CHAPTER 119…………………………………..
The emperor attended the engagement ceremony.
In truth, I didn’t even know he would show up.
He was too short to be seen over the Imperial Knights, whose average height was 185 cm.
“My youngest has grown healthy and is even starting a family… This father could die now without regrets.”
“You haven’t started a family yet.”
“Just have exactly two children, no matter if it’s a boy or a girl.”
“Your Majesty… it’s the engagement ceremony.”
“Right, right. Three would be fine too. I’m fine with anything. Ha ha ha!”
The emperor chuckled to himself and returned to his seat. Once he sat down, the ceremony began.
The order of events was simple.
Leonhart and I would read the engagement vow and exchange the promise rings, then the banquet would start.
Once the vow was complete, Piace finally appeared, holding the rings.
Her face was bright with excitement.
She tiptoed over and held out the rings with both hands.
“Uh… Mom, Dad, congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Leonhart put the ring on my hand first.
Finally, it was my turn.
“Why am I so nervous…?”
My hand shook as I picked up the ring.
Leonhart watched me closely and gently held my hand.
With his help, I was able to place the ring without dropping it.
“Phew…”
Just as I exhaled in relief…
“Hmph!”
Leonhart pulled me close by the waist and kissed me. The force was so strong that my back arched like a bow.
“Waaaah!”
Cheers erupted from the guests.
At the same time, fireworks exploded in the sky, scattering flower petals and announcing the start of the banquet.
Boom! Boom!
“Rusfel, you maniac… fireworks at an engagement ceremony….”
The kiss was short but intense. I covered my mouth, glaring at Leonhart.
“Beast…”
“Do you want me to do it again if you admit it?”
Like they say, once a thief learns a trick late, they don’t know restraint… Leonhart was exactly that.
Once the dam broke, he couldn’t stop himself.
“I told you not to even dream about it.”
“Even though we’re engaged?”
We’re going to break off the engagement soon!
Seeing Leonhart smile so sweetly filled me with a sudden sense of urgency.
It was clear he had no intention of breaking off the engagement.
“Your Highness, could we talk for a moment…?”
At that moment, someone silently approached me to offer congratulations.
“Duke, congratulations on your engagement.”
It was the assassin disguised as Berrick Thomson.
I kept my expression neutral, conscious of Leonhart.
“Ah… Count Thomson, I see.”
He was running an information guild disguised as the Honduras Jewelry Shop, accompanied by other guild members.
Honestly, I didn’t expect much from a jewelry shop, but apparently his business skills were surprisingly good; he was turning a profit.
“Why is he here?”
The real Berrick Thomson was abroad, so there was no chance of running into him, but perhaps an acquaintance had come.
“This engagement ceremony is quite grand.”
“Yes… enjoy yourselves.”
From the moment Berrick appeared, Leonhart suddenly became cautious.
I tried to hurry him along, but Berrick blocked the way.
“Duke, could you spare a moment? I have urgent matters to discuss.”
I had previously asked him to investigate Adrian.
Did something go wrong there?
“Then after the engagement…”
[Level 3: (pointing to his estate) Go to the reception room.]
He wanted me to leave Leonhart behind? Was meeting Berrick really that important?
“…Go to the reception room.”
“Yes, understood.”
Berrick glanced around and headed toward the estate.
Just as I turned to follow, Leonhart grabbed my hand.
“The man before you was a candidate for the Duke’s fiancée, wasn’t he?”
“Ah… Your Highness saw him before, right? Yes.”
“That one, huh.”
‘That one?’
For some reason, Leonhart seemed to dislike Berrick Thomson… or maybe it was just my imagination.
I shrugged and pulled my hand free from Leonhart’s grasp.
“I’ll be quick.”
“Do you really have to go now?”
“Do you have something to say?”
“…No.”
Leonhart’s mood had dropped, but I didn’t have the time to check.
I nodded and followed Berrick to the reception room.
“Everyone, you heard me, we’re meeting Berrick Thomson.”
[Hee… I was having so much fun… why did he come?]
“Let’s see what he wants. Stay on guard.”
*[Don’t worry, Rian.] *
I pressed my throbbing temples as I moved to the reception room.
Berrick Thomson, seated alone on a sofa, jumped up.
“Sit.”
“Thank you.”
“You said you had business?”
“Yes. About the task you instructed us to handle.”
“You mean the investigation you asked us to do?”
“Yes. While handling that, we discovered another request you made to our guild.”
Another request?
‘It wasn’t for me, it was Adrian who made the request.’
I sipped my tea calmly.
“Ah… right.”
“The contact with the guild member was delayed, so we only just found out. There’s apparently a problem with that task.”
“A problem?”
“Yes. What should we do?”
“…You should tell me what the problem is first.”
“Did it have to be today? What if your identity is exposed?”
“You said it was an urgent task, so I assumed it was important. That’s why I risked coming… Was I mistaken?”
Adrian made an urgent request?
“It is urgent… hmm, what’s the problem?”
“We found the item you mentioned, but obtaining it seems impossible.”
“Why?”
“It’s in a place we simply cannot access.”
“Where?”
“The temple.”
Ah, so the item Adrian was after is in the temple, and we can’t get it.
‘Then it must be something carefully stored in the temple… what could it be?’
Owen’s words flashed through my mind.
“There are many forbidden books kept in the temple. Some even describe how ordinary people can contract with demons.”
“Are you sure of the location?”
“Yes. It’s in the underground archives of the temple.”
‘Archives… then it really is a forbidden book.’
Why was Adrian so desperate to find it?
‘It can’t be related to demons, right…?’
“They entered the temple but failed to access the archives. Only priests with sacred power can open the archive doors.”
“A sealed room, then.”
“There’s a window, but it’s too small to pass through.”
“How did you confirm it’s the book I’m looking for?”
“There was only one book with a golden cover.”
“I see…”
This sounded like an important matter… why wouldn’t the bungling author give any instructions?
“Cancel the task. I’ll contact you again.”
“Understood.”
As I stood, my head spun.
“Ah…”
“Duke! Are you alright?!”
Berrick hastily grabbed me as I stumbled.
“Duke! Are you okay?”
His voice was distant. My vision darkened, and cold sweat broke out.
[Rian! What’s wrong? Are you in pain? Dizzy?]
[You’ve overexerted yourself too much, and your body’s finally reacting!]
[Sit down first! You might hit your head if you fall! Hey, Gnome! Stop crying!]
“Duke! I’ll go get help.”
“I’m just a bit dizzy. I’ll be fine after a short rest.”
“Your face looks very pale.”
“That’s none of your concern. Go on.”
“But…”
Before Berrick could argue further, Leonhart appeared.
“What’s going on?”
“…!”
Step by step, he approached slowly.
The closer he got, the more my skin crawled.
Standing before us, he spoke quietly.
“Step away from the Duke.”
Berrick, still holding me, began to sweat nervously.
“Your Highness, I was only…”
“I said step away.”
Berrick couldn’t withstand the pressure and reluctantly stepped back, nervously glancing at me.
“D-Duke…”
“Leave.”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
Berrick fled like a frightened animal.
Leonhart, who had been watching me silently, finally spoke.
“Is this one your… fling?”
“Fling? What do you mean… ah!”
“I’ll be the one to cheat… publicly.”
“Then Your Highness will reject me.”
‘Did he misunderstand Berrick Thomson as my affair partner?’
Of course, Berrick Thomson had wanted to be engaged to me, so as a fake affair partner, it wasn’t a terrible match—if the assassin truly was Berrick.
I bit my tongue, and my dizzy mind cleared slightly.
[Level 3: (frowning) How dare you associate me with some count. I’m not like that with Count Thomson.]
The bungling author clearly didn’t want Leonhart and me to fall out.
“How dare you associate me with some count. I’m not like that with Count Thomson.”
“Then explain what you were just doing.”
“I just stumbled a bit while standing up. Count Thomson only helped me steady myself.”
“So you weren’t involved with him?”
[Level 3: (smiling reassuringly) Why would I cheat when I already have the empire’s finest husband-to-be? I’m not that foolish.]
“…!”
The unexpected directive snapped me back to reality.
‘The engagement isn’t over?’
The bungling author had engaged Leonhart and me to give Piace a proper background.
If we broke off the engagement, Piace would retain me as her background, but her ties to the imperial family would be severed.
‘All this just to use Leonhart?!’
And if I left… Leonhart would be alone.
‘I’m here! I can be Piace’s strong support! So don’t touch Leonhart!’
[Level 3: (smiling reassuringly) Why would I cheat when I already have the empire’s finest husband-to-be? I’m not that foolish.]
As expected, the bungling author ignored my plea. He would force us to marry.
I slowly closed my eyes, then opened them.
“Your Highness, Leonhart and I are supposed to break off the engagement. That fact…!”
The moment I tried to defy the directive, it felt as if my heart was being torn apart.
I dug my nails into my palm to stifle a groan.
“Don’t… forget that fact.”
Fortunately, Leonhart seemed oblivious. His eyes, however, twisted with a wounded, animalistic intensity.
“You wanted to break off the engagement… then why did you kiss me? Were you playing with me?”
‘Because I wanted to!’
Do you think I have no desire? I want to embrace and kiss the person I love passionately too!
I’ll leave someday, which is why it was so desperate!
‘Because I like you….’
But marriage was out of the question.
Leonhart, even with a raven he only had at home for a day, would search endlessly.
He would continue looking until death if his wife disappeared; he wasn’t the type to remarry easily.
“….”
But I could not speak. Blood surged to my throat.
“Hah!”
I stubbornly shut my mouth. Leonhart let out a bitter laugh and turned away.
After a brief silence, he spoke again.
“You said you want to break off the engagement?”
“….”
“Then choose your man properly first. If I approve, I’ll allow the engagement to end.”
Leonhart turned and left.
Just as his heavy footsteps faded, the blood I had swallowed burst from my mouth.
“Gah!”
[Rian!!!]
I lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor.
