Chapter 14.
“What? Why’s your answer like that? Am I so handsome it’s bad for your heart? Something like that?”
Elsa didn’t respond, and I walked over to where Friedrich was with light steps.
I wonder, how much more handsome has he gotten? As soon as I get there, is there going to be a halo shining from behind him or something?
“Fritz, are you all ready…”
It was when I entered Friedrich’s room with an excited expression.
A massive man, dressed in an olive-green tailcoat and standing with his back to me, turned around.
When I faced him full of anticipation, I was momentarily flustered.
“Uh…”
“…”
“Wow, you look amazing!”
But he looks exactly the same as usual?
Of course! He looked incredible. Even if you dressed this guy—who could make a sack look like high fashion—in clothes deliberately tailored to show off his physique, it was like gazing at a sculpture in an art museum.
But his face hadn’t changed at all. Not that he wasn’t handsome, but it seemed like he hadn’t put on any makeup, just like always.
“I wiped it all off because he looks much better without makeup than with it.”
Then came the fussing voice saying this was a first in their makeup artist career.
Well, yeah, adding anything to that perfect face would just be superfluous.
“…Is it okay?”
The person in question didn’t seem to think so, though. He asked with an anxious expression.
“It’s an important occasion, so going with a bare face like this…”
“I think covering up this face with makeup would be more rude.”
I smiled contentedly and examined his clear face from various angles.
Friedrich seemed a bit relieved by my reaction.
“Shall we go?”
Friedrich nodded and bent his left arm, offering it to me.
When I looked at him like that, Friedrich slightly lowered his gaze. I realized the meaning of his action a moment later.
“Are you escorting me right now?”
“As Your Highness’s partner.”
Honestly, since he’d been locked up for five years, I hadn’t expected much.
“I did live as a prince for fifteen years.”
“Uh, right, yeah.”
Does this guy read minds? I quickly composed my expression and lightly placed my hand on the arm Friedrich offered. Then I felt his body stiffen slightly.
He seemed uncomfortable, so I said cautiously.
“You don’t have to push yourself from the start. We can do this when we get to the banquet hall; it’s not too late.”
Then Friedrich unexpectedly made a sullen face. After I’d gone out of my way to say that?
“Is my escort that terrible?”
“What are you talking about? I just said it in case you were uncomfortable.”
“I’m not uncomfortable at all.”
Then relax your forearm before you say that, I wanted to retort, but decided against it. I shouldn’t mock a kid who’s trying his best; at least I can encourage him.
The banquet celebrating the Stade Empire’s victory was held, as per tradition, in the largest hall of the imperial palace. Before entering the banquet hall, I spoke softly.
“Friedrich.”
He turned his head to look at me. I met his eyes and smiled brightly.
“Don’t be nervous. You’ve got this Rene Stade right by your side.”
Friedrich gazed into my eyes for a moment, then slightly lifted the corner of his mouth.
In that instant, my heart dropped with a thud, and I snapped my fingers as if to say, that’s it.
“If anyone says something mean to you, just smile like that. They won’t be able to say a word.”
But even after hearing this golden tip, Friedrich didn’t seem satisfied for some reason.
“What’s wrong?”
“You said you’d stay by my side all day today.”
“As much as possible.”
“Then no one would dare say anything bad to me.”
Friedrich added quietly.
“…As long as you don’t leave me behind.”
“I absolutely won’t. So you don’t take your eyes off me either. If you get lost here, there’s no hope.”
“Yes.”
I liked that concise answer.
We finally stepped into the banquet hall side by side. In an instant, dozens of pairs of eyes poured onto us.
“The hero of the victory has finally arrived. The man next to her must be that trophy prince. The one she demanded instead of inheriting the throne from His Majesty.”
“I thought she was crazy, but seeing his face, it makes sense. He’s handsome…”
As expected, Joachim couldn’t understand my decision because he hadn’t seen Friedrich’s face.
He saw it yesterday, so he should understand now.
But finding Joachim was secondary; first, I had to go greet the Emperor.
‘The place with the most people gathered…’
As I looked around, suddenly someone tapped the back of my hand. I turned to the side, and Friedrich was saying something.
“…there.”
“Huh?”
“…is there.”
“Ah, I can’t hear well.”
It was too noisy here. When I furrowed my brows in frustration, he made a briefly troubled expression, then leaned his upper body toward me. And whispered lowly in my ear.
“Over there.”
The not-so-loud voice pierced right into my ear. Like an arrow hitting my heart, I couldn’t move for a moment.
I turned my head with a dazed face, and saw Friedrich quietly watching me.
In that moment, all the surrounding sounds suddenly cut off, and I had the illusion that we were left alone in a very quiet space.
“Your Highness?”
In that vacuum, only his voice came through clearly again. I snapped back to my senses belatedly and smiled.
“Uh… yeah. Let’s go.”
I grabbed his arm and approached the imperial couple to offer my greeting.
“May God’s grace be upon the brilliant sun and moon of Stade. I greet Your Majesties.”
The imperial couple looked at us—or more precisely, at Friedrich’s face—and were momentarily flustered.
Then they both wore expressions of understanding. Seeing that, I continued contentedly.
“I’ve come to greet you with the man who will be my husband.”
“You’re really going through with the marriage…”
Emperor Otto murmured while stroking his chin.
“The children’s faces will be exceptionally outstanding.”
“I want to hold the wedding as soon as possible; is that feasible?”
“How soon?”
“A month from now?”
Recalling what Friedrich had said last night, I answered, and the imperial couple made surprised faces.
“That soon?”
“I like him that much.”
“Couldn’t you keep him around a bit longer before deciding?”
“I have to get married before my twenty-fifth birthday anyway.”
“Still…”
“So you’re permitting it?”
I smiled brightly and hurriedly took Friedrich away before they could change their words.
Now that I’ve gotten permission for a specific wedding date, I need to tell Joachim about this.
“Your Highness.”
At the perfect timing, Joachim’s voice rang out.
At the same time, Friedrich’s body stiffened rigidly, and soon after, I understood why.
Joachim knelt before me, took out a ring from his bosom, and offered it to me.
“You said you’d give an answer to my proposal today.”
“Duke Rommel.”
“Will you marry me?”
The murmuring sounds around us grew so loud it seemed like they would swallow us up.
It was when I was about to firmly reject him in front of everyone.
“Duke Rommel.”
Friedrich, who had been silent all along, stepped forward in front of me for the first time.
As I looked at him with a surprised expression, bewildering words followed.
“You’re pathetic.”
