Should I get married?
The morning at the Lake Palace Embassy was always quiet and peaceful.
Unlike usual, El heard laughter that could only be heard at a social gathering, so El came out and saw that the staff were talking to a maid in the embassy lobby.
“Anyway, Lady Loriel, isn’t life as a maid difficult?”
“What’s difficult? Miss Riella, she is so kind.”
“Thank god. We are truly grateful that Miss Loriel is taking such good care of our ambassador’s life.”
It was then that the maid, who was smiling nobly in front of the staff, made eye contact with El.
The maid slightly bent her knees to conclude the conversation with them and entered the office where El was standing.
“I’m here on an errand for Miss Riella, who asked me to deliver the work documents she checked yesterday to her aide.”
“Yes.”
“She also asked me to bring her something she needs to see today.”
“Please wait a moment.”
El picked up a few documents from his desk.
He’d packed all the work stuff, but he’d been thinking about including a few books for Riella to read.
“Isn’t it too much trouble to pack her work every time?”
When El turned around, the maid’s innocent eyes were wide open.
“That’s right. The office is just a few hallways across from the inner room of the Lake Palace. Why doesn’t Miss Riella come to work here and why does she work separately there?”
“I guess the Ambassador feels comfortable there.”
El deliberately answered more harshly and tried to dismiss the uncomfortable conversation.
But the maid was persistent. Is she naive or clueless?
“Well. Isn’t there a reason other than that?”
“……”
“I’m sure aide wants the ambassador to come to work, too. I mean, come to think of it, you two got along so well at first that you were together all day.”
“You have a lot of useless meddling.”
“Oh. Was I rude? Sorry. I can stop worrying about you two.”
The maid covered her mouth and laughed loudly.
El thought the figure looked somewhat familiar, but when he looked closely, it was a face he had seen before.
“You are the daughter of Count Igdnis.”
It was at that time that the corner of the maid’s eyes, who had been smiling leisurely, twitched.
“Do you know me?”
“I knew Count during my academy days. But I didn’t know that his daughter was the ambassador’s maid.”
“What’s wrong with the maid? My father is retired, and all I do is fulfill my family’s loyalty to the imperial family in my own way.”
The maid Loriel soon regained her grinning smile and asked.
“Isn’t it the same for the aide? It means being loyal to His Majesty.”
“Yes?”
“You’re so famous. I know that you received many good job offers after graduating from the Academy.
Nevertheless, I thought that the reason you rejected everything and eventually came as Riella’s aide was that you were faithfully responding to His Majesty’s call?”
Loriel laughed and stuck to her words without giving El time to respond. Once again, she seems naive and oblivious.
“There’s no other reason than that, right? There’s something to see at the embassy, and all we have is a lake and Miss Riella, and you’re not really here for that, are you?”
El was unable to respond to the words that seemed to catch him off guard.
After Loriel left, he was stunned for a moment.
‘I know. I wonder why I’m still here.’
To fulfill the orders of his superiors to find the saint, to obey the Emperor’s orders to not speak to his superiors, and to take care of his chores. Or maybe he just wants to keep an eye on her, Riella Blinite.
Time was passing by helplessly. Now he had to give an answer.
* * *
At that time, in the main palace, Herhan’s inner room, heated discussions were continuing today.
Of course, the two sides, who stuck to a tense position, were Asion and Jess.
“Let’s just confess the truth. Miss Riella will understand everything. We will say that without her, his Majesty would die. Would she even leave? She is loyal.”
“No. Your majesty. Is there anything more pathetic than clinging to love, friendship, loyalty, or anything like that? Do as I say and write the contract right now before Miss Riella changes her mind.”
“Are things like contracts important now? A bond of hearts stronger than that! Trust and stability! That’s the key.”
“If you believe in that shit and lose the Saint, I can’t really heal his Majesty. If he is immune to purification, he won’t take medicine!”
Herhan’s head felt like it was going to explode.
Between the two people’s argument that had been going on since dawn, the only thing Herhan said was ‘Both of you shut up’ or ‘Both of you get out’.
Of course, the two did not even pretend to listen to Herhan’s command.
‘Just leaving Riella alone all day yesterday made me so nervous that I would go crazy.’
That was why Herhan sat so lost that he didn’t even have the strength to yell at Jess and Asion.
In fact, even now, all that was on Herhan’s mind was, ‘Should I go see Riella right now?’
“Your majesty. Think of all the rumors that started circulating just because she rested for 10 days. Didn’t you have a hard time explaining the ridiculous rumors of her resignation and disappearance during yesterday’s cabinet meeting? Are you going to do the same thing again?”
At that time, Jess grabbed Herhan’s arm and clung desperately to him, and said ‘please.’
‘It was so funny. Everyone was in an uproar, wondering if the emperor, who had not yet married, was planning to have an illegitimate child…’
“Wait. marriage?”
“yes?”
“yes?”
At that time, Jess and Asion simultaneously looked dumbfounded at Herhan’s mutterings to himself that came out of nowhere.
Herhan lifted his body from the chair and spoke with a very serious expression.
“Shall I get married?”
Asion opened his mouth wide. Jess lifted his ear as if he heard something he couldn’t hear.
“Come to think of it, I can get married now.”
A very large exclamation point appeared in Herhan’s mind.
‘Why didn’t I think of that until now?’
“Your Majesty. Calm down first….”
“That’s right. That is easier said than done.”
“It’s nothing difficult. Answer me. This faith and bonding you speak of, this authoritative contract. Isn’t that a way to have both at the same time?”
Herhan hit the nail on the head once again.
“We can make Riella the empress.”
At a time when both Asion and Jess were too dumbfounded to respond, the guard of the inner room stepped in.
“Your majesty. There Is someone who requests a brief audience with you.”
“Is it Riella?!”
“Oh, no.”
Herhan, who had jumped up in anticipation of something unexpected, immediately sat back down with a look of loss on his face.
“Then get her out.”
“Ha, but—”
“I’m busy now.”
“Yes. Alright.”
Herhan turned his gaze back to the table.
From now on, he had to actively plan a constructive future with Riella.
* * *
“What? Really? You really got rejected again?”
Inside the Lake Palace bedroom, Riella’s shocked cry rang out.
Riella looked like she was about to burst into tears from the overwhelming disappointment. Lou couldn’t even properly raise her head in front of Riella.
“Why…?”
“I don’t know either. I was planning to ask His Majesty to have a meal with you, as Miss Riella told me to do.…”
“And?”
“I was kicked out at the door again without being able to see His Majesty’s face. I didn’t hear the reason. He just told me to go back.”
Another sob escaped Riella’s lips.
Once last night, she’d thought it was a one-time thing, but not now.
Twice in a row. And to be kicked out at the door without even seeing his face.
‘I even thought it would have been rude to come to him unannounced last night, so I sent Lou in advance this time.’
‘I was trying to be polite and make an appointment for a meal with him in advance, but I was ignored.…’
“Does he have a busy schedule?”
“I don’t think so. I asked the guard and he said that His Majesty has been resting in the inner room since yesterday evening.”
‘Then what is it? Did I really do something wrong? Does he hate me?’
She didn’t understand how she could be so agitated when she hadn’t even seen him for half a day.
She wanted to be a wise and dignified person, but for some reason, that was impossible in front of the emperor.
She starts whining without even realizing it. She wanted confirmation.
“I can’t do this. I’ll go myself.”
Eventually, Riella stood up.
“Miss Riella….”
“If he is going to reject me again, I need to see him face to face and hear his reason.”
Riella headed to the main palace.
She ran forward, ignoring the greetings of people she met along the way. This was almost the first time she had crossed the imperial palace at such a hurried pace.
She finally arrived in front of the emperor’s inner room.
Unlike yesterday, the guard obediently let Riella inside.
He opened the door because he knew that Herhan was waiting for Riella, but of course, Riella did not know that fact. All she could think about was how pitiful she must have been when she came back again after being rejected.
‘You’re in the office.’
Riella stretched out her feet towards the place where the emperor’s voice could be heard.
At that moment, Herhan’s angry voice was heard through the crack in the office door.
“Stop talking about Riella, I don’t want to hear anymore.”
Riella froze like a statue in the same position she was reaching for the door handle.
Then, she was so pale that she couldn’t say or do anything.
Lou started shaking her feet, not knowing what to do. Just as she was trying to comfort Riella that she must have heard something wrong.
“I’m so sick of it.”
Inside the office, Herhan once again became irritated in a clearer and clearer voice.
“Lou…do you hear that…Huh? Now His Majesty…He said he was sick of me…”
“Oh, no. Miss Riella. I don’t think that’s what he meant.”
“He was sick of me.… Because he was sick of me…That’s why his Majesty has been avoiding me since yesterday.…”
“Miss Riella.”
Lou called out desperately, but Riella’s ears didn’t seem to hear any sound.
Riella just slowly backed away, shaking off Lou’s arm, and eventually turned around and ran outside.
“Ri, Riella! Miss Riella!”
Herhan, who was in the office, came out immediately at Lou’s shout.
“Lou? Why are you here?”
“Ah, Your Majesty…!”
“What are you doing? Has Riella been here?”
Lou’s head felt like it was going to explode. She had to go after Riella right away, but she couldn’t leave the emperor, and even if she tried to explain, she didn’t know where to start and what to say.
* * *
