Chapter 18

The envoy presented gifts to the king—what were essentially war reparations.

Though they were rare and luxurious items that Aristine had never seen before, her gaze was fixed on a single man.

By the time she realized it, the presentation was over.

"The goodwill of Sylvanus is greatly appreciated. I, too, welcome Princess Aristine and the envoy. It is a joyous occasion that the end of a long war has led to the union of our two nations."

The king raised his glass.

"To the peace between Ailugo and Sylvanus."

Everyone raised their glasses in salute and drank.

This marked the official start of the welcome banquet.

Dancers performed, and dishes that whetted the appetite were served, but Aristine's mind was elsewhere.

Tarkan frowned.

Following Aristine's gaze, he saw a man.

'That man.'

Judging by his seating position, he was near the end of the table where the queen had instructed him to sit.

'Could it be that the sparkle in her eyes earlier was because of this man?'

Tarkan's eyebrows shot up.

He did not like it.

A sharp gaze from his golden eyes grazed Aristine's cheek.

But Aristine did not notice that her fiancé was glaring at her.

Her entire attention was on the man.

The man, unaware of the intense gaze, was busy eating his steak.

'Oh, that steak must be delicious. I should try it before it gets cold.'

Aristine, whose appetite was piqued by the man's eating, hurriedly picked up her steak.

'It's incredibly delicious...

I understand now what they mean when they say it melts in your mouth.

There were several sauces, so it was fun to try different combinations.

As she focused on the steak, the roasted vegetables served as garnish caught her eye.

She started with the familiar potatoes.

Aristine's eyes widened.

'Adding butter to potatoes makes them taste like this!'

She had eaten potatoes many times, but she had never known they could be this delicious.

Was it a different variety, or was the quality different? The soft, fluffy potatoes were subtly sweet on their own.

With the addition of the rich, salty butter, it was...

'Heavenly!'

Aristine, engrossed in her meal, suddenly came to her senses.

Her gaze returned to the man.

Her violet eyes keenly observed every detail of the man.

'It's definitely him.'

Aristine recalled the scene she had seen with her imperial eyes.

It was a scene she had witnessed on the way from Sylvanus to Ailugo.

[Please accept me, Your Highness.]

In the mirror, the man asked Aristine.

To which Aristine herself had replied,

[Sure, you're mine now.]

She had nodded with a bright smile.

'When I first saw it, I was really shocked.'

To see her future self with another man on her way to get married.

Even if it was a political marriage, this was unacceptable.

What could have happened to turn it into a romantic affair?

Aristine, who had no interest in love, found it even more incomprehensible.

But her next words were—

[You will become the best blacksmith in this country, no, on the continent.]

'Totally different.'

Honestly, she was relieved.

But the man in the mirror was shaken as if he had received a declaration of love.

His eyes widened, and his gaze trembled. His face was filled with joy, anticipation, and excitement.

But then he lowered his head in disappointment.

[Is it really possible? As you know, my hand is...]

The man lacked a right thumb. Without it, he couldn't even wield a hammer.

The large man's dejected appearance was like a large dog with its tail between its legs.

In the mirror, Aristine stood on tiptoe and grabbed the man's shoulder.

[It's possible.]

He looked up at Aristine.

[I will make it happen. Together with you.]

The vision ended there.

Unfortunately, Aristine could not get more details.

How they would meet and what special abilities the man, who had only received criticism, possessed.

Why she was confident that a man who couldn't even hold a hammer would become the best blacksmith on the continent.

Why she believed she could make it happen.

She knew nothing, but—

'I definitely need a skilled blacksmith for my business.'

So she had always been on the lookout for when they would meet.

'The sooner I get the core personnel for my business, the better!'

But to meet him at the welcome banquet.

'My... no, my employee!'

Aristine's gaze on the man was like someone who had found gold while digging in a deserted field.

Tarkan, who had forgotten about his delicious meal, looked at Aristine, who was staring at the man with bright eyes, with displeasure.

But then she turned to him and asked,

"Hey, Tarkan. Who is that man?"

"Man?"

His voice was quite sharp.

"Why are you so prickly? I was just asking."

"Why are you interested in that man?"

"That's a business secret."

It was a big business idea, and she couldn't just tell anyone.

When she mentioned starting her own business, Tarkan's reaction was not good.

It would be better to tell him after everything was prepared.

That way, her idea wouldn't be stolen.

Aristine closed her mouth tightly.

Determined not to tell, Tarkan felt annoyed and uncomfortable.

Before he could think about why he felt this way, Aristine turned her head.

'Since she won't tell me, I'll investigate later.'

She memorized the man's seating position, face, and attire.

Tracing his movements wouldn't be difficult.

'I want to talk to him right now, but...'

After the meal, the dancers would enter, and movement in the hall would be more free.

She could approach him then, but since the banquet was for her, everyone's attention was on her.

'Someone might analyze who I talk to and for how long.'

No, no. She had to keep her business idea secret.

Besides, she had already caused a commotion today, so it would be better to stay quiet for the rest of the time.

If she came across as too noisy from the start, it wouldn't be good.

'Focus on eating!'

Actually, she was already so engrossed in eating that she didn't need to remind herself.

Aristine had a happy dinner.

And the dessert that came out was—

'Plinkplong jelly!'

Aristine's eyes lit up. She could finally try it.

With a pounding heart, she picked up the wobbly, light yellow jelly and put it in her mouth.

'Wow!'

As expected, it was like fireworks in her mouth.

The intense sour and sweet flavors mixed, making her salivate.

It was so strong that usually one piece was enough, but she found it a bit too much.

She looked at the empty bowl in front of her—

Aristine's eyes widened at the small dessert bowl in front of her.

On top of the bowl was a cute Plinkplong jelly.

Aristine looked up at Tarkan.

Before she could speak, Tarkan said, almost as if he was making an excuse,

"I don't like this."

"Really?"

For some reason, Tarkan didn't look at Aristine.

Taking his silence as a yes, Aristine asked again,

"Can I have it then?"

Her mouth was already watering.

"Go ahead."

His indifferent words, without even making eye contact, made Aristine's eyes shine with joy.

"Hey, Tarkan."

"What now."

"You might be a bit shy and perverted, but you seem like a pretty good partner."

"What?"

Tarkan, taken aback, finally looked at Aristine.

Seeing the vertical lines on his forehead, Aristine said,

"You seem like a pretty good partner."

"Before that... No, never mind."

Tarkan shook his head.

It was a compliment, but his face made her wonder why he was reacting that way.

'She's just weird.'

Tarkan couldn't help but chuckle.

The meal ended with dessert.

People moved around freely, gathering in small groups to chat.

Many Ailugo nobles approached the Sylvanus envoy out of curiosity.

Of course, the most attention was on Aristine.

While the faction supporting Hamir pretended not to care, other nobles were different.

Many people, including the neutral Duke Isara, approached Aristine.

Some were simply curious about the Princess of Sylvanus.

"It can't go on like this, Your Highness."

Duke Skiera said, and the queen nodded.

"I know."

Her gaze fell on Aristine, who was sitting in the position of the crown princess, talking to the nobles.

And on Tarkan, who was sitting in the position of the crown prince.

He sat there as if it were his rightful place, looking at the chattering Aristine with a relaxed and carefree attitude.

"How dare he sit in that position..."

Her teeth ground together.

"Calm down, Your Highness."

The queen's expression softened at her father's words.

"That princess is not as easy to deal with as I thought. I thought she would be happy to have a half-brother."

Despite the opposition from many nobles, the king's intention to make Tarkan the heir was clear to everyone.

Until now, it was thought to be impossible.

The queen's faction was strong, and the nobles did not want a commoner king.

'But if the princess, who has the blood of the oldest ruling family, becomes a strong ally of Tarkan...'

The blood of gold.

Even the conservative nobles, who were obsessed with bloodlines, would change their attitude.

Moreover, the princess herself was a remarkable political strategist.

'How did she acquire such grace and dignity, living in a place where she was ignored and locked away?'

There was nothing to learn or emulate in her environment.

'She must have a smooth tongue.'

She perfectly possessed the qualities that conservative nobles would like.

It was a waste.

'If the king had arranged a marriage between the princess and Hamir...'

There would have been no one to stand in his way.

There would have been no need to worry about Tarkan.

But the princess became Tarkan's partner, and from her attitude, it was clear she was already cooperating with him.

'She's a waste, but she must be eliminated.'

The queen turned her head from Aristine and whispered to Duke Skiera,

"I need to send a letter to Hamir to come back quickly."

She would write to her eldest son, who was currently away.

"That's a good idea. When His Highness returns, the nobles who are currently confused will know what is right."

While the queen and Duke Skiera whispered about Aristine, she felt their gazes and looked around.

Many people were watching her.

But what caught Aristine's eye was the Sylvanus envoy.

They all looked at her with puzzled expressions.

They were clearly struggling to adapt to the change in the princess who had been silent and meek in the empire.

'They will report back to the emperor when they return. Or maybe they'll send a message tonight?'

It didn't matter.

Aristine was going to stay in Ailugo, and Tarkan had agreed to protect her.

'Seeing their faces won't be pleasant, so I hope they leave soon.'

The knights and maids who served Aristine would stay, but the envoy would return home after completing their mission.

With one task completed today, there was only one left.

'My wedding.'

Chapter 7. Soft and Cozy

Tarkan's palace was unusually lively.

The solemn and rigid atmosphere, fitting for the owner, had turned festive.

After all, the owner's wedding was just around the corner.

Moreover, the princess was a delight to serve.

She exuded regal grace but could also be down-to-earth and relaxed, like a mature adult, and at times, like a child experiencing the world for the first time.

Most importantly—

'She's beautiful!'

It was said that what is pleasing to the eye is also good for the body.

The palace staff gathered more often around the princess than the respected but intimidating owner.

"Your Highness, your wedding is coming up soon."

"Since it's a once-in-a-lifetime event, shouldn't your opinion be the most important? Is there anything you want?"

"We will do our best to make it the most perfect and beautiful wedding. Please share your dreams with us."

Anything, just tell us your dreams.

The palace staff, who had grown close to her, looked at her with such eyes.

"Something I want. Hmm, I just..."

Usually, such desires are held by those who want to get married.

What Aristine wanted was a free life.

A life where she wasn't confined and could go wherever she wanted.

'So, marriage is fine—anyway.'

With this sudden thought, Aristine spoke.

"There is one thing."

"One? That's so few. Even the smallest things are fine!"

"What is it?"

"Tell us anything. We will prepare it no matter what!"

The palace staff looked at Aristine with bright eyes, eager to hear her words.

But what she said was—

"Something soft and cozy."

"Soft... what?!"

It was incomprehensible.

Well, there was one thing that came to mind when a bride said she wanted something soft and cozy.

'No, it can't be.'

'I must have heard wrong.'

"Excuse me, what did you say?"

"Something soft and cozy."

"Excuse me?"

"Soft and cozy. I like soft and cozy things. They feel good when you lie down."

"Phew...!"

Even the veteran palace staff couldn't maintain their composure at this confirmation.

"Forget the husband, I just want to make money."