Chapter 114

Siena was unmistakably cornered.

I had driven her to this.

“Tell me… Alan.”

The murmured voice, clutching onto me as if not to let go for even a moment, was proof enough. There was no need to ask what she wanted me to tell her.

The grip on my clothing, the tears that wet my chest, the small frame that wobbled as if it might collapse at any moment — all of it told the story.

I could guess what she was asking for. She was asking me to teach her how to hold onto me, how to keep me by her side.

I was a person who couldn’t be swayed by threats or persuasion. Of course, this was true only in the case of Siena and Victoria.

What I valued most was my own well-being. The problems with my parents in my past life began when I was hit by a wrench wielded by a fraud victim. That was also why I had once made narcotics to please Siena.

But now, I wasn’t afraid of Siena at all.

I was confident that she couldn’t kill me and wouldn’t give up either. All she was doing was begging for affection from me. It’s relatively easier to domesticate someone who has no intention of attacking.

“I’ll give you everything, the company… everything is yours.”

Siena’s grip on me tightened further.

If I really wanted, I could easily shake her off. She’s just a nineteen-year-old girl, and I’m a knight who has recently changed careers.

But I didn’t do the insane act of pushing her away for real. I just attempted to push her gently away, then gave up and lightly hugged her instead.

To show her that I’m not leaving because I hate her.

“Siena, does that mean you’re also transferring your shares to me?”

“Uh-huh…”

“Appreciated, but then I will be in more trouble. Think about it. The revenue from the two banks alone already exceeds 100 million Talers. The silver mines in Zocha-ji have started operations, and the equipment investment is almost complete, so profitability will rapidly increase.”

“I’ll give you everything.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t want it.”

“…”

The grip on my clothes, which had been hanging on, suddenly loosened.

It must be hard to believe someone would reject such a preferential treatment that could make one the richest person in the empire in just a few years. Siena might have been suspecting this from the past, but now I’ve confirmed it through my own words.

The next card Siena played after the business offer was surrender.

To be precise, surrendering her share of power to her elder sister.

“Victoria-ssi, I’ll give it all to her. How’s that?”

“To everything?”

“The throne.”

“…”

“You know this. If I want, that position is mine. If you don’t interfere, I can easily receive the proclamation as heiress-apparent within three months. And that’s not all. I can take control and even rule by proxy if I drive her out.”

“Are you saying you’ll give that up?”

“Uh-huh, give it to her.”

To hear someone announce that they would relinquish the position of Emperor as though it’s merely scrap metal and plan to offer it to their elder sister sounded a bit peculiar. However, if Siena so desired, she could become Emperor.

And yet Siena was willingly planning to give it away.

More than that.

“And Alan… If you help Victoria-ssi, I’ll look the other way.”

“…”

“If you elevate Victoria-ssi to the position of heiress-apparent and take a ministerial post to assist her, perhaps I might even relinquish thoughts of marriage. …No, I’ll personally persuade her to let that happen. If you do this, she’ll step back.”

“Siena.”

“You can also assure the lady of the Imperial Chambers with this, right?”

For Siena’s nature, this was an extraordinary amount of concession.

Of course, Siena had never had much desire for the throne anyway. Though she might have found some intrigue in the idea of Emperorhood as it gave her more people to bother systematically, she had probably never had a desperate need to ascend the throne.

Still, giving up is giving up.

“Even working with Victoria, you’re willing to let go?”

Perhaps this was an even bigger concession than giving up the throne.

I’d almost want to accept it. I knew Siena wasn’t just throwing this out there; she’s sincere.

Unfortunately, I can’t accept this. This kind of compromise would have only been possible before Victoria had her maternal relatives eliminated.

I stared at her compassionately and then sighed briefly.

And then, I gently wiped away the tears from Siena’s tear-soaked eyes with my fingertips. I didn’t forget to stroke her soft cheek with the back of my hand since I know she especially likes it when I do this.

Then I whispered softly:

“I truly appreciate your great decision. But we can’t.”

“Why…!”

“Her Highness Victoria will not be satisfied just by me becoming her close aide. She might endure for the empire’s peace initially, but once she works with me, she’ll change her mind. She’s the one who set fire to her maternal relatives, isn’t she?”

“I’ll persuade you.”

“You might. But your mindset will change too. Giving everything to your sister and retiring quietly will be incredibly painful for you.”

With that last comment, Siena looked me in a way that made my heart ache.

She was questioning why I wouldn’t trust her when she, the princess, was doing so much for me. If I pushed her hard on this, she might really snap. Once she’s sure she can’t get me no matter what, she’ll act according to her character.

To prevent that, I decided to provide her with an alternative path.

“Siena, I want to be by your side too, if possible.”

“Then why?”

“Because you’re too smart. Rather… it’s not this. Anyway, I hope you understand my position. How could I refuse a princess who has tens of thousand troops at her command just for me, a princess who tied down her uncles in the fire?”

I used Victoria as an excuse while highlighting the earlier part.

Because you’re too smart.

It was a message to stop being so clever moving forward. Siena, being incredibly sharp, would have surely understood it.

—

Siena felt as if everything before her was blocked.

It felt like Alan was drifting away from her.

Of course, at the moment, he was closer to her than ever before.

Alan’s embrace – warmer, firmer, and wider than she ever imagined. Even with the faint solvent scent from his time in the production room, she didn’t mind it. It felt like real, tangible proof that only Alan could manufacture drugs.

So she didn’t want to let go.

“If I let you go, you’ll go to Victoria-ssi.”

She understood why Alan would choose Victoria-ssi.

Compared to herself, Victoria-ssi had a simpler personality.

With his dexterity, Alan could easily deceive Victoria-ssi his whole life. Victoria-ssi tended to trust and overlook whatever Alan did, as evident from the gaze she gave him these days.

“I can be like that too.”

If only Alan stayed by her side, she could follow Victoria-ssi’s way.

She wouldn’t question or nitpick at whatever Alan did. She wouldn’t even indulge in power plays with him. She was sincere about this. While arranging an occasional platform where he could breathe would be nice…

No, now’s not the time for those thoughts.

Right now, only one thing mattered.

Somehow gaining Alan’s trust. Not just pledging to be docile in the moment, but giving the certainty that she would continually cater to Alan forever.

For that, words weren’t enough.

And then, fortunately, an idea dawned on her.

It might not be a method befitting a princess, but Siena didn’t much care about princessly etiquette anyway. On the contrary, she was excited by the idea she had come up with herself. Treating herself as less important wasn’t necessarily bad either.

“Alan, let’s go to the production facility.”

“Now?”

“Mm-hmm. Let’s go as soon as we arrive at the palace.”

“We’ve already arrived.”

Great.

Siena stepped out of the carriage, then led Alan to the production room. Frankly, it wasn’t exactly a short distance. Though the production facility was within the grounds of Temseugung Palace, the palace grounds were so vast that it was only prudent to hurry.

They had to hurry. Because there was something important to do there.

“Alan, make some medication. Something for me to take.”

“Siena…?”

“Even if I end up like those kids in Medelin who smoke heroin all day, it’s fine…”

But then, upon reflection, that wasn’t appropriate. In the Great Forest, some particularly dire situations among the elves consumed up to 150 milligrams per day; they were literally steeped in heroin, knowing nothing else but the drug. That was problematic.

“I’m sorry, but no heroin. It’s too obvious. It’ll be too noticeable outwardly. Just keep to a level where it isn’t immediately apparent. Enough to create dependency. You can do that, right?”

“Siena, hold on.”

“Let’s make it together. And I’ll take it right in front of you.”

Siena herself didn’t know why this idea had come to her. But she was aware of the effects of drug consumption, being the next most knowledgeable person about it in the empire after Alan.

Wouldn’t this ensure Alan’s trust?

Begging for affection in this way was miserable.

But strangely, it didn’t feel bad. She was able to feel the worth of loving a man worth this much effort, and during this begging process, she felt Alan’s presence growing in her heart.

“Hurry up, Alan.”

With her mind set, Siena took Alan’s hand to lead him.

The confusion and restlessness that had plagued her earlier were gone, displaced by newfound calm. She had found her answer. If she did this, Alan would certainly remain by her side and continue bestowing affection.

Alan was worth it.

—

Siena was forcefully pulling me along.

“Come on, Alan.”

To quickly produce the drug she was about to take.

The knights and palace attendants that followed us already had resigned expressions, and one attendant was even dabbing tears from her eyes. It didn’t look like she was crying out of pity for the lunatic princess but rather out of sheer terror at the situation.

Naturally, I had no intention of making Siena an addict.

“Siena.”

“It’s fine.”

“It cannot be. How could I feed drugs to the woman I love?”

At this, she stopped abruptly and slowly turned to look at me.

Her wide eyes expressed disbelief, and the small hand gripping my wrist was tight with resolve. She must want to hear what I had just said again, and if she wants, I’m willing to repeat it.

And I intended to show her a way we could stay together – a way much easier than leading her down the path of addiction.

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