After finishing his conversation with Lange, Karan returned to the lodging he had secured in the center of Bedrokka.
“What did His Majesty say?” Elise, who had been waiting for Karan without sleeping despite the late hour, stood up as soon as she saw him.
“He begged me to save David’s life.”
Karan recalled his conversation with Lange.
[Save him. If you just save him, I’ll do anything.]
That proud king of Bedrokka had fallen to his knees.
Why did he send his beloved son into exile in the past life?
Karan brushed away the sudden thought. It was meaningless to dwell on the past life.
“He asked us to take good care of David. He said he would cooperate with anything.”
“Didn’t he suspect us?”
“At first, he did. He threatened to wipe Tetris off the map if we were playing games with David’s life.”
Karan snickered. Bedrokka was still living in the past.
Although Tetris might not be as prosperous as Bedrokka, they weren’t at a level to be one-sidedly defeated in an all-out war.
Unless they both perished together.
Karan didn’t care either way. He only needed Elise, just Elise.
“I explained well. I asked why we would try to save David if we were the culprits. I told him that David waking up is the most important thing for us too.”
“Did he believe you?”
Karan shrugged. What could we do if he didn’t?
“I explained well.”
It was true that David was in Dex territory, and if he acted up, David would be the one to suffer.
“You’ve worked hard, Your Highness. It must have been difficult with King Lange’s stubbornness.”
Elise believed that Karan had persuaded him logically and politely.
She was half right and half wrong.
He was polite for exactly 5 minutes. The moment Lange pointed at Karan and shouted, “You ruined my son!” Karan also threw away his politeness.
It was fortunate that he used magic to prevent the sound from leaking out, otherwise he might have ended up having an unplanned exercise with Bedrokka’s knights in the middle of the night.
From Karan’s perspective, it would have been merely a warm-up.
“What will we do now, Elise? Chase is foolishly preparing for a banquet.”
“Let him enjoy it more. That way, he’ll be more upset later.”
“Being upset isn’t enough. I want that bastard to suffer.”
Elise, who would normally point out his language, remained quiet. Pleased by this, he embraced her. While holding her for a while, Elise looked up.
“By the way, why do you hate Chase so much, Your Highness?”
Karan had disliked Chase from the beginning.
Elise thought it was because Chase had disrespected Karan, but it seemed odd that he didn’t harbor much resentment towards Lange if that were the case.
And lately, he seemed to hate Chase even more.
Could there be something between them that she didn’t know about?
Elise’s long eyelashes fluttered up and down.
“Your Highness?”
“I hate everything about him. His pretty face, his whiny tone, his unnecessarily tall stature, his curly hair, everything. I even hate the fact that he breathes.”
This was beyond mere dislike; it was loathing.
“Is it a problem that I hate him?”
Karan’s voice lowered. Elise smiled.
“Of course not. As long as you don’t hate me.”
Elise wrapped her arms around Karan’s neck. One of Karan’s eyebrows rose slightly. Karan planted a quick kiss on Elise’s lips.
“That will never happen in this lifetime.”
The kiss that started as a light peck became long and persistent. Karan attacked as if he intended to steal all of Elise’s breath.
It was a kiss that felt like it could suck out her soul.
****
The next afternoon, the allied forces delegation from Magnus and Tetris arrived at Bedrokka Castle.
“Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.”
Bedrokka’s administrators came out to greet them.
Chase had given an entire castle building to the people from Magnus and Tetris.
It was quite different from the time when Karan came to Tetris as an envoy in the past and wasn’t even given a single room because he arrived earlier than scheduled.
This was despite the fact that they arrived exactly on time this time.
“Why call busy people here and there? It’s quite far too. Yawn, we’ve been riding all night. Even changing horses along the way.”
Ilaria yawned loudly, as if to let the administrators in front hear.
“Maintain your dignity.”
Karan said. Ilaria’s eyes widened in surprise.
“The word ‘dignity’ from the mouth of a barbarian. You must be near death.”
Karan was about to look for something to stuff into Ilaria’s mouth but stopped. The guiding administrator had halted.
“The Tetris delegation can use this entire floor. The Magnus delegation, please follow me.”
The second floor was for Tetris, and the third floor for Magnus.
“If you need anything, please pull the bell rope at any time. Our administrators and servants are waiting on the first floor. Please rest comfortably.”
They thought Chase might have put them under surveillance, but he even provided separate servants and administrators?
“We’ll do that. You may go now. We’d like to rest quietly.”
As if it weren’t a lie, the administrator and servants withdrew.
As soon as they disappeared, Karan called for Haltbin.
“Check this entire floor and the area around the building.”
“Understood.”
“Report immediately if you find anything suspicious.”
Haltbin left with a few warriors.
He soon returned and reported that there was nothing unusual.
“Miss, you need to change into your dress.”
Regina entered, pushing a rack with dresses hanging on it.
Without even a moment’s rest, Elise and Karan began preparing for the banquet.
“I can’t tell if this is a welcome or a torment.”
Karan grumbled. His face showed a hint of irritation.
“Just do it quickly, Regina.”
Elise wasn’t looking forward to the banquet either.
“I can’t do that. There will be many people who know you, Miss. It’s a shame Viscount Worton couldn’t come.”
Regina was determined to make Elise the most beautiful person at today’s banquet.
“Let’s show them your changed status clearly!”
When Elise left Bedrokka, she was cast as the villain from a fairy tale. The Elise who returned became the representative of the allied forces protecting the continent.
And she also had the title of being engaged to the Prince of Tetris.
Elise didn’t care at all about the gaze of Bedrokka’s nobles, but Regina did.
Our Miss has returned successful!
She wanted to show off openly.
Regina’s hands became busy. Elise entrusted everything to Regina and closed her eyes completely.
“Miss, it’s done. Please get up.”
Elise, who had dozed off, opened her eyes.
There was a completely different person in the mirror. The person who had been exhausted from lack of sleep over the past few days had disappeared, and in the mirror was a radiant woman.
“You’d believe me if I said she was an angel, right?”
“Indeed.”
Even Elise had to agree that her reflection in the mirror looked quite good.
“Regina, what magic did you use?”
“Whew, I’ve been working hard too, you know.”
Regina’s face was full of satisfaction.
Dong, a bell rang. It was the sound announcing that the banquet would soon begin.
“It’s time to flatten the noses of Bedrokka’s nobles, Miss!”
Elise stood up with Regina’s help.
“Elise, are you rea—”
Karan, who was entering to escort Elise, froze in place.
“Your Highness, you look splendid today.”
Karan was also dressed up as impressively as Elise. His servant had insisted that he shouldn’t be outdone by Chase.
Karan, who had been annoyed throughout the grooming process, was satisfied with his impressive appearance once the preparations were complete.
He had briefly indulged in the thought that Elise might admire his appearance.
But to his surprise, it was he who was left in awe. Elise was so beautiful that he momentarily lost his words.
“Elise.”
Karan stepped closer to Elise. Regina, seeing Karan’s dazed face, left the room with great satisfaction.
As the door closed, Karan approached Elise’s side. He seemed about to raise his hand to her cheek but then dropped it.
Then, in a very troubled tone, he said,
“I can’t even touch you.”
Karan stroked his chin and turned his head. Then he glanced at Elise again.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you an angel or a human?”
Karan spoke words Elise couldn’t understand. Then he pressed his forehead against Elise’s exposed shoulder.
“You’re so beautiful that I don’t want to show you to anyone. I want to keep you all to myself, Elise. Shall we skip the banquet?”
Elise’s cheeks gradually reddened.
“Other people will keep looking at you. What should I do? I’m uneasy.”
After much hesitation, she grasped the tips of Karan’s fingers.
“You must not even glance at others. Understood, Elise?”
Karan spoke as if making a threat, but his voice was closer to a whine.
Embarrassed, Elise rolled her eyes upward. She wanted to cool her hot cheeks, but both her hands were now held by Karan, preventing her from fanning herself.
And she felt a little indignant.
When the usually wild Karan dressed up neatly, he exuded a strange sensuality.
‘I should be the one worried.’
The women of Bedrokka were known for their assertiveness.
Moreover, since the rumor spread about him conquering multiple gates, Karan’s popularity had increased considerably.
“I’m not sure who should be saying that.”
Elise whispered softly into Karan’s ear.
“Don’t you dare look at other women.”
Elise regretted her words as soon as she spoke them.
‘It sounds too possessive.’
However, Karan liked her words. So much that his heart was thrilled.
Thank youuu <3