Chapter 1371.2
Belluard el Lyndis.
He was the son of Prince Vashas el Lyndis, a royal of the Lyndis Empire supported by the noble faction. Though he was a royal, he was also fated to soon leave the Imperial Palace.
“Your Highness, are we allowed to enter here?” someone cautiously asked him.
“What does it matter? It's just the outer grounds, not the Inner Palace. They say only royals can enter the Sun Annex, but it hasn't been a problem so far, has it? Besides, you are my trusted followers. It's fine to bring one or two followers along.”
“Hehe. Thank you, sir.”
“We are always ready to pledge our loyalty and sacrifice our lives.”
Such an infiltration by lesser nobles would put them in serious trouble if discovered.
However, Emperor Deorte, who was the emperor of their nation as well as Belluard’s grandfather, had not paid much attention to the place for several years.
Belluard had almost never been caught thus far, and even if he was, he could just use his royal authority to silence whoever happened to see him.
In fact, Belluard was a famous scoundrel even within the Lyndis Empire. Yet, he had never once considered himself a scoundrel. He saw everything he did as normal.
The men accompanying him on their rule-breaking excursion were unsavory types as well, mercenaries he had met while out at night.
Belluard el Lyndis, who kept them close under the guise of recruiting competent people, had a history of drinking with his subordinates in the beautiful garden several times before.
“Honestly, heaven is truly heartless. His Majesty’s too much, too. How can he distance himself so much from someone as clever and bright as Your Highness?” one of the men remarked, currying favor.
“Indeed!” another agreed.
“It must be because His Majesty doesn't understand that Prince Vashas is trying to accomplish great things.”
“I also don't quite understand why such a problem should be passed down and completely borne by His Highness Belluard.”
Belluard finally spoke up to say, “Hey, hey. Hold your tongue. He’s still the Emperor of this nation. Be careful with what you say.”
“Hehe. Yes, I’ll bear that in mind.”
Though he scolded them outwardly, Belluard actually thought the same thing. His followers flattered him as they always did to further reinforce his trust. The scoundrel tendencies that he refused to acknowledge didn’t matter to them. If they gained his trust, they could secure enough power and wealth to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.
“Tsk,” Belluard suddenly scoffed.
“Is something wrong?”
“It's nothing much. I'm just not pleased to see those beastfolk in the palace these days.”
“Shh. Shh! You must be careful, Your Highness. If word gets out about you saying that, it could cause trouble.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right. It's still my grandfather's era. Haah. If only my father had been chosen as the crown prince...”
Vashas and Alberth el Lyndis were famous political rivals.
That was why Belluard held such thoughts. If his father, Vashas el Lyndis, had been the crown prince instead of Alberth el Lyndis, he would also have gained the right to ascend to the throne once his father’s reign ended.
Vashas often muttered about such things when he was drunk. Belluard, who also coveted the throne, was no different.
“Do you all fancy the throne of the emperor for me?”
“W-wait! Your Highness, you must be careful with your words!” one of them worriedly said.
“It's fine. Who's going to come here? I, for one, truly covet that throne.”
“Ugh...”
The followers were afraid Belluard might cause trouble once the alcohol started to affect him, but they couldn't stop him. After all, they knew that if they interfered, they could lose his trust and everything they had bided their time for.
“If I ascend to the throne, everything will be mine. Everything in this Imperial Palace; gold and jewels; all the delicacies of the land and sea; and even the women of this palace.” He spoke blatant, dangerous words.
However, once the followers realized they couldn't stop him, they cautiously agreed and went along with it, assuming no one was listening.
“Of course, if His Highness Belluard ascends to the throne, the Lyndis Empire will enjoy a golden age. It’ll develop without limit and rise as a powerful nation,” once declared
“That's right,” another agreed.
Belluard went on, “Yes... yes. The empire now is strange. It's ridiculous how those low-born beastfolk are being treated, and how we're bowing too much to Heins Territory, where a low-born princess born from a beastfolk married into their lineage.”
“I-is that so?” The rest didn’t dare to agree.
“Of course, I know that the Saint of Tionis is a great being, but we’re still an empire. The emperor of an empire being afraid of a grand duke from a mere kingdom? Tsk, tsk.” He shook his head and raised his glass. “Forget it. This is enough discussion. Such talk ruins the taste of the liquor. Grab a bottle! Let's drink a reasonable amount and then find some women to take for the night.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll guide you to a very fine place.”
Belluard’s face flushed red as he guzzled down the wine, chuckling. He was quite drunk. It was then that he suddenly spotted a small girl sitting in the distant garden, admiring the flowers.
“Hmm?”
One of the men asked, “Your Highness?”
“Hold still for a moment.” Through his hazy vision, he quietly observed the black-haired girl looking at the flower beds. Then, seeing a small pair of straight horns on her head, he let out a cold laugh. “This is a place for royalty. Who’s that little bitch?”
“Yes. Ah. Well, we've never seen her before...”
“It's obvious. She must be the emperor's illegitimate child. He probably put her here so that she wouldn't cause a political fuss.”
He staggered up from his seat, and his followers rushed to support him lest he fall.
“Let go. She’s not important.”
“Your Highness...”
The followers worried that if he became involved with her, the trouble might fall on them.
Yet, Belluard el Lyndis, drunk as he was, didn't care.
“You.” Finally, he spoke to Evangeline, and she slowly turned her head. At that moment, his eyes widened.
‘Beautiful! Extremely pretty.’
Belluard considered beastfolk lowly, but he fell in love at first sight once he saw Evangeline.
He hiccuped and shivered as she cautiously asked him, “May I help you?”
‘I don't want to lose her. Is she a royal? If so, she might be hard to touch.’
“Are you a royal of Lyndis? I don't recognize your face.”
She paused for a moment at his question, then shook her head. “No, I'm not a royal. I'm just staying here temporarily by the grace of the crown prince. I'll be leaving soon.”
She purposely didn’t say that he was her maternal uncle. She felt it’d be disrespectful to use his title carelessly when she didn't know who the other person was. Also, mentioning Emperor Deorte's name was a delicate matter, so she chose not to.
Joy instantly flashed in Belluard’s eyes.
“Ooh. The Crown Prince? So, you’re here even though you're not a royal?”
“Yeah?” she responded casually.
Realizing she wasn't a royal, the followers shouted at her as if flaunting their power.
“Be careful how you speak! Do you know who this person is?!”
They judged that her manner of speech, even if she were a noble's daughter, was enough to justify their rebukes.
“And who are you?” Evangeline asked.
“Speaking of this person...”
“It's fine. What would a child know?” Although the age difference was minimal, Belluard paid no mind. “I am the imperial grandson of this nation, Belluard el Lyndis.”
“I'm Eva.”
When she replied calmly, he giggled.
‘A commoner without a family name, eh? Things just got easier.’
His followers seemed to think the same, wearing expressions of astonishment.
There was no need to fear the crown prince, much less the emperor. The power of Belluard's father was similar to that of the crown prince.
Belluard’s group gained the political high ground the moment the crown prince brought a beastfolk commoner into the Sun Annex.
He gestured, calling her over, and held out the bottle of wine. “I'm truly taken with you. I thought all the beastfolk were smelly and filthy things, but who would’ve known there was a gem like this?”
Evangeline was stunned. “What did you say?”
“Of course, I can easily forgive the presence of a beastfolk in this sacred Sun Annex, given the right persuasion.”
“Hey. I don't know much about the Lyndis Empire, but isn't discrimination against beastfolk subject to severe punishment?”
A follower slammed his fist on the table. “You lowly wench!! It seems you've lost all perspective after receiving the grace of His Highness the Crown Prince!!”
Evangeline frowned. “And do you realize who I am, to speak to me so carelessly?”
‘Ah, even her frown is beautiful. I will take you! I must make you mine.’
He held out an empty wine glass. “Come here and pour me a drink.”
If he had been even a little rational, he would’ve been cautious, but Belluard, already intoxicated, had lost all reason. Furthermore, Evangeline had given almost no public appearances over the years, so no one recognized her face.
When she finally stepped forward and grabbed the wine bottle, he reached out and grabbed her hand.
“How beautiful you are! Listen here, wench. You’ve just committed two acts of disrespect toward me. First, you failed to show proper respect to me, the imperial grandson of this nation. Second is being in this sacred Sun Annex despite being an audacious, low-born beastfolk, a mere commoner.”
“The crown prince...” she began.
“Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince permitted it, so no one could stop you. But what if I let it be known he let such a lowly commoner into the Sun Annex? Wouldn't that bring harm to the same crown prince who helped you?”
He gave a sinister smile. “But if you pour me a drink, I’ll overlook everything. What do you say? Do you want to be mine? If you do, I will give you everything.”
“Everything?” she asked.
“Yes, yes. I’m an imperial grandson, but the current Crown Prince is quite old to inherit the throne, meaning the next-generation imperial grandson can become the emperor.”
What he said was very dangerous talk, but he didn't care. The alcohol had emboldened him.
He had often heard his father Vashas say that he’d soon seize the crown prince's position, and that the next emperor would be him, following his father.
“If you serve me, I’ll dote on you once I inherit the throne. You’ll have all the delicacies of the land and sea, along with gold and jewels. I'll let you indulge in luxury without limits.”
She looked at him calmly. Then, when he released her hand, Evangeline, with an indifferent look on her face, turned the mouth of the wine bottle toward the ground.
Glug glug glug.
The expensive wine seeped into the garden’s grass.
Seeing such a thing done by a commoner, mere beastfolk they looked down, the followers immediately stood up.
However, Evangeline looked at Belluard with a cold expression. “There is a saying in another country that I quite like. Tigers don’t give birth to dogs.”
“Hmm?”
“It means that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Evangeline looked down at him chillingly. “But it seems that saying isn't always true.”
Sling!!! Clang!!!
The followers quickly pointed their swords at her throat.
“You pretty-faced commoner beastfolk wench! I will say you are quite the fearless type. We cannot overlook such a statement, even if you have received the grace of His Highness the Crown Prince. Bow your head to His Highness Belluard immediately.”
She simply sighed at their demands. “If I cause a scene here, Dad will notice...”
She was as annoyed as she could be.
