I’ll End This Engagement - Chapter 27

What!? What else is this!?

 

I glanced at Davan with great discontent in my eyes.

 

Was the feeling of interest Cadel showed me even an exciting feeling between a man and a woman? I didn’t expect him to be so tactless.

 

The subtle feelings that came and went between Cadel and I were exploration, nothing more, nothing less.

 

We were like a sloth and cheetah in the animal kingdom, or something like that.

 

Of course, the sloth, desperately clinging to the tree, was me.

 

“That is a sad thing to say, Your Excellency. I can say that I have a better eye for people than anyone else.”

 

Cadel laughed softly.

 

“But didn’t you say right away that us two are a very good pair?”

 

Mm? I decided to sympathize with Davan’s words this time.

 

Cadel seemed to have a rather unique point of view in this regard.

 

How the heck does he think this looks like a good relationship?

 

“Well, as you may already know, there is a traditional event during the year-end festival of our Parillas.”

 

The emperor said to Cadel as if he had remembered the most important thing.

 

“It is to hand over a rose to a young lady, and the young lady who gets the most roses will be the queen of the year.”

 

While listening to the emperor, a familiar episode overlapped in my head.

 

‘That rose festival.’

 

A young duke who one day appeared in the capital and monopolized all the attention, and the next grand duke who has been called the hero of the empire and loved by all people.

 

And the mysterious woman who received all of the men’s flowers…

 

Ugh, I’m impressed again.

 

That’s what romance novels should be like.

 

“During the year-end festival, the brightest and most dazzling stars rise in the winter night sky.”

 

Said the emperor with a pleased look on his face, looking excited.

 

“They call it Capella’s Night, meaning that the love of young men and young women shines that bright.

 

“On Capella’s Night, love shines like stars. It is very romantic.

 

“So, from now on, why don’t you think seriously about which young lady you’re going to give a rose to on that day?”

 

At the emperor’s words, Cadel let out a haha.

 

“Hmm. I’m really worried about that.”

 

Cadel muttered.

 

“Then maybe…”

 

Cadel’s gaze met mine.

 

“Is a married woman okay?”

 

My eyes widened at the sudden remark. The movements of Davan, who was turning the bottle, also stopped.

 

That was quite embarrassing even for me, who already knew the original story.

 

‘Who in the world are you talking about?’

 

I’m sure he’s saying this with someone in mind.

 

“A married woman…”

 

The emperor’s tip of nose also wrinkled with a puzzled expression.

 

An awkward silence fell over the table for a while.

 

Among them, Davan was the one who spoke up first.

 

“It doesn’t really matter if you want to.”

 

Davan’s voice was calm.

 

However, on the other hand, there was no tone at all, so it felt cold.

 

“But it’s going to be a lot of work, isn’t it?”

 

Then someone’s hand grabbed me and my jaw turned.

 

“…!”

 

My heart seemed to drop at the sight of Davan, who suddenly approached me.

 

‘Come on? Are you crazy?’

 

The distance between our faces was too close.

 

“Because you’ll have to do it thoroughly.”

 

That cold gaze slowly swept my lips.

 

“Hmph, mph!”

 

What are you doing!? As I was about to shout, Davan pressed his fingertips against my lips.

 

It was an unspoken threat to keep my mouth shut.

 

“You’d better look at another person instead. Fighting without knowing the subject is something that even idiots don’t do.”

 

Davan’s gaze briefly touched my lips, which had been covered with his hand.

 

His eyes, which changed in an instant, were strange.

 

“Do you understand me?”

 

After a long time, Davan, who took his gaze away from me, said to Cadel.

 

“I mean don’t be stupid.”

 

“I will… engrave the advice in my heart. Your Excellency.”

 

Cadel’s eyes seemed to harden, but soon they bent naturally.

 

“Phew.”

 

It was only then that I was able to take my breath.

 

It was because Davan had taken his hand off my lips, which he had been pressing against.

 

‘Aren’t I the one who should be offended right now?’

 

Davan wiped his hands with a towel as if he had touched something dirty.

 

He also did it very thoroughly, like someone who wanted even the remaining feelings to come off!

 

“Ha.”

 

When I saw that, I was amazed and burst out laughing.

 

I couldn’t openly question it, so I just stared at it.

 

“What is it? Do you have anything to say?”

 

Davan asked with a calm expression on his face.

 

Whoa, how unlucky of me.

 

I answered, deliberately raising the corners of my mouth wide.

 

“Nothing. Let’s talk back at home.”

 

My mouth trembled because I was forced to smile.

 

Then Davan replied with a sly reply.

 

“Yes. When it’s just the two of us, I will listen.”

 

Huft. If it wasn’t for his status and class society…

 

I clenched my fists to hold back the violence within me.

 

“It feels like the relationship between the two of you has changed a bit today.”

 

The emperor, who was silently observing the situation, said.

 

It was a smiling face, but it could not be helped that every word sounded meaningful.

 

For some reason, I felt like coming to dine only to leave with a ‘suspicious’ illness.

 

“She’s been so into it lately.”

 

I barely maintained my expression, but Davan’s blue eyes touched me.

 

“Why do you keep making me worry?”

 

He added strength to his words.

 

At first glance, it sounded like a sweet dialogue such as, “I’m going crazy because I care about you. You’re not something that sticks to my eyes, but my heart!”

 

But of course he never meant that.

 

Davan’s cold expression was saying,

 

“To put it simply, you’re annoying.”

 

I clasped my chin with both hands and blinked meaningfully, making the most hateful expression possible.

 

So what if it bothers you? What are you going to do?

 

“Yes. If the two of you get along well, there’s nothing more I can wish for.”

 

The emperor smiled happily.

 

But after a while…

 

‘Why is it so prickling?’

 

There was no way that I couldn’t feel the way he looked at me.

 

I rubbed my cheek for no reason.

 

Could the emperor’s glance, which had passed by for a moment, have left a laceration on my face?

 

“Sir Vernon, I was thinking of asking about the chronic problem of monsters in the southern region.”

 

At the time I thought it was strange, the sound of a conversation with a different subject entered my ears.

 

“The previous duke had also put in a lot of effort to solve the monsters that appeared in the southern mountains.”

 

Despite the sudden question of the emperor, Cadel did not show a sign of embarrassment.

 

“But in the end, it is a matter of magic, so there are limits to human power. There was also a lack of support and interest from the center.”

 

He didn’t hold any word out of courtesy. Perhaps because he was in the position of the lord in charge of a territory, so he spoke outspokenly towards the emperor.

 

“Doesn’t the blood of the Khajans imperial family flow with divinity?”

 

Cadel smiled slightly and looked back at the emperor and Davan.

 

“So, it would be a great blessing for the people of the region if the imperial family could go down to our fief just for the capture of the monsters.”

 

“…Unfortunately, the divinity that flows through the blood of the imperial family doesn’t manifest to everyone.”

 

Cadel nodded as if he already knew.

 

“Yes, I understand. Wasn’t it manifested only to the present pope?”

 

“Yes. We never thought the voice that comes only once every 100 years would be expressed in our generation, in Janton.”

 

“Haha, it is said that the 3rd Prince wanted to jump off the castle tower because he didn’t want to become a pope.”

 

“Did that famous anecdote have already spread to that extent?”

 

The emperor shook his head as if in a headache, but he did not show any dislike.

 

It was the face of a mother who felt helpless of her younger son’s antics, apparently the emperor had had quite a few faces that were hard to come by at that age.

 

“He was a very brazen person, living a religious life and ruling the kingdom of God… shouldn’t be easy for him.”

 

“As long as he’s happy, I’ll be glad. Of all four of us, the divine revelations came to him, the most naugthy of all.”

 

As Cadel sympathized, the emperor’s voice gradually increased.

 

“I’m not married, but I have two rascals to take care of. No, including Aryl Prezis, there are three.”

 

My shoulders shuddered at the word Prezis.

 

Aryl Prezis? Who was Aryl? Maybe Leah’s third brother…?

 

“Your Majesty, he is not a rascal, but the Holy Father of the New Kingdom.”

 

Davan, who was not involved in the conversation, spoke briefly.

 

“Cough. Right, the Holy Father.”

 

‘Janton? Who else is the 3rd Prince?’

 

I understood half of it and not the other half.

 

In the original work, there were things about the New Kingdom or the Khajans imperial family, but they were not mentioned in detail.

 

I was particularly unfamiliar with things like divinity or Janton.

 

After listening to the nuances, it seems that Janton, the 3rd Prince and older brother of Davan, is the Pope…

 

‘Why are there four princes?’

 

The emperor said four brothers in the passing. But, except for Emperor Fven, Pope Janton, and the youngest Davan, who is the other person?

 

“The story was told in vain.”

 

The emperor waved his hand in embarrassment.

 

“If I could, I’d send Janton to the south, but that’s not possible.

 

“Not that it’s impossible because the Pope should rule over the New Kingdom. It’s just…”

 

Cadel nodded in understanding, but showed no sign of backing down.

 

“Isn’t this the generation in which divinity has been manifested for the first time in 130 years for the current imperial family?”

 

“Hmm. That is true.”

 

The emperor, who listened to Cadel, gently stroked his chin.

 

“It will be of great comfort to the local people. If the imperial family is in charge, the central government will pay more attention to support.”

 

“Then, is there any royal family Sir Vernon would like to recommend?”

 

The emperor asked, pressing his forehead as if he had a headache.

 

“Well… that’s.”

 

Cadel’s gaze naturally stopped towards Davan.

 

I fiddled with the teacup, pretending not to be in the conversation.

 

‘Is he already trying to push Davan out of capital politics?’

 

But my head was spinning faster than ever.

 

My hands stopped for a moment in mid-air.

 

I heard something strange around my ears, which were already very sensitive.

 

‘What is it?’

 

I looked at the table.

 

Everyone was concentrating on the conversation, so they didn’t notice.

 

‘Did I mishear?’

 

Was it the sound of leaves shaking because of the wind?

 

However, this was a space created by magic. Not a single wind blew.

 

“You can send me.”

 

“You’re going to the South?”

 

My mind returned to Davan’s voice.