“Well, let me put it aside. Anyway, this is my suggestion. I have no plans to accept my wife yet. However, when I think about those kingdoms that dispatched their princesses here, I can’t say I don’t want you all. So, I want you to announce first that you don’t want me.”

“I will, Your Majesty.”

“As you know, if your pregnancy is known to the outside world, there will be a war between the empire and your kingdom. So, to both of you, oh, actually three, I think saving your lives is more important than a war, right?”

She flinched at his penetrating look. At that moment, Gillian twisted his body to block her vision from the crown prince and said, “What do you want from us?”

“Hmm, I think you can understand my point better. I don’t want a lot. I just need something to dissuade those preferring to go to a war with the Lisa kingdom.”

“If we give you what you want, what can you give us in return?”

“Well? You think it’s not enough to have your lives saved, right?”

“Of course, it is, but in that case, what we can hand over to you will be a little different.”

“As a mere knight, are you now trying to negotiate with me?”

Sir Feden’s sparkling brown eyes clashed with the crown prince’s cold eyes. As the atmosphere between them became more tense, Beatrice closed her mouth in a nervous state. She felt as if the crown price would order his royal knights to drag him out.

How much time passed? She was watching them tensely for a while, when the crown prince relented a bit and said, folding his fingers with a more relaxed expression than before, “I hear you are head of the famous Feden family. As such, you are exceeding my expectations.”

“… Well, it’s the thing of the past.”

“I see. I heard that your family was ruined when your mother and first queen lost favor with the king. That’s too bad.”

“…”

“Originally I planned to wrap it up after obtaining some moderate concessions, but as you ask me, let me listen to what you want. Just go ahead.”

“What I want is…”

Beatrice was stunned by what he said, but as she was excluded from their talk, she could not do anything to block him from trying to make a deal with the crown prince. In the end, she could barely see him face to face, who stood next to her after seeing the prince off with a satisfied expression.

Stupid man. Didn’t she really know what he sacrificed for her?

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Are you asking because you really don’t know what I sacrificed for you?”

“Well, I gave up almost everything. What’s so important?”

“This is different from what we have to live quietly here as if we are dead. You’ve become a turncoat! You earned dishonor that will follow you for the rest of your life!”

“I am fine. I don’t care about such a dishonor. I would be willing to suffer the disgrace if I could make you and our baby lead a comfortable life.”

“But…”

Gillian pulled her with a jerk when she was trying to say something, and kissed her. Although she resisted a bit, she eventually closed her eyes and put her arms around his neck as he kissed her passionately.

***

“I give the title of baron to Gillian lo Feden, an earl from the Lisa kingdom. Are you willing to give up your title awarded by the kingdom of Lisa and remain loyal to the empire as its noble?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Are you, Gillian lo Feden, as a new baron of the empire, vowing to devote allegiance to the glorious Castina Empire?”

“I swear.”

Even some of the participants at the title ceremony whispered among themselves that he was a turncoat, he stood up confidently, ignoring them looking daggers at his back. Then, he bowed to the crown prince and walked up to her.

Every step he came closer to her, her heart began to pound.

When he finally stopped in front of her, he smiled gently and said, “Vera.”

“…Gillian. ”

Gillian, looking at her silently for a long time, slowly knelt before her. Grabbing her hand and gently kissing it, he said, “Now I can speak my mind. I, Gillian Lo Feden, want to tell you my wish that I have hidden in my mind for a long time. ”

“Gillian.”

“I want to walk with you. I want to live a happy life with you everyday until death separates us.

I want to spend my life with you as your partner. Would you accept my request?”

“Gillian…”

“Please answer me, Beatrice. Will you marry me? ”

“Yes, yes. Of course. ”

With her big eyes full of tears, she jumped into his arms with a bright smile.

At this moment, she was the happiest woman in the world.

***

“Groom Gillian lo Feden, do you accept bride Beatrice de Lisa as wife and vow to love her in joy, sadness, distress and happiness?”

“I swear.”

“Bride Beatrice de Lisa, do you accept groom Gillian lo Feden as husband, and vow to love him in joy, sadness, distress and happiness?”

“I swear.”

“As of today, these two have got married and accepted each other as husband and wife. If you have any objection to this marriage, speak now, or remain silent forever. Do you have any objection? ” said a senior priest wearing a white new robe, looking around.

Beatrice looked down at the bouquet in her hand. Gillian asked her in a low voice, who was fidgeting with the bouquet of yellow marigolds.

“What are you doing now, Vera? Are you hesitant about this marriage? ”

“No, nothing like that, but…”

“But?”

“Marigold is a flower that means separation, right? Then, why…”

When she was about to speak with a trembling voice, the priest solemnly declared, “I declare in the name of Vita that these two have become a couple.”

Gillian removed her white veil to have an oath of kiss and smiled at her, looking at her green eyes. Kissing the woman he loved, the brown-haired knight whispered, “The hidden language of marigold is that happiness will certainly come.”

***

“Your Majesty, you must go back now.”

“Okay, Sir Monique. Let’s go back.”

Although I expected it, I didn’t know it was so serious. It’s been already three years since I was inaugurated as the emperor, it was really tough to combat corruption. I didn’t think I could quickly drive out the evil practices and corruption that had been accumulating for the past several generations, but it was a huge challenge for me.

As I was sick and tired of those who lavished praise on anything I did, I got out of the Imperial Palace on purpose and went to the commoners’ district for inspection.

Commoners could not spring at me because Sir Lars and Sir Monique were wearing uniforms and swords, but I couldn’t forget their angry look, who clearly showed their displeasure and dissatisfaction with me. They were in shabby clothes and starving, feeling spiteful, and their eyes were glowing with malice.

“Help me! Is anybody there?”

It was at that moment that I came to know the woman that I loved for the first and last time in my life.

I heard her scream when I turned with a deep sigh. Normally I would never have done anything dangerous, like jumping first, but on that day I instinctively headed to the alley where her scream was heard.

The masked men surrounding the woman with crimson hair turned when they heard someone approaching. The moment one of them, clicking his tongue, was about to cut the woman, Sir Monique charged toward him and struck down his sword. Because of Monique’s timely intervention, his sword barely struck past her hair.

My eyes turned to the cut crimson hair falling off the floor. The eyes of the woman looking at Sir Monique in surprise shone like a jewel… I was fascinated by her.

He chuckled at her when she asked in a trembling voice, then beckoned to Gillian, who was standing at a distance. Then, after taking his sword and handing it to the royal guard, he opened his mouth again, “You seem to undermine the intelligence of the empire.”

“No, I didn’t mean that.”