Volume 7, Chapter 1 – Gears Begin To Go Haywire, Part 2
Volume 7, Chapter 1 - Gears Begin To Go Haywire, Part 2
When Vetu spoke with a self-satisfied look on his face, Prime Minister Gils looked at him skeptically.
“What kind of method is that?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t be saying this in this situation, but…”
For some reason, Vetu turned his gaze to Rosa.
“Since Rosa-dono doesn’t say it, I’ll just say it myself…”
The way he said it drew all the interested eyes to Vetu.
“It seems that she is pregnant with a child.”
Silence.
No one was able to stop their mouths from dropping open. The only sound in the room was the sound of breathing as the stunned faces looked at Rosa.
However, Rosa, the person involved, was also struck with astonishment.
“…Huh?”
It was because she could not understand what Vetu was saying.
Vetu smiled at her, but his face was far from serene. He was squinting happily, like a predator who had found its prey.
“I think it would be better for Rosa-dono to speak.”
“What are you talking about?”
Rosa frowned suspiciously, but Vetu moved his tongue unconcernedly.
“You don’t have to be so embarrassed… You said that you were carrying His Highness Hiro’s child, didn’t you?”
At that moment ― all human movement forcibly stopped.
It was breathtaking, and everyone looked at Rosa, forgetting to even blink because of the sheer shock.
It was not for nothing. It was a well-known fact that she was the fourth prince’s lover. And if that were the case, the people would be happy.
No ― that is not going to be enough.
It is not hard to imagine that her child will become a buffer not only for the country but also for the surrounding countries.
“Is that true?”
The eastern nobleman said to Rosa with a bit of excitement.
Now that Hiro is most likely dead, her child would be the descendant of the “God of War.”
Everyone’s eyes color changed. It was also to prevent the worst possible outcome, the severing of the bloodline.
Rosa, who had become the center of attention, looked flustered and pretended to stand up from her seat.
Before she could open her mouth, however, Vetu spoke up.
“I know you’re hoping for the best, but we’ve got a long way to go, and now is the time to let the mother rest.”
Vetu looks around at the noblemen as he continues to spit out his words.
“We should not make a fuss and put an unnecessary burden on her. Don’t you agree?”
The eastern nobles, who were supposed to be on Rosa’s side, seemed to agree with Vetu’s statement and began to hold their tongue. As if to convince her, Vetu turned her gaze to Rosa with a smile.
“You should wait for the results of this war in the Great Imperial Capital. If the situation is not stable, the worst possible outcome may occur.”
But Rosa’s mouth dropped open at this, and she instantly changed her mind, slammed the desk down hard to show her denial and anger, and got up from her seat.
“I don’t know where you got this rumor from, but I am not carrying a child.”
As if time had stopped, a chill flowed through the air, and the nobles and lords cowered and stiffened. There was a blankness in the air that made Rosa, who strongly denied it, feel pressured.
But…
“Rosa-sama, I understand that this is a difficult time for you, and you want to hide it, but I don’t think you need to be so embarrassed.”
Starting with these words, a calm atmosphere filled the room.
Rosa’s strong denial seemed to be a reason to support the truth.
“The public will be happy to hear a bright topic after so many years of gloom and doom.”
Lies are twisted into facts, leaving the people involved out of the loop.
“That’s true. You don’t have to hide the fact since this is a happy occasion.”
Without pausing for breath, the nobles threw words of congratulations one after another.
It was obvious that the Muzuk family had a hand in this.
When it comes to the eastern nobility who are on her side, their eyes shine with childlike joy that it’s true. The good news has clouded their suspicions. She doesn’t realize that this is what he wants.
When she saw the smirking Vetu, she knew that she had been conspired against.
It was all a move to remove Rosa from the army. It was a forceful move, but it was the most effective way to manipulate those who wanted to cling to hope.
In other words, she had completely lost control of the war council to Vetu.
(I don’t know what to say at this point…)
The situation would have been different if there had been even one person who doubted that she had a child, but everyone was led to believe it. Even if she desperately denied it, they would not believe her. It was too late to regret that she had been manipulated.
It was all Rosa’s fault for misjudging the other party’s plan.
(But… what is the purpose? What is he thinking?)
This would only increase the number of supporters for the eastern nobility and not benefit the southern nobility.
Even if the result is to remove Rosa from this war and remove all of her achievements in the Battle of the Six Kingdoms, she doesn’t seem to have any more value than having the child of the “God of War.”
(What is he planning…?)
Rosa glared at Vetu, but he only gave her a mocking glance and stood up.
As if to assert that the stage was now his, he strained his voice with a large hand gesture.
“Her Highness Celia Estrella is not here. This is the end of today’s war council, and we’ll continue tomorrow. Above all, Rosa-dono has been extremely busy lately. I don’t want to put an unnecessary burden on her here.”
With a flurry of caring glances at Rosa, the war council naturally disbanded.
The noble lords who were leaving their seats couldn’t contain their excitement and quickly left the antechamber. Rosa, who had been watching the scene with an air of superiority, suddenly recognized Vetu out of the corner of her eye as he walked out of the entrance and quietly followed his back.
As Vetu walked down the corridor with his entourage, Rosa caught up with him at a run and tapped him hard on the shoulder in annoyance.
“…Oh, Rosa-dono, what’s the matter?”
When Vetu turned around, his face was filled with laughter, as if he had expected it.
As soon as she saw him, Rosa almost cursed out of her throat, but she fought it back and put on a clear face.
“Lord Muzuk… what did you mean earlier?”
Vetu’s entourage retreated, pressured by Rosa’s unconcealed indignation.
Vetu motioned for them to go ahead and then turned to Rosa again.
“What am I supposed to do? I was doing it for you.”
Vetu cleared his throat with a provocative smile while maintaining his relaxed demeanor.
“If you understand the current situation in the Grantz Empire, you will be grateful instead of complaining.”
“What…?”
Vetu closes the distance to Rosa, who frowns.
“As for me, I don’t want the eastern nobility to fall.”
For now, at least… Vetu mumbles and lifts his shoulders wide as if to make fun of her.
Rosa snorted at Vetu’s actor-like gesture but waited silently for him to speak.
“If His Highness Hiro is indeed killed in battle, it is inevitable that Rosa-dono’s position will be jeopardized.”
Rosa is the wife of the former head of the Kelheit family, and her body does not have any Kelheit blood flowing through it. Therefore, those who consider bloodline to be important were not happy with her existence. The only reason she remained in the position of acting head of the Kelheit family was because of the presence of Hiro, and now that she has lost that, her position is in serious jeopardy.
“……”
Rosa gritted her teeth and sharpened her gaze as she was hit with a sore spot.
Vetu is obedient to the piercing gaze, as if to say that he is amused.
“It is only because of His Highness Hiro that the eastern nobility has been united. But once he’s gone, the question of succession will come up again.”
Vetu began to walk lightly around Rosa. The only sound was his unpleasant footsteps in the empty hallway.
“In other words, your presence will be a distraction. You are a woman who has no Kelheit blood in your veins and will not accept a husband from that family. It must be annoying to be the acting head of the family ― no, you are just a hindrance.”
The possibility of having a child with Hiro, and the proximity to the throne that he had, made Rosa’s existence worthwhile. If she lost both of them, the only way left for her was to lose her position.
“What are you up to?”
As Rosa closes in on him, Vetu stops and looks back at her.
“I am only thinking about the future of the Grantz Empire.”
“Are you trying to get me away from Liz so you can take control of the military…?”
“Hah, I see… That’s a good suggestion. I’ll take control of the military; that’s an excellent idea. And it’s possible for me to do it now. But only if we win a big victory over the Six Kingdoms, right?”
“Do you think I will let you do what you want?”
“If so, will you accompany me in this war?”
Vetu’s smile deepened as he looked down at Rosa and stretched his chest.
“I’ll have to break the hopes of the expectant eastern nobles, though.”
Vetu used a vague expression, but it was a clear threat.
What would happen to those whose hopes had been betrayed if they were now told that she had not been blessed with a child?
“…Are you satisfied with using my weakness?”
“It’s not like you’ve got a weakness. I thought that Rosa-dono might be tired, so I took care of you.”
Vetu put his hand on Rosa’s shoulder and whispered in her ear.
“But even though you look exhausted, your beauty has not changed one bit. And you are too smart to be carried around as a decoration.”
“So, what do you say?”
Rosa did not try to hide her disgust but shook Vetu’s hand off her shoulder and moved away.
“I value you. I’d rather go hand in hand with you if I can than remain hostile.”
Vetu’s mouth hung open as he patted Rosa’s shaken hand.
“I have a suggestion for you; why don’t you take in a husband from the southern nobility?”
“…What?”
“There is one man in the south who has the blood of the Kelheit family running through his veins. If you want to protect your position, I would like you to take him in. It is fine if it is just a formality. All you have to do is to act as a couple. As long as you don’t divorce, you can do whatever you want with the rest.”
She’ll let her do what she wants as before. In return, he implied that she should obey the southern nobleman.
It’s not easy for Rosa to nod when asked to live as a puppet from now on. However, knowing that she would be angry, this man is saying this as a provocation.
It was a natural consequence of being mocked to this extent that anyone would feel anger.
There are no exceptions to the rule, and Rosa quietly opened her mouth with anger in her blue eyes.
“I have to say no.”
Rosa pushed Vetu away and started walking.
“I won’t let the Muzuk family do what they want. Don’t regret making me your enemy.”
She gave Vetu a murderous look and then passed him.
“Haha, that’s very exciting.”
She stomped her feet on the floor and walked away.
Vetu stretched out his arm to stop her, though she would not turn around.
“In the end, it will come down to you and me.”
Vetu continued to call out to her until her back was out of sight as she disappeared around the corner of the hallway.
“Well… that is, if you live to see it.”
For many, the news that she was carrying the child of the God of War was welcome news.
But for some of the people, it will be an unpleasant matter.
The security of the Imperial Palace will become thinner, and in the worst-case scenario, it will become more dangerous than going to the battlefield.
“I hope you will be careful about the assassination. If possible, I hope it won’t be as horrific as it was in the past in the Imperial Palace…”
Vetu put his hand on his forehead as if to lament that he had caused this situation himself.
“If it does, Her Highness Celia Estrella will be hurt again. Imagine losing her sister after her mother… Fuh, kuku, kukuku――…”
In the empty corridor, Vetu laughs as he shakes his bent back.
“I’ll have to support you if your heart is broken. Things are going to get busy from now on.”