Somehow, by hiding in the shadows, Natalie managed to sneak into the bedchamber of the Southern King. Yes, that notorious Southern King, the one was infamous for his debauchery. As a matter of course, Natalie wasn’t so easygoing that she’d consider herself lucky for being able to accomplish of such a task.

The rumors stating the Southern King had withdrawn into his palace to escape from his son’s questioning, along with the fact that the crown prince was restricting his freedom of movement had reached Natalie’s ears after dinner.

It can’t be a coincidence.

However, all she could do was go along with it and at best, change the designated time.

Natalie sighed in relief as she entered the Southern King’s bedchamber. Although she was convinced that she was safe, she was still nervous.

I mean, what if the door was locked?

By chance, a servant left the key after cleaning up the bedchamber.

I don’t know who the mastermind is, but he’s good at directing.

It was already time for the sun to set. Gas lamps and city lights were pouring in from outside the large window, but inside the bedroom, where the owner wasn’t present, it was pitch-black.

Regardless, she wasn’t so foolish as to turn on the lights.

She should pretend to be lying in wait for reinforcements.

The reason Natalie had been summoned there was simple.

To gauge from my reaction whether or not someone is coming to save me or if there’s a spy.

Should she perished; it would no longer be Prince Geraldo’s responsibility since she had trespassed into the king’s bedchamber.

Although the fact that the father and son weren’t on good terms was well-known, she felt that there was more to it than met the eye.

After all, the relationship between a parent and child was complicated.

For Natalie, her biological brother and parents were still alive, so it wasn’t like she couldn’t understand.

Even she couldn’t move past the heavy emotions she held towards her mother, the woman who left her in the imperial castle as an offering to protect her brother.

Therefore, Jill had to have been facing her own difficulties as well

She must be, because it seemed like she grew up loved. As Natalie pondered about that, she shuffled around the window where light poured in. The sensation that greeted her left hand, which was trailing along the wall, suddenly changed.

A book, perhaps?

Apparently, it was a bookshelf.

“…There are so many books in the Southern King’s bedchamber…”

“Is it that surprising?”

She was startled when someone answered. In her haste to turn around, she knocked over a nearby chair and crashed onto the bookshelf. Fortunately, no books fell, but the chair that had been knocked over seemed to have hit the writing desk. What appeared to be booklets and a clock fell from there, sending documents scattering around.

“Books are a mass of knowledge, the wisdom of our processors. Would it be rude of me to preach to the princess of the Land of Reason that there is no reason not to learn?”

“…Your Majesty, the King.”

A figure stirred on the bed in the back. Although she couldn’t make out his face, she was sure the voice belonged to Rufus.

The chair that Natalie had kicked over moved on its own, gently landing in front of her.

“Please. We can’t talk while you are standing.”

Natalie moved away from the bookshelf and sat on the chair.

“Let me guess, your face seems to be asking, ‘Why are you here when you are supposed to be in the palace?’ Even knowing as you do that I care for my son, I’m sure it isn’t that difficult for you to hazard a guess.”

“…My guess is that you and your son orchestrated the entire commotion regarding the national seal and everything else that unfolded. You did all this while pulling the wool over the Dragon Princess’ eyes.”

“If you know that much, shouldn’t it have been obvious that the memo was a trap? Why did you come here?”

“If you ask because you genuinely don’t know, then I’m honored. It means that I’ve manipulated both the king and crown prince of Kratos.”

“How unexpected. Are you still gathering information even after being brought here? You’re mightier than I thought. Aren’t you just the outcast of the Rave Royal Family?”

Natalie clasped her sweaty palms against her lap.

While I’m honored to have received such a compliment, I’m still desperate.

Even the mere movement of shadow as Rufus sat on his bed made her want to run away.

“Then, I’m sure you are aware of your impending demise. So, why?”

“…You are staging a performance to win over the Dragon Princess. You want to dispose of me as soon as you can before the Dragon Princess begins to suspect anything.”

“If so, why are you still alive and well?”

“You may have received instructions from the missing Dragon Emperor, or are well-aware of who I am. A spy and a princess I may be, but I’m no better than an amateur. Allowing me to remain alive for a bit longer wouldn’t hurt. …In other words, you managed to located Brother Hades. As he is still within your country’s borders, if you wait until the Dragon Princess comes to my rescue before killing me, my blood will be in his hands. Had he not turned his back on me, I’d still be alive. That’s the narrative that you want to create.”

Rufus gave her a slow clap.

“Excellent. Correct, you’re the only irregular cast member this time around. Even if nothing happens, we still have to act with prudence so that the narrative remains unblemished. As long as the Dragon Princess is coming to save you, I can’t get dispose of you so easily. As the Dragon Emperor’s substitute, I believe that the Dragon Emperor is trying to mislead the Dragon Princess.”

“Substitute…?”

She could tell that Rufus was nodding back.

“Indeed, for generations, the kings of Kratos have been substitutes for the Dragon Emperor. While I think that each substitute has different feelings towards the real thing, I’m sure they all harbor interest towards him—and I’m no exception. So, I tried to put myself in his shoes.”

Rufus stood up and approached. The light coming in diagonally from the large window illuminated his comely face.

“You are a disposable pawn, bait for the Dragon Princess, who’ll soon be killed.”

Their eye colors were different. Not to mention, there was a distorted glint in his eyes as he looked down at her with a gentle smile. Yet, he certainly resembled Hades a lot.

“You are not moving. Are you ready to accept your fate?”

“I told you, I’m the sister of the Dragon Emperor.”

Besides, Rufus and probably Geraldo both seemed to have misunderstood Hades’ intentions.

Natalie wasn’t a disposable pawn, but a touchstone. A pebble that rippled the calm surface of a lake, dragging out Kratos’ true intentions from the bottom. Hence why she needed to obtain as much information as possible.

Her brothers would definitely save her.

“The Dragon Emperor sure is popular. I can see why. A true king does not take life, he instead devotes his own to everyone, just like how insects that are attracted to light. …In that sense, I can see why I’m a substitute. No one would risk their life for me.”

“Then, why don’t you just dedicate the Kingdom of Kratos to the Dragon Emperor? By being a substitute, you are ruling over Kratos in his stead, right? Father-in-Law.”

She spoke sarcastically, and Rufus rolled his eyes before shrugging his shoulders.

“Your way of thinking sure is innovative. It’s a shame that I’ll never be called father-in-law by you.”

“Oh, it’s too early to draw any conclusions yet. You don’t even know the reason why I am here, do you?”

“Are you still trying to confuse me? Aren’t you being too stubborn? Even Geraldo was surprised. Should he kill or leave you be? …I’m sure he thinks he’s being too soft on you, he must want to leave all the decision-making to me.”

Rufus seemed to be deep in thought. Then, he laughed as if he had just concocted the most devious plan.

“Okay, I’ll just come up with a reason why you must absolutely be killed.”

Natalie tensed up when Rufus chortled in front of her.

The hands of the clock, which had fallen to the floor, still had yet to indicate the time written in the memo.

---

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***T/N: Call him daddy next, Natalie.

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