TVWRL Chapter 35

TVWRL Chapter 35

His docile, lamb-like demeanor was a bit unfamiliar to me. However, this side of him was not bad at all. Adapting one’s demeanor is a crucial social skill.

I brought a tea set and brewed tea in front of him. We didn’t speak until I poured the second water after discarding the first.

It didn’t seem like he had come to give a negative answer. So I was able to treat him more calmly than last time.

Ilias drank the tea I handed him immediately. Although he could have been suspicious, it seemed like he wanted to show that he wasn’t. It was definitely a positive signal.

After emptying half of his teacup, he spoke with a cautious expression.

“I’d like to hear your plan.”

His monotone voice sounded like a song—one that allowed me to survive.

I didn’t hide my emotions and expressed my joy freely. Ilias seemed slightly flustered by my sincere reaction, as his eyes flickered.

My happiness took priority over his fluster.

I calmly explained the plan, which included a noisy romance, a contractual marriage, and even divorce.

Throughout my explanation, while my face was bright and happy, Ilias’s expression remained heavy and dark.

I began to worry that he might have changed his mind in the meantime.

Just as I was anxiously fidgeting with my feet under my dress, Ilias’s low voice echoed in my ear.

“You know that life for a divorced woman in the Empire isn’t easy, right?”

His expression was cautious and serious.

“Of course. I am fully prepared for it.”

“Divorcing the imperial family, no less.”

I met his gaze with equal seriousness. His golden eyes showed a trace of guilt.

“Since I made the choice, I naturally have to bear the consequences. Besides, I don’t plan to live in the capital forever. Once everything is settled, I plan to move to a quiet place and live quietly. My goal is to live happily doing what I want. Perhaps I’ll find a genuine connection not bound by contract then. So you don’t need to worry about my life after the divorce.”

Ilias’s expression was heavy, perhaps due to the idea of turning a perfectly fine person into a divorced woman.

Though he appeared indifferent on the surface, Ilias was someone who felt and empathized with the pain of the weak. That was why he was fighting a desperate battle.

To save the Empire. He was truly someone who cared for and loved the Empire’s people, someone who deserved to sit on the throne.

The reason for suggesting a contractual marriage was not only for my survival but also because Ilias was someone I wanted to help.

“Your Highness, this is for me. Of course, it’s also for you. So it’s beneficial for both of us. And you can create a world where even a divorced person won’t suffer.”

When I smiled gently at him, his bright golden eyes stayed on me.

He was likely silently promising to create a world where even divorced individuals wouldn’t suffer.

“Your Highness, shall we work out the specific terms of the contract?”

“Sure.”

As Ilias leaned closer to the table, a fresh scent wafted through the air.

‘Is it because he has a straightforward heart? The scent is honest and straightforward too.’

I couldn’t help but smile slightly at how the scent resembled him.

I quickly refocused my thoughts on the contract.

“How about we date for about a hundred days before getting married?”

“I agree.”

“Although it might not be your ideal, you’ll need to become the ideal type for everyone. You’ll have to be seen as the ideal lover and husband by the public.”

“The ideal lover? The ideal husband?”

“You need to make every woman in the Empire want to have you as their lover.”

His expression showed immediate discomfort and awkwardness, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

To ease his discomfort, I explained simply.

“Think of it like being a war hero, but not in a battle of conflict—in a battle of love. You’ll become a hero in a different sense. I’ll explain this part in more detail later. For now, we need to make everyone love you.”

“Haah…”

He let out a deep sigh that seemed the heaviest in the world.

“I agree.”

His expression was as sad as a cow being led to the slaughterhouse, but his stoic endurance was quite endearing.

“The most important thing is our fateful first meeting. Let’s say it’s because the prince fell for me. How does that sound?”

“I… don’t agree with that.”

I looked at him with a bewildered expression and asked, “Why not?”

I couldn’t understand why he would suddenly object here after easily agreeing to much more significant matters. My tone turned unexpectedly aggressive.

“Isn’t it more fitting for you to fall for me? We need to plan in a way that convinces people, otherwise, it will be suspicious.”

‘What? Is he saying he thinks he’s better looking than me?’

Since coming here, I had never thought my appearance was inferior to anyone else’s. I had never felt overshadowed even in front of the handsome prince.

‘But now the man I’m discussing marriage with is indirectly saying my appearance is lacking compared to his.’

A sense of defeat and frustration enveloped me.

In the brief silence, neither of us spoke, and the air became cold.

Breaking the heavy silence, Ilias’s voice was heard.

“As you know, I’ve never attended banquets or parties with a partner. I’ve also turned down all dance invitations. There’s an unspoken rumor that I have the highest standards in the Empire. Isn’t it odd for me to fall for someone? Empress Sierra’s side might be suspicious.”

“So are you elegantly saying that I don’t measure up to your standards?”

“Hmmm… Not exactly. It’s just that the public’s perception is that way. We need a perfect plan. One that doesn’t raise suspicion from anyone. I’m talking about the probability of success.”

He coughed awkwardly but said what he needed to say.

Of course, I wasn’t entirely unaware of why Ilias felt this way.

‘Given his principled and slightly rigid nature, he must have calculated based on his principles. But really, does it matter who falls first?’

Even though I had these thoughts, a stubborn determination took over me.

I was strongly driven by the will to make sure that Ilias fell for me.

“This plan must have no gaps.”

“Prince.”

“……”

“You’ve never been in love, have you?”

Ilias gave me a puzzled look.

“Love is about falling entirely based on your own emotions, regardless of the standards set by others. Love transcends wealth, status, nationality, and even race. That’s what we’re diving into now.”

Ilias’s eyes seemed to shine even brighter.

“It’s essential for you to fall for me and pursue me passionately for our relationship to work. Even if I were to fall for you, our paths would still be far from crossing, and we wouldn’t naturally blend into each other’s lives.”

“Well… I see.”

“And the miracle of you, who has never wavered, falling in love and dating me! That’s the romance of the century. The process of turning my heart, which initially resisted due to our status difference, into one that embraces you would be like a drama.”

“You’re right. It seems better to follow your decision on this emotional aspect.”

Ilias placed his arms on the table, clasped his hands, and rested his chin on them. His gaze was fixed intently on me.

Though he spoke as if reciting lines, it felt like my heart was dropping and rolling on the floor.

With his perfect face marked by his mysterious golden eyes and his deep, smooth voice, I truly felt my heart flutter.

Just as I struggled to suppress my racing heart.

“Is this what you’re talking about?”

‘Of course.’

Feeling suddenly deflated, I quickly changed the subject.

“Yes, you’re doing very well. What should I call you?”

“You can call me As.”

“As?”

“It’s the name my mother used to call me.”

“Oh…!”

I felt the weight of the name.

While it was suitable for reducing doubts about our relationship, I couldn’t gauge how he felt about allowing me to use a name his mother called him.

But I could understand how desperate he must have been.

After making a few more adjustments, we agreed to meet again for our first date.

“I will prepare the contract with the finalized details.”

“Then let’s meet tomorrow. Lin.”

When he called me Lin, I felt too embarrassed to meet his gaze.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Ilias gently lifted my chin.

“Lovers should look into each other’s eyes, Lin.”

For that brief moment, everything—our skin touching, our eyes meeting, everything mixed with him—felt intensely warm.

“Next time, let’s be a bit closer, Lin.”

“Your Highness, why the formal speech?”

“As.”

“As, why the formal speech?”

“We’re now lovers, aren’t we? Lovers should be equal and respectful.”

After Ilias left, I slumped down where I stood.

“What’s this? How can someone who’s never been in love have such a firm stance on romance?”

I placed my hand on my flushed face and tried to calm my racing heart.

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

Our passionate relationship had a tight schedule due to a lack of time.

Our official first date took place at a park on the outskirts of the capital. As and I wore our hats low to cover our faces as much as possible.

We did this to avoid detection, yet we dressed in a way that drew ample attention with our extravagance.

We enjoyed a picnic in the park while Zion and a few knights provided security around us.

Although the Empire did not have cameras, there were magical tools for capturing moments. Tyler used one of these magical tools to take our pictures.

This part was very important. Instead of taking pictures openly, they had to give the impression of being taken secretly, like a paparazzi shot.

I explained the composition to Tyler, even drawing sketches at dawn, and he seemed to understand well, so there should be no issues.

Photos with this kind of feel were better at stimulating curiosity than openly taken ones.

‘Could it really be the Crown Prince and Adeline?’

Leaving room for speculation without providing a definitive answer ensured that the topic would remain constantly discussed.