NTWBR 10

Chapter 10

“…What?”

“The real reason I have to help you.”

Franz looked as if he had lost his mind for a moment at Irene’s words, which had reached his ears.

“What do you mean… we both live, don’t we?”

“Is that the entirety of your reason?”

“……”

Irene’s retort.

The Crown Prince Franz gave no answer to this.

Irene quietly stood up and opened the door of the reception room.

“If that’s all, then I’d like you to leave now.”

“Irene.”

“Just because Your Highness says you did something shameful to me in the previous life, does that mean I have to have experienced it?”

“……”

‘What’s with this woman? Why isn’t she falling for it?’

Crown Prince Franz’s eyes trembled slightly.

And Irene did not miss this.

“No, I haven’t experienced it.”

Irene’s words were firm.

Hearing this, Franz approached Irene and extended his hand.

“Take this hand away.”

Irene coldly brushed his hand away.

“It’s strange enough to hear an apology for something I haven’t even experienced, but are you saying I should marry Your Highness because you have memories of a past life? Don’t you think that’s an absurd logic?”

“Th, that’s…”

Franz stammered, as if at a loss for words.

“Wake up from your dream now, Crown Prince Franz Mestia.”

“Irene!”

“I will tolerate this rudeness only up to here.”

Irene immediately left the reception room.

She ignored the angry voice of Crown Prince Franz that sounded behind her back.

She had no choice but to ignore it.

If she stayed there any longer, it seemed she would reveal that she too had regressed.

So she left the place as quickly as possible.

‘He has regressed as well… what in the world…’

Her head was spinning. An unexpected variable had popped up.

Franz Mestia is a regressor? She couldn’t believe it.

Irene sat down, clutching her complicated head.

She thought as far as, ‘This is something I cannot tell anyone…’

Given Irene’s knowledge of Crown Prince Franz’s personality, he must be truly desperate.

Unless he was extremely desperate, Crown Prince Franz never asked anyone for help.

The fact that such a Crown Prince Franz had asked Irene for help proved, more than anything, that there was a problem with Franz’s standing within Mestia.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

She couldn’t understand it.

That even Franz Mestia, including herself, was a regressor?

It felt like a prank by the gods.

A mischievous prank by the gods.

She even wondered if humans were just the gods’ playthings.

“Well, whatever. It doesn’t matter.”

Now that Franz Mestia had revealed his secret, Irene was ready to make plans to use Franz Mestia.

Calmly, yet carefully.

“What are you thinking so deeply about, Your Highness the Princess?”

“Hm…? When did you get here?”

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“I see. I apologize.”

Irene apologized quietly but politely.

Ernst responded to Irene’s apology with a quiet smile.

Sitting down in front of Irene with a gentle smile, Ernst leaned towards her.

“I refrained from speaking because you seemed to have complicated thoughts, Your Highness.”

“Yes. It is complicated.”

“Is it… because of the marriage issue?”

At Ernst’s words, Irene smiled bitterly.

Not just the marriage issue, but everything, including the Crown Prince Franz’s words, was making her head complicated.

She couldn’t tell Ernst about the conversation with Crown Prince Franz.

“That’s part of it. By the way, what brings you here?”

“I heard that the declaration of the state marriage between Your Highness and Crown Prince Franz Mestia has been postponed by a week.”

“Do you have many ears, or many mouths?”

“I suppose both would be correct, Your Highness.”

She knew there were many eyes watching her.

But now it seemed there were many ears and mouths as well.

‘I’m not some court jester. Well, this is good.’

“I see. That’s true.”

“Did they attach a condition, Your Highness?”

“As you heard. A condition was attached.”

Since Ernst seemed to know as well, she didn’t hide it.

“To present a justifiable reason within a week that makes the state marriage impossible.”

Hearing it again through Ernst, Irene felt the reality of it anew.

‘Now I have only one week!’

It was a moment when the harsh political reality surrounding her sank in.

“Yes, Sir Ernst.”

“The rumor about Franz Mestia that you mentioned yesterday. Is it true, Your Highness?”

“It’s just a rumor.”

Irene tried to laugh it off.

Ernst, seeming to grasp Irene’s intention, smiled.

After smiling gently with his handsome face, Ernst immediately turned serious.

“Rumors are faster than a horse with legs, but sometimes they also speak the truth.”

‘That’s why I also brushed it off as a rumor.’

“That’s right.”

At Irene’s agreement, Ernst’s expression brightened even more.

Then, with a bright smile and a low voice, he continued.

“Use it.”

“Use what? The rumor?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Whose rumor should I use?”

‘Is he telling me to use the rumor about myself?’

“Franz Mestia? Or me, from yesterday?”

“That is…”

Ernst hesitated to speak. Seeing this, Irene lowered her voice.

“Sir. The issue of the state marriage between me and Franz Mestia is also a matter concerning both our nations. There must be no discord from either side.”

Irene reminded Ernst once more that she needed to present a reason that was clear while causing no further discord.

“Then…”

Ernst trailed off, seemingly understanding Irene’s intention perfectly.

From Ernst’s reaction, she could guess which rumor he meant to use.

‘The rumor he wants me to use is the one about Franz. That’s not yet.’

Smiling inwardly at Ernst’s reaction, Irene leaned closer to him.

Ernst also leaned in.

“I wish to seek your advice.”

“What…?”

“Not on my marriage, but on the succession to the throne. Since you know my situation, I’d like to hear your candid advice.”

“Candid… ”

“Speak whatever comes to mind. I will listen to all of it.”

At Irene’s words, Ernst cautiously lowered his gaze.

Even in a situation concerning her own marriage, Irene’s figure charging towards the goal of succession was that of a powerful monarch, in itself.

Ernst looked at Irene, who was displaying the dignity of a monarch without reservation.

‘My choice wasn’t wrong. I will make her the Emperor!’

“…Your Highness. In my humble opinion, there are two ways.”

“What are they?”

“One is to succeed the throne as the heir presumptive.”

“Heir presumptive…”

It matched Irene’s thoughts.

The son of Chavy Hartra, born a week ago, was still a nameless infant.

Thus, in the current situation, the most likely successor to the throne was Irene.

However, by inheritance law, Irene could only be the heir presumptive, not the primary heir.

Precisely because she was a woman.

“And the next? Is it the Temple?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It is to receive the recognition of the Temple.”

“My guess was correct.”

If she were to receive the Temple’s recognition while being the heir presumptive?

The story could change.

Receiving the Temple’s recognition would serve as a good shield, allowing her to gain an advantage in future power struggles.

When Irene smiled faintly, having grasped Ernst’s true intention, Ernst also smiled.

“It is to solidify your inheritance rights by receiving the Temple’s recognition.”

“It would be faster to just strip Hartra’s child of the inheritance rights.”

“Would that be possible, Your Highness?”

‘Of course it’s possible. Absolutely possible.’

Irene smiled at Ernst.

Ernst cautiously avoided Irene’s gaze.

Because the elegant and beautiful smile of Irene evoked an indescribable feeling in him.

‘I can’t do this, Ernst! Focus on the goal!’

“Your Highness the Princess. You absolutely must have the Temple on your side.”

“Have the Temple on my side… so you’re saying I should meet the High Priest myself?”

“Yes, Your Highness. But how did you know?”

At Ernst’s question, Irene straightened her body which had been leaning forward.

She leaned her upper body back against the chair and placed both hands on the desk.

Her every gesture seemed to carry meaning, yet also not. Ernst, who had to observe every single move of Irene, was clearly tense.

“I guessed it the moment Sir Ernst mentioned the Temple.”

“As you know, you must expand your power, Your Highness.”

“I know. Is that why you mentioned the Temple as a method?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Your Highness, you must make the High Priest your ally.”

Ernst’s voice was sincere.

It was a stark contrast to Franz, who had been sitting before her just moments ago, asking for her help.

Franz had asked for her help, but it was for his own power.

And Ernst, though presumably also acting for his own ambitions, wanted to make Irene the Emperor.

Irene wondered, ‘What is the difference between these two? Which of these two should I side with?’

This thought crossed Irene’s mind.

What if Ernst’s goal was to use her to reach a higher position?

This thought also came to her.

However, in the current reality, Ernst’s words were practical advice.

“…Alright. I will have to meet the High Priest myself.”

“Are you serious, Your Highness?”

“Why? Are you saying it’s not possible for a mere princess?”

A mere princess.

This was the nickname attached to Irene, the eldest and first princess of the Istana Imperial Family, but without the Emperor’s favor and without any supporting faction.

Ernst seemed flustered by Irene’s mention of this, looking around repeatedly.

“N, No.”

“My ears are not just for decoration, Sir.”

‘How belated.’

It was a self-deprecating remark, but Irene didn’t mind.

That’s why she was even more unbothered, but Ernst seemed different.

“Th, Those words!”

Ernst’s face turned red in an instant.

Then he bowed his head.

Sunlight poured over his dirty blonde hair.

“What words?”

“…Nothing.”

“With people… it’s already a story I know well.”

It was a story Irene knew well too.

The story that the First Princess, who was nothing more than a pawn for political marriage, had changed.

It was a story currently circulating in the palace.

People’s eyes fixed on every move Irene made. And the mouths that spread the gossip. Irene intended to use this.

“Now that it’s been mentioned, I must act immediately.”

“Your Highness?”

“Once you’ve drawn your sword, whatever it is… you must strike decisively.”

She knew nothing of martial arts.

She knew nothing of war.

She knew nothing of politics.

Just a pawn for political marriage, raised delicately in the deep palace.

At Irene’s bold moves, so unlike how she had been evaluated, Ernst silently followed.

Having made her decision, Irene urged her maids and attendants.

Irene urged them, as if they were half-listening, and even showed signs of riding her horse directly to the Temple herself.

Only after Irene, the First Princess and heir presumptive of the nation, personally urged them for a while was a carriage prepared for her departure from the palace.

Once aboard the prepared carriage, Irene urged the coachman.

“Hurry up! There’s no time to waste!”

“Your Highness the Princess?”

“If you have time to talk, drive the horses!”

“Y, Yes!”

Urged by Irene, the coachman whipped the horses relentlessly, driving the carriage towards the Temple.

Within just an hour of leaving the Imperial Palace, Irene found herself standing in the grand hall of the Temple.

She had to fix her gaze on one spot.

There was no time to admire the magnificent grand hall, decorated solely with white marble.

Because on one side of the grand hall stood several of Marshal Jassal’s attendants, whom she knew well.

“It seems we were a step late.”

Impatience crept into Irene’s voice.

The fact that Marshal Jassal was there meant that Fern V had moved first.

So, although he was her father, his actions, which were no different from those of a political opponent, were bound to strangle Irene’s neck, making her even more impatient.

“It may not be the case, Your Highness.”

“Seeing things too optimistically is…”