I Didn’t Save You To Get Proposed To - Chapter 55

Aiden added the words naturally.

“Now, if only <I Decided to Become a Saint> is made, the trilogy will be complete. Then, the answer is….”

Please stop.”

At this rate, the medley that would come out would only be things that I would consider very terrifying.

Aiden clasped his chin as he saw me hugging White tightly.

“If the people of the capital see that… White, they might really consider it a saint.”

“Please don’t let that happen. Please.”

“Actually, I’m really looking forward to it.”

“What?”

“When the Lady appears somewhere, something unexpected happens. Besides, it’s especially centralized in social gatherings. A hunting competition is a huge social event.”

I touched my forehead.

Come to think of it, at Ixion’s birthday banquet and at County Recesil’s harvest banquet, there was a lot of gossip.

“Not this time. I’ll stop by quietly and come back.”

“Would you like to bet with me?”

Aiden’s round green eyes gleamed insidiously.

“Whether or not there will be something that will be talked about for a long time.”

“Well, good.”

I answered easily because I was really not going to do anything.

Aiden laughed softly.

“By the way, I’m good at betting. I also won with Wizard Niel.”

***

The Imperial hunting competition organized by the Emperor was a huge event, usually held for about a week.

Irene presented hunting suits to the noble ladies, but she did not get a great response.

There were many ladies who went out hunting excitedly, but their attention was always focused on those who caught the most prey that day.

As the two noble Lord’s competed back and forth, the victory and defeat of the two men was the biggest topic of discussion in this hunting contest, and Irene’s hunting clothes were not receiving much attention.

“Irene, you don’t look very happy.”

The Empress, who cherished her niece, Irene, spoke softly.

“I’m not really interested in hunting.”

Irene sighed as she had tea time with her aunt, the Empress.

Irene’s mother died of an illness a few years ago, and the Empress had only one child, Ramon, so the two used to be close like a mother and daughter.

“Why? Is there no chance of becoming the ‘Queen of the Hunting Tournament’ this time?”

“I only have three rabbits that my brother threw at me like charity. Even those don’t really interest me.”

“If it were Ramon, I would have asked him to do something for his cousin…”

“That’s okay. Would adding one more rabbit here make any difference?”

“Still, it’s a shame.”

The Empress sighed deeply.

“If Ixion ​​hadn’t been spending his time in the bizzare Marquis of Evgeny, Ramon would have been able to leave the cursed Artise land and come to the capital city now.”

“…. What?”

While drinking her tea, Irene blinked her eyes and looked at the Empress.

“It looks like Artise is more difficult to deal with than I thought. That’s why I said to send Ixion instead. I was worried that the Crown Prince would spend too much time in that insidious land.”

“Still… Occupying Artise is a huge achievement. Are you saying that you will return it to Prince Ixion?”

“Is there anything more than Ixion to finish what Ramon has done?”

Irene didn’t say anything and grabbed one of the refreshments.

The Empress used to pour her blind love on her own child, the Crown Prince.

Anyway, Irene chose to keep quiet since she had no intention of getting involved in the affairs of the imperial family.

Aside from her lack of objective understanding of her son, Irene liked Empress Elaine. After defeating numerous suitors, she chose the youngest Prince, who was so far from the succession to the throne simply because he was ‘the most handsome’.

And she raised her helpless husband to the throne with the determination that ‘I want to become an Empress after entering the imperial family’. Of course, it was a pity that the genes for that handsome appearance, which she loved, were now all concentrated on Ixion.

“Did His Majesty agree?”

“Well. Still, he said that the order to go should be given face-to-face. That’s why I’m coming here now.”

“Ah…..”

“The messenger came today, and he said he would arrive tomorrow morning. It must have been a little late because there was a party there.”

“A party?”

Irene, still curious about Elsia, raised her head.

“I heard that Niel Evgeny, who is famous for being a playboy, is coming… Elsia Evgeny, the Princess of Artise, is coming with him.”

“Oh.”

“The Emperor seems to want to meet Lady Elsia too. Apparently, Ixion is the one who proposed so loudly, and she’s a woman who has become a hot topic in many ways…. There’s even a rumor about a saint these days?”

“……”

“It’s absurd. What a saint in that wretched land of Artise….”

As Irene’s eyes widened, the Empress gave a subtle expression.

“What’s wrong? Well, you said that you were friendly with the Princess when she was in the imperial palace? There’s no need to continue with such useless relationships…”

“Your Majesty, I’m sorry. I need to go quickly.”

“Yes?”

“I have a place to send a letter right away. I’m really sorry.”

Berti Forest was not far from the capital. She had to inform Ridan of this, who was only waiting for Elsia’s reply.

***

“We’ll be there tomorrow morning.”

I was negotiating with Aiden about what to bet on, and in the end we were chatting about this and that.

We had to camp today as well, but it was a choice we had to make because we were traveling on a fast road. Sitting side by side with Aiden, looking at the burning bonfire, we roasted marshmallows brought by the chef.

“Perhaps you will have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Ah… is that so?”

It’s an official social event, so of course I should say my greetings. I didn’t know much about the Emperor, but I didn’t have a good impression on him because he didn’t take Ixion’s side.

“Perhaps there is a high chance that we will meet with the Prince too.”

“Does the Emperor know that the Prince has proposed to me?”

“Yes. The capital was bustling. Besides, even in the imperial family…. Actually, there was some objection.”

I nodded my head without any emotion. Naturally, there would be no unanimous consent for the Prince to marry a Princess from an enemy country.

“To be honest, in the Imperial family, the Empress’s influence is stronger than the Emperor’s.”

“Oh really?”

“The Empress’s mother and father are both from great noble families, and she was very clever and meticulous. His Majesty was not originally the Crown Prince. You know right?”

I had read the original story so I know, I nodded.

The current Emperor was a quiet Prince with no power because his biological mother. However, he meets Elaine, the current Empress and the core of the noble power, and ascends to the throne with her power.

Therefore, even if he ascended to the position of Emperor, the Empress’ influence was bound to be stronger

“It’s only between us… Prince Ramon resembles His Majesty’s weakness and helplessness, and Prince Ixion resembles His Majesty’s appearance and background.”

“I see.”

“So, it is not unreasonable for the Empress to be wary of the Prince now.”

I nodded slowly.

“Anyway, since you know this much, you won’t be surprised when you visit the Emperor. His Majesty and the Prince are not very close, so don’t be surprised if he’s cold.”

“Yes.”

I nodded easily, because I had no idea what to do there.

“You know that I won the bet with Wizard Niel, so the Prince and I were able to freely enter and exit the Marquis’ residence, right?”

“I just found out.”

I didn’t even have to talk about that with Niel, so I really only found out now, but it wasn’t surprising.

Aiden smiled as he looked at me as I answered calmly.

“Then let’s talk a little bit about our bet.”

“Good. But… I don’t really want anything from Sir Aiden.”

“Let’s think about it together.”

Aiden crossed his arms and continued the conversation.

As if it was not for nothing that he was in charge of all kinds of dating counseling in the social world, he knew how to lead conversations with people comfortably.

“If it’s a wish, wouldn’t Lady’s ‘lifelong wish’ be the most famous? That you wanted to dance with the Prince.”

“… it’s a past wish.”

“Yes, it was a brief wish indeed.”

Since one dance song lasted less than 3 minutes, it should be better named a ‘short wish’.

“Then what are your wishes now?”

I spoke with sincerity and without much thought.

“Good health and long life.”

“It is a long wish indeed.”

Aiden took a deep breath.

“Lady tends to be at the extreme. Even Wizard Niel and Prince Ixion….”

“That’s a misunderstanding. I have no feelings for Niel. They really are like friends and family.”

“If the Lady is like that… well.”

After ending the topic in an awkward way, Aiden continued with a lighthearted conversation.

“What I want is the Prince’s happiness, always.”

“You are a good lieutenant.”

“Because he didn’t receive much love, and he grew up struggling…”

“Ah.”

“Anyway, if I win the bet, you only have to do one thing.”

“What?”

“People in the capital do not yet know that the Lady has rejected the Prince’s proposal, because the Prince has come down to Marquis Evgeny’s dominion.”

Aiden’s green eyes gleamed and gleamed.

“If I win, please don’t say that the Lady rejected the proposal. I hope it just passed vaguely.”

I thought for a moment. I seemed to understand why Aiden was making such a request.

Due to Ixion’s personality, he wouldn’t care whether rumors circulate that I refused or not. He would stay close to me, because it was very likely to be bad in one way or another. I’m going to be the bad person who keeps giving him room after I turn down the proposal.

And Ixion will be known as a pushover who hangs tirelessly without manners.

“Yes, it’s not difficult.”

After all, I was planning to leave the capital as soon as I could find the necessary materials in the Imperial Palace library.

Aiden’s proposal was not particularly bad because I intended to somehow end this ambiguous relationship disguised as a ‘friend’.

“If the Lady wins…”

Aiden shrugged.

“I will unconditionally spread the rumor of what the lady wants in the social world. Stress is the root of all ailments, so it will be helpful for long life.”

It was an unexpected proposal.