There was a smile on Khalid’s face as he returned to the castle. Seeing Derek’s embarrassed expression made me feel good because it felt like I had defeated him for no reason. Even though he said it was childish, he couldn’t help it. Because that was his honest heart.
‘The Marquis of Selon… … .’
He seemed to not want to get involved in the fight for the throne.
He had no intention of joining the Later Writers in the first place, and if he became the heir, he would inevitably get involved in the fight for the throne, which he hated so much, so from Derek’s point of view, he would not even want to think about the option of joining the Later Writers.
Khalid also did not feel the need to appease and appease people he disliked.
This is because trust is important.
‘Still, it is a great harvest to have continued my relationship with the Master of Runes.’
Derek made an excuse for Velia and said he would help.
Although he was displeased with the way he was leaving out, it was not a bad answer because it meant that when weighing the 1st and 2nd princes, the weight was slightly more tilted in this direction.
Of course, it wasn’t very pleasant to answer by mentioning Velia’s name.
“Whoa… … .”
Khalid crossed his arms and leaned back against his back.
I just remembered her name and it makes me miss her.
‘Severe condition.’
Why aren’t her symptoms getting worse?
But Khalid closed his eyes with a smile on his face.
He thought that as soon as he arrived at the castle, he would go straight to see Velia.
* * *
The library was Velia’s favorite place because it was quiet.
From a young age, she preferred to enjoy quiet time alone rather than making noise.
Today, she was reading a book in the library, avoiding the noisy atmosphere, when someone suddenly brought a chair in front of her and sat down, staring at her.
“Why do you look at it that way?”
“How did I look at you?”
Velia couldn’t bear to say that she was looking at herself with her face that was so adorable that she was dying, so she kept her mouth shut. She then turned her conversation to another topic.
“What happened when you came back?”
Khalid noticed that she was deliberately changing her words, but he responded to her Velia by matching her rhythm.
“what. “As expected.”
“is it so? “How was it when you met?”
As if she was curious, Velia’s body tilted slightly towards him. When he saw her earlier, she didn’t react much, but seeing Velia showing interest in another man like this, Khalid responded in a sullen voice.
“You seem to have a good head.”
“Ahaha. What is it? “You are saying the obvious.”
Derek runs an information guild.
My impression of meeting him like that is that he seems smart.
Velia said in a voice that still had a hint of laughter in it.
“He will hold our hands. “I plan to meet him soon and try to persuade him.”
“You don’t seem like someone who will listen just because you persuade them.”
“Uhm. Derek is a good guy, so he might listen if you persuade him earnestly, right?”
When Velia answered in a playful tone, Khalid’s eyebrows rose.
“Do you think he is a good person?”
“sure.”
“why?”
“I met you then and you left a good impression, right?”
Velia swallowed many stories that could not be told to him.
So I was just trying to pass it off as a joke, but Khalid suddenly asked.
“… … “Then what about me?”
“yes? Ahahaha.”
Velia burst out laughing at the unexpected question.
He would often act jealously at random moments like this.
“Velia. “Why aren’t you answering?”
“ha ha ha.”
“huh? What do I look like?”
I thought it was a little cute how he urged me to answer in a very serious tone. It was also fun to ask questions that didn’t suit him at all.
When I thought about it, he was like that the last time he kept bringing flowers.
Why does he always do such unexpected things?
“Well, you’re a good person too.”
As Velia suppressed her laughter and answered, Khalid’s expression became glum.
Velia, who had decided to stop teasing him after laughing so hard, opened her mouth seriously.
“There is a way to convince Derek. “I know that person’s weaknesses.”
“Are you going to threaten me with my weakness?”
At Khalid’s question, Velia burst into laughter again.
I’m not the type to laugh hard, but why do I keep laughing so much?
Velia kept finding his actions oddly cute.
“It’s a threat. “I just know what that person wants most right now, and I think I can solve it, so I’m asking for a favor.”
The words were spoken lightly, but in Velia’s plan, they were no different from confirmation. Derek would never be able to refuse her request.
In my previous life, Derek first treated me kindly and kindly. I remember feeling very grateful for Derek’s heart because there were few people who showed favor to me, who had been abandoned by the emperor.
Although it was difficult for him to be so calculating, in fact, this would be a miraculous gift for Derek as well, so Velia shamelessly decided to go out.
“Do you think the preparations for the engagement ceremony are going well?”
“I heard a representative from the empire is coming.”
“Who said you were coming?”
He wishes it was someone he knows.
He was certain that if he were the emperor, he would send someone who supported Raul.
Since the first prince is already here, and Raul lost face by being rejected by Velia, he will not create a situation that will further benefit Khalid.
“It’s the Marquis of Selon.”
“That’s quite a coincidence.”
When I changed the topic from talking about my son, the father appeared.
“I’m just here to cheer up Raul, so there’s no need to worry too much.”
Velia also agreed with that statement.
“More than that. “Have you tried on the clothes I sent you?”
It seemed like he was referring to the dress he would wear to the engagement party that he had sent recently.
He kept sending me various gifts. First a necklace, then shoes, bracelets, and even a dress. It seemed like he could sense his anticipation for the engagement ceremony, so he couldn’t bear to refuse.
“Yes, she was very pretty. But Khalid.”
Velia hesitated for a moment and then opened her mouth.
“It’s not often that the person getting married takes care of all the clothes themselves.”
“What does that matter?”
Velia was even more embarrassed by Khalid’s shameless answer.
“No, I mean… … . If you take care of even the smallest details, people will see… … .”
Velia tried hard to explain, but she stopped short when she met Khalid’s eyes looking at her as if he really meant it.
“no. thank you.”
Thinking that her embarrassing and shameful feelings were her own.
* * *
Three months have already passed since Khalid came to the Kingdom of Ronica.
It was a short period of time, but after receiving his proposal, many letters were exchanged and the wedding date was confirmed as next spring.
“Still, I’m glad that the engagement ceremony was held in Ronica Kingdom.”
Klose spoke very informally, lounging on the sofa.
“what. “You don’t want to come to the wedding?”
“Of course I should go.”
Unlike the affirmative words, the voice giving the answer was somewhat lacking in motivation.
Velia laughed out loud looking at Klose like that.
As she prepares for her engagement party, I think of her younger brother, who was always complaining about her, and I keep thinking that she is cute.
“You don’t want me to get married?”
“No.”
“I don’t think that’s a good thing?”
“Well, I’m just a little upset.”
Klose answered gracefully, imitating her mother.
But her posture was still stretched out on the sofa, and Velia burst out laughing.
“Boo!”
Klose puffed out her cheeks as she looked at her excited older sister, unaware of her own feelings.
“You’re not going to go to the empire right after the engagement ceremony, are you?”
The leaders of the Ingot Empire and the Kingdom of Ronica decided to share many things without focusing on any one side for the sake of an equal alliance.
Since Khalid, the person being married, was already here, the engagement ceremony was decided to be held briefly in the Kingdom of Ronica, and the wedding was later held in the Empire.
‘The wedding is next spring… … . ‘I don’t have as much time as I thought.’
Still, the emperor seemed to consider the alliance with the Kingdom of Ronica more important than expected.
‘Well, there is also a joint gold mine investigation…’ … Since the Kingdom of Ronica is solid, it would be much more beneficial for the Empire to keep it by its side.’
Velia judged the situation calmly.
Even in her previous life, she remembered that when she first came to the empire, she had been treated very well by the emperor.
‘It was also because it was Raul’s rain… … .’
It was clear that there was some calculation for the Kingdom of Ronica as well.
In the first place, if the Kingdom of Ronica had been a small country of little importance, the emperor would not have approved the marriage itself.
She ‘probably picked and picked to empower Raul and married him to the one who would be most helpful.’
Velia’s only worry was that she was marrying her son, whom the emperor did not spare.
I wondered if his treatment would change as a result, but his political attitude seemed to be neutral.
‘There is no need to waste your time in a useless place.’
If the emperor continues to have this attitude, he will not be greatly disadvantaged even if he arrives in the empire and lives as a princess. For now, the label of Princess of the Kingdom of Ronica would be more meaningful than the name of Prince Khalid’s wife.
This was much better than Velia receiving a lot of attention. Wouldn’t it be easier to do things if there were no restrictions on movement?
“… … I have a little more to prepare. “I guess I should go straight to the empire once that’s over.”
Klose sat up straight from his seat.
“You can just send her 2nd prince and her older sister can just stay here until she gets married next year.”
Klose became more and more saddened by her older sister who kept trying to leave as soon as possible, wondering if she was already going to the empire just because she was in such a hurry.
“How can you do that?”
Klose turned her head to see her older sister responding with a smile, unaware of her own feelings.
Then he brought his knees together and buried his face.
“… … “If she had known her sister would get married so soon, she would have said no to the second prince.”
“What?”
Velia let out a laugh.
“Why are you getting married so quickly?”
Klose grumbled to himself.
Velia was shocked.
“Klose. “Are you sure you know how old I am?”
“Sis.”
At times, I was worried that he seemed too adult, but now I see that he was still a child.
“Generally speaking, I tend to get married late.”
“Why are you late? “My uncle isn’t even married yet!”
Klose tripped over the Herald, who had been standing still for no reason.
“Your uncle will be getting married soon, right?”
“… … “You don’t know anything.”
Velia, who didn’t know Klose’s feelings, muttered with a sullen expression on her face, as if she was being mean.
Then she sighed heavily and asked.
“Rather, will the 1st Prince come to her engagement ceremony?”
Klose looked very curious.
In fact, it was the same situation as if Raul had been dumped by her Velia. Many other people also seemed very curious.
“well.”
Given his personality, it will definitely come, right?
On the outside, he will pretend to be a nice person and laugh as he congratulates his younger brother on his engagement. Then, they will grind their teeth behind the scenes and increase their anger towards Khalid.
“Now that I think about it, it’s funny that the 1st prince comes, but it’s also strange that she doesn’t come… … .”
“He’ll probably come.”
Because he is a person who considers his public image the most important.
‘Someday I will reveal that mask to everyone.’
Velia gritted her teeth.
