Chapter 17

It was an act to thoroughly humiliate Aristine and clearly show who held the real power here.

No matter that she was a princess of the empire, in the political and social circles of Ailugo, she was no better than the lowest of the low.

She wanted to make this clear not only to the princess herself but also to the other nobles present.

‘Could it be that I’ve only given the princess a chance to counterattack?’

Given how impressive Aristine’s political and social skills had been, it was impossible not to have such thoughts.

It wasn’t just the queen who was uneasy.

Tarkan was also quite anxious, though for entirely different reasons.

He knew all too well what kind of absurd woman his fiancée was.

‘Surely she’s not going to start talking about perversion or something here, is she?’

Seeing Aristine’s eyes sparkle, such thoughts naturally came to mind.

It would be an odd thought under normal circumstances, but who was she dealing with?

‘This woman is capable of anything.’

It was a remarkable talent to make even Tarkan, who had never been shaken even when surrounded by monsters, feel uneasy.

Tarkan quickly wrapped his arm around Aristine’s shoulder before she could cause any trouble.

Her slender shoulder slipped into his palm.

While distracting Aristine with a puzzled look, Tarkan spoke to the queen.

“The banquet hasn’t even started yet, and Your Majesty already seems to be tipsy.”

“Tipsy?”

“Unless you’re drunk, there’s no way you’d tell a princess to sit at the very end.”

In other words, it was something a sane person wouldn’t say.

Seeing the queen’s face stiffen, Tarkan pulled Aristine closer to him.

“The princess who has come to Ailugo can be considered a symbol of peace. Yet, you want to seat her at the very end...”

His golden eyes were lazy and relaxed even in this moment.

“I can’t believe that Your Majesty is declaring that you will place peace in the lowest position.”

The queen’s lips trembled.

Not just her, but the other royals, nobles, and even the king himself were surprised by what was happening.

‘Tarkan is stepping in to protect someone else?!’

‘And using such political rhetoric!’

It was a sight they never thought they’d see.

Tarkan had always taken care of his own people.

But it was more a matter of people knowing his overwhelming presence and stepping back on their own.

Like when he first carried Aristine.

‘Oh, so Prince Tarkan is stepping in like this. This is getting interesting.’

The Marquis Isara, who had maintained neutrality, lit up with interest.

Tarkan had always proven himself through actions rather than words, befitting his reputation as a warrior.

He had only two ways of dealing with people who stood in his way: ignore them or cut them down.

He had never used political rhetoric or social maneuvering like this before.

That’s why the nobles had leaned more towards Hamir.

But what was happening now revealed that Tarkan hadn’t lacked the ability; he simply hadn’t had the desire.

This realization must have been quite confusing for those who had underestimated him.

‘He seemed uninterested in the throne, but has he changed his mind? If not...’

The Marquis Isara’s gaze turned to Aristine, who was in Tarkan’s arms.

‘Surely he’s not doing this for the princess, is he?’

It was Tarkan, after all.

That was impossible.

Despite this, the marquis couldn’t take his eyes off the large hand gripping Aristine’s shoulder.

‘I don’t know what His Highness’s true intentions are, but it’s surprising that he’s stepping in for the princess for the first time like this.’

Tarkan’s actions were already unexpected, but the fact that they were for Aristine was even more shocking.

This was true for everyone present.

Diona, sitting among the nobles, looked as if she had lost all color.

Her hands, resting on her lap, were so tense that her veins were bulging.

Regardless of how people reacted, Tarkan continued.

“Or is there another problem besides being tipsy?”

Are you senile?

The meaning behind Tarkan’s words was stark.

The queen’s lips twisted.

“Of course, that wasn’t my intention. I was just looking for an empty seat because I couldn’t keep the princess standing forever.”

“We can always make a seat.”

Tarkan’s gaze turned to the dais where the direct royal family was seated.

By protocol, Aristine and Tarkan should sit there.

“I believe everyone will make room for peace.”

His cold, golden eyes swept over the princes and princesses.

It was essentially a threat to stand up and make room.

The无形的气场让王室成员感到窒息。

This was what they hated.

Being dominated by someone of low birth.

But pride had its limits.

Marten, who received the most attention, finally stood up.

“Ha ha, of course, I should give my seat to the beautiful princess.”

The queen’s sharp gaze turned to Marten.

Marten pretended not to notice and smiled at Aristine.

“Thank you, Prince Marten.”

“My pleasure.”

Marten grinned, forgetting the situation at Aristine’s gratitude.

‘I knew he couldn’t control himself around women.’

The queen clicked her tongue.

How pathetic. How could he be so different from Tarkan, who was the same age?

“Let’s go, Tarkan. Couples should sit together, right?”

At her words, the hand on Aristine’s shoulder twitched.

‘Did I say something strange?’

Aristine looked up in confusion, but Tarkan said nothing and escorted her to the dais.

‘Maybe it’s just my imagination.’

Aristine clenched her fist.

Her business partner had worked hard for her, and she couldn’t just stand by.

‘I have to take care of Tarkan’s seat too!’

How could she let her husband sit on the floor?

Stallina, who met Aristine’s gaze, flinched.

After the incident yesterday, she was unsure whether she should move.

The princess didn’t scare her, but Paellamien did.

Stallina was the weakest here.

But Aristine’s gaze bypassed her and moved to someone else.

‘Sitting in someone’s seat has its own political implications, and there’s no need to provoke a nobody.’

The most powerful direct royal in this place, without Prince Hamir.

“Since we’re getting married soon, it’s best to sit next to each other, right?”

There was only one person it could be.

“It’s not me, but our engagement is a symbol of peace.”

Princess Yenikarina.

While speaking to Tarkan, Aristine’s gaze was on Yenikarina.

The seats next to Prince Marten were originally for Prince Tarkan and Princess Yenikarina.

Since Tarkan’s seat was empty, it was now occupied by Princess Paellamien and Princess Yenikarina.

Aristine smiled brightly at Yenikarina.

“By the way, Yenikarina, didn’t you say you were very happy about our marriage?”

Now, it’s time to show it.

And this isn’t your mother’s doing, is it?

Her purple eyes shone like a predator’s.

Even before the marriage, her gaze was eerily similar to Tarkan’s.

“Yes, Yenikarina...”

Yenikarina’s eyes scanned the room.

All the nobles, and even her father, were watching her.

Yenikarina wanted to be seen as cute, innocent, and lovable.

She wanted others to see her that way and enjoyed the attention.

This made it hard for her to act here.

An innocent and kind child should stand up and say, “Oh, then Yenikarina will give up her seat!” with a bright smile.

But some would interpret this politically and gossip about it.

She was Hamir’s half-sister, and if she gave her seat to Tarkan and moved to the back, it would be seen as a political move.

‘No, even if that’s not the case, I don’t want to give my seat to this trashy princess!’

She absolutely refused.

But the gazes of the people remained.

Just as Yenikarina was cornered, a voice of salvation came.

“Yenikarina’s legs hurt, so it’s better for her to sit in a comfortable chair.”

‘Father!’

Yenikarina looked at her father with gratitude.

She quickly agreed with him.

“Yes, Yenikarina would love to give up her seat for peace, but...”

Yenikarina shook her head.

“No, even if it’s not for peace, Yenikarina wants to give up her seat for her new sister. Yenikarina really likes Rine.”

She smiled brightly, then pouted.

“But Yenikarina’s legs are hurting... As you can see, Yenikarina is much smaller than others.”

I’m fragile.

Her large eyes looked up at Aristine with that meaning.

If the other person was different, the size difference would have been quite effective.

But compared to Aristine, who was of a different race, Yenikarina’s body seemed more robust, lacking in persuasiveness.

Aristine watched Yenikarina’s act in silence, then slowly spoke.

“Oh, I didn’t know Yenikarina’s legs were hurting. Are you okay?”

“Even if it hurts, it’s a welcoming party for Rine, so Yenikarina should be here!”

“Thank you.”

Aristine smiled.

‘I didn’t expect the King of Ailugo to intervene here.’

The king had been observing silently, so she hadn’t anticipated this.

Especially since he had been favorable towards her.

‘Hmm... He’s the king’s favorite daughter. I didn’t think I would be more favored than Yenikarina in an instant.’

They had only met twice, yesterday and today.

If the King of Ailugo was so easily swayed, he would be a foolish ruler.

‘If he was that emotionally driven, he wouldn’t have left the position of Crown Prince vacant.’

He would have already made Tarkan the Crown Prince.

Nefter considered Tarkan as a successor but was unwilling to risk the country’s division or conflict.

He preferred to let things take their course, which is why he arranged for Aristine to be engaged to Tarkan.

‘The king is indeed favorable towards me, but he’s also testing me.’

‘Oh, not bad. How far can you go? That kind of feeling, perhaps.’

Aristine was silent for a moment, and Yenikarina smiled in victory.

‘So, even if you impressed Father yesterday, he still favors Yenikarina the most!’

She leaned back in her chair, looking at Aristine and Tarkan.

‘Only Yenikarina can understand and support Father’s weaknesses!’

The queen also looked at her daughter proudly.

Just as the mother and daughter were basking in their victory, the king spoke.

“Instead, as Rine said, couples should sit together.”

The nickname from the king surprised everyone.

‘Rine...’

‘Calling the princess like a daughter.’

‘What? Wasn’t he supporting Yenikarina?’

While people were confused, the king continued smoothly.

“Tarkan is right; we can always make a seat.”

The king gestured to the palace attendants.

“Bring a chair.”

The attendants bowed and followed the king’s order.

They quickly brought a chair for Tarkan and Aristine, but there was no clear place to put it on the dais where the direct royal family sat.

The queen had deliberately adjusted the spacing to make it difficult to add a chair.

To place the new chair, they would have to move all the existing chairs and rearrange them.

“There’s no need for that.”

Nefter gestured to the spot right below him.

People gasped silently at where his gaze landed.

Directly below the king and queen.

That spot was reserved.

For no one else but the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of the country.

“Your Majesty!”

The queen called out in a near scream.

The king’s clear eyes slowly turned to her.

“Why, Queen.”

His voice carried a warning, but the queen couldn’t back down.

Sitting Tarkan there was unacceptable. She had to stop it.

The Duke Skiera also spoke up, agitated.

“That spot is for the Crown Prince and his wife, Your Majesty! How can Prince Tarkan, who is second in the line of succession, sit there!”

“The Duke is right. The royal family must maintain order and protocol, don’t you think?”

The queen supported the duke’s words, appealing to the king.

The king looked at them and laughed heartily.

“You’re all overthinking this. It’s just about placing a chair in an empty spot.”

If the seats had no meaning, Aristine wouldn’t have been seated at the end in the first place.

‘When Tarkan dared to challenge me by saying he would place peace at the lowest position, you did nothing!’

The queen’s eyes flashed with anger.

The king, however, only smiled calmly.

“It’s unavoidable. There was a mistake in seating arrangements.”

The queen stiffened.

This was her plan from the beginning.

She had pretended it was a mistake, but everyone here knew it wasn’t.

With the king pointing it out, she had no choice but to back down.

The queen gripped the armrest tightly.

She had been outsmarted by her own scheme.

Her angry gaze turned to Tarkan and Aristine, who were now sitting in the Crown Prince’s seats.

They sat there naturally, as if it was always their place.

The engaged couple, sitting side by side, complemented each other with their beauty, like a perfect picture.

Forget being a wife, I’ll focus on making money.