episode_0032

Episode 32.

For the first time in a long time, I felt exhausted. This is my first time coming to this world.

Walter sat next to my carriage on a tour of the monastery and talked to me non-stop. A topic of no interest or interest.

If the goal was to erode my mental strength, it could be said to be a very good plan.

In the end, I couldn’t bear it anymore and told him directly.

“Lord Walter.”

“Yes, princess.”

“Let’s just talk about the main point. Since when was it possible for a single knight commander to speak lightly to the princess of this country? I don’t want to continue this meaningless conversation any longer.”

“Heh.”

Smile?

Are you laughing now?

A confident smile as if he had never experienced defeat. But to me now, it just seemed unpleasant.

“Are you saying that on purpose? But rest assured, Princess Sera. You will quickly realize that I am the person for you.”

It won’t work.

Princess Sera’s mask is starting to come off little by little.

“Jurdo, stop the carriage. Please tell everyone else to stop too.”

I told the official driving the carriage to stop the entire procession. And he said it to Walter in front of everyone.

“Walter Grave.”

Walter seemed taken aback by my response. The subordinates and servants who did not know the situation were looking at me and Walter with puzzled faces.

“Yes?”

This kind of atmosphere seemed unfamiliar to Walter. He may be used to being in the spotlight, but the gazes he has received have mostly been ones filled with envy or admiration.

“Get out of my sight right now. By my authority as the princess, I will remove you from this escort mission.”

Walter’s eyes shake as if cracked. Like those who have never fallen before, his confusion seemed to be metastasizing into anger.

Leaving him standing there blankly, I set off with my group. Walter, who had been looking at us from his horse, rode up to my carriage.

“Princess, princess! Why are you doing this?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? You’re annoying.”

The filter is slowly not working. Well, it doesn’t really matter.

“Didn’t you allow me to associate with you?”

“What? Who?”

“The queen definitely feels the same way… I’m sure Princess Sera feels the same way as me…”

At Walter’s words, I turned around to look at him. Walter, who saw my face, quickly shut his mouth.

Because my eyes were burning like fuel was poured on a fire.

“Mother. You said that?”

“…Yes, yes…”

Was that why this guy was so annoyingly confident? Because Carmel blew a strange wind?

Carmel and I are enemies. So it’s natural that Carmel would try to fuck me. But I couldn’t forgive this.

It’s hard to explain to myself why I can’t forgive… but I can’t forgive anyway.

I said to Walter with an almost murderous gaze.

“For now, please return to the royal castle. And tell it to your mother. I will come see you soon.”

“Uh, yes, yes…”

Walter looked completely intimidated. He answered while looking at my eyes and immediately rode his horse towards the palace.

Without realizing it, I grabbed the hem of my clothes.

You really fell behind, Carmel.

* * *

Only after attending a total of five prayer ceremonies was I able to return to the palace.

I feel this every time she appears in front of the public, and Princess Sera’s popularity seems to be enormous. To the point where I wonder if she is praised more than a goddess.

I did my best to fit that image. Like moonlight illuminating evening primroses, like sunlight embracing sunflowers.

Thanks to this, I was quite exhausted on the carriage ride back to the palace. But I didn’t feel like drooping down. Even after returning to the palace, there is still a lot of work to be done.

After getting off the carriage, I walked straight towards Carmel’s room.

Upon entering the room, Carmel was crossing her legs, revealing her fascinating legs. It was as if he was waiting for me.

Even before sending out all the maids, I had been glaring at Carmel.

Carmel, who was accepting it with an elegant and relaxed face, suddenly made a sound of wind leaking.

“Pushup.”

Carmel burst into laughter as she stood in front of me like an active volcano about to explode.

“Ahaha, ahahahahaha!”

You’re laughing so hard. It seems like everything that happened today was planned by Carmel.

Not only did I fool Walter, but he also took charge of my escort.

“Stop laughing, mother. What did you say to Walter?”

“Ahahaha, it’s just as you thought. He showed interest in you, so I gave him a little boost. I also promised that if you cooperate with my plan, I will support them as a mother.”

“You said that seriously?”

“Why? What are you dissatisfied with? Honestly, there’s nothing to blame, right? I think they are a good pair.”

With each word, something surges in my heart. It wasn’t simply because of Walter’s burdensome approach.

I approached Carmel. The moment I reached out to her cheek, Carmel stopped laughing for a moment and looked nervous. He may have thought that he would burst out in passion and slap his face.

But instead, I gently touched her cheek and said to Carmel:

“Please don’t make pranks like this anymore. This is a warning, Carmel.”

Even I couldn’t clearly define what ‘this type of prank’ was. But Carmel will definitely understand.

Carmel, who had been following the hand that stroked her cheek with her eyes, raised her gaze to me again and asked.

“Hmph, why should I listen to you?”

“If you don’t… I’ll give you a terrible punishment. A very, very scary punishment.”

There was no longer a smile on Carmel’s face. Carmel looked straight into my eyes, as if trying to read my true intentions.

Then Carmel gently pushed my hand away and said,

“It’s already too late for that. Because marriage talks are already underway with the Grave family.”

“What?”

Carmel shamelessly looked up at me. A smile slowly returned to the corner of his mouth.

“Didn’t you hear? There are marriage talks going on between Walter Graves and Sarah Lustier. Officially using the royal family’s name.”

What does this mean again? A fire broke out inside me, but I answered calmly.

“No matter how parents, they cannot proceed with the marriage without the consent of the parties involved. Especially if you are a royal. That is a conversation that cannot be established.”

“I know. But if it goes this far, it’s enough.”

Carmel continued speaking, proudly and elegantly crossing her arms.

“I think the Grave family is already pushing for marriage talks due to the will of the royal family. The way you treated Walter today must have been conveyed to them. What happens if you refuse to marry here? Wouldn’t the princess think that she broke her promise to them on a momentary whim?

“Do you think I would be afraid of that?”

“Of course, the scary Princess Sera wouldn’t give in to something like that, right? However, the Grave family, who have served the royal family for generations, may be shaken by a sense of betrayal. Hehe, the loyalty of the most reliable guardians of the royal capital Lurie is falling into the abyss.”

I chewed my molars and glared at Carmel. I thought it was pretty good.

I thought it was strange that the loyal Grave family and Carmel were working together. In this case, the Graves are also in the same position as Carmel.

Just like in the novel, Grave Street was probably something that Carmel wanted to deal with quickly.

So they planned this to instill distrust in the royal family. It’s a kind of dividing strategy.

By using my position as a member of the royal family and queen, I created a situation in which I could neither accept nor reject this marriage.

“A marriage between the Grave family, who has no title at all, and the first princess? That’s ridiculous.”

There are no restrictions on status in the qualifications for becoming a royal spouse in the Kingdom of Lustier. Well, it’s probably a rule that was abolished by the lustful king in order to marry as many beautiful women as possible.

However, if it is a condition required to become the husband of a princess or even a queen, it exists implicitly. At best, the Grave family and the direct commander without a title are insufficient to meet the requirements.

“Okay. That’s right now.”

I couldn’t help but sigh as I looked at Carmel, who looked triumphant as if she already had the answer to my question.

“It was a sword festival for that purpose.”

“Okay. With countless people watching, you will win the knightly battle and Walter Grave will propose to you right then and there. Of course, the people who are drunk on romance will give stupid cheers. It is up to you, Sarah Lustier, to decide whether to trample on those ardent expectations and the pride of the Graves, or to take that philanderer as your husband.”

A picture is drawn in my head too.

Walter Grave is already popular with the people. Despite his young age, he is a knight who is like the main character in the story, with genius swordsmanship skills and the status of commander of his direct division.

If Walter were to win brilliantly and then propose to me, the atmosphere of the day would be truly enthusiastic. There would be no way that trivial questions, such as the difference in status between the two people, would be raised on that occasion.

An ordinary person would feel tremendous pressure just from that atmosphere. If I refuse, it would literally be pouring cold water on me.

“What if I express my refusal to the Graves now?”

“A fool on fire cannot be stopped. I also gave a little hint. No matter how much you are rejected, if you win the sword festival brilliantly, you will definitely be able to move the princess’s heart.”

I feel dizzy. Right now, I couldn’t think of a way to overcome this situation created by Carmel.

One thing is certain.

If Walter wins in the Battle of the Sword, I will be given the worst possible choice.

I clenched my fists as I looked at Carmel, who was smiling as if she had already won everything.