32 – Terms of the Suitor (3)
Is there anything as unjust as being misunderstood and reprimanded for something one didn’t do?
A stern solemnity permeated the air.
It felt like watching a hearing of politicians engaging in a heated debate.
I wanted to shout out the innocence of the situation immediately, but seeing the harsh and intimidating face in front of me, I quickly bowed. He was the ruler of the empire, boasting an unmatched power.
“No, I mean, it’s a misunderstanding! It’s the engaged ones who misunderstood and blabbered nonsense!”
“….”
Elisabeth, who had rushed here upon hearing the news, defended me in an enraged voice. However, the emperor, with his stern face, remained unmoved.
What could be so displeasing?
No,
Upon reflection, my mere existence could be the source of discontent.
In the eyes of the emperor, do I appear like a scoundrel trying to snatch away the daughters he raised with care? Perhaps he’s resisting the urge to issue a harsh decree to banish me.
‘Rudmila and the scandal with the Scan were the result of the journalists’ speculations, and the scandal with Elisabeth happened because of those damn engaged ones! I’m the real victim here!’
After the scandal with the second princess, Rudmila, now a scandal with the third princess, Elisabeth.
This is why fake news is terrifying.
How much more do they need to degrade before they’re satisfied?
Surely, the citizens of the empire will label me as a ‘princess hunter.’ And the Hohenberg family will likely be transformed into a bizarre and infamous aristocratic family, having consecutively expelled their sons.
“Her Highness Elizabeth is right…! I absolutely, I have no intention whatsoever!”
“What nonsense! Hey, you scoundrel!!”
He raised his head, indicating innocence.
Then, Elizabeth, who was defending me, unexpectedly began to get angry.
“Yes?”
“You promised to protect me with such a serious tone…! How dare you play with the princess?”
Elizabeth blushed and trembled, her fist shaking. It seemed as if she was showing a sense of betrayal, like a heroine abandoned in the midnight.
I don’t remember what I said exactly.
The situation was so urgent at that time.
I remember trying to console Elizabeth, who was captured by despair. Were there any remarks that could lead to misunderstandings at that time?
“What? You played with Lisa’s feelings! Indeed, you were a scoundrel!”
The Emperor, who had been silently observing, shouted in anger.
The situation took a turn for the worse.
Soon, a title emerged, labeling me as ‘trash who mocked the princess’s feelings.’
The atmosphere became even more tense with Elizabeth’s statement, full of misunderstandings. My heart constricted at the sight of the Emperor firmly clenching his armrests.
In a situation where the hostility was already firmly rooted, the emergence of such misunderstandings naturally angered Barbados.
I wondered who would take care of Lu after I died…
I already began to worry about the aftermath.
“Peha, returned victorious from the Pug Kingdom….”
While waiting for my fate with a detached heart,
The only savior who could resolve the tangled situation appeared.
Second Princess,
Rudmila Drag Valtaia.
Upon seeing the dignified figure of Rudmila, who had subdued the threats from the Pug Kingdom and returned, I felt a deep sense of relief. I was confident that she would undoubtedly become a reliable ally.
“….”
“….”
As she confidently entered the scene, our eyes briefly met. Then, Rudmila turned her head slightly, blushing.
Something felt uneasy.
An unknown fear crept in.
“Is it because of Edanant Gongja, by any chance?”
“Yes! I’ve decided to punish the one who deceived the Valtaria Imperial Family with consecutive false accusations!”
In response to the inquiry from the well-built second daughter, Barbadosa replied without hesitation in a resolute voice.
Guilty as charged.
It was a swift result, almost resembling a witch hunt.
The atmosphere was more ominous than ever, as if declaring that there would be no mercy. The high-ranking officials representing the internal affairs of the empire seemed to understand the reason for the Emperor’s displeasure.
Naturally, one couldn’t help but feel a sense of intimidation when confronted with such a grim face.
“This is an unjust situation. Although the relationship with the Hoenberg family has unfortunately soured, isn’t Edanant Gongja a hero who saved the empire? We must distinguish between duty and personal matters. Your Majesty, please consider leniency and… ah, view the private discussions in a positive light.”
“Hmph!”
As Rudmila, who advocated the justice of the verdict, tried to persuade her dissatisfied father with a determined voice, she also cast sidelong glances at me.
Did sincere persuasion work?
As the earnest appeal continued, the Emperor’s anger, which had been boiling, subsided.
Indeed, he was merciless to his subjects, but he seemed as compassionate to his daughters as he was stern.
“It is true that this man rescued Liza from the clutches of a heinous mine. I am willing to overlook the unpleasant rumors circulating about him to some extent. However, making him Liza’s companion is a matter that should be carefully considered.”
“What?”
Recalling the moment when Rudmila had recommended me as her younger sister’s new fiancé, nodding my head, I wondered why she was pushing me to be her sister’s companion to such an extent.
What could be the reason for such insistence?
It was difficult to guess the reason, but at least I could see that Rudmila’s intentions were sincere.
“Are you really saying this from the bottom of your heart?! To push me and Edanant to such an extent…!”
“…?”
Elizaveta spoke with her lower lip tightly bitten, as if struggling to contain her embarrassment.
As her beloved sister agreed to the private discussion, Elizaveta herself began to hesitate.
“W-wait, could it be… You were discussing the marriage between Liza and Edanant Gongja?”
Rudmila raised her eyes, wide with astonishment.
She uttered a voice filled with disbelief.
Her face, as beautiful as a ruby, turned pale as if drained of blood.
Who on earth could she have been thinking of?
Surely, it couldn’t be thinking of the married eldest sister.
It seemed like I had unintentionally misunderstood, perhaps due to the haste of returning from the battlefield.
Rudmila showed an overtly agitated reaction, lowering her head. She was blushing so much that it was difficult to lift her head, as if feeling an overwhelming sense of embarrassment.
Placing the teapot on top of her head, wouldn’t it bubble and boil?
Suddenly, such a thought crossed her mind.
* * *
What misunderstanding had Princess Ludmila fallen into?
She stared at Ludmila with questioning eyes, but the princess remained silent, pressing forward with brisk steps.
I had to widen my stride to keep up with Ludmila.
“People who enjoy fabricating rumors are spreading baseless gossip. If the princess continues to assert the groundlessness of these rumors in the palace, the public uproar over the false rumors will die down.”
“….”
How would a husband feel suspected of infidelity by his wife?
It was not a matter to be taken lightly.
So, using exaggerated gestures, I had to somehow appease Ludmila, insisting on her innocence.
Suddenly, the thought crossed my mind, ‘Could it be jealousy?’ but I shook my head. At this moment, regardless of the truth, I had to focus on calming the fiery dragon called rumors.
“It is true that you thought I would make a good match for Princess Liza. Did I not say so before you left for Count Hohenberg’s territory?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“But now that it has come to pass… I did not know what to do. It’s truly a severe caprice.”
“….”
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Ludmila let out a heavy sigh.
It was not hatred towards anyone.
It was a sigh directed at herself, who had cunningly twisted her own feelings.
Eventually, Ludmila turned her head, and our eyes met. She was smiling with a hint of embarrassment, as if expressing the complexity of her inner thoughts.
“I am such a capricious woman. Moreover, it is annoying.”
“Could that really be the case?”
Smiling wryly at Ludmila’s self-blame, I reached out to her.
“The Ludmila I know is more noble than anyone. Did you not, on behalf of the Principality of Pug, offer help when the old rulers were at odds? If Princess Ludmila hadn’t participated, it would have been a dire situation.”
A country with no resources.
Nothing special,
Just a remote region with no advantages.
For this reason, the Valtarian Empire turned a blind eye to the lives of 50,000 people.
Solely one person—.
Except for Rudmila.
The figure deserving adoration as a noble hero was undoubtedly Rudmila. Despite knowing that she would gain no personal benefit, she dedicated herself.
That’s why there was genuine respect for the noble red dragon.
“You are truly adept at charming hearts. Like a Casanova.”
“Excuse me?”
“Hehe, it’s nothing. Just a joke, given your eloquence.”
“I’m glad you’ve recovered your spirits.”
Rudmila offered a faint smile and shook the hand extended towards her.
Then, they walked down the corridor together.
If someone crossed their path in the hallway, they would have to quickly let go of each other’s hands.
Just a brief moment of holding hands.
* * *
The scandal caused by the betrothed who had declined a private discussion with the imperial family gradually subsided as the Valtarian Imperial Palace repeatedly declared it baseless.
And the Emperor Barbarosa’s anger, like a passing storm after encountering a wildfire, also calmed.
They had barely overcome the crisis.
There shouldn’t be any more unexpected problems.
With Rue, they leisurely spent time indulging in nougat candies.
The Valtarian Imperial Palace would soon reward the hero of the subjugation battle generously. Of course, the primary hero of the subjugation battle was the Holy Sword user who had confronted Mine to save Elizabeth.
Land? Title?
Or an enormous monetary reward?
Anything was fine.
Having saved the youngest daughter raised as precious as golden autumn leaves, the reward wouldn’t be disappointing.
“I bring good news from Master Edanant.”
A girl dressed in pristine robes visited the mansion early in the morning.
What’s this?
This familiar situation.
Could she be a false visitor, bringing good tidings?
If the guest wasn’t the First Maiden of the Prosperous Kingdom, he would have shut the door without hesitation. Despite showing a momentary reluctance at the unexpected visit, he eventually welcomed her as a guest.
“Master Edanant has not received baptism, correct? How about taking the opportunity to receive it this time?”
“Sure, it’s fine… now of all times.”
Receive the baptism of the earth by worshiping a forgotten god?
Are they trying to kill me?
I’ll be crushed by a divine collision right after receiving the baptism.
Today, the saint’s radiant smile felt particularly eerie.
“Of course, there’s no room for refusal. The high priests of the Holy Kingdom have decided on their own. They say it’s a cause for lamentation that a Holy Sword user hasn’t received the baptism of the earth. It’s truly an arbitrary decision, isn’t it?”
“….”
Yes.
Very much so.