Don’t Ask For Mercy From The Villainess - Chapter 21. Imperial Palace’s Library

“Are you in your right mind, Your Highness?”

That was Jessica’s answer to Salipe’s sudden proposal. As if he had expected her reaction, he then added,

“The fiancées of those part of the Imperial Family have the same power as the Imperial Family.”

“Of course, I know that, but…… Oh.”

“So even if you dig out the Planaton in your territory and use it, no one will be able to say anything.”

“Then are you saying that you will give me that power? Without having to give anything in return?”

“No way. There is one condition you must fulfil in order to become my fiancée.”

“What is that?”

Salipe whispered, unable to take his eyes off Jessica’s blue eyes.

“Tell me the location of the white spinel.”

***

Salipe was not one of those people who went in and out of the Imperial Palace’s library. The reason why he visited the Imperial Palace’s library was because of Jessica Viterne.

Salipe was convinced of one thing when he received the news that the daughter of Marquis Viterne had asked the Marquis for a wasteland in their territory. That there was something in the wasteland.

She wasn’t the type of person who would’ve asked the Marquis for the wasteland without any reason. If this were her before the funeral, Salipe probably wouldn’t have cared about whatever she did.

However, the situation has changed. Judging from her completely different personality, there must have been something in the wasteland of Viterne’s territory.

‘I’ll have to look into it.’

The spreading news regarding the Marquis not leaving the territory because he was concerned about his daughter also didn’t sit well with Salipe.

The Marquis was in charge of looking for the white spinel and was the Ert Empire’s informant for the Saphene Empire at the same time. He neglected his missions because of his daughter, who became sullen due to him leaving the marquisate without saying anything.

It was just confusing because it had never happened to Salipe before.

“She’s a child who became lonely after losing her mother. Even though the order given by His Majesty is important, my daughter is much more important. I want to be by my daughter’s side before I go to war.”

A man who lost his wife wanted to pay attention to his daughter, who had been previously neglected while he was wandering around the battlefield. There was no superior who would have objected when he said that.

Marquis Viterne was faithful to the Empire and fulfilled his noble duty more than other noblemen within the Empire. It was Salipe himself who issued him with such a mission, even when the man was taking a rest.

“That’s too much, Your Highness.”

His aide, Vivace, babbled beside him.

“You know the loyalty of Marquis Viterne. There must be a reason why he did that. I’m sure he must be feeling sorry for his daughter.”

“I know, that’s why I don’t talk about it anymore.”

“It is also the Emperor’s duty to be aware of the problems of his subordinates and help them.”

“I don’t want the crown.”

“Your Highness might not want it, but I’ll help you ascend it.”

At Vivace’s proclamation, Salipe lifted his eyebrows and shifted his attention away from the book. There were burning flames in Vivace’s eyes as he looked at the young man with serious eyes.

Even though Vivace’s eyes were a completely different color from Jessica’s, those eyes held the same passion. Salipe, on the other hand, was heartless. Born as a prince and growing up having everything that he wanted in his hands, Salipe didn’t really want anything anymore.

The crown? Of course it belonged to him. There was no idiot who would be greedy for something that would be definitely falling into their hands.

He knew that Darten, the Third Prince, was aiming for that position, but that didn’t mean anything to him. The position belonged to him. It did not matter if Darten was exceptionally talented, he still didn’t have the right to desire Salipe’s position.

Salipe had military power. It was great enough to shake and have the Ert Empire in his hand. Darten must be a moron for not realizing so and aiming for his position.

Salipe really thought as such.

“It seems like you’re mistaken, Vivace. That spot originally belonged to me. No one should dare covet my place.”

Vivace looked at Salipe in surprise when Salipe spoke out his thoughts. It was something he had never done before.

“There may be someone who wants my position, but I’m not bothered by that. Just because the wyvern is hanging around a full dragon, it doesn’t mean that the full dragon would prey on the wyvern.”

“Does that mean……”

“The wyvern will survive if it doesn’t bother the dragon. But its fate will change once the dragon feels hungry.”

Cold remarks slipped out of his mouth. Vivace rubbed his arms, almost as if the temperature in the Imperial Library seemed to have dropped once again. He already knew that the person he served was a scary man.

Despite that, he never thought that Salipe was that greedy. He was someone who had always kept their eyes on the transcendent power. It was the confidence of someone who had everything.

“Even my father can’t manhandle me now.”

“Absolutely, since you’ve been at the border.”

“It’s not a problem for the Prince to want to defend the border and gather soldiers.”

Pulling up the corners of his mouth into a smile, Salipe showed Vivace a smile as cold as he was. Vivace hurriedly bowed his head when he faced him.

“I won’t forgive betrayal, Vivace.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Your Highness.”

He wouldn’t even dare to betray him. Was there anyone who could defeat this person, who’s been preparing bit by bit while looking further ahead than everyone else? Vivace looked forward to the day Salipe ascended the throne.

He was the only one who would be able to increase the Emperor’s authority in the Empire, especially as the two dukes were stirring up the country. Salipe Ert. From the beginning, he was born to ascend the Emperor’s throne.

While Vivace was lost in thought, Salipe passed by him to search through the library. There were hundreds of books written in detail for each territory. He was looking through the books by himself.

‘Marquis of Viterne.’

The Marquis of Viterne was founded by the Swordmaster, a contributor to the founding of the Empire, and a great friend of the first emperor during the time the Ert Empire had just been established.

The reason why the family didn’t ascend to the position of a duke was due to the first Marquis rejecting the offer. The First Emperor, who respected his will not to lose his first status, granted him a lot of land and treasure instead.

‘Yes, that was the wasteland that Jessica Viterne asked for.’

The princes were educated on the nobles of the Empire. Memorizing information on the nobles was necessary because, naturally, the prince who ascended the throne had to rule over those underneath him efficiently.

After he successfully recalled the history of the Marquis of Viterne, the other books were no longer important to him. What was important were the records of the First Marquis Viterne and the First Emperor.

Salipe walked further into the Imperial Palace’s library without any hesitation. It was a place that could only be entered by the members of the Imperial Palace, and in turn, a place that was inaccessible for Vivace as well.

It was the place where the records of the first emperor and all of the records of the imperial families of the Ert Empire were stored. Salipe was intending to look for information regarding the Viterne’s territory there.

“I forgot that it was related to the First Emperor.”

A bright light came out of the secret spot of the Imperial library as if it were welcoming Salipe, who was muttering to himself. It was a secret place where only the immediate members of the Imperial Family, as well as those who were related by blood to the Imperial Family, could enter.

Salipe skimmed through the list of books in the secret library.

“It must be this.”

He took out and opened a book that contained the story of Marquis Viterne and the First Emperor. When Salipe found an envelope slipped among the pages, he hurriedly pulled out the paper from the envelope.

“Planaton.”

Planaton was known as the most valuable mineral in the Ert Empire. It was the mineral that those who were the heads of the families which had a knightdom wished to possess.

Swords and armor smelted with Planaton were entirely different from those made of iron. The mineral was light, but more solid than iron, and could not be pierced by arrows or swords made of iron or mithril.

Planaton was the Ert Empire’s specialty and was strictly prohibited to be sent out of the country.

“In the Ert Empire, I thought Planaton only came from mines possessed by the Duke of Salemir and the Duke of Arteus, but it turned out to have come from the Marquis of Viterne.”

This meant that the influential powers of the Empire could change. However, according to the secret agreement between the First Emperor and the First Marquis, the land could not be dug up without the permission of the Imperial Family.

“Jessica Viterne is obviously very aware of this.”

This was the reason why she asked for the land. She was smarter than he thought. Seeing that she tried to take care of things on her own without talking to Marquis Viterne about Planaton, it seemed like she needed help.

‘Maybe I can help her since she’s the precious daughter of the Marquis.’

Salipe naturally thought so. He was not originally the type of person who considered other people’s situations. He made such a decision without even considering that Jessica was different from other people.

He was planning to support her before getting information about the white spinel from her.

Salipe beckoned to Vivace as he came out of the secret library. Vivace, who was wandering around the library and looking for a book, noticed his signals and followed him.

“Did you call for me, Your Highness?”

“Where is the current location of the young lady from the Viterne Family?”

“I heard that she’s going to visit the Monzarto General Store.”

“I’m going to the March of Viterne.”

“Why so sudden?”

“I have an offering for the Young Lady Jessica from the Marquis Family.”

“Offer?”

Vivace’s interrogative eyes directed toward Salipe, but his master didn’t give any further details. However, he suddenly entered the carriage outside of the Imperial Palace once they left the Imperial Library.

“Why do you have to ride a carriage all of a sudden?”

“Vivace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“The mode of transportation used by noble ladies are probably the carriages, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“I should stop their carriage before they manage to arrive at the center of the capital.”

There was a lot of snow in the downtown area of the capital. Luckily, the route from Marquis Viterne’s home to the Monzarto General Store was secluded, so no one found out what he was doing.

“It’s better if there were people around.’

He would attest to his relationship with the Young Lady Viterne later. After finishing his calculation, Salipe Ert watched Vivace run into the horse pulling a wagon. And, that’s how he met Jessica Viterne.