MHC 30

Chapter 30

At the sudden remark, Chloe doubted her own ears.
Without responding to the malicious words, she simply looked down at Helena.

The woman who had been ready to tear her apart shrank back at just one cold gaze.

“…W-what, acting like it’s some grand emotion!”

Then, as if to hide her own weakness, she spat out even harsher malice.

“A grand emotion?”

“Y-yeah!”

“What exactly are you trying to say?”

At last, Chloe responded in a cold voice.

“Oh, acting all noble and refined, but in the end you’re just as vulgar. Seeing how you went from the kingdom’s hero to the emperor, you just move according to power, don’t you?”

Helena seemed to be misunderstanding Chloe’s relationship with the emperor as something romantic. Truly, people see only what they want to see—mistaking shallow goodwill for love.

No matter how much she explained, it would only be dismissed as an excuse. Besides, she had no reason to waste effort explaining herself to this person.

“People are usually afraid of having their weaknesses exposed. So they mock others to cover them up.”

“…What?”

“They disguise their own flaws as if they belong to others. Are you the same?”

Her words were clearly aimed at Helena, who had tried and failed to win the emperor to her side.

“Y-you…! You think words are everything?”

“Lower your voice, and choose your words carefully. There are many eyes watching.”

At the solemn warning, Helena instinctively glanced around.

As Chloe said, palace servants passing by were watching them. One maid who met Helena’s gaze looked at her with clear disdain.

That fleeting look of contempt gnawed at Helena. Facing in reality the cold treatment she had never received in her ducal house, shame flooded over her.

“Shut up! Don’t give me advice!”

“If you take this maliciously, I have nothing more to say.”

“What are you so confident in? Why do you still act like you’re better than everyone? You have no one left by your side. That snot-nosed maid can’t even come back to you!”

“Snot-nosed maid?”

At the insulting nickname clearly referring to Jane, Chloe lost the calm she had maintained.

Something about Helena’s words felt strange. It didn’t sound like Jane had merely left the duchy. It sounded as if Helena believed Jane could never return.

“Why do you think Jane can’t come back to me?”

“What?”

“You speak as if something happened to her, Helena.”

As Chloe pointed it out directly, Helena’s face darkened noticeably—as if something she shouldn’t reveal had been exposed.

“…Helena. Do you really know something?”

“W-what are you talking about!”

“If something happened to Jane—”

“What would I know about that wench! I don’t know! I said I don’t know, so don’t come any closer… you…!”

Each time Chloe stepped closer, Helena recoiled in fear.

Just as Helena, overwhelmed with terror, shoved Chloe away with all her strength—

“What are you doing!”

An uninvited guest barged in, stepping between them.

Chloe looked down at her chest, still throbbing from being pushed. A red handprint marked her delicate skin. In contrast, Helena looked completely unharmed.

Yet somehow, Chloe was the one seen as the aggressor.

Recalling something faintly, Chloe murmured with a smile,

“Don’t misunderstand. I was only asking a question.”

“Do princesses always threaten people when they ask questions?”

“I only thought it would be better to speak privately. I suppose dukes are prone to exaggeration.”

The criticism that had passed through Kallis’s mouth now belonged to Chloe.

Repeating his careless words back at him, his face flushed with shame.

As if deciding words wouldn’t suffice, Kallis grabbed Chloe’s wrist roughly. Twisted at an awkward angle, it hurt intensely.

Seeing her wince, he quickly regained confidence.

“Apologize to Helena right now.”

His chin lifted arrogantly.

“I’m not foolish enough to confuse what deserves an apology and what doesn’t. Don’t presume to command me.”

“You still don’t understand what you did wrong.”

“What? Are you going to break my wrist this time? Causing a scene here won’t benefit anyone.”

“The one who won’t benefit isn’t me—it’s you. You’re the only one who’ll become the subject of gossip.”

Unlike his lover, Kallis did not fear others’ criticism. He firmly believed he would be protected from condemnation no matter what.

“A mere princess of a small kingdom and a hero of the age are different. I receive respect—while you’ll only receive contempt.”

Not everyone judged right and wrong based solely on status.

But more than his shallow values, something else made Chloe smile.

“A hero?”

She repeated, a mocking smile on her lips.

“I didn’t know. That a hero of the age could be sold off to a mere princess of a small kingdom.”

“….”

“What a remarkable hero indeed.”

The sharp words that had tormented Chloe countless times—now she held the blade and handed it back.

If he were truly confident, shouldn’t he, as always, shift the blame onto her? Claim the royal family forced the marriage to hinder his rise?

But Kallis remained silent.

To admit it would wound his pride; to deny it would contradict the contractual truth.

At last satisfied by their silence, Chloe let out a small scoff and left.

As she walked and turned a corner, a strangely familiar scent lingered in the air.

That evening, she was summoned again to the emperor’s private dining room.

“I heard the meeting went well.”

“Yes. Fortunately, the main issue was resolved smoothly.”

“Your contribution was significant. I should thank you.”

“It’s an honor.”

They toasted with an aperitif to celebrate the successful meeting.

“Come to think of it, I have something for you.”

As the bitter aroma lingered in her throat, Kun handed her an envelope. It was one he enclosed whenever he delivered a reply from her friend.

It seemed he had delivered Chloe’s letter that night—and already returned with a response.

‘How can letters travel so fast?’

It had only been a day and a half. Considering travel time to and from the duchy, it should have taken much longer.

‘They must be investing quite a lot in correspondence.’

Chloe, having no suspicion toward her friend, simply brushed it off.

“It’s a reply from my friend. Thank you. Thanks to you, Your Majesty, I’m happy I can still communicate with my friend even here.”

“That’s good to hear. Though, I wonder—are you also enjoying a dangerous relationship?”

“…Pardon?”

Chloe asked, startled.

From an outsider’s perspective, their correspondence might indeed seem suspicious.

“That’s not the case. We’re just close friends. My precious… only ally.”

She firmly emphasized it.

At that point, Kun dropped the subject and smoothly shifted the conversation.

“Aren’t you going to open it?”

“Now?”

“You should read a letter from someone precious quickly. It helps you think of a reply.”

“I’d rather focus on dining with Your Majesty.”

“No, it’s because I’m curious.”

“What about?”

“How the princess reacts when she’s with someone she’s comfortable with.”

As if implying she was uncomfortable with him.

“…Very well. Shall I open it? Would you like me to read it aloud?”

“I’m not so rude as to invade your privacy.”

Though he already was, Chloe said nothing and opened the letter.

A bitter scent wafted up immediately—strong enough to stand out among all the food aromas.

It resembled the emperor’s own scent.

After reading it, she placed it aside.

“You’re smiling,” Kun said.

“…Am I?”

“You were smiling while reading.”

“What did your friend say?”

“It mostly continues from my last letter. Casual chatter, greetings… Oh, and they asked again about something I once requested help with.”

She hadn’t properly answered before, and her friend must have been concerned.

“A request?”

“Isn’t it sweet? But I plan to refuse this time.”

“You’ve changed your mind.”

“I have a reliable backing now.”

She slipped the letter back into the envelope.

Even if she couldn’t fully trust him yet, there was no stronger support than the emperor of the empire.

“I’ll do my best to live up to that trust. In fact, I checked whether I can grant your divorce.”

Chloe tensed instantly.

“Since the empire and the Kingdom of Vallont are allies, it seems I can intervene.”

That was welcome news.

“Then I humbly request your help.”

“When would you like it to happen? I’ll prepare the necessary procedures.”

Truthfully, she wanted to divorce Kallis immediately.

But it had been a year—an entire year of being toyed with by him.

A quick divorce might embarrass him, but it wouldn’t ruin him.

Chloe wanted something more ultimate.

“Let’s do it on the day that will be joyful for both sides… the anniversary of the end of the war.”