Episode 130. Why did you choose me?
I stayed up almost all night and woke up as soon as the sun rose.
As I was absentmindedly tidying up Prince Kydel’s sofa, Madame Olga appeared with a look of ‘as expected’.
She spoke with great concern. Her biggest concern was whether our marriage was a marriage.
“Lady, did something happen?”
“Yes? Yes?”
“Yes. The empire almost started another war, so I can’t say there was nothing. Lady Olga.”
But I smiled brightly like Prince Kydel.
“Nothing happened. Lady Olga.”
At that, Lady Olga’s face suddenly darkened. Of course, she knew about this kind of laughter.
“Lady...”
“I have a bad sleeping habit, so I slept here for one day so that he could sleep comfortably. Don’t worry, I won’t do that today.”
As soon as I said that, I wanted to cry.
‘Will I be safe tonight?’
I couldn’t forget his raw gaze last night. I also wanted that in my heart.
I asked fearfully.
“What about the Prince?”
“He went to the training ground last night and swung your sword until dawn, and entered the palace before daybreak.”
“Ah... yes.”
'I’m sorry, Prince!'
I really wanted to cry, but I had to hold back in front of Lady Olga.
“I will enter the palace soon, so please prepare. Lady Olga.”
“You finally woke up at dawn?”
Those were the first words Prince Kydel said to me in the separate room of the Second Prince’s Palace.
I went to see him as soon as I entered the palace, and he smiled with his usual refreshing face.
Of course, it wasn’t that scary smile, but a relaxed smile that made him look handsome. As he had promised, today was Locard Kydel was in good health.
I said, my tension completely gone.
“Yes. It was easy. You just had to not sleep.”
I stayed up almost all night and woke up as soon as the sun rose.
As I was absentmindedly tidying up Prince Kydel’s sofa, Madame Olga appeared with a look of ‘as expected’.
She spoke with great concern. Her biggest concern was whether our marriage was a marriage.
“Lady, did something happen?”
“Yes? Yes?”
“Yes. The empire almost started another war, so I can’t say there was nothing. Lady Olga.”
But I smiled brightly like Prince Kydel.
“Nothing happened. Lady Olga.”
At that, Lady Olga’s face suddenly darkened. Of course, she knew about this kind of laughter.
“Lady...”
“I have a bad sleeping habit, so I slept here for one day so that he could sleep comfortably. Don’t worry, I won’t do that today.”
As soon as I said that, I wanted to cry.
‘Will I be safe tonight?’
I couldn’t forget his raw gaze last night. I also wanted that in my heart.
I asked fearfully.
“What about the Prince?”
“He went to the training ground last night and swung your sword until dawn, and entered the palace before daybreak.”
“Ah... yes.”
'I’m sorry, Prince!'
I really wanted to cry, but I had to hold back in front of Lady Olga.
“I will enter the palace soon, so please prepare. Lady Olga.”
***
“You finally woke up at dawn?”
Those were the first words Prince Kydel said to me in the separate room of the Second Prince’s Palace.
I went to see him as soon as I entered the palace, and he smiled with his usual refreshing face.
Of course, it wasn’t that scary smile, but a relaxed smile that made him look handsome. As he had promised, today was Locard Kydel was in good health.
I said, my tension completely gone.
“Yes. It was easy. You just had to not sleep.”
“Oh. A good night’s sleep is important. In any case, you have to sleep as much as you need to maintain your fighting stamina.”
Since it was the words of someone who would be second in a fight, I had to shut up and listen. I could never say, “Why did you stay up all night last night?” because that was what I had done. I had sinned, so I answered quietly.
“Yes, Your Excellency. I will be careful.”
At that moment, the door opened and a servant brought a tray of food. I widened my eyes as I looked at the breakfast being served in front of us.
“I didn’t know it would be this hard for a couple to eat breakfast together.”
“That’s right...”
Since I had come here on an empty stomach and was nervous, I felt hungry as soon as I smelled the food. I began to eat while keeping an eye on the situation, and the actions of the man sitting in front of me were perfect. Was this man now Locard Kydel, or was it the man I had attacked Locard Kydel last night?
‘No, that’s not it...!’
I couldn’t explain why I had done that last night. I hung my head and continued eating, depressed by the fact that I had a self I didn’t know. Prince Kydel asked,
“What are your plans today?”
“Her Highness’s schedule is empty today. She caught me yesterday, but I was forced to leave the palace, so I think I should try to appease her.”
“Hmm.”
I said, watching his expression.
“If the Smilean messenger visits without any schedule, tell Her Highness to have the maid serve him...”
“Don’t do that.”
He raised his head from his knife swing and looked at me. His eyes were very calm.
“Lorisha.”
“Huh?”
“Why did you choose me?”
“...”
“Instead of Ryuel.”
In my heart, I was shocked by the absurdity of the words “Instead of Ryuel.” However, I couldn’t say, “That’s not right!” so I kept my mouth shut. I took a deep breath and answered with a small smile.
“You threatened me, didn’t you?”
“Lorisha.”
His eyes were infinitely serious. I had to be the same.
“I owe you too much, Prince.”
“...”
I shook my head and then corrected myself.
“I didn’t want to be a coward... I didn’t want you to hate me. I thought... You would be very upset.”
He put down the cutlery he had been teasing elegantly and looked at me. His face was soft and bright.
“Let’s not run away, Lorisha.”
Run away. I had never thought of it that way. Suddenly, it occurred to me that maybe this situation wasn’t a matter of gain or loss for him.
He was a person who clearly prioritized his values in life. When I was around someone like that, life sometimes felt simpler.
I nodded as if I was being led by something.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
By the time I finished my meal, I realized that I had been eating comfortably to an unfamiliar degree.
The unfamiliar place and the certainty that I wouldn’t be disturbed by anyone until the end of the meal. Those things gave me a sense of stability that I had never experienced before.
“Why?”
He smiled at my gaze. So I smiled back.
“Just like that.”
I put the last forkful in my mouth and asked,
“Are you angry with me?”
“...”
“I was foolishly swayed by a stranger’s words. I’m sorry, Your Excellency.”
“I accept your apology.”
“Wow, the juice is delicious.”
“I like it too.”
“Once the Princess’s affairs are over, I’ll do my best to help you, Your Excellency. I’ve even checked the accounts.”
This time, he just smiled.
After finishing his meal, he escorted me to the Princess’s palace. He looked like a loving husband.
“You don’t have to do this, Your Excellency.”
“Please bear with it. I’ll have His Highness Grayon pickle it up.”
“Yes?”
But Prince Kydel answered with a smile.
As I looked at him curiously, Prince Kydel’s face suddenly turned cold.
I looked back in the direction he was looking and almost screamed. Ryuel was coming with the interpreter. Ryuel was smiling brightly at me.
“Ryuel expressed his delight to Madame Kydel.”
When I heard the interpreter’s words, my insides boiled.
How could he act so shamelessly!
I held back the thought of saying, ‘Madame Kydel also expressed her delight to Lord Ryuel,’ and smiled pretentiously.
“My husband, Prince Locard Kydel. Your Excellency, this is Smilean messenger Ryuel. I am negotiating the marriage between Prince Smilean and Her Highness Princess Miliora.”
Prince Kydel smiled without hesitation and greeted him in the Smilean manner.
“I have heard much from you, Ryuel.”
Ryuel waited for the interpreter and then made a delighted expression.
“Lord Ryuel also heard the fame of the imperial lion cubs across the sea. He said he was delighted to meet you both by chance during his morning walk.”
“This delightful coincidence may not be a coincidence.”
Prince Kydel said very naturally. However, knowing the meaning in it, I had to swallow my saliva.
Prince Kydel said,
“Since you said you are taking a walk, may I show you around? My wife was on her way to see Her Highness the Princess.”
I wanted to stop Prince Kydel, but I couldn’t say a word. Now, all I could do was cheer him on.
'Please, don't let my husband get into any trouble!'
Prince Kydel said with a sweet smile on his face.
"Madam, let's meet again later."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Even if I were to die and come back to life, I would never be able to say something like 'Then let's meet again later, Your Excellency.'
I felt a deep sense of guilt at that fact and walked towards the Princess's palace.
"Do you really need an interpreter?"
Locard said coldly, watching Lorisha's back as she walked away.
Ryuel laughed in his characteristically low and rough voice and pushed the interpreter back. He followed the two from a distance.
The two walked slowly towards the deserted garden. At first glance, they looked like two friends taking a walk.
"It seems your wife hasn't spoken yet. However, if you want to reduce the number of people listening, let's talk in Smilean."
Locard snickered at Ryuel's fluent Imperial language.
"I was the one who didn't give Lorisha a chance to speak last night. If I had left her alone, she would have also commented on Lord Ryuel’s Imperial language skills."
"You’re newlyweds. I envy you.'
Ryuel said, stroking a large rosebud blooming on one side of the garden with his hand.
"Do it. I want to experience what it’s like to be threatened by an Imperial lion cub. I knew she would confess to you about my proposal."
Ryuel looked at Locard’s face again and said.
"I don’t really understand the nature of a woman falling for a man’s face."
Locard smiled cynically.
"My charm isn’t just about my face."
This time, Ryuel snorted.
"When you told me about His Highness’s victory through my wife, you must have had a purpose."
"Prince Kydel, I have conveyed my intentions. I would like to take the two women back to Smilean. Considering the complex divorce procedures of the Empire, this is an offer that she has no reason to refuse."
"You know the divorce procedures of the Empire well, but don’t you know that you shouldn’t say such things about another man’s wife?"
They stopped walking. The two men’s gazes clashed and sparked.
Ryuel raised the corners of his mouth crookedly and said.
"It is your fault that I came here. I mean, the pirates of the high seas."
Then, Locard’s eyes narrowed.
"You are saying dangerous things. To me, those who board ships and steal other people’s property and those who look down on other people’s wives are both pirates. And I know how to defeat pirates."
Ryuel made an irritated noise as if he was scratching his throat.
"Can’t you get away from women? Do you really not know what kind of situation the Duke is in right now?"
"Is that why you’re pushing for a marriage alliance? As insurance against political changes after His Highness Orl ascends to the throne."
"We both know that Princess Milliora isn’t a very trustworthy insurance, right?"
Locard narrowed his eyes and looked at Ryuel.
Orl despises Milliora so much that he doesn’t even consider her his own blood. That means she’s not worth a marriage alliance partner.
And Ryuel already knows that. But why?
"On what basis, Lord Ryuel, are you so confident that His Highness Orl will win?"
He was a person who clearly prioritized his values in life. When I was around someone like that, life sometimes felt simpler.
I nodded as if I was being led by something.
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
By the time I finished my meal, I realized that I had been eating comfortably to an unfamiliar degree.
The unfamiliar place and the certainty that I wouldn’t be disturbed by anyone until the end of the meal. Those things gave me a sense of stability that I had never experienced before.
“Why?”
He smiled at my gaze. So I smiled back.
“Just like that.”
I put the last forkful in my mouth and asked,
“Are you angry with me?”
“...”
“I was foolishly swayed by a stranger’s words. I’m sorry, Your Excellency.”
“I accept your apology.”
“Wow, the juice is delicious.”
“I like it too.”
“Once the Princess’s affairs are over, I’ll do my best to help you, Your Excellency. I’ve even checked the accounts.”
This time, he just smiled.
After finishing his meal, he escorted me to the Princess’s palace. He looked like a loving husband.
“You don’t have to do this, Your Excellency.”
“Please bear with it. I’ll have His Highness Grayon pickle it up.”
“Yes?”
But Prince Kydel answered with a smile.
As I looked at him curiously, Prince Kydel’s face suddenly turned cold.
I looked back in the direction he was looking and almost screamed. Ryuel was coming with the interpreter. Ryuel was smiling brightly at me.
“Ryuel expressed his delight to Madame Kydel.”
When I heard the interpreter’s words, my insides boiled.
How could he act so shamelessly!
I held back the thought of saying, ‘Madame Kydel also expressed her delight to Lord Ryuel,’ and smiled pretentiously.
“My husband, Prince Locard Kydel. Your Excellency, this is Smilean messenger Ryuel. I am negotiating the marriage between Prince Smilean and Her Highness Princess Miliora.”
Prince Kydel smiled without hesitation and greeted him in the Smilean manner.
“I have heard much from you, Ryuel.”
Ryuel waited for the interpreter and then made a delighted expression.
“Lord Ryuel also heard the fame of the imperial lion cubs across the sea. He said he was delighted to meet you both by chance during his morning walk.”
“This delightful coincidence may not be a coincidence.”
Prince Kydel said very naturally. However, knowing the meaning in it, I had to swallow my saliva.
Prince Kydel said,
“Since you said you are taking a walk, may I show you around? My wife was on her way to see Her Highness the Princess.”
I wanted to stop Prince Kydel, but I couldn’t say a word. Now, all I could do was cheer him on.
'Please, don't let my husband get into any trouble!'
Prince Kydel said with a sweet smile on his face.
"Madam, let's meet again later."
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Even if I were to die and come back to life, I would never be able to say something like 'Then let's meet again later, Your Excellency.'
I felt a deep sense of guilt at that fact and walked towards the Princess's palace.
***
"Do you really need an interpreter?"
Locard said coldly, watching Lorisha's back as she walked away.
Ryuel laughed in his characteristically low and rough voice and pushed the interpreter back. He followed the two from a distance.
The two walked slowly towards the deserted garden. At first glance, they looked like two friends taking a walk.
"It seems your wife hasn't spoken yet. However, if you want to reduce the number of people listening, let's talk in Smilean."
Locard snickered at Ryuel's fluent Imperial language.
"I was the one who didn't give Lorisha a chance to speak last night. If I had left her alone, she would have also commented on Lord Ryuel’s Imperial language skills."
"You’re newlyweds. I envy you.'
Ryuel said, stroking a large rosebud blooming on one side of the garden with his hand.
"Do it. I want to experience what it’s like to be threatened by an Imperial lion cub. I knew she would confess to you about my proposal."
Ryuel looked at Locard’s face again and said.
"I don’t really understand the nature of a woman falling for a man’s face."
Locard smiled cynically.
"My charm isn’t just about my face."
This time, Ryuel snorted.
"When you told me about His Highness’s victory through my wife, you must have had a purpose."
"Prince Kydel, I have conveyed my intentions. I would like to take the two women back to Smilean. Considering the complex divorce procedures of the Empire, this is an offer that she has no reason to refuse."
"You know the divorce procedures of the Empire well, but don’t you know that you shouldn’t say such things about another man’s wife?"
They stopped walking. The two men’s gazes clashed and sparked.
Ryuel raised the corners of his mouth crookedly and said.
"It is your fault that I came here. I mean, the pirates of the high seas."
Then, Locard’s eyes narrowed.
"You are saying dangerous things. To me, those who board ships and steal other people’s property and those who look down on other people’s wives are both pirates. And I know how to defeat pirates."
Ryuel made an irritated noise as if he was scratching his throat.
"Can’t you get away from women? Do you really not know what kind of situation the Duke is in right now?"
"Is that why you’re pushing for a marriage alliance? As insurance against political changes after His Highness Orl ascends to the throne."
"We both know that Princess Milliora isn’t a very trustworthy insurance, right?"
Locard narrowed his eyes and looked at Ryuel.
Orl despises Milliora so much that he doesn’t even consider her his own blood. That means she’s not worth a marriage alliance partner.
And Ryuel already knows that. But why?
"On what basis, Lord Ryuel, are you so confident that His Highness Orl will win?"
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