LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 83
Episode 83: The Annexation of Gildolq (9)
“Please.”
Guided by a civil official, Sosua entered through the opened door. In the center of the room was a long table, with six men seated on each side.
“Please take a seat here.”
The seat indicated by the official was directly opposite Jilvol. Despite the considerable distance across the long table, Sosua couldn’t help but feel tense sitting directly across from Jilvol.
As Sosua took her seat, all eyes turned to Jilvol.
Seated beside Jilvol were her father, Hector, and his younger brother, Yuan.
(Ugh… this is terrifying.)
Sosua gulped as she sat down. The overwhelming pressure emanating from Jilvol was intense, and she clenched her teeth to stop them from chattering.
“It’s been a while, Princess Sosua… no, Queen Sosua.”
At the mention of “Queen Sosua,” she felt her body stiffen.
“Y-yes… Your Majesty, King Jilvol… I hope you are well.”
Sosua’s voice trembled slightly from nervousness.
“Don’t be so frightened. This is not a trial to condemn you.”
“Huh?”
“I said this is not a trial to condemn you.”
Sosua was taken aback by Jilvol’s words.
(What does this mean? If it’s not a trial… does that mean he doesn’t intend to kill me? No, no, no, stay calm… don’t let your guard down.)
While Sosua saw a glimmer of hope in Jilvol’s words, she quickly dismissed it as wishful thinking.
“What do you mean? I am the ruler of a fallen nation.”
“Indeed. But you still have value.”
“…!!”
Sosua was stunned by Jilvol’s blunt statement. Being told outright that she had “value” left her speechless.
“Don’t be so surprised. Deep down, you must have considered your own worth, haven’t you?”
“Well…”
“Didn’t you think that leveraging your value could help you survive?”
“T-that’s…”
Sosua hesitated at Jilvol’s question. In truth, she had thought about it during her journey to Miressbelle, but she wasn’t sure if she should admit it openly.
“As long as you have value, I won’t kill you.”
“…Is my value to gain the people’s support during the annexation of Gildolq?”
“Exactly.”
(This is the moment of truth!! To King Jilvol, I must seem like a scared kitten, but I don’t want to die!!)
Sosua steeled herself, determined to face her fear of death head-on.
“I understand.”
Sosua replied without showing any disgust at Jilvol’s words.
“May I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Thank you. About how you intend to use me… is it through marriage to you?”
A murmur of admiration spread through the room. It wasn’t that Sosua had guessed correctly about the marriage. Given her position, marriage was an obvious option. What impressed the attendees was that, despite Jilvol declaring his intent to use her, Sosua showed no sign of agitation or anger.
From Sosua’s perspective, her family and loved ones had been killed, she had been used as a pawn in schemes, and now she was being told she would be used again by House Zabeiru. It was only natural for her to feel hatred. Yet, Sosua showed none of it. This was proof of her complete self-control.
At first, Sosua couldn’t stop her body from trembling under Jilvol’s pressure, but her resolve to face this moment head-on had steadied her.
“Marriage is correct. But the partner is not me.”
“Huh?”
Sosua couldn’t help but blurt out in confusion at Jilvol’s reply.
(No one seems surprised… this must have been the plan all along.)
Sosua noticed the lack of reaction from the attendees and realized there was more to this.
(Since when… what a foolish question. It must have been from the very beginning…)
Sosua shuddered as she realized this entire situation had been orchestrated by Jilvol from the start. The thought of how much she had been manipulated sent a chill down her spine.
“Your marriage partner will be Yuan.”
“Are you serious!?”
When Jilvol mentioned Yuan’s name, Sosua couldn’t help but exclaim. She had already guessed that her marriage partner would be Yuan, but hearing it confirmed in front of the assembly was another matter entirely.
“Of course, I’m serious. You must be thinking that some faction will try to use you as a figurehead to drive a wedge between me and Yuan, right?”
“Y-yes.”
“I’ve already accounted for that. So, do you accept?”
Sosua gulped at Jilvol’s confident declaration. But it was clear she had no right to refuse.
“Yes.”
“Good. But since Yuan will be your marriage partner, you’ll have to pay a suitable price.”
“A price?”
Sosua immediately understood what Jilvol meant.
“The Gildolq Throne, right?”
“Correct. The Gildolq Kingdom has already fallen. In reality, the throne holds no power. But for the former citizens of Gildolq, it still holds meaning.”
“I understand. I will relinquish the Gildolq Throne.”
Jilvol nodded in satisfaction at Sosua’s reply.
“Then the agreement is settled.”
“Yes… King Jilvol, may I ask one final question?”
“What is it?”
“What would you have done if I refused to give up the throne?”
“I would have killed you.”
Sosua instantly understood that Jilvol’s blunt reply was no empty threat.
“I said I wouldn’t kill you as long as you have value. If you refused, you would have no value. You understand what that means, don’t you?”
“…Yes.”
“If you lack the ability to understand your position, then you have no value to me.”
Sosua felt a chill at Jilvol’s words. She realized that her life had been spared not out of mercy, but because she still had use. If that ever changed, she would be disposed of without hesitation.
(If I step out of line, I’ll be killed… I need to be careful.)
As Sosua muttered this to herself, Jilvol smirked, as if he could read her thoughts like an open book.
“Yuan, you have no objections, do you?”
“Brother… are you sure about this?”
“Yes.”
Jilvol and Yuan exchanged a brief conversation. Yuan glanced at the assembly, who silently shook their heads. Seeing this, Yuan closed his eyes for a moment before bowing to Jilvol.
“Understood. I will marry Queen Sosua.”
“Good. You’ve made the right decision.”
Jilvol’s tone toward Yuan was gentle.
“You all heard it. The engagement between my brother Yuan and Queen Sosua is settled. From this moment, House Zabeiru and Queen Sosua are bound by marriage. Conduct yourselves accordingly.”
“Understood.”
The assembly responded in unison to Jilvol’s declaration.
(…And so, the House of Gildolq has truly fallen.)
Sosua let out a small, self-deprecating laugh at the thought.
(If only Father and Grandfather hadn’t recklessly oppressed the regions… no, if they hadn’t killed King Jilvol’s loved one, perhaps we wouldn’t have fallen.)
Sosua concluded that the tragedy that had befallen her family was ultimately their own doing. It was the consequence of their accumulated misdeeds coming back to haunt them.
(But I survived. Now, I need to do what I can to ease the tensions between House Zabeiru and the central government. Can I do it…? No, I must.)
Sosua vowed this to herself. Perhaps it was born out of a desperate desire to survive, but Sosua felt no despair over being the sole survivor. She had found her purpose.
The abdication of the Gildolq Throne to Jilvol and the engagement between Yuan and Sosua were announced three days after this meeting.
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