Translator: Nox

Chapter 25

25

After Gunther confirmed Ero's identity, the Royal Palace was in disarray. Maria sat in front of the prison where Ero was confined, unmoving. The Chamberlain came to take her away several times, but she resisted fiercely each time.

"Maria, go back to the Great King. You'll incur his wrath as well."

Ero's hand, reaching out through the small bars, wiped away Maria's tears. Maria felt nothing but sorry for Ero. She hadn't intended to bring her to the palace only to have her locked up in a cold Stone Tower.

'How can I leave you behind?'

To Maria, Ero was very special. The only person who had offered her a hand when she wanted to die from despair, and someone with whom she had shared life and death buried under a stone mass. She had vowed never to trust anyone again, but Maria learned that someone who had shared the bottom with you would not easily betray you.

'Nora, please persuade the Great King.'

Maria prayed inwardly. She hoped Nora's explanation would move Gunther's stone-like heart. But his anger was greater than she had thought.

"The Great King seems to like you very much. No, I think he loves you."

"!?"

Maria stopped crying, surprised.

'The Great King loves me?'

What nonsense. He probably wanted to show off the Empress of Lastonia, once a powerful nation, to all the royal families of the continent. She was merely a plausible trophy. If it were true love, he would believe her words. No, she didn't even want his love. He just got angry and suspected her from the start.

"It's because of jealousy."

'Jealousy requires love. The Great King just wants to possess me.'

Love and obsession are distinctly different. That's why she doesn't mistake those feelings.

Meanwhile, Nora bowed before the Great King again today.

"I have carried out the Great King's order not to favor Maria very faithfully."

Gunther's anger had subsided somewhat compared to a few days ago, but he was still in a bad mood. Still, Nora came to him every day and told him about what happened in the mine.

"Resentment towards the nobles also played a part, so I tormented Maria cruelly. But Ero was the one who gave bread to Maria and offered her a hand in the midst of all that."

"!?"

That was a bit unexpected. One of the iron rules of the mine was that you would starve if you didn't work, but he gave half of his bread to her.

Nora also spoke about the circumstances that forced Ero to live as a woman.

"Nora, I understand what you're saying well enough."

Listening to her, at least the two of them were not in the lewd relationship he had suspected. Besides, when Maria first went to the mine, all she could think about was dying. But Ero had opened Maria's tightly closed heart. He acknowledged that merit.

"Even so, the essence does not change. That man is not a woman."

No matter how much he insisted on being a woman, he himself could not accept it. Only he and Stone should exist beside Maria.

"Great King, didn't you cherish Maria?"

Nora pleaded one last time.

"Knowing what a precious person wants is also an effort and a way to win their heart."

"Nora, are you trying to teach me?"

"Ah... no, it's not that. I'm just..."

"Don't worry. I won't kill the man Ero."

"Really? Th... thank you. Great King."

Nora bowed her head several times, expressing her gratitude to Gunther. She had been so worried about him saying scary things like burning him alive.

"Instead, I will send that man back to the mine."

"Yes?"

"So, you persuade Maria and bring her to me."

"I... understand."

It was half a success. Saving Ero's life was a good thing, but Maria wouldn't be satisfied. How many dreams had the three of them talked about in the carriage coming to the palace...? Even though Maria couldn't say it, she was more excited than anyone else. The smile that sparkled with hope was still vivid in her mind.

Maria felt a mixture of relief and disappointment at the news Nora brought.

'I don't even want to imagine palace life without the three of us together.'

"Maria, can you endure it?"

Nora asked Maria with a determined look. Maria nodded with a resolute face.

"Then, you defeat the Great King."

It wasn't going to be easy. Gunther Paisley was a man of strong will and stubbornness. That's why he built a kingdom in 10 years. An ordinary person couldn't have done it. He pushed forward relentlessly with extraordinary tenacity and drive. Would such a person give in easily? Nora knew that there was no possibility, but she didn't want to break Maria's earnestness. But maybe there was a possibility. No matter how great a man he was, it was a woman who ultimately shook him. Especially when Gunther looked at Maria, his eyes were quite different. Very complex emotions were mixed in, making it difficult to interpret.

"Maria, this time you protect Ero."

At Nora's words, Maria nodded that she could.

* * *

Maria returned to Gunther of her own accord. But her antipathy towards him remained. During the day, she avoided Gunther and spent time with Nora, deliberately avoiding him.

"Maria, it's past midnight. Go quickly."

When Nora urged her, Maria had no choice but to head to Gunther's bedroom. For whatever reason, it was the law that she had to sleep with him. Of course, she didn't take a single step closer to him in the bedroom. Since Gunther didn't listen to her, she had no choice but to do the same. Of course, the size of his power and hers could not be compared, but she couldn't bear it unless she resisted in this way.

"Lie down next to me."

When Gunther pointed to the space next to him, Maria shook her head. She didn't move from the sofa.

"I believe in your innocence. But I can't have a man by your side."

Maria laughed at Gunther's words. He didn't have to believe her. Shouldn't he apologize first? He had driven her and Ero into a strange corner and poured out unspeakable words, so he should say he was sorry first. There were so many things she wanted to say, but in times like this, it was a wise way to avoid a fight to be unable to speak. At least that's what Maria thought. But Gunther was frustrated and whistled to call Stone.

"Stone-like Maria. Why do you keep calling me?"

When Stone whined, Maria opened her arms and hugged him.

"Tell Maria's words to me."

'If Ero can't be by my side because he's a man, I won't be by any man's side. Even if that person is the Great King.'

"Your words are too complicated."

Stone was annoyed as if he was sleepy.

"Maria doesn't want to be with Gunther."

"What? Tell her she's not in a position to decide that."

Gunther said to Stone, looking at Maria with an angry face. Maria felt a distant obsession in Gunther's eyes as he looked at her. Since when did this man try to possess her? He was a man who could fill the Royal Palace with beauties if he wanted to. Was it because she was a hostage worth 10 million Gold? Is that why he was trying to trap her so much? Maria's mind was a tangled mess. But if his feelings were greed, she could break his hope that he wouldn't have it.

'Tell him that I would never become the Great King's woman, even if I die.'

"I'm going to go."

Stone jumped out of Maria's arms and shouted at the two of them. Then he ran towards the door.

"Stone, convey Maria's words and go."

When Gunther shouted scarily, Stone stopped walking.

"Maria said she will never be Gunther's woman. Is that enough?"

As Stone disappeared, Gunther's chest heaved greatly, and he ran to Maria and crushed her.

"Ugh!"

His heavy body covered Maria.

"You're already my woman. Do I have to make you realize it properly?"

As he growled menacingly, Maria raised the corners of her mouth as if mocking him.

"Laughing?"

Maria did not avoid him even though Gunther shouted scarily.

'You are a very greedy person. You could have had me as much as you wanted if you had made up your mind. But what was the reason for hesitating? Did you want a true feeling from me, or something?'

He didn't want an empty shell without emotions. The greed to have her completely was teeming in his eyes. Soon, Gunther laughed in vain and took his body off Maria.

"You changed my mind."

Gunther put his hands on his waist and paced around the room, bursting into laughter. Soon his expression became very serious.

"?"

"Tomorrow, I will kill that man, Ero."

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't tolerate Maria revealing her fangs to him because of another man.

* * *

In the morning, Gunther headed to the prison with a sword, and Maria desperately chased after him. She had to stop him from killing Ero no matter what. It must have been her audacity last night that caused the tragedy. She should have just begged. It was a big mistake to overlook that this man had lived only according to his own will. Finally, when she arrived in front of the prison, Maria hugged Gunther's waist without thinking.

"Aeuuuue... Let Ero go."

She finally burst into tears.

"Maria, it's too late. You made a very big mistake to me yesterday."

Gunther had seen it in Maria last night. The appearance of Maria Stuart despising him. It was as if she was saying to him, 'How dare you, with your lowly status, want me? Don't even think about it.' He thought Maria would be different. Was he mistaken? Had he been living with vain illusions for 10 years?

It was then. The sound of hurried footsteps coming down the stairs was heard. Naturally, the eyes of the two people turned to one place, and an unexpected person was standing there.

"Solskjaer."

"Great King. Are you going to kill Ero?"

"That's right. Is there any reason why I shouldn't?"