If I Don’t Get Married I’ll Die - Chapter 45

I cleared my throat and answered calmly.

 

“I don’t know how it was in Arental, but to me it does not.”

 

Granada moderately nodded her head once.

 

“I see. That’s fortunate.”

 

She didn’t seem to sincerely believe me, but after that, Granada no longer threw questions at me as if she were testing me.

 

“You must be tired so I will show you to your room. Please understand that we have no choice but to take you to the guest room today as we have not heard news of your coming and therefore could not prepare in advance.”

 

“That’s alright.”

 

Granada took the lead, seemingly telling me to follow her.

 

Kalius whispered to me lightly.

 

“She might look like that, but she’s a good person.”

 

“I believe it since Kalius is the one saying so.”

 

Believing and being afraid are things that can be done at the same time, so it wasn’t hard.

 

“I hope you have a comfortable night.”

 

“Thank you. You too, Kalius.”

 

I briefly exchanged pleasantries with Kalius then climbed the stairs after Granada. I vowed to myself that I won’t cry.

 

My maids rushed behind me with my luggage.

 

* * *

 

As Chloe disappeared with Granada, sighs of relief broke out here and there.

 

The employees and knights, who had been hugging each other, finally mingled comfortably and asked how each other had been.

 

Many of the knights and employees in the Lonheim castle were family or lovers.

 

Even Mainz and Granada were siblings.

 

To avoid embezzlement, bribery, and nepotism, it was common practice for employers to not hire blood-related butlers and servants.

 

But in Lonheim, very few people cared about that.

 

“Helvar!”

 

“Martha!”

 

The tallest and biggest knight, Helvar, hugged his wife, Martha, who had jumped out calling for him from amongst the maids.

 

The two were newlyweds who had hastily gotten married just the day before Helvar followed Kalius to Arental.

 

Martha cried as she embraced Helvar.

 

The knight named Carol, who was next to Helvar, also looked around the maids searching for someone.

 

The girl he was looking for pretended to be indifferent, but she raised her hand, unable to hide her delight.

 

“Here, older brother.”

 

These two were also siblings like Mainz and Granada, and they were loyal to Kalius in their respective positions.

 

“How are you? Wow. Didn’t you grow a bit taller?”

 

“I’m the same. Did you bring gifts?”

 

“Isn’t this brother of yours coming back alive enough of a gift?”

 

“What?”

 

“What about mother and father?”

 

“I’m the only one waiting for you.”

 

“Anything going on at home?”

 

“Not much.”

 

Andrew approached the girl and bluntly tapped Carol on the shoulder.

 

“Leviche, long time no see.”

 

“Oh, big brother Andrew. I’m glad you came back safely. Are you not hurt anywhere?”

 

It was a kind tone quite different from the one she used to treat her older brother.

 

“All thanks to your concern. What about Hillen? Have you met her recently?”

 

Hillen was Andrew’s younger sister. She was a seriously ill patient who had been bedridden for a long time.

 

Leviche assured Andrew.

 

“I met her yesterday. Hillen’s condition is pretty good these days. She also went for a walk yesterday. She’d be very happy to know that her brother has returned in good health.”

 

Hearing that, Andrew was greatly relieved.

 

Kalius, who looked around at his subordinates and employees who were greeting each other, gave an order with a warm smile.

 

“Everyone, you may disperse. You’ve all worked hard, so I’ll reward you with vacation. Go and have a good time with your family.”

 

“Thank you!”

 

The knights saluted politely.

 

The knights were excited at the thought of reuniting with their families and lovers after a long time.

 

Cries broke out among those who had already met the family members working at the castle, then laughter when they heard of good news that occurred during their absence.

 

As soon as some of the knights heard Kalius’ order to disperse, they quickly left the castle and ran home.

 

Instead of greeting the knights, the employees flocked to Kalius as if they had more important matters to discuss.

 

“Prince!”

 

“You have no idea how happy we are that you’re back safely.”

 

“Did you get injured?”

 

It was a bit too familiar an attitude for an employer-employee relationship.

 

Nonetheless, neither Kalius nor his employees dwelled on such things, even though the gap in their status was so great.

 

More and more employees huddled around Kalius.

 

“But why did you get married all of a sudden, Prince?”

 

“You don’t know how surprised we were when we heard from Brentian that you’ve gotten married and brought your wife.”

 

“The Idelian imperial princess at that…….”

 

“What the hell happened in Arental?”

 

Kalius calmed the employees who were asking all sorts of questions out of curiosity and concern.

 

“There will be an official announcement soon. I will give you an answer that will satisfy your curiosity, so until then, please wait.”

 

“When is that?”

 

“I’m so curious I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep tonight!”

 

Mainz sternly scolded the servants for hovering around and keeping Kalius.

 

“What is this rudeness! The prince needs his rest, so everyone go now.”

 

The employees meekly withdrew.

 

Their expressions were in agreement that they shouldn’t bother Kalius any more because of their curiosity.

 

Mainz covered Kalius as if he were an escort knight.

 

“The night is late. Please take your rest for today, Prince. Bathwater has been prepared to warm you up.”

 

“Thank you, Mainz.”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

* * *

 

Alex clicked his tongue at the sight of the employees staring at Kalius.

 

“There are many maids here, too. As expected, he’s popular.”

 

He was smiling as he said that, since it wasn’t surprising that Kalius was popular with his people anyway.

 

Andrew tapped him on the shoulder.

 

“Didn’t you say that the teddy bear and pillow were things that the princess valued as much as her life, and asked that you take care of them? Did she carelessly entrust her life to someone else and forget about it?”

 

Andrew said, with a look and tone vastly different from when he worried about his sickly sister.

 

Oh right. Only then did Alex realize that he was still carrying the teddy bear and cushion on his back.

 

“I have to return them.”

 

“That one little woman bothers a lot of people. Doesn’t she?”

 

Andrew patted Alex.

 

Alex, who received unwanted consolation, was irked by Andrew’s sarcastic remarks about Chloe.

 

“Don’t be like that. She’s now the lord’s wife. You have to be respectful.”

 

Andrew snorted.

 

“Respect the Idelian imperial family?”

 

Alex could no longer hold it in and finally said something to Andrew.

 

“Andrew, you’ve been sarcastic towards the princess since last time, but I suggest doing it in moderation. Did the princess slight you in some way?”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“She was kind to us the whole way to Lonheim. She must have been uncomfortable enough because of the difference in culture yet she only showed gratitude in front of the Uttar tribe instead of displaying her discomfort.”

 

Alex recalled how Chloe behaved when they parted ways with the Uttar tribe.

 

No one showed it, but the group was shocked to see Chloe so delighted upon receiving such a crude gift from the chieftain’s wife.

 

There was no way that Chloe, who lived in the glamorous capital of Arental, in the imperial palace decorated with gold and jewels, could have liked such a gift.

 

Still, Chloe beamed with joy and kept the necklace around her neck, even now as she followed Granada to her room.

 

Alex insisted with force and conviction.

 

“She’s different from the Idelian royalty that we hate. She seems like a good person.”

 

Hearing that, Andrew let out an astonished snort.

 

“What, have you gone crazy? Why are you taking the Idelian imperial family’s side? Don’t you know that those southerners put on a facade of kindness but actually tremble with hatred? Are you really that naive to fall for that?”

 

“Didn’t you just choose to hate her, so now everything she does appear hateful to you, no matter what her intentions are?”

 

Andrew sighed.

 

“Are you acting d*mb again because you’ve been fooled by that pretentious Arentali?”

 

“Tell me then. Why would the imperial princess go to such lengths and wear a kind mask just to deceive us? Perhaps with the lord, yes, but does she have a reason to do so with us?”

 

“Surely she must have an ulterior motive! Arentalis are…….”

 

Alex sighed at the repeated words.

 

“Andrew, not all Arentalis calculate their every single action like you think. Blindly criticizing while knowing nothing is really not a good look for you.”

 

“What? What did you just say?”

 

“Did I say something wrong?”

 

The tone between the two gradually grew sharper.

 

No matter how strong and tenacious they were, even if they were Lonheim’s knights, they had just come back after going through all sorts of hardships.

 

They had gone to the battlefield and fought under the orders of the Emperor of Arental, and after enduring an uncomfortable time in the capital of Arental with their exhausted bodies, they finally returned home.

 

Both of them were tired and at the end of their ropes, and so were a bit more touchy than usual.

 

Brentian, who had gone upstairs with Kalius for a moment, came down and witnessed the two men’s confrontation.

 

“Why are you both still here?”

 

Brentian asked, but the agitated Andrew didn’t hear it and hit Alex with a punch.

 

“Alex. Why are you defending the Idelian imperial family? Pray tell, did your appointment as a dollsitter make you feel special?”

 

He sarcastically punched the teddy bear’s head on Alex’s back.

 

Then, the doll’s head clattered and the sound of metal colliding rang in the air.

 

“……?”

 

Andrew, Alex, and Brentian all stared at the teddy bear.