TVWRL Chapter 33
In the original story, a man approaches Ilias’s table, deliberately drops a glass, and picks a fight, which leads to the confrontation.
Ilias, after causing unnecessary harm to bystanders while fighting inside the tavern, deliberately flees outside. He overcomes numerical disadvantage with his exceptional skills but suffers severe injuries from a black magic attack. He does not die, though.
After much thought, I reached a conclusion. I didn’t want the man I was going to marry to get hurt.
‘I will protect my man.’
Since staying here would be of no help, I decided to prepare for the next steps and went outside.
I needed to change Ilias’s escape route to ensure he would not get injured.
I removed my mask at a distance from the tavern and waited for him.
As I was organizing my thoughts, a commotion began inside the tavern.
Nobles stumbled out of the tavern in panic. The screams of those who could not escape were endless.
As I expected, Ilias burst out of the tavern.
Ilias, fleeing from the tavern, ran towards me. We crossed paths at a fork in the road.
“Your Highness, this way.”
Ilias, who had been heading left, looked at me with a startled expression.
He approached me with a menacing look, as if ready to strike with his knife, but I did not flinch.
At that moment, the footsteps of those chasing him grew closer.
I pulled him closer and removed his mask. Now, nothing stood between us. We were so close that our breaths mingled.
I could sense the group aiming to kill Ilias approaching our direction.
Using the self-defense skills I learned during my time as a saint, I cornered Ilias against the wall.
The way I pinned him against the wall, his clothes were almost completely hidden by my luxurious dress.
The only exposed part was his handsome face.
I grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his face down to mine, covering his face with mine as if we were kissing.
“What are you doing?”
“Shh.”
The footsteps that had stopped behind us started moving quickly again.
“Don’t be foolish.”
I could feel Ilias’s dagger at my side. I didn’t know when he had aimed it.
‘I knew he had a meticulous personality, but I didn’t expect it to be this intense. I like it even more. My (prospective contractual) husband. With this level of skill, he might be able to handle the fight with the temple. He’s unlikely to die easily.’
After the surroundings quieted down, I smiled sweetly and said, “Your Highness, will you marry me?”
It was a proposal that was literally sweet yet deadly, with a sword rather than flowers between us.
Ilias looked at me with an expression of utter disbelief, as if he found it utterly absurd. In contrast, I continued the conversation cheerfully.
“First, let’s put this aside and discuss things calmly. Even without this, I’m sure you could subdue me with your bare hands.”
While a proposal should be accompanied by something shining, it’s typically a gem, not a well-polished sword.
I maintained my smile, fitting for someone making a proposal.
Meanwhile, Ilias quickly turned his body and trapped me against the wall.
I found myself ensnared in his embrace.
Ilias wasn’t just handsome; he was also tall and broad-shouldered. With this level of sturdiness, I had no doubt he could protect me.
“Don’t be foolish. I could eliminate someone like you right here.”
“Why would I be foolish? It’s your Highness who holds the sword, is stronger than me, and excels in martial prowess. I just want to have a conversation. Quietly and discreetly. You wouldn’t be afraid of talking to someone as weak as me. After all, you know who I am.”
“Have we ever had anything to talk about?”
“Yes, of course. I just proposed, and Your Highness has been proposed to. Although we had no contact until now, things will be different from now on. I understand that you might not trust me yet. I won’t set a time; please come to my house whenever you wish. The location is known to Lord Zion.”
I took the hem of my dress with both hands and curtsied.
“Well then, I’ll be waiting.”
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Upon returning to the imperial palace, Ilias was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions.
Empress Sierra, who had been quiet for the past few years, had started to move again.
“It’s probably because Aiden’s coming of age is approaching.”
For years, he had kept a low profile, living as a nuisance who drained the treasury and had no presence, merely surviving as a non-entity.
But it seemed that time had come to an end.
Given Aiden’s age, maintaining peace with Empress Sierra was clearly becoming untenable.
If Empress Sierra decided to kill Ilias due to the principle of primogeniture, there was no way for him to survive in the palace. Unless he fled far to another country, his death was inevitable.
Of course, he wasn’t so weak as to fall victim to Empress Sierra’s schemes.
Although he had lived like an incapacitated person to avoid the principle of primogeniture, it seemed Empress Sierra had no intention of sparing him. It was clear she had chosen to deal with him decisively.
Even if he couldn’t secure the position of Crown Prince immediately, as long as he survived, there was still hope. But it was clear that Empress Sierra was not someone to be underestimated.
Ilias was troubled.
Amidst his complex thoughts, the absurdity of the proposal he had received became more apparent.
He vividly remembered the voice that spoke with such a serene expression.
It was so unexpected that he nearly dropped his sword.
He couldn’t understand why she had made such an abrupt proposal. Although he tried to ignore it, it kept coming back to him.
Of course, he already knew who she was.
‘But why a marriage proposal all of a sudden? What was she thinking?’
Right now, what mattered was the confrontation with Empress Sierra, not Adeline’s proposal.
Ilias concluded that he would ignore her. Definitely!
‘Why am I here right now?’
Despite reaching that conclusion, exactly two days later, Ilias found himself at Adeline’s house.
The unexpected proposal kept bothering him, making him restless.
Reflecting on Adeline’s appearance in the slums and the astrologer’s house, he felt that there must have been a reason for it. So he wanted to find out why.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
Late at night, Ilias appeared before me without a sound. Fortunately, Sarah was on vacation and had been sent back to her hometown.
‘The door is over there, so where did he come in from? Your abilities are impressive. I’m even more interested in you.’
Although I was slightly surprised, I welcomed him calmly.
“Nice to see you again, Your Highness.”
Ilias sat on the sofa with a neutral expression. I maintained my composure and served him tea.
I took a sip from the cup first, since Ilias wasn’t reaching for his. Then I poured him another cup.
Only then did Ilias extend his hand to the cup. His large, long fingers elegantly wrapped around the teacup.
‘Is this what it means to have a royalty’s demeanor?’
Every action of his had an air of refinement.
His movements were like a work of art. It was the first time I realized that a man could be so graceful. I admired the prince’s dignity.
“Thank you for coming and not dismissing my proposal as a joke.”
His shining golden eyes fixed on me.
“Let’s hear the reason.”
“Yes. Actually, I…”
“No need for an introduction. Get to the point.”
Accustomed to the noble culture of speaking in circles, I was prepared to approach the subject indirectly. However, I also appreciated Ilias’s firm and straightforward nature. It only raised the score for my prospective fiancé.
“Just as you have a goal to ascend to the throne, I have my own objective.”
At the mention of the throne, a chill ran down Ilias’s face, and his sharp eyes narrowed at me.
But I continued, pretending not to notice.
“I want to live outside the church. As of now, the only way for me to avoid entering the church is through marriage.”
Ilias looked at me as if to say, “What does that have to do with me?”
“As you know, Your Highness, I am a commoner. If I were to marry a powerless commoner and my husband died for reasons unknown, I would surely become a target for the church again. But if I were under the protection of the royal family, the situation would be different.”
A bitter emotion crossed Ilias’s face.
“If that’s the case, you’ve miscalculated. It seems that I am the most dangerous marriage partner for you in the empire. As you probably know, I am exposed to death threats daily.”
“I can protect you, Your Highness.”
Ilias’s gaze was even more incredulous than when he received my initial proposal.
“You can use my popularity to your advantage, Your Highness. Become the most famous person in the empire, someone who everyone loves and can’t touch. Just by showing your face, you’ll be safe.”
Though Ilias was receiving sympathy, his lack of presence meant that no one would mourn him if he were to die.
Ilias further concealed his face with his reckless behavior.
Ilias had been hiding his face while living a life of debauchery, but it wasn’t because he wanted to.
“And marrying me doesn’t just mean having me. You also gain my people. Many of the neutral nobles are my friends. As my spouse, you’ll be able to interact with them naturally.”
Although there was no visible change, it didn’t seem like Ilias was dismissing what I was saying. His expression was serious.
“Moreover, I am a commoner. Neither the Empress Sierra, the church, nor even His Majesty would expect a commoner like me to become empress. Marrying me might even be seen as a sign that you are relinquishing the throne. But would commoners think the same way? They would support you even more because of me. They would see you as the prince who loved regardless of status. They would look forward to an empress of commoner origins.”
I decided to make a final push.
“If you win the war against Empress Sierra, I will divorce you. I will step back so that you can become a flawless emperor. I will do it in a way that does not harm you. All of this will be detailed in a contract. Will you marry me in a contractual marriage, Your Highness?”
Thus, I made my second proposal to Ilias.
