“This cannot happen! How could such a thing even occur?”
In the Crown Prince’s palace, Erik squirmed with intense agitation, lamenting his current plight.
“I clearly stated back in our childhood that Selina and I would never work together! How could Father make such a decision? Why Selina of all people? I love Miss Hazel!”
He struck the desk repeatedly with great force, scattering several of the letters Miss Hazel had written him that he kept with utmost care.
“How could he bind me to that nagging pedant and set aside Miss Hazel, whose handwriting is so lovely? Besides, she ought to have objected to the death—how could she just stand there and do nothing?”
“Calm down, Your Highness.”
“How am I supposed to calm down, Sam? This is marriage! Marriage! And to Selina Arsene, no less! If you were in my place, would you want it?!”
“I do not believe you should view it entirely in a bad light. Granted, they are merely a count's family, but their house is exceedingly wealthy. Miss Arsene is the only legitimate daughter, and her dowry certainly will not be meager.”
Erik let out a derisive scoff.
“Money? Yes, they have money. But do you think her stepmother will let her carry all the household fortune into her marriage?”
Erik shook his head in despair, on the verge of tears.
“She is a girl without blood or tears, caring for nothing but the family inheritance. People claim she didn't push Miss Hazel aside, but who knows?! Not everyone present was blind, and I saw everything from afar. True, I told her to play the villainess, but she went entirely too far. Who would ever want to marry someone like that?!”
Watching Erik swing his fists through the air with all his might, Sam merely nodded along to placate him.
“Yes, I understand completely how much you detest this. Yet she did it all under Your Highness’s orders. If His Majesty the Emperor has made up his mind, you have no choice but to comply. Besides, think on it a moment; the more allies you have, the better.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“His Majesty has five wives, including the Empress, whereas Your Highness may take only four.”
Erik waved his hand in irritation.
“I don't need that many.”
“Your opinion might change in the future. In any case, even if Miss Arsene enters the palace, she is merely the daughter of a count and cannot become the Empress. Do you truly believe that Miss Hazel—the daughter of a baron—could ever attain that position?”
A sharp glint flashed in Erik’s eyes as he retorted,
“I will make her the Empress.”
“As you wish, but as long as the Emperor and Empress have a say, it will not be simple. In the end, a noblewoman of higher rank will enter the palace to take that seat. In that event, if Miss Hazel ever hopes to attain such a station, she will need an ally on her side, will she not?”
“…And what if Selina refuses to help her?”
“You will make her help.”
“How?”
“They say people nowadays make use of what is called a prenuptial agreement.”
“Sam! You are truly brilliant! How did you know that? Huh? Samuel Heinz, you are a genius!”
Erik clapped Sam enthusiastically on both shoulders, then ordered the maid to tidy up the desk as he began contemplating the draft of a prenuptial agreement in earnest.
Having safely left the Imperial Palace, Selina and Xenos made their way straight to the Arsene estate.
“Father.”
“Selina, did everything go well?”
“To an extent. Did you prepare everything I requested?”
“Yes, I have packed all your belongings.”
“When His Majesty orders me to enter the palace, try to delay the matter as long as possible. As for us… we will return after we are married.”
“Your Grace.”
The Count moved to bow the moment he saw Xenos, but Xenos stopped him.
“Please, do not do that.”
“Thank you for agreeing to accompany her on such a perilous venture.”
“Think nothing of it. You are offering me a daughter whose worth far exceeds my own, so how could I not be grateful?”
“We have no time; we must leave now.”
“Very well, go quickly.”
Once their luggage was loaded onto the carriage, Selina turned toward her father.
“Father… you must stay alive. Please.”
Without waiting for his answer, she stepped inside, and the carriage set off at once.
The Count watched her drive away, a pang of sorrow tightening in his chest, but now was no time for grief.
“This is an emergency. Beginning today, seal the Count’s estate, and see that all caravan business is concluded within ten days. Inform everyone that I am ill and bedridden, and that Brandon will temporarily serve as the acting head of the family.”
“Yes, understood.”
As Ben moved to carry out the orders, Flora, who had been watching everything unfold from within the estate, practically skipped out in sheer delight.
“My Lord Count, did you just say Brandon will become the acting head of the family?”
“Yes. Bring Brandon to my room.”
“Then Selina…”
“Brandon will only become the acting head if you cooperate without objection to whatever I do from here on out. Only if you do not ruin this. Do you understand?”
“I understand, I will not raise an objection! Brandon! Where are you? Come quickly and help your father!”
Count Arsene looked at Flora, who went scurrying toward Brandon’s room in excitement, and let out a deep sigh.
“Return safely, Selina…”
“Your Majesty, is your consciousness beginning to return?”
Three hours later, the Emperor opened his eyes.
“Luce… what happened?”
“It was the Dragon Power, Your Majesty. There was simply no way to resist it.”
“Ha! He dared use that power against me? This is treason! Bring him before me at once!”
“Please calm yourself and assess the situation rationally. If we piece together my disciple’s memories with your own, we will understand what took place before you fell asleep, Your Majesty.”
“Very well, tell me what you recall.”
Luce helped the Emperor sit upright and nodded toward his disciple, who began recounting the events.
“When you presented Miss Selina with the prenuptial agreement and demanded her signature, Duke Eustia barged in without leave.”
“Right. He dared barge in relying on that blasted power… and he saw us, and then…”
The Emperor trailed off, unable to recall anything after that point, prompting Luce to signal his disciple once more.
“He put us to sleep.”
“Right… that is what happened. He made us fall asleep.”
Luce clapped his hands together and spoke excitedly.
“Then… it seems we have finally discovered the power of the new heir to the throne.”
“Yes! The ability to induce sleep! That is it! A truly astounding power. Even if the enemy attacks, he could finish them all by putting them to sleep!”
“It pales in comparison to Lady Christa’s power. She could move weapons with telekinesis… The difference is truly night and day.”
The Emperor nodded.
“My sister had no equal; she possessed that power in addition to formidable physical strength. As for this… it is mere sleep induction? No wonder he tried so desperately to hide it. I never expected it to be so pitiful.”
“At the very least, it is not a lethal power, which works in our favor. Things could have turned perilous otherwise.”
“Indeed. Now that we know it is a trifling ability, crushing them will be simple. Go to the ducal estate and bring Duke Eustia and Selina before me! And to ensure Selina’s obedience, take Count Arsene captive as well.”
“Your Majesty, please retract that order.”
Luce bowed, trying to dissuade the Emperor.
“Luce… what do you mean?”
“It may be a weak ability, but if it can put anyone to sleep, dispatching mere soldiers will be futile. Moreover, there are nobles who support the Dragon Power. With the war against Autum still ongoing, we cannot risk sparking a civil war.”
“That… is true. Yet I cannot simply let this matter slide!”
Luce placated him at once.
“I have already ordered everyone to keep today’s events in absolute secrecy. You must conserve your strength until the right moment comes to crush them in a single stroke.”
“Then what should we do now?”
“We must prevent the marriage between him and his partner from taking place.”
“But he has already taken her with him!”
Luce calmly answered the infuriated Emperor,
“Your Majesty… if the marriage is not formally consummated, the union between partners is considered null and void.”
The Emperor struck his hands together with force.
“Right! They will never be able to wed. I will not allow it, no matter what!”
