If You Take the Enemy Prince as Your Knight Chapter 128

Having seized the glory of victory and earned the right to fulfill a wish, the knight’s face should naturally have been filled with joy. Even Yulis, who was normally devoid of emotional fluctuations, showed at least a trace of light in his eyes at this moment. Yet the golden eyes lowered toward the ground were dark, as though covered in shadow. More than having no expectations whatsoever, it was closer to enduring a moment he utterly despised.

 

“State your wish.”

 

“…”

 

The authority of domination placed upon Regen commanded his mind. It told him quickly that he should hand over the wish right to the princess. It should have taken only those few words, but Regen stalled for time. If possible, he wanted to postpone it forever.

 

Once he carried out the order, what Regen would have to face next was obvious. His princess would publicly propose to Emilio Hwibrik. Even if it was a blatant lie devoid of even a shred of sincerity, she would speak of love and say she wanted to share a future with him. Despite the compulsive force of the imprint, Regen wanted desperately to refuse. He wanted to demand Emilio Hwibrik’s head immediately.

 

When he still didn’t open his mouth, Regen felt pain rising from his imprinted left eye. If he continued to resist the order, the coercive force of the imprint would punish him with agony as though it would shatter his head into pieces and crush his heart.

 

Abandoning his will, the words flowed from Regen as though they were not his own. “It is a great honor to speak before Your Majesty, but I wish to offer my wish right to Princess Silver Bird.”

 

“You wish to transfer it?”

 

Before the mad emperor, brow raised, could say anything further, the audience erupted into thunderous cheers. It was almost as if they were drowning out the mad emperor’s voice.

 

At that moment, Emilio, seated in the nearby guest section, casually interjected. “It seems the subjects’ excitement has reached its peak. Perhaps Your Majesty should draw out an even greater cheer and display your dignity.”

 

The cheers from earlier had been the crowd’s reaction to Regen’s wish. He was implying that the emperor should say something capable of drawing an even more passionate response. And what the crowd wanted here was obvious. They wanted him to grant Regen’s wish.

 

Chuckling, the mad emperor made a show of reluctance as he declared, “Granted!”

 

Waaaaaaaah—! The flattering praises directed toward the mad emperor rang out more fiercely than ever.

 

“Rosasia.”

 

Under everyone’s attention, the beautiful platinum-blonde princess rose to her feet and bowed respectfully.

 

“Speak. What is your wish?”

 

Thinking about what was about to happen, Regen squeezed his eyes shut. Unfortunately, he could not cover his ears.

 

✦

Surrounded by countless gazes, Sasha took a deep breath.

 

“Please propose to me. If you would only propose to me, I will take care of the rest myself.”

 

It was time to fulfill the promise she had made with the traitor.

 

“With Lord Emilio…”

 

The moment she uttered those few words, the people reflected in her eyes displayed all sorts of expressions. The mad emperor showed crazed interest, while Emilo smiled in satisfaction, certain things would proceed according to plan. Beside him, the chief chamberlain raised his brows as if surprised, while Dominic’s face stiffened. The expression she most wanted to see was Regen’s, but, unfortunately, since he had his back turned to her, she could not see it.

 

Among the people before her, Emilio’s self-assured expression irritated Sasha. For a brief moment, she was tempted. It was a wish right. Using it, she could accomplish her goal very easily. Should she say it? Should she really just say it? That I wanted to see a duel between Emilio and Regen.

 

As befitted the daughter of a capricious and irrational tyrant, she could probably throw Emilio Hwibrik into the arena right now with a single sentence. Wasn’t it a long-standing tradition to pit two mortal enemies against each other in a duel to the death? Regen would gain the opportunity to drive his sword into the traitor’s neck. A chance for Regen to take revenge right now.

 

A cold light briefly flickered through her light sky-blue eyes. But she barely managed to restrain the impulse. That was a wish she absolutely must not make. The reason was simple. If cornered, Emilio would expose Regen’s identity, and then they would all be endangered together.

 

The fact that Regenhart Lohengrin was alive was not only a weakness for Emilio. From Sasha’s perspective as well, it was a fatal secret that had to remain hidden from the world. Moreover, after today’s knight wheel match, Emilio had likely also learned that Killian was alive. Sasha now had to protect Nanaen’s weakness too. Therefore, the best course for Sasha was to keep Emilio complacent until the very end, lure him outside the imperial palace, and deal with him there. The traitor had to die for reasons entirely unrelated to Regen or Killian. In any case, it won’t be long now.

 

Even after making up her mind, Emilio’s smug face still irritated her. He was already under the delusion that he possessed half of Sasha. If she publicly accepted his proposal here, he would surely treat her as a pathetic woman desperately clinging to him because she loved him too much. She had already indulged him enough until now.

 

Sasha smiled brightly. “I wish to go on a brief excursion with Lord Emilio. Only as far as accompanying him on his return journey to Lohengrin a week from now.”

 

“…!”

 

Only then did Emilio’s expression become worth seeing. Watching his arrogant composure drain away and harden, Sasha was finally able to put genuine feeling into the smile she had been faking.

 

The mad emperor, seemingly disappointed by the uninteresting request, returned to a bored expression. “You wish to go to the border?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. It reminded me of a place I visited once as a child. I wish for a change of mood, so please grant me permission.” Sasha lightly placed one hand over her chest and bowed her head. As her platinum-blonde hair cascaded down, the fair nape of her neck revealed beneath it was beautiful enough to seem luscious. And the eyes staring at such a woman burned with rage.

 

Foolish woman. If you had followed my words, you could have severed ties with the imperial palace completely within a month!

 

Emilio had never expected the mad emperor to immediately permit the marriage. This public proposal alone was enough to make the ‘imperial marriage’ the center of public attention. Afterward, he had prepared all sorts of schemes behind the scenes without even the princess realizing. He planned to shape public opinion around the benefits of the imperial marriage, gradually tarnish the princess’s reputation and value through scandals, and lure her out by hosting a ‘banquet’ that the mad emperor would enjoy. For example, something like a dowry auction in which only governors could participate.

 

Throughout the entire process, Emilio intended to maintain an outward attitude of complete composure. That way, the princess, left desperate and alone, would cling to him even more pitifully. He wanted to see that princess sink into the mire at least once. But all of those plans had been thrown into disarray.

 

Curses surged up to Emilio’s throat. He was furious that the situation had slipped beyond his control, and furious that the princess had dared to defy his words. What enraged him the most was that he wouldn’t get to witness Regenhart Lohengrin’s despair after having the princess taken from him.

 

Breathing roughly, Emilio turned to look at Regen in the arena. Damnably enough, Regen’s handsome face could not hide its surprise at the princess’s unexpected action. The expression, as though he had encountered hope itself, was unbearably unpleasant to look at.

 

Meanwhile, someone else was watching Emilio with murderous eyes.

 

Is she trying to run away? With trash like that? It was Dominic. As Rosasia was leaving on an excursion, that was the only reason he could think of why she would insist on bringing along a traitor from the defeated nation. The possibility that she might go all the way to the border and never return dominated his thoughts.

 

That road isn’t an escape route. It’s a cliff. Should I stop my Rosasia before she walks down it? His crimson eyes looked as though they might drip bloodlust.