Chapter 75: 76

I doubted my ears. 

Igdrasil nailed it once more as if I hadn’t heard anything wrong. 

“The marriage between my son and your daughter. Don’t you think they would make a really good couple?”

Marriage? The thing where you share a ring and kiss, and you have to live in the same room with that one person?

The crown prince and I, who don’t even know each other’s faces?

“Oh my God, marriage! It’s an auspicious thing!” 

Not knowing my bewildered mind, the nobles exclaimed one by one. 

“I get to see the start of a wonderful history in this life.”

“As a matter of fact, there’s been little interaction between the imperial family and the duchy these days. This will strengthen the alliance between the two families.”

It had only been five seconds since the emperor proposed an arranged marriage, and the nobles already spoke as if my marriage with the crown prince was set in stone.

Where should the ceremony be held, how there would be a festival comparable to a carnival, and that the wedding day should be designated as a national holiday……

My mouth opened and closed repeatedly like a carp’s.

I just wanted to shout the following to the gently smiling emperor like a statue in a cathedral.

‘Marriage? I absolutely hate it!’

But it would be a disaster and I couldn’t scream as I wanted.

I grabbed hold of my invisible leash and thought carefully about the situation.

‘Is this the kind of offer I can refuse…?’ 

According to the tutor, it was polite to not refuse any gift from the emperor. 

Now, that gift was a problem because it was the crown prince.

I was struggling, and a voice that accurately represented my feelings burst out right next to me.

“Marriage, what do you mean by that?”

Hugo contorted his eyebrows deeply and stepped out in front of the emperor as if to confront. 

“Your Majesty, please reconsider. My sister is still young…!”

“Hey, Archmage.”

The emperor immediately erased her smile. Even though it was a small change, the atmosphere drastically changed, and I got goosebumps.

“I did not ask you anything about this proposal.”

She stopped Hugo with her cold stare, then smiled straight at Alan. 

“What’s the problem? Other princes may not be much, but the Crown Prince is the most excellent among my children. It wouldn’t be a bad offer at all for House Bauner.”

If I think about it, this marriage alliance would be a huge windfall for the Bauner family. 

…Which meant that it was terribly disrespectful to refuse this favor.

‘Why… something unexpected happened like this!’

I would rather scream than sigh.

‘There’s no way out of this.’

A single refusal to marry could break the alliance between the royal family and the Bauner family. If that happened, I would gain the emperor’s grudge.

‘That should never happen.’ 

I glanced around. The nobles, who had been babbling like birds of prey before, kept their mouths shut and looked at me.

There was a very keen sense of anticipation in the gazes that flew like arrows and pierced me.

Everyone was expecting me to blush shyly and say, ‘Please give us your blessings.’

‘I’m doomed. How do I get out of this?’ 

I swallowed dry saliva and shook my head. 

‘No matter how precious Lily is, the opponent is the emperor of the empire, and if there is anyone who can be safe even after rejecting this favor…’

Ah. That person was right next to me.

I slowly looked up at Alan and tugged his sleeve.

Alan, who had been silent all along, made eye contact with me. His expressionless face was still difficult to read.

I was suddenly scared. Maybe Alan was thinking like this;

That this was the best ending a fake daughter could get.

If I could satisfy his longing for his daughter and solidify their alliance, it would be the best for him… But.

“Dad, I…” 

I whispered as soft as a mosquito’s buzzing while choosing my words.

“I… I want to live with my dad for a long time.”

Alan’s jade-colored eyes trembled for a moment.

It felt like my heart was shattering. Would he think I’m presumptuous for a mere fake?

“…I have only one thing to tell you, Your Majesty the Emperor.”

Alan raised his head as he said softly. 

Igdrasil laughed happily, as if she already knew Alan’s answer.

“Yes, that’s a given. May Goddess Flora also bless this auspicious union…”

“I don’t need it.”

At Alan’s words, the bustling garden became quiet, as if cold water had been poured over it.

***

“I’ll probably see the Emperor die one day.”

As soon as Hugo entered the detached house of the Imperial Palace, he sharply bared his teeth and took off his formal attire.

Alan, who was sitting on a chair at the back, jutted his chin and muttered.

“Don’t say things like that in front of the Emperor.”

“Yes, I have that much sense. But if it was up to my heart’s desires…”

“Your status as an Archmage was given to you by the Emperor.”

Hugo kept his mouth shut. 

“So, if you want to break free from the tyranny of the imperial family, don’t be swayed by emotions and build your own position first.” 

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Alan lowered his eyes and added softly.

Hugo, who has become quite calm, asked.,

“…Like what Father is doing now?”

Neither affirming nor denying, Alan patted my head, who was sitting next to him.

“Lily, are you surprised? About marriage.”

It was not to the point of being surprised. But if Alan had accepted the emperor’s offer, I might have passed out on the spot.

“…A little bit.”

“Don’t worry too much. It’s not going to go according to the Imperial House’s will.”

Alan gently comforted me. Then Pedro, who was half lying on the bench, scratched his head and said,

“By the way, Father. Was that something you could just say ‘No’ to right away?”

Before Alan could answer, Hugo raised his voice again, as if what he was asking was ridiculous.

“Brother, what are you talking about? She was going to make us marry Lily off.”

Pedro jerked his upper body up and groaned.

“When it comes to marriage, Lily’s heart comes first. She has to find a good mate one day.”

He turned towards me. There was a playful smile on his lips as usual, but his eyes were quite serious.

“Lily, you aren’t interested in the Crown Prince?” 

“Brother. Lily is only 14-years-old right now.”

Hugo intervened as if it was nonsense, but Pedro continued speaking. 

“Exactly, 14-years-old. It’s time to find a fiancé. You seem to want Lily to live alone for the rest of her life, but that’s your selfishness.” 

Pedro was straightforward. However, Hugo retorted, refusing to lose.

“You don’t have to make a family to be happy, do you? Brother has never been married either.” 

“I am not doing that on purpose because the family I want to be faithful to is here with Father and Lily.”

Pedro raised his index finger and pointed to the floor.

“If I ever get married and have children, I will be faithful to them. I think it’s the right thing to do anyway.”

“You sound like a werewolf.” 

“I’m a wolf, you brat.”

“What do you want to say, Brother?”

“So.” 

Pedro stretched out and spoke lightly. 

“It’s up to Lily to choose between us or the new family.”

There was silence for a moment in the living room. 

Pedro scratched the curly hair that covered his shoulders and grinned at me.

“Also, I like whoever Lily likes. So we should help Lily if she has a crush.”

At that time, Alan, who had been silently listening to his son, spoke.

“Lily said she wanted to live with me for a long, long time.”

Alan’s tone was solemn, as if declaring the absolute truth.

“It means that she will not marry the Crown Prince. Isn’t that right, Lily?” 

Alan looked at me with intense, piercing eyes.

I swallowed dry saliva and nodded.

“Yes.”

That was a matter of fact. I would never marry the crown prince.

It was not because I didn’t like arranged marriages.

It was because if I marry the crown prince, my plans would go awry.

***

On a twilight night, I looked up at the night sky from the terrace of a quiet annex.

The moon was bright today. 

I knew that the magic of the World Tree was an illusion, but nevertheless, I couldn’t take my eyes off the bright light.

It was then that I could feel a presence in the dark. 

I shrank for the moment and soon relaxed my guard.

The person who jumped out of the shadow of the bush was a person I knew well.

“Benny.” 

Benny’s splendid silver hair shone like it was broken moonlight.

Looking closer, I realized that he had grown remarkably.

“….…”

Benny gazed at me quietly and sighed very slowly.

He seemed to be relieved to the bone. Like a person who returned home after a long trip.

“…It’s quiet.”

As Benny said, the terrace was quiet. 

As if it was made for a secret meeting, the trees were so thick that it was impossible to see the outside scenery properly.

However, what he meant was not only about the surrounding area.

“Even when I go to the Western Continent…” 

I slowly raised my hand and touched Benny’s cheek.

“Did you hear the evil spirit’s cry?”

Benny told me that he could hear the cry of the underground evil spirit. And when he was by my side, he couldn’t hear its cry. 

Having been away from him for nearly four years, it would be four years before he felt this calm.

Benny lowered his eyes and muttered softly.

“I missed you, Princess.”

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