TFLMLD 69

Chapter 69

Shupen’s Chess Piece, Evelyn

“Just what are you planning to do now?”

“There’s the Crown Prince Selection underway, isn’t there? I thought I’d stir things up a bit.”

Ran hesitated for a moment, then seemed to give in to Shupen’s mischievous smile and lowered her head.

“I’ll get ready.”

Ran paused at the door, then peeked her head back toward Shupen.

“By the way, which side is our Luna Guild on?”

“Which side?”

“Between His Highness Macaron and His Highness Reiner, I mean.”

“Of course, we…”

Ran swallowed hard, eyes shining. Naturally, the Reiner side…? But then…

“The Macaron side.”

Ran’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected answer.

“This is a matter that requires careful consideration. His Highness Macaron is in a pinch, having to wage a war without the Imperial Army, you know?”

“Are you trying to teach me something I already know that all the Empire’s citizens know?”

“I’m worried because you’re siding with someone who could die.”

“Worried? About me?”

Shupen’s playful smile made Ran wave her hand in disbelief.

“You could at least admit you’re scared he’ll die, instead of changing the subject.”

“I’m not scared of death. I was only worried about losing my position.”

Shupen let out a soft chuckle, turning his body slightly away. His expression as he looked out the window now carried a completely different light than before.

“Macaron becoming Emperor would be better than Reiner in many ways.”

“That may be true, but…”

“As long as we stand on Macaron’s side, he’ll come back alive. We just have to make that happen.”

Though it sounded arrogant, nothing had ever gone against Shupen’s will. Ran quickly nodded in agreement. After Ran left, ambition first began to darkly bloom in Shupen’s blue eyes. In his hands were the bandages Calypso had tied when he had deliberately cut his hand.

“Macaron, you get one, but you must give up the other.”

Time in the Craide Territory passed busily. Since the expedition had suddenly been decided, time was tight. First, he reorganized all the knights except for the minimum guard. Distributing necessary supplies and preparing rations proceeded smoothly, as it had been planned beforehand.

Next, he sent letters to nobles who supported Macaron and those who maintained neutrality, prioritizing them. Though he didn’t expect much, he also sent letters to nobles who might side with Reiner, just in case. But even after one day or two, no replies came. Only on the third day did some replies arrive, far fewer than expected.

He knew Reiner had leverage over the nobles and could manipulate them, but their numbers were larger than anticipated. Relying solely on them for the war was impossible, something even Ran, who knew nothing about war strategy, could understand. That day, he happened to hear Momont’s report.

“The soldiers are far too few. Even now… shouldn’t we request support from the Riffler family?”

“If you’re going to say nonsense, leave.”

Macaron’s angry voice had been loud, and then Lord Momont had burst through the door without a chance to avoid it. Seeing Ran, he was startled. Perhaps because of the conversation about Duke Evelyn, he tried to apologize.

“Uh, well… that is…”

If the conversation got louder, Macaron might hear. That was the last thing Ran wanted. With a reassuring smile, Lord Momont bowed his head and left. Only after he disappeared did Ran’s legs weaken. Pretending to be fine, she was far from it.

‘What do Momont and the other retainers think of me? If only I weren’t here…’

‘Should I suggest to Macaron that we ask Evelyn for help?’

It wasn’t certain, but if Macaron apologized and asked, Evelyn might offer full support. Of course, the price for moving her personal guard would naturally be the position of Crown Princess. Macaron knew this and therefore didn’t ask her. As time passed without action, Ran grew anxious.

The Riffler Estate. Evelyn was having an unpleasant tea time with Shupen. Since meeting Macaron, Evelyn had grown sharper, setting down her teacup with a tense expression.

“What brings you here?”

Evelyn had agreed to this pointless meeting because Shupen made full use of his status as Duke of the Knight family. As head of the Riffler family, she couldn’t outright reject him. Plus, she wanted to probe him: what kind of woman Calypso was, what his relationship with Macaron was, and whether what she saw was real or just a show… Yet, Shupen’s cocky smile was infuriating.

In truth, Evelyn didn’t want to see Shupen after breaking their engagement. Her stepmother and half-brother had rushed her into an engagement, and everything from her childhood had existed solely for the Riffler family’s prosperity and glory. Throughout her Academy days, she was called the aloof star, and all of it was a gray history she never wanted revealed.

While everyone saw Evelyn as the petite Riffler duchess, Shupen knew the truth. Her incompetent half-brother would inherit the family head, and she was nothing more than a tool of the family. For someone like Evelyn, who rarely let her weaknesses show, Shupen represented a major vulnerability. Their alliance had been temporary, and she secretly felt relieved when Shupen vanished.

Then, after ten years, he suddenly reappeared.

‘Calypso gave him a gift… what’s his game?’

Shupen’s confident smile still felt like he knew everything about her.

“Congratulations on becoming head of the Riffler family.”

Even such a meaningless congratulation felt like mockery to Evelyn.

“I was going to become it anyway. Save your congratulations. Let’s get to the point.”

Shupen clicked his tongue at her unchanged temperament.

“Did His Highness Macaron really scold you badly?”

“Who said that?”

Though many were watching in the palace that day, people kept their distance when Evelyn and Macaron talked. Thinking quickly, Evelyn guessed who might have told him.

‘Macaron wouldn’t have said it himself…’

“Calypso, was that true?”

Since they had exchanged gifts, it was likely they discussed such matters. And only Calypso had been present. Though Macaron had passed her coldly, other nobles might have seen it as a gentle reunion with a first love. Evelyn’s carefully maintained image with Macaron was solid.

But if Shupen suddenly arrived claiming she had been scolded… Only Calypso could have passed that information. When her name came up, Shupen flinched.

“Why is Lady Calypso involved here?”

“Then where else would you have heard such nonsense?”

Shupen struck a playful pose while watching Evelyn grind her teeth.

“You’ve been scolded more than once, but why so excited today?”

“You seem to have too much time lately, spreading rumors.”

Evelyn hid her crumpled expression behind the teacup, her eyes sharp. She had no clue why Shupen had come, but she knew he was methodical despite his insanity. He wasn’t here just to pick a fight with his ex-fiancée.

As she pretended calm and set down her cup, Shupen provoked her further.

“I heard something from the Empire’s top guild. Or maybe not.”

Evelyn clenched her fist, catching the subtle change in Shupen’s sharp gaze.

“Anyway, what are you planning now?”

A slight tremor betrayed Shupen’s poker face. Evelyn noticed. Was he here to probe her? She slammed the cup down, looking down.

“What can I do? He’s already married.”

Shupen knew Evelyn still had feelings for Macaron even after knowing this. She believed there was nothing she couldn’t have. So her previous statement wasn’t sincere.

‘But this passive attitude is a problem…’

The information Shupen gathered only said she was scolded, not the details. But Evelyn’s current demeanor suggested Macaron’s scolding had been decisive enough to dampen her feelings. Shupen, grateful that he didn’t marry her, understood it fully but masked his expression.

Now, no one was a better chess piece than Evelyn. She feigned composure, but her eyes betrayed her simmering frustration. Shupen, sensing this, teased her while munching a scone.

“Evelyn, you’ve lost your temper quite a bit. Disappointing.”

No one in the Empire knew Evelyn’s weaknesses anymore—she had eliminated them all. Except for Shupen. No assassin could dare to challenge the Empire’s top sword master. Evelyn barely restrained her urge to kill him, clenching her fist.

“Enjoying this, are you? Mind your own business.”

Evelyn preserved her dignity with a masked expression, though she burned to separate Calypso and Macaron. But desire rarely matched reality. The warm gaze Macaron had once given Calypso had never been directed at her. She recalled Macaron’s cold stare in the palace. The thought alone made her stomach twist. Yet, once Macaron made a decision, he never wavered.

Shupen smiled intriguingly, twirling his cup in one hand.

“I tried to cut it off, but I had to hear something interesting first.”

“Interesting?”

After delivering the important line, Shupen sipped his tea and remained silent. Evelyn felt her blood pressure rise.

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, leave. Even without you, it’s a headache.”

Evelyn stood, clearly fed up. Shupen leaned back, legs crossed, observing.

“I heard Macaron and Calypso—the woman—had a contract marriage, is that true?”