I Don't Need A Husband - Chapter 71
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 71
Berthas kept smiling as he watched Faylos’s mouth open at his words.
“No, no matter how much you fall in love, it shouldn’t be easy.”
“What about that? I am the one standing by her side.”
Looking at Berthas, who had a sinister smile, Faylos got startled. On the other hand, because she was facing Faylos, Isilis couldn’t see Berthas’ face.
As her cousin’s expression began to crumble, she asked him.
“Is something wrong?”
“Ilis. Don’t tell me you’re going to marry that guy?”
“That guy?”
“Yes. That guy.”
Faylos regretted ever wishing the two well a little while ago. Isilis deserved a hundred times more. He’d rather tell her all about that guy, than to hand his innocent cousin over to that sly guy. What kind of person was that Berthas Hillenton?
Meanwhile, Berthas’s expression hardened at his words.
“You’re speaking very lightly to the person who will soon become Larchen’s consort. Fayl.”
Saying so, his expression began to unravel at the low but firm answer.
Looking at him, who was smiling at every word Isilis said, Faylos’ stomach felt uncomfortable. He wasn’t a guy with such a bright smile. Still, seeing him smile, should he say that it was a good thing? In the end, Faylos turned the subject to dispel the thoughts that kept haunting him.
“Why did you call?”
“Faylos. Has there been anything weird about Marquis Miller’s behavior lately?”
“He’s always strange.”
“Always strange?”
“It was strange that while he had an estate in the Brego region, he stayed only in the capital without going to the estate at all. It was also strange that the agent in the manor handed over the Brego wine to Hillenton.”
“Why didn’t you tell me in advance!”
“Isilis. I am not your soldier.”
His words shut her mouth.
It was true. He was not her subject. He was just a cousin who was there to help her when she wanted it. He was her cousin and, by extension, a Grand Duke of Larchen.
‘Is Faylos dangerous too…?’
In her reign, even though she knew that the Grand Duke’s power was minimal, that power would become a great power if it came into contact with Faylos’ information, so it made her think for a moment.
Perhaps she might have to get rid of him. Seeing the change in her eyes, Faylos sighed and spoke to her again.
“Still, I couldn’t find any other outliers, so I didn’t report it. I’ll let you know when something becomes clearer.”
“I see.”
Seeing that his words of faith erased the dangerous thoughts that had briefly popped into Isilis’ mind, Faylos secretly let out a sigh of relief when his cousin’s eyes slowly turned her gaze away from him. He almost got into trouble with the Empress of Larchen.
“It is not a problem to export wine.”
“The problem is that the export route crosses the country. The Marquis didn’t have permission for that.”
“Didn’t have permission?”
He looked at Isilis, thinking that it was strange. He sensed something was firmly wrong just looking at her nodding face. If he didn’t report properly, he could shift the blame.
“That’s strange.”
“I think so.”
Faylos nodded his head, agreeing with Berthas. As the three of them were putting their heads together for a while, Allure came in.
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it?”
“The Crown Princess is moving her magic.”
“Already?”
She sprang up at those words. Since the child was still young, it was not good if the child moved her magic. It was obvious that she moved it unconsciously, so the child needed someone who could direct the magic properly.
Isilis hurriedly went to the child per Allure’s words, and the two remaining men shared their opinion.
“He’s hiding something.”
“What would he be hiding?”
“The fact that the Marquis exported wine to Hillenton without permission is the same as having some kind of contract with Hillenton.”
“Aren’t you in charge of Hillenton now?”
“Do you know what was in Hillenton’s palace?”
Faylos stared back at him.
“It took only one day for me to subjugate the imperial palace under my feet. It was done in one day, so neither the emperor nor the other nobles could afford to fight back. Still, if that day had gone wrong and turned into two days, I wouldn’t have been able to seize Hillenton’s palace.”
“What if it has taken a few days to do it?”
“That would have been impossible.”
“Why?”
“Hillenton imperial palace is full of magic bullets from Larchen.”
“What did you say?”
Faylos instantly stiffened at Berthas’ words. Shrugging his shoulders, Berthas spoke forcefully, answering again.
“I said it was full of magic bullets from Larchen.”
“Larchen’s magic bullet is an item that is controlled by wizards, especially for export! But why is it in Hillenton’s imperial palace!”
“Well, I don’t know about that.”
Faylos wanted to punch Berthas in the face as the man smirked.
It was a serious problem. Larchen’s magic bullets were controlled by wizards. No one could take the magic bullet out without the Empress’ permission. The number of magic bullets stored in the imperial armory was constantly monitored.
“I will go and tell Isilis.”
“Aren’t you glad?”
With the word from Berthas, Faylos paused.
“The fact that I decided to become Larchen’s consort.”
Seeing that face with a smile, Faylps felt a cold chill. It sounded like he would take Isilis at all costs if he didn’t become the consort.
“You’re really scary.”
“Even if everyone in the world knows it, only Isilis don’t need to know.”
“You’re crazy.”
“So keep that mouth closed, Faylos. I am telling you this in advance.”
Seeing Berthas beckoning him to go quickly, he stepped back and left the throne room. Since he had figured out his hidden intentions, Berthas was saying that if Isilis found out, he wouldn’t let him go unscathed.
Faylos shook his head.
“Marquis Miller!”
“What the hell are you doing!”
“Proving Her Majesty’s lineage is such nonsense…”
“Why can’t I?”
Marquis Miller cut off the nobles’ buzzing noises.
“Isn’t it a big problem if the imperial family of Larchen is not the imperial family?”
“There is no other Empress who was born with the blood of the imperial family so thickly…”
He fixed his gaze on the Count’s face, who was trying to refute the Marquis’ words, and began to speak.
“Something is strange. The previous Empress did not have red hair and ultramarine blue eyes.”
“That could be an atavism, wouldn’t it?”
“Though why was Her Majesty born with such thick blood? The previous Emperor wasn’t even like that either?”
His words hushed the surroundings, spreading thoughts in the minds of the nobles.
If the current Empress were not a legitimate member of the imperial family, it would present a golden opportunity to challenge the persecution they had endured. Rumors, once spoken, could take root and solidify into convictions, leading to false beliefs among people.
Marquis Miller understood this well. If these words were uttered more than once, Isilis Larchen’s lineage would undoubtedly be subjected to constant questioning.
“What if someone with strong magic gets red hair and ultramarine blue eyes?”
“But Her Majesty’s magical power is not red! It is the mark of the Imperial Family!”
When the Count, who came to his senses, shouted again, there were people nodding their heads in agreement with him. Snorting lightly at them, Marquis Miller spoke again.
“What if that magical power is also a trick?”
“Why would she go so far?”
“It is the seat of the Empress of Larchen. She has to stay there, so it should matter.”
The Marquis’ voice echoed through the surrounding that had become quiet in an instant.
“This is a rare deceit that fooled not only our nobles but also the people of the Empire.”
“What?”
“Marquis Miller and other nobles have again filed an appeal to prove Your Majesty’s legitimacy.”
“How many this time?”
“Twelve.”
“That’s a lot more than three.”
From the early hours of the morning until noon, sympathizers had grown in number, and by tomorrow, there would likely be even more. Isilis faced a difficult decision. It pained her pride, but she had no choice but to prove herself in front of them.
Nonetheless, how could she prove it?
“The only way is to go to the temple where my true name is.”
Yet, that option also carried its own risks.
Revealing the location of her true name could be perilous. However, there seemed to be no other path to find the answers she sought. The previous Empress had secluded herself after hearing Isilis’s words, and despite her concern for the Empress, there was little Isilis could do to help.
Time passed relentlessly, and as the sun set and midnight approached, Isilis remained in her office without moving. The strain of guiding the child’s magic during the day should have exhausted her, but she stayed put.
Only when the moon reached its zenith did she finally stir.
As she stepped out of her office, Berthas was waiting for her, leaning against the wall. Straightening himself up, he spoke.
“You’re finally out.”
“Why are you here?”
“I waited because you seemed to have a lot of thoughts.”
Seeing the ladies-in-waiting and attendants lined up in front of her office, they stopped walking and waited in front.
“Did you hear what Faylos said?”
“I heard.”
He whispered as he rubbed her forehead slowly when Isilis’ expression darkened.
“Isn’t it such a relief that I am a capable man?”
“What?”
“Now that I have taken control of Hillenton, the magic bullets will return to Larchen intact.”
“It’s my job to find out who gave that magic bullet to Hillenton.”
“That’s right, but don’t you already guess who it is?”
“I do.”
While she had a notion about Marquis Miller’s intentions, there was no concrete evidence to support her suspicions. It would be risky to arrest him without substantial proof.
The idea of being accused of persecuting a nobleman who sought to validate her imperial lineage troubled her. She didn’t like being swayed by others’ opinions and felt frustrated that even though she sat in the Empress’ seat, things were not going her way. She had once taken back her magic, and then lost her child, leaving her fearful that her initial decisions had all gone awry.
‘Even having a child was not my will, but pushed by my subjects…’
When she ran away from the imperial wedding and met Berthas, she had taken control of her life for the first time… though even that moment of agency had been shaped by the nobles who had created the circumstances. In retrospect, it seemed like the only time she acted according to her own will.
‘What should I do?’
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