Chapter 199
Even though I had promised the night before that I would put an end to overprotection, Terrence was ready to feed me himself.
To be precise, he actually brought a bowl of soup up to the bed, intending to scoop some and put it directly into my mouth.
“Idel, try this.”
“I can eat it myself.”
I firmly refused his kindness and busily moved my trembling arms to finish my meal.
No matter how I thought about it, it was Terrence being over the top, but strangely, I didn’t feel upset at all.
After finishing breakfast-lunch, I sat for a while to digest, then lay back down in bed.
Since I had only fallen asleep at dawn, I was still sleep-deprived.
With no schedule for today, Terrence lay down beside me as I tried to return to sleep.
“Are you okay with not going anywhere?”
“Yes, there’s no schedule, so don’t worry.”
“If it was cancelled just because of me…”
“Idel, right now, being by your side is more important than anything else. Rest well. I won’t go anywhere until you wake up.”
His low, trustworthy voice gently lulled me back into sleep.
Even when I woke, Terrence would be right beside me.
What a sweet thought that was.
The idea that marriage would allow us to continue enjoying such happiness made my heart feel warm.
I ended up spending the entire day at Terrence’s palace.
Just simple, precious routines—taking walks with him, reading the newspaper together, and drinking tea.
The next day, I returned to the secondary palace and first shared our marriage news with Lucy.
“So that’s why you didn’t come back for two whole days. Really.”
“Ha ha… well, it just happened that way…”
“Whatever, it’s fine.”
Lucy smiled lightly, glancing at me, avoiding my awkward gaze.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Master.”
“Thanks. You know, it’s actually thanks to your advice that I got proposed to earlier. Terrence had originally planned to prepare everything elaborately and propose later.”
He must have prepared a lavish proposal…
“Honestly, I prefer yesterday’s proposal. It wasn’t extravagant, just the two of us under a quiet moonlit night. Too much pomp wouldn’t have felt right.”
“I’m glad it helped. You’ll surely live happily ever after, Master.”
Blessed by the divine beast, I hoped happiness would await us.
Next, Terrence’s father, the Emperor, learned of our marriage.
With the help of attendants, he appeared in the audience hall and, after hearing his son’s story, nodded.
“So it comes to this. Terrence, my son… unlike me, you’ve upheld love until the end. I’m proud of you in one way.”
But then the Emperor’s expression darkened.
“It’s hard to respect your decision to no longer care about the throne.”
“Your Majesty.”
“After Riena Cassius left, Mikhail seems to have grown up and now performs his duties well, but the people still admire you more for your role in the Miloam siege. I….”
“Father, I realized through this event… it’s not that I lack the desire to rule the empire.”
Terrence’s gaze turned to me.
“But if the time comes when I must choose between the nation and someone precious to me, I will choose the precious person without hesitation.”
“Terrence…”
“If, knowing this, I insist on becoming Emperor, how would that differ from Mikhail in the past, whom you were disappointed in?”
Seeing his firm resolve, the Emperor let out a low sigh.
“Even so, I think you have the qualities of a good leader. Too valuable to waste.”
Of course, as Terrence’s father, he was just as stubborn as his son.
No wonder he returned to the throne just months after the accident, defying predictions that he couldn’t handle state affairs.
Personally, I didn’t like the Emperor much, but I respected his drive for power.
“So, I will grant you the lands that once belonged to the former Marquis of Molo.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your mother’s homeland. After the Molo family fell, it was incorporated into imperial territory, but recently the administrator overseeing it was found guilty of corruption.”
The Emperor clicked his tongue.
“Being far from the capital, it’s hard for me to manage efficiently. The people there don’t hold the imperial family in high regard either. The late Emperor forced out the once-respected Molo family.”
“So you’re asking me to govern it?”
“Yes. You’re a prince, but also blood of the Molo line, and having led in the Miloam siege, the people will be relatively favorable.”
“I… hadn’t considered this…”
“Then consider it now. That land will be called the Freeheiden territory, and as the Marquis of Freeheiden, you will rule it.”
Freeheiden Marquis—Terrence’s former title.
After entering the imperial family, he had priority as a prince, so he wasn’t often called a marquis, but he had not lost the title.
“You must choose: remain here as Crown Prince or go rule Freeheiden as Marquis.”
The Emperor seemed unwilling to compromise any further.
“Though I’m not thrilled, it wouldn’t be a bad thing for you to be a grand duke cooperating with Mikhail, who ascends the throne.”
“…Please give me some time to think.”
“Very well. Leave now. And congratulations on your engagement being accepted by Lady Lucibius.”
With that rather blunt congratulations, the Emperor exited the audience hall with the help of attendants.
Left alone, I asked Terrence,
“Does the Emperor’s proposal trouble you?”
“To be honest, it’s tempting. I’ve never been to my mother’s homeland…”
Recalling the past, Terrence stared into the air.
“When I visited Count Miloam’s lands, I saw how he interacted with his people like a neighbor. I wondered if such a life might be worth experiencing.”
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
“Of course, that Count was exceptional.”
I held Terrence’s hand.
“Then let’s give it a try. It might suit you perfectly.”
“…And you’ll be okay with it?”
“Me?”
“There’s no one you know there, it’s a completely new environment.”
“Are you hesitating because of me?”
“I’m not brazen enough to ask you to go far away for me, just after proposing.”
Terrence’s adorable worry made me pinch his cheek lightly.
“Of course I’m fine. My original plan was to go live in a distant land with no one I knew after the divorce.”
I closed one eye as I said this.
“But now I know someone I know—Terrence. That’s a path of flowers, truly.”
“…”
“Let’s go together, try new things in a new place. Life is a series of challenges, isn’t it?”
Terrence pulled me close and embraced me.
It was the moment we decided to take a new step together.
Afterward, Terrence and I spent our days busily preparing for both the wedding and our move.
We decided to marry in the capital first, then move to the lands of the former Marquis of Molo.
Diana, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time, insisted we visit the Leoke Kingdom before leaving.
“Our honeymoon must be in Leoke Kingdom. Idel, you were invited as an honored guest before but never went.”
Ah, the King of Leoke had invited me for helping reunite a noble couple with their daughter. I had completely forgotten in the busyness of life.
“I’ve been there before—the climate is mild, and the buildings are beautiful. I’m sure you’ll like it too, Idel.”
“Alright, then our honeymoon will be in Leoke. I left the choice of destination to Terrence anyway.”
“Wow, perfect!”
Diana, excited like a child, chattered on about Leoke before suddenly tearing up.
“Idel, whatever happens, you must live happily. This marriage must…”
Having experienced a failed marriage herself, she seemed overwhelmed with emotion.
I let Diana lean on my shoulder and gently stroked her back.
“I promise. And Diana, promise me you’ll live happily with your family too.”
We linked pinkies, promising a future together.
“Congratulations on your marriage!”
Stopping by the law office to inform Sharon of our wedding, she cheered.
“You wouldn’t bar a divorce lawyer from attending a wedding, right?”
“Of course not.”
“Good. I hope we meet as friends, just friends, from now on.”
A blessing from her, wishing me a long, happy marriage without divorce.
I made a V with my fingers and smiled, agreeing.
But as I left Sharon’s office and approached the carriage, an unexpected figure appeared.
“…Idel.”
The Countess Wallace—my foster mother, the woman who raised me.
According to Sharon, she had recently succeeded in divorcing Count Wallace through the courts.
By now, Count Wallace and Samuel were probably working hard to repay debts, leaving him no time to respond to the divorce.
Thanks to this, the divorce had been finalized quickly.
I examined her face, worn, several years older than when I last saw her.
After our soul resonance, memories as Idel gradually returned.
Among them were memories of being scolded by the Countess yet still hoping for her affection.
“Idel… um… there’s something I want to say…”
The Countess called me, looking pitiful.
