Chapter 7. The Masterless Beast (3)
The room was filled with luxurious furniture.
If not for the complete lack of windows, the lavish reception room could easily rival those in the royal palace.
Seated at the head of the room, Ariana waited for Rashan with an excited heart.
It would be a lie to say she wasn’t nervous.
But if she were being honest, anticipation outweighed anxiety.
After all, she already possessed a surefire way to place a collar around his neck.
“Lady Arina… wouldn’t it be wiser to summon the guards, even now?”
Maia clearly thought otherwise.
Standing quietly behind Ariana, she spoke in a worried voice.
Even in this situation, she faithfully obeyed Ariana’s earlier order and addressed her as Arina instead of Princess.
That alone pleased Ariana enough to turn and smile at her.
It was strange.
Maia was obviously worried sick about her, yet her face revealed none of those emotions.
“No.”
“…Why not?”
“Because I can’t trust them.”
“…”
“You’re different, Maia.”
Maia looked at her silently, asking with her eyes, Can you trust me?
Ariana answered with a sincere smile.
“The only people I can trust in this world are my mother… and you.”
To be precise, she trusted the mother who genuinely loved her.
And she trusted Maia’s unwavering loyalty to that mother.
That was why Ariana had already made up her mind.
From this point forward, Maia would know everything.
If her plans were to succeed smoothly, she needed someone as capable as Maia by her side.
‘I finally have someone who’s both trustworthy and competent. There’s no reason to leave her in the dark like I did before.’
No one knew Ariana better than Ariana herself.
Raised as the Flower of Molvian, she had learned how to obtain whatever she desired with nothing more than a beautiful smile.
But she had never learned how to stand alone as a ruler.
The king had never allowed it.
The only reason she could remain calm in unexpected situations was because the years she’d spent wandering in poverty had taught her how to improvise.
Even then, she didn’t know how far those instincts alone would carry her.
All she possessed was the determination to become queen.
In those circumstances, someone like Maia was invaluable.
“So… from now on, simply watch everything that happens in this room.”
“Lady Arina…”
“Maia.”
Ariana’s tone became firmer.
“Just watch.”
“…Yes. Understood.”
Satisfied with the answer, Ariana turned back toward the door.
How much longer will it take?
The thought had barely crossed her mind—
Creeak.
The heavy door slowly opened.
Beyond it stood Rashan.
His entire body was still stained with dried blood and sweat that had never been washed away.
He had certainly been given enough time to clean himself.
Coming here in that condition had only one purpose.
‘He’s trying to pressure me… or intimidate me. Either way, he wants this meeting to end as quickly as possible.’
Rashan sat down across from her without asking permission.
Ariana simply smiled as she looked straight at him.
She had never expected a man like him to show proper etiquette toward royalty.
Behind her, she felt Maia tense.
But remembering Ariana’s command to remain still, she swallowed whatever words had risen to her lips.
“I told you we’d meet soon.”
“…You’re a fearless princess.”
“I’d prefer it if you called me Arina while we’re here.”
“What do you want?”
His blunt tone made it abundantly clear that he had no desire to continue this conversation.
Ariana couldn’t help laughing softly.
Covering her crimson lips with one hand, she smiled until her eyes curved into crescents.
Rashan said nothing.
But the irritation and confusion flickering in his black eyes were impossible to miss.
“So you don’t like beating around the bush?”
She already knew that.
Still, pretending otherwise, Ariana composed herself and looked him directly in the eye.
“I’ve come to take you with me.”
“…What?”
“I think I’ll suit your plans much better than the First Princess.”
“Lady Ariana!”
The moment those words left her mouth—
An overwhelming killing intent exploded through the room.
Startled, Maia immediately stepped in front of Ariana, shielding her.
Her entire body trembled beneath the suffocating murderous aura.
Yet despite her fear, she had still placed herself between Ariana and danger.
Seeing that back in front of her brought Ariana unexpected satisfaction.
“Maia.”
“Please!”
“Move back.”
“But—”
“That man can never kill me.”
She smiled calmly.
“Because if he does… his entire plan falls apart.”
Her gaze shifted to Rashan.
“Isn’t that right?”
Rashan stared at her.
Even while facing his murderous intent head-on, she never stopped smiling.
The killing intent pouring from him gradually lessened.
Though the fierce pressure remained—as if reminding her that he could still kill her whenever he wished.
“Maia.”
“…Yes.”
Never taking her eyes off Rashan, Maia slowly stepped back.
Only then did Ariana begin explaining.
“You were planning to catch the First Princess’s attention and enter the royal palace through her.”
She leaned back comfortably.
“You chose her because she’s Owen’s twin sister. You assumed she’d give you easy access to the Second Prince.”
“…”
“Am I wrong?”
Everything Ariana was saying was simply describing what had happened before her regression.
But to someone unaware she’d returned from the future…
It sounded as though she possessed an incredible intelligence network.
“It isn’t a bad strategy.”
She shrugged.
“The First Princess is the only fool in the palace stupid enough to keep a mysterious slave close without questioning his identity.”
Then she smiled.
“But…”
“If your plan is to hide beneath the First Princess’s shadow in order to kill the Second Prince…”
She paused.
“…then I’m afraid your plan is doomed from the very first step.”
“Why?”
At last, Rashan seemed interested enough to respond.
Ariana’s smile brightened.
“Because the twins hate each other.”
She wasn’t lying.
It was the truth.
The twins had never gotten along.
More accurately—
Owen despised Olina’s vulgarity.
Olina loathed Owen’s cunning.
Yet neither could openly display that hatred.
The king, who valued the Clayton royal family’s dignity above all else, had strictly forbidden it.
He was ruthless even toward his own children whenever they defied his wishes.
So the secret remained hidden until the day he died.
‘Only after Olina fled to the Empire with the royal seal did everyone finally learn the truth.’
That was precisely why Rashan’s original plan had failed.
“Even if you enter my sister’s service now, meeting the Second Prince won’t be easy.”
She folded her hands.
“Lately, they’ve been avoiding each other altogether.”
That was why Rashan’s first assassination attempt had failed before Ariana’s regression.
He had expected to confront Owen quickly.
Instead, he had been forced to wait.
And that endless waiting had eroded his patience until he made a fatal mistake.
‘No one can stare at the person who murdered their family and suppress their hatred forever.’
No matter how meticulous Rashan was…
Everyone had limits.
“At first, no one will pay attention.”
Ariana continued calmly.
“But if you remain beside the First Princess long enough…”
“They’ll investigate you.”
The reason the investigation wouldn’t happen immediately was simple.
Olina was notoriously fickle.
No one wanted to waste time investigating a slave she might grow bored of and execute within days.
But Rashan…
He would become the slave who remained by her side the longest.
By then, an investigation was inevitable.
Perhaps even direct restraint.
No—
It would happen.
Judging by the way Rashan’s expression had stiffened since entering the room, he had reached the same conclusion.
“So…”
he asked quietly,
“…what exactly are you trying to say?”
“I already told you.”
Ariana smiled.
“I came to take you with me.”
“Then why would you be better than the First Princess?”
“Because…”
She answered without hesitation.
“I’m willing to actively help your plan.”
Rashan frowned.
Naturally.
None of his questions had actually been answered.
“I’ll help you kill the Second Prince.”
For a fleeting moment, Ariana wondered what expression Maia was wearing behind her.
But that wasn’t what mattered now.
The only person she needed to convince was Rashan.
“And not just him.”
Her emerald eyes shone with unwavering resolve.
“I’ll help you kill every single person who carries Clayton blood.”
“…What?”
“In return…”
She leaned forward slightly.
“You’ll help me fulfill my wish.”
“…Your wish?”
Rashan narrowed his eyes.
“What is it?”
The moment she heard the question, Ariana realized she had been waiting for this very moment.
Perhaps that was why her smile had never been brighter.
“I…”
She declared without the slightest hesitation,
“…am going to become the Queen of Molvian.”
