~Chapter 126~
I pushed Karl away lightly, who was looking at me as if asking if I was serious, and took a step back to admire his outfit.
“Actually, I should call you an involuntary playboy.”
“……”
“You don’t really think about it, but with all the women around you, you end up with the playboy image without meaning to.”
In other words…
“You’re saying you’re just too good for your own good.”
Karl puffed up with pride, but I didn’t mind. He was being honest.
‘Well, he really is good looking.’
Karl’s armor was much more elaborate than usual. There was so much gold embroidery on the shoulder decorations and chest straps that it was hard not to notice, but it didn’t feel too much… because his face was already over the top.
‘The rest of the armor is simple and heavy-duty for combat, though.’
It was clear from the numerous scratches and dents on the armor that Karl had fought hard. This armor had survived everything, and wearing it proved just how strong he was.
The silver-white scars on his black armor looked almost like decoration.
I was admiring him when Karl smiled, then tilted his head and asked,
“Do you think I’m suddenly going to impress you?”
“If you have the energy to joke, I guess you’re good to go.”
“I’d like to add that I fell for you again today.”
“……”
“Take note of that.”
The man who had just silenced me with his words smiled. I lightly tapped his lips and continued.
“It can’t just be you who’s in love.”
“Are you saying there are other men…?”
“Other men? No, I mean the people of the territory.”
I said that while sticking out my lips.
“I hope they don’t hate me too much.”
“They wouldn’t hate you.”
“Are you sure you’re not being overly optimistic?”
Today was the first time my existence was officially revealed to the people of the territory.
It was also the first time they were hearing about the Duke’s marriage.
‘I wonder if they’ll respond well…’
After all, it was right after the monster invasion.
Thinking about it, I didn’t think the Emperor’s announcement about the Duke’s new wife would go over well.
‘The merchants’ reactions when I first came to the market weren’t exactly warm.’
They didn’t even want to talk to me, let alone sell me anything.
It wasn’t long ago, but time had flown by.
Though some people had started warming up to me, many would be seeing me for the first time today.
‘I might be getting a lot of criticism.’
I had considered all of this before stepping up.
Suddenly, I began to worry that Karl might get swept up in it too.
I whispered seriously,
“If eggs fly, dodge them.”
“Eggs are precious here, so people don’t throw them.”
“Then if rocks come, dodge them. I’ll try to be discreet.”
“And you won’t get hit by any of them.”
“Why? Are you going to take the hits for me?”
I answered in a teasing tone, but what I got back was a serious look from Karl.
“I won’t need to protect you. Many people here know how much you’ve done.”
Karl, who had watched me fight monsters, spoke with conviction.
He had been by my side through everything, so I could tell he wasn’t just saying empty words.
“The moment they see you, many will recognize you. Oh, that young lady…”
“…The one who was with the monster hunter? The one who was carried by him, and they say she’s married to him?”
“Well, you could see it that way…”
“Now she’s the Duchess? They’re not going to call it an affair?”
Karl looked uncomfortable for a moment, but then shook it off.
“It won’t be like that.”
It was a relief, considering Karl would be standing by me as the Duke.
I was glad the worst-case scenario I had imagined wouldn’t happen.
Then Karl slowly reached out.
“Anyway.”
He reached up to fix some stray hairs from my head and continued,
“People will remember you as the young lady who helped us, whether it was in this way or another.”
“……”
“You were at the forefront during the monster hunt and helped with the evacuation.”
I immediately remembered that chaotic night when I ran around with a gun, hunting monsters, saving people, and trying to find the Duke.
“Many people saw you shooting monsters and helping others escape,” Karl said with a soft smile.
A smile that carried a bit of pride in surviving the storms of life.
“So, you don’t have to worry. Nothing bad will happen.”
I looked at that smile and spoke.
“That’s reassuring.”
“It’s not just empty words. I mean it.”
“I’m also being sincere. It really gives me courage.”
Honestly, I hadn’t started out with pure intentions. I just needed an excuse for the Duke’s return, and if it didn’t work, I would have left with my belongings.
…But talking to Karl made me realize my responsibility.
I met people, formed connections, and learned a lot more than I expected.
I learned that I was good at influencing public opinion, I could eat monster meat, I was good at climbing mountains…
But above all, I learned that I could truly care for someone.
And I no longer had to give up on that person.
‘It might have been a bit of a push-pull situation, but still…’
I looked at Karl calmly and said,
“Thank you.”
As I held his hand, I felt a sense of security.
Sighing deeply, I was caught off guard when Karl quickly kissed me on the lips.
‘This opportunistic guy.’
I opened my eyes slightly, and Karl just smiled nonchalantly.
“It didn’t spread.”
“How do you know?”
“To spread, this wouldn’t be enough. If you want an example…”
“Wait. Stop!”
I almost let it go, but I quickly moved away from him. Karl smiled and searched through his belt.
“I wanted to prepare properly,” he said, pulling out a small box made of Birrod material.
And then he knelt down.
“Is that… what I think it is?”
“Of course.”
Karl opened the ring box with a click. Inside was a small silver ring.
“I thought it would have some dragon decoration on it.”
“Of course, there are designs like that.”
“That’s too much.”
“I agree. So I brought something from my mother’s belongings.”
“Wait, you’re making this a hundred times more stressful for me?”
It was the heirloom of his mother… How could he give me something like that?
But Karl had already placed the ring on my finger.
“She was a good person.”
“……”
“She’d be happy to give it to you.”
Thinking of the past Duke and Duchess’s loving relationship made me feel weird.
They had so much love that their son had to run away from it.
I started to understand where Karl’s stubbornness came from.
Though their ending wasn’t the best…
“We won’t end up like them.”
Karl’s voice was calm, almost as if he was talking about someone else’s story.
His voice was detached even though it was about his parents.
Feeling a strange flutter in my chest, I reached down to stroke Karl’s hair.
Then, playfully, I responded,
“Of course. We’ll end with a fraudulent marriage report.”
“……”
“I’ll report to the Emperor that the Duke seduced me pretending to be a monster hunter. What should we do about that?”
“Elaine.”
“No, wait. I just remembered that the Emperor already sent me here, so…”
“……”
“Then, if the marriage wasn’t approved, it doesn’t count, so it should be voided…”
“……Now that I think about it, since you’re mine now, I don’t need the Emperor’s permission anymore.”
Karl looked up at me, like a big puppy, then whispered,
“……Then let’s start over from the beginning.”
“You already proposed.”
“In romance novels, they often marry first and fall in love after.”
“You read romance novels? You?”
“Jeremy recommended one to me. He said no one proposes first.”
“That’s not wrong… but it’s a bit surprising.”
He seemed like someone who only read management books or military strategy guides, but here he was, reading romance novels…
“That’s cute.”
“It’s not me, it’s you. So, forget about everything that’s happened… though I don’t really want to.”
“Fool.”
Unable to hold back, I kissed his forehead. Karl immediately went for my lips again.
I dodged and played around, but then Karl pulled me close and kissed my forehead.
“Next time, I’ll do it properly.”
“Isn’t this proper?”
“I’ll make it better next time.”
“It’s already plenty good, but still.”
“It’s not just the ring. Our wedding…”
Karl laughed and continued, when there was a knock at the door.
Knock. Knock.
“Your Grace, Your Grace,” Jeremy’s nervous voice came from outside.
“……”
“The soldiers are ready.”
The soldiers pretending to return from the north had finished their preparations.
The tension in the air thickened.
“Let’s go.”
I took Karl’s hand and slowly walked toward the door.
