The Villainess Has Proposed a Contract Marriage

93 – The Demon King’s Command

Harte grasped the divine power in his hand and added,

“I’m not saying I’ll threaten the demon tribe with force. From the start, if I did that, I’d really be dead this time.”

“You’re speaking as if you’ve already died once.”

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“That’s… ahaha.”

At that moment, Elphisia gave Harte a sharp glare. It wasn’t a topic to be joked about.

Cardi murmured his understanding.

“Well… since you’ve been lying there like a corpse for a year, it’s no wonder.”

Cardi’s tired expression was peculiar. Harte thought, “This person also has wrinkles on their forehead.”

Harte then showed his consent.

“Well, you’re clever, and even the cunning old man, Chancellor, acknowledges that fact… but don’t overdo it.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I won’t cause any trouble.”

“… Alright. Go ahead. At least I won’t interfere with your plans.”

“Yes, that’s enough. Thank you, Father.”

Elphisia expressed her gratitude calmly. However, Cardi looked like he had witnessed a rare scene, his mouth slightly agape.

As a quiet sigh escaped his open mouth, Elphisia’s face turned red again.

“Let’s go, Harte.”

“What, Elphisia?”

“It’s done, so hurry up.”

“Ah, I understand! Then I’ll take my leave, Your Excellency!”

Harte hastily finished his farewell and was forcibly dragged out by Elpisia. Meanwhile, Cardi muttered to himself inside the tightly closed room.

“Living to see the day when I receive gratitude from my own daughter…”

It was a good thing he had Harte as his son-in-law. Such a thought suddenly occurred to him.

The proposal of marriage was a decision made on half-impulse. However, during their time together, Elpisia’s character had changed in a desirable direction.

From a young age, she had been a perfect child, without a single flaw, and received endless praise. So Cardi never boasted about his child, and instead, others praised Elpisia. He secretly ridiculed the irony of the situation.

It was undeniable that his daughter was a pride-worthy child, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel proud.

As his child, she was unfamiliar, and as a human, she was inhumane, giving him an occasional sense of discomfort.

“Well… whatever.”

She slightly resembled her mother.

Although her appearance was identical to her mother’s, her behavior was the complete opposite. However, her blushing face, which looked embarrassed, reminded him of her sleeping mother.

“I didn’t realize she had grown up so well…”

Cardi knew he wasn’t a good parent.

Of course, as a duke, he was wealthy, and if Elpisia wanted something, he could give her anything in the empire.

But that was all.

As a parent, Cardi couldn’t provide anything more to Elpisia. It would be more accurate to say he didn’t know what to give.

Even his late wife, who had passed away, was no different in that aspect.

That’s why Harte was admirable. Not only did he change Elpisia, but he also gained the trust and affection of various children.

If he had only taken after his son-in-law a little, Elpisia’s transformation might have occurred sooner.

“As I grow older, I worry more about the past than the future… uselessly…”

Fortunately, the present was just as it was, and that was a relief.

Cardi sank into his thoughts, reminiscing about the family situation.

◇

The discussion about the ceasefire agreement with the demon tribe was decided after Glen’s conversation ended.

When asked if he wanted to meet his biological parents, Glen, who had grown up as a human, hesitated. However, he soon showed curiosity, especially about why he was abandoned in the human world.

If they were going to proceed, there was no need to delay.

Elpisia, who had judged so, separated Tina and Eco, and called Glen alone to the room. Glen soon realized the purpose and came to find them with an anticipatory expression.

“Hello to both of you.”

“… Hello, Glen.”

Elpisia received Glen’s greeting. This, too, had changed, becoming part of their daily routine. If it were the old her, she would have slightly tilted her head or responded with a simple “Yeah.”

However, the awkward atmosphere was difficult to conceal, and an uncomfortable silence soon filled the room.

Thanks to this, Harte had to force a cough to break the silence.

“Ahem. You must have already guessed, but… the reason I called you separately is related to your biological parents.”

“… Yes, I expected it.”

“Don’t be too burdened. If you’re dissatisfied, just hit me and run away.”

Glen smiled awkwardly at Harte’s extreme joke. As the atmosphere relaxed slightly, Elpisia slowly opened her mouth.

“By now, the imperial palace must be discussing a ceasefire agreement with the demon tribe.”

“Is Urian taking care of it?”

“That’s the plan.”

However, Yurian had lost his father to the demons…

Glenn’s face turned red as he spoke, his voice trailing off. The more he spoke, the more calmly Elpisia continued the conversation.

“It’s not like that. He hated the Emperor, didn’t he? The one who made him have a miserable childhood was his own father.”

This was a story from before the regression.

Although it was only once, Elpisia had experienced a private meeting with the Emperor as the Imperial Duke. At that time, she had asked the Emperor a question that genuinely piqued her curiosity.

[Didn’t you love the Second Empress?]

Yurian had no backing whatsoever. That’s because the Second Empress was a human from a humble family with no suitable background. If it weren’t for the sympathy of Arwell, the Imperial Duke, who took Yurian in, the mother and son would have been doomed.

Despite that, the reason why the Second Empress, who had no strategic value, became a member of the imperial family…

It was because the Emperor had loved her, Elpisia surmised.

[Is it different now?]

This was the Emperor’s response to Elpisia’s question. His somewhat embarrassing confession, that he still loved the Second Empress, was very calm.

[Why did you ignore her death?]

[Because I am the Emperor.]

[That’s not a reasonable excuse.]

[It’s like that. Others don’t understand the Imperial Duke, and the Imperial Duke doesn’t understand others.]

Those were harsh words.

Elpisia, who was devoid of empathy and exploited people, was being ridiculed for not understanding.

Elpisia, who was stabbed in the heart, fell silent for a moment. During that time, the Emperor put down his spoon and spoke in a slightly cracked voice.

[… The Emperor is someone who wears clothes made of the people’s blood and flesh. This banquet, this grand palace, and the luxury that the nobles envy are all just byproducts of ordinary people.]

[…]

[How dare you, then, try to become human? If the title of Emperor is ultimately an illusion, and I, who am no different from them, sit in this position, isn’t it only natural that I fulfill my duties?]

[If you liked that kind of doll-like life, you shouldn’t have brought the Second Empress in the first place.]

[I agree. It’s the first and last mistake I made, exploring humanity as a doll.]

The Emperor acknowledged his contradiction with a calm tone. However, his facial muscles didn’t show even the slightest change, making it difficult for Elpisia to read his thoughts.

So, she tried to test him.

[The First Prince is incompetent, the Second Prince is unhealthy, and the Third Prince is intelligent, making him a suitable Emperor. Then, isn’t it decided whether I choose to be human or a doll?]

[Ask yourself instead. Will you support that child?]

[You’re speaking nonsense.]

It had been a while since Ascalion’s relationship with her had deteriorated. As expected, the Emperor nodded once in response.

[Even if I fight and come back, the Empress and your opposition will only intensify. The aftermath will be borne by those below, and it’s my role to quietly hand over the imperial power. Even if Ascalion meets an unhappy end…]

[Will the empire, managed by you as a doll, fall into the hands of an incompetent person?]

[Even if the person is incompetent, if those around them are wise, they can be supported. The Empress and her faction are like that, aren’t they? In any case, the empire will somehow manage. If it’s on the brink of collapse, you can start a rebellion or something.]

[… Your Majesty.]

[Ah, if that happens, please spare the temple. Don’t turn your eyes in that direction, or your cursed eyes might go blind.]

Elpisia still couldn’t tell whether the Emperor’s words were sincere or a joke. However, she had to acknowledge that his curse had been fulfilled in some way.

Indeed, she had gone blind in an instant, just like that. It was an experience she had gone through. All thanks to a foolish, stupid knight…

“Elpisia…? Did I do something wrong?”

“… No.”

“Uh-huh, I thought so. I asked because your eyes seemed to have narrowed.”

During the meaningless conversation, Glenn seemed to have made up his mind.

“If Yu Rian is okay with it… I won’t hesitate anymore. I’ll seize the opportunity given to me.”

“That’s a good determination.”

Hart seemed to find it funny, ruffling Glen’s hair. Glen then smoothed out his disheveled hair and spoke.

“But how can we meet them? Do we need to negotiate with the demons in the changed world and enter the demon realm?”

“There’s a simpler way.”

Glen quickly thought of what Hart meant. It was because Hart often abused his miraculous power.

A miracle that could connect spaces and move to a specific location.

If they used that power, they could even reach the inner sanctum of the demon king’s castle.

“But… isn’t this…”

Impossible.

At the moment Glen was about to express his concerns, the golden light of the divine was already softly shining.

“It’s okay.”

Hart smiled brightly.

All of Glen’s worries were within his expectations.

The principle of separation by the divine or the demon’s hostility were not a problem.

‘This will be the last time I use my miracle.’