IFLDMHF | Chapter 88

Episode 88

The Emperor decided that when Kaiden returned this time, a more splendid victory celebration should be held than ever before.

No, he thought it might be even better to host a hunting competition and festival by distributing most of the war spoils.

Whether noble or commoner, personal matters were ultimately the most important to everyone.

“Since Evgenia has married, there will be no shortage of nobles foolishly aiming for the position of the Crown Prince’s father-in-law, thinking they might have a chance.”

This applied equally to the aristocrats who opposed the war and continuously raised objections.

While they kept silent for the moment, commoners would easily become intoxicated with the festive atmosphere, singing praises to the royal family as long as their bellies were slightly filled.

Naturally, the Emperor, anticipating Kaiden’s victory, stroked his chin while planning to shift the mood.

“Hmm, this time, perhaps even in the northern regions…”

It was at this moment, while he was deep in thought, that the chamberlain swiftly brought in paper and a quill.

The Emperor scribbled a message to Kaiden.

He deliberately avoided mentioning the situation in the empire or the unresolved issues in the north that he hadn’t shared in detail yet.

Still, he felt reluctant to send the letter as it was.

In fact, hadn’t he been greatly angered by Kaiden after hearing about Evgenia’s marriage last time?

Thinking back, the current northern issue might not have arisen if Kaiden had simply agreed to marry into the Basilian duchy without being so obstinate.

As such thoughts crossed his mind, anger surged within him.

Thus, the Emperor added a message, filled with his displeasure: “As you wished, Evgenia has married another, so stop hesitating and end this war as quickly as possible. Return without delay.”

Once he returned, the Emperor intended to ensure that Kaiden would marry the Basilian duke’s niece without any further objections, as promised.

This thought lifted the Emperor’s mood slightly, as did his vague expectation that Kaiden’s return might improve the frustrating situation.

As soon as the ink dried, the Emperor folded the letter carelessly and handed it over.

“Deliver this urgent message to the Crown Prince.”

A few days later, in the southern region of the Aruhin Kingdom.

Within a deep canyon that extended from a perilously steep cliff, the camp of the Elios Empire was established.

Kaiden, known as a war hero to the empire but feared as a bloodthirsty warmonger or the Red-haired Reaper to enemy nations, entered the commander’s tent.

He had freshly changed into clean attire, a stark contrast to the image of a ruthless warrior riding a black steed through the battlefield just moments before.

“Your Highness, the unit commanders will arrive soon for the strategy meeting.”

Kaiden nodded at his lieutenant’s words and inspected the map spread across the central table in the tent.

“Your Highness!”

The deputy commander of the Imperial Second Knights and leader of the Fourth Unit, Viscount Tria, rushed into the tent.

Under normal circumstances, it would be unthinkable for anyone to recklessly enter a space where the Crown Prince was present.

But this was a battlefield.

“Is it an ambush?”

The lieutenant’s voice carried disbelief, as if unable to accept that the position of the well-fortified base, painstakingly scouted for over a week, had been exposed.

Viscount Tria urgently shook his head.

“No, not at all! The enemy hasn’t attacked.”

“Then what brings you here in such haste?”

“Well…”

The lieutenant, who seemed ready to spring into action, relaxed and placed a hand on his chest, while Viscount Tria glanced at the Crown Prince hesitantly.

After a brief pause, he remembered the reason for his urgency and straightened his posture.

“I received a letter from my wife just now!”

Kaiden chuckled in disbelief.

“I knew you were devoted to your wife, but did you really come here to boast about it to your superior?”

“No, not at all! I wouldn’t do such a thing.”

“Then what? Did your wife finally send news of her pregnancy?”

Given how eagerly the Tria household awaited a child, Kaiden asked half-jokingly, half-seriously.

If the news were that significant, it wouldn’t have been surprising for Viscount Tria to react with such excitement.

“Ah… That would have been wonderful, but unfortunately, no. Instead, this is good news for Your Highness!”

“For me?”

Kaiden tilted his head slightly, unable to imagine how the wife of Viscount Tria, comfortably residing in the capital, could bring him good news.

As Kaiden’s confusion deepened, Viscount Tria grinned mischievously.

“Haha, it seems you have no idea! Well, I was just as shocked when I read the letter.”

“Stop teasing and get to the point.”

The lieutenant, standing nearby, urged him impatiently, and Viscount Tria laughed.

“All right. I was eager to share this, which is why I rushed here.”

Then, facing Kaiden directly, he said:

“The Basilian princess has gotten married, Your Highness!”

“…”

Silence filled the tent.

Huh? This wasn’t the reaction he had expected.

Viscount Tria tilted his head, puzzled.

Suddenly, Kaiden let out a faint, incredulous laugh.

It was clear he considered the news either a baseless rumor or a joke.

As Viscount Tria’s face flushed with frustration, the lieutenant cautiously asked:

“Did you say the Basilian princess has married?”

“Yes, exactly!”

“Are you referring to the newly adopted niece of the Basilian duke?”

At the mention of the duke’s recently recognized niece, Viscount Tria scoffed.

“You must be joking. Would I rush here to report something like that to His Highness? I’m talking about Lady Evgenia! It seems she got married shortly after our deployment…”

“Silence.”

Kaiden’s sharp voice cut him off.

With a hardened expression, Kaiden glared coldly at Viscount Tria.

“How dare you spout such nonsense?”

“It’s not nonsense!”

Feeling as though even his wife’s credibility was being questioned, Viscount Tria grew indignant.

“My wife clearly wrote in her letter that Lady Evgenia has truly married. If you don’t believe me, summon the Basilian lord and confirm it…”

However, Viscount Tria couldn’t finish his sentence.

Not because he doubted his claim, but because the Crown Prince’s expression had turned so menacing that words failed him.

While Viscount Tria hesitated, Kaiden was still dismissing his words and the letter as absurd rumors.

“Evgenia, married? Impossible.”

From the moment he first met the bold and peculiar young Evgenia at the Imperial Palace, Kaiden could not imagine anyone else as his Crown Princess—or future Empress.

The reverse was true as well.

Evgenia marrying another man? It felt as if the natural order of the world had been overturned.

“It must be a misunderstanding.”

Yet, his heart pounded violently, and his throat tightened.

Closing and reopening his eyes made no difference.

Kaiden struggled to maintain his composure and spoke firmly:

“Evgenia would never abandon me. Her feelings wouldn’t waver so easily.”

Hearing this, Viscount Tria was left utterly bewildered.

What was this? Really, what was happening?

Certainly, many had doubted the news of the Basilian princess’s marriage at first…

But the Crown Prince’s unwavering belief in a woman’s devotion to him was too strong.

No, he looked like a man who was absolutely certain his lover wouldn’t betray him.