Chapter 5

Translated by XyeHeart Edited by XyeHeart

Meriel was dizzy due to his fluctuating emotions.

“Do you have someone you like?”

“What..I…… No one.”

“Then why don’t you…want to…be my….bride?” He stuttered.

Meriel was perplexed as to why he was so embarrassed and interested in getting married.

“There is a reason for this. And whatever it is, I will try to accept it.”

Meriel fantasized about marrying the Grand Duke. She wanted to persuade him as soon as possible that if she married him, she would be able to live a comfortable life. To do so, he needed to love her and she needed to love him.

It may not be as simple as one imagines, but Meriel has decided to pursue love with the Grand Duke. Because if she’s going to love someone, it should be a man who saves her life.

“Have you been compelled to marry someone you don’t want?”

It’s not like that.

She set the bowl of soup down. Meriel shook her hand as she looked at Kiyan, who was still stiff and gloomy.

“Do you have to be so serious?”

“……Isn’t it a serious matter to marry someone you don’t want?”

“Um…maybe I’ll like it?…..That’s strange, isn’t it, given how serious you are about my marriage?”

Maybe it’s because it hit the nail on the head. Kiyan hardened as if he had been hit in the head with a hammer, and he soon turned his back violently, twisting his face.

His soup, which never even made it to the spoon, has already cooled. He turned around, sat still for a long time, and then got up, quickly cleaned up where he had prepared for the morning, packed his belongings, and exited the cave.

Kiyan ended up not eating the soup.

‘Did I say something wrong?’

Meriel pondered his irritation over and over. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t think of a single conversation that would irritate him.

She was a foolish princess until she met him.

He walked and walked all day without saying anything. He found a place to sleep and rested as the sun set, but he did not speak first.

Meriel didn’t mind the silence, but she didn’t want to waste her time because it was the first time she had a proper conversation without sounding like an idiot.

“Kiyan.”

She gave him a firm nudge as he turned his back. He kept his expressionless face, but Meriel could tell he still cared about her.

Her smile was prompted by his candor about his feelings.

“Well, if the end result is good, I think it’s fine. Even if I have a loveless marriage, wouldn’t it be a happy marriage if we have love in the future?”

He remained silent and asked cautiously.

“Don’t you really like no one?”

Meriel wanted to counter his argument that she should only marry someone she liked, but she didn’t want to hurt his feelings any further.

“There is no one.”

There was a visible expression of disappointment. She didn’t know why he was disappointed, but she thought it was fortunate that the annoyance he had felt all day had subsided.

“Does your marriage have anything to do with your visit to Dustin Estate?”

“Kiyan.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll let you know as soon as I arrive safely at the Estate.”

She knew it wasn’t a secret, but she didn’t want to tell him right now. It was bound to spread by word of mouth among gossiping nobles.

The rumor may have spread before she arrived at the Dustin estate.

‘What if the rumors spread quickly and they refuse to accept it at the gates?’

Meriel leaned against a wooden post as she felt a little anxious. The coolness was transmitted through the pillar, and her body trembled instinctively.

“Cover yourself.” Kiyan handed over his robe and lay down far away.

He had to be cold as well, but she could tell he cared by the way he handed over his one and only jacket. Meriel closed her eyes and covered herself in the robe scented with his scent.

It was strange to experience the kindness of others. It was an odd sensation for her because she had never received kindness and affection from anyone in her previous life, let alone three years as a princess.

Mariel pondered for a long time because she didn’t know what to say at this moment. So she repeated his name, which had become familiar to her mouth after a few repetitions.

“Kiyan.”

“……Yes.”

“Thank you.”

There was no response. She couldn’t feel anything from his back, which was a few steps away. But it was clear that saying thank you made him feel oddly better. It was the first time she’d felt warm since birth.

Kiyan and Meriel then walked along the road, having a brief conversation. She occasionally ate the soup he made for her. There was no attack until they arrived at Dustin Estate, despite their concerns about the approaching assassins. Surprisingly, the unwelcome stares that had previously been felt were no longer present.

“Welcome to Dustin Estate.”

She smelled fresh wind as they got closer to the Dustin Estate.

Heyriel, the Dustin Estate city closest to the capital, was teeming with millions of people. Fortunately, getting through the gate wasn’t too difficult.

“What exactly did you do?”

“What?”

“I didn’t even mention being the Princess, but they let me in.”

“……I’m still Grand Duke Dustin’s close associate.”

Meriel agreed, looking at him shrugging his shoulders. She agreed with his assessment that revealing her identity as a princess could cause a commotion, but she had no idea it was so simple.

Kiyan’s kindness and consideration have helped her overcome her previous experience with homelessness. Small food and an uncomfortable bed could make Mariel sick, but she was used to it.

‘Because I’ve been through a lot worse before I came here.’ she thought.

Meriel was unconcerned about her discomfort. Kiyan, who is unaware of this, has always expressed regret for her.

Regardless of how much she appreciates everything, including her homelessness, food, and the ease with which she can enter the gates.

“Assassination will not be a threat.”

“……really?”

“It’s difficult to get through the Dustin Estate’s gates.”

“That’s reassuring.”

“So, if it’s not urgent, you can take a few days off.”

For over a month, it was an impoverished trip. Not as much as the capital, but he said as he led her to her room, capturing an inn in the middle of a bustling city.

As she attempted to enter the room with him, he naturally sighed and blocked the door.

“Hmm…?”

“Your room is right next to mine.”

“I know.”

“But why are you following me?”

“How come I can’t?”

Perhaps it’s because we’ve only been together for a month. Meriel felt a little disconnected from him.

He had entered Dustin’s territory, as he had stated, and there may not be any assassination threats in the city. But she became afraid of falling asleep alone in a nice room.

“Do you mind if we sleep next to each other?”

“Are you insane!…. Please proceed to your room.”

Meriel pursed her lips in response to his stern expression. But he was the one who put in the most effort while traveling together.

Meriel took a step back, thinking he might want to rest now.

‘I might have a nightmare….’

She’ll do her best to get through it on her own. Meriel shook her head, her shoulders slumped.

She turned around, her hand resting on the worn-out robe’s hem. When she arrived in front of her door, she cast a glance at him and noticed that he was still staring at her.

He clicked his tongue, scratched his head, and sighed.

“If you are having nightmares, please knock on my door before entering my room.”

Kiyan slammed the door shut without waiting for an answer, a dissatisfied expression on his face. Meriel’s gaze was fixed on the closed door.

She couldn’t figure out why he told her to come if she had a nightmare if he was going to make such a face.

She wondered why he had that attitude, but the first thing she needed to do was rest.

She felt drowsy after soaking in a hot tub and finishing dinner brought to her by the staff. Meriel did not resist falling asleep, and she did so on a fairly fluffy bed, which she had not felt in a long time.

Meriel felt heavy when she opened her eyes the next day. The tension hasn’t gone away entirely.

The cause, however, was muscle pain and fatigue, which had been delayed because they had soaked in a hot bath to relieve fatigue, ate a full dinner, and then fell asleep.

‘Breakfast… they said they’d bring it,’ she grumbled.

The staff member who brought her dinner promised to bring her the same thing in the morning.

Meriel awoke at an unusually early hour. She took out the box that had been hidden deep in her bag after lightly washing her face.

The box wrapped in fine cloth was a jewelry box that Meriel had stolen from the palace. It wasn’t a big deal, but the jewelry inside was difficult to see.

‘Because I only chose the ones that were expensive,’ she chuckled to herself.

She would have to live alone if the Grand Duke refused to accept the marriage. Returning to the life-threatening palace is impossible without going insane.

Meriel carefully examined the precious jewels she had gathered and took the application form from the floor.

The nobility also valued opulent envelopes and paper. The open proposal even had a pleasant aroma. It was almost the ideal marriage proposal.

Meriel had anticipated his rejection and acceptance. It had been discussed several times in the Imperial Palace. Even if he declines the proposal, she will not fail.

It’s just that there are other options.

She rearranged the jewels, returned them to the box, and tucked the proposal into her bag pocket.

‘He’s under Dustin’s command now, and it’s only a matter of time before he meets the Grand Duke.I must do it!’

Meriel held her heart together as she hugged the bag as if it were something precious.

Soon after, she ate the breakfast brought by the staff and looked to the next room.

She was dressed and ready to go, but there was no sign of him.

She thought he needed more rest, so she sat back in her bed.

“Is he still sleeping?” she wondered.

Kiyan had stated that he would go to the wagon search at dawn. He did not, however, knock on the door, despite the fact that she had waited a long time after eating breakfast and rolling on the bed. He had to be tireder than she was, she reasoned, but she hadn’t heard from him after lunch.

Meriel was willing to go to his room and knock on his door.

“Kiyan.”

Her careful tapping triggered no response. Meriel didn’t think twice about opening the door. Fortunately, it wasn’t locked, so Meriel was free to enter Kiyan’s room whenever she pleased.

“Kiyan?”

Kiyan was no way around.

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