Ch.170170. Going Forward (1)

The most powerful ruler of this world, the beautiful sovereign of the hegemonic nation, has proposed to me. I blinked at Agnes in shock, as if I’d been struck hard on the head with a warhammer. She was still looking at me with her queenly smile. I tried to read something in her eyes as I opened my mouth again.

“I… I think I might be a bit tired. Your Majesty, did you just…?”

“You did not mishear. Ilroy, I asked if you would marry me. Do you want me to phrase it differently? I’m asking you to marry me.”

Lightning strikes twice. I nearly choked on my tea but managed to swallow it with a trembling breath. I had no idea how to respond to Agnes’s words. It had been a very long time since I’d felt this flustered.

“Your Majesty, your joke goes too far.”

Agnes lifted her teacup and took a sip. Though the tea had already gone cold, she relaxed her expression as if she had just enjoyed the most delicious tea in the world.

“I don’t typically make such statements in jest. I’m sorry if it sounded like a joke to you.”

Even now, honestly, I’m not sure if it’s a joke or not. Apart from her smile, Agnes’s red eyes shone with utmost seriousness. I should look directly into her eyes, but suddenly I found myself growing nervous about meeting that gaze.

“Until now, no one has pressured me, but as a monarch, I must eventually marry. Leaving an heir is a given. If I am to marry, wouldn’t it make sense to choose the most influential person on the continent, the Hero, rather than some obscure noble?”

It was a reasonable argument. I had no choice but to listen as Agnes continued speaking with effortless fluency.

“For you as well, rather than reporting to me every time, wouldn’t it be more convenient to have a definite political position? I don’t think it’s a bad proposal for you either.”

“…From a political perspective, you mean.”

“It should be seen as the most correct choice. No one would dare object.”

Agnes smiled brightly, as if just imagining it brought her satisfaction. Then she reached her hand toward mine, which had stiffened on the table. Agnes’s touch was rougher than I had imagined. With these slender hands, she must have dispatched royal duties and wielded her sword tirelessly. I lowered my gaze to her hand and blinked.

“I… This is sudden for me. The situation…”

“I understand. From your perspective, you can’t even tell if I’m being sincere right now.”

Agnes smiled and withdrew her hand. She naturally picked up her teacup, and my gaze followed, rising back to her eyes.

“Whether this is a joke or not, could you give me an answer assuming it’s my sincere intention?”

Agnes’s voice sounded no different than usual at first glance. But my somewhat sensitive intuition told me that her words were not spoken without thought.

“Your Majesty.”

My voice, spoken with such awareness, had changed so much that even I was surprised. Agnes straightened her back slightly, drawing in her shoulders as if somewhat startled.

“If you think it would be good, I would of course comply. How could I refuse such an offer that is beyond my station?”

“You know that’s not the kind of answer I want to hear, Ilroy.”

Her response came immediately. I raised my head to meet Agnes’s eyes, then unconsciously swallowed. In her red eyes that always looked directly into mine, I could see a desire to peer into my deepest self.

“Put everything else aside and think simply. Could you accept me as a marriage partner?”

I froze, my gaze fixed on Agnes. Then, slowly, my eyes fell to my teacup, heavy with various thoughts. My reflection appeared in the dark-brewed tea.

Think simply? Could there be a better bride in the world than Agnes? Dignity that puts the sun to shame. Beauty that makes spring wildflowers wilt in comparison. Power, military might, wealth. And character. I couldn’t just blurt out an answer based on these thoughts. I was stumbling over my words, unable to speak properly.

The silence lengthened. Agnes, who hadn’t touched her teacup during this time, began to move her lips slightly, then spoke with a somewhat hesitant voice.

“If… if you dislike it, you can say so. I had no intention of disregarding your wishes anyway. You have many people around you, so it wouldn’t be surprising if you refused.”

A voice with just a hint of intimidation. Agnes’s explanation was uncharacteristically long. I lifted my head to look at her as if drawn by some force. Agnes’s eyes were trembling slightly. They weren’t the eyes of someone seeking salvation. What was she looking for in me?

“It’s alright, Ilroy. I would just appreciate an honest answer.”

“Your Majesty, I…”

Agnes was waiting for my words. As her gaze slowly lowered to the teacup, I spoke again.

“I had been thinking of a normal marriage.”

“Yes. A marriage with royalty… with a queen would certainly not be as ordinary as you might think.”

“No, no. That’s not it. It’s not about status.”

I stopped Agnes as she seemed about to sink into darkness. She barely raised her gaze to look at me. A somewhat anxious appearance. I slowly transformed my thoughts into words.

“Then…?”

“I think it’s a matter of procedure. Time for Your Majesty and I to get to know each other. Time to share more personal conversations, not just about work. The matter of marriage could be considered after that.”

I have no intention of refusing. I just thought that some action was needed to transform this suddenly proposed marriage into something more plausible. I also need time to sort out other things.

“…So you’re saying you don’t entirely dislike the idea.”

Agnes regained her smile. Was it all an act until now? I blinked in confusion, then noticed a slight blush on Agnes’s face and raised the corners of my mouth.

“It’s not something I should push through alone. If you have more to say, feel free. I’m not unaware of the feelings that the women around you harbor for you.”

I opened my eyes with a start, and Agnes shrugged as if wondering why I was so surprised.

“Daphne Ephiphone and Marianne Prim. You must know that they have feelings for you. I imagine your hesitation partly involves your companions.”

It was something I hadn’t wanted to bring up. Daphne and Marianne. I smiled bitterly as I recalled their faces. Even if I were to form a bond with someone, I didn’t know how long I would remain by their side. I couldn’t act rashly, and even thinking about it was cautious.

“…Your Majesty, I am afraid.”

So this time, I decided to speak a little more honestly.

“What could you possibly be afraid of?”

“If I were to connect with someone, I fear how long I could remain by their side. How long I could endure, and how sad those left behind would be if I departed first.”

Agnes didn’t mock my words. Instead, she gazed steadily into my eyes and reached out her hands again. I found myself with both hands held by Agnes, wearing a foolish expression.

“At the very least, I will not leave you first. I will try to stay by your side as long as I can. That’s my promise as your companion, setting aside royal authority and everything else.”

Agnes’s lips were soft. I could feel my pulse beating slowly.

“But what if I…”

“We’ll think about that when the time comes. Still, I don’t think I’ll regret marrying you.”

It was an innocent voice and smile. Half overwhelmed by that beauty, I bit my lip slightly, then let out a sweet yet bitter laugh.

“If Your Majesty wishes it, what could possibly stand in your way?”

“Sometimes I think you deliberately speak like that while knowing the true meaning of my words.”

Agnes responded somewhat sulkily to my playful remark, tapping her teacup once with a spoon. She took a moment to catch her breath.

“So it’s not a rejection, at least. Is it alright if I understand it that way?”

“Yes. If such a frustratingly vague answer is acceptable.”

“As long as it’s not a rejection, it’s fine.”

Agnes said with a bright smile.

“From now on, my role will be to turn that answer into a clear acceptance.”

==

“I’m back, Ilroy.”

The next day, Daphne returned after finishing her business at the magic tower. Feeling a strange sense of guilt, I responded to her greeting with an awkward, stiff smile. Daphne pursed her lips, seemingly puzzled by my expression, then went over to sit by the fireplace. It was almost time to light the fire in the hearth. The fireplace, which had been piled with ashes and burnt wood, was now clean.

“The weather’s gotten quite chilly, hasn’t it? People’s coats have gotten noticeably thicker.”

“Yeah. The wind seems particularly strong this year.”

Suddenly, I recalled a passerby chasing after their hat that had blown away yesterday. With winds as strong as today’s, there must be quite a few such people. Daphne took off her outer garment and placed it on the sofa armrest. Complicated thoughts rose and settled like dust, over and over. I stroked Daphne’s dog, Daisy, who approached my feet. Though she had grown considerably, she was still small.

“What were you doing at the magic tower?”

“I met with Nella Tarr after a long time and chatted about various things. She seems to be enjoying her life as a full professor.”

Daphne said with a laugh.

“Has anything happened with Ilroy? I suppose not much would happen at the palace since you visit so often.”

That “anything” happened about 24 hours ago. I was about to say so but kept my mouth shut. I habitually touched my waist, but the Holy Sword, which always provided reliable advice, was not in the sword at present. I forced a calm smile and shook my head.

“…Nothing special. I relayed what Aryen Elmione told me, and she seemed concerned.”

“What did she say?”

“Just that she would make me a symbol of victory and establish me as a faith in people’s hearts. It’s quite burdensome, but there’s no better alternative.”

Daphne exhaled a long “hmm” and nodded. I glanced at her and sank into the sofa. The queen’s voice, that clear ice crystal-like voice, still echoed in my ears.

“Daphne, what is marriage?”

At my sudden question, Daphne tilted her head, then leaned forward as if deeply contemplating something. Her face seemed to grow redder the longer she thought.

“Marriage… I think it’s when two separate lives become one. It’s when two different people share one life together.”

“How romantic.”

I chuckled as I looked at Daphne’s reddened face. Daphne, seemingly displeased with my laughter, puffed her cheeks and frowned.

“Then what does Ilroy think marriage is?”

“I asked because I don’t know.”

“Stop! Teasing! Me!”

Perhaps feeling unfairly mocked, Daphne rarely showed anger as she protested. I was giggling at Daphne’s bright red face when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs and looked up.

“Oh, Marianne Prim.”

“Has something happened?”

Looking at Marianne’s expression, I suddenly had a mischievous thought. What would Marianne think? I couldn’t imagine Marianne blushing like Daphne.

Knock knock.

Just then, there was a knock at the headquarters’ front door. I stood up with some regret, but Marianne walked to the door first with firm steps.

“Yes?”

Marianne muttered to herself as she opened the door, then froze as if she’d seen Medusa’s eyes.

“Is Ilroy home?”

Agnes’s voice. For a moment, I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

“Your… Majesty?”

Was it just my imagination that the light seemed to disappear from Marianne’s golden eyes…?