The Villain’S Daughter-In-Law Is Inherently Powerful [EN]: Chapter 137

Chapter 11. Just as You Were My Salvation

“How can we *not* have a conversation when the Saintess is in this Imperial Palace!”

“Bring Saintess Florin to us!”

“She possesses the power of God. As the daughter of God, she should naturally reside in the Papal States. Show us the Saintess!”

“If you had given us a chance for a proper discussion, we wouldn’t have resorted to such measures!”

The Imperial Palace of the Magic Empire is usually quite serene.

However, three days after the Debutante Ball, the Imperial Palace has become as noisy as a marketplace.

The center of this commotion is none other than the delegation from the Holy Empire’s Papal States, who have been protesting vehemently every single day.

“We will not leave here until we take Saintess Florin! Step over us if you must; we will lie down here!”

“That’s right! Give us a chance to speak with the Saintess and clear up any misunderstandings!”

“Give us!!!”

The Emperor, Sanguine, pressed his throbbing temples and gestured.

It was a signal to immediately remove those yelling fellows from outside the audience chamber.

He especially wanted the one causing a ruckus by lying down to be picked up and tossed from the top of the Imperial Palace. Then he could lie down for the rest of his life, as he wished.

“They don’t even bother with formalities anymore.”

Only after the corridor quieted down did the Emperor let out a long sigh.

Standing beside the Emperor, Yuri smiled and casually said something that would horrify anyone who heard it.

“Wouldn’t it be simpler to just send their heads back? After all, the Papal States are full of power-hungry individuals. There would be plenty who would welcome their demise. And it would be nice and quiet for us.”

Sanguine felt his headache worsen at his son’s typical tyrant-like solution.

‘Ah, how annoying.’

From the start, he had allowed the Papal States’ envoys into the country for political and diplomatic reasons.

In the Holy Empire, the Pope wielded influence comparable to the Emperor. It was only natural, as virtually every citizen believed in God.

What the Pope said, where the Pope went, what the Pope ate, and the Pope’s directives—all of it was a matter of great interest.

So, how would the Papal States’ envoys visiting the ‘Magic Empire’ be received?

The people of the Holy Empire would be curious about what the Magic Empire was really like. There would also be believers who wanted to follow the path taken by the Papal States.

‘I was planning to create tourist attractions to extract money from those people.’

Religion and faith were powerful forces that moved people.

Sanguine’s main goal was to gradually facilitate exchanges between the two countries and develop a tourism industry by leveraging that. But things had taken such a turn.

Those lunatics not only tried to kidnap Lady Driblianne in the Imperial Palace garden but also used an object with a bizarre curse. Even after being caught, they showed no remorse.

Frankly, if he followed Yuri’s suggestion and beheaded them, the Emperor of the Holy Empire would have little grounds to complain.

However, he couldn’t do that because… going back to the beginning, it was because of the Pope’s influence.

The Papal States said they would send an ‘envoy,’ not that the Pope himself would come.

‘Besides, the Pope is subtly defending his priests right now.’

If he wanted them not to defend them, the price was to hand over Lady Driblianne.

Therefore, Sanguine was in a very difficult situation.

If he forced Lady Driblianne to visit the Holy Empire, the Driblianne family would be the least of his worries; Arcalik would declare war. Without exaggeration, the country could fall.

Even if Lady Driblianne voluntarily went to the Holy Empire, he wouldn’t be particularly pleased.

Wouldn’t that be giving that snake-like Pope exactly what he wanted?

He couldn’t allow that for the sake of the Imperial Family’s pride.

He wanted to execute the high priest Merebanno, as Yuri suggested, to hold him accountable for the attempted kidnapping.

‘But if I did that, the Pope would incite war.’

It was clear that they would make a fuss, claiming that the Magic Empire disregarded and executed a high priest. In the end, this would be a war with a great cause for the Holy Empire.

‘Do those fools yelling outside even know that the Pope is holding their lives hostage?’

If they handed over Lady Driblianne, he would spare their lives.

But if they didn’t, he would protect the priests to the end. And who knew how he would use his silver tongue to agitate and incite the people when he returned.

The Pope’s message, backed by the support of the Holy Empire’s people, was simple and powerful.

‘This is like a snake biting its own tail.’

Sanguine rubbed his face wearily.

There was no immediate solution in sight.

He couldn’t send Lady Driblianne, nor could he hold the priests accountable with death.

The tourism business he wanted was ruined, and the missionary funds they would have spread in the country were also out of reach.

“…We have to keep her alive. You know that.”

“Ah, yes. Well.”

“We can confine her within the Imperial Palace, but we can’t keep her from leaving her room. They claim they didn’t know what that handkerchief was. Besides…”

“The one who gave Florin the handkerchief was fine. Of course. Because it was the Pope.”

“Haa.”

What was so special about that Saintess?

Sanguine covered his eyes with his hand and muttered curses under his breath.

Honestly, he wanted to throw the Emperor’s seat at Yuri and disappear.

The reason the Papal States’ members could act so brazenly was that they had made the same calculations he had.

They knew he couldn’t kill them, so they were acting recklessly.

“So, where did you hide her?”

“That’s a secret. Why would I tell you? You might secretly take Florin out and hand her over to them.”

Yuri cut him off without batting an eye at his father.

Sanguine clicked his tongue at his son’s insolent attitude and pondered how to resolve this.

‘Either way, Lady Driblianne must be in a safe place.’

He could find out about her whereabouts after sending those guys back to the Holy Empire.

‘It’s a blow to my pride, but it’s better to pretend there’s no problem on the surface so that the Driblianne family can send assassins to take their heads without causing any issues later.’

If officially executing them was too much of a political burden, he could have them killed secretly.

Sanguine finally came to a conclusion.

‘To make it profitable, I must not hand over Lady Driblianne, and I must receive compensation for the attempted kidnapping.’

First, Sanguine planned to demand a donation equivalent to the empire’s one-year operating budget as ‘compensation for Lady Driblianne’s mental distress.’

It would be even better if he could induce believers to visit the Magic Empire.

Of course, they were raging that the Pope had been backstabbed by a weasel, but fortunately, there was a witness who could prove that Lady Driblianne was the victim.

“Come in.”

Squeak.

As soon as the short command ended, the door opened, and a handsome man with red hair strode in.

Ian Driblianne.

As soon as he saw him, Sanguine felt the temperature around his son drop rapidly, but he completely ignored the tension between the two.

“Spare the formalities.”

Sanguine waved his hand as soon as Ian opened his mouth.

He just wanted to resolve this annoying situation as quickly as possible.

“Since Your Majesty is gracious enough to say so, I will get straight to the point.”

Even in the face of the Emperor and Crown Prince, who were exuding undisguised and formidable auras, Ian stood up straight without being intimidated.

Sanguine’s eyes gleamed at the sight.

When it came to Driblianne, everyone thought of Kiraxus first.