45 – Holding hands tightly
“I am Ariel, the 3rd Knight Commander of the Imperial Family, Aran von Roberteyn, the Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Army stationed in Hylan, Serena von Hernasia, and the Knight Squire of the Robertaine Family.”
Cross to the Empire, in front of the checkpoint to enter the capital. Even at dawn, countless wagons were lined up in front of the border of the Empire.
All local nobles. After hearing the news of the death of the prince, they rushed to this place in one step.
“Confirmed.”
The guard guarding the capital spoke in a quiet voice. His voice is small, but his military discipline is firmly held. On a day like this, no one would be stupid to look disheveled.
“..It’s an empire that hasn’t come in a long time, so it’s a pity.”
I said to Serena, who was sitting across from me. She is also the daughter of an aristocratic family. It was compulsory to attend the funeral of the crown prince.
“No. Rather than that now, we have to think about what to do in the future.”
The death of the crown prince. Honestly, how can I mourn the death of a prince I don’t even know. We nobles just have to prepare for what will happen with his death.
‘Did they say that those who gave up being human are nobles?’
In the past, I’ve heard resistance fighters talk about nobles. Aristocrats are those who have given up being human.
I thought maybe that might be right. A person died, but I do not grieve that person’s death.
You have to think about what will happen after that person’s death.
But what can I do? The dead are dead, and the living must live.
“… “
Upon entering her capital, Serena began to look around.
“Has it changed a lot?”
“Yes.. Many unseen buildings have been created.”
She said that even the rivers and mountains change in three years. It was three years ago that she left the Empire and lived in Hailan. It must have really changed even the rivers and mountains.
Serena looked curiously at the scenery around her. Various tools using magic, which were not seen in Highlan, are in place.
Magic. It is a study that has recently risen greatly in the empire, and thanks to that, our lives are starting to become more and more comfortable. Recently, it is said that a carriage that moves without horses has been invented.
Even to me, who had lived her whole life in the empire, I can clearly see how the empire is changing. What about her who has been outside for three years? Maybe she’s from another country, she’ll be glad if she’s not mistaken.
“The mansion of Count Hernasia is over there.”
I still looked around her, telling her about her fidgeting. In the direction my fingertips are pointing at her, there must be something she is looking for.
“Ah.. Thank you, senior.”
A junior guy who doesn’t know where her own house is. How sad is this?
“If you want, I will ask for it.”
To be honest, I wondered if this guy would make it to her house. She’s not even drunk, so why are you so worried?
“No, senior. It is enough that you have brought me this far.”
Saying that, Serena started to get out of her wagon.
“Thank you, senior. Well, see you later. Ariel, see you later.”
She got off her wagon completely and said, bowing her head at me. She didn’t forget to say hello to Ariel, who was in the carriage with me.
“Yes. Please, I hope that Robertaine’s sword does not point at you.”
Today may be the last time we can see each other while smiling.
That’s why I said it with sincerity. I hope there will be no pointing swords at each other.
Serena looked around her for a moment, but she soon got her bearings and started walking. But it’s not over there…
“Serena, not that way.”
I told her as she walked in the opposite direction. Hearing my words, she bowed her head and walked again in the direction I indicated. He’s a really worried guy.
“… “
After he walked in the right direction, only me and Ariel were left in this carriage. Somehow, the guy had a depressed expression on his face.
“Do you think it is ugly?”
A world in which even though they are comrades who have been together, they may have to point their swords at each other because their masters are different, because they have to protect my power, because each other’s family lines get in the way. For Ariel, who doesn’t know what the aristocratic world is, the aristocratic world might be ugly.
“… “
She didn’t even answer my question. She’s just putting on a sad face.
“Your Excellency,”
It was then that her mouth, which seemed like it would never open, opened.
“If the commander-in-chief stands against your Excellency, can you cut the commander-in-chief?”
I looked at her purple eyes as she asked. She asks me to answer no by all means.
“Yes.”
But unfortunately, I can’t live up to his expectations.
“It’s not just Serena. If anyone stands in my way, I will cut him down without mercy.”
Even if it is you.
Because I know Ariel’s tender feelings, I swallowed her afterwords. If I were to say this, she was something that Ariel might have swooned over.
“I just hope not.”
I looked outside and said. This is what she said, but I don’t want her to do anything against me.
Serena von Hernasia. She is the one who has always supported me, the new governor. Aside from that reason, I think we have become very close as human beings.
That’s why I just hope that that doesn’t happen.
“Your Excellency.”
It was then. I felt a warm touch in my hands.
When I looked ahead in surprise, Ariel was holding my hand with both hands.
“Where His Excellency intends to stand, the girl will also follow.”
Are you saying that you know where I want to stand? I chuckled at her words.
“Where am I going to stand, even in the gutter?”
“Yes. Didn’t His Excellency reach out her hand to the girl who was in her gutter? Even if His Excellency wants to go into her gutter, the girl will not let go of His Excellency’s hand until the end.”
Nobles are beings who were born in the gutter and live in the gutter. I don’t know what Ariel meant when she said that. But one thing is for sure, she tried to comfort me.
I laughed at her words. Seeing my smile, Ariel also smiled softly. In this dull and achromatic world, it was the kind of smile that was bright and brightly colored alone.
.
.
.
“Your Highness, it is said that Aran has almost arrived.”
“Really?”
The mansion of Count Robertaine. In the midst of discussions about future steps, news came that a break would be given.
From noble mtl dot com
“Shall we go out to meet you?”
It’s been a while since I’ve seen Aran Youngsik. Upon hearing that he was coming, I wanted to go out and greet him right away.
“I am grateful to Her Highness for wanting to welcome my son, but please do not forget her status as the princess.”
“She said she was a daughter earlier, godfather. Is it strange that her brother goes out to meet her brother?”
“Heh heh… I can’t beat Your Highness.”
The minister of the military who heard my words laughed and said. He’s been like that ever since. Even when I complained as a child, he always accepted everything with a smile on his face.
Ah, of course there was only one time when my complaint was not listened to. A request to send troops to Hailan. I personally came here and asked the godfather, but the godfather rejected my request in the end.
“How about waiting in front of the mansion, since Your Highness is still in trouble.”
It was then. A woman sitting next to her opened her mouth.
“That… If that’s what Auntie said…”
My aunt and Aran Youngsik’s mother. Since she was related to me and her distant relative, I called her her aunt and followed her.
But her aunt is different from her godfather. Contrary to my godfather who always accepted my childishness, her aunt was always strict.
But she doesn’t resent her. The reason I was able to grow up without straying like this is because of her aunt.
If there were only people by my side, like Aran Young-sik or Godfather, who would always do everything I asked them to do, I might have been crooked.
Pair-
It was then that my aunt clapped.
As she clapped her hands, dozens of servants of her mansion came inside.
“You are out for a while.”
“Uh.. Me, you mean?”
“Then here, are there more of you besides you?”
As the aunt glared at the godfather, the godfather quickly left the seat.
‘Can I do the same with Aran Youngsik?’
Seeing the two of you, I thought. If I marry Aran Yeongsik, will I be able to control him in this way? But why did my aunt call them?
“Your Highness. The child is insensitive.”
“.. Is that.. Right..?”
“So, Your Highness must be bold.”
“That means…”
“It shows a different side of me.”
As my aunt winked at me, numerous servants approached me. Before long, makeup and dress coding started.
Obviously these are tough things, but it wasn’t hard at all! Like my aunt said, I wanted to show him a different side of me.
Looking at me after all makeup and coding, my aunt smiled brightly and said,
“I’m not satisfied, but considering the short time, it’s okay.”
At my aunt’s words, I looked in the mirror.
Isn’t it perfect? This?
If it was perfect, how much more perfect would it have been? The second most respected person in my heart was the moment when I became an aunt.