Chapter 74

After Lady Rana left the room, an awkward silence fell over it. The atmosphere in the Marita Kingdom side was heavy. Of course, the cause was Lady Rana, but cold glances were also directed at Prince Rolfe, who had brought her along, by the Marita Royal Family.

"Why did you bring her, Rolfe? Is this some kind of harassment towards our country?"

Prince Said asked Prince Rolfe with a suspiciously cheerful smile. Lady Luna, sitting beside him, had a cool expression, but a quiet aura of anger was emanating from her. The angry beauty was beautiful to the point of being scary.

"I don't recall inviting her... Oh, did someone send her an invitation?"

The Queen turned and looked around the Marita royal family. Everyone shook their heads and smiled.

"Well, that's that. To want to enter someone else's house without an invitation... I wonder what kind of upbringing that girl received? I should ask Queen Naris, shouldn't I?"

Queen, who was said to be the scariest person in our family when she was really angry, as Prince Alan had mentioned before, was now showing just that. Her tone was gentle, but her words were full of thorns.

"Is she a candidate for the Queen of Zinklett? That means she's a candidate to be my sister-in-law, right? Hmm, she seems to lack everything."

Prince Alan's frank opinion was met with a graceful nod from Lady Hanna, who was sitting beside him.

"To speak to Lady Shina like that... Do you intend to make the Marita Kingdom your enemy?"

Lady Hanna, with whom I had become very close due to the orphanage project, along with her father, is a very sexy older sister who loves cute things. She is so into dolls that she is the most enthusiastic about the doll series, not just guiding the sewing at the orphanage. Her sense is so good that I can completely entrust the production of the series to her. I'm sure her twin sister's baby will be born soon.

"To throw a fan at Lady Shina! I can't forgive that!"

The delicate Lady Saria, with trembling hands and teary eyes, was angry. Prince Lute was looking at her with a fond gaze, and I strongly agreed! She is so soothing.

His Majesty remained silent and expressionless, his gaze on Prince Rolfe was icy.

I had never seen His Majesty look so coldly before. Where did the usual friendly and familiar uncle-like demeanor go?

Actually, I was more preoccupied with something else. The brides and fiancés of the Marita royal family come in all types—beautiful Queen, Lady Luna, sexy Lady Hanna, and delicate Lady Saria.

Technically, as Jin's fake fiancée, I am also counted among the Marita royal family.

What category do I fall into? ...Not the lolita, please! I have to drink milk every day and do everything I can to get out of the lolita category!

"What's wrong, Shina? You suddenly look so tired. Are you hungry?"

"I'm thinking about my purpose in life..."

I have to avoid the lolita category at all costs. Milk alone isn't enough. To grow, I need to get Sand the old man to push me to the limit with his medicinal baths again!

"My queen can only be Shina. I don't need to care about what that woman says!"

I was tightly embraced by Jin. That woman? Oh, Lady Rana. No, I don't really care about her, but the lolita category...

"Shina is noble, cute, kind, and full of talent. She is always positive and never slacks off. I deeply respect and admire Shina. There's no need to be upset by that woman's words."

While Jin was passionately comforting me, I was preoccupied with the lolita category. No, it's embarrassing! What are you saying all of a sudden, Jin? You, you admire me?

"No, no, Jin! I don't care about what she said at all! I really don't! Stop it, it's embarrassing!"

I covered Jin's mouth with both hands to stop him. I could feel everyone's attention, which made me even more embarrassed! Stop those sweet words immediately!

"Is that so? If Shina isn't bothered, then I'm fine."

While mumbling, Jin easily backed off. But he whispered in my ear, "I mean it." Does he want to kill me?

Everyone was looking at my red face as if it was a common occurrence. Are you used to it? Is that so? Prince Rolfe looked tense, as if he was pulling back. I'm sorry for showing you such an unpleasant sight.

"I apologize for the rude behavior of one of my team members. It's difficult for me to refuse her, given my position."

Prince Rolfe coughed and lowered his eyes. The Colts family is a key faction supporting the Naris royal family, so he can't ignore them. Lady Rana is apparently excellent, but given her lack of communication, even if she is excellent, it must be difficult for her superiors.

In my previous life, I had a junior who was highly educated and excellent, but was shockingly difficult to communicate with. She would interpret things her own way, and of course, the results were failures. When I tried to teach her, she blamed me for my poor teaching methods, got angry at her boss, and left the company, spewing insults. The next day, she stormed into the office, angry, and demanded, "Why didn't you try to keep me, such an excellent person?" A colleague next to me muttered in a suspicious Kansai accent, "No, you quit on your own, didn't you?" I accidentally heard it and snorted, which was a good memory.

In that case, it was good that there was no obligation to keep her. But for the Naris royal family, she is an important supporter's daughter. Even Prince Rolfe can't go against her, and I understood that easily...

"I see, she was someone you couldn't refuse... Is that the answer of the Naris royal family?"

His Majesty's expression softened. The Queen also smiled gently.

Wait? The attitudes of the two of them suddenly changed. Prince Said and Lady Luna were slightly tense as they looked at the two of them.

Until now, His Majesty and the Queen had clearly shown their anger towards Prince Rolfe. But now, they were smiling gently, yet there was a distance, and the ease they had shown when welcoming Prince Rolfe was gone.

"Prince Rolfe, Prince Canaan. Spend the rest of your stay leisurely. Rest and prepare fully for your departure. We will provide all the assistance you need."

Prince Rolfe's face tensed at His Majesty's words. Even I could feel it, so Prince Rolfe must have noticed it too. It was as if an invisible wall had surrounded His Majesty and the Queen, and their hearts had suddenly grown distant.

The Marita royal family was confused by the change in attitude of His Majesty and the Queen. Everyone had been saying mean things, but they were partly sympathetic to Prince Rolfe, as he didn't bring Lady Rana out of affection.

Prince Canaan's face also turned pale at the sudden change in attitude of His Majesty and the Queen. At 8 years old, he is a child who can read the room.

"Said, Luna. I leave the hospitality of Prince Rolfe and Prince Canaan to you. Make sure they are well taken care of."

"Hai"

"Hai"

Wait? Until now, Prince Canaan had been taken care of by Jin and me. He was receiving treatment for his leg, and Sand the old man and Prince Lute, who was part of his rehabilitation group, were also involved. Prince Said and Lady Luna, who had just returned from a busy trip, were not heavily involved. Prince Sirius was just hanging around.

When I glanced at Jin, he was staring intently at Prince Rolfe. I shivered at the coldness in his eyes. He noticed my gaze and smiled at me, but it seemed like he was planning something not so good. I was also worried that Barry, who had left to investigate the Colts family, hadn't returned yet.

Jin sometimes goes overboard when trying to protect me. Barry is also combative, and I think this master and servant are very similar.

I appreciate their efforts to protect me, but I also want to know what Jin is doing. I would rather face the dirt and filth with Jin than be safe and ignorant. Jin is a royal, and there are times when he has to make ruthless decisions. I don't want to be left out and kept in the dark during such times.

I smiled back at Jin. I will definitely make him spill the beans. His face twitched. It seemed like the Esparing ability had activated. I won't let him get away.

When I turned my gaze back to Prince Rolfe, he was a blank slate. Despite the adult charm he exuded earlier, it was now completely off. Is charm something that can be turned on and off at will?

There was a tense atmosphere between His Majesty, Jin, and Prince Rolfe, and I couldn't quite figure out what it was.

Amidst the various thoughts and intentions, it was time for His Majesty and the Queen to leave. Unusually, a signal was given by the attendant, and they left the room. Usually, when it was just family, His Majesty would casually say, "Well, that's it," and leave. Even at dinners with Prince Canaan, it was the same.

The Marita Kingdom's closest ally, the Naris Kingdom, was treated like family. But now, His Majesty's attitude had changed to the same formal and polite one he used for other countries. The ease he showed to family had disappeared, and it was so obvious that anyone could tell the Marita Kingdom was putting distance between itself and the Naris Kingdom.

In the face of the Daido Kingdom and the monster attacks, it was a crucial time for the countries to unite...

What will happen? A vague sense of unease swirled inside me.