Chapter 14. Was Kissing That Woman So Good?

Queen Catherine was the first woman to ascend to the throne in Matila, a strictly patrilineal country.

Following the sudden death of Winston IV, his son Calyx should have succeeded to the throne. However, after an unprecedented event that no one could have imagined, he was stripped of Castle Redbreeze.

The royal family fell into chaos. There were no more direct male descendants in the paternal line who could inherit the throne.

The one who emerged through the chaos was the first princess Catherine, who hadn’t even been considered a contender for the throne.

— I, Catherine Marie Ripablanc-Redbreeze, though born a princess, have undeniable Redbreeze blood flowing through me.

The royal family thought the first princess’s words were simply “wind passing by a horse’s ear,” as if she had eaten something strange that day.

But the princess began methodically listing her prepared arguments as if she had anticipated their reaction.

The fact that she was already married, but her husband had sworn not to pass his surname to their children.

That she was still Catherine Redbreeze, and her son Patrick was undeniably a Redbreeze as well.

Above all, if they continued their academic debates that were on the verge of coming to blows, the vacuum in governance would continue, and who would ultimately bear the brunt of that damage……

The royal family must have realized that day, as they watched the princess deliver her speech with piercing eyes.

That the fiery ambition dwelling in that small body had certainly not appeared overnight.

In the end, Princess Catherine succeeded in claiming the throne, defying Matila’s succession laws. Despite much controversy, the Redbreeze royal bloodline would be preserved through her.

Up to this point, things were fine. The problem came next.

‘According to the queen’s logic, wouldn’t her sister Princess Olivia also qualify for succession if she gave up her husband’s surname?’

‘Between Prince Patrick and Princess Olivia, who has priority in the line of succession?’

Unfortunately, the doted-upon youngest princess was the type who felt satisfied only when she possessed twice what her sister had.

Thanks to this, Olivia’s husband William, who had passed his expected dukedom to his younger brother and was now only called ‘Sir William Redbreeze,’ was still running around trying to place a crown on his wife’s head.

“Your guess was right. The queen’s people have been secretly traveling to and from Dempis.”

William said to Calyx, who sat across from him.

All around their small room, lewd moans and laughter echoed incessantly. Yet their expressions and tones were low and serious, ill-suited to a pleasure party.

“They didn’t ask anything about Count Ixe’s assets, but specifically questioned only the locals who were born and raised there. We’ll need to investigate further what they asked the natives, but…… there’s definitely a suspicious smell. Certainly.”

“……”

“I’m starting to believe what you said about the crown prince having specific reasons for targeting Count Ixe’s daughter. If they were simply after the count’s title and wealth, they wouldn’t have sent people multiple times. Especially not in secret.”

“Did you know that Dempis is famous for something other than coal mines and tourism?”

Calyx, who had been silently listening to William’s story, abruptly changed the subject.

“Judging by your expression, it seems you haven’t even guessed.”

William’s eyebrows twitched momentarily at Calyx’s mocking laughter.

Though only five years apart, Calyx and William were nominally nephew and uncle-in-law. But from their first meeting until now, Calyx had consistently treated William with condescension. Even though he should have grown used to it by now, it still oddly grated on him.

“I’m disappointed that the Duke of Shepherd’s intelligence network is only capable of this much. How sad.”

“……”

“Find out the answer by our next meeting, uncle. Otherwise, my resolve to work with you might waver considerably.”

‘When Olivia becomes queen, the first thing she’ll do is cut out that impudent tongue of his.’

William added another promise he couldn’t voice aloud as he stared at Calyx with an uneasy feeling.

Madman. Unfilial son. Symbol of the benevolent royal family. Mad dog of the border region……

As William recalled the various nicknames that followed the deposed prince, he remembered the most recent one.

A rutting hound.

“Anyway, due to your radical actions, there’s no avoiding the suspicion that you and the crown prince will directly clash.”

All because of one woman. William couldn’t bring himself to say the rest.

The news of the deposed prince kissing Count Ixe’s daughter spread like wildfire through society via the ladies and gentlemen who attended the hunting gathering that day.

Perhaps because there were many witnesses, this rumor was relatively accurate.

The story went that the deposed prince, who knew nothing of dignity, had chased after a woman he had missed at the royal ball all the way to the hunting grounds, and ignoring the lady’s face and will, had stolen her pure lips.

When news spread that she had received notice of a broken engagement from the family she had promised to marry, all arrows of blame flew toward the deposed prince, ready to turn him into a beehive.

In this atmosphere, it wouldn’t be strange if he got stabbed just walking down the street.

Even William, a third party, felt this, yet the person directly involved, Calyx, showed no sign of distress, appearing proud and satisfied.

That was precisely what confused William the most.

‘Could it be that kissing that woman…… was so good?’

“Let me ask you. How does it feel to have poured sewage on the future of a young woman who was about to become a happy bride?”

“Not bad.”

“You don’t care at all about the suffering woman’s feelings. I completely understand why women are hurling every curse in the book at you, even ones not in the dictionary.”

“Wasn’t that the purpose of coming to the capital? It’s strange that you, uncle, who should be rejoicing the more I’m cursed, are making such contradictory statements.”

Calyx replied lightly. Though his tone was casual, the meaning behind it was heavy.

William, who had been the very person who planned for Calyx to cause all sorts of trouble in the capital while preparing for their coup, pursed his lips.

Right. Calyx was simply fulfilling the mission assigned to him.

By kissing Count Ixe’s daughter, he had drawn the attention of not only the crown prince but all of Ronvernon; all that remained was to move the troops hidden on Manbrin Island……

“Wrong is wrong, so I must take responsibility.”

Even if I’m not a gentleman, any human would.

Calyx muttered the last part and chuckled. William wondered if he was truly starting to lose his mind.

“I’m going to propose. To that woman.”

“Ah. So that proposal is ultimately to attract the crown prince’s attention too? As a, what, extension of the kiss……”

“I’m serious.”

Calyx slowly turned to look at William. Behind him, as he prepared to say something utterly serious, a woman’s excited scream softly echoed.

“I sincerely intend to marry that woman.”

He must be out of his mind. This crazy bastard.

“You seem afraid that I’ve made an impulsive decision swayed by some feverish emotion. Don’t worry. I’m in a perfectly rational state right now.”

“……”

“Do you think Patrick will easily give her up?”

This time, Calyx questioned William. Though confused, William shook his head.

The queen is more desperate than anyone to pass the throne to her son.

Her attempt to marry Charlotte Ebenscher to Patrick was ultimately to ensure a stable succession for her son.

Even without knowing what “trump card” the Ixe family possessed, it was clear that the queen would not easily give up.

“You said the crown prince isn’t enough of a scoundrel to take another man’s wife.”

“……I did.”

“That assumption is half right and half wrong. They’ll try to eliminate her husband before taking Charlotte Ebenscher. Then she’ll no longer be a married woman, and the crown prince won’t bear the stigma of taking another man’s wife.”

William’s face turned pale. Knowing the queen’s temperament well, he couldn’t deny the other’s words.

Calyx turned to William with a subtle smile.

“So the position of Miss Ebenscher’s husband should be filled by someone who will never die at the queen’s hands. Someone like me, the symbol of the benevolent Redbreeze.”

William looked at Calyx with an expression suggesting he had much to say. But he only looked, without opening his mouth.

As if guessing his thoughts, Calyx added with a light laugh:

“If you’re really displeased, just wait until next month. When the social season ends, she’ll return to her domain. Surely I can’t follow her to Dempis after that?”

William didn’t answer. Whatever response he gave would have been blocked by the man’s caustic wordplay, leaving him to purse his lips as he was doing now.

He felt uneasy and frustrated. Though he’d heard all of Calyx’s reasons for needing to marry that woman, none of them sounded like the real reason.

There’s something else.

Something small yet decisive, buried in the most intimate place that even Calyx himself might not recognize, which would ultimately prove most fatal to them as they prepared for their coup.

‘Could it be……’

The simplest reason a man decides to marry.

The most common reason, yet one that could never apply to this man—the thought made William quickly shake his head.

It can’t be. It can’t be possible, and it shouldn’t be. Especially not for Calyx Valdea, who needed to be used as a tool for Olivia to inherit the throne.

‘If Charlotte is a woman with proper sense…… she would never accept a man she can’t handle.’

With her clear and firm rejection, Calyx would eventually realize the foolishness of his thoughts and have no choice but to turn back. But.

What if things didn’t go as expected?

“Don’t think unnecessary thoughts.”