Chapter 80
Sishe, who had been checking the ground nearby, was the first to run over to me.
“Hey! What on earth happened?”
“I’m a little late, right? Something came up in the middle, so…”
“A little? You’re three hours late!”
“Three hours?”
My eyes widened in shock.
My scuffle with Velois couldn’t have lasted more than twenty minutes.
‘I guess even the time during my first teleportation must’ve gotten distorted.’
While I casually accepted the situation, everyone else was in chaos.
“What happened? Are you hurt anywhere? Doctor! Hey, come check her condition!”
Baratheon picked me up in his arms in panic and handed me over to Lien.
Lien’s face was expressionless as usual. But I could sense a subtle anger flickering in his eyes.
Ugh… am I going to get scolded for causing trouble again?
But this time, it really wasn’t my fault.
I didn’t cause the problem—that damned brat Blanche did!
Feeling wronged, I looked at Lien, and he let out a tiny sigh—so small no one else could have noticed—before placing his hand on my forehead.
“There seems to be nothing wrong with her body.”
“What? How can you tell just by that? You need to examine her properly! With tools and everything! Huh?”
Tools, my foot. For Lien, just a single glance is enough to grasp my entire condition.
Because he’s a dragon, after all.
But Baratheon, who had no way of knowing that, kept nagging the great dragon like he was some kind of quack doctor, insisting on a more thorough examination.
Before Baratheon spewed any more nonsense, I decided to stop him.
“Ugh, Teon! I told you, I’m really fine.”
Maybe my loud protest worked, because although Baratheon still looked doubtful, he stopped pestering Lien.
“Really?”
“Yes. I did lose my bag in the middle, though.”
“Bag?”
“Yes, the small handbag I was holding.”
Well, I didn’t exactly lose it—I forcibly shoved it into Velois’s hands before leaving.
Inside it were essentials like a handkerchief and mirror, along with Blanche, who had fainted.
“Don’t worry about it. A bag is no big deal.”
“Still, if someone brings it back, please let me know. I should thank them.”
“What? Who would bother bringing that to you?”
Baratheon laughed as if the idea was absurd, but I already knew Velois would show up with the bag.
Though if Blanche wakes up first, she might come flying here even faster.
“Anyway, since we all made it safely, let’s eat. You didn’t eat anything while waiting for me, right?”
At my carefree suggestion, Sishe’s jaw dropped.
“…Seriously, how can you talk about eating after all that chaos?”
“Well, we live to eat, don’t we? Besides, I’m perfectly fine right now…”
“What?”
amused, Sishe snorted and ruffled my hair.
“Anyone who hears you would think you’re a 60-year-old grandma.”
I’m not quite that old inside.
Though I definitely have a responsible adult living somewhere in there.
* * *
We had come to the capital to receive approval for my noble title from the emperor.
Since our goal was clear, there was no reason to waste time.
The very day I arrived, I sent a letter full of flowery flattery: ‘I humbly ask for the honor of an audience with Your Majesty!’
The emperor, also being straightforward, granted an audience the very next day and even said he would send a carriage personally.
So I immediately began preparing to enter the palace.
As always, Sishe chose my outfit, and Marina meticulously arranged my hair.
I also packed the brief report on the Devon territory that Lucas had organized, just in case, and wore the protective ring Sishe had given me, since I couldn’t bring an escort.
When I asked Sishe if she used a weaker spell this time, she subtly avoided my eyes—meaning she had probably strengthened the magic instead of weakening it.
Just what is Sishe thinking? If I accidentally launch the emperor into the sky, it’ll be a disaster!
I shuddered, imagining the emperor flying through the air like Roaz.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t handle the consequences afterward… but it would be a monstrous hassle.
I’ll take it off once I’m out of Sishe’s sight.
With that thought, I climbed into the emperor’s carriage.
It sped toward the designated meeting place.
The emperor had chosen the Golden Room—used for personal meetings.
Isn’t title approval a public matter, though?
But I couldn’t exactly ask, ‘Why are we meeting there?’
Following the solemn-looking attendant, I entered the Golden Room.
And there, I ran into someone completely unexpected.
“…Lord Roaz?”
The one already seated inside—waiting in advance—was none other than the second prince, Roaz.
“Miss Danae?”
Roaz looked just as surprised as I was. He quickly stood up, awkwardly greeting me.
“What brings you here…? No, wait. Only those invited by His Majesty can enter. So you must’ve received an invitation too.”
After rambling in confusion, Roaz smiled shyly and gestured for me to sit.
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but you should sit. Standing will make your legs hurt.”
“Ah. Thank you, Your Highness.”
Still bewildered, I sat in the seat he offered.
“Did you also come because His Majesty invited you?”
“Yes. It seems there must have been some kind of mix-up. His Majesty doesn’t usually arrange overlapping appointments.”
“Is that so…”
But something clicked in my mind.
A political marriage with the imperial family.
Jedyn and Sishe had mentioned it before.
So the emperor really wants to push that idea forward.
Anyone could see that Roaz and I got along well.
Even after I left the capital, we exchanged letters regularly.
And we gave each other presents, too.
Roaz gifted me a party dress; I gave him a birthday present.
Of course the emperor would get his hopes up.
Though the person actually involved—Roaz—looks like he has absolutely zero thoughts on the matter.
Across from me, the “noble lily” of the empire simply smiled with innocent eyes, befitting his nickname.
“It’s nice to meet by chance like this, Miss Danae. Oh, and happy belated birthday. It’s very late, though.”
“And happy belated birthday to you too, Your Highness. I’m sorry I couldn’t attend.”
“It’s fine. I sent the invitation assuming you wouldn’t be able to come, so don’t worry.”
Kuh…
Every kind, gentle word melted my heart.
What a perfectly raised young man.
I could easily understand why noble ladies liked Roaz.
Though to me, he was still just a cute boy.
“I heard you’ve become Baron Devon? Congratulations, Miss Danae.”
“Thank you. It’s not official yet, though. I actually came to the capital to receive the formal approval today.”
“Ah, so that’s why His Majesty…”
Just as Roaz nodded, someone approached from outside—the emperor.
“You’re both already here!”
Roaz and I hurried to our feet to greet him.
“Danae of Ashinov greets the Radiance of the Empire.”
“I greet Your Majesty.”
Roaz’s greeting was much shorter than mine. Well, he was family, after all.
I guess it’s like how I don’t give a full formal greeting to the Grand Duke.
“Hahaha! No need for exaggerated formality here. Sit comfortably.”
Laughing heartily as he had at the Founding Festival, the emperor sat.
I followed his lead, but Roaz remained standing.
“Since it seems you have important business, I shall excuse myself, Your Majesty.”
He had realized what I was here for and intended to leave.
“Hm?”
But the emperor stopped him with a friendly smile.
“No, Roaz. Sit with us. I heard you two are close friends, so your presence will help Miss Danae relax. Right?”
“…Of course. Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
“That’s settled then, Roaz.”
Realizing the situation, Roaz awkwardly sat down.
Oh lord… does he think forcing us together will make something happen?
Maybe that’s common in noble society… but Roaz and I are still kids!
…Or maybe not? Nobles do get engaged at our age.
Once I thought about it like that, something I had always brushed aside as “someone else’s story” suddenly felt frighteningly real.
If we got engaged, we’d eventually get married. And then…
Uwehhh… I can’t even imagine it.
