AWWEWNR Chapter 29
by Nikiniks“Can’t you tell by the fact that I went out of my way to summon your father to allow you in and out of the palace?”
“…Your Highness, are you thinking of getting your hands on Ariel? My family is neutral.”
Hanaella asked with a slightly stiff face, and Lloyd clenched his jaw and shook his head.
“You’re the one who took hold of me, aren’t you?”
“…What…?”
“It was you who saved my life, and it was you who called me your lover.”
“…”
“And you realize that now that Duke Ethan has allowed you here, your house is no longer neutral.”
“…”
To be honest, I didn’t know. When the word ‘relationship’ had been thrown around because all I could think of was the Crown Prince, it hadn’t been without repercussions.
When her father had told her that she was to enter the Crown Prince’s palace once every three days, and that she’d better have a dress worthy of imperial dignity.
Hanaella had already suspected that her father was siding with the Crown Prince because of her.
Of course, she has no intention of siding with the Empress, so if she had to choose a side, it would be the Crown Prince’s, but if history was any indication, the Second Prince would become Emperor.
So she was worried that siding with the Crown Prince unnecessarily would cause a crisis in the family.
“But it doesn’t have to be so serious. I have no intention of dragging you, your house, and the Knights into my fight.”
At Lloyd’s words, Hanaella glared at him.
“…I’m surprised.”
“Surprised’?”
“My house and the Knights. It’s a pretty strong set of hands for you, isn’t it?”
“…Do you think I’m the kind of Crown Prince who needs a good hand to ascend to the Emperor’s seat?”
“…Of course, you will be crowned, unless there is a major setback, which there will be…”
“There’s always a chance for something to happen. I’m in a position where my life is at stake.”
“…”
“Besides, it’s already happened once, and you saved my life, so you, your house, and your Knights are untouchable.”
“…But why do you want to make our relationship official? If you want to keep them untouchable, shouldn’t you also keep this fake love affair under wraps? I’m sure the Empress isn’t going to stand idly by and watch the Ariel family empower the Crown Prince.”
“But it would change the way the Emperor treats her.”
“Ah…”
“The only daughter of Ariel, the foremost vanguard of the neutral nobility, and the love of the Crown Prince. The people will rejoice as the love of the century, while the nobility will be envious as usual.”
“Your Majesty will not be able to tamper with a family that has earned the trust of the Emperor.”
Lloyd looked at Hanaella, who had interrupted him, with great amusement.
“That’s right.”
“…”
“Of course, my venomous stepmother won’t stand for it, but she’ll be outwardly untouchable. And she won’t even think of pairing you up with Lionel.”
“…”
“Of course, even if this hadn’t happened between us, the Empress wouldn’t have invited you to the imperial court, since she’s in league with the Great House, which is at odds with your family.”
“Perhaps, but she would have tried to marry me off to someone in her entourage.”
Just like in the past.
In hindsight, I realized that my past self was so stupid and foolish that I didn’t care about my family, only about winning Tharrott’s love.
While he was at the Empress’s side, using her power to move the Knights at will, I was stupidly trapped in his cage, waiting for him to come.
‘I was very foolish, indeed, Hanaella.’
“You were. You’re pretty smart.”
“…Not quite stupid, though?”
“Haha—”
Lloyd smiled brightly and leaned back in his chair, his dazzling platinum hair ruffling in the breeze.
“I guess this is why everyone’s in relationships.”
“…?”
“It’s so pleasant to be talking to you, it feels good.”
“At what point did you say that it feels good because I’m smart?”
“..… just that you’re a brilliant man.”
“Enough formality, Hana.”
Hanaella’s eyes widened as Lloyd called her by her father’s nickname.
Lloyd stared at her, his hair a little disheveled from the wind.
He’d always thought she was beautiful, but he’d never thought of her as lovely.
Lloyd stared at her, barely resisting the urge to reach out and touch her cheek.
“…Yes, Ren.”
Crisp—
Hanaella smiled and sipped her tea.
“Oh, there’s something I need to tell Your Highness.”
“Your Highness?”
“…Ren.”
“About what?”
“It’s about Lady Rosaryn, Count Thearine’s sister.”
“Why her?”
Lloyd asked, cupping his chin in his hand, he didn’t like the idea of someone else being the subject of their conversation.
But Lloyd had heard everything Hanaella had to say, and the corners of his mouth twitched up at her warning not to give in to her temptations if he ever met Rosaryn.
“Do you strike me as the kind of man who would fall for anyone if tempted? If she was confident enough to seduce me in the first place, there’s no way I wouldn’t remember her.”
“There must be something more to it than just looks, otherwise she would have been so bold as to ask me to meet your highness.”
“…Hmm. Well, it doesn’t matter, but I don’t like it.”
The idea of marrying Hanaella off to get the Knights, whoever’s idea it was, didn’t seem to have pure intentions.
“Well, I see your point.”
“You’re not going to fall for it, are you?”
Lloyd stared at her at Hanaella’s words. His eyes glittered like jewels within them, making her heart flutter.
“If you think your lover is the kind of man who would allow himself to be seduced by just anyone, you should know how high these eyes are.”
“…I can well see that you have no modesty.”
“With this face, this hair, and this head, I’m pretty sure I could make a god fall in love with me.”
“You seem so sincere, it’s scary.”
“Anyway, for that reason, I think I’ll have to invite Lady Rosaryn sooner or later.”
“Hmm…”
“I mean, set aside some time and bring her along when you come here in three days…”
“No.”
Lloyd said, cutting Hanaella off, “I do not intend to have this time with you interrupted for such a trivial reason. I’ll send you official passes later, and you can come back another time.”
“A trivial reason… aren’t you busier than that?”
“Yes, I am.”
“But why take time out of your schedule… I’m sure Your Highness’s aide won’t be pleased.”
She glanced away. Hanaella said, staring at Jarez, who was sitting across from Tran at a table in the distance, continuing to flip through papers.
Lloyd flicked his index finger on the table, drawing Hanaella’s attention to him.
“Where are you looking, your beloved is here.”
“Now… you keep dropping the ‘fake’ part, just why—”
“Does it matter? You’re about to become my official lover anyway.”
“…”
“Besides, haven’t we already done everything a lover is supposed to do?”
“…?”
“That too, with you taking off my pants first.”
Yikes—
Hanaella’s face flushed bright red.
“I couldn’t help it then, Your Highness was about to die…!”
An agitated Hanaella shouted, and a wide-eyed Lloyd held up a hand to stop her, checking his surroundings.
“Your voice is too loud, Hana.”
Ugh—
Not sure why her face burned at being called by name, but Hanaella certainly didn’t think this man was good for her heart.
💫
Tharrott had been racking his brain for an excuse to meet with Hanaella.
Since he had no business ties to the Ariel family, he had no excuse to meet with her in private.
It didn’t make sense for a paladin of the Cathedral to have any connection to her, much less a Lord of the Knights.
However, given the circumstances, he thought of all the people he knew who had even the slightest connection to her.
Just then, a letter from Hanaella to Rosaryn arrives at the Count’s residence.
When Rosaryn realized that Hanaella had indeed sent her a letter inviting her to the Crown Prince’s palace, along with an imperial pass, she burst out laughing in disbelief.
‘What, you’re actually going to let me meet the Crown Prince? Are you proud or stupid? Either way, I’m lucky to have the opportunity to meet him without having to work for it.’
Lloyd Ren Arthur Hayden.
Rumors of the Crown Prince of the Empire are commonplace, his picturesque good looks and pleasant, gentle disposition have made him so popular among noblewomen that you don’t have to listen to them.
A handsome man with a different kind of nobility than Tharrott, a man of uncommon beauty.
His platinum hair, first seen at his coming-of-age ceremony, was beautiful in a different way than Tharrott’s dark blonde.
Rosaryn knew that Lloyd did not enjoy the company of women as much as Edward Ethan Delioffe, the man she had predicted for her marriage.
She also knew that he had met several noblewomen who would be of benefit to the Crown, and that they all had similar types of women.
I’d done some research on the man who claimed to be Hanaella’s partner at her coming-of-age ceremony.