“Still, since you were born and raised in Mulkybel, you probably like the food of your country more.”
Ethan said quietly as he cut the steak.
Then Luheit shook his head.
“No. Ubera’s food is truly amazing and suits my taste. Maybe it’s because it was specially prepared by Her Majesty the Emperor.”
“Then ask the chef to give the recipe to your chef.”
“Hahah, will it still taste as good as what Ubera does? It’s not like we can easily get Ubera’s ingredients in Mulkybel.”
At Ethan’s words, Luheit was taken aback like a snarky snake.
At that time, Dorothea, who had been listening quietly, parted her lips, welcoming Luheit’s words.
“In that case, it would be nice to make it possible to easily obtain Ubera’s agricultural products in Mulkybel, and conversely, it would be nice to make it easy to obtain Mulkybel’s agricultural products in Ubera as well.”
Otherwise, they were trying to discuss trade agreements related to agricultural products.
Dorothea thought that Luheit was very favorable to the trade agreement.
While she was feeling fortunate, Ethan looked at Luheit and smiled.
“It seems that our Majesty only thinks about the country.”
Then Luheit’s mouth, which had been smiling all along, became stiff.
* * *
At the banquet that followed the dinner, envoys from Mulkybel and nobles of the empire gathered to talk and have fun.
Ethan stayed by Dorothea’s side and kept an eye on Luheit, who was talking with the Ubera nobles.
“The Prince of Mulkybel is so handsome.”
“Look at that sharp nose… I’ve never seen anyone so handsome after Duke Bronte!”
“There was a saying like that when I was attending Episteme. There was a really beautiful man among the princes of Mulkybel. I guess that was him?”
The voices of the ladies flowed into the ears of Ethan, who was quietly holding a glass of champagne.
The young ladies attending the banquet were whispering while looking at Prince Mulkybel.
‘Yeah. It’s a look worth looking at.’
His clear features and eye-catching red hair were gorgeous enough to attract people’s attention wherever he went.
Most of the ladies showed interest in his appearance, and some even actively approached him.
The most important thing is that Dorothea’s eyes are also on him.
As Ethan gently grabbed her hand and pulled her, Dorothea’s gaze, which had been directed at Luheit, returned to him.
“Ethan?”
“Aren’t you tired, Your Majesty?”
Ethan asked her in a flirtatious manner.
It would be so cheesy to tell her that he is jealous of her gaze.
“I am okay. Aren’t you tired?”
“I have no time to feel tired as I am by your Majesty’s side.”
When he secretly touched Dorothea’s hand with his long fingers, Dorothea laughed.
“I also feel relieved and comfortable with you by my side.”
With just one word from her, all the unpleasant feelings about Luheit melted away like snow.
At that time, Luheit, who had been talking with other ladies, exchanged a few words with his attendant and then approached Dorothea and Ethan.
Ethan and Dorothea quietly let go of their hands and stood politely.
“Your Majesty Emperor Dorothea Milanaire.”
Luheit called Dorothea’s name with a gentle smile on his face.
Ethan didn’t think it was very pleasant to hear Dorothea’s name in his voice.
Dorothea gestured for him to speak. Luheit cautiously opened his mouth.
“Actually, I have a gift prepared for you, Your Majesty.”
“A gift? If it was a gift, didn’t I already receive it this morning?”
Dorothea asked with puzzled eyes.
When the delegation arrived in the morning, they were presented with special products and precious crafts only found in Mulkybel.
“It’s a gift prepared separately from that.”
“Oh no, I haven’t prepared anything.…”
“This is a gift for my personal pleasure. Would you please accept it?”
With that, Luheit had a servant come in with a gift.
A servant brought a red box decorated with exotic patterns.
Luheit opened the box himself and showed it to Dorothea.
Inside the box was something that looked like a rolled-up cloth.
“What is this?”
“It’s the World Tree Tapestry. In Mulkybel, it symbolizes harmony and prosperity.”
Luheit unfolded the rolled-up tapestry and showed it to Dorothea.
The tapestry was incredibly colorful and tightly woven.
The golden border had flower and vine patterns, and in the center was a large tree spreading out its branches.
There were red fruits on the tree, and two birds were sitting on it.
“It’s really beautiful.”
Dorothea admired the delicate fabric. It was a quality work that was difficult to find in Ubera.
“Mulkybel’s tapestries are considered the best in the world.”
“It certainly seems like that.”
Dorothea seemed to really like Luheit’s gift and happily accepted it.
Ethan, however, invisibly bit his lip. Because…
“I heard that in Mulkybel, a tapestry with a world tree drawn on it is given to suitors before marriage.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs spoke in a somewhat incomprehensible tone.
The Mulkybel delegation also noticed Luheit’s gift, making eye contact with each other.
The World Tree is a symbol of unity and prosperity.
For that reason, in Mulkybel, it was customarily used as a symbol of uniting families and creating a happy family.
Furthermore, according to Mulkybel tradition, putting a gift in a red box is something only a lover would do.
“You’re right.”
Luheit seemed not even trying to hide his true feelings and just smiled brightly at Dorothea.
Then the Minister of Foreign Affairs was confused and could not continue speaking.
However, the mood of the Mulkybel envoys was different.
It seemed like they knew something.
‘How much did he expect from the moment he arrived?’
The marriage with Dorothea and the political stability that comes from it.
Judging by the mood of the Mulkybel people, it seems that there was a discussion in advance among them.
To be more specific, they were probably trying to observe Luheit’s choice.
If Luheit had not wanted to marry Dorothea after seeing her, he would have taken the tapestry back to Mulkybel without gifting her.
On the other hand, if he liked Dorothea, he would give her that gift.
‘I already understand everything.’
Ethan was clearly excited by their shallow plan.
‘Marriage without consulting her? How dare he think of marrying Dorothea?’
Ethan was about to speak when the impatient man spoke up.
“It contains the intention of the Mulkybel royal family to achieve harmony and prosperity and interact with Ubera like one family.”
Dorothea smiled and nodded.
“I also hope that you will feel at home in Ubera, like family.”
Dorothea’s words relieved the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
Due to Dorothea’s answer, Luheit’s gift became not a courtship gift but a gift for the unity of the two countries.
In other words, Mulkybel is now courting Ubera, and Ubera is courting Mulkybel.
Dorothea, as emperor, accepted the small nation’s affection.
The foreign minister smiled and nodded at the wise answer.
Luheit was somewhat unsatisfied with her answer. But no matter what Dorothea said, his courtship gift was still acceptable to her.
Luheit happily presented the box to Dorothea.
Ethan wanted to tell him to take the gift back, but this was a place for diplomacy. His personal feelings shouldn’t be allowed to interfere with state business.
As Dorothea had said, and as Dorothea had hoped, he was not the same as he had been before his return.
* * *
Late at night after dinner.
“I’m so glad that Prince Luheit came as the head of the delegation.”
Dorothea said, pushing her loose hair behind her back.
“I was worried about what would happen if Prince Kishir came. Prince Luheit seems very friendly to us.”
Dorothea remembered Luheit, with whom she had the easy conversation.
When she heard that Mulkybel’s delegation was coming, what she was most worried about was the composition of the delegation.
Mulkybel was divided into pro-imperial and anti-imperial factions.
The anti-imperial faction was led by Prince Kishir, the First Prince.
The pro-imperial faction was led by the Second Prince Kerbon and the Third Prince Luheit.
Dorothea was very worried about which prince the King of Mulkybel would send on this mission.
“The fact that King Mulkybel sent Prince Luheit probably means that he wants to establish friendly relations with us.”
Dorothea muttered that she needed to talk to Luheit and find out more about the situation in Mulkybel.
Ethan quietly looked at Dorothea wearing a white negligee.
As she said, Luheit’s visit is a welcome event. but…
“Your majesty.”
Dorothea turned her head at Ethan’s call. At the same time, Ethan’s sweet scent came upon her.
“Ethan?”
Dorothea was surprised by Ethan’s hand wrapping around her waist and looked into his eyes.
Then Ethan’s other hand slipped between her fingers and held her close.
Somehow, his temperature was different than usual.
* * *
Thank youuuu!!! I’m in love! 💘💝❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥 I don’t want it to ever end 😭