Chapter 23

Maribelle was confused. The fact that she was emotionally agitated and the memory that just came to mind. Contract marriage and Empress.

She became terrified of something she had never been afraid of since returning from the future to the present. Memories of the dark past, as if ink had been spilled. It was such a large blank that she wondered why she hadn’t paid attention until now.

What if she, who came into the palace to take revenge, tried to live a different life than she had in the past, but ended up following in the footsteps of the past?

Oh my gosh. Is there any other comedy like that?

“Maribelle, what’s wrong? What’s wrong with your face?”

Maribelle only looked at Ethelred, who had wrapped her cheek in anxiety, instead of responding. She can’t believe his frown isn’t more threatening. Maribelle thought it was amusing that such a contradiction could exist.

At the same time, the fact that Ethelred’s kindness was familiar and unfamiliar. Right. It was unfamiliar for her. Doesn’t that mean she’s on the knees of a tyrant who could unwittingly cut her head off at any time if she doesn’t watch out?

That means they’re almost there. Maribelle unintentionally laughed. When Ethelred saw Maribelle’s laughter, he straightened his brow.

“Why are you laughing so hard?”

“It’s ridiculous.”

“What’s the matter?”

“It’s strange how quickly we got close. I think I trusted Your Majesty more than I thought.”

She had never been aware of Ethelred’s dangers, come to think of it. Is it because of the agreement? Maribelle, on the other hand, probably guessed that wasn’t the case.

Maribelle, who had become a miserable Young Lady after being betrayed by the man she had a crush on in an instant, was about to draw the sword and watch it, but she was not present here.

“Everyone, keep quiet about this.”

Everyone in the seat was forced to nod solemnly at Ethelred’s command. It was even Theovalt who set the tone.

“But, Your Majesty, what will you ask us?”

“Do you have any idea who he is?”

He was well aware of the situation. It’s not surprising that he starts talking about a crush. Kir let out a sigh. Kir drew everyone’s attention in the wind.

Kir shook his head seriously, oblivious to the prickly eye on him, but one step later, he grasped the atmosphere.

“—Huh? Why are you staring at me like that? Why are you staring at me like that, Your Majesty? Could you poke me in the eye because there’s too much pressure?”

“Kir, you’ve been with Lady the longest. Do you know anything?”

“Do I know something? That she hates losing? That she can eat six cookies at once? It’s pointless to say good… Ack—!”

The “Ack!” at the end was caused by Theovalt hitting Kir on the head next to him. In contrast to Kir, who keeps his head up and goes out in public, Azil smiles casually and gives Theovalt a good look.

“Kir, use your common sense. Why do we need this information? Keep in mind what Your Majesty said.”

“Ah, crazy— It hurts like hell—!”

“Watch your mouth.”

Kir didn’t stop whining until he was beaten again by Theovalt. Azil defended him on behalf of the quiet Kir.

“If Kir said that, there’s nothing else for Theovalt to see. She has no way of telling him who she is in love with.”

“Have you ever met Maribelle?” says the narrator.

“Yes, I did treat her because she was hurt.”

Ethelred only nodded in response to Azil’s clever response. This is due to the fact that Maribelle, who shed tears without realizing it last night, did not leave his mind.

Ethelred lost his thoughts as Kir, who had grown accustomed to the pain, began to put a word.

“But, Your Majesty, do you really intend to accept Maribelle as Empress?”

“Kir, have I ever regretted what I’ve said?”

“No, that’s too sudden. Why don’t you go take a look? It’s been only a month. The Empress who entered the palace after a month, which is not recorded in history.”

Kir groaned and threw his beret on the desk, as if he was truly frustrated. Maribelle was Ethelred’s, no matter how kind he was to her. He was still convinced Maribelle was dangerous because she got Ethelred.

Theovalt was also silent because he shared similar thoughts with Kir, but there was someone who used Kir’s awkward silence.

“That Lady, I don’t believe she’s dangerous. Isn’t it better to have the Young Lady ascend to the throne of Empress rather than find a new candidate?”

It was Azil.