Chapter 94
He had said that because His Highness was someone you never knew which way he might jump, but who would have thought things would turn out like this. Up until a few days ago, he had been hearing good rumors about the two of them, so he had only thought it would be fine.
‘No. Nothing is certain yet. The Nabel Empire only made a proposal, and he may have already refused the political marriage.’
In any country, it was rare for a request to visit while bringing a Guide to be rejected. Many countries saw a Guide’s visit as an opportunity to make that Guide settle in their own country.
His Majesty the Emperor might have permitted their entry for that purpose as well.
‘Either way, if it’s the Nabel Empire… they will definitely set their sights on the Crown Prince’s Guide.’
They were a country that had done so in the past, and would do so again. So all that remained was to protect Baroness Linier until they left this country.
* * *
Up until she stood beside Kasselard in a wedding dress, she felt like she had somehow managed to endure through sheer grit, but after that, her legs were shaking so badly that even walking wasn’t easy. She couldn’t explain the situation to anyone, but if she walked while being supported by the ladies-in-waiting, it would look strange.
While Ephinia, surrounded by attendants, clung to the corridor wall and took a moment to catch her breath, someone came striding toward her.
“You didn’t even wait until I got back.”
Kasselard said that, then lightly lifted Ephinia up, and she looked at his face with a complicated expression.
“Your Highness.”
“Hi, Ephie. I ran straight back as soon as I was done. I did well, right?”
He was a pathetic husband who had to leave the bride’s side right after the wedding, but he had given only the essential orders and returned immediately.
“Thank you. …Is the delegation inside the capital now?”
“Probably.”
He said he had come in after showing an appropriate amount of temper. It was what he had expected. Still, because there was always a ‘just in case’, before sending Raysel, he had stationed mages and knights around the North Gate.
Those stationed there weren’t Transcendents, so Jeremiah probably hadn’t even noticed.
‘That bastard isn’t as smart as he is arrogant.’
“Um… I think I can walk on my own.”
“You were just leaning on the wall and resting. What’s wrong?”
Something about the way she avoided his eyes was subtle. Kasselard tilted his head this way and that, examining Ephinia, who wouldn’t meet his gaze. His eyes trying to meet hers were hot, but Ephinia couldn’t bring herself to.
Kasselard suddenly turned his head toward the ladies-in-waiting.
“What is it? What happened?”
“Th, that is…”
“It’s nothing!”
At Ephinia raising her voice, rare as it was, Kasselard’s gaze settled back on her. Something had clearly upset her, but she wouldn’t tell him.
“It’s fine, so… put me down.”
“No.”
Clearly, before he left, Ephinia had looked like a new bride, fluttering and startled by the sudden marriage, but in this short time, something had happened.
He felt irritated and angry at Ephinia for not answering honestly.
“You’re not telling me why you’re angry either. What are you upset about?”
At Kasselard’s question, a red flush spread across Ephinia’s face. From shame. Or from anger. They were in a situation where they had to go to the audience hall right away, but Kasselard decided not to hurry.
This mattered more than the Nabel Empire’s delegation.
“You all, step back.”
When he spoke in a low voice without taking his eyes off Ephinia, the ladies-in-waiting hurriedly retreated down the corridor. Ephinia also didn’t back down and was glaring at Kasselard.
“Tell me. What’s the problem? You’re mad at me for something.”
Kasselard didn’t want to make a show of it, but he had accepted Ephinia’s whim even while bracing for a diplomatic dispute. He had no intention of telling her to be grateful.
In fact, this hasty marriage to her was beneficial to him.
From his perspective, it even felt like an unexpected windfall. That was why he jumped on it so quickly.
When he pressed her like this with a serious face, Ephinia’s face, which had been glaring at him, twisted, and tears began to gather in her eyes.
Huh?
No one’s tears had ever undone him like this. Kasselard knew that as the Crown Prince, he shouldn’t be like that, but he felt an impulse to drop to his knees and beg in front of her.
The only reason he couldn’t right now was because he was holding Ephinia in his arms.
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