Chapter 96

The scene shown by the Imperial Eye ended there.

The water surface rippled again, and after it calmed down, the only thing reflected on the water was Aristine's bewildered face.

"What the...?!"

Caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, Aristine was thrown into confusion.

'What the hell is going on? At the very least, it should have shown the confrontation scene where the poisoning happened!'

Feeling frustrated, Aristine agitated the water in the basin, but the surface only rippled without any other changes.

She had never felt so helpless at her inability to control the Imperial Eye.

A deep sigh escaped her lips.

Nephthys' death.

The sudden news made Aristine feel as if her heart had sunk.

'Calming down.'

Aristine took a deep breath and exhaled.

She held her trembling fingertips and closed her eyes, making a vow as if in prayer.

'This hasn't happened yet. I can prevent it.'

She gathered her strength in her dantian and opened her eyes sharply.

She wished she could understand the situation more clearly, but it was already in the past.

Dwelling on what she hadn't seen wouldn't help her move forward.

'It's better than not knowing at all.'

Aristine got up from her seat and approached the dresser.

She unlocked the drawer with the hidden key and took out a transparent, glowing vial.

It was the poison the Emperor had given her when she left Silvanus.

'Kill Tarkan.'

'Poison his heart with a dagger or mix it into his drink.'

Recalling the memory, Aristine gripped the vial tightly. The cold touch was distinctly felt.

She wanted to mock the idea that anyone would follow such orders, but after seeing the future, she couldn't.

The Emperor wanted discord within the Ailugo royal family, centered around Aristine, and it was indeed going to happen.

'If I'm framed as the king's assassin, the Emperor will have a justifiable reason to rebel and start a war.'

The extent of Silvanus' war preparations was unknown.

But it was a reason that could be obtained sooner or later.

'If I'm executed, it would be the perfect reason.'

The Emperor would be delighted.

'I should deal with this first.'

The fact that she had poison in her possession clearly meant this.

Aristine hesitated as she thought about disposing of the poison.

'But who knows that I have this poison?'

Since the Emperor had given it to her personally, the maids wouldn't know.

Even if they did, they were no longer in Ailugo.

'The certain thing is that they framed me with some evidence.'

They might have secretly placed the poison in her room.

But if this vial was part of the "evidence" they mentioned...

'I can find out who framed me.'

Moreover, if handled well, she could counterattack.

Aristine's eyes gleamed sharply.

* * *

"Aristine?"

Tarkan, noticing Aristine's unusually quiet demeanor, called out to her, puzzled.

She was sitting on the bed, lost in thought, and didn't respond even when called.

'Could it be because of the kiss just now?'

There hadn't been any other special events.

After dinner, they had washed up and come to the bedroom.

Tarkan wondered if she had disliked the kiss, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.

'No, technically, she was the one who did it.'

Aristine was the aggressor, and Tarkan was the victim.

Of course, Tarkan thought he could be the victim of such an act any number of times.

He was annoyed and a bit resentful that Aristine was acting as if she disliked what she had done, but he also felt a bit embarrassed.

Tarkan paced around Aristine like a restless black panther.

Then, Aristine lifted her head and looked at Tarkan.

"Tarkan."

Her voice was pleasant to hear.

Just that was enough to start melting the resentment he felt, and Tarkan grumbled in response.

"Why?"

"If, hypothetically, His Majesty the King were assassinated, who do you think the culprit would be?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Tarkan frowned and looked at Aristine.

Aristine didn't avoid his gaze.

After asking this, if Nephthys were poisoned, she might be suspected.

No, it would be normal to suspect her.

But.

'Tarkan is different.'

She had that belief.

Honestly, she was a bit surprised to see Tarkan defend her in the future.

Believing her without knowing the full details.

Especially since he was Nephthys' son.

Nephthys' assassination would have shocked Tarkan more than Aristine.

Yet, he focused on protecting her.

"Why now?"

"Just... Now that the business is on track, I'm starting to think more about political struggles?"

"Don't worry unnecessarily."

Tarkan pressed Aristine's head down with one hand.

He didn't like that she was having such dark thoughts.

He wanted her to think happy and bright thoughts.

If he could be a bit more selfish—

'I want to be in her thoughts too.'

Even though he only thought it, he felt a bit embarrassed and his ears turned red.

On the other hand, he felt a bit relieved.

It wasn't because of the kiss with him that Aristine was so down.

He unconsciously stroked the spot where his lips had touched hers.

"Hey."

Aristine's call made him pull his hand away as if he had been caught.

"If someone said I assassinated His Majesty the King, would you believe it?"

Tarkan looked into her violet eyes, which were staring at him intently.

It was a strange question.

Her gaze was equally strange.

Her violet eyes seemed to reflect nothing while simultaneously reflecting everything.

He didn't know why she was asking this, but the answer was simple.

"No."

"Even if there was solid evidence?"

"Yes."

Aristine was silent for a moment.

After a while, she asked in a slightly hoarse voice.

"Why?"

"Because you wouldn't do it."

It was a very simple reason.

But it was also a very complex and difficult reason.

Aristine took a deep breath.

Tarkan's golden eyes, like sunlight, were fixed on her.

In the dimly lit bedroom, Aristine felt blinded.

In the vast palace where she had grown up, no one had ever believed in her like this.

Even when she was oppressed by the Emperor and eventually exiled, no one stood up for her.

No one had suggested she be taken away with them.

She thought it was natural. Everyone had their own lives to live.

Aristine bowed her head.

A dry laugh escaped her lips.

"Aristine?"

Tarkan asked cautiously.

His large hand gently brushed her fallen hair, trying to read her expression.

He could feel that he was checking on her emotions, making sure she was okay.

Aristine lifted her head sharply.

Her gaze, clear like a silver spring in the sunlight, was fixed on Tarkan.

"Tarkan."

"Why?"

"I understand why we are married."

Aristine smiled.

"You are my husband."

Tarkan stared at her smiling face for a moment, dazed.

After a while, he came to his senses and frowned.

"Are you just figuring that out now? How long have we been married?"

He turned his gaze away from Aristine and pursed his lips.

His cheeks were slightly red, perhaps due to the red candlelight.

"Indeed."

Aristine smiled and clapped her hands.

"Then, my husband, shall we think about this together?"

Tarkan was surprised and looked at her.

Aristine had always thought and solved problems on her own.

But now, thinking together...

The clear line that had always existed between them seemed to blur a bit.

'No, don't let your guard down.'

The person in front of him was Aristine.

Tarkan knew very well how unpredictable his wife could be.

She might build an even stronger and more solid wall than before.

'She's driving me crazy.'

Despite his thoughts, he couldn't stop his heart from beating faster with anticipation.

'Is this the result of touching her chest every night?'

He pondered seriously.

Aristine, seeing his serious face, thought,

'He looks so serious. I'm glad I suggested we think about this together.'

It was a misunderstanding, whether fortunate or unfortunate.

"In my opinion, if His Majesty the King were to pass away suddenly, the faction that would benefit the most would be the Queen's party."

The purpose of most attempts to poison the king usually narrows down to one thing.

The next throne.

Since marrying Aristine, Tarkan's position had been improving day by day.

It was uncertain how the line of succession might change.

The Queen's party would naturally feel threatened, wouldn't they?

"If His Majesty the King were to pass away before you become the first in line for the throne, Hamir would naturally become the next king."

Tarkan frowned.

He thought she was suggesting they think together, but it was an extension of their earlier conversation.

"I told you not to worry unnecessarily. You just—"

"Can't we think about it together?"

At Aristine's question, Tarkan's lips pressed together.

A brief silence followed.

"Fine."

He growled.

Is this woman doing this on purpose?

Her skill at manipulating him was not ordinary.

When asked like that, he couldn't say no.

"I don't know much about Ailugo's political situation, so I'm curious if there are any other factions that might target His Majesty besides the Queen's party."

"Well, there are many nobles who disagree with His Majesty, but I don't think any of them would go as far as assassination."

Nephthys was a seasoned politician, alternating between conflict and cooperation.

If he took away a benefit, he would give it back the next time.

Like giving Tarkan the card of being the princess of Silvanus and then giving Hamir the card of the mana stone mine.

Therefore, there were no people who harbored enough resentment to stage a coup.

"The Queen's party wouldn't rashly assassinate His Majesty. They would focus more on reducing my influence."

"Yes, but I'm talking about the hypothetical case where His Majesty is assassinated. If His Majesty passes away and I am accused of the crime, what then?"

"What?"

Tarkan reacted sharply, and Aristine smiled as if it was nothing.

"Just a hypothetical scenario."

Tarkan frowned, displeased, but soon answered.

"In that case, it would be the Queen's party."

Aristine nodded.

Just confirming that there were no other third parties eliminated a lot of variables.

'It doesn't seem like the Emperor's doing.'

The Emperor was quite restrained in reaching out to Ailugo due to the problems caused by the knights and maids who had accompanied Aristine.

"But this is all based on the assumption that His Majesty is actually poisoned by someone."

Tarkan, seeing Aristine lost in thought, spoke quietly.

"The Queen, Duke Skiera, and Hamir are not the type to harm His Majesty."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Tarkan's answer made Aristine think.

'But in the future, His Majesty is poisoned.'

She paused.

'Is it really poisoning?'

What she had seen was just a snippet of the future.

Everything she had seen through the Imperial Eye was supposed to happen, but there was no guarantee that it was all true.

So, the conclusion was one.

'Let's start with what we can do.'

Aristine lifted her head and looked at Tarkan.

"Tarkan, I have a favor to ask."

Chapter 30. A Man's Jealousy

While pondering Nephthys' death, time continued to pass without waiting for her.

Aristine had seen the past, present, and future many times through the Imperial Eye.

But there was nothing helpful regarding this matter.

She had decided to start with what she could do, but the more time passed, the more anxious she became.

"Why are you like this?"

At the voice by her ear, Aristine lifted her head.

"You're always lost in thought when we meet."

Hamir smiled softly, his elegant eyes narrowing as he looked at Aristine.

"Sorry, Lu."

Aristine apologized honestly, rubbing her forehead with her index finger.

"I've had a lot on my mind lately."

"Your business is going well. Is there something else to worry about?"

"Would you help if I told you?"

Hamir laughed brightly at her words.

He was curious how Aristine would react if she knew he had mobilized all his resources to send the mana stones as quickly as possible.

"What do you think?"

Aristine shook her head.

"It's nothing. The position of princess is one that requires a lot of thought."

"Hmm, like thoughts about a rabbit-like husband?"

"Are you secretly obsessed with Tarkan?"

At her words, Hamir's eyes widened before he chuckled.

"No, I'm not."

"Sure, you seem pretty obsessed."

Aristine playfully poked his side.

Hamir gently caught her hand and leaned in.

Their faces were close.

"There is someone else I'm obsessed with."

His bright turquoise eyes looked directly at Aristine.

"I'm done with my husband. I want to make money."