<Episode 23>
“……thank you.”
Naiad and Ilipia.
I had no idea that he, not someone else, would say this to me.
I was dumbfounded and responded in a dazed manner.
Olied lowered his eyes and looked down at me.
For some reason, his heavy gaze gave me a sense of peace that was greater than some words.
Before that, I made a decision.
“Father.”
I decided to accept the engagement to the crown prince.
“I would like to accept my engagement to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”
Even though I would have to marry the child of my enemy, it was a choice that gave me more benefits than loss.
It was my goal to obtain the title of Archduke of Heilian from Roberick, and I was determined to achieve all my wishes with the power I gained, but in reality, the task was not easy at all.
No matter how friendly Roberick is to me, there is no way he would just give up the enormous power he holds.
However, I cannot be certain that my grandfather will have enough time left to hold his breath waiting for the many opportunities that will come my way.
Even if the emperor is granding me this benefitial position to take advantage of me, if I become betrothed to the crown prince, the power and support of the imperial family will naturally follow.
Also, since it is not a marriage but an engagement that can clearly be broken off, there is a way out in the future, so for now, I must hold on to the hand that the emperor has extended to me…
After sll, it will bring me more benefits
[If so, feel free to use me.]
[This means you need to only spit out what you want, leave it to me, and I will relieve you of your problems.]
[No matter what you do, I will be completely on your side.]
The promise Olied made in the past pushed my back.
“Edith, what… I can’t believe you are already talking about engagement!”
Roberick was unable to speak for a while, then knelt down on the floor and grabbed my shoulders.
“It is a marriage to the imperial family. You will have to live with the obligations and pressures that are too much for you to handle for the rest of your life! Edith, your father will never allow it.”
For me, there is no difference between staying in this palace or entering the imperial palace.
Ultimately, all of this happened because of you.
I was living a peaceful life without even knowing about power and arranged marriage, but he dragged me into his own selfish obsession, so I had to face assassination threats, and with my unintentionally developed abilities, people were reaching out to use me from all over.
So this time, I’m just making a move to take advantage of it first.
“I want to become the crown princess, father.”
“Why is that…?”
I sighed with exhaustion.
“The title of Grand Duke of Hailian will be inherited by Allea, who was awarded the title of grand princess before me.”
It wasn’t intentional, but a very useful opportunity has come up, so let’s use it.
If this man is faced with a situation where his life is about to end… I wonder who he plans to pass on his title to.
“…Edith. Why do you think Allea will inherit the title?”
Roberick raised his eyebrows and frowned, as if he had heard something he had never thought of before.
“Of course, Allea is also father’s daughter.”
“……Daughter, yes. That’s right, my daughter.”
He repeated the word daughter as if he were thinking about it.
Then he suddenly grabbed my hand and said,
“But Edith, Allea is not a child who inherited father’s blood. Anyone who does not inherit the Heilian blood can never inherit the title of Grand Duke. Your father never once thought of breaking the rules of his ancestors. therefore.”
He spoke from a short distance away, looking into my eyes that were exactly like his own.
“You will be the one who succeeds me as the Heilian Grand Duke.”
“……”
Still, I thought you really cared about Allea.
I thought as I carefully examined his complexion.
Such a firm answer without any hesitation.
Was his obsession with his blood relatives stronger than his love for Chastia and Allea?
“So, it’s okay if you don’t become the Crown Princess. You must succeed me as the Grand Duke, but if you become the Crown Princess… you cannot hold the title as a member of the imperial family. So, Edith…”
[T/L: That’s why he was so opposed to her becoming the crowd princess, I knew this garbage was selfish, but I didn’t predict this.]
“I want to start a family.”
…Anyway, I think I know what you’re thinking, so I’ll just do my job.
“……what?”
Roberick, who had been persuading me with a faint smile and a calm tone, suddenly became expressionless as if washed off with water.
“I lived alone with my grandfather and always wished we had a bigger family. I have a father now, but anyway, once I become a grand duchess, I will have to have an arranged marriage.”
I spoke slowly.
“If I’m going to get married anyway, I want to decide on the person in advance. The last time I saw him at the imperial palace, His Royal Highness was a kind and nice person. I think it would be nice if someone like that becomes my future husband.”
I am saying all sorts of nonsense to prepare one more safety device.*
[T/L: She means that that she is saying all of that to have a safe power position in case anything went stray, smart!]
I almost burst into laughter for a moment, but I held it in and stared at Roberick.
“So please allow it, father.”
Roberick’s pure white eyelashes fluttered.
But in the end, the answer that came out of his mouth was.
“…I understand, Edith.”
It was as I expected.
***
It was the day before I officially entered the imperial palace.
Meanwhile, the imperial palace was in an unprecedented commotion, and there were two reasons for this.
First, princess Edith Ronen Heilian, who was born to the former Archduke of Bastevan and Archduke Heilian, the former having forfeited his title and was exiled, and whose birth background was quite surprising, was designated as the crown prince’s fiancée.
second is,
“Summoning spirits is prohibited…!”
There was a spell in the imperial palace that prohibited anyone except the royal family from summoning spirits.
The summoning of lower-level spirits that were essential for managing the household affairs of the imperial palace was permitted, but the summoning of spirits of higher rank was prohibited, regardless of the reason.
I was taken aback by the sudden news, but when I heard the reason, I had no choice but to accept it.
It was because of that day.
The incident in which a huge ice wall of unknown origin attacked the crown prince’s palace was not something that had happened only once or twice.
It had happened several times over the years, and the scale and intensity of the threat had grown stronger, with words flowing from all over.
‘I will take this opportunity to nip in the bud any subversive movement that dares to threaten the life of the successor who will inherit my position.’
And on this occasion, the emperor declared that he could no longer ignore the incident of unknown cause.
…There’s a reason for this, so I can’t complain.
Since the name “royal family” refers to people with blood from the Ruairi royal family for two generations, I am not included.
So, I suddenly went through an unexpected breakup.
“-For this reason, I don’t think I will be able to summon you for a while.”
The reactions of the Spirit Kings upon hearing the situation were different.
[Frinter⋯⋯⋯⋯⋯.]
Olied muttered Frinter’s name, looked down at me, firmly told me to be sensible and behave properly, and returned to the spirit world.
[It can’t be like this. I won’t be able to see you again….]
“It’s not like we’re breaking up forever. Once the problem is resolved, I will be able to summon it like before.”
Naiad refused to break up with such a desperate attitude that it embarrassed me.
I was so embarrassed because she didn’t want to let go of my hand that she was holding on to.
[You will make Edith feel troubled. Stop and go back.]
Thanks to Ilipia’s pleading, Naiad finally calmed down her emotions.
Still, she hesitated for a while longer, and only after repeatedly urging me to take care of myself did she return to the spirit world.
“…I will try to get through this as well as possible.”
Anyway, it’s the path I’ve chosen, so I’ll have to do my best.
[okay. Even if I’m not by your side, never forget that I will always bless you and love you infinitely.]
Ilipia said to me with a dazzlingly warm smile.
She disappears into a series of scattered, twinkling lights.
Left alone, I clasped my hands and brought them to my chest.
The feeling of being unfamiliar and isolated was something I felt even at the Grand Duke’s residence.
Going to the imperial palace didn’t change much.
As long as there’s no grandfather, it’s all the same place to me.
***
The next day.
At dusk, I entered the imperial palace.
And according to the emperor’s will, she was the first to be called to the throne room.
“We haven’t had an official engagement ceremony yet, but you are now a member of the royal family.”
The emperor took something out of the red box his servant had brought and handed it to me.
“Now, take it.”
I received something from the emperor.
“……pendant?”
The object was actually a pendant.
The Phoenix, the spirit king of fire, who took the form of a gorgeous and powerful phoenix, a symbol of the Roshan Empire, was vividly engraved at the center of the pendant as if it were about to fly at any moment.
It was exactly like the shape embossed on the door leading into the throne room.
The edges of the pendant were studded with red garnets, making its appearance even more extravagant.
“It is an item that you must be have as the crown prince’s companion and future empress. Take care of it carefully.”
“It was originally a relic belonging to the Empress… but now that place is empty. It would be better for you, who will become the empress, to have it anyway.”
It was a relic that had been carried by Roshan’s empress for generations.
I stopped looking at the pendant and looked at the emperor.
He had a cold expression on his face, as if he was thinking of something he didn’t like.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”
“Let him to come in.”
While I was wondering about that for a moment, a servant announced that the crown prince had arrived.
“I heard you called me, father.”
The crown prince’s voice was heard.
I turned my head back.
The crown prince, whose eyes met mine, looked at me and showed a flushed face.
“As I said before, this is princess Edith Ronen Heilian, your fiancée and future Crown Princess. This is your second meeting, right?”
“Yes that’s right.”
“okay. You will be together for the rest of your lives, so it would be better to get to know each other early.”
The emperor completely lost the unexplained coolness that had appeared some time ago, and a faint hint of warmth appeared.
“you can go for a walk in the garden together.”
“Yes, father. Is it okay if I escort you, Princess Edith?”
…The change in his expression made me fell somewhat uneasy.
I squeezed the pendant in my hand and smiled slightly at the crown prince.
“Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
I then hung the pendant around my neck and placed my hand on the crown prince’s.
***
Surprise~
I just finished my exams today, so to celebrate I will unlock all the released chapters.
Enjoy ~
And wish me luck with the results, maybe I will celebrate again who knows 😀.
