What no one present expected was that the moment Tina saw Nina, the fury on her face instantly gave way to a gentle smile. She turned to Nina and said,
"Nina, what are you doing here? I wasn't talking about you just now, so don't misunderstand."
Nina never had strong feelings toward Tina in the first place, and after witnessing Tina's abrasive and unreasonable behavior—especially the insults she hurled at Nina and the others—her opinion of Tina hit rock bottom.
"Hmph! Your son was the one hitting on us. Why shouldn't I be here?"
Nina replied coldly, showing Tina no courtesy whatsoever.
"Oh, don't say that. Feld definitely likes you! Look, we're already close, and if you marry Feld, we'll become even closer. Isn't that a wonderful thing? Besides, Feld is quite handsome, and his father is the Minister of Security in the Imperial Capital. Isn't that much better than being randomly betrothed to some unknown man like the other day?"
Tina wasn't stupid. Just by looking at Feld, she knew he was done for. Even if he survived, there was no way his arms could be reattached.
In noble families like theirs, while familial affection was valued, the family's interests always came first. Now that Feld—the only heir—was crippled and clearly unfit to inherit the vast family estate, their only option was to have him produce an heir, allowing his son to directly inherit the family legacy.
For families like theirs, marriage was always about strategic benefits. And if they could arrange for Feld to marry Princess Nina—someone not only deeply favored by the late emperor but also the current emperor's sister—it would bring immense advantages to the Minister of Security's family.
But Tina's plan clearly overlooked one crucial thing: Nina's feelings.
If Nina had never met Haruki, she might have ended up just like the other princesses in the palace—used as pawns in political marriages. She probably wouldn't have even minded, thinking that was simply her destiny.
But she was luckier than the others—because she met Haruki. During the years they lived together, his sense of freedom and unrestrained way of thinking had a profound impact on her. The most obvious sign of that influence was her belief in the freedom to love. Now, she despised the idea of arranged marriage from the bottom of her heart.
Hearing Tina suggest she marry that cripple of a son, Nina flared up on the spot.
"Aunt Tina, everyone in the Imperial Capital knows what Feld is like. I don't need to spell it out. And look at the state he's in now—let's be honest, he's a cripple. Why would I marry someone like that? Besides, I decide who I marry. No one else has a say in it."
Hearing how resolutely Nina rejected the idea, and with sarcasm clearly aimed at Feld, Tina—who already had a bad temper—completely lost it again and yelled,
"Nina, let me tell you this—Feld being injured like this is partly your fault! Don't think you're still the pampered little princess you were under the late emperor. He's gone now! Tomorrow, we're going to the palace to ask His Majesty to grant your marriage to Feld. This isn't your decision to make!"
Tina's voice was shrill and aggressive, and she spoke without any filter. Even though Nina was a princess, the late emperor was not someone Tina should've spoken of so flippantly.
"Shut your mouth. Do you even realize what you're saying?"
Tina's outrageous words had gone too far. Even the Minister of Security, who had been silently standing by, could no longer hold back and shouted at her.
Although he fully agreed with Tina's idea to have the emperor marry Princess Nina to Feld—especially given his own precarious political situation—there were limits. The prime minister had become increasingly wary of him lately and had begun suppressing him in every possible way. And with the young emperor hanging on the prime minister's every word, the Minister of Security knew that if this went on, he'd be finished. Getting Feld to marry an imperial princess would be a massive political boon. But if word got out that his wife had spoken ill of the late emperor, it could turn public opinion—and the court—against him.
He quickly turned to Nina and said,
"Princess Nina, I think you should at least consider Tina's proposal. After all, if we petition His Majesty for the marriage, I don't think he would refuse."
Though his voice sounded polite, the threat beneath his words was unmistakable.
Just as Nina was about to argue back, Haruki, who had remained silent until now, could no longer tolerate it. He stepped forward, his expression dark, and said to the Minister of Security and Tina,
"Oh? What makes you so confident the emperor will actually agree to marry Nina off to that cripple? Seems to me you've been ignoring me ever since I showed up. That's pretty disrespectful. More importantly—Nina is my woman. And you're threatening her right in front of me. That alone is reason enough for me to not let you walk out of here today. If there's one thing I hate, it's people scheming against those close to me."
Hearing Haruki openly declare that she was his woman, Nina shyly lowered her head, her cheeks turning a bright red—she looked irresistibly cute.
"Hmph! Even if you hadn't said anything, I was going to demand an explanation. Did you really injure my son just because he acted a little flirty with the girls around you? I know you're a Teigu user, but don't forget—you're in the Imperial Capital now. No one here knows who you are, and I command over ten thousand security forces. Besides, I've already sent for Great General Budo to come and settle this matter. Today, you won't escape."
After seeing Feld's subordinates killed outside the clothing shop and hearing the messenger's report, the Minister of Security had concluded that Haruki was a Teigu user. From the start, he had already sent his most trusted man to fetch Great General Budo, who was currently stationed at the royal palace.
The truth was, the Minister of Security was still considered part of the Conscience Faction. While Budo did not engage in politics due to ancestral rules, he still tried to use his influence to protect fellow Conscience Faction officials from the prime minister's suppression. The Minister of Security was one of those under his protection.
"Oh? So you're that sure you've got me cornered?"
Haruki sneered with genuine contempt at the minister's confident tone. When Haruki decided to kill someone, no one in this world could stop him.
"That's right. You're dead. How dare you hurt my son! I'll make sure you live in agony—unable to live, unable to die!"
Still oblivious to Haruki's disdain, Tina shouted arrogantly at him.
Even though he'd been threatened, Haruki didn't strike them down like he had those guards earlier. Since his rebirth, he had never been this furious. He was going to shatter every last hope the Minister of Security's family had—make them drown in despair before they died.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake