TGW Chapter 14 Part 3

 

Sienna was summoned by Patricia for a similar reason that Kuhn was summoned by Dian.

“Silver Queen, I’ve been hearing some strange stories lately. They say that Marquis Raad has been visiting the Silver Palace frequently?”

“Lord Rouk is with him as well.”

“I already called Lord Rouk in to ask about it. Contrary to what’s been reported, he says they’re not particularly close. To be honest, he seemed quite uncomfortable with it. He said he would prefer to have private conversations with you.”

Sienna silently sipped her tea. She felt a smirk tug at her lips. What a coward. Joseph's already low standing in her eyes plummeted even further.

To claim he wasn’t “particularly close” to Marquis Raad when he could barely exchange a word with him, was a clever lie meant to bolster his own image. It was clear that Joseph was trying to use Patricia’s influence to drive Marquis Raad away.

‘And yet, he doesn’t even have the courage to tell me he’s uncomfortable with Marquis Raad.’

Sienna doubted Patricia's judgment. What exactly did she see in Joseph?

“With Lord Rouk present, there shouldn't be any issues. After all, you did encourage me to interact with a variety of people.”

Patricia furrowed her delicate brow before letting out an exaggerated sigh.

“Silver Queen, don’t be too surprised when you hear this. That Marquis Raad... he’s an associate of the Iron King.”

Sienna looked blankly at Patricia. Naturally, she wasn’t surprised at all. Her mother’s attempt to present this known information as if it were some grand secret was laughable.

‘Mother, the Iron King will become Emperor.’

Only Sienna knew this today. It was future knowledge that the gods had granted her.

“He has very close ties with the Iron King. I have solid proof of this. No matter what sweet words he says, you must not be swayed.”

“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”

Sienna responded indifferently.

“Silver Queen, he’s playing a trick to deceive those around him. He visits you often to hide the fact that he’s an associate of the Iron King.”

Sienna’s hand trembled slightly as she held the teacup.

‘...That’s probably true.’

Kuhn's goal was to place the Iron King on the throne. To execute such a grand plan, he would move with meticulous calculation at every step. It was unlikely that he was visiting the Silver Palace with pure intentions.

Patricia’s observation wasn’t shocking, yet it still left Sienna feeling empty. The tea in her mouth tasted bitter. Forcing herself to swallow it made her feel queasy.

“So, what I mean is...”

Patricia glanced at Sienna carefully.

“What’s the point of prolonging the engagement? Let’s start thinking about the marriage.”

Sienna put her teacup down with a rough clatter. Irritation flared up. It wasn’t just her mother’s one-sided opinion. No doubt Joseph had expressed his desire for it as well.

“I believe we had already settled this matter. The engagement was arranged according to your wishes, Mother. But I made it clear that I would not rush into marriage.”

“Silver Queen, I want your foundation to be solidified through marriage.”

“What help does Sir Luke provide me?”

“That’s not it, Silver Queen. What you gain isn’t Lord Rouk but the Duke of Rouk’s family. Why do you think the Iron King became engaged to Grand Duke Grossi’s granddaughter? What the Iron King desires is not the fiancée herself but the duchy behind her.”

“......”

“You surely understand at least that much without needing me to spell it out.”

Sienna felt a sudden clarity as if cold water had been poured over her. Her mother chose Joseph as a son-in-law, selecting the Duke of Rouk’s family, just as the Iron King sought to align with the Grossi Duchy through his engagement to Violet.

Marriage as a union of necessity. Up until recently, Sienna had thought that was only natural. The Sienna from then wouldn’t have been dissatisfied with Joseph’s character. Who he was as a person wouldn’t have mattered? His value lay in being the grandson of the Duke of Rouk.

And back then, Sienna would have naturally assumed the Iron King’s engagement was a calculated contract.

Reflecting on the image of Violet's shy smile, she realized she wouldn’t have felt the vague discomfort she did now.

---

"You’ve changed."

---

Countess Poph’s words echoed in her mind. A comment she had dismissed now struck her as a revelation.

‘Have I changed…?’

In just half a year, her values had shifted dramatically. She was a stranger to this new self. It felt as if the future version of herself, the one she had seen in her dream as the Emperor—a future self she couldn’t understand—was now standing right before her. It was frightening and unsettling.

‘I will never… become an Emperor like that.’

She wouldn’t waste time lamenting past mistakes and beating her chest in regret.

As Sienna left the Crimson Palace and made her way back to her own palace, she abruptly changed direction.

“To the Iron King’s palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Kun had said in her dream that the Iron King both hated Sienna and wanted to protect her. No matter how much she pondered, she couldn’t grasp the meaning behind his words. To understand, she felt she needed to learn more about who the Iron King really was.

 

A servant of the Iron King’s palace greeted Sienna. The servant seemed quite flustered by her sudden visit.

“Is the Iron King inside?”

“Yes, Your Highness. However, he currently has a guest.”

“I’ll wait.”

The servant, with an awkward expression, hesitated.

"There is no telling when the guest will leave. His Majesty the Iron King has given strict orders never to disturb him while he has visitors. Until the guest departs, we are not allowed to relay any messages."

"That's fine. It was my fault for coming unannounced."

Sienna was about to sit on a sofa when she noticed the way the servant said “always” and found it intriguing.

"Who is this guest?"

The servant hesitated.

"Is it a frequent guest?"

Again, the servant could not provide an answer.

Currently, Dian is with Kuhn. Even before becoming Marquis Raad, Kuhn had been a secret guest of the Iron King's palace, a distinguished visitor, and a confidant of the Iron King. Now that Kuhn was a marquis, he moved without hesitation, but the palace servants, still mindful of their previous caution, were hesitant to speak freely.

From the servant's uncomfortable demeanor, Sienna guessed the identity of the guest.

"Is Marquis Raad with him?"

The servant’s shoulders flinched in response, almost like an answer.

“Go inside and deliver my message.”

“Your Highness.”

“I assure you; the Iron King will not be angry. Tell him that I have come to see him.”

“...Yes.”

The servant hesitated for a moment before heading inside. A short while later, the servant returned, walking briskly and bowed deeply.

“His Majesty has asked that you be shown in.”

Sienna entered through the door opened by the servant. The two men sitting on the sofa rose when they saw her. Sienna’s steps briefly faltered.

‘Friends…’

In her dream, Kuhn had described his relationship with the Iron King as that of friends. It was such a curious word choice. Not a relationship of master and subordinate, nor one based on transactions—just friends.

Sienna was surprised that the two of them could consider each other friends. One was aiming to become the emperor, and the other was determined to place him on the throne. It seemed a relationship that would only work with cold calculation and decisive action.

‘Perhaps Kuhn’s definition of friendship differs from my own.’

Sienna approached them. Kuhn, who had met her gaze, bowed his head in greeting. Dian offered Sienna his seat. A few formal greetings were exchanged between them. The servant brought tea for the three of them.

"I apologize for arriving without notice. I hope I didn't interrupt an important conversation."

"We were just having a casual chat, so it's fine. It’s more important to know why the Silver Queen has come to see me. Is there something on your mind?"

“I just stopped by on my way.”

“...On your way?”

“I was also curious about the outing you mentioned last time.”

“Ah…”

Dian quickly composed his expression.

“You came at the right time. I was about to send someone to you.”

The reason Sienna gave for her visit didn’t quite make sense. It wasn’t like her at all. However, Dian felt a shift in his perspective. In the past, he would have only been suspicious, but now his suspicions were halved.

“Where were you coming from?”

“The Red King’s palace.”

Dian twisted his lips into a slight smile—a subtle grin.

“How is the Red King?”

“She is well.”

“You seem to have a good relationship with your mother. You see her often?”

“As often as needed. I had a particular matter to discuss today.”

“What matter... Ah, Silver Queen, I’m not trying to pry. It was just a habit.”

Sienna nodded indifferently. It would be amusing to see their reaction if she said, “She warned me to be cautious of you two.”

But a more intriguing thought came to her mind—something that would likely provoke an even stronger reaction.

"She urged me to hurry up and marry."

Kuhn appeared calm. At least on the surface. Instead, Dian seemed very interested in Sienna’s response.

“The Red King wants you to marry soon?”

“Both of them do.”

“Both of them?”

“Lord Rouk, as well.”

“Ah.”

Kuhn didn’t join in the siblings’ conversation. In his lowered gaze, a flash of fierce energy passed, invisible to anyone else.

‘That bastard. I was going to give him a pass for a while, but now he’s trying something sly?’

He pieced together the situation from the exchange between Dian and Sienna. Joseph must have run to the Red King to bring up the topic of marriage.

Kuhn had tolerated Joseph because he needed the façade of an engaged man. If Joseph had been content with his position and behaved himself, Kuhn would have continued playing the false friend, even boosting his prestige.

‘Marriage, though.’

Kuhn gritted his teeth. His insides churned with displeasure, coupled with a sense of unease.

She had said it was a "planned event," which was why she got engaged. It implied she didn’t put much meaning into the engagement. To her, the engagement was just another scheduled matter. While it was fortunate that she wasn’t interested in Joseph, she might approach marriage with the same mindset.

‘Marriage is out of the question.’

He had to stop any serious talk of marriage. If it were brought up, the Red King would push it forward quickly, and marriage would become another "scheduled event" for her.

“I think I'll wait until next year. At this rate, you might marry before I do, Silver Queen.”

Dian’s tone was slightly higher than usual. He was teasing. Kuhn silently counted to himself to keep his composure. His face remained unchanged, though his insides were a mess.

Sienna glanced sideways at Kuhn. His lack of reaction left her feeling disappointed. She also felt embarrassed by her own childish attempt to provoke him. She decided to change the subject.

“That could be possible, or it could not be. When is the outing?”

“In four days. How does that sound?”

“I’ll need to check my schedule with my secretary.”

“If that doesn’t work, the next day is fine too. Marquis Raad, would you like to join us if you’re free?”

Giving with one hand and taking with the other. Kuhn grumbled inwardly as he replied.

“It would be an honor, Your Highness.”

“Then I’ll add Marquis Raad to the guest list. Of course, if the Silver Queen agrees.”

“...I have no objections.”

“I also plan to invite Count Merses and his wife.”

This was an unexpected choice. Count Merses was known to be quite close to Duke Leeman, even if he wasn’t a direct associate. Dian offered an explanation to clarify.

“They’ll be witnesses. They can vouch that we genuinely enjoyed a pure outing.”

Count Merses was famous in social circles. His wife was just as sociable as he was. There wasn’t a single rumor circulating in high society that they didn’t know about, and many rumors started from their lips.

Sienna chuckled lightly and nodded. She had thought of the outing as a light-hearted event, but the Iron King left no room for error. She felt she was beginning to understand him a little better. Contrary to his seemingly lax exterior, he was meticulous.

“And the location?”

“There are many gardens in the Imperial Palace.”

“It’s getting cold. Use the greenhouse.”

“There are quite a few procedures to use it.”

The greenhouse was a special garden. Ever since the previous emperor built it as a gift for his wife, it had become a tradition for the emperor's spouse to hold the rights to its use. Patricia would never allow it. Dian hadn’t even bothered to try.

“I’ll get the Red King’s permission.”

“Even for the Silver Queen, that won’t be easy.”

“All I have to do is say that I want to use it.”

“...Are you planning to lie?”

“It’s not a lie. I’m just not mentioning who I’m using it with.”

Dian let out a small laugh. It felt like watching a model student’s first attempt at rebellion. The Silver Queen often showed unexpected sides. Dian found he enjoyed getting to know Sienna little by little. Even if someone mocked him for playing at being a family, he didn’t mind.

“Then I won’t refuse the Silver Queen’s help.”

“I’ll inform the greenhouse manager.”

Sienna ended the conversation and stood up.

“Are you leaving? Marquis Raad, why don’t you escort the Silver Queen…”

“No need for an escort.”

Sienna cut him off sharply and turned to leave. Dian glanced at Kuhn, signaling him to follow her, but Kuhn remained seated, watching Sienna's retreating figure.

“What’s this? Why are you two acting so distant?”

Dian complained, disappointed not to see the scene he had secretly anticipated.

“And why aren’t you following her?”

“She told me not to.”

“At this rate, how do you plan to make any progress? I get it now—this is your first romance, isn’t it? Are you trying to act like a novice?”

“The princess never gives a clear affirmative, but she certainly knows how to say no.”

If she were angry, it would be different, but she wasn’t. There was no need to push things as recklessly as before to speak with her. He had the right to see her whenever he wanted.

“You don’t actually think the straightforward approach will work with her, do you?”

“…Alright, fine, you know everything.”

Dian grumbled, sulking. Come to think of it, Kuhn had spoken as if he knew the princess’s personality well. It bothered him that Kuhn seemed to understand her better than he did.

“So, you’re saying I should just sit back and watch?”

Dian continued the conversation that had been interrupted by Sienna’s sudden visit.

“Unnecessary interference is harmful.”

“You do realize that even if the two of you are madly in love, it won’t be easy, right?”

“I understand.”

Dian’s expression turned doubtful.

“Do you have some hidden card up your sleeve? Why are you so calm?”

“If I intended to go on the hunt, I wouldn’t have told you to stay put. You know that when the goal itself is what matters most, I’ll stop at nothing to achieve it.”

“So you’re choosing the high road? And you’re confident about it? What a smug bastard.”

Kuhn let out a small laugh. Confident? Not really. He had a good understanding of her personality. Even if he managed to possess her using forceful means, he wouldn’t win her heart.

She was a principled person, someone with strong pride. Once she decided to cut someone out of her life for failing to meet her standards, she wouldn’t forgive or accept them back.

Dian’s gaze, which mistook Kuhn’s calmness for confidence, was not friendly. He thought it would serve Kuhn right if the princess made him suffer and fret for a change.

After Kuhn left, Dian sat there stewing for a long while.

“He’s a decent guy, I know that… But still…”

He was capable, wealthy, and even held an impeccable public standing. He was incomparable to the pampered aristocrats who had grown up under the protection of their families.

Having watched him closely for years, Dian knew he was also a decent human being—decisive and loyal to his own people.

“Ugh.”

Dian clutched his head in frustration. His head and heart were at odds. Logically, he knew he couldn’t find anyone better. Emotionally, he was still reluctant.

“Damn it. Damn it all!”

It was a shame. He felt like the princess was a precious gem of their house that was being snatched away by someone undeserving. He hadn’t thought much when he first heard about her engagement to Joseph. Dian couldn’t quite understand why he felt this way now.

 

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