And the way he kept on staring at me, did he think his gaze was going to cut right through me?
Well, anyway.
“Hehe.”
I’ve captured the people’s attention now that I’ve awakened the power of the divine beast.
I smiled at Damian.
You know, in the future, even if it’s just for a small part…can I be your strength?
And be the person you need.
…can we continue to be together like this?
***
The Duke watched Charlize with widened eyes.
‘In the past, she’d usually stand there nervously as Rose’s candidate…’
But now, Charlize seems very relaxed.
Perhaps, it was evidence of how much she had adapted to the Imperial family.
The Duke, though uncomfortable with the situation beforehand, was proud of her.
Her figure stood confidently as the Crown Prince’s fiancee after treading on thin ice.
‘Ah.’
The Duke closed his eyes for a brief moment, only to see the Empress looking his way.
Upon noticing his younger sister’s exhilarated expression, it was just as he thought…
‘They felt the same way.’
He was spot-on with his prediction.
A faint smile appeared on the corner of the Empress’ mouth.
The two siblings burst into laughter side by side, without needing to say anything.
Their smiles were full of love for Charlize.
***
After I was done.
I followed the Empress alongside Damian.
As the Crown Prince’s fiancee, I had to attend the banquet following the harvest festival.
The Empress said that she liked to do my hair for the ball and I gladly took her up on her offer.
But there was this one person who kept pushing my buttons…
“Your Highness.”
“What?”
Damian didn’t even bother hiding his sullen expression.
“Are you mad?”
“You are so-!”
Squinting his eyes at my smirk, Damian glared at me.
Oh, boy…that’s a face that screams ‘I’ll punch a hole through your face!’
“It hasn’t been long since you awakened your power. You even collapsed at Lebane!”
Damian fretted, venting his worry and concern.
Well, I can understand where he’s coming from with this. In his position, I would have been worried sick.
But you know…
“Do you know how I feel?”
“What?”
When asked so, he drew closer, scrunching his brow.
I shrugged my shoulders playfully.
“Eight years ago, don’t you remember?”
“Eight years ago? No, what about eight years ago!”
Damian rejected my question, embarrassed at its absurdity.
I brazenly looked at Damian.
Is that how it is?
You had me worried back then too.
Well, I have been worried about Damian as of late but…
Ignoring the guilt that poked my conscience like a needle, I continued.
“Well, the thing is, I was oddly sure of myself this time as I had a conviction.”
“Conviction? What do you mean by that?”
“Putting it this way, I didn’t feel as if I was in danger…”
I looked at Damian’s expression, then gently closed my eyes.
“Since his Highness was by my side, I felt like somehow I could do it.”
“You!”
Damian raised his voice.
Yikes, that was quick-tempered of him.
I smiled slightly.
Because what I’m saying now is exactly what Damian said to me eight years ago.
After bestowing the divine beast’s blessing, he told me the same thing when I was worried for him and asked him about his body.
I mean, who could blame me for worrying about him in the past?
I didn’t know what it was like to be in this position, until now…
‘I’ve realized there’s nothing more stupid than missing a given opportunity.’
So, I stuck out my tongue at Damian and pulled his leg.
“You did say I did great, didn’t you?”
Damian gave me a stern look as he seemed to wish he could take back what he had said during the harvest festival.
Whoa, whoa.
This situation calls for a strategy of retreat, no?
“Your Majesty, the Empress!”
“Oh, my God, Charlize.”
When I ran to the Empress’ side, she greeted me with a smile.
“Charlize and the Crown Prince seem to be having a good time.”
“Is that what it looks like?”
Damian asked back with a stunned face.
Nodding my head enthusiastically, I conveyed to the Empress that she was right.
Naturally, the Empress raised her concern.
“At least that’s what it looks like to me, or am I mistaken?”
Damian apparently decided against speaking any further and chose to be silent.
Heh, you’re looking quite irritated right now.
If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know or tag admin in comments so we can fix it as soon as possible.