Chapter 196 - Selfish Reasons?

“You,” her selfish prayers were interrupted by a brusque voice. The princess almost screamed from shock, but the man who had snuck up onto her covered her mouth with his hand.

‘I can’t die like this! Not like this!’ Beatrice attempted to elbow her opponent’s side. However, the voice reassured her.

“It’s me. Maximillian.”

Beatrice couldn’t believe that the man who appeared so suddenly in the middle of the night would be her awful stepbrother. She realized that this would be her last moment. She began trembling in fear, to which her brother removed his hand.

“What’s with the shaking? It’s not even cold out here.”

Realizing Max was completely calm, Beatrice blushed in embarrassment. “M-mind your own business! By the way, I see you have no courtesy—breaking into someone’s room like this.”

Frowning, he retorted, “Do you think I want to be here? I’m only here to give you this.”

Beatrice tensed up as Max took something out of a pouch. She was afraid that it would be another terrible prank—a spider, a snake, or perhaps an inconsiderate object like a weapon unfit for a lady like her. Her eyes widened when she saw what Max revealed. It was just an ordinary box. She stared at the container with curious and surprised eyes.

“Take it,” he said. Swallowing nervously, she took the box. She wondered what the item had to be to make Max get it for her himself. She was about to open the box when he commented, “Just so you know, don’t be so reckless with it. Only use it when you’re in danger.”

With those words, Max jumped off the balcony. Frowning, Beatrice complained silently.

After all, her brother was the most dangerous threat to her. When she carefully opened the box, she spotted a silver object. After observing the unfamiliar item for a while, she checked the instruction manual. The short but meaningful phrase read:

The Fyodor Whistle will now protect you at all times!

Beatrice smiled—she couldn’t believe this tiny thing was a tool made for self-defense. Still, the stamp showed that it was obviously from the Fyodor Workshop—the best one in the capital.

‘To care for your enemy’s safety… What a weirdo.’

Beatrice stood with a rather unpleasant expression for a moment then wore the whistle around her neck. She went into her room and looked in the mirror—she was quite satisfied with the gift’s aesthetics.

‘I guess I have no choice but to accept it. It’s my birthday present, after all.’

* * *

Slamming the arm of his throne, the emperor yelled harshly. “What was that? He turned down my offer?”

Count Nigel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs bowed. “It seems the case, Your Majesty.”

“That b*stard! He must think he’s something—being the head of those southern barbarians—to reject my favor!” The emperor gritted his teeth. He had suggested to Lagon’s monarch that they have a drink together during the banquet. Nevertheless, the foreign king had refused the proposal.

‘Could it be that he noticed what I was planning?’

Despite their constant lack of food, Lagon was a country rich in resources. Unfortunately, they did not trade or communicate much with the Assiette empire. This was why the emperor had tried to ally through marriage to offer a new trade route.

“Damn you!” he simmered with rage. The original plan was to pour the foreign king drinks until he fell asleep. The emperor was then going to push his drunken daughter into the bedroom. Regardless of whether or not anything happened, Beatrice’s honor would be tarnished once she slept in the same room with an outsider. Such would make an excellent reason for the emperor to force the marriage.

In any case, he had not expected Lagon’s king to refuse. The emperor contemplated on what to do for a moment then smiled slyly.

‘I will just have to find another way to fulfill my goals.’