Chapter 5

When the person he had caused an accident with approached to greet him, how should he handle the situation?

"Stop avoiding my eyes. Let's greet each other."

As the man who had approached him finally started to speak, Latil felt his heart drop.

"Who are you?"

The Captain of the Royal Guard tried to stand up to block the man, but the man was not someone the Captain could block.

"Klein Abysinian, Prince of Carisen."

Latil's expression turned sour, then quickly smoothed out. A scream involuntarily escaped him. The person he had caused an accident with was actually a prince! Hysinth's brother! He must be crazy! Latil hadn't heard much about Hysinth's half-brothers, but he knew Hysinth was the eldest. Since Hysinth hadn't married or had a child, the previous emperor's children were still called princes and princesses. This prince must be Hysinth's brother.

'I'm going to go crazy.'

Just when Hysinth had abandoned him, he should have left in a cool and awesome manner, but now he had caused an accident with his brother?

'I must be crazy, Latil, really crazy.'

Latil scolded himself, but Klein was already right in front of him.

'There's nothing I can do!'

Latil decided to act boldly. He was drunk anyway, and a significant part of his memory had already vanished. Even if he had caused an accident, it was just that. He had only embraced and acted foolishly. He could pretend he didn't know. Or rather, he didn't know since he had no memory. With a thickened face, Latil steeled his resolve, smiled, and turned around.

"I am Latrashil Valentine, Princess of Tarium and the leader of the wedding congratulatory delegation from Tarium."

Latil habitually offered a handshake and maintained a formal smile even after greeting him.

"I am Klein."

Klein looked at Latil with an ambiguous expression. His probing gaze was obvious, but Latil pretended to be calm and brought up an irrelevant topic.

"Carisen is a very beautiful country."

"Yes. It's also warm enough to sleep outside without freezing to death."

Klein's lips twisted. The Captain of the Royal Guard, who seemed to find this rude, showed a clear sign of displeasure. Latil poked his side and awkwardly laughed, changing the subject.

"Yes, but it would still be difficult to sleep outside. The temperature drops at night, so you might catch a cold."

"Do you really think so? You don't seem to be suffering from it?"

"Of course. Ah, what is the most famous food in Carisen?"

"Alcohol."

"..."

Latil laughed silently and nodded, but inside, he was screaming.

'That man, he definitely remembers! He remembers that I was the woman who got drunk and caused an accident with him!'

Otherwise, he wouldn't have brought up the topic of sleeping outside and alcohol. However, it would be strange to suddenly say, "Oh, by the way, you're that person!" So, Latil exaggeratedly laughed and muttered.

"You have a good sense of humor."

"Princess? Why are you saying that?"

The Captain, who seemed to find this strange, asked from the side. Latil smiled softly and benevolently at the Captain and then spoke to Klein again.

"Brother will be marching soon. It would be better to wait sitting down, wouldn't it?"

Fortunately, the sound of a trumpet signaling the start of the wedding ceremony rang out as soon as he finished speaking.

"Greetings. We'll finish this later, so wait for me."

Klein warned Latil firmly and returned to his place. As Klein moved away, the Captain asked again.

"Princess, do you like that prince? Why did you suddenly use such a creepy tone?"

"Can't you just be quiet if you think I like someone?"

The Captain seemed to find this a normal reaction and sighed in relief. Latil groaned and shook his head.

'How does the Captain usually see me?'

"Even if you like someone, don't hide your usual personality. It will be more shocking if you get caught. The Princess is most charming when she's rough."

"Rough is just easier to tease."

"True, but..."

Captain Seunet, before becoming a Captain, was a friend of Prince Lean. As a result, he was much younger than the average age of the Captains. Perhaps because of this, he was exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship and leadership, but to Latil, he just seemed like a mischievous older friend.

'I don't understand what noble ladies find attractive about this guy.'

Latil grumbled to herself as she glared at Captain Seunet, who was laughing brightly.

'Of course, he is objectively handsome.'

But don't his upturned eyes make him look bad-tempered?

"Princess, do you really like that prince?"

"No way."

"You made a good decision. You two don't match."

"Why? He's handsome. Wouldn't he look perfect standing next to me?"

"Men have a gut feeling. That guy looks like he has a terrible personality. The person who matches you isn't like that."

"Then what kind of personality?"

Just then, the music started again with a loud sound, and fireworks began to fly in sequence. As the fireworks exploded, the sky was illuminated with a variety of colors, and silver papers began to fall. Amid the cheers, Hysinth, wearing a red cloak three times his height, appeared.

"You don't mean that kind of personality, right?"

Latil looked at Hysinth with a troubled expression and muttered.

"Absolutely not."

"Really?"

"What about you?"

Latil, who had been looking at Hysinth pitifully, turned to the side with a sour expression at the sudden question. Captain Seunet was leaning back in his chair, smiling playfully.

"An unpleasant joke."

Latil said firmly and turned her head. Whether it was intentional or coincidental, Emperor Hysinth glanced in their direction at that moment. Latil, who was about to raise her middle finger at Hysinth, stopped herself, considering the onlookers. Instead, she tensed her neck and stared at the entrance where the bride would appear. A moment later, the music of a harp being plucked and a dance-like melody filled the air, and the floor was filled with cloud-like smoke. Amid the amazed exclamations, the bride, Aine Tur, appeared between the white arches adorned with flowers and jewels. Wearing a dress mixed with light gold and white, she was truly beautiful amidst the scene. Everyone held their breath as she entered. Latil, trying to ignore the pain in her heart, clapped and forced a smile. Watching the person she was sure would marry her marry someone else was the worst. As the two exchanged wedding vows, put rings on each other's fingers, and shared a light kiss, Latil felt all sorts of unpleasant emotions. She was not only in pain and sad but also annoyed and angry. She wanted to close her eyes and cause a scene, and her hands actually twitched.

"If I can't hold it in here, I'll be humiliated for 100 years."

"I know."

"Your expression is scary, Princess."

"Smiling here is also too much for me, Captain Seunet."

As soon as the ceremony ended, Latil turned and headed back to her quarters without looking back. Although many procedures remained after the royal wedding, she didn't have the mental strength for them. She had given the wedding gift, filled her seat, and clapped enthusiastically throughout the ceremony. As a former girlfriend, she had done enough, hadn't she? Latil huffed as soon as she entered her room. The words of Prince Klein, who had said he would meet her after the ceremony, were already out of her mind.

"Are you okay?"

Perhaps moved by her excessive emotions, Captain Seunet brought her a crispy, sugar-coated donut and asked. Latil shook her head quickly and ate five donuts in a row.

"I'm not okay. My anger has risen to this point."

Latil pointed to her forehead with the edge of her palm and asked.

"Can we leave now?"

"The mandatory part is over, so we can leave."

"Then let's go."

Although it might be a bit of a demand, Captain Seunet asked as if he had been waiting for it.

"Let's go. Should I tell them to prepare for departure?"

Latil, surprised by his calm response, corrected him.

"...Let's go tomorrow."

"You can really leave now. Some countries leave immediately after the ceremony."

"Countries that don't get along do that."

"We can say we don't get along. We have a good reason."

"Enough. I won't apply personal matters to state affairs, Captain Seunet."

Latil mumbled weakly and collapsed onto the bed.

"Besides, leaving immediately feels like running away. ...I'll go tomorrow. In the morning, I'll look at Hysinth's face and speak clearly before leaving."

* * *

The next morning, Latil took a bath in water mixed with rose petals and pearl powder, then changed into a crisp white uniform. After checking to ensure there were no wrinkles, she tied her long black hair high. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she asked Captain Seunet.

"How do I look?"

"Amazing."

"How amazing?"

"Can I be honest?"

"Yes, really be honest."

"Amazing enough to want to propose."

"Then that's good."

Latil smiled proudly and attached a ceremonial sword to her waist. During her study abroad, Hysinth had loved seeing Latil in a voluminous blue dress. He said it matched her ivory skin and made her look like a fairy running through the forest.

'I wanted Hysinth to see me better, so I wore blue dresses all week back then.'

But now, there was no Princess who wanted to look good for Hysinth. Latil exhaled and opened the door.

"I'll show Hysinth. I'm a beautiful woman even without someone like him, and he'll regret losing me for the rest of his life."

* * *

When Latil said she was leaving immediately, that she couldn't wish him well, and that she would curse him three times a day, Hysinth asked with a sad expression.

"Do you really have to do this, Latil?"

Hysinth's face was not that of a newlywed. His eyes, which should have been sparkling, were dark, and his face was full of sorrow. Captain Seunet mumbled, "He's regretting it so quickly," but Hysinth didn't even glance at anyone other than Latil. In his field of vision, only Latil existed, and Captain Seunet was invisible. Latil's heart ached at the sight of the man she had loved for years in pain. But she had to say what she needed to say.

"Yes. I have to do this."

"Just five years. Can't you wait just five years? I can sort everything out in five years, Latil."

"No."

"Latil. You're royalty, so you can understand. It was a choice I had no choice but to make."

"I understand. I said I understand. But understanding you and forgiving and accepting you are different issues."

"Latil... please."

"Five years. It's just five years, but it's not just five years. In five years, you'll marry Aine and accept all sorts of concubines. It's the best way to strengthen your royal power in a short time, isn't it?"

"!"

"Then, in five years, how many times