Chapter 7: Imperial Princess Mercedes (2)

‘Of course. It is a name that should never have come out of my mouth.’

Simon was certain of it now. Imperial Princess Mercedes was involved in a profane affair with Baron Iroste.

The timeline had aligned perfectly.

In truth, he had only learned of El Luna and Baron Iroste later. By then, she had already become his wife, and the situation had been beyond saving, so he had been forced to let it pass.

How much silent anguish had he endured just to suppress the fury that had surged up in him back then?

‘But things are different now.’

He had been given the chance to live anew.

Of course, it was hardly rare for royal women or noble ladies to be stirred by springtime passions.

Because of such things, duels broke out, and some unfortunate soul would end up gravely wounded or dead.

It was not especially strange for Imperial Princess Mercedes, famed as the greatest beauty in the kingdom, to have a lover besides Simon.

There were always moths that could not resist desire and flew straight into the bonfire.

There were a great many secret chambers within the Imperial Palace of the Rigel Empire.

If they made love there, no one would know.

And even if someone did know, the moment they spoke of it aloud, their head would roll.

‘This is what desire looks like once power is added to it. Utter filth.’

Naturally, even setting aside her scandalous relations with men, he had not the slightest intention of marrying her again.

Imperial Princess Mercedes regained her usual expression. Then she looked up at Simon as if pleading.

“Oh, my love. Do you truly not realize that this is an obvious slander? It must be nothing more than a false rumor spread by someone jealous of me. Countless people envy my beauty. Do you not trust me?”

“I do not think this is simply a matter of trust. The very fact that a specific name was mentioned is the issue.”

The matter had now spread to her usual conduct. At once, fire flashed in the princess’s eyes.

“If I had my way, I would march straight to Baron Iroste this instant and seize him by the collar.”

“And who, exactly, is the one who said such a thing?”

Do you think I am going to tell you?

With precisely that look, Simon gazed down at Imperial Princess Mercedes.

“My apologies, but I know far more than Your Highness imagines.”

“Then we must seize the one who spread this rumor and execute them for insulting the Imperial House.”

“The first person to be interrogated should be Baron Iroste.”

The princess’s eyes twitched.

Of course she would find it offensive to hear him calmly suggest dragging in her lover and cutting off his head.

But perhaps she had learned something from the exchange so far, because the princess continued to act wronged.

“He is a model nobleman, loyal to the Imperial House. There is nothing whatsoever between him and me. We have exchanged words only a few times at banquets.”

Why would words matter?

The moment your eyes met, you probably went straight to the bedchamber first.

“In any case, you will never find the source of the rumor.”

“And why is that?”

Simon merely smiled bitterly.

There was no one spreading rumors. He was only pressing her with knowledge of the future. If someone had to be executed for it, then the one whose neck would hang from the gallows would be Simon himself.

“I never imagined matters would turn out like this. I spent a long time wondering whether I should speak honestly of everything or not. Right up until the moment before Your Highness came here.”

“Then the misunderstanding must be cleared up. You did well, my love.”

Simon shook off the princess’s hand once again.

“On the contrary, I had thought Your Highness would speak honestly to me...... Had you begged my forgiveness, I would have forgotten it all and accepted your heart.”

“I am innocent, truly innocent! A wanton social gathering...... I have never even heard of such a thing!”

“I will give you one final chance. If you admit everything, I will forget it all.”

Naturally, he did not think she would ever confess.

It was a truth he had learned through the long years they had spent as husband and wife. Mercedes was precisely that kind of woman.

“It is not true. It is not!”

“So you mean to keep making excuses to the very end.”

With a sigh, Simon shook his head. Then he slowly walked toward the door.

At last, it opened.

With one hand, Simon gestured for her to leave and spoke.

“I beg Your Highness’s pardon, but you do not suit the Arcturus Family.”

“My word! Are you saying we should call off the marriage?”

“That is for Your Highness to decide. If you still wish to marry while carrying this rumor with you...... I will not stop you.”

Flames flashed once more in the princess’s eyes.

Now it had become a matter of pride.

At that moment, the balance of the struggle shifted. From Simon to Mercedes.

“You seem to be under a very serious misunderstanding. Do you think I came all this way merely because I was worried about you?”

“Is there some other reason?”

“His Majesty the Emperor commanded me to come and secure the marriage with the Arcturus Family more firmly.”

“It seems the situation has changed somewhat now.”

Simon let it show, if only faintly, that he could go directly to the emperor himself and report the matter.

But Imperial Princess Mercedes did not retreat in the slightest.

Rather—

“It seems you are laboring under a misconception, so let me make myself clear. Listen carefully. This is His Majesty the Emperor’s command. Your marriage to me is no different from the law of the Empire itself.”

“A law that has lost all common sense and universal reason is nothing more than an unjust law. All the more so in a matter as grave as marriage.”

“It feels as though you became even sharper after waking from your coma.”

“I shall take that as praise.”

“Let us see whether you can say the same next time.”

Imperial Princess Mercedes strode out the door. Simon spoke toward her retreating back.

“Thank you for coming such a long way, Your Highness. I will not see you out very far.”

The princess paused for a moment, as though she might turn around, but then continued walking.

‘Can I finally breathe a little now?’

For the moment, he had bought himself some time.

Even so, Simon did not relax. At the very least, the matter with the princess had to be settled quickly and cleanly.

***

Marquis Deneuve, who had been speaking with his vassals in the corridor, was startled.

Imperial Princess Mercedes was walking toward them from the far end.

“Your Highness?”

It was not only the marquis who was surprised.

The expressions of everyone in the Arcturus Family, the vassals included, gradually stiffened.

They were lovers meeting again after a long separation.

One would think even a great deal of time would not have been enough for them to catch up, yet she was coming out less than ten minutes after going in. Of course it seemed strange.

Moreover, a grand party was being prepared in the banquet hall. And yet Mercedes looked like someone who had already finished her business here.

“Your Highness, why are you coming out so soon?”

“I was worried for his health. His aftereffects seem to be more serious than I had expected......”

Wearing a sorrowful expression, Mercedes lightly brushed at the corner of her eye with the sleeve of her splendid gown.

No tears had fallen, and yet people were already under the illusion that she was shedding tears more precious than jewels.

“What in the world happened?”

“It feels as though all the lovely memories we shared have vanished like a mirage. Each detached word he spoke flew into my heart like a dagger.”

“Ah......”

Marquis Deneuve looked troubled.

His eldest son had already declared that he would not marry Imperial Princess Mercedes. It was plain enough that he had ruined things.

“And yet, his eyes were still warm.”

The princess gave them the slightest sliver of hope.

It was like a single beam of light descending into darkness. Marquis Deneuve let out a breath of relief.

“I cannot even begin to imagine what offense my disloyal son has given Your Highness. Please forgive him.”

“No. No. It is likely only because he has not yet fully recovered. I understand. When the body grows weak, the mind grows weak as well...... I shall petition His Majesty the Emperor to send a physician of great skill. My lord, please prepare to receive the envoys.”

“It would be our honor, Your Highness.”

“Lord Deneuve, I know you must have taken great pains to receive us, but I think I should return now. If I remain here any longer, I fear my tears will never dry.”

Once she had gone that far, no one could stop her.

Imperial Princess Mercedes came outside. Marquis Deneuve, along with the rest of the Arcturus Family, all came out to see her off.

Before she climbed into the carriage, Marquis Deneuve asked carefully,“Your Highness, if you leave like this, when might you visit us again?”

“I do not know. Not yet.”

“You must be deeply burdened. Next time, I shall command Simon to come directly to the Imperial Capital and gladden Your Highness in person.”

“Very well.”

“Please return safely. Our knights will escort you as far as the borderlands.”

“I appreciate the thought alone. Please take good care of him.”

Mercedes climbed into the carriage. Inside sat a guard knight clad in black armor.

Generic.

A man of the Imperial Guard, one who followed Imperial Princess Mercedes like her very shadow.

It was said that his skill had already reached the level of a Sword Expert.

Almost no one knew the full extent of his true ability.

Because every man who had met him in actual combat had died by his black blade.

Soon the door shut, and the carriage began to move.

“Haa, this has become troublesome.”

“You came out sooner than expected. Did something happen?”

“The Young Master knew. About El Luna.”

At that, an unusual light flickered in the guard knight’s eyes. Soon, a cold smile formed at the corners of his lips.

“How interesting. There are only a very few within the Empire who know of that......”

“Do you know what is even more surprising? He even knew about Lord Iroste. Someone in the Imperial Palace is clearly leaking information.”

Even so, Mercedes did not suspect the guard knight before her. It was as though he alone were a complete exception.

And in truth, he was.

Generic was nothing more and nothing less than the princess’s shadow.

“I shall root them out at once. And then I shall grant them a hideous end.”

“You had better.”

“Do you have any other command for me?”

Generic was always like this. Wherever something itched, he scratched it at once.

And Imperial Princess Mercedes rewarded that unwavering loyalty.

“Investigate that wretch Simon. I want to know what scheme he is using to try to break off our marriage. El Luna felt like no more than a pretext. There is something else behind this.”

“Could it be that he has noticed Your Highness’s plan?”

“That should not be possible. But something about it troubles me. I heard that within the Arcturus Family, there is one person—and only one—who does not suspect the Aldebaran Family.”

“Surely not.”

“Yes. Simon himself.”

Generic’s eyes darkened.

It was because it seemed a crack had formed in the meticulous plan to weaken both the Arcturus Family and the Aldebaran Family by secretly supporting a third force.

“Ah, and there was one more man who kept trailing after Simon...... Who was it again?”

“Ranieri of the Betelgeuse Family.”

“That is right. Investigate him as well. He is Simon’s right hand, so he must be moving busily behind the scenes.”

“If necessary, shall I take his life? It is better not to leave future trouble behind.”

“That can wait. Those wretches are all in the palm of my hand anyway.”

“Understood.”

“Do not rush too much. Once we return to the Imperial Palace, choose the right person for this matter with care.”

“Yes.”

A vicious smile curved across the princess’s lips.

At this point, marriage was no longer the issue. What mattered now was how she would repay the humiliation Simon had dealt her.

More than anything, Simon’s cold attitude had set her heart ablaze.

Until now, there had never been anything she wanted and failed to obtain.

‘You will soon kneel before me, Simon. Not only you, but that vaunted Arcturus Family as well.’

Mercedes’s gaze, brimming with desire, turned toward the estate.

But the princess did not know.

She did not know that she, along with everyone else, was struggling desperately in the palm of Simon’s hand.