Chapter 49

"Thank you for reporting the typo."

"No, it's fine."

It was an immediate response. Before she could think, her mouth had already rejected the king's words without a moment's hesitation.

"Hey, Emma!..."

"Wait, Miss...!"

Georg and William were taken aback by Emma's immediate refusal, fearing she might be charged with disrespect. They were also worried about the prince, who seemed pitiful.

Perhaps because she had just recalled the complicated romance from her time in the port, Emma had answered almost reflexively. Only after she spoke did she realize she was addressing the king. Where can you buy the sugarcoating for words? She timidly looked at the king, who seemed surprised that his proposal had been rejected. He didn't seem angry, but was he really okay with it?

"Ah... um... well..."

The king, taken aback by Emma's immediate response, scratched his head awkwardly as he searched for words. A despondent atmosphere emanated from the prince sitting next to Rose, making it hard to look at him. What she thought was a kind gesture had completely backfired. The idea of a lady refusing to marry the prince was unheard of.

"Your Majesty!... You lack tact. Proposing marriage out of the blue... It's putting Emma in a difficult position."

Rose, angry at the king, patted the prince's back to encourage him to stay strong.

"Ah... um... Your Majesty... Proposing marriage to the prince is a matter of state. As I always say, it's not good to speak impulsively..."

The secretary, who had been standing in the corner, hurriedly cautioned the king. It must be a tough job to be the king's secretary.

"Emma... Are you dissatisfied with me?"

Prince Edward, still looking down, asked Emma in a dark, hesitant voice. He never imagined he would be rejected before he could confess his feelings... What was the king thinking, proposing marriage at such a time?

Could Emma have someone she likes? The presence of the man's jacket on her shoulder was nagging at him. If it belonged to Georg or William, it would be easier to understand, but both of them were wearing their jackets.

"I apologize for the rudeness of refusing the proposal. It's not about the prince... I have no intention of marrying anyone."

Emma lowered her gaze. When the king entered her field of vision, she couldn't help but observe him closely. She needed to restrain herself. Refusing a proposal from a prince of the realm was unheard of. It was unheard of, but neither her memories from the port nor her personality were inclined toward marriage. She felt bad for her mother, but it might be difficult to have grandchildren in this life.

Engaging in a betrothal with an unconventional lady who loved insects would only cause trouble for the prince. Even when she spent time in the Barley territory, she had opened up to Georg and William, but her poor social skills often made it hard to maintain conversations. A more suitable lady would be better for the prince.

"No one...?"

Seeing Emma's sad expression, the king finally realized the insensitivity of his words. According to the report on the localized barrier hazard, Emma's scars were not limited to her face but also spread across her right upper body. The doctor's assessment suggested that these scars might not fade with time and could even grow as her body developed.

Rose was right. Proposing marriage was like asking her to expose her scars to a man in the future. A girl who once boasted of beauty that could captivate a prince, now bearing indelible scars on her face and body, must have suffered greatly. Her body might have recovered in a year, but her wounded heart wouldn't heal so quickly. Yet, this girl was pretending to be cheerful and forcing a bright smile to avoid worrying others... How brave...

Sniffle

"Huh, Your Majesty!?"

Seeing the king suddenly tear up, Georg and William panicked. What's wrong with the king!?

He was saying things like, "You've been through so much..." and "You don't have to push yourself..." and "You can talk to me about anything... I'll be there for you." Emma didn't quite understand, but it seemed she had just acquired the strongest patron in the kingdom. It was the moment the first "uncle hoover" in this world was captured.

Emma, her hand held by the king, let the comforting words pass through one ear and out the other, taking the opportunity to observe the attractive older man closely. The sudden tears were a rare sight, and she appreciated the moment.

Rose, with a look of exasperation, handed the king a handkerchief, and his hand released hers as he took it. The prince, thinking he was the one who should be crying, felt frustrated. He had spent the past year trying to become a suitable match for Emma. He had thought about their reunion in the capital, their school life, and many other things, but the sudden proposal had ruined everything. Moreover, the king was now holding Emma's hand, and it annoyed him that she seemed slightly pleased.

He was relieved that she didn't mean she didn't want to marry him, but it was clear that in a few years, no one would leave Emma alone. The shy Emma might feel ashamed of her scars and think she can't get married, but in reality, the scars were no obstacle.

As evidence, despite barely seeing her today, he had gained at least a hundred new rivals.

If Emma had no one she liked, he was determined not to lose, even if he had a hundred or a thousand rivals.

Seeing the king, the prince, and the three brothers, Jadwiga, who always read the room, suggested an idea.

"Then, how about I become engaged to Lord Georg?"

"Jadwiga, no way!!!!"

The king almost shouted.

"Jadwiga won't be married. Jadwiga won't be married, okay, Georg?"

With tears still in his eyes, the king glared at Georg.

"I'm sorry, Georg. Your Majesty... My daughter is... a bit... special..."

Rose, trying to calm the king, apologized to Georg.

"No... no... My father is also... special... It's... okay..."

It was a common scene in the Stewart household, but being glared at by the king was intimidating. William was muttering in the background.

"Jadwiga... Why Georg? If it's about age, it should be me, right?"

In a voice only William could hear, Emma said, "Pervert, be quiet?"... She was admiring the tearful older man while belittling her brother. William complained that it was unfair that perverts could touch and be touched, while perverts who liked young girls couldn't. They were both disappointing siblings.

"Well... There's no need to rush the engagement. Can you keep it in mind for now?"

The king, interpreting Emma's need for time to heal, ended the conversation with a hint. Jadwiga's suggestion was ignored.

At that moment, there was a hurried knock on the door. The secretary, with a slightly stern face, left the room and returned to whisper to the king.

"Your Majesty, there is an urgent report."

The secretary's expression was serious.

Since they couldn't hear the urgent report to the king, the three brothers were asked to leave. They were led back to the party hall, where they met Joshua.

"Joshua, thank you for the jacket!... It's quite noisy, isn't it? Did something happen?"

The guests in the hall were excitedly looking at a different door and pointing.

"Right after the three of you were called by the king and left the hall, a lady appeared. What's more, her eyes were black. The commotion was so great that the lady was taken away by the castle staff."

"Really? Just because her eyes are black?"

The three brothers tilted their heads in confusion, so Joshua explained carefully.

"Black eyes suggest that the lady has royal blood. However, no one knows who she is."

It seemed to be a royal scandal. Black eyes were rare in this country. The three brothers, being former Japanese, didn't share this sensitivity and were slow to realize.

"The lady has hair that is not quite black but a dark brown, suggesting a strong bloodline. Some even speculate that she might be the illegitimate child of the king or his brother, Cain."

The urgent report to the king seemed to be related to this lady.

It was hard to imagine the king having a child outside of marriage, especially with Rose still around... but... he is an attractive older man...

What happened to Cain after the coup? The uncle, Urban, had told them that a gag order was imposed in the regions, and the coup was treated as a military drill in the capital. Emma thought this was a rather weak excuse, but maybe she was the only one.

In any case, she thought it had nothing to do with her... for a short while.

Only until the lady started attending the academy.