Chapter 3.2
As Elena kept shaking her head, Lulu continued with the face of a girl in love.
“Princess, you’re still young, so I understand that you can’t comprehend my words or feelings. Of course, Princess. True love transcends species and age.”
‘Lulu truly loves that furball… Well, they say he stays away from women and doesn’t touch alcohol or tobacco at all.’
In a way, he was the best number one bachelor. But for the pretty Lulu who looked younger than her age, he seemed somewhat disappointing.
‘But if she likes him this much, what can I do?’
Elena smirked and told Lulu to follow her as she led the way.
“P-Princess! This is the training ground! Why are we here?”
“Just be quiet.”
Elena approached Romario, the Captain of the First Knight Division, who happened to be taking a break after training.
“You’re Romario, the Captain of the First Knight Division, right?”
“Princess, you’ve come all this way! Yes, that’s correct. I’m honored that you recognize someone as humble as myself.”
Looking carefully at his face, with eyes, nose, and lips visible through the fur covering his face, she thought he might be handsome if only that annoying fur were shaved off.
“Um, Princess, may I humbly ask why you’re looking for me?”
“Ah, ahem. How old are you this year?”
“I’m thirty this year.”
‘Hmm… There’s a saying that a three-year age gap is acceptable. From my past life.’
It had been a while since she recalled her past life. After living as a rabbit therianthrope princess for 7 years, Elena was gradually forgetting the nightmare-like memories of her previous life.
“Do you have a fiancée?”
“Haha. As you can see, with my appearance…”
“Then, if there’s a woman who likes you, would you be willing to meet her?”
“What?! Haha. Who would like a man like me…”
“Don’t put yourself down like that! You’re so cool and manly—eep!”
They say love belongs to the brave. Without realizing it, Lulu had raised her voice and boldly revealed her presence to the man she liked.
“As you can see, my lady-in-waiting likes you very much. What do you think? Isn’t she the best bride candidate? She cooks well and is incredibly skilled with her hands.”
“That… She’s too good for me. I’m just a commoner with nothing to my name…”
“S-Sir Knight! There’s no need to feel burdened! My family was originally common folk, too, but my great-grandfather’s business… Anyway! I… I really like you, Sir Romario. It’s been 5 years already.”
‘5 years?! Why didn’t I know until now?’
Elena, who had been with Lulu for 7 years, was truly surprised that she hadn’t known this all along.
“I’m blunt and don’t know how to treat women well.”
“That doesn’t matter! I can express enough for both of us! Please date me with marriage in mind! If it doesn’t work out, we can always break up!”
‘She’s really proactive, Lulu.’
Seeing Lulu so confident in the face of love, Elena quietly stepped aside.
Five days later, on Elena’s seventh birthday, she noticed that Lulu, who usually stood beside her on her birthdays, was nowhere to be seen, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.
“I wonder where Lulu went.”
“Leave her be. She’s probably having a good time right now.”
“What?”
“You’ll find out later.”
Elena smiled at the puzzled nanny Natalie. She finished her somewhat tiring seventh birthday while receiving gifts sent from foreign countries.
After that, the two became husband and wife before even a year of dating had passed. Elena sincerely congratulated them and gave Lulu a temporary leave when she insisted she would return to work immediately after having a child.
***
Elena Harus. The princess with silver hair reaching down to her waist and beautiful ruby-red eyes began to shine with even more beauty as days passed.
As 10 years passed, she had now become the most beautiful princess on the Anser Continent. People came from distant foreign countries just to see the princess, and some even crossed the sea from other continents.
As prophesied by the oracle, Elena, who had become the most beautiful princess in the empire, was still living a tiring life.
“Father said he’ll bring in Azel as the prince consort after Eli’s coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Our El absolutely cannot get married until she turns thirty.”
“That’s right!”
“These people really…”
While Elena had no particular thoughts about marriage, she couldn’t help but be angry seeing her brothers—from the second eldest to the youngest—conspiring to ruin her marriage prospects, stubbornly insisting she shouldn’t marry until she was thirty, which had even made their parents give up.
The one fortunate thing was that her eldest brother Rune, who had reluctantly taken the throne, had married a beautiful cat-clan princess from a neighboring country three years ago after ascending to the throne, and had now become a devoted husband and doting father to 3 sons and 4 daughters.
Of course, his love for his sister was still excessive.
“Should I just run away? No, no. If I did that, who knows what those twins full of madness would do. They’re not very smart, but their actions are unpredictable.”
With a deep sigh, Elena held her throbbing head as Lulu approached her.
Lulu had just turned forty this year and had set the empire’s record for most children with 8 sons and 7 daughters.
“You’re going through a lot, Princess.”
“Well… Wait, Lulu, your stomach seems to be showing. Have you gained weight?”
“Hehe. I’ve got another little one on the way~”
“You two… are really amazing. Truly amazing.”
Elena, applauding spontaneously, crossed her arms and asked.
“Didn’t you say the last one was the last?”
“I did say that~ But I can’t not have a child that’s already conceived. And this child is really the last one. I think it’s because our Rio is getting older now. Hehe~”
“Ah~ Yes. I understand. Congratulations, really.”
As Lulu thanked her with a bright smile, she gave Elena a meaningful smile and said.
“Princess, once you have your coming-of-age ceremony, you’ll become Azel’s wife~”
“That…”
“S-surely you don’t dislike Azel, do you?”
To Lulu’s question, Elena answered like this.
“Regardless of whether I like him or not. I’ve never thought of Azel as more than a friend.”
“Princess… Then, are you not going to marry Azel?”
“Ah, I don’t know!”
“Princess! Seriously… Poor Azel.”
As Lulu shook her head and left, Azel quietly emerged from behind a tree.
“Elena will end up marrying me anyway. This is a promise. Even if Elena says she doesn’t want to, she has no choice but to marry me.”
His mouth curved up on one side and his narrowed eyes looked fierce.
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