TSHF 10

Chapter 10

“If… if that’s really the case! Then how am I supposed to assert my rights? I honestly don’t have the confidence!”

Abwa, who trusted me completely, didn’t try to hide her true feelings.

“All this time, I thought this engagement happened because I insisted on it, and I always believed I was the one in the weaker position… Should I first ask Father why he agreed to such an unfair deal? Or should I go straight to His Highness and His Majesty and demand they repay the dowry immediately?!”

Apparently quite flustered, Abwa’s voice rose.

I turned to Modway, who was preening his wings on my shoulder.

‘Modway, you’re blocking all of this conversation, right?’

[Of course, Master! I’ve sealed it tighter than any magic set up in this palace!]

After receiving the spirit’s confirmation once more, I calmly soothed Abwa.

“Mm, then Miss Abwa. I’ll help you!”

“Really?!”

“Of course. But you must trust me and do exactly as I say, all right?”

“Of course! The person I rely on most in this empire is Princess Neroli! Even Father would tell me to follow whatever you say!”

He probably would. Duke Bobonsher thought quite highly of me.

‘I never imagined I’d be making use of Bobonsher’s trust like this.’

Smiling softly, I met Abwa’s eyes.

“Then first, do this.”

“Abwa, are you truly certain about this?”

“Of course, Father.”

Abwa walked ahead with a resolute expression.

Duke Bobonsher watched his daughter with worried eyes.

“I will take care of your marriage myself. It may take a little time, but in any case, you are the only suitable match for His Highness.”

“I can’t wait any longer, Father.”

Abwa lifted her chin slightly as she looked at him.

“If you had only told me the details about my dowry from the beginning, I wouldn’t have stayed quiet like a fool.”

“Ahem, I didn’t want you to worry. Besides, you always said you were tired of such discussions.”

“That doesn’t include matters concerning me!”

If it hadn’t been for Princess Neroli, I would never have known about this and would have continued to suffer in silence.

All that time I spent agonizing alone felt like such a waste.

“I truly can’t wait another moment!”

“But what do you intend to say to His Majesty? You know how frightening he is.”

“Just trust me, Father!”

As Abwa snapped back, the father and daughter arrived before the Emperor’s private reception room.

The chief chamberlain of the imperial palace, who had been waiting, bowed respectfully.

“We have been expecting you, Your Grace of Bobonsher, Young Lady Bobonsher.”

“Very well. Open the doors.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

At the chamberlain’s signal, the servants silently opened the doors.

Inside the stately reception room, the Emperor sat on the seat of honor, with Gobard seated to his right.

The Emperor greeted the pair with a smile.

“Welcome, Duke Bobonsher. It has been a while, young lady.”

“We pay our respects to the Master of Great Lornod and his heir.”

After offering their greetings in unison, father and daughter took their seats.

The duke glanced discreetly at Gobard.

He appeared to be in a foul mood, his expression stiff.

Clicking his tongue inwardly, the duke looked at Abwa instead.

Contrary to what she had said in the corridor earlier, she now looked visibly tense.

‘I told her to just wait quietly at the estate.’

Then again, it was no easy matter to remain at ease before two royals who carried the blood of dragons.

Even he, who had weathered rough seas for years, sometimes felt suffocated in the Emperor’s presence.

As the maids prepared tea, Duke Bobonsher attempted to ease the atmosphere with light conversation.

“It has truly been a long time since we have all gathered like this.”

“Indeed. The Crown Prince has been quite busy of late.”

“My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“Since the young lady only visits the palace to see Neroli, I must admit I feel rather slighted.”

“M-My apologies, Your Majesty.”

“Young lady, as the Crown Prince’s fiancée, you are already as good as a member of Lornod. You should visit the palace more often.”

At those words, Duke Bobonsher let out a quiet sigh of relief.

‘At least he remembers that our Abwa is His Highness’s fiancée.’

The Emperor had been so leisurely about everything that he feared he might have forgotten even that.

Unlike the duke’s slight relief, Gobard faintly frowned.

He clearly did not appreciate the Emperor’s remark.

Witnessing that expression, Abwa clenched her fists.

‘As if he has any right to make that face.’

He was the one at fault to begin with.

Suddenly, Neroli’s words echoed in her mind.

—Miss Abwa, I believe this is the time for you to confidently assert your rights.

That’s right. This was the moment.

Having regained her confidence, Abwa shot the Crown Prince a sidelong glare and spoke.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. As it happens, I came today because there is something I wish to discuss regarding that very matter!”

At her bold tone, a curious glint appeared in the Emperor’s eyes.

“Oh? Is that so? Now I am quite curious what you intend to say.”

“Your Majesty, it has already been five years since His Highness and I became engaged. I believe we can no longer delay our marriage!”

“Young lady.”

Gobard cut in with a chilling voice.

“I believe I have told you several times that I am busy attending to state affairs.”

“That’s right. There is no need to grow impatient. Your marriage will proceed without issue.”

‘Of course he would side with his son.’

As if anyone endured this because their daughter was any less precious.

While Duke Bobonsher ground his teeth inwardly, Abwa met Gobard’s blue eyes head-on.

“Of course, until a few days ago, I thought the same. However, there is something I must inform you of!”

“And what would that be?”

Abwa opened the bag she had personally brought and took out an exceedingly thick volume.

Recognizing it, the Emperor raised his brows.

“Is that not the Great Code of the Lornod Empire?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good heavens, Abwa. Did you carry that heavy thing yourself?”

Ignoring her father’s whisper, Abwa flipped open the code.

“It contains the empire’s strict laws and numerous detailed precedents. Among them, I discovered one case we should examine closely.”

She began to read the marked precedent aloud.

“In the year 574 of the Imperial Calendar, the third son of House Helta died, and the engagement with House Kedman was annulled. Kedman demanded not only the return of the dowry but also additional compensation, while Helta argued that as the engagement was dissolved due to an unfortunate accident, compensation beyond the dowry was unwarranted.”

Having practiced countless times before Neroli, Abwa’s voice flowed smoothly.

“Kedman promptly petitioned the Imperial Supreme Court. After reviewing the laws of the empire, all the justices of the Supreme Court and His Majesty Criphen III, who then ruled the empire, delivered the following judgment.”

“Enough, young lady.”

Gobard attempted to interrupt, but she did not even glance at him.

“Kedman had provided a substantial dowry for the engagement and waited four years. As it is customary among imperial nobility to wed within one year of engagement, this was an exceptionally long delay. Therefore, Helta must compensate Kedman for the ‘cost of time’ expended. Excluding the first year, Helta shall calculate the total three years Kedman waited and pay compensation amounting to ‘three times’ the dowry.”

As she reached that point, Neroli’s voice brushed past her ear once more.

—Miss Abwa, Bobonsher has waited a full year longer than in that ruling.

Back then, Neroli had smiled innocently as she explained.

—So if your engagement were to be broken, Bobonsher would be entitled to compensation equal to four times the previously paid dowry.

Almost unconsciously, Abwa repeated Neroli’s words.

“The dowry paid by House Bobonsher amounted to seventeen warships. Calculating four times that, excluding the original seventeen, we would receive compensation equivalent to sixty-eight additional ships!”

Tilting her head in imitation of Neroli, she added,

“It is such a considerable sum that I felt obliged to inform you… Though perhaps for the great imperial house of Lornod, such compensation is nothing at all?”

Of course, that was not the case.

Gobard’s face turned as pale as his own blue eyes.

“How insolent!”

He slammed the table with a bang.

The year 574 of the Imperial Calendar—that was two hundred years ago!

‘Where did she dig up such an ancient precedent?!’

Even Gobard, well-versed in law, had nearly forgotten that case.

Raising his voice, he began, “Moreover, that ruling—!”

“Silence.”

The Emperor cut him off.

At the command, Gobard bit his lip and fell quiet.

In truth, it was only natural for the Emperor to stop him.

That ruling had favored House Kedman, long-standing relatives of the imperial family.

At the time, in an effort to strengthen the dragon bloodline, marriages among close royal kin had been common.

Thus Kedman and Lornod were bound entirely by blood, and the imperial house had extended many conveniences to Kedman.

Of course, such close-kin marriages were now strictly forbidden and no longer applicable.

‘In other words, that is an old embarrassment of the imperial house.’

Observing the situation, Duke Bobonsher’s mind worked quickly.

He himself had not even known such a ruling existed, but he was aware of the long-standing collusion between Kedman and Lornod.

Thus, he could tell that bringing up that precedent was an uncomfortable matter for the imperial family.

‘But if it’s Abwa…’

Having effectively struck both the Emperor and Gobard from behind, Abwa appeared entirely confident.

It was well known in high society that Abwa had little interest in politics or history.

Precisely for that reason, she could be the one to raise such a topic.

Ignorance could be bold.

‘The problem is how she’ll conclude this.’

How did she intend to wrap up such a statement?

While Duke Bobonsher worried, the Emperor finally spoke in a heavy tone.

“How unfortunate. It seems our imperial house has failed to inspire sufficient trust in Young Lady Bobonsher.”

The Emperor’s crimson eyes, which had remained calm until now, flashed strangely.

“Since you bring up that ruling, it would seem you are already contemplating the Crown Prince’s death?”

‘This is bad.’

If she agreed, Abwa would naturally be punished for treason. If she denied it, she would lose all leverage gained by citing the precedent.