Episode 42

The two children, who shared similar views on marriage, had devised a plan during their recent vacation together.

Melbrid promised to prevent his brother from harming Sione and Lothania, and Lothania agreed to remove the snake’s mark if he ever awakened.

This way, even without a marriage between Sione and Lian, the Luminal royal family and the House of Zernia could still ally. The only thing left to discuss was how to persuade Sione and Lian.

Melbrid looked at Lothania with sad eyes, knowing she might become his brother’s wife’s daughter. Lothania, pursing her lips, glanced at Melbrid, who might become her stepmother’s brother-in-law, and clenched her fists.

“There might still be a way!”

“What way?”

“Mother just needs to like someone else.”

That was it. Sione had three potential suitors.

Though not as handsome as Lian, the remaining two were still decent options.

Melbrid, looking bewildered, asked.

“Who else…?”

“The Duke of Kidmillan is out. Anna said he tried to do something terrible to Mother in Lingrove.”

“Then, the Duke of Tilender?”

Lothania thought of Aiden’s fierce eyes and sighed deeply but realized she had no other choice.

Aiden had already made an agreement with Sione.

Since she promised to remove his mark, Aiden wouldn’t try to kill her even if he became Emperor.

Moreover, Aiden was the one who saved her mother from the assassin’s attack. There was no better person to protect her.

Having made up her mind, Lothania nodded.

“Yes, we need to think about how to make Duke Tilender appeal to Mother.”

If Sione married Aiden, Lothania and Melbrid wouldn’t end up as uncle and niece.

Melbrid’s face brightened but then suddenly turned into a frown.

“Then my brother would be rejected?”

Lothania scratched her cheek with her finger and avoided Melbrid’s gaze.

“It’s up to Mother who she chooses, so we can’t be sure.”

“It’s probably his first love…”

Hearing Melbrid’s murmuring concern for his brother, Lothania jumped up from her seat.

“What about you?”

“What?”

“Fool Mel! Go away!”

“Your Highness, Crown Princess?”

“Hmph!”

As Lothania stormed off in a huff, Melbrid followed her with a confused look on his face.

Watching them from behind a nearby tree, Anna clicked her tongue in the shadow of the tree.

* * *

As time passed, August 25th, the Day of the Dog, arrived.

Lothania and Anna appeared before Aiden, who was waiting outside the secondary palace for Sione.

Aiden frowned with a grumpy expression, and Lothania sighed as she looked up at him.

“Duke Tilender, don’t you have any clothes other than black? Your dark impression looks even more menacing.”

“Why are you picking a fight all of a sudden, Your Highness?”

“You need to look good for my mother. How do you expect to impress her with that face and attitude?”

At Lothania’s signal, Anna handed a box to Aiden.

Aiden threatened with his eyes that if it contained another bright pink shirt, he’d kill someone, but Anna, who was being demure in front of Lothania, simply averted her gaze coquettishly.

Opening the box with a reluctant face, Aiden found clothes inside.

It was a gray jacket and a light pink shirt. It wasn’t the unbearable bright pink from before, but he was still not thrilled.

Anna handed him an envelope as he glared at the clothes.

“And what’s this?”

“An invitation to a concert at Marina Park. You should take Mother there.”

“A concert?”

“Mother loves music.”

It was something Nerian had discovered while preparing to welcome the new Empress.

Remembering his father suggesting they attend a concert together made him feel melancholic, but now he needed to use every means available.

Aiden, not understanding why Lothania was trying so hard, asked cautiously.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Do you want to marry my mother or not?”

Lothania asked impatiently, and Aiden froze, holding the box of clothes and the concert invitation.

Marriage. Yes, it had all started because he wanted to marry Sione.

That was just a few months ago, but it felt like ages.

So much had changed between him and Sione in that time.

For a long time, he had yearned to be human. Sione had told him he was human.

Ironically, after that, he wanted to be her dog. If he could live as Sione’s dog, there was nothing he wouldn’t do.

So he had forgotten about marriage, thinking it was too much to hope for.

While he was frozen, Lothania shot him an exasperated look and asked sharply.

“Are you okay with Mother marrying someone else?”

Aiden’s brow moved ever so slightly.

It was a small reaction, but Lothania, who had been watching him with disdain, unconsciously took a step back, and Anna subtly stepped in front of Aiden’s line of sight.

Hiding Lothania behind her, Anna scolded Aiden with her eyes, but Aiden, unaware of the murderous look in his eyes, answered slowly, taking a deep breath.

“I think I misunderstood.”

Sione had no intention of choosing any of the three beasts.

Marriage was just a bait to buy time, and her only wish was for her stepdaughter Lothania’s safe ascension to the throne.

That was the current situation. But what about in the future?

At twelve years old, Lothania might awaken today, and Sione had just turned twenty.

No man could resist Sione, and she could marry anyone she wanted.

It meant now wasn’t the time to be idly thinking like a dog.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

Aiden’s sudden expression of gratitude after his murderous gaze left Lothania deep in thought.

Could a man like this really capture Mother’s heart?

No matter how much she thought about it, she felt she had misunderstood.

Lothania sighed and turned away, while Aiden, having changed into the new clothes, stood in front of the secondary palace again.

When Sione arrived and Aiden kissed the back of her hand, her keen eyes noticed his different attire and she complimented him.

“Aiden, you look bright today.”

“Do you like it?”

Aiden asked playfully, still holding Sione’s hand.

Sione burst into laughter and nodded.

“Yes, it looks good.”

Holding Aiden’s hand as he smiled shyly, they moved to a separate building, where he handed her the concert invitation.

It was an invitation to a famous summer outdoor concert held in Belpator’s park that evening.

Usually, her time with the beasts ended before dinner, but the idea of a concert after a long time was appealing.

After lunch and some time to rest, it would be nice to have an early dinner and then go out to the concert.

Smiling, I asked the eager dog a question.

“Did you dress up for the concert?”

“I borrowed these clothes because I wanted to look good for Your Majesty.”

“Borrowed? These aren’t your clothes?”

Aiden looked down at his pink shirt and nodded awkwardly.

I had thought he wore pink because it suited him well, but that wasn’t the case?

No, more importantly, he had borrowed the clothes? The Duke of Tilender?

Why? Surely it wasn’t because he couldn’t afford new clothes.

…Does he really eat gold and have no money?

Remembering the strange rumors Tito had mentioned, I asked cautiously, feeling confused.

“Aiden, do you not have any clothes?”

Aiden looked at his shirt again and nodded.

I recalled Aiden’s usual black attire.

He couldn’t actually be eating gold, but it seemed possible that even a Duke could be without money.

When Aiden became Duke of Tilender, they said he was on the brink of bankruptcy. Perhaps his father left debts.

And he only had four servants at his mansion.

If it was all because of money…

Feeling sympathetic towards the pitiful imperial dog, I suggested brightly.

“Shall we go buy some clothes?”

“What?”

“We have nothing to do until the concert. Since you want to look good for me, I’ll buy you some nice clothes.”

The empress’s private funds, saved up with nowhere to use them, had grown considerably.

I generously offered, and Aiden responded with a faint smile.

“Whatever Your Majesty wishes, I am happy to oblige.”

“Great, let’s have lunch and then go. There should be a boutique on Vister Street that has clothes that suit you.”

Though I had only heard about Vister Street, known for its expensive shops, this was my first time visiting.

The Empress’s dresses were always custom-made by the royal designer or by inviting famous designers to the palace, so I had never been to a boutique.

It was the same back in Dirmil.

Perhaps because of that, I was excited about buying clothes for Aiden.