The Unwanted Princess Becomes Loved in the Werewolf Kingdom and Becomes Queen!

Chapter 64: Fox and Raccoon 2

Johan clicked his tongue sharply.
He crossed his arms and pondered about the future, but the situation was such that there was nothing left to be done.

“Damn that raccoon.
He didn’t show any weakness at all.
As expected, he’s good.”

It would have made it difficult for anyone to move, regardless of how capable an ambassador they were.
However, it was frustrating that he could only consider that move as his sole harvest.

It was evident to Johan that there was something wrong with the queen, as the discomfort felt by those closest to her was like a cloud, and time kept passing without them being able to grasp the situation.

As he contemplated while looking at the surface of the chai, a knock on the door sounded.
The one who entered the room after receiving a response was a nervous young girl.

“Did you call for me, Prime Minister?”

Dasha bowed nervously.
Johan knew that this girl was intimidated by him, so he urged her to sit down without particular emotion.

“I called you today because I have something to ask you.”

“Yes.
It’s about My Queen, right?”

As expected of her to have figured it out.
However, since this was the first time he had summoned this maid, the reason for it must be obvious.

Dasha, who was restless even sitting on the rug, seemed to be truly worried about her master.

“That’s right.
It doesn’t matter as long as you remember the range.
I want to know about My Queen’s condition when she became different.
When was that?”

Previously, they had conducted an investigation by interviewing Dasha.
Rather, it was this maid who was the first to point out that the condition of the Queen seemed strange.

At that time, he merely heard Dasha’s direct appeal, but this time he decided to focus on specific points to uncover.

“When was the time when she became different…I don’t remember the exact date, but it was about half a month ago.”

The timing coincided with the time when the spy who was monitoring the queen’s room was attacked by a pigeon.

It was not just a coincidence.
Years of serving as Prime Minister are sounding the alarm bells to think about this.

“Actually, I had a conversation with My Queen the night before.”

“Oh, really? What was it about?”

He fixed his gaze sharply as some highly valuable information came out.
However, Dasha didn’t flinch, furrowing her eyebrows as she bit back.

“I-It’s a personal conversation about His Majesty! No matter how much you may be the Prime Minister…”

“Realize that this is a matter of state.
The stage where we discuss whether or not to talk to you has long passed.”

He calmly but forcefully conveyed his words, and the young girl shrank her shoulders in surprise.

He knew that this kind of attitude was the reason why people disliked him, but when it came to politics, he could not afford to hold back.
Johan also had the same sense of pride as he served his lord.

“… I came to check on My Queen because she looked very sad after His Majesty’s deployment.
Although Rougena-sama asked me to do it, I myself was very worried.”

Dasha bravely stared straight at Johan.
Even though she squinted as if about to cry and was tormented by guilt for having to speak, she did not lower her face.

This girl has also become quite strong.
That was since she began serving the queen.

“She was so kind and welcomed me into her room when I did.
And when I expressed my concerns to her, she said there was no need to worry.
She said, “I will be fine as if I am a different person from tomorrow.
So you don’t have to worry about me, but I hope you don’t mind that I might be a little too energetic… and…”

It was a phrase that the queen would definitely say.

However, something about it felt off.
As he carefully considered what he had heard, something flashed through his mind after a short pause.

Yes, when expressing concern to someone, the words used can come off as overly formal and impersonal.
Although the words may be soft on the surface, they convey a rejection of wanting to be left alone.

“So, how do you feel about My Queen now?”

“I’m trying not to intrude too much.
She’s really changed and is doing so well.
I think it’s probably easiest for her if I behave that way.”

“Did you tell Rougena about this?”

“Yes.
I think Rougena-sama and all the maids are doing the same thing.”

In other words, the environment has been created exactly as the Queen wanted, where she is not pursued further.

An alarm rang in his head.
What is the Queen hiding? What’s the benefit of not being pursued?

——It’s like a real change of person.

Suddenly, Dasha’s testimony from earlier flashed into his mind.

Yes, the Queen has changed.
Although she has acquired elegance and is now conducting herself like a royal, it seems that she has lost consideration for those around her.
It’s hard to describe, but it seems like she only thinks about herself.

If the difference is due to the fact that she has been replaced by someone else…

“Dasha, is there anything else you want to say?”

“No, just that she told me she loves me.”

“I see.
You may leave now.”

Driving away the seemingly boastful Dasha, Johan immersed himself in his rapidly moving thought process.
The conclusion was so unrealistic that the more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became that it fit.

Should he tell Ivan? No, if he found out, it would only cause unnecessary suffering to that man.

Ivan would undoubtedly not be able to abandon the war, or perhaps, due to his infatuation, he might abandon it and come back, but he would surely bear the burden of guilt.

It would be better not to know.
At this point when there is no certainty, he cannot say anything yet.
He must wait until there is evidence or until the end of the war is announced without it.

Johan is prepared to become a devil.
Since the moment his friend saved his life, that resolve has become even stronger.

Even if a friend on the brink of death asked him to take care of a woman he was in love with, if it were to obstruct the path the king should take, he would make a ruthless judgment.

The job of the Prime Minister is the shadow of the king.
This was taught to him by his grandfather who was the previous Prime Minister when he was still young.

Actually working in this position makes it feel real.
To support a king who walks an extremely harsh path to domination, you sometimes need to cut something off with a heartlessness that surpasses that of your lord.

It doesn’t matter how much of a villain you become.
If the king kills his heart, you must do the same.

Johan wished for his friend, who was also his savior, to follow the path he desired.

“… My Queen.
I thought you would be Ivan’s medicine.”

But if the inference he just obtained is correct, it would mean that Ivan’s so-called medicine is actually a deadly poison.

Even though he didn’t say it, it was clear that Ivan found solace in his wife.
If he found out he had been betrayed by her, it would be a huge shock.

Johan let out the deepest sigh he had ever experienced.
Really, this was such a troublesome thing.