Episode 145
Asil, whose cheeks felt itchy from shyness, quickly scratched her cheek.
Then, avoiding Edenber’s gaze, she cleared her throat with a “hem hem,” lifted her chin, and spoke primly.
“No. I’m not ready yet.”
“Aha, so it’s something that isn’t easy to give at any time.”
Nodding his head, he pondered over something for a moment. Then, he took a small box out from his coat and held it out.
Hmm? What is this?
Could it be… the proposal ring that humans are said to hold out when asking someone to marry them?
Asil opened the box she had received in a daze.
Inside, there was a single earring with a long, white tassel hanging beneath a magnificent ornament.
She could feel the flow of mana, indicating it was a fairly powerful magic tool.
Edenber explained calmly.
“The Basilisk scales, you see—you gave me the ones you received back then. I commissioned the Magic Tower to create a magic tool with them.”
On the day they rescued the mother Basilisk from the basement, the Basilisk was saddened that all her gifts were useless.
So, thinking ‘if I have them, I’ll use them somewhere,’ she had brought those scales.
Of course, since Asil could just use her own scales if necessary, she had given them all to Edenber.
“It’s a magic tool that protects the user, but they said there wasn’t enough material to make a pair. I thought about making it with your scales since you would be the one wearing it… but they said the effect is sufficient even with just one piece.”
“Tch.”
“Wh-why?”
“Nothing.”
And here I thought he was asking me to marry him!
Asil puffed out her cheeks in unnecessary awkwardness.
He used to ask me to marry him all the time before, so why isn’t he saying anything lately? If he asked to marry me now, I’m perfectly willing to call him my husband. Hmph!
Asil had no idea that he was being cautious because of the fact that she had challenged him to a duel.
Edenber, observing Asil’s reaction, asked.
“Do you perhaps not like it?”
“No.”
“If you want, I can have it changed to a different shape.”
“No, it’s not that. But I think this suits Edenber better than me.”
Having lived with Arcian and Brianna, who have a great sense of fashion, she was now able to judge simply by looking.
Asil took out the earring and, before Edenber could stop her, she snapped it onto his ear.
As expected, it suited him very well.
Asil clapped her hands.
“It’s pretty.”
“Th-thank you. But this is your gift—”
“But it looks so good on Edenber.”
So you keep it, Edenber. Okay? Asil looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
He was already handsome, but wearing the pretty earring made him look even more dashing.
At this, Edenber’s cheeks flushed slightly.
Unlike a blunt Duke, he avoided Asil’s eyes and murmured quietly.
“Then, I’ll prepare something else for you later.”
“Okay! Ah, I think that would look good on the Duke, too!”
She was about to say that if he didn’t need it, he could give it to the Duke.
The moment the word ‘Duke ’ came out, Edenber’s expression hardened.
“No, I’ll wear this.”
“Okay.”
Asil answered quietly and tilted her head.
Hmm, it seems he still hasn’t reconciled with the Duke. Well, I suppose that’s why he didn’t attend the party today?
Since they had run into each other at the Great Temple a few days ago and in the hallway of the mansion today, she thought he would come to the party.
Seeing his absence, it seemed that encountering Edenber was quite uncomfortable.
‘Is it just because they’re awkward with each other?’
Or is it because something really happened?
While she was pondering deeply over why that might be, a servant from the Monlepe ducal house ran into the party venue, panting for breath.
Then, he delivered the news of an uninvited guest’s visit.
“H-His Highness Crown Prince Reinhardt de Aliope has arrived!”
The Crown Prince?
Why is the Crown Prince here?
The pleasant atmosphere cooled down in an instant.
Inside the drawing room of the Monlepe ducal house.
Reinhardt was smiling brightly with his legs elegantly crossed.
“The one I requested a meeting with was only Lady Erzébet…”
“This is the Monlepe ducal residence, after all.”
Edenber, sitting across from him, shot back without backing down an inch. His expression as he looked at the Crown Prince was more frozen and rigid than ever before.
He knew better than anyone else that the Crown Prince did not hold the Monlepe ducal house in high regard.
That was why it was suspicious that he had traveled all the way here to see Asil and not himself.
Edenber thought there must surely be some ulterior motive.
Despite Edenber’s wary gaze, Reinhardt spoke with composure.
“I am aware that Her Imperial Majesty intended to personally host the celebration for the new Marquis Skya.”
“The new Marquis Skya did not wish for it, so it is being held modestly within our family.”
“That is why I have come personally. Though we are not related by blood, are they not the family of Her Imperial Majesty and my relatives nonetheless?”
He was saying this because the Marchioness Skya, who was the adoptive mother of Basian and Lilibet, was the Empress’s younger sister.
To call them relatives now, when he wouldn’t even spare them a glance before, calling them ominous twins picked up from the slums.
It was an absurd thing to say.
“What is the real reason you have come here?”
“Hmm, I have something urgent to discuss with the young lady, so I would like the Duke to excuse himself.”
Then, Reinhardt’s cold gaze landed on Edenber’s single earring before pulling away.
“Basilisk……? Did Lady Erzébet perhaps give that to you?”
“I made it. If you do not state the reason for your visit, I may commit an act of rudeness.”
It was a demand to speak quickly before being kicked out.
In the past, it would have been difficult to act this way toward the high-and-mighty Crown Prince, but the current Reinhardt was someone whose position was precarious. Even he could be kicked out at any time.
Right then.
Asil, who had been staring blankly at Reinhardt’s sparkling silver hair until now, opened her mouth.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“Yes.”
“Can I try pulling your hair?”
“…….”
“Just a little bit.”
Reinhardt didn’t know why Asil was doing this, but since he was the one in need anyway, he obediently complied.
Asil stood up and gently tried pulling his silver hair.
And becoming slightly dejected that it didn’t budge, she returned to her seat.
“It’s not anymore.”
“……Ahem. The reason I have come here is to make a proposal to the young lady.”
Originally, he had intended to kick Edenber out and talk to Asil alone to coax her.
But seeing her behavior just now, it seemed like he would get caught up in an unexpected situation if they were left alone.
So Reinhardt decided to just speak here.
He thought that way would be better for grating on Edenber’s nerves as well.
“I heard that the young lady does not have a fiancé yet.”
“……!”
Edenber’s complexion changed as he realized what Reinhardt was about to say from just that one sentence.
The hand he had placed on his lap trembled violently, with veins popping out.
Reinhardt, deliberately taking a sip of tea and pausing to provoke Edenber, continued speaking.
“Also, I heard that Count Arcian Erzébet has a great desire for power. Enough to have tried to link the young lady with ducal houses since she was very young.”
“That’s not true……”
“So this proposal will be something the young lady and the Count will very much welcome. Perhaps you have been waiting desperately for this day to come.”
Ignoring Asil’s words completely, Reinhardt elegantly held out one hand.
“Lady Erzébet. Do you have any intention of becoming the Crown Princess?”
“No. I don’t.”
“…….”
Reinhardt thought he had misheard something. This was because it hadn’t even taken a second for Asil’s answer to come out.
In this world, there would be no one who wouldn’t fall for a proposal from a person who held power second only to the Emperor.
So, after a moment of silence, unable to believe what he heard, he asked back.
“……Did you say you don’t?”
“Yes.”
“It’s not that you answered incorrectly?”
“Yes.”
“Shouldn’t you go back and discuss it with Count Arcian Erzébet?”
“I don’t have to.”
My mom and dad listen to whatever I say. Asil answered without a moment’s hesitation.
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