~Chapter 24~
“Of course, we didn’t mean you should suddenly get married. We just thought it might be good for the two of you to spend some time getting closer…”
As soon as the elders heard that I didn’t know I was being considered as a match for Latryne, they seemed even more determined to pair us up. Latryne’s own wishes didn’t seem to matter at all. In fact, it felt like their obsession with me was only growing stronger.
I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t even think of what to say in response.
“Well then, this is a perfect opportunity for the two of you to get to know each other better,” one elder said, acting like everything was going smoothly.
I wasn’t the only one shocked by their attitude. Even Phaedris and Aileen looked equally taken aback. It seemed like nothing we said would change their minds.
As I was wondering how to get out of this situation, something unexpected happened.
While we were in the middle of this argument with the elders, I thought I heard the faint sound of someone running towards us from far away.
I seemed to be the only one who noticed, as everyone else was too focused on the marriage discussion to pay attention to someone approaching.
Who could be coming now?
The situation was already getting out of hand, and I felt like things were about to get worse.
Please don’t let it be Ered, I thought. If he shows up, things would get really chaotic.
Fortunately, it wasn’t Ered. Instead, it was a knight dressed in the familiar uniform of the royal guard, running towards the meeting room with a desperate look on his face.
From the expression on his face, it seemed like something serious had happened—like a war had broken out or something.
Everyone else finally noticed the knight as he got closer, and sensing that something was wrong, they all stopped talking and asked him, “What’s the matter? Why are you running here in such a hurry?”
The knight, panting heavily, replied,
“I heard… I heard the Commander was here, so I came as fast as I could… Ah, Commander!”
Finally spotting me, the knight rushed over, grabbing my hand almost tearfully.
“Commander!”
I was utterly bewildered. What was going on with this guy?
“What… What’s wrong? Is something happening?”
“I’ve heard the news! I heard that some scoundrel got you pregnant and then ran away…! And that you already have a child who’s about three years old!”
“…”
I froze, and the atmosphere in the room instantly turned icy.
‘What… What did he just say? That I have a child? Me?’
“This… this can’t be true, right? Lady Alpress… this is some kind of joke, right?” one of the elders stammered, shocked.
“I-I have no memory of having a child…” I replied, but no one seemed to care about what I was saying.
The knight, still on the verge of tears, continued, “They said they saw you secretly meeting a child who looks just like you in the palace! Who is the bastard who dared to do this to you? I’ll make him pay!”
I was starting to piece things together. It must have been someone who saw me with Sertein and spread a rumor that spread out of control. I had no idea the story would get so wildly exaggerated, though.
Just as I was about to deny it and explain that it was all just a misunderstanding, Phaedris, his face red with anger, demanded, “Can you at least tell us who it is?”
“I-I’m telling you, this is just a rumor!”
But my words were falling on deaf ears.
“I didn’t know Lady Alpress had such circumstances,” one elder said, shaking his head in disbelief.
‘What circumstances are you even talking about?’
Shaking their heads, the elders muttered, “If that’s the case, we’ll definitely have to reconsider the marriage…”
I couldn’t believe the elders were willing to drop the marriage idea so easily over a ridiculous rumor.
While I was relieved that the marriage issue seemed to be resolved, the chaos of the situation was far from over.
I kept trying to explain that it was just a baseless rumor, but no one was listening. Phaedris was getting even angrier, demanding I reveal the identity of the person who supposedly got me pregnant.
“I’m telling you, it’s a complete lie!” I insisted.
The confusion and stress of the situation were starting to make me feel dizzy.
I leaned slightly against the wall, feeling a bit faint. As I did, I saw Latryne glance over at me with concern.
“…This is clearly a personal matter for the commander, and I don’t think it’s something we should be debating. The commander doesn’t seem to be feeling well, so I think it’s time to end this discussion here,” Latryne said firmly.
It was more of a declaration than a request.
Without waiting for anyone’s response, Latryne gently helped me, who was still leaning against the wall, and escorted me out of the meeting room.
By the time we left the chaotic meeting room, the day had started to turn into night.
Latryne led me to a garden near the meeting hall. The gardens in the palace were famous for their beauty, and people often visited them during the day. But by now, the sun had set, and there were few people around.
Latryne guided me to a bench in a quiet corner of the garden and helped me sit down.
Then he spoke.
“Litya…”
“It’s absolutely not true! The rumors started because people saw me and Seri together last time!”
As soon as he just called my name, I jumped up and shouted.
I felt wronged. It really wasn’t true, but no one was listening to me.
However, Latryne, who seemed to understand the situation, answered calmly.
“I know. It seems our Sertien unintentionally caused you trouble.”
Latryne gently sat me back down as he spoke, apparently concerned about me standing.
“That’s… not really it… It’s not Seri’s fault… But… I’m really not a mother!”
“Of course. You haven’t even married yet.”
Because Latryne was responding so well to everything I said, I began to whine a little.
Normally, I’m not the type to whine to others.
“For some reason, whenever I’m with Seri, people always think he’s my son. Do Seri and I really look that much alike?”
“…Well… I guess you could say there’s a resemblance…”
Latryne trailed off and avoided my gaze as he answered.
I sighed. Honestly, if they say I look exactly like his real mother, it makes sense that I would resemble Sertien too.
“But, in a way, thanks to Sertien, the elders won’t bother you with marriage proposals anymore.”
“Do you really think so?”
“I believe so… And don’t worry too much about those silly rumors. They’ll naturally disappear over time.”
It seemed like he was trying to comfort me.
Thanks to Latryne’s words, I calmed down a little and spoke.
“I really didn’t know. I mean… I had no idea I was the marriage candidate they were talking about for you… So that’s why you asked me those questions?”
As I recalled the time we were stranded in the mountains, Latryne nodded.
“It seems I keep causing trouble for you, Litya. But at least now, the elders will probably stop talking about marriage to you.”
“Does that mean… they’ll still keep talking about it for you, Latryne?”
“…Yes. It was originally my problem to deal with.”
A random thought popped into my head.
“So… Latryne, you don’t want to get married, right?”
“That’s right.”
“I was just wondering… Is it because you don’t want to marry me?”
I said it half-jokingly.
Latryne smiled and responded.
“I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. But I didn’t mean it because I don’t like you. In fact, it’s because I think highly of you that, even if I marry someone else, I wouldn’t want to marry you.”
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Wait, what? Why?”
Then, Latryne asked me a question in return.
“Why do you ask? Were you actually thinking of marrying me?”
Latryne seemed to have a playful side.
He clearly knew I wasn’t serious, but he still asked that question on purpose.
“And what if I was?”
I decided to play along.
Latryne answered without missing a beat.
“In that case, I would do everything in my power to stop it.”
“Stop it? Why? What’s so bad about marrying you? Sure, there’s already Seri, but marrying you would mean gaining the highest status, right? Being the wife of a duke. I’m sure there are lots of people who would want that.”
“…What you see on the outside isn’t everything.”
“…”
“Besides, you already have plenty of honor and status without having to marry me… And there’s no reason for someone as amazing as you to marry a man like me, who already has a child. Also…”
Latryne suddenly stopped talking and stared at me.
‘What’s going on?’
Just as I was wondering why he paused, he continued.
“Becoming my wife would mean losing your life. In any case, I have no intention of making you my wife. You don’t seem to want it either. You look truly happy right now, and I’m relieved to see that. I hope you stay like this.”
His last words carried a deeper meaning.
“In any case, you shouldn’t marry anyone else, either. I won’t allow it. For Seri’s sake…”
“Alright. But how about we go back to the room now? You must be pushing yourself too hard…”
I wondered if he even heard what I said because Latryne suddenly started talking about my condition.
But to be honest, I wasn’t feeling very well by that point.
I’ve never been this injured before, so it must have been a serious wound this time.
“I’m glad you look healthy, Litya, but if you keep pushing yourself, you’ll get hurt someday. Let me escort you back, so please head back to rest.”
