Wrong Marriage and Sweet Love

Due to Darrin’s excessive force, Grizela fell to the ground, panting heavily.

“Why are you stopping me?!” she shouted angrily. “His Highness is gone forever. How can I live alone? It was my negligence. I must atone with my death!”

She tried to grab the sword again.

Darrin kicked the sword further away. “You’re crazy. The situation isn’t settled yet, and you want to kill yourself?”

He knew her country’s tradition of atoning for mistakes with death, thinking it was an outdated concept. He didn’t expect anyone to still adhere to it. Grizela was truly loyal.

“Not settled? His Highness is in the hands of the Crown Prince. How could he survive? Don’t comfort me. I want to join him; you don’t need to stop me.” Grizela knelt on the ground. “Without a sword, I still have a gun. There are many ways to die.”

Darrin felt a tightness in his chest. He abruptly pulled Grizela up from the ground, bringing her face-to-face with him.

“To you, is your life only worth serving Reuben? Is there no one else worth living for? Have you not considered him even for a second?” he questioned painfully.

Grizela was stunned and didn’t answer.

In the darkness, she dared not look at his pained eyes.

Because even a sliver of light would reveal his sorrowful gaze, his handsome face twisted in anguish, and his expression filled with grief.

Darrin laughed bitterly. “After knowing each other for so long, I thought I held some small place in your heart. But it turns out I’m nothing. To you, I’m just a passerby. You want to kill yourself without considering my feelings at all. Have you thought about how much pain I’d be in?”

“I like you,” he confessed, “though I never had the chance to say it before. But I believe you must have felt my affection.” He placed her hand over his heart.

Grizela felt his heart pounding erratically.

She knew it deep down, even if she was foolish. His gaze always made her ears burn and her heart flutter like a young girl’s. But she held her responsibilities too dearly to indulge in personal feelings.

When she thought of dying to atone, his image did flash through her mind briefly.

“Grizela, I like you,” Darrin repeated, pulling her into his arms forcefully. “Don’t speak of death lightly or give up. Until things are settled, think of those who care about you. Live for me, please.”

His voice trembled; he was terrified. If he had been a moment later, she would have killed herself with the sword.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

“Since His Highness wants to exchange the jade seal for everyone’s safety, he wouldn’t carry it with him. He must ensure everyone’s safety before handing it over. I believe His Highness will be fine for now. Trust us; there will be a way out.” Darrin tried hard to comfort her.

After a long time, Grizela’s tense body finally relaxed in his arms. She couldn’t help but cry, burying her face in his chest as her shoulders shook uncontrollably.

“Don’t do anything foolish; promise me?” Darrin tightened his embrace and gently rested his chin on her head.

Grizela nodded.

Darrin finally breathed a sigh of relief; she wouldn’t have suicidal thoughts for now.

He remembered when they first met; she had said something similar back then too. He had felt uneasy but didn’t take it seriously. Now he realized she wasn’t just speaking casually. If something happened to His Highness Reuben, she would surely follow him in death.

He silently prayed for Reuben’s safety.

Meanwhile…

Hajime explained Reuben’s childhood experiences, Kempley’s situation, and Reuben’s ongoing conflict with Clint over the years to Joyce and Luther. He also described the current state of the Imperial Household Agency, where everyone feared that Clint would eliminate them once he ascended the throne since eliminating dissidents was Clint’s usual practice.

After listening, Luther understood why Reuben didn’t seem eager to be emperor from a man’s perspective. There were so many reasons behind it. Reuben had a laid-back personality like Felix and only fought when necessary.

After explaining everything, Hajime pounded his chest heavily and sighed. “I didn’t expect that after obtaining Dawnblade, His Highness would risk himself like this. What should we do now? If this news gets out, there will be chaos within the Imperial Household Agency.”

“Hajime, I understand the situation you’ve described,” Luther said solemnly. “I have an idea; may we try it?”

“What idea?” Hajime asked quickly.

“We are Pascaylia people; my wife is a warlord’s daughter with a special status. Now that we’re trapped here, logically speaking, your internal strife shouldn’t involve us. I’d like to try negotiating peace as an intermediary,” Luther proposed as the quickest solution. He didn’t want to stay here longer; Anderson, Iris, Wilson, and Cullen were all waiting for their return.

“Negotiate peace? Clint won’t agree! He’s mentally unstable and refuses food and water; it’s impossible,” Joyce said emotionally.

She blamed herself even more; it was all her fault for bringing so much trouble upon them. Now even Reuben was involved because he wanted to save his mother by exchanging the jade seal for everyone’s safety due to her being controlled by Clint.

“How will we know if we don’t try?” Luther comforted Joyce. “I know you’re blaming yourself, but it’s really not your fault. Don’t reject negotiations either; I think there’s room for discussion-let me try it out first since we have Dawnblade as leverage.”

Hajime frowned. “Negotiations? It would be great if possible but…”

Before he could finish speaking…

Darrin returned with Grizela to the hall.

“What happened?” Luther asked upon sensing the strange atmosphere.

“Nothing much; she was emotional but is fine now,” Darrin brushed off lightly.

Grizela remained calm and silent.

Joyce hurriedly apologized to Grizela: “I’m sorry for dragging everyone into this mess. We’ll find a way to make amends and rescue Reuben-now that we have Dawnblade-Clint has reason to fear us.”

Grizela nodded slightly.

“What exactly are your thoughts on negotiating peace?” Hajime asked Luther again.

Luther pondered briefly before replying: “Besides us-who else would want Dawnblade? Joyce intercepted it from other black-clad men-not from the Imperial Household Agency-so who else could it be?”

Luther hinted: “When two tigers fight-a third party benefits-the mantis stalks the cicada while unaware of the oriole behind-if someone sits back watching tigers fight-who stands most likely gaining from chaos?”

“You mean…?” Hajime’s eyes shifted thoughtfully: “The Yoshikawa family-Hirota?”

“Exactly! In times of turmoil-anyone can become emperor-why must it be only Tanaka family? Have you considered that?” Luther sneered coldly.

Hajime was stunned-indeed Hirota was aggressive-but breaking Rohomes’ centuries-old tradition-would Hirota dare?