When the Female Lead Went Off-Script, the Main Male Lead Became the Tyrant's Empress - Chapter 34.1
If the private soldiers of the Troanne County and the Ihane Marquisate were combined, they would make up a considerable force.
And if the Grand Duke Valtor’s army were added to that, it would be large enough to threaten the Imperial Guard.
Because they were Clary’s chaperone and godfather, they could always meet without restraint.
It was even possible that Haster himself had weighed Troanne’s value.
The Grand Duke was both a bulwark protecting the imperial family and practically a rival.
If he built up an independent power base, he could easily disregard any checks imposed by the imperial family.
“That cannot happen.”
Ever since the world was created, humans had never hesitated to do anything necessary to fulfill their desires.
That was simply human nature.
So any seed that might cause problems in the future had to be cut down in advance.
He couldn’t touch Haster.
The country and the imperial family needed him for their security.
He was his.
Arden wasn’t someone who shared what belonged to him with others.
Then what about Stelli Troanne?
She neither particularly supported nor opposed the Emperor.
She seemed uninterested in politics and appeared to spend all her time caring only about running her salon, managing her connections, and maintaining her reputation in high society.
But what if she had simply been waiting for a change of regime?
What if she was looking forward to formally attending the council?
What if seeing Haster advance into the central political sphere had changed her mind?
The Countess had a beautiful face and an enticing figure.
With her harmless, girlish smile, gentle voice, and sweet yet bitter memories, she would have worked at Haster’s heart and poured love, fantasy, joy, and compassion into the cracks.
That was how she would have won his heart.
That was how she would have seen that boyish expression of his and taken him for herself.
Arden clenched his fingers tightly as though crushing something invisible.
The veins on the back of his hand throbbed violently.
Thousands of thoughts raced through his mind.
As though they had been waiting there for a very long time, vile and destructive methods of bringing Troanne down appeared endlessly in his head.
He couldn’t tolerate the fact that she had slipped into the place by Haster’s side that Haster had yet to give him.
‘It won’t be easy, but I can fabricate evidence and witnesses. If I weave in a little truth, it’ll be harder to uncover. The nobles will be suspicious, but…….’
Suddenly, the train of thought that had been racing forward without hesitation lost momentum and sagged.
Haster would undoubtedly harbor strong suspicions about any commotion surrounding the Countess.
Clever and tenacious, he would surely mobilize all the power and connections at his disposal to investigate the truth and uncover whoever was behind it.
Unless he was an idiot, Haster would no doubt suspect Arden first.
Even if Arden somehow managed to deceive him, it would only be a matter of time before Haster began to resent the imperial family for trying to condemn her.
‘And the defenses of the border region governed by Marquis Ihane would collapse in no time.’
Arden paused to steady his breathing.
Then he suppressed his anger, pushed the ruthless plan aside, and generously forgave Troanne.
This wasn’t a race.
She didn’t even know a competition had begun, nor was she cunningly controlling the game.
What was an ex-lover, after all?
Someone you missed and yet found uncomfortable at the same time.
Depending on the reason for the breakup, there might be more resentment or regret mixed in as well.
If she had managed it despite all that, then Arden, who had no negative feelings toward Haster whatsoever, should certainly be able to do the same.
How did one win someone’s favor?
You appealed to them with the things they liked.
“Hmm, I suppose I should give him gifts after all?”
But Arden soon clicked his tongue at his own ignorance.
He realized that while he knew very well what the Grand Duke of Yse wanted and needed, he didn’t know a single thing that Haster, his own cousin, wanted or liked.
The only thing that came to mind immediately was Clary, his niece and goddaughter.
“It’s not like I can give him that brat as a gift.”
If anything, Haster might berate him for trying to pass off a ticking bomb.
Just because he liked Clary didn’t necessarily mean he wanted to take responsibility for her entire life.
“Ah, that won’t work.”
He didn’t spend long thinking about it.
Arden immediately pulled the bell cord beside his bed and summoned an attendant.
“Find out what Grand Duke Valtor likes or needs.”
As the attendant bowed and withdrew, Arden hurriedly added.
“As quickly as possible.”
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