Chapter 91

As the royal couple and their entourage finally entered the capital, they were greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of people.

The people in the streets, who had initially appeared fearful of the Crown Prince, now seemed to genuinely rejoice at the return of the couple. It seemed that the story of the Crown Princess being kidnapped and the Crown Prince rescuing her had already spread.

"Troublesome. We also need to spread the 'Dawn Star'...," Lillis muttered with a smile as she waved from the window in response to the cheers.

Jesualdo, who was riding with her, stiffened for a moment at her words. However, he continued to wave from the opposite window with his usual expressionless face, as if nothing had happened. Eventually, the carriage passed through the grand gates of the palace and stopped at the main carriage entrance, where a large number of servants had gathered to welcome them. Despite the crowd, the scene was eerily quiet. While Lillis was wondering about this, Jesualdo responded to a signal from outside, and the door was opened.

Jesualdo stepped out first, but the only sound was someone gasping. Despite her curiosity, Lillis happily took Jesualdo's hand when he offered it to her. As she slowly descended from the carriage, she was captivated by Jesualdo, who was shining in the bright sunlight.

In an instant, the scene erupted in excitement. Surprised, Lillis looked away from Jesualdo to see the gathered people reacting with a mix of joy and shock. Remembering the bet, Lillis linked her arm with Jesualdo's to show everyone. This only made the crowd's reactions more intense, with some cheering and others sighing. When Jesualdo raised his hand, the scene quieted down again.

"Everyone, thank you for your warm welcome. It seems many rumors have spread, but I have successfully returned with my bride. I hope you will share in our joy."

The Crown Prince spoke clearly, with a slight upward curve at the corners of his mouth. This almost-smile left everyone puzzled. His expression, which would have previously instilled fear, now seemed different with the Crown Princess blushing and looking up at him.

(Eh? Did the Prince just smile...?)

As the crowd was still in shock, the Crown Princess slowly turned her gaze from the Crown Prince and addressed the people, looking at each one of them.

"Thank you all for such a warm welcome. We faced many challenges on our journey, but we have returned safely. When I first came to this country, I had some anxieties, but now I am filled with happiness."

After speaking with a shy smile, the Crown Princess quickly turned her gaze back to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince, receiving her gaze, looked down at her and slightly raised the corners of his mouth before starting to walk. Of course, he placed his hand on her waist to escort her. At this moment, everyone forgot about the bet and stood there with their mouths agape, silently watching the couple.

What they had just seen was hard to believe. Seeing the dazed servants, one of the Crown Prince's guard knights cleared his throat dramatically. Suddenly, everyone snapped back to reality and the scene erupted in chaos.

"Hey, was that real...?"

"It wasn't an illusion, right? The Prince was smiling, right?"

"Was that really not a mistake...? I thought it was a nightmare brought on by losing the bet..."

"The Crown Princess looked so happy, didn't she?"

"Who said the postcards were just for show? They were definitely real. Genuine."

"Oh, I'm so envious. I want a wonderful lover—husband!"

"Actually, the Prince more than the Crown Princess! To see such a gentle expression..."

"Really. I still can't believe it."

"Even though we lost the bet, it was worth it to see this. I can probably save for a month."

"Hehe. I won. And I feel so happy. I should share this happiness. So, I'll treat you to dinner."

"Yay!"

While talking, the crowd eventually returned to their posts, and the news quickly spread to those who couldn't participate in the welcome.

Ignoring all this, Jesualdo escorted Lillis to her room. Lillis, entering her long-missed room, smiled with joy. Watching her, Jesualdo spoke with a hint of regret.

"Lillis, you must be tired from the long journey. You have no plans for today or tomorrow, so please rest well."

"Will the Prince not rest? After such a long journey..."

Moreover, unlike Lillis, Jesualdo had arrived in Tuisen from the capital and immediately tackled the difficult task of rescuing Lillis, even completing his duties at the inn.

"I'm fine with this much. But your body is not strong. This must have been a great trial for you, right?"

Saying this with a gentle smile, Jesualdo made Lillis feel uncomfortable. She felt guilty for still lying about her frail health. Determined to reveal the truth as soon as possible, but unable to find the right words, Lillis could only smile vaguely.

"Please, don't overwork yourself."

"Yes, I understand."

In the end, Lillis could only say something commonplace, but Jesualdo nodded, lightly touched her cheek, and left the room. Watching his back, Lillis bit her lip. She knew she had to finally address the issue she had been putting off.

(But Jed will be busy for a while... It's not something I can talk about casually. I'll wait a few days and see how things go...)

While drinking the tea Tena had prepared, Lillis thought about how to bring up the topic. The maids who had not accompanied her on the journey came to greet her one after another, interrupting her thoughts, but even after lying down for a nap, her worries continued.

Now, she was confident that Jesualdo would not find her powers repulsive. However, she was worried that he might question why she had kept it a secret for so long. Jesualdo would surely understand, but deep down, she feared rejection.

(Ah, enough! There's no point in overthinking this! I've delayed this long enough, and I need to make up my mind. It's okay. For now, I can only pray that Jed's work, which must be piling up, gets done quickly.)

Thinking that someday she might be able to help with his work, Lillis changed her mindset and fell asleep.