Chapter 91
‘Wait. What did he just say?’
The words were so unexpected that Siren dismissed them as mishearingd.
But after seeing Hies’ expression, she realized that wasn’t the case. Slowly, she asked again.
“You’re giving it to me?”
“That’s right. You are the queen, after all. You should have land in your own name. And if you’re going to have land, it might as well be the most fertile in the entire country.”
“……?”
She had vaguely considered asking for a small plot of land. Somewhere tucked away in a remote corner, where no one would seek it out or take an interest in it.
A place surrounded by mountains would be fine, or even a quiet seaside village. Something secluded like that would have sufficed… but suddenly, the fertile lands of the East?
‘This is too much.’
She parted her lips to refuse, but just as she did, her eyes met Yasamin’s. She swallowed her words on the spot.
Though Yasamin was smiling, her gaze unmistakably commanded her to accept it without objection.
‘Ah, I see. Even if he’s the king, taking everything for himself would cause unrest. But if it’s declared as my share… It’s still royal property in the end, but it sounds more reasonable.’
If this was Yasamin’s plan, it was important not to ruin it.
As she was thinking this, Hies immediately objected.
“Your Majesty! You said you’d take all that land from Wilkeron’s hands. But now, you’re giving the princess the best territory? If it were the North, that would be one thing!”
“She’ll soon awaken as Aquafuran. What’s the problem?”
“That… If she’s Aquafuran, then…”
Hies hesitated, then sharply turned to glare at Siren.
She never expected the king to act this way.
‘If that woman is Aquafuran, she should be sacrificed as a living offering. So why is he giving her good land?’
That statement could only mean one thing: he had no intention of killing her.
It sounded as if he planned to keep her by his side indefinitely. No wonder she was losing her mind.
“The North is too cold for Southerners to live in anyway. It’s better suited as a place of exile.”
Holding a quill, Yasamin drew a line across part of the map.
“Everything above this will be designated as an exile zone. If a rebellion breaks out, it’s more convenient to block off just this area rather than defend against attacks from all sides.”
Hies’ protests were brushed aside as if they had never been raised in the first place.
Having served the king for a long time, she understood what this meant.
It was a signal that he wouldn’t listen.
No matter who spoke, no matter what was said—he would not be swayed.
No one could change Yasamin’s mind when he was like this.
‘Of course, as long as we get control of the fertile eastern lands, sacrificing that much is acceptable. As long as it belongs to His Majesty and not that woman.’
Who do you think you are?
What gives you the right to receive such a privilege from the king?
You’re not even from the South!
Hies’ eyes darkened. She couldn’t let this stand. She couldn’t allow this meeting to be dismissed so easily…!
“Your Majesty.”
In the end, suppressing the turmoil within, Hies called out to Yasamin.
“As the leader of the Nu clan and the priestess who received this divine oracle, I earnestly implore you. Please reconsider. If you simply hand that land to the princess, the Southerners will never accept it.”
“Cannot accept it, huh….”
“Right now, all of the South must unite as one. The movements of the stars are ominous. A rebellion will surely break out… Those who are dissatisfied with Your Majesty’s excessive kindness toward the princess may begin to harbor other thoughts!”
There was a great deal of resentment in his words, but they weren’t entirely wrong.
Hies turned to look at Eltan, as if daring him to refute it if he could.
“Sigh. Your Majesty.”
Eltan removed the monocle he had been wearing and wiped it with a cloth as he muttered.
“If you have no intention of reconsidering, you should at least provide a plausible reason. Otherwise, it would be best if Her Highness publicly demonstrated her identity as Aquafuran before the people. Wouldn’t it be wise to prevent a riot?”
Eltan.
To be honest, he had no particular desire to take the priest’s side.
From the moment he first met Hies, something about him felt off. Especially the way he looked at Yasamin—it was unsettling, beyond the bounds of normalcy.
Keeping Hies under control had been useful, as it allowed him to manipulate the Nu clan. But as expected…
Ever since he suddenly declared the formation of a Diet, he knew this would happen.
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