Chapter 65 - Chilled Emotions

Luciana and Ludwig had an easy job interviewing the survivors. After the interview, all but three wanted to stay. ‘There are more useful people than I thought.’ I wasn’t sure if they had been captured randomly, but there was a wide variety of people.

“Did you write down their future plans?” 

“Yes, they’re here,” I flicked through a few pages and set them aside.

“Why did you ask for these?” 

“Hm? It’ll be difficult for me to learn all 129 people’s strengths and aptitudes, so I did this to get some basic facts about them,”I replied. 

Luciana stared at me, “Some of the information in there is probably false. And some of these people may be spies.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

“That’s…true,” I laughed and nodded. 

Luciana looked at me anxiously. “What’s wrong?” I asked. 

“I don’t want people to know how smart you are.” 

“Huh? Why?” I tilted my head questioningly. Luciana didn’t reply, but I knew what she meant, “Are you scared that I’ll be in danger?”

Luciana took a deep breath. She was a worrywart. “It’s fine, you’ll be by my side anyway,” I reassured her. 

“Then I’ll work harder.” 

“Okay!” smiling brightly, I pulled her in for a hug. Luciana smiled too, “What will you do with the three people who want to leave?” 

I wasn’t going to do anything. There was only one place where they could go. Luciana nodded in agreement at my response, “Then what will you do with those who are staying?” 

“Hm,” I smiled impishly, “That’s a secret!” 

Luciana seemed unsatisfied with my answer, but I didn’t want to say anymore. Although all was calm, I had an uneasy feeling. What was wrong?

‘Ah, I must be feeling on edge because Duke Ravenhook isn’t doing anything. I’m definitely getting on his nerves.’ He would do anything to become emperor, and I ruined his chances. I knew he was angry. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried to kill me.’ But he hadn’t done anything so far. 

I was thinking about what I had missed when a maid knocked and entered the room, “Your Highness, here are some macarons.”

“Yay! Macarons!” I cried out at the sight of the colorful macarons on the plate. I was excited to have my snack break. Luciana and the maid smiled warmly at my excitement. 

“And here’s one…for Lana!” 

“Oh my!” 

“We should always share yummy things,” I munched on the macarons next to Luciana as I handed one to Lana, who became a bit choked up, “How can our princess be such an angel…?” 

One thing that I had been doing these past few days was ‘conquering’ the maids. I needed to get everyone around me on my side so that I could fangirl in peace! There was only one plan of attack: the ‘I’m shy around strangers but I like you!’ trick. 

“Your Highness is so cute, sweet, and pretty! And you’re so kind at the same time! You’re definitely an angel!” I was able to get in their good graces with a macaron, pique their interest with a flower, and win their affections with candy! My plan was effective. Within a matter of days, the maids were all gushing over me. 

“Just wait until I get back. I’m going to brag to the others!” Lana’s eyes sparkled. I shook my head as she walked away, “There’s going to be a battle over that macaron.” 

Luciana, who was watching everything, stuck out her tongue, “You’re amazing.”

“Hm? Why?” I tilted my head innocently. Luciana’s expression turned serious, “I’m scared of you sometimes.” 

“What did I do?” I asked in wide-eyed wonder. There was no way anyone could hate a cutie pie like me! 

* * *

“Duke Ravenhook has an unidentified guest,” Achillios reported, to which Miltiades frowned, “A guest?”

“They came in together, but the duke immediately called for a doctor. I think the guest is injured.”

“…”

“Well, I doubt Duke Ravenhook is the charitable type. Do you think this has something to do with Her Highness? What do you think about getting rid of him before something happens?”

Miltiades stared at Achillios, who wanted to say, “In that case, I want to finally meet Her Highness.” But Miltiades’s expression revealed clear disapproval.

Achillios erupted, “Your Majesty, don’t you think you’re being unfair? You know how much I want to meet her! Last time you kicked me out without even letting me say ‘hi’! And you won’t let me enter the detached palace! Why are you doing this to me?”

“You really don’t know?”

“I really don’t,” Achillios’s reply was so confident that Miltiades didn’t know what to say. The emperor couldn’t hide his contempt. With a raise of his finger, Callian, who was standing off to the side awaiting orders, came over and dragged Achillios out of the room. 

“Your Majesty, this is unfair! Your Majesty!” To an outsider, it sounded like Achillios was in trouble for rebelling against the Crown. As he was being dragged away, an older servant came into the study. 

‘Why is Duke Achillios acting like that?’ Marquis Bartolch was puzzled, but Miltiades’s glare stopped him from asking any questions. “Why are you here?” asked the emperor.

“There are some requests regarding the princess’s new status as the heir.” 

“I thought everything has already been settled.” 

“Yes, but because of you, the nobles are extremely angry,” the marquis looked exhausted, “There’s only so much I can do to appease them. Your Majesty, is there any way you could issue an order for an empress?”

Miltiades made a face, “You’re asking for trouble, Marquis.”

“I’m laying my life on the line to ask you this.”      

“You’re telling me to find an empress?”