)

Chapter 149: Chapter 149

“Today’s agenda is about which of the two daughters is more suitable as the crown prince’s wife.”

I stiffened at his announcement.

‘Is it finally coming?’

I thought I was ready for any measures about Jiun until the meeting began yesterday. So I relaxed to some extent, but I couldn’t figure out what to do now.

Regardless of her abilities, she once served as the empress in the past. As such, it seemed unlikely that she would give her power to other people. Given the way she spoke and acted to me, it seemed that she was determined to be the crown prince’s wife. Even if she had no desire to be the empress, Duke Jena, her stepfather, would not sit idle, doing nothing.

‘What should I do?’

If I put priority on the interests of the pro-emperor faction, I had no other choice but to be the crown prince’s wife. It was only me who could promote Jiun as, called the child of God’s prophecy, as the crown prince’s wife. My original plan to make her the crown prince’s puppet wife was immediately discarded the moment I realized she returned from the past.

But I didn’t want to be his wife. Although I knew he was different from what he was in the past, I was still scared. Besides, I had so many people to protect, namely my father, my family, countless people I learned after returning, and myself.

“I don’t know how this can be qualified as today’s agenda,” Duke Lars, who was allowed to speak first, said.

“Lady Monique was engaged to the crown prince as soon as she was born, and she has been impeccable in her actions and deeds for more than two years since her debut at his coming-of-age ceremony. Besides, even before she started imperial education, she had all the qualifications as the next empress. That’s why they cancelled her imperial education with the approval of the emperor. She is such a smart lady and a proven talent whose competence has been verified for long.”

I felt nervous. Obviously, Duke Lars changed his position as a spectator to an active participant to support my suitability to be the crown prince’s wife. Only yesterday he agreed with my father’s position on my being the successor of my family, but it was only based on the premise that Jiun was in the hands of the pro-emperor faction. As the situation changed a lot from yesterday, he seemed to think that it was the best option to promote me as the head of the pro-emperor faction. And that was also true.

“On the other hand, Jiun appeared all of a sudden. Although she is a child of God’s prophecy, no one knows what kind of life she lived so far. In other words, she has not been verified at all. So, I think Lady Monique is suitable as the crown prince’s wife.”

As soon as he was done talking, Earl Hamel responded, “What are you talking about? Duke Jena’s daughter is the owner of divine power. She has power that only six High Priests in the entire continent can use. This means that she received our God’s love. In other words, she is a talent verified by God. Lady Monique is nothing compared to her.”

“But Lady Monique also received God’s prophecy twice in person. If you’re talking about God’s verification, she also has the same qualifications. ”

When Earl Genoa, sitting along with the pro-emperor faction, refuted his remarks, Earl Hamel said sarcastically, “It is clear that the divine power is more direct evidence of God’s blessing than the ability to hear God’s prophecy, just like the number of high priests is less than the token of God less than that of the high priests. Besides, according to the official interpretation of the temple, I must say once again that Duke Jenna’s daughter is the only child of God’s prophecy.”

This time Duke Lars said, lightly clicking his tongue. His red eyes glowed coldly.

“Earl Hamel, don’t cloud the issue. I only mentioned whether the two daughters could perform their duties as the crown prince’s wife. God’s recognition of her does not necessarily mean that she can perform her duty properly, right?”

“Well, I have something to say with respect to that issue.”

Duke Jena, who remained silent up to now, opened his mouth, breaking the long silence.

“You might remember that I proposed the idea of the crown prince having a concubine. My proposal was discarded because of an unfortunate accident.”

I glanced at the duke speaking casually. I was really frustrated to listen to him.

After he was strongly warned by the emperor at the banquet of the National Founding Day festival, Duke Jena preserved the power of his faction by shifting all the responsibility to Earl Apinu who was assigned to securing the crown prince’s concubine. As a result, Duke Jena and some members of the noble faction were dealt a blow to some degree, but Earl Apinu was demoted to a viscount for his failure.

‘But how brazen he is!’

Now Duke Jena casually described it as an ‘unfortunate accident.’ I could take his shifting responsibility as a political act, but he could not make such a mean statement to his deputy who was demoted because of him. Since the earl was present in this meeting, the duke was not supposed to say reckless things like that.