Chapter 110
Esh was witnessing a situation she could hardly believe. It was already absurd enough that those who roamed the snowy mountains freely had gotten lost in the palace, but now the prized only daughter of the Klagen chief had fallen for Pedro. And this happened even though she had bounced off him after a collision. Esh gauged the situation by looking at Princess Linda’s bright red forehead, wondering if something like this could even happen in reality.
Princess Linda didn’t seem to notice Esh’s arrival; she was still clutching Pedro’s hand tightly. Pedro, in turn, looked serious—so serious that his face seemed dark. Apparently, he thought his mind might be in trouble because the woman who had run into him had suddenly confessed her feelings.
Pedro raised the hand that hadn’t been grabbed by the princess and gently touched her bright red forehead, then his own. Suddenly, Princess Linda let out a high-pitched scream.
“Eek!”
Even Pedro, who wasn’t intimidated by monsters, flinched.
“You were worried about me, right? Because I hit my forehead! That’s it, isn’t it? That’s why you touched my forehead so kindly… Mona, see? He clearly has feelings for me too!”
Mona, the maid, stared silently at Princess Linda with a face that seemed to say, “Do you really think so?” Normally, she would have stopped her for touching the princess without permission, but she seemed too weak to even respond. Meanwhile, Pedro hesitated briefly before speaking with a heavy voice.
“Princess.”
“Eek!”
Princess Linda quickly blinked, holding both her hands to her cheeks.
“How can his voice be so amazing? Rough yet soft, and low and resonant! Truly magnificent!”
Pedro pressed his lips together tightly again, but his face grew even more serious. Edmund, standing nearby, grabbed Esh and urged her.
“Hurry and stop them, Your Grace.”
“What on earth is happening?”
Esh sighed and stepped between Pedro and Princess Linda.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
Startled by Esh’s sudden appearance, Princess Linda stepped back, suddenly wary—something she hadn’t shown even when looking at Pedro’s scarred face.
“Who are you?”
Mona whispered to Princess Linda in a small voice.
“Miss, this is Duke Valian.”
“Oh my, I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you right away. I’m Selena Linda of the Linda family.”
“I am Esh Valian of the Valian Duke family.”
Esh exchanged polite greetings with Princess Linda while gesturing lightly in the air. Edmund, waiting behind, quickly approached Pedro’s side.
“Edmund, take Pedro away for now.”
Esh thought it best to separate Pedro and Princess Linda to sort out the situation. Mona’s dark expression brightened immediately when Esh instructed her to take Pedro away. But Princess Linda cried out urgently as Pedro attempted to leave.
“No!”
At the desperate shout, both Pedro and Edmund froze in place.
“I haven’t heard your name yet!”
Then, as if realizing something, she covered her mouth with both hands.
“No, just now… Pedro…”
Esh made an “oops” face, and Princess Linda’s cheeks flushed once again.
“Is there really a man whose name fits his appearance so well?”
“Princess Linda, I think it’s best you calm down for now.”
Esh advised her to compose herself. At that moment, Princess Linda adored everything about Pedro—his appearance, every little action, even his name. Mona, despite her status as a maid, snapped at the princess.
“Miss! You must go to the palace physician! You’ve hurt your head! Otherwise, this behavior is impossible! There was a loud thud when you collided! I heard the sound of marble cracking!”
“Love comes suddenly, Mona.”
Mona was speechless, glancing at Duke Valian with a pleading look, silently begging him to intervene. But Esh was just as helpless. Meanwhile, Princess Linda, completely smitten, began questioning Esh about everything.
“Is Pedro your knight, Duke Valian?”
“…He is a knight, but more accurately, he is a snowy mountain scout.”
“Ah! A snowy mountain scout! You mean those who traverse the snow-laden peaks? I vaguely remember visiting Nostrie as a child, so I know well. Amazing. My heart has never raced this fast…”
Princess Linda murmured in admiration, then suddenly clutched her skirts and dashed past Duke Valian toward Pedro, who hadn’t yet returned. Edmund hesitated, unsure whether to stop the flushed little woman, but as she was a princess, he couldn’t act rashly.
Meanwhile, Princess Linda bypassed Edmund and closed in on Pedro. When he stepped back in surprise, she advanced three more steps.
“Miss!”
Mona screamed, but Princess Linda didn’t stop.
“Sir Pedro, I am Selena. As I said before, I fell for you at first sight. Please give me some of your time. Ah, would you dance with me…?”
Esh spoke, stopping Princess Linda in her tracks.
“Princess Linda. I heard you are already in discussions of marriage with Count Lezerus.”
“!”
“Continuing this will only tarnish your reputation, and Pedro will also suffer. Please stop.”
At the mention of Count Lezerus, the blush on Princess Linda’s cheeks faded, and the upward curve of her eyes drooped. Even tears began to form. Esh, who had intended only to stop her, not to make her cry, was slightly flustered.
“I don’t want to marry Count Lezerus.”
“Miss, please don’t say that. He was chosen by the Linda family.”
“Count Lezerus is arrogant and looks down on people. He’s just a man with a fancy exterior! I don’t want to marry him! Moreover…”
Princess Linda sniffled pitifully, trailing off. Despite tears welling up, she continued her courtship of Pedro.
“I like men full of wild charm.”
“Miss!”
Mona’s brief pity shattered at Princess Linda’s declaration.
“Massive frame. Rock-hard skin. Muscles with immense strength. Broad, firm chest. Rough, wild appearance! Sir Pedro, you are my ideal type!”
“Stop! Miss, please stop!”
Mona screamed until her voice became hoarse and metallic. Edmund, facing this total chaos, regretted his choice—he should have brought Princess Linda instead of Esh. At that moment, Pedro spoke again.
“Princess Linda.”
“Don’t call me so formally. Call me Selena.”
“Sorry.”
Pedro’s words were a refusal.
“I already have someone in my heart.”
“What?”
“What did you say?”
The unexpected answer stunned not only Princess Linda but also Esh and Edmund. Edmund grabbed Pedro’s shoulder, questioning him.
“Pedro, you have someone you like? Since when? Who?!”
Pedro ignored Edmund’s barrage and continued.
“So I cannot accept Princess Linda’s feelings. I hope you meet someone better and live a long and happy life.”
It was a clear rejection. By saying he already liked someone, it was easier to make Princess Linda give up than citing social status. She seemed genuinely shocked, a shadow falling over her face as she looked at Pedro.
She lowered her head slightly, looking a little sad. After a pause, she spoke in a soft voice, tinged with moisture.
“Did you confess to that person? Were you already dating?”
“Not yet…”
“Not yet?”
Pedro’s denial made Princess Linda raise her head sharply. Mona, seeing this, shook her head violently at Pedro, silently urging, Say you confessed! Say you’re dating!
But her desperate signals didn’t reach him. Princess Linda spoke first, in a relieved tone, delivering a bombshell.
“Then it’s fine!”
“Huh?”
“I’m certainly much better than that person! So please, hold off on confessing for now, and meet with me first!”
Mona pressed her hand to her forehead, staggering. Esh did the same, though without staggering. Edmund had long given up. Princess Linda alone smiled sweetly, whispering to Pedro.
“Sir Pedro, you will surely fall in love with me.”
Silbert, now dressed in white formal attire, returned to the grand hall. The first people he sought were his close friends, Marquis Blanche and Aria. The Marquis occupied one of the balcony seats on the second floor, watching Aria dance. Aria moved gracefully on the first floor, matching the music. She seemed inspired by Theodore and Charlotte’s earlier dance.
“Marquis Blanche!”
“Ah! You startled me.”
Silbert quickly ran up the second-floor stairs, ignoring the greetings of the other nobles, and reached the balcony where Blanche and Aria were. Pushing the curtains aside roughly, he laughed at the sight of Aria. Not wanting anyone to disturb their meeting, he closed the curtains firmly again.
“She was adorable even from afar. Up close, she’s even more lovely.”
Aria tilted her head, and Silbert’s eyes crinkled in a broader smile.
“How can such a lovely child exist!”
Overcome with emotion, Silbert exclaimed,
“I have a great-granddaughter!”
“No, why do you keep calling my granddaughter your great-granddaughter?”
“Charlotte is my granddaughter, and Aria is my great-granddaughter. Do you have a problem with what the High Priest says? Aria, may I hold you?”
Aria had been told she was afraid of strangers during the joint meeting. Silbert deliberately made eye contact and asked gently. Since Aria had been tilting her head left and right since he entered the balcony, he could tell she was attentive.
“Grandfather.”
“?”
“Are you the High Priest?”
“Yes, I am.”
“I might not remember you well since I only saw you briefly at the joint meeting.”
It was hard to gauge the child’s thoughts—whether the question was positive or negative.
“Hold me!”
Thankfully, it seemed positive. Aria smiled brightly and stretched her arms toward Silbert. At that moment, Silbert saw Charlotte as a child in Aria’s smiling face. He scooped her up, holding her tightly.
“So light, like a feather.”
Silbert showered Aria with praise, completely captivated by her. Charlotte, who cherished Aria as her daughter, and his close friend, had entrusted him with her care. Silbert pinched Aria’s cheeks, watching her playful expressions with delight.
Aria, laughing, suddenly grabbed his cheeks tightly.
“You know? You’re the first person I’ve ever grabbed like this!”
She giggled, holding Silbert’s cheeks, enjoying the playful moment.
“I’m happy to meet the High Priest! I’ve seen him once before too.”
“Before? Where?”
Silbert asked again. Aria tilted her head toward him, her face transitioning from a full smile to expressionless.
