Chapter 242

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on January 26, 2025

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Lee Yeon-joo’s lie was quickly exposed. Both Danyerin and I had already caught on.

I was just curious about how far the lies would go, so I was teasing. There’s a certain thrill in subtle teasing.

Ah, of course, the claim of having nowhere to touch isn’t a lie; it’s true. She’s too slender for her own good.

In truth, Danyerin is the curvier one, and Lee Yeon-joo is more of a regular shape. Actually, Lee Yeon-joo’s body is also quite impressive in its own way.

It’s just that a certain area is lacking. Luna has some curves, but for Lee Yeon-joo, it’s barely noticeable.

“Who would say such a ridiculous lie? It’s only natural to toy with someone’s feelings.”

“And what about you? Aren’t you the one playing around with Sivar?”

“Sorry, but I’m serious about it, not joking. Of course, the trust is still a bit lacking.”

Danyerin said that while carefully holding my hand. This time, she didn’t bring it anywhere near her chest.

She just petted it quietly. With a subtle smile, she responded to Lee Yeon-joo.

“But once trust is built, the story changes. I’ve decided to give my body.”

“Wha, wha, what? Yo, body?”

“Right. Body.”

“… …”

Lee Yeon-joo glanced back and forth between Danyerin and me, her face slightly reddening.

Then, she asked Danyerin in a voice filled with disbelief, clearly cautious.

“… … It’s slang I know, right? There’s a similar expression in the common tongue.”

“Yes, the slang you’re aware of is correct. Or should I put it this way?”

Danyerin smiled, then stated directly.

“I will offer my first time.”

“Th-that’s…!”

Lee Yeon-joo had a meltdown upon hearing such an explicit statement. It was a stark contrast to her previous boldness.

Whether it was embarrassment or sheer shock, her face turned noticeably red.

I thought to myself, if I were in her position, I’d probably react the same way.

“B-but you’re a princess! A royal princess at that!”

“True.”

“Does it make sense for someone like you to offer their first time?! You must maintain your chastity until…!”

Lee Yeon-joo rambled on, but she managed to convey her main point. In summary, it was a conservative idea that chastity should be preserved until marriage.

Given the times and the Eastern Empire’s conservative culture, Lee Yeon-joo wasn’t wrong in her assertions.

Licentious individuals are avoided everywhere, and especially for someone in high society, bad rumors can spread like wildfire.

Moreover, a woman’s chastity is often valued, so it’s best kept intact.

“That’s true. But at the same time, from my perspective, it’s utterly absurd.”

“Absurd?”

“Our empire is currently rife with internal strife. I, too, don’t know when or where my life might be threatened.”

Danyerin said that while nodding toward the bed in the back.

“Aren’t you curious about where my bodyguard is?”

“… …”

“And don’t you wonder why there’s a bloodstain over there? Just like earlier, your thoughts are quite short-sighted.”

Lee Yeon-joo looked at the spot Danyerin pointed to. I followed her gaze.

Upon shifting my focus, I could see a vivid bloodstain on the ground. That had to be the blood that Yeohye had shed.

It was just a nosebleed, but it must have been severe since it soaked the ground. Anyone would assume she had been stabbed.

“I want to become the Emperor. But I will have to face life-threatening situations until then.”

“… …”

“If I could just keep my life, I’d willingly throw away this chastity.”

This is where the difference in mindset between Lee Yeon-joo and Danyerin lies. Lee Yeon-joo would likely be without much to say on this matter.

While Danyerin faces reality head-on and is willing to sacrifice what needs to be sacrificed, Lee Yeon-joo is the type who wants to hold on to what she believes in.

She might have the spirit of a revolutionary, but it’s lacking. Both were risking their lives, yet their mentalities were different.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I think chastity is worthless. I want to give it to someone I trust more than anyone else.”

“… … So, you charmed Sivar? You’ve only known him for a short while! Are you trying to use an unsuspecting child?”

Lee Yeon-joo scoffed as if she found it ridiculous. To her, this was perfectly reasonable.

Being a wilderness dweller without any background or connections makes him trustworthy. But it also makes him easy to manipulate.

Of course, it’s a given that she wouldn’t know the full backstory yet. But Danyerin had her own retorts.

“Sorry, but it was Sivar who stopped the guard trying to assassinate me. He heard the commotion from the next room.”

“What?”

“Whether he wants to or not, Sivar has been dragged into the imperial power struggle. Just for reference, I never had any intentions in that direction.”

As she said this, Danyerin slowly moved closer to me. Then, she quietly crossed her arms against me.

Thanks to that, a warm sensation flowed into my arm. She definitely knows how to stir a man’s feelings in many ways.

“A man who saved my life at the moment I gave up on it… it really sounds like something out of a fairy tale, right?”

“… … Is that really true? Sivar barged in and saved you?”

“Otherwise, what reason would I even have to fall for him? Before, it was just a level of mere curiosity, but…”

Danyerin trailed off, getting even closer. A strange fragrance wafted up my nose.

To anyone, the movement was tender. If someone else were watching, it would be a scene full of sweetness.

“Now, I can give my heart. Trust needs to be built more, though.”

“… …”

Lee Yeon-joo wore a blank expression as she struggled to find the words. It was the look of someone witnessing shock and horror.

But perhaps because she was someone who crafted lies creatively, it didn’t take long for her to regain her composure and poke at the unclear parts.

“Right now, Sivar is still unfamiliar with civilization. What if his life were in danger? Would he still want to protect you then?”

“I can assure you.”

“Alright. Then I’ll ask you one more thing. You know very well that there are people who have feelings for Sivar.”

Lee Yeon-joo shot a glance at me, then turned her sharp gaze back at Danyerin.

The next words that came out of her mouth pierced right through the concerns Danyerin had.

“If those people were to get hurt or put in danger because of you, would Sivar really choose you?”

“… …”

“Isn’t your understanding of trust based on choosing oneself above all else, no matter the situation?”

Now it was Danyerin’s turn to take a hit. If that remark struck home, her arms around me loosened just a bit.

It must be a painful truth for Danyerin. Would he choose her in a moment of crisis? That was the lingering doubt.

With one foot dipped in the power struggle, there’s no easy way out. Yet, she can’t give up on her own aspirations.

More than anything, she only has one life. I wish I could split into multiples, but unfortunately, that’s not possible.

“… … You hit the nail on the head. I have no counter-argument.”

“Were you really trying to use Sivar? An innocent child?”

“I’d like to answer that no.”

Still, I made it clear that it wasn’t true. Like I said before, it was me who stepped into this first.

Danyerin might have been ready to sacrifice her life, but the moment I barged in, she was inevitably pulled into conflict.

Living quietly? That’s impossible. Given the crown prince’s vicious nature and thirst for power, her life will be in danger every single day.

“I want to become emperor. But if I don’t, my life will be in danger. Sivar is in the same boat.”

“Sounds like an excuse?”

“No matter how powerful Sivar is, he stands no chance in front of an army, the apex of humanity’s might.”

Danyerin’s point was valid. I, too, would be helpless against an army, which represents humanity’s strength.

Sure, I could inflict some meaningful damage. But in the face of overwhelming numbers, it wouldn’t mean a thing.

And the crown prince already has a portion of military power in his hands. Probably by now, he’s managed to enlist two generals.

If time passes and he manages to conscript a top general, it’ll become impossible for Danyerin to become emperor. After that… well, that’s obvious.

“We’re effectively in the same boat. Whether we want to or not.”

“Ugh… If that’s the case, I have no choice but to concede… but since Sivar took the lead…”

Lee Yeon-joo sighed. If Danyerin was the one luring Sivar in, she would have had a lot more to say.

At that moment of brief silence, Lee Yeon-joo suddenly voiced her confusion.

“… … Why am I worrying about this? It has nothing to do with me.”

That’s a fair point. Although Lee Yeon-joo was leaping towards independence, she wasn’t getting involved in the imperial power struggle.

The assassination attempt could be bypassed if Danyerin just quietly withdrew. But Danyerin isn’t that kind of person.

“Nothing to do with you, huh… I wonder about that? You’ve already attempted to assassinate me. The moment I report this, Johan will be under tremendous pressure.”

“When were you ever in a good position?”

“I might be, but my brother definitely isn’t. He has too much greed as it is.”

“… …”

That’s a veiled warning. The moment Danyerin reports this, it’ll have to go through the crown prince.

Naturally, the assassination attempt will be brought up, and the crown prince will try to exploit it later.

No matter what, an assassination attempt is the worst option. And at the same time, she’s walking straight into a trap.

“Looks like I need to make a proposal. No, I’ll give you a choice instead.”

“Ch-choice?”

“Right. A choice. I’m not generous enough to let an assassin go free.”

Considering what happened with Yeohye, I kept my mouth shut.

Afterward, Danyerin, while keeping her arm linked with mine, made a threatening proposal to Lee Yeon-joo.

“Will you help me liberate my homeland? Or will you retreat and hasten its downfall? Choose.”

“… … You’re saying you’ll help liberate my homeland? You want me to believe that?”

“If I ascend to the throne, I’ll see to it personally. If I can’t handle it properly, then throwing up is the better alternative.”

That’s a valid point. If you can’t even take proper care of it, you might as well not eat it in the first place.

Currently, the Hwan Empire faces this reality, just as the Soviet Union and the Japanese Empire once did.

Both annexed through sheer strength, but their capabilities were lacking, resulting in complete failure.

Honestly, there’s hardly been a success story in history. Even the once-mighty British Empire has shrunk significantly nowadays.

While you can forcefully conquer language and culture, if the bonds of language and culture are strong enough, you can’t solve it with force.

“More importantly, the current state of the East is quite alarming. The moment the power struggle begins in earnest, rebellions will erupt everywhere.”

“How do you know?”

“I have my ways. Even at the Academy, such sentiments are quite prevalent.”

The Academy is where people from all over the world congregate. What’s often called a melting pot of races.

The problem is that typically such melting pots create various conflicts. That’s what the demons are after.

They take these conflicts and escalate them into global crises, throwing everything into chaos. The demons are just the ones pushing from behind—it’s an inherently dangerous bomb.

“That would be the perfect time. There may never be another opportunity like that.”

“… …”

“Now, what will you do?”

Lee Yeon-joo’s gaze dimmed. In reality, her position finds this proposition quite appealing.

Taking advantage of the internal chaos within the Hwan Empire to incite rebellion. This applies not only to Johan but to other nations too.

Danyerin would seize that opportunity to ascend to power. Using the crown prince who controls military power against him.

“… … What are the conditions?”

Before long, Lee Yeon-joo finally spoke up. Right now, she has no choice but to accept.

As soon as Danyerin accepted, she wore her signature alluring smile. Then she tightened her arm around mine and said.

“As you can see, we are enjoying a secret affair. Don’t divulge this secret to anyone.”

“That’s easy enough.”

“And secondly…”