Jaehyun guided Lalisa away from the original destination, and brought her to a small detached house a little ways away. He knocked on the old wooden door and announced his presence.
"I'm here, Grandfather."
"You rascal! Why are you here so sudden?"
An angry snarl answered from inside. Lalisa looked towards Jaehyun in puzzlement, and he looked back and gave her a wink.
"I ignore my original schedule and dragged him here. That's why he's in a bad mood."
"Ah, I see. So it was for my sake..."
"Please do not worry. I gave you that brooch for this very purpose."
As the two spoke in hushed tones towards each in front of the door, Evans' harsh tone rang out again.
"What on earth are you whispering about there? You were supposed to meet the Crown Princess at the villa, so go see her there."
Jaehyun glanced at Lalisa mischievously, and answered his grandfather in a sly voice.
"I'm here with Her Highness, Grandfather."
There was a beat, and then a reply of disbelief.
"What?"
Jaehyun cheekily spoke up again.
"So please open the door."
Before Jaehyun even finished speaking, the door flew open, and the elderly, white-haired Evans walked out with a flustered expression. When he saw Lalisa, he quickly rearranged his features and bowed.
"Hail to the Crown Princess. Eternal glory to the Ruford Empire."
"Greetings, Count Evans. This is the first time we've seen each other since the wedding reception, hasn't it?"
"Yes it is, Your Highness. I apologize for my rudeness."
"Not at al.l It was I who suddenly requested a meeting."
Hearing this, Evans glanced at his grandson standing next to her. His eyes were stern, and Lalisa suspected that Jaehyun might be in a bit of trouble later. Jaehyun, however, was smiling as if he didn't care.
"I'll leave you alone so you can have a quiet conversation."
A deep frown was creased on Evans' forehead, but he could not decline the Crown Princess when she was standing on his doorstep. Such had been Jaehyun's plan all along. If he had asked permission from his grandfather in advance, Evans might have refused to meet Lalisa.
"Please come in, Your Highness. I regret that I wasn't able to prepare for your visit. Please excuse my humble manners."
"Not at all."
She stepped inside the small outbuilding, leaving Jaehyun behind. The door closed, leaving her alone with Evans. He guided her to a seat, then settled himself in the chair opposite of hers.
"What kind of tea would you like? Sometimes I come here to organize my thoughts. Please wait a moment."
"No tea, thank you. I will not dwell long for conversation, and will get straight to the point."
Lalisa did not have the luxury for leisurely conversation. Jungkook had said that if he did not hear from her in two hours, he would come here in person, not to mention there was still other work to be done. She didn't intend to waste any more time.
"And your point is..."
"Please lend your support Crown Prince Jungkook."
"...!"
A look of stunned surprised crossed Evans' face. Although Lalisa had said she would get straight to the point, it was an excessively straightforward demand. No one had ever spoken to Evans this way. His expression quickly changed into something more serious.
"The Crown Prince should have come to speak about something so important..."
"Jungkook is currently the only heir acknowledged by the late Emperor. Do you mean for a man of his stature to come and beg to Count Krauss?"
"Oh, you misunderstood me. I didn't mean that. If that is what it sounds like, I will apologize again."
Evans switched his words quickly. But inside, he was quite surprised. In truth, in order to gain his favor, even an emperor had to beg-but Evans would never express that publicly. It was unusual, of course, for an Imperial family member to ask favors from a noble, but Evans had received many such requests. Even Empress Ophelia promised him whatever he wished as long as Mingyu was made Emperor. Evans' eyes narrowed in thought.
'...This is not an ordinary wager.'
Evans had heard much about Lalisa through Jaehyun. His young grandson had gushed about the princess, and Evans suspected that he was secretly supporting her. However, Evans still had no desire to get involved in royal matters.
'It will all be the same regardless of who becomes emperor. The tyrant's blood flows unchanged through the Imperial Family of the Ruford Empire."
In his eyes, it would be the same whether Mingyu or Jungkook took the throne.
"With all due respect, Your Highness, I must ask you one thing."
"Please."
"As you have said, I cannot expect the Crown Prince to come here and ask for my favor. But what do I make of the Crown Princess sitting before me?"
It was a cutting remark that pierced the core. He wanted to know why Lalisa had come in Jungkook's place. Evans expected Lalisa to be taken aback by his question, but she only offered a gracious smile.
"I am in a slightly different position from Crown Prince Jungkook. As the wife, and I can do all the dirty work for my husband, and even get my hands in mud."
In short, Lalisa's face was largely irrelevant to raising Jungkook's prestige. While she came to see Evans in person, she had a firm determination that she could not bring Jungkook to this position. Anyone who heard her would know how much she loved her husband.
A note of displeasure flitted across Evans' face.
"...You two make a good couple, as I saw at the wedding reception. But what does the Crown Prince think of all this?"
That was a rather meaningful question, but Lalisa answered without a tremor in her voice.
"It doesn't matter what he thinks. I act on my own free mind."
"If so, then let me say a few words to you, Your Highness. Once the Crown Prince takes the throne, he will take in other women. Can you say the same thing then?"
Evans was not the type who showed his true thoughts, but his question was meant to upset and offend Lalisa. There was no knowing what love was like for wild, tyrannical men.
'Even if Her Highness' heart is true, she will eventually be betrayed. The Imperial Family is the kind to throw everything away for power.'
From the start, Jungkook and Lalisa played the part of a good couple in front of Evans. The count was pleased, but he soon came to the conclusion that it couldn't last. The men of the Ruford house, famous for their cruelty with each generation, were incapable of loving anyone.
Lalisa replied with no hesitation.
"I do not know why you asked this, but I will answer. I believe in his love as much as he believed in mine. It doesn't matter if he accepts other women. If he does, it will be a decision made with the utmost consideration."
"..."
Evans found himself unable to refute her reply. It was flawless. The true love she had for her husband was displayed in her short answer.
Evans studied her with a heavy frown in his eyes. Lalisa, however, simply continued on.
"Let's return to business. You would have a great advantage if you were on the Crown Prince's side."
"...I don't know. Will I?"
"Of course. The Empress is struggling to survive, and Second Prince Mingyu will never claim the throne."
"Can you guarantee that for sure?"
Lalisa remained composed and gave him a calculated stare.
"Then let me ask you. Who do you think has the best chance of winning this fight?"
"That's..."
Evans' words trailed off. There was a strong chance that Jungkook would take the throne. If he was alive and could command his troops, then Ophelia's forces would likely be neutralized. Lalisa continued on.
"As you know, Crown Prince Jungkook is the only successor that the Emperor has acknowledged. My husband has a royal claim, and more importantly, he has extensive military experience. Do you not believe that he can retake the soldiers from the Crown Prince's palace?"
"No, of course...the Crown Prince will inherit the throne."
Evans considered Lalisa's argument to be well-founded. Of course, even if he had a different notion in his head, he could not openly express it here.
"Then let me ask you one more question. How long do you think you will last if Crown Prince Jungkook turns against you?"
"...!"
It was a clear threat. If Evans did not help now, then Jungkook would not forget the slight when he took the throne.
"You are quite bold. Then let me ask you my own question. What would you do if I supported the Second Prince instead?"
"Do as you wish. But if Crown Prince Jungkook succeeds the throne as fate intended, you will have to deal with him later."
Evans pressed his lips tightly at her answer.
Lalisa had been in deep thought on her carriage ride here-what words should she say to turn Krauss to her side? She had taken a belligerent approach, even though no one else had dared so, afraid to turn one of the most powerful men against them. After long contemplation, however, she was able to come to a conclusion.
'Count Krauss does not want to choose sides in this fight. Even if he doesn't like what I said, it is unlikely that he'll turn to another power.'
If Lalisa's guess was right, she had nothing to lose. Even if Evans rejected the offer, it did not necessarily mean that he would turn to Ophelia, and would continue to remain neutral as before. In addition, Evans already knew that Jaehyun and Lalisa would meet at this villa. He could have leaked her location to Ophelia, but it appeared that he had not done so. Lalisa wasn't sure if all her assumptions were right, but she would take the risk to win an advantage she thought was reliable.
A frown was creased on Evans' lips. Lalisa took note of his conflicted expression and spoke again.
"This is a battle that Crown Prince Jungkook will win either way. So please aid him and strengthen his victory even further. If you do so, the Imperial House will not forget your contribution."
Lalisa's brazen confidence left Evans speechless. Even now, the head of the most powerful business family in the Empire was having a difficult time against her.
***
In the end, Evans did not give Lalisa a definite answer, simply saying he would give her his reply in the future. Just as Lalisa left, Jaehyun entered the house to meet with his grandfather. Evans pulled his eyes away from the window and looked at Jaehyun walking in without permission.
"What is it now?"
Evans scowled at him, irritable that his grandson had arranged a meeting without asking him first. Jaehyun, however, was unfazed by his grandfather's temper.
"What do you mean? Is it not normal to see your grandson?"
"..."
Evans had intended to give Harry a good scolding after Lalisa left, but even now he had no time for that. The Crown Princess' request weighed heavily on his mind instead.
"...She is quite unusual in many ways."
"I understand why you don't want to be involved in this fight for succession. But you've seen it for yourself. She is truly in love with the Crown Prince."
"..."
There was one lone reason why Evans continued to distrust the Imperial Family of the Ruford Empire.
Decades ago when he was still young, Gongyoo's father, the former emperor, had taken the woman Evans loved. Had she had lived happily ever after, Evans would not have held a grudge, and resigned himself to giving up his lover. However, the emperor soon abandoned her. For that, she took her own life.
Since then, a deep hatred for the Imperial Family was rooted deep in Evans' heart. He believed that the cold-blooded men of the family could never learn to love. The relationship between Jungkook and Lalisa was difficult to believe, that is, until he had seen Elena for himself.
'Given how truly devoted the Crown Princess is to the Crown Prince, their relationship can hardly be shallow.'
Evans' long-held grudge seemed to waver in the face of their love. He realized that he had hated the entire Imperial family from the actions of a single man. Evans looked conflicted, and he opened his mouth to speak.
"...Regardless of the couple's relationship, that is no reason for the Krauss family to be involved in this fight."
Despite the firmness of Evans' voice, Jaehyun gave a small laugh.
"As you said, Grandfather, it doesn't matter to us who becomes Emperor. In that case, wouldn't it be interesting just to walk on the side of the Crown Princess?"
Evans stared shrewdly at his grandson. He had never given that perspective much thought before, but as he pondered on it, he found that Jaehyun's words were quite tempting. Evans recalled the words Lalisa had left behind.
- I believe in his love as much as he believes in mine.
Clearly, Lalisa was a breed of woman not often found in the Imperial Family. She boldly threatened Evans, and even waved away the notion of obedience to her husband. Lalisa looked on at his troubled grandfather's face.
"Tell me the truth, Grandfather. What do you want to do?"
Evans' eyes deepened. He had to come to a decision soon, whether to decline support and quietly bury the topic, or come forward and lend his aid in the fight for succession.
Since the beginning, there was still not much difference between Mingyu and Jungkook in Evans' eyes. He did not even fear Jungkook's potential tyranny. But this time...there was another interesting player in the game.
'If the Crown Prince and Crown Princess ruled the Empire, would anything change?'
Perhaps the Ruford Empire's history of blood could be rewritten. So if Evans had to bet on someone...it would neither be Mingyu nor Jungkook, but Lalisa. After a few minutes of thinking, Evans spoke in a low voice.
"...Whoever I choose, I will not tell you."
"Oh, come on, Grandfather."
Jaehyun huffed at his grandfather's manner, but Evans' secrecy made him feel anxious.