Chapter 30

‘I must absolutely prevent that from happening.’

Currently, the people’s reaction is not bad, but that’s only the people’s opinion.

The nobles and the royal family will be different.

‘Especially the faction of the queen, who views Tarcan as a thorn in her side.’

They will mock it immensely.

Mocking itself is not a big issue.

‘The problem is that it gives them a pretext to attack this marriage in substance.’

They were already sharpening their blades, eager to attack.

They could only congratulate with boiling hearts, unable to say anything bad about a marriage for peace.

‘By now, they must be raising their glasses in celebration upon hearing the news.’

Not only that.

Even if the people’s reaction is good for now, there’s no guarantee it will remain so until the end.

‘Even now...’

Aristine glanced around the crowd.

People who were clapping, moved by Tarcan’s performance, began to murmur and look around.

It was natural, given that there was no follow-up response and Aristine and Tarcan had stopped.

“What do we do now that the carriage is broken? We still have a long way to go... We’ve only just passed the entrance.

The road to the capital of Ailugo is wide, but we can’t walk this long distance.

It will take more than half a day, and the people waiting for the parade along the way will also get tired.

“Is the wedding parade going to be interrupted?”

“No way! For the wedding parade to be interrupted halfway because the carriage overturned... That would be...”

The completion of the wedding parade symbolizes the couple’s entire life.

In other words, if Aristine and Tarcan fail to complete the circuit, it’s as good as a prediction that this marriage will fall apart.

‘And their marriage means...’

Peace.

It means that in itself.

If the wedding parade is interrupted here, it’s as good as a hint that peace will be broken.

The people couldn’t bring themselves to say ominous words, but their faces were filled with anxiety.

Seeing the people looking around uneasily, Aristine narrowed her eyes.

‘The queen’s faction won’t let such an opportunity pass.’

Politics is also a battle of public opinion.

They will spread the word, making this superstition seem like a fact, using the people’s unease.

They might even pin the blame on Tarcan and Aristine, accusing them of causing all this.

A deep sigh escaped her.

Tarcan, who had been looking down at Aristine, tightened his grip on her.

She almost died on the first day of their marriage.

Given how small she was, she wouldn’t have just sustained minor injuries.

Unconsciously, he pulled her closer, as if to protect her.

The people, who were growing increasingly uneasy, paused at the sight.

Just by taking a deep breath and lowering her gaze, Aristine looked unbearably poignant and affectionate.

To the large Ailugo people, it was impossible not to be stirred by the protective instinct.

And with Tarcan, their hero, pityingly hugging his new bride tightly...

This scene became part of the drama they had been imagining, passing through their minds.

Yes, love is always accompanied by trials.

Beautiful lovers always overcome their trials!

“Your Majesty, stay strong!”

“It’s fine! March with us!”

“We support you both!”

“Don’t give up!”

The people actively cheered for the couple.

They were thrilled to be part of this historic moment of love.

The guards and event managers, who were tidying up the surroundings, also nodded and shouted.

“Your Majesty, trust us!”

“We will clear the way for you both to move forward!”

Listening to their words, it felt more like a battlefield where they were urging him to step over their bodies and move forward.

‘...What is this?’

Aristine tilted her head.

For some reason, the situation was developing completely differently from what she had expected.

She thought that the longer they delayed, the more anxiety would grow, worsening the situation.

‘It seems the world is unpredictable until you experience it firsthand.’

Thinking of the worst-case scenario, she felt a lump in her chest.

“Thank you all so much.”

Aristine’s words turned the parade route into a frenzy.

“Squeal!”

“Be happy!”

“We’ll help you!”

People waved their hands enthusiastically, moved by the scene.

Seeing this, a strange wind rose in her heart.

“Tarcan, I really want to complete the parade.”

Until then, she had only thought about finding a way to avoid the political disadvantage.

As Aristine personally, she didn’t care whether the wedding parade was interrupted or not.

‘But...’

Even if she can’t meet all these people’s expectations, she doesn’t want to disappoint them.

“Will the new carriage arrive quickly, now that the manager has gone to fetch it?”

The queen won’t let that happen.

If there’s an issue like ‘this carriage is too shabby, that one is better, check the carriage, make it shinier, decorate the horses, change the decorations,’ it will just waste time.

For a marriage that brings peace, they can’t be careless—using that as an excuse.

Thus, the new carriage will be far less impressive compared to the golden carriage. It’s inevitable that it will be compared.

After the ominous accident, if they switch to a worse carriage, there will be nobles who will gossip.

Still.

“...Even if it takes hours, I’d rather wait than interrupt the wedding parade.”

Seeing these people cheering, she didn’t want to give up and raise her hands in defeat.

Aristine lifted her head and looked up at Tarcan.

Their eyes met immediately.

“Is it okay?”

“No.”

Aristine’s eyes wavered at the firm denial.

Tarcan looked at her with a half-amused expression.

Unlike how Aristine always flustered him, now it was his turn to fluster her.

Tarcan shifted the arm holding Aristine to one side.

And.

* * *

“Lady Diona, have you heard the news?”

“What news?”

Diona tilted her head, pretending to know nothing.

But in fact, she already knew everything.

“The wedding parade of His Highness Tarcan and the princess! The carriage overturned and it’s in danger of being interrupted!”

“Oh my, really...”

Diona covered her mouth, feigning surprise.

“Did Their Highnesses get hurt? What about the spectators...”

“Fortunately, no one was hurt.”

“Is that so? That’s...”

‘What a pity.’

Swallowing this thought, Diona smiled gently.

“It’s fortunate.”

She had already heard that there were no injuries, but in the chaos, information could be inaccurate.

Diona was eagerly waiting for news that Aristine had sustained major injuries.

‘If her pretty face were scratched, it would look even better.’

It was a shame.

‘If at least one spectator had been injured...’

A marriage for peace, and seeing blood...

It could have been used to pressure Aristine as an ominous and ominous event.

Given how special this marriage was, it would have faced even more opposition, which was a pity.

“I hear that His Highness Tarcan handled the situation well. He truly is remarkable.”

“He is indeed remarkable.”

Diona laughed along with the noble lady, not revealing her true feelings.

Seeing no news of injuries even after some time, it seemed to be true.

‘It’s a pity, but this marriage is ruined anyway.’

Completing the wedding parade symbolizes the couple’s life together.

If this is broken, the impact will be significant.

“I know it’s not right to say, but I think it’s a bit for the best.”

The noble lady lowered her voice and whispered.

Of course, Diona had expected her to say this.

She was one of Diona’s followers.

But pretending to know nothing, she put on a puzzled expression.

“For the best...?”

“No, no, don’t misunderstand. Since no one was hurt, I thought this. If someone had been hurt, it would be different.”

The noble lady lowered her voice even more, waving her hand.

“Just that the princess’s wedding is ruined. Considering how she deliberately called Lady Diona to the bride’s waiting room to provoke her...”

The noble lady snorted.

“Ruining the wedding is self-inflicted.”

“Lady Diona...”

“Lady Diona said the princess was lonely, but is that really true? It’s obvious.”

The noble lady pouted.

In fact, when she saw the princess entering the wedding, she was unknowingly captivated.

She snapped back to her senses and felt indignant.

Seeing such an angelic face, she couldn’t believe how dirty tricks she had played.

Feeling momentarily enchanted, she found it even more repulsive.

And seeing people moved to tears by the perfect wedding...

‘Everyone is being deceived by that wicked princess!’

She felt wronged and angry.

If she felt this way, how much more must Diona, sitting in the same guest seat, feel.

‘His Highness Tarcan’s lover is Lady Diona...’

Seeing Diona, who was smiling and clapping, made her heart ache.

‘Such a kind person, the princess must have mocked her without even realizing it.’

With this thought, she decided to support Diona even more.

But even if no one knows, the heavens do. The princess received divine punishment.

“Anyway, they say they’re going to switch to a new carriage. But will that go well?”

The noble lady smiled, twisting her lips.

“Why wouldn’t it? There are many other ceremonial carriages, and they are all beautiful.”

Diona asked, appearing completely innocent.

“There are plenty of carriages.”

“But the queen won’t just sit by.”

“She will delay and delay, and only send it when His Majesty intervenes.”

The noble lady chuckled.

“By then, the spectators will be tired. Plus, the bride and groom standing in the middle of the parade route...”

It’s enough to cool the hearts of those who were celebrating the marriage.

“They might all go home. That would be quite amusing.”

The noble lady laughed.

Diona looked at her with a troubled smile but didn’t stop her.

She only covered her mouth, looking worried.

Thinking about it, it was indeed amusing. She regretted not being able to see it herself.

‘Just wait and see how you’ll be thoroughly humiliated.’

A twisted smile appeared under her hand.

* * *

Whistle!

It was a sharp sound, not quite a whistle.

Aristine tilted her head at the high-pitched sound.

‘What’s this sudden whistle?’

It sounded like it was calling something.

‘Oh, no way.’

As soon as she thought that, the ground shook.

A little later, the sound of hooves was heard, and then something was seen running towards them.

‘...A monster?’

Aristine was startled and clung tightly to Tarcan’s neck.

But seeing Tarcan’s calm demeanor and the cheering crowd, she realized it was a mistake.

The “monster” turned out to be a black horse.

Its large body and the armor it wore made it look like a monster from a distance.

‘I didn’t recognize it because it’s completely different from Silvanus’s armor...’

Silvanus used silver armor that covered the entire body.

Ailugo, on the other hand, used a combination of the monster’s hide and metal to focus on protecting vital areas.

It seemed they prioritized mobility on the plains.

The ornate forehead armor and the large, horn-like protrusions on either side of the head made it look more like a noble and dangerous high-level monster than a horse.

Given its imposing presence, it was understandable that Aristine mistook it for a monster.

‘Its legs must be as tall as me.’

It seemed to be a completely different breed from Silvanus’s horse.

“Is that your horse?”

“Yes.”

Looking at the horse, Tarcan’s eyes were filled with pride and affection.

Aristine immediately understood his thoughts.

Indeed, if they could call the horse without the queen’s interference, riding it would be the best choice.

But there was a problem.

“I... don’t know how to ride a horse.”

Tarcan looked at Aristine with a surprised expression.

It seemed he couldn’t believe she didn’t know, but then he remembered her confinement.

Even as a princess, she hadn’t received the basic education.

But it didn’t matter.

“I know.”

As long as he was by her side.

Tarcan tightly held Aristine with one arm and used the other to mount the horse.

Using the momentum of his body, he leaped up, and the cloak, which was only fastened on one shoulder, flapped heavily.

Despite the rough mounting, the warhorse stood still.

Aristine sat sideways on the horse, looking down with a sense of wonder.

‘It’s so high!’

The view was much higher than in the carriage.

She wasn’t afraid of falling because Tarcan was holding her tightly from behind.

Now a wife, I want to earn some money.