If You Devour Poison / Doku wo Kurawaba Sara Made

Chapter 21: Wavering

Jolga firmly caught hold of my shoulder and did not let go.

Although I weakly struggled, I soon realised that breaking free would be impossible and looked up at Jolga in resignation.

“There’s something bothering me.”

His voice as he spoke was intentionally calm.

“Lady Julieta is... ‘the Daughter of the Asbals’.”

“...”

“Born in a family cursed with an early death, the daughter of the Asbals cannot give birth to a crown prince. Am I right?”

“You’re right.”

“You knew that Sigurd was my son. You know that he doesn’t possess the blood of Asbal. If you let Julieta marry the prince then the Asbal bloodline would cease.”

“...”

“However, you did not abandon the duty entrusted to the Asbal family. When I think of that, I understand how Lady Julieta was allowed to be the Crown Princess.”

My elbow was wrapped by long fingers that were made to swing a sword around.

“You intended to adopt an heir, right? The child of Julieta and the Crown Prince, the last successor of the Asbals. And the prince-“

“-would be recommended by the nobles useful to the Royal Family to marry a consort from another kingdom. Their child would then become the successor.”

As I completed his words, Jolga made a pained expression.

“What about His Highness and Lady Julieta?”

“Of course, they know. Julieta is a daughter who understands her position well.”

“That’s why you spoke of a suitable replacement. Because Lady Julieta was never tied to his Highness and then you… you after that-“

I looked down and placed my other hand on Jolga’s hand that was gripping my arm. I felt his large physique suddenly tremble but I pretended to not notice. With my fingers, I lightly rubbed the veins that seemed to pop out of the back of his hand.

“Jolga, you see, I could still forgive the fact that His Highness wanted Miss Nasha as his queen no matter what. In any case, there were already plans for him to take in a consort at some point. Although I would have been hard-pressed to find another Sacrificial Priestess in a short span of time, it would still have been possible. Julieta was hurt but she would overcome her pain in due time.”

“But… His Highness...”

“That’s right. Quite unexpectedly, he made Julieta who had worked herself to the bone for the sake of the kingdom and for the same of His Highness, she, who had lost her precious youth in the service of His Grace Kharis, stoop to becoming a Sacrificial Priestess. Do you understand this? His Highness, whom she had continued to love and support, faced Julieta and told her to ‘Die’.”

“Nothing will remain. The proof that Julieta lived and the reason for her birth, I can’t give anything. Since it is like this, at the very least, as her father I can accompany her fate. Perhaps we should die together.”

“Don’t. Lord Anderheim!”

I forcibly shook off Jolga’s arm as he spoke to me in a strong tone.

“Shut up! What do you know!?”

“Lord Anderheim! We cannot lose a truly loyal subject such as you; one who has continued to support this nation all this while!”