TSHF 11

Chapter 11

Just as Duke Bobonshire was about to step forward urgently—

“Your Majesty, that is not what concerns me.”

“Then what is it?”

“What worries me is the possibility of ‘my death.’”

At Abeua’s reply, the Emperor—who had been radiating killing intent—paused.

Abeua felt as though she could hardly breathe, but she gathered courage by thinking only of Neroli.

“Where in this world would there be any danger to His Highness the Crown Prince, who bears the Dragon’s blessing? But I am not so fortunate, Your Majesty.”

“Oh?”

“I do not even wish to imagine it, but if something terrible were to happen to me… and our engagement were disrupted as a result…!”

Abeua made an exaggeratedly distressed expression.

“I fear that my family’s dowry might instead become a burden upon the Imperial House. The longer our engagement drags on, the greater that burden will grow.”

“Hah, what nonsense.”

“Ha ha ha ha!”

The Emperor’s hearty laughter cut Gobard off.

He laughed loudly, seemingly amused, then fixed his gaze on Abeua.

“You’ve grown quite eloquent since I last saw you, Abeua.”

At that, Abeua hurriedly lowered her head.

“Th-Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“With such a clever Crown Princess-to-be, my mind is at ease.”

It was the first time the Emperor had directly referred to Abeua as the future Crown Princess.

Duke Bobonshire and his daughter both stared at the Emperor with identical expressions.

The Emperor completely erased the earlier killing intent and leaned back against the sofa.

“Yes, I understand your concern well, Abeua. You two are of full age now, so we should hold the wedding at once. Do you have a date in mind?”

“Your Majesty!”

Gobard called out urgently, but the Emperor did not even look at him as he spoke coldly.

“Or, Gobard, do you have justification to restrain Bobonshire?”

If something truly happened to Abeua and the engagement were broken—

Did he have the ability to bear that enormous dowry and the compensation that would follow? No matter who died, it would be the Imperial side that had delayed the marriage and squandered Bobonshire’s opportunity costs.

Gobard could not answer.

Watching his eldest son, the Emperor clicked his tongue.

If possible, I would have preferred to take Gobard’s side.

But the power of Bobonshire was far too great.

No matter how absolute the Imperial authority was in the Lornode Empire, they could not simply disregard the Guardian of the South.

Especially when the party in question is pressing the matter this far… it cannot be helped.

Meanwhile, Duke Bobonshire looked at his daughter with deeply moved eyes.

To think our once-immature Abeua has grown so much.

She used to shudder at the sight of books—yet how many nights must she have stayed up flipping through that thick code of laws?

Thinking of it that way, he felt nothing but pride and tenderness.

That’s right. It’s not that our Abeua can’t study—she just doesn’t. When she tries, she does splendidly. She’s been clever since she was little.

Abeua, meanwhile, recalled Neroli and cheered inwardly.

Eek! Abeua Bobonshire! You were amazing just now! By following Princess Neroli’s advice, you even convinced His Majesty the Emperor!

As expected, Her Highness the Princess is the best!

From now on, I’ll trust and follow only Princess Neroli!

Having made that vow, Abeua beamed and delivered one final blow to Gobard.

“I would like the wedding to be held one month and two days from now, Your Majesty!”

“Hm, that is rather soon.”

“It is simply my wish to become part of Your Majesty’s family as soon as possible! Please look kindly upon it!”

Even Abeua thought it felt rushed, but since Neroli had advised it, one month and two days from now had to be an auspicious date.

The Emperor, who bore responsibility for this belated marriage, considered briefly before nodding.

“Very well. How admirable. Will that be acceptable, Duke Bobonshire?”

“The House of Bobonshire is always fully prepared, Your Majesty.”

“Good. Then we shall proceed at once.”

Before long, the matter progressed smoothly—excluding Gobard.

Beneath the table, Gobard clenched his fists so tightly that they nearly drew blood.

Of all days… one month and two days from now.

That day is…

Abeua Bobonshire—did that woman know something?

Had he been discovered?

Had he?

In a secluded corner of the Imperial Palace lay a laundry yard.

It was the time of day when the maids hung out the garments they had washed all day.

“Haah… haah…”

From the distance, a woman with light brown hair and pink eyes came running in haste.

Reaching the group of gathered maids, she bent repeatedly at the waist, gasping for breath.

“I’m sorry I’m late. I’m truly sorry.”

Despite her apologies, none of the maids responded. They silently continued their work.

Watching their reactions, the woman hurriedly began hanging the clothes near her.

“I’ll take care of these!”

At her words, a nearby maid scowled, snatched the garment from her hands, and walked away without a word.

“Ah…”

The woman stared at her empty hands, awkwardly fidgeting her fingers before looking around, desperate to find something to do.

The surrounding maids then picked up entire baskets of laundry and moved farther away from her.

At the sight, tears welled in her eyes, and she lowered her head deeply.

Unable to bear it any longer, a senior maid approached her.

“You. Go rest over there.”

“I-I can work!”

“That’s enough. Or do you want us to get scolded by that knight again?”

At the senior maid’s words, several nearby maids deliberately whispered loudly.

“That’s right. Last time he complained about why only she was given the hard tasks.”

“As if the hard work isn’t hard for all of us. Ridiculous.”

“Did she run late today because she went to see that knight again?”

“Must have. She showed up only after everything was finished.”

“Lucky her. That handsome knight dotes on her like he’s lost his mind. If she marries him, she’ll have it made, won’t she?”

“Hey, do you think it’ll even go that far? Girls like us all end up—”

“You lot! Quiet!”

At the senior maid’s sharp rebuke, the chatter ceased and the maids returned to work—though their pouting expressions showed their dissatisfaction.

Sighing heavily, the senior maid spoke.

“We’re done for today anyway. Just go back to the dormitory.”

“But… but I…”

The woman gripped her apron tightly before finally nodding.

The senior maid wasn’t wrong. Neither were the others.

She turned to leave for the dormitory when the hesitant senior maid stopped her.

“Agasa.”

“Yes? Should I help after all?”

“No, not that.”

Hands on her hips, frowning, the senior maid continued.

“When do you plan to quit being a maid?”

“Pardon?”

“Girls as pretty as you usually catch the eye of nobles or knights and leave quickly. Most of them become mistresses, though…”

“……”

“I don’t say this lightly. But we can’t keep accommodating you forever, can we? Your presence just worsens the atmosphere. If you intend to keep seeing that knight, then you should quit soon.”

“I… I don’t intend to become anyone’s mistress.”

“Not all of them do. That knight seems unmarried. If you marry now, who’s to say you wouldn’t become his lawful wife? For common women like us, marrying well is also a talent.”

“……”

“I know you’re not a bad girl—that’s why I’m meddling. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

“Yes…”

Agasa turned and trudged away from her workplace.

On the path to the dormitory, she forced back the tears threatening to spill.

I shouldn’t have met him.

Before she met him, she had fit in naturally among the maids.

They had shared the same dormitory like friends, and even the senior maid in charge had been kind.

But then…

Everything changed after she met him.

She grew distant from her colleagues and became a problem in her superior’s eyes.

Cast out from the group, Agasa’s shoulders slumped with piercing sorrow.

I cannot marry that knight.

If only she could confide in someone—anyone—about the turmoil rotting inside her.

If only he had been an ordinary knight.

Then, as the senior maid suggested, she could have closed her eyes and asked him to take her as his wife.

But…

It’s suffocating.

Agasa had learned his true identity.

A knight he had introduced as his training companion had warned her days ago.

—Do not catch His Grace’s eye any further and disturb his peace. He is someone far beyond the likes of you.

—What? What do you mean…?

—The man you know as Sir Node is, in truth, the young master of this Empire.

How violently her heart had pounded at those words.

Sir Node had said he was a fallen noble serving as an Imperial Knight.

Yet that man was the Empire’s young master?

He… was the Crown Prince?

Agasa, a commoner and an orphan, was someone who could not even dare to look upon such a person.

She had not recognized his true identity precisely because she had never dared to look that high.

If I had known the Crown Prince’s appearance clearly, would I have been able to avoid him?

Unable to believe what she had heard, she had tried to meet him today and ask directly.

She waited endlessly at their usual midday meeting place.

Cruelly, he never appeared—not even a single strand of hair in sight.

“Ah…”

Staggering, Agasa finally crouched by the roadside.

The tears she could no longer suppress poured down, blurring her vision.

It felt just like her hopeless future.

What should I do?

She had thought she had finally found a refuge to lean on—only for it to be an impossible dream.

If I had known…

No matter how persistently he pursued her, she would never have given him her heart.

She would not have been swayed by his sweet kindness.

Her former relationships were already in ruins, and all she had left was love…

Unable to overcome her despair, Agasa hugged her knees and burst into loud sobs.

Someone, please help me.

What am I supposed to do now?

After crying for what felt like an eternity, she suddenly sensed a presence before her.

Startled, Agasa jerked her head up.

And before her—

“Hello~ Why are you crying here?”

A cascade of silky platinum hair that seemed to whisper as it moved.

Beneath it, brilliant amber eyes shining with light.

A finely shaped nose.

Rosy cheeks, flushed like petals.

Lips curved sweetly upward.

“Shall I help you?”

An angel with a smile like a ray of sunlight stood shining down upon her.