Chapter 14
Queen Catherine was the first woman to ascend the throne in Matila, a kingdom with a history of staunch primogeniture.
Following the sudden death of Winston IV, it should have been his son, Calyx, who took the crown. However, after an unprecedented incident that no one could have imagined, he was stripped of the name Redbreeze.
The royal family fell into chaos. There were no longer any males of direct paternal descent who could inherit the throne.
Emerging from the turmoil was Catherine, the eldest princess, who hadn’t even been considered a contender in the race for the crown.
- I, Catherine Marie Lipablanc-Redbreeze, though born a princess, have the undeniable blood of Redbreeze flowing through my veins.
The royal family dismissed the words of the eldest princess—who they were certain must have eaten something wrong that day—as nothing more than “the wind brushing past a horse’s ear.”
But as if she had anticipated this, the princess began to list her arguments point by point.
She pointed out that although she was married, her husband had sworn not to pass his surname to their children.
Therefore, she remained Catherine Redbreeze, and her son, Padrick, was also undeniably a Redbreeze.
Most importantly, she argued that if they continued this desk-side debate that was on the verge of turning into a fistfight, the vacuum in state affairs would persist—and who would suffer the consequences of that neglect?
Looking at the princess as she delivered her impassioned speech that day with piercing eyes, the members of the royal family must have realized something.
That the fiery ambition dwelling within that small frame was certainly not something that had been forged overnight.
In the end, Princess Catherine succeeded in seizing the throne, defying Matila’s laws of succession. Despite much controversy and trouble, the bloodline of the House of Redbreeze would be preserved through her.
That part was fine. The problem came afterward.
‘If we follow the Queen’s logic, wouldn’t Princess Olivia, the Queen’s younger sister, also be eligible for succession if her husband gives up his surname?’
‘Between Prince Padrick and Princess Olivia, who holds priority in the line of succession?’
Unfortunately, the youngest princess, who had been raised with every whim indulged, was the type of person who felt she had to have twice as much as whatever her older sister possessed.
As a result, Olivia’s husband, William—who had even handed over the Dukedom he was supposed to inherit to his younger brother and was now merely called “Sir William Redbreeze"—was busy running himself ragged today to place a crown on his wife’s head.
“Your hunch was right. They say the Queen’s people have been secretly traveling in and out of Dempis.”
William spoke to Calyx, who sat across from him.
From both sides of the temporary room they occupied, the sounds of messy moans and laughter echoed incessantly. However, their expressions and tone were low and serious, entirely out of place for a party of such decadence.
“They didn’t ask a single thing about the scale of Count Ix’s assets; they specifically sought out and questioned only the residents who were born and raised there. I’ll have to investigate further to find out exactly what they were asking the locals… but it smells suspicious. Definitely.”
“…….”
“I’m starting to believe what you said—that the Crown Prince has a reason for targeting only the daughter of Count Ix. If they were simply after the Count’s title and wealth, they wouldn’t have sent people multiple times. Especially not in secret.”
“Dempis is famous for something else besides its coal mines and tourism. Did you know that?”
Calyx, who had been silently listening to William, suddenly shifted the topic.
“From your expression, it seems you haven’t the slightest clue.”
William’s eyebrows twitched at Calyx’s amused mockery.
Even though they were only five years apart, Calyx and William were nominally nephew and uncle-in-law. Yet, from the moment they first met until now, Calyx had consistently spoken down to William in casual speech. He should have been used to it by now, but it was still strangely irritating.
“To think the information network of the House of Duke Shepherd is only at this level. How tragic.”
“…….”
“Try to have the answer by our next secret meeting, uncle-in-law. Otherwise, my resolve to join hands with you might waver quite a bit.”
’Once Olivia becomes Queen, the first thing I’ll do is cut out that arrogant tongue of his.’
William made another silent vow he couldn’t voice aloud as he looked at Calyx with a foul mood.
A madman. A parricide. A symbol of the benevolent royal family. The mad dog of the borderlands…
Recalling the various other epithets that followed the deposed prince, William thought of his most recent nickname.
A dog in heat.
“At any rate, because of your radical behavior, the suspicion that you and the Crown Prince will clash head-on has become unavoidable.”
All because of a single woman. William couldn’t bring himself to say the last part.
The news that the deposed prince and the daughter of Count Ix had kissed spread through social circles like wildfire via the ladies and gentlemen who had attended the hunting party that day.
Perhaps because there were so many witnesses, this rumor was relatively accurate.
The story was that the deposed prince, who knew nothing of dignity, had chased a woman he missed at the palace ball all the way to the hunting grounds, where he had stolen her pure lips while utterly disregarding the lady’s honor or consent.
When news broke that the family she was promised to had sent a notice of annulment because of the incident, all the arrows of criticism flew toward the deposed prince as if ready to turn him into a beehive.
In this atmosphere, it wouldn’t be strange if he were stabbed while walking down the street.
Even William, a third party, could feel the tension, yet the man himself, Calyx, didn’t even crack a frown, looking perfectly composed and satisfied.
That was the point that confused William the most.
‘Could it be that the kiss with that woman… was really that good?’
“Let’s hear it. How does it feel to throw mud on the future of a lady who had nothing left to do but become a happy bride?”
“It’s not bad.”
“So you don’t give a damn about the feelings of the woman who must be suffering. I fully understand the hearts of the women who are hurling every curse not found in the dictionary at you.”
“Wasn’t that the purpose of coming to the capital anyway? It’s strange to hear such self-contradictory words from you, uncle-in-law, when you should be the one most pleased the more I am criticized.”
Calyx replied lightly. His tone may have been casual, but the meaning behind it was heavy.
William, who had been the one to plan for Calyx to stir up all sorts of trouble in the capital while they prepared for their coup, instinctively pursed his lips.
True. Calyx was merely fulfilling the role he had been assigned.
By kissing Count Ix’s daughter, he had drawn the eyes of not only the Crown Prince but all of Ronvernon. Now, all that remained was to move the troops hidden on Manbrin Island…
“A wrong is a wrong, so I should take responsibility.”
Even if I’m no gentleman, a human being should do at least that much.
Calyx chuckled as he murmured the last part. William wondered if the man had truly started to lose his mind.
“I’m going to propose. To that lady.”
“Aha. So that proposal is ultimately just to draw the Crown Prince’s eye? You know, as an extension of the kiss…”
“I’m serious.”
Calyx slowly turned to look at William. Behind him, as he prepared to say something utterly serious, the faint, high-pitched giggles of a woman echoed.
“I mean that I sincerely intend to marry that woman.”
He’s definitely lost it. This madman.
“You seem afraid that I’m making an impulsive decision driven by some feverish emotion. Rest easy. I’m in a perfectly rational state of mind right now.”
“…….”
“Do you think Padrick will give her up easily?”
This time, Calyx posed the question to William. Despite his confusion, William shook his head.
The Queen was more obsessed than anyone with passing the throne to her son.
The attempt to marry Charlotte Evanshire to Padrick was ultimately to ensure a stable succession for her son.
Though he didn’t yet know what “trump card” the House of Count Ix held, it was clear the Queen would not give up easily.
“You said the Crown Prince isn’t such a rogue that he would try to take a married woman,” Calyx said.
“……I did.”
“That assumption is half right and half wrong. Because before they try to take Charlotte Evanshire, they’ll try to eliminate her husband first. Then she’ll no longer be a married woman, and the Crown Prince won’t have to suffer the stigma of taking one.”
William’s face turned pale. Knowing the Queen’s temperament, he couldn’t deny the man’s words.
Calyx looked back at William with a faint smile.
“So, the position of Miss Evanshire’s husband must be held by someone who could never be killed by the Queen’s hand. Someone like me, for instance—the symbol of the benevolent Redbreeze.”
William stared at Calyx with an expression that suggested he had a great deal to say. But he only watched, never opening his mouth.
As if sensing his inner thoughts, Calyx laughed lightly and added.
“If you’re really that dissatisfied, just watch until next month. Once the social season ends, she’ll return to her estate. I can’t exactly follow her all the way to Dempis after that, can I?”
William didn’t answer. No matter what he said, he would have been blocked by the man’s biting eloquence and left pursing his lips just as he was now.
It felt unpleasant and stifling. He had heard Calyx’s reasons for why he had to marry that woman, but none of them sounded like the real reason.
There was something.
A reason—trivial yet decisive—that Calyx himself might not have even realized yet, buried in his innermost depths, which would ultimately return to haunt them most fatally as they approached their great undertaking.
‘Surely not…’
The simplest reason a man decides to marry.
As the most universal reason—one that should never apply to this man—crossed his mind, William quickly shook his head.
There was no way. It couldn’t be, and it shouldn’t be. Especially not for Calyx Valdea, who was supposed to be used as a tool for Olivia to take the throne.
‘If that woman Charlotte is a person with her head on straight… she would never accept a man she can’t handle.’
Faced with her clear and firm rejection, Calyx would eventually have no choice but to realize his idea was foolish and turn back. But.
What if things didn’t go as expected?
“Don’t think useless thoughts.”
