An Unexpected Proposal-Chapter 50

“There is an order to all things.”

“What… Arghhh!”

Veloa let out a scream and tumbled onto the snowy ground, rolling in pain. Droplets of blood fell from the tip of Sirin’s sword, still fresh and glistening.

“Aaaah! It hurts! How dare you do this to me and think you’ll live, ugh!”

“Don’t hold too much resentment. I’m simply following orders.”

The moment Sirin’s sword swung again toward Veloa, a sharp, shimmering blade sliced through the air.

“Kh…!”

“It’s unwise to push yourself, my lady.”

Sirin easily parried Lady Morco’s attack and clicked her tongue. A faint aura lingered around her blade.

“You were hiding your skills.”

“I simply saw no need to stand out.”

“…Whose orders are you following? Are you truly one of His Majesty’s people?”

“There is no need for you to know.”

The dead do not speak. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Sirin’s lips.

“Lady Morco!”

Alicia cried out in distress.

Lady Morco barely managed to block Sirin’s blade, but she couldn’t withstand the next strike. The sword pierced her body again, and another splash of red stained the snow.

“Let go! Let me go right now!”

“You mustn’t, my lady. It’s too dangerous.”

“Dangerous? That’s what you have to say right now? Do you even realize what you’re doing?”

Alicia struggled to shake off Sijna’s grip, shouting furiously.

Lady Morco had cherished the twins as if they were her own children. To her, they had been no different from her own flesh and blood. Hurting her was unforgivable.

“We are only following orders.”

“I won’t accept that! Do you know how much she cared for you?”

“Please do not resist. You know you cannot overpower me with your frail arms.”

“…”

“There is no need to worry. Your safety, at least, will be ensured.”

“My safety? By you?”

“You are carrying precious life, are you not?”

For a moment, Alicia’s vision blurred.

It wasn’t her they were after—it was the child.

The realization struck her like a bucket of ice water, shocking her back into clarity.

“Don’t even dream of it. Touch me, and you die.”

Alicia growled, her eyes burning red with fury, but Sijna remained unmoved. The gentle, smiling maid she once knew was gone.

“There is someone who wishes to meet you. Please, come with me.”

“No. Why should I go with you?”

“Then I cannot guarantee Lady Morco’s life.”

“…Are you threatening me?”

Alicia let out a short, bitter laugh.

“Lady Morco has suffered fatal wounds. If she is not treated soon, she will not survive.”

Sijna tilted her chin toward Lady Morco.

Even as she lay drenched in blood, the woman had struggled to stand and fight over and over again.

Alicia took a deep breath, unable to bear the sight any longer.

“You never intended to let her live, did you?”

“No. But if you come quietly, who knows?”

Sijna tugged on Alicia’s arm.

Despite the gentle pull, her body followed effortlessly, revealing the stark difference in strength between them.

“We could take you by force, but we would rather not be rough with someone carrying such a precious child. I would appreciate your cooperation, my lady.”

“…”

“It would be wise to choose the path that spares a life.”

“…”

“Of course, if you don’t care whether Lady Morco lives or dies, then you may resist all you like.”

People die much more easily than you think.

Sijna’s voice was eerily calm, sending a chill down Alicia’s spine.

It was a trap, obvious and unavoidable.

***

“Is something wrong, Your Grace?”

“No. Nothing.”

Cabelenus gave a short reply and turned back to his documents. But no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t focus.

It was just another ordinary day, yet his heart pounded in his chest.

Like a warning, thud, thud, thud.

He finally set down the papers and looked out the window.

Despite it being midday, the sky was dark and heavy with storm clouds.

“It looks like snow.”

“At this rate, the hunting season may come early this year.”

“Before that happens, we need to deal with the Christi princess. If she tries to use the blizzard as an excuse to stay longer, it will be troublesome.”

“You’re right. We should push for her departure as soon as possible.”

Gajev nodded in agreement.

He, too, had no desire for Veloa to remain in Schwarhan any longer. No matter how foolish she was, she was still one of Jerpeneus’s people.

They couldn’t allow her to keep serving as his eyes and ears.

“But no matter what we do, her side will protest. We may need the First Prince to—”

“Your Grace! We have a problem!”

A sudden voice cut Gajev off.

“What is this commotion?”

Gajev frowned, adjusting his slipping glasses.

“Lady Morco’s maid has arrived!”

“…”

“…”

Both men froze at once.

Cabelenus immediately stood up and strode toward the door, pushing it open.

“Bring her in.”

“T-That is… she is receiving medical treatment. She is covered in wounds…”

The steward hesitated, sneaking nervous glances at his master.

He was only following orders—any news from Lady Morco was to be reported immediately.

Yet, he couldn’t help but feel his heart drop every time his master’s face twisted with emotion.

His expression rarely changed, except when it involved Lady Morco.

“What do you mean, treatment?”

“There was an attack, Your Grace.”

“…”

“The maid testified that intruders appeared, and Lady Morco fought to stop them. We were preparing to send soldiers immediately, but—”

“Is that all? What else?”

Cabelenus’s eyes burned like wildfire.

The steward swallowed hard.

“Ah, one more thing… She said the intruder was a mage.”

“A mage?”

“Yes. A woman with pink hair.”

“…Veloa Christi.”

Cabelenus clenched his jaw.

There was only one woman in this castle with pink hair.

“B-But, isn’t she the princess? Why would she attack Lady Morco…?”

Ignoring the steward’s words, Cabelenus sprinted forward without hesitation. His mind was blank. The pounding in his chest, which had been relentless before, only intensified.

***

“There are four confirmed bodies so far. The damage is severe, making identification difficult, but based on multiple factors, we believe the deceased are…”

Gajev muttered in a defeated tone, rubbing his forehead. He tried to suppress his emotions, but the emptiness gnawed at him. No matter how much he told himself it was just a lack of information, it was undeniable—his oversight had led to this tragedy.

“Princess Veloa, the maid Sirin, Lady Morco… and…”

It appears to be the young lady.

A hollow sigh escaped Gajev’s lips. He fought to hold himself together, but his vision blurred, his eyes burning with unshed tears.

His kin, whom he had relied on.

A maid who had been like a younger sister.

His new mistress.

None of their deaths could be taken lightly. The weight of them crushed his chest.

“…I failed you, Your Grace. I was blind and incapable of serving you properly. If you wish to execute me here, I will accept it.”

Gajev fell to his knees.

The once-confident young man, who had only ever known success, now knelt in disgrace, consumed by guilt.

“…She isn’t dead.”

Cabelenus’s low voice barely carried over the wind.

Gajev’s head snapped up, his gaze following Cabelenus’s.

The corpse was in such a horrific state that, aside from the red hair, it was nearly impossible to identify. Yet, based on the clothing, body shape, and other details, there were more reasons to believe it was Alicia than to doubt it.

“That thing isn’t her. She isn’t dead. This is all just a trick.”

Cabelenus’s fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword. The veins in his hand bulged with tension, his knuckles turning white.

“The body hasn’t been dead for long. Whoever did this hasn’t gotten far. Lock down the entire castle and every border in Schwarhan. Not a single rat escapes.”

“….”

“I don’t repeat myself.”

“Your Grace…”

Gajev looked up at his lord with red-rimmed eyes.

Cabelenus wasn’t in his right mind.

His expression burned with an intensity that resembled a volcano on the verge of eruption.

***

“You don’t look well, Natalie.”

“Would you?”

“Hmm. I suppose not. But I, for one, am pleased that we finally have some time to relax together.”

With an unhurried smile, Jerpeneus poured tea into Natalie’s cup.

Natalie sighed deeply, watching the steam curl from the surface of the tea.

“…I don’t understand what you’re thinking.”

“That’s fine. No one does.”

“….”

“They’re all too busy questioning my true intentions.”

“That’s because you act in a way that warrants suspicion.”

“I simply act to get what I want.”

Jerpeneus set down the teapot, the subtle fragrance of the tea filling the room.

“It’s not nearly as good as the tea you make.”

“….”

“Next time, will you brew it for me?”

“If you have nothing useful to say—”

“The First Prince of the Christi Kingdom is deluded into thinking that because of his half-baked strength, he can claim the throne. As soon as he ascends, he’ll declare himself Emperor and turn against Blanche.”

Jerpeneus smiled as he gazed at the floating petals in his tea.

“And now, Princess Veloa is dead.”

“….”

“To him, her death is a convenient excuse.”

“An excuse? Don’t tell me you…”

“A war will soon break out between Schwarhan and the Christi Kingdom.”

Jerpeneus took a sip of his tea, his expression calm as if he were discussing something mundane.

“Do you have any idea what kind of reputation Cabelenus will earn because of this?”

“A man who killed his former betrothed and destroyed her homeland. A fine addition to his list of crimes, don’t you think?”

“That’s what you would do to your own brother?”

“It’s nothing new.”

Jerpeneus gave a smirk and tilted his head.

“Besides, this is the only way to make my dear brother move.”

“….”

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“War is only entertaining when both allies and enemies shed blood. But Cabelenus is too conservative with his troops. Even when facing a war with uncertain odds, he should take more risks while he’s still young.”

“You’re insane.”

Natalie wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“Natalie. Infamy is not disgrace. It is a symbol of power.”

“A symbol of power?”

“I don’t need a benevolent ruler. I need an absolute sovereign—one no one dares to challenge.”

If he had intended to cradle his brother like a precious jewel, he wouldn’t have thrown him into a battlefield where life and death were decided countless times a day.

The one who had nurtured Cabelenus’s infamous reputation was none other than Jerpeneus himself.

Jerpeneus ran his thumb thoughtfully over his chin.

“How long do you think Cabelenus will remain ignorant?”

“He already knows.”

“What?”

“He’s a smart boy. There’s no way he doesn’t know what I’ve been doing. Just as I understand him, he understands me.”

No matter how well one pretended, their essence didn’t change.

Jerpeneus knew full well that his brother, despite acting like a loyal dog, was merely biding his time for the perfect moment to strike.

“Not that it matters. Even if he does know, nothing will change. Even if he’s reached his rebellious phase, my dear brother is too kind-hearted to refuse me.”

“Be honest. He can’t refuse.”

“That’s what makes him endearing. A normal man would bow his head when facing an opponent he knows he cannot defeat. But Cabelenus? He’ll rack his brain to find a way to win.”

“….”

“He’s desperate to drag me down, but he knows he can’t yet. So he plays by my rules, waiting for his moment to claim victory.”

Except when it comes to that woman.

For a brief moment, Jerpeneus’s smirk twisted into something dark and unhinged.

“That strange woman. A worthless insect somehow managed to shake that obedient little brother of mine.”

“You’re the strange one.”

Natalie scoffed, unimpressed.

“What I do is a noble sacrifice for the greater cause.”

“Your greater cause.”

“If you want to be angry, be my guest. It won’t change the outcome.”

“….”

“In the end, Cabelenus will raise his sword. Even knowing that I was the one who killed her, he won’t direct his rage at me. No, he’ll direct it at the Christi Kingdom.”

Just like he always had.

He would trample everything in his path, seizing whatever he desired, becoming the most ruthless ruler the world had ever known.

And I am simply waiting for that moment.

Jerpeneus traced the handle of his teacup, letting out a quiet chuckle.