CHAPTER~19
Marriage Congratulation Delegation (3)
“……Ugh!”
Adania trembled, as if the answer was clear. She tensed her jaw and fists, ready to strike.
Of course, no bloody fight broke out between women. Instead, Adania took a breath and stepped forward with a proud posture.
“I’m giving a lowly person like you the chance to repay the kingdom’s favor.”
She revealed her true nature when poked a little. I answered nonchalantly.
“Ah, I see.”
“…I see that you’re well-loved as the Empress of the Empire, so I assume you’ve been allocated funds in the Empress’s palace?”
“Everything you said is true. I am infinitely loved by Your Majesty, and I do have some funds at my disposal.”
I answered playfully and tilted my head.
“But the story seems a bit odd.”
“What do you mean?”
“Is the Ranie Kingdom short on money?”
“It’s not that we don’t have money…!”
Adania’s fists trembled. Her pride was clearly wounded.
But I hadn’t asked to tease her. I had noticed something suspicious.
Even a kingdom can’t really be this short on funds, right?
From what I vaguely remembered, the neighboring Ranie Kingdom earned plenty from selling textiles and glass crafts.
Adania finally spoke after calming herself.
“I… I just lost some in a bet. That doesn’t mean the kingdom has no money. It’s just… our circumstances are tough right now.”
We decided to define that as having no money, sister.
‘By the way, a bet…’
Surely she’s gambling?
To summarize, she came to extract money from her younger sister who was married off abroad to cover gambling debts.
Whether the king’s family is involved in the gambling or not, it’s clear the kingdom’s finances are strained.
‘This household is more of a mess than I thought.’
Perhaps sensing my thoughts, or maybe from insecurity, Adania suddenly shouted.
“Why are you talking so much since you came here? How dare you talk back to me!”
“Did I do that?”
“Feeling arrogant because of Your Majesty’s love, are you?”
Even though she came to request help, she was being this assertive.
Initially, I hadn’t liked that she hurried here without a letter, abandoning the original body, just because she needed something.
But thinking again…
‘The bank account issue… might be easily solved.’
This was a golden opportunity.
In other words, I now had a ‘place’ to send money to.
“No, sister. I was flustered, that’s all.”
I smiled gently and held Adania’s hand firmly.
“I didn’t realize you were in such difficult circumstances……”
Adania nervously bit the cuff of her sleeve with the other hand, softening her previous defiant attitude and quietly asked,
“…How much can you lend me?”
“Well, if I send too much, Your Majesty may question me. If your situation is discovered, the kingdom’s dignity could be compromised.”
“Y-yes…”
“For now, I’ll send just enough so as not to arouse suspicion.”
“Good. That sounds best……”
Of course, if the conversation stopped here, I’d be the only fool.
“However, I’d like you to prepare a place to receive the money. Ideally, a temple owned under a distant branch of the Ranie royal family would work.”
In this world, there were no banks. Temples acted as safe repositories.
Even in war, temples were generally untouched, making them perfect for storing money safely.
“Do we really need to use a distant branch’s name?”
“If someone traces it, it could be troublesome. We need an excuse to deny involvement if necessary.”
Adania nodded at the explanation. Though still slightly suspicious, she narrowed her eyes.
“You really will send the money? You’re not going to back out after saying all this?”
I almost said, ‘Have you entrusted money to me?’ but restrained myself.
“Of course.”
Covering Adania’s gambling debt was a minor cost compared to opening a laundering account.
But I had to ask her to follow one rule first.
“Ah, please leave the management of the account to me.”
“What? Why?”
“If you hold the account or documents and get caught, the Ranie Kingdom’s situation could be exposed. Your honor could suffer. So, it’s better if the documents are sent hidden in a letter from me.”
“Even if only you are at risk…?”
“Families help each other out.”
Fortunately, Adania agreed easily, probably because she feared getting caught.
“Yes, it would be troublesome if anything happened to me or the Ranie Kingdom. Surprising that you’re saying the right thing.”
After roughly finishing the discussion, I was about to send Adania off when I saw a familiar figure in the garden, blooming with white flowers.
A man with white hair and fox-like eyes.
‘Gah, why did Kallio come here?’
Wasn’t he supposed to let the sisters have time together?
Kallio quickly approached, giving me a shy smile.
“Having a good time, Rivie?”
“Ah! Your Majesty, what brings you here?”
Since I was discussing the opening of the secret account, I answered brightly, flustered.
But Kallio replied naturally, as if nothing had happened.
“I came at once because I missed you.”
“…….”
“Oh, it’s been a while for a family conversation. May I join?”
Missed me, my foot.
He was probably calculating how to complicate things for me.
Calling that creepy nickname in front of others was proof enough.
Meanwhile, Adania, who had been annoyed with me, quickly adopted the proper princess demeanor in front of Kallio.
“No, we were just finishing our conversation.”
“Why not continue a family conversation after so long?”
Who interrupts a family conversation mid-way?
Adania responded to his pretense.
“Family understands each other without many words. Perhaps Your Majesty and I could also reach that stage soon?”
My brows knitted.
So, Adania left open the possibility that she and Kallio would be so close they could communicate without words?
But this was Kallio.
“Rivie, like me and you?”
He rarely took anything seriously, even now tilting his head while acting coquettishly toward me.
Even though the one talking was Adania.
I, knowing his true nature, was internally disgusted.
Unlike me, Adania continued nibbling her lips whenever Kallio’s gaze shifted.
As if jealous of me.
…Wait.
‘Could this also be a good opportunity…?’
I quietly stood and moved behind Adania.
“You two, being part of the same family, haven’t had a proper conversation.”
I preempted Kallio before he could follow.
“Since you’re now one family, it’ll be easier for me if you two get along. At least have a proper conversation…”
I had to stop mid-sentence.
“Why is Adania Lanie, princess of Ranie, my family?”
Kallio’s usual sly smile was gone.
Though his lips were curved, his brows were stern, freezing the atmosphere instantly.
“My family is only you. Rivie Radi Mahgar.”
Had I crossed the line just now?
A shiver ran down my arm at his cold response.
Just as I stepped forward to smooth things over,
“Princess Adania, would you step aside?”
Kallio commanded coldly.
“We have matters to discuss as a couple. I trust you understand.”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”
Adania quickly withdrew, keeping her mouth shut.
In the garden, with the servants left aside, only Kallio and I remained.
Kallio stepped closer to me.
