Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 228

228

Upbringing

“Do you intend to take Zion Clauzen?”

Princess Vanessa was utterly perplexed by what this woman from the north, called Zhan, meant by those words.

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“It’s exactly as I said, Princess Vanessa.

I’m asking if you intend to take Zion Clauzen.”

“I’m questioning because I don’t understand the intent of the question, Zhan Temujin.”

At Princess Vanessa’s words, Zhan stroked her chin for a moment before speaking.

“Among our northern tribes, everything always goes to the chieftain first.

Good food, good things, everything.

That’s the respect for the chieftain who always dedicates all their attention and strength to the tribe.”

“And?”

“Therefore, the right to choose a woman or a man also goes to them first.

And it seems to me that the person in Hispania who can have Zion Clauzen first is you, who is in a similar position to me.”

Only then did Princess Vanessa understand what Zhan was trying to say.

The question of whether she intended to ‘take’ him meant whether she, as a woman, planned to keep a man by her side.

Princess Vanessa frowned, pressing her temples as if she had a headache.

“…That’s quite a rude question, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean?”

“First of all, Count Zion Clauzen isn’t just any noble; he’s the heir of a great noble family of Hispania and someone who has saved Hispania from difficulties many times.

You’re talking about such a man as if he were an object.”

“I never thought of him as an object.

It seems you’ve misunderstood.”

Misunderstanding or not, it didn’t matter.

She didn’t like the fact that a woman who was merely a barbarian chieftain from the north was asking such a question with such intentions.

At the same time, she was annoyed that a mere barbarian woman possessed such a noble aura.

And that she possessed such unbelievable beauty.

It felt as if she was forcibly taking Zion, the person she needed most, away from her.

“So, you don’t intend to take him?”

“…”

She was getting irritated by the fact that a woman who had nothing to do with Zion kept asking such questions.

Even if she couldn’t be with him, she thought they could at least understand and respect each other and move forward together for the future.

Zhan, that barbarian chieftain from the north, was questioning that dream.

Princess Vanessa, irritated as she was, abandoned all pretense of politeness and spoke to Zhan in a very sharp tone.

“If I become the ruler of this country, as you say, Zion Clauzen will naturally become my subject.”

“A subject, not bad.

But that’s not the answer I want.

Not at all.

Isn’t taking him that way just relying on ‘duty’ and arguing about it?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I hope you’ll think of it as me asking you woman to woman, apart from being a tribal chieftain, a princess of a country, and a future ruler, Princess Vanessa.”

So, that’s the intention behind her question after all.

So, that’s the answer she wanted, and that’s why she approached her.

Vanessa sighed and asked herself the question Zhan had asked.

‘Do I really want Zion Clauzen, that man?’

She wanted him, of course she wanted him, she couldn’t help but want him.

The way to keep such a man as an even more perfect ally, a way to trust him for life, was to form a closer relationship than just lord and subject or a contractual relationship.

For example, becoming family, becoming a couple.

‘But there’s always a difference between what you want and what’s possible.’

If she forced him to stay by her side, she would have to clip his wings.

If she didn’t, she would have to change all the laws that had been in place until now, which would increase the chaos in the country and intensify the backlash from the nobles.

“Judging by your late reply, it seems there are many difficulties.”

“…”

“Then there won’t be a problem.

Even if I take Zion.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“Hasn’t Zion told you yet?

That all the northern tribes have agreed to form a marriage alliance with him and me, with the condition that they no longer show hostility to the kingdom.”

In that moment, Princess Vanessa’s eyes flashed.

Did I hear wrong?

Ah, I must have heard wrong, right?

Yes, there’s no way such a story…

“I came to the kingdom with Zion to discuss and set a wedding date.”

Thud!

The moment she heard Zhan’s words, Princess Vanessa felt as if something snapped.

No matter how much she tried to suppress this primal emotion, she couldn’t stand it any longer when she looked at that detestable woman’s face.

In the end, the woman who had thrown away the facade of ‘princess’ and returned to her true self, Vanessa, growled without hiding her fierce energy.

“…You, follow me to the balcony.”

To others, it would have seemed as if the women from two groups who had promised peace were moving to another place to talk and learn more about each other.

Of course, the reality was that it would be a relief if they didn’t grab each other by the hair and start fighting right away!

“What nonsense are you spouting?

Zion Clauzen, what is that man doing?

Hey, say it again.”

As soon as they arrived at the balcony, Vanessa threw away her princess persona and, as a woman filled with anger, unleashed her fury on Zhan.

Although she was a princess, Vanessa was still the same as everyone else, just like other women.

She was not the kind of person who would smile and let it go after such blatant provocation and a preemptive strike.

“Oh…

So, we’re going to drop the cumbersome social positions and talk now, is that it?”

“Just answer me.

What does that mean?

Why would Zion marry a woman like you?

Even though I’m about to give up, why with a northern warrior!

Why!”

“Not everyone from the north is a warrior, and not everyone is barbaric.

So, I wish you would be a little more careful with your words.”

Princess Vanessa wanted to grab Zhan by the scruff of her neck and shake her roughly.

What you’re doing right now is already barbaric enough in my book!

She wasn’t a noble lady, nor was she the daughter of a foreign royal family or a prestigious family.

Although the northern barbarians were a bit difficult for the kingdom to control because of their roughness, she had no intention of cooperating with them in this way.

Zion Clauzen was Hispania’s spear and shield, the best card she could play.

The thought of handing that card over to another woman’s hand, not her own, was unbearable, no matter how hard she tried to endure it.

“Strange.

Clearly, the kingdom seemed to welcome peace with our tribes very much.”

“So?”

“Then shouldn’t you also celebrate the marriage alliance between me and Zion that is being carried out as a condition for that?

But you don’t seem very happy.

Even though you couldn’t answer my question about whether you would take Zion Clauzen right away.”

“You fool!

Are you equating the situation of your northern tribes with that of Hispania!

Even if you don’t know, the kingdom, at least I…”

“Is the kingdom treating our tribes as barbarians while not even being able to answer clearly who they have in their heart, and not even being able to say they have them even if they do?”

It’s not as splendid and wonderful as I imagined.”

Vanessa wondered what the hell this woman, Zhan, was talking about.

What did an outsider who knew nothing think she knew to be spouting such nonsense!

This isn’t a place where you can do whatever you want just because you want someone, just because you want to have them!

“No, it’s even worse than I thought.

It’s pathetic how a woman who isn’t even sure of her own heart is just comforting herself by being satisfied with keeping him by her side as a lord and subject.”

“What did you say?”

“If you’re a master, isn’t it important to handle things clearly rather than with ambiguous attitudes or words?

It’s not like you have feelings for him, and it’s not like you don’t, so isn’t it cheating to just keep him by your side as a lord and subject?”

“Ha!

How absurd!

I guess you’re confident in saying that?”

At Vanessa’s retort, Zhan widened her eyes as if asking what she meant.

“From the beginning, Zion Clauzen and I were supposed to be in a lord-subject relationship.

But you’re nothing and you’re trying to put a leash of marriage alliance around that man’s neck under the pretext of peace, aren’t you?”

“…Leash?”

This time, a cold light lingered in Zhan’s eyes before disappearing.

If this were the north instead of the kingdom, and if the northern warriors were standing where Princess Vanessa was, they would probably be chanting ‘We’re doomed!’ and scattering in all directions to escape right now.

Because whenever Zhan made that kind of face, someone would always be bent over and tormented to the point of near death.

“I want to ask why this question came up in the first place, guest from the north!

If you were promised peace on the condition of a marriage alliance, why didn’t you just say it in that spot earlier?

Say that you’re happy to be in a marriage alliance with Zion Clauzen!”

“Zion would have been very troubled if I had.

I thought it would be better to let as few people know as possible, but was I wrong?”

“You weren’t wrong!”

“Then why have you been so angry since earlier?”

“That’s!…”

At Zhan’s words, Vanessa suddenly stopped both her words and actions as if something had occurred to her.

As she said, why am I angry right now?

Why am I angry?

‘Because Zion Clauzen didn’t tell me such important news?’

Of course, that part would have been a reason.

She was a little resentful, and she felt a little hurt because she trusted him, but he didn’t seem to trust her.

But if she were asked if that was the reason, Vanessa would say no.

‘…I decided to give up, and I was going to do it for both of them.’

What the hell are you that you create lingering feelings in my decision?

Why did you suddenly come and shake me up again with those words?

Princess Vanessa bit her lip and stepped back slightly.

“…Hoo, haa.”

She took a deep breath and calmed her wildly pounding heart.

As her excitement subsided, her body and mind slowly cooled down, and she felt the night air cool.

“Zhan, you seem to want a marriage alliance with Count Zion Clauzen quite a bit.

By wanting, I mean wanting as a woman, not as the leader of a tribe.”

As the woman who had returned to her princess persona said in a calmer voice, Zhan opened her mouth as if she were saying something obvious.

“If the warriors of the north are just ordinary swords, then he is a masterpiece that you would be lucky to see once in your life, even if you searched the world.

Or like the best horse in the world that runs through the sky.

If you don’t covet such a thing, would you be human?”

“…I don’t like comparing him to a sword or a horse, but I can relate.”

“I was originally going to reveal it on the spot, but I’m saying this first for Zion’s sake, and for you, who is said to be his master.”

“…”

“If you no longer have any lingering feelings for Zion Clauzen as a woman, I’m going to take him without hesitation.

I’m asking for your permission, Princess Vanessa.

Future queen.”

Vanessa thought it would have been better if this woman named Zhan had just acted crazy and shouted ‘Zion Clauzen!

You’re mine now!’ in that spot earlier.

She had explained it so much, she had said it so that she could understand that there were things she couldn’t do as a princess or queen, but she still came out like this.

In her mind, she was still asking her, who was said to be Zion’s master, if it was okay to take her man, but to her, it was just teasing.

‘Originally, I should have said do as you please, it’s a natural thing since we promised peace on the condition of a marriage alliance.

But… I don’t want to, I don’t want to!

I really don’t want to!’

As the princess of Hispania, she didn’t want to be defeated so miserably by a northern barbarian woman, so she didn’t want to answer even more.

But with that woman’s personality, she would probably keep bothering her until she answered, and Princess Vanessa was wondering how to solve this twisted feeling.

Then suddenly, she came up with a way to put down this guest who wasn’t like a guest.

“Count Zion Clauzen!”

Instead of answering Zhan’s question, Princess Vanessa suddenly entered the party hall and loudly called Zion’s name.

Thanks to that, Zion, who had been trying to escape the party hall from afar, muttered ‘Damn it!’ and had to quickly move his feet.

“Yes, Your Highness.

What’s the matter with me…”

“Follow me.”

Unusually rough for her usual self.

Before he could say anything, Zion, who had been dragged to the balcony where Zhan was, sensed that something was going strangely.

“Zion Clauzen.”

“Yes, Princess Vanessa.”

“You once told me.

That you would like me, not my brother, to be your master.”

“…I said that.”

“That means you volunteered to be my subject yourself.

That’s right, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I will give an order to you, who volunteered to be my subject.

From now on, you must answer my questions, even if you hesitate.”

“…Yes?”

As she came out like that, his anxiety increased 100-fold.

Zion was frustrated because he couldn’t figure out what was going on.

Because this is a scene that doesn’t even appear in novels!

A landscape where the princess and the Khan are standing together!

“Do you understand?

I’m telling you to answer my question.”

At that, Zion nodded, expressing his agreement.

Princess Vanessa slightly raised the corners of her lips at Zion’s answer, glanced at Zhan, and opened her mouth.

“Me and the guest from the north.

Which one is it?”

“…Yes?”

What the hell is this out of the blue?

The words were about to come out of his mouth after being refined as much as possible.

Zion carefully looked at Princess Vanessa.

That woman is the woman who will become a kind of professional superior in the future, and at the same time, a political partner.

This time, he turned his head and looked at Zhan.

On the other side was the nightmare of the north, the woman called Khan, who would bend your back first and start if she didn’t like it.

‘Am I supposed to choose one of those two?

There’s not even a waiver?’

…What a hellish level of difficulty this is!

―――――――Author’s Afterword―――――――

For now, I’m planning to continue the serialization without taking a break….

It’s a bit ambiguous to give you a definite answer!

Anyway, I’ll get good treatment and come back!