Aria didn’t immediately say yes to confirm the merchant’s question, because she was angry at Swan who was still alive even though she was supposed to die by the time she left the palace gate.
Not only did she not die yet, but she also dared to work side by side with the Beast King! Did that cripple not know her place?!
"Your Highness? You’re indeed the only Princess our country has, right?" The merchant repeated his question since he didn’t get an answer before, and Aria resumed her amicable smile.
"Of course, I am the only one," Aria confirmed. "Though, just to be sure, was it really the Beast King who said that?"
"Yes, Your Highness. The Beast King seems to be very proud of his little wife. I assume she is supposed to replace you, right? I heard that rumor before," the merchant said.
He noticed that Princess Aria’s smile gradually dissipated and he was afraid of offending her, so he quickly added, "B-but, that woman holds no candle against you, Princess. I’m afraid the Beast King would’ve ditched her instantly the moment he saw your beauty."
The bright and proud smile returned to Aria’s face as she nodded, "Of course. Yes, she is supposed to be my replacement. Oh, don’t tell anyone, but she’s actually a whore’s daughter that we picked up."
The merchant was inevitably stunned by this revelation, "I-Is that allowed, Your Highness? What if the Beast King finds out and gets angry for being deceived? He might return to Holy Achate and demand you as his bride instead."
"Then of course I will do my duty as the Royal Princess to save my people," Aria said.
Aria knew it was a bit foolish of her to disclose such a vital secret to a mere merchant, as it might worsen the circulating rumor, but she couldn’t help it. freēwebnovel.com
She was annoyed—perhaps a little jealous of Swan who was treated better. She knew that Swan was just a mere inferior replacement for her. The moment she allowed herself to be kidnapped by the savage beast, that beastman would probably kill Swan on the spot to make room for her.
That’s why she wished the rumor would worsen, and the Beast King would catch on to the rumor. After that...
Aria hadn’t thought that far yet, but she knew it would be quite a spectacle for her.
She might be kidnapped and forced to be his bride. It was a scary, yet also somewhat exciting idea.
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