Chapter 60

"Your Highness, this is... a gift from Lady Edna..."

Compared to the embarrassed Alesia, Markus's expression was dark.

"Edna? I see. Edna knew, didn't she?"

"Knew what, exactly?"

"Alesia, Hakim, congratulations. I wish you both happiness."

"Huh?""What?"

Hakim quickly realized the prince's misunderstanding.

"No, Your Highness, that's not it. I'm not marrying Alesia. I'm marrying a girl who works at the market."

"Huh?... Oh, I see. I see. A misunderstanding. No, that is, Alesia, you look very suitable. You are beautiful."

"Thank you very much?"

Alesia felt very resentful, seeing the prince's blushing face and Hakim, who was trying to suppress his laughter by looking down and shaking his shoulders. The situation was extremely awkward.

"Your Highness, have you had lunch... or have you already eaten? I can make a pâté with rabbit meat."

"Oh, pâté. I'd like that. It's been a while."

"Then I'll go change."

"Ah."

After Alesia left, Hakim straightened his posture and faced Markus.

"Your Highness, Alesia doesn't seem to realize it, but many men who work at the market are after her. Alesia is beautiful, but she doesn't let it go to her head, and she is kind and hardworking to everyone."

"...I see. That makes sense."

"But Alesia is a sorceress and has responsibilities at the mulberry farm, so she can't leave this farm."

Hakim looked straight at Markus and continued.

"Also, ever since I first met her, she has been fixated on the idea that she must be useful to others. As a sorceress who can't leave this farm and is fixated on being useful to others, Alesia might end up putting her own happiness on hold for her entire life."

"Ah, I see..."

The two of them had rather serious faces.

"The only person in this country who can make Alesia happy and protect her with the power of the state is you."

"...I understand. I have always acted in accordance with Alesia's wishes, but today I came to clearly express my feelings."

"Oh, is that so! Good luck! I support you!"

Alesia returned after changing.

"Let's make the pâté. Hakim, can you help? Chana is on leave today."

Hakim suddenly said,

"I'll go harvest some ponka. Start without me."

and left.

"I'll help make the pâté."

"Your Highness? Can you do it?"

"Don't underestimate me. During the campaign, I cook with the soldiers."

Alesia, who was chopping leeks and garlic, looked intrigued. Markus stood next to her.

"Alesia, you want to be useful to others, right?"

"Yes, that is my life's purpose."

"Would you consider becoming my wife? As a member of the royal family, you could help many more people."

"Being involved with important people seems difficult."

Markus, who was given an immediate answer, kept washing potatoes and putting them in a basket.

"If you want to keep your identity as a sorceress a secret, I will do my best to keep it a secret."

"..."

Alesia started sautéing vegetables and rabbit meat in the pot.

"I want to work for others for at least ten more years, putting my own needs aside."

"Ten years. If you ask me to wait, I will wait."

"Your Highness will be twenty-nine in ten years. I've never heard of a prince being single until that age. But I have benefited from the royal family and the country, so it wouldn't be fair to only consider my opinion. Would it be okay if we were just friends?"

After finishing the sautéing, Alesia peeled and cut the potatoes into quarters.

"Friends. Then I'll wait until Alesia changes her mind. But I won't just wait idly. I'll drive away any men who try to get close to Alesia while I wait."

"Pfft! Stop it, that's not funny."

She laughed despite herself. Markus started boiling the potatoes in the pot.

"Your Highness, you want to form an alliance with me because of your position, right? It must be tough to have to get married as part of your job."

"Alesia, I don't want to marry you out of duty. Coming here for lunch wasn't part of my job either. But you probably don't see it that way. I want to marry you and resolve any misunderstandings."

Alesia's movements stopped. She looked at the prince's profile as he mashed the potatoes. Markus, who was shredding bread while looking at the recipe, continued.

"Being a member of the royal family is a mission given to me. Both the difficult and the joyful are part of my path. I will choose the best path and live for the country, you, and the people."

"Your Highness..."

"Call me Markus."

"Markus-sama. To have such a noble resolve at the age of nineteen is truly impressive."

Markus smiled wryly.

"Don't talk as if you're older than me. Alesia, I don't intend to force an unwanted marriage on you, but I'm not giving up either. How about we start by working together? How about we cooperate for the people of this country? Eventually, someone will try to take Alesia for their own selfish reasons. I can protect you from such people."

"Your Highness, no, Markus-sama, I have no objections to a cooperative relationship. Let's work together for the people of this country! Shall we fry the pâté now?"

...

"Make pâté? You talked about such things while making pâté side by side? Normally, you should offer a jeweled bracelet or necklace!"

"It couldn't be helped, Gil."

Markus spoke to Gil with a distant look in his eyes.

"Moreover, what's this about a cooperative relationship? Didn't you go to propose?"

"They have been hiding Alesia for fourteen years to keep her out of the hands of power. Forcing a marriage on her would make me no different from Helrod. So, let's start with a cooperative relationship..."

"This isn't a military meeting!"