☆ Chapter 319 ☆
* * *
〈We are ending our romantic relationship.〉
“W-What are you talking about!”
“Are you crazy?!”
“Nooooo!!!”
A large photo of Ruatisha and Sidrian was plastered on the front page.
And that enormous phrase was written in large letters.
People passing by the newsstand couldn’t help but stop and exclaim in despair.
“G-Give me one of these newspapers!”
“Me too!”
Everyone rushed to buy the newspaper, and those who didn’t buy it craned their necks to get a glimpse.
“Let me see too.”
“What on earth is going on!”
Shwaak.
The moment they unfolded the newspaper,
〈Now, we are going to become husband and wife.〉
The phrase was emblazoned on the folded lower part, along with a picture of the two of them looking happy while dancing together at a previous party.
“H-Husband and wife?!”
“Ah, I thought my heart was going to stop.”
A long article was written below.
“So, Her Holiness the Saintess has accepted the proposal?”
“Wow, finally!”
People who had just met clapped each other’s hands and jumped up and down.
“I’m so glad… I was so surprised.”
“Me too. I thought my heart was going to stop.”
It’s really a relief, but…
As the surprise subsided, anger began to simmer.
“What kind of reporter writes a headline like that?!”
“They’ll do anything to increase sales.”
“There are always people who see a headline like that and spread rumors about a breakup.”
That’s right.
The Saintess and the Crown Prince couple.
People were ecstatic about this combination that seemed straight out of a novel.
Both of them had already been receiving tremendous support from the public.
In particular, people had been watching their relationship since the Dawn Festival, so there was a special level of interest.
Isn’t it the same as watching them flirt and date for over ten years?
Moreover, they even joined forces to save the world not long ago……
But when you’re famous, you’re bound to suffer from all sorts of rumors.
There were many rumors about Ruatisha and Sidrian’s relationship, but they were mostly about marriage or breakups.
A rumor that they would get married next month.
A rumor that they would break up soon.
A rumor that they had secretly held their own wedding.
A rumor that they had already broken up a long time ago.
Rumors of marriage and discord spread like a battle.
“There will be people who see the headline and happily spread rumors about a breakup.”
“To write a headline like this to increase sales!”
“Trash reporter……”
“This reporter is trash.”
“Trashporter……”
“Trashporter?”
For some reason, the sound of the word stuck in my head.
“This trashporter!”
People criticized the reporter.
And they shouted to the people who were rushing to the newsstand to ask for a newspaper.
“Buy something other than that newspaper!”
“That’s a trashporter!”
“Yes, that newspaper looks good. It’s very honest.”
The newcomers tilted their heads, then nodded when they saw the newspaper they were pointing to.
They hadn’t seen it because of the eye-catching headline, but the other newspaper articles were fine.
“Wow, only this guy was a trashporter.”
The other reporters were trustworthy.
〈Finally, a successful proposal?!〉
〈The Crown Prince Sidrian’s courtship history spanning seven months〉
〈Ruatisha-Sidrian couple, “We’re getting married”〉
〈Lady Ruatisha finally says “Yes!” to the Crown Prince〉
〈The Imperial Family, “A beautiful relationship has come to fruition……”〉
〈The Empress, “I’ve already prepared all the gifts. I’m ready to give them at any time.”〉
〈[Exclusive] The Lady’s acceptance of the marriage and jeong! Vivid review from the perspective of an aide〉
“Hoo, I should have looked at the other newspapers sooner.”
“Owner, put that kind of newspaper in the back!”
The owner, unable to resist the people’s demands, quietly moved the newspaper to the back.
* * *
In fact, Lady Ruatisha was lukewarm about accepting the marriage until that afternoon.
It’s not that she didn’t dislike it, but it seems like it wasn’t an atmosphere where she could immediately shout yes.
She was shy and avoided giving a clear answer.
But that night, she immediately accepted the marriage proposal from Crown Prince Sidrian, who appeared as a surprise event!
What on earth happened?
What melted the heart of the steadfast Saintess?
What was the surprise event like!
If you follow this event, will you have a surefire strategy for proposing?
Sad news for the excited readers.
The event wasn’t important.
The answer was “face.”
According to an aide, “It’s been so long since I saw him that I became immune to his handsomeness, and before I knew it, I was engaged.” That’s the story.
The aide who said that was very dumbfounded.
“What’s the point of preparing an event? Originally, there were fireworks and an event using illusion magic. But it was all useless.”
“I cooperated because I thought Ruatisha, who was tired, would have a good date, but I didn’t know she would be so captivated by his face.”
You might wonder if you would accept a marriage because of your face, but the writer, who has directly met Crown Prince Sidrian, fully understood.
If there are any readers who have not yet seen Crown Prince Sidrian in person, aim for the wedding day.
Even if you look at it from a distance in the square, it’s so dazzling that you can’t look at it properly.
We are living in the same era as a living work of art.
Of course, everyone knows about the Saintess’s holiness and beauty without saying anything.
Are you worried about proposing but sad because you can’t follow along?
Here’s a tip from 〈Empire〉 for you!
Crown Prince Sidrian doesn’t receive marriage proposals with the word “yes.”
He received it with a “deep kiss”!
What on earth did he do to make that happen?
Everything is thanks to Crown Prince Sidrian’s lips that call for a kiss, but can’t you follow the lines?
I’ll tell you, so let’s try it.
* * *
Slap!
The sound of a slap rang out clearly.
“Are you kidding me right now?”
The man who was slapped looked at the woman with an aggrieved look.
“If you kiss me, we’re dating? How can you say that?!”
“I, I just…… thought you’d like it……”
“Do you think you’re Crown Prince Sidrian or something? I’m so dumbfounded.”
Hmph!
The woman left without looking back.
The man was left alone, staring blankly at the empty space.
Tears streamed down.
The relationship was broken.
“Kissing leads to marriage?”
“Did your boyfriend propose like that too? I did too!”
“Does he think he’s Crown Prince Sidrian or something?”
“I wouldn’t say anything if he resembled him even half as much.”
“Isn’t it absurd to just say that without any preparation?”
“Even Crown Prince Sidrian built a new villa while preparing, but he’s trying to get it for free with just one word.”
“He’s just copying someone else’s words.”
“I really lost all the affection I had.”
The social repercussions of Ruatisha and Sidrian’s courtship article were enormous.
〈「Empire」 Editor-in-Chief Apologizes to the Nation, “I can’t express how sorry I am.”〉
〈「Empire」 Editor-in-Chief Complains of Unfairness “I didn’t mean for them to mistake themselves for Crown Prince Sidrian. I just meant for them to refer to it based on the atmosphere.”〉
However, the most serious repercussions were not in society as a whole, but in the Paeraton Estate……
Crack!
The magazine crumpled and shriveled on its own, then burned away with black magic.
“Crown Prince Sidrian’s lips that call for a kiss?”
A vein popped out on his forehead at the ridiculous phrase in the magazine.
The article was analyzing Sidrian’s lips in depth and teaching men tips on how to groom their lips, so Sidrian’s lips were featured in close-up from various angles throughout the page.
The problem is that the afterimage of those lips is not erased from the minds of the Paeraton men.
“That seductive thing……”
Gritting!
The sound of gnashing teeth rang out fiercely.
I clearly heard that she was going to play with her friends that day, but it must have been Sidrian’s scheme!
“To play such tricks.”
Dark magic began to eat away at the space.
The vassals of the Paeraton family held their breath.
‘It’s going to be a mess again.’
‘Did you clean up all the furniture?’
‘Who brought that magazine again! We told you to keep it out of His Excellency’s sight as much as possible!’
‘Master Ares brought it.’
Since the article about Ruatisha accepting Sidrian’s proposal was published, there hasn’t been a peaceful day at the Paeraton Estate.
It was then.
“Dad一. Oh? Everyone’s gathered?”
Ruatisha, who opened the door to the office and came in, smiled brightly at the gathered family.
The magic that filled the room disappeared without a trace at that smile.
“Cotton ball.”
“Huh?”
“Really, this ba…… stard……”
Ixion quickly changed his words at Ruatisha’s sharp gaze.
How could my beloved cotton ball look at me with those eyes.
‘Everything is because of that damn bastard!’
But even though he was grinding his teeth inside, Ixion obediently changed his words because he was afraid of his youngest sister’s gaze.
“……Are you thinking of marr……ying the Crown Prince?”
Ruatisha chuckled.
“Are you still saying that?”
I don’t know how many times they’ve asked.
“Who else would I marry if not Sid?”
“That’s not it.”
Ruatisha turned her head at the words of the Duke of Paeraton.
A serious gaze.
The Duke of Paeraton’s eyes were more deeply sunken than ever before.
“It’s not that you’re marrying him because there’s no one else suitable to marry, but you have to marry the person you want to marry.”
“……”
Ruatisha silently stared at her father.
He’s a fool for his daughter, so he says a lot of things一.
‘In the end, the person who cares about me the most is my dad.’
He’s saying that in case Ruatisha’s own feelings are influenced by other reasons, such as the situation being beneficial strategically, or Sidrian having done a lot for Ruatisha.
Her heart fluttered.
Ruatisha clenched her hands tightly.
“I didn’t mean that Sid is not suitable as a marriage partner due to various circumstances.”
I’m a little embarrassed.
“To the point where I can’t imagine marrying someone other than Sid一.”
I’ve never expressed my feelings so sincerely even in front of Sidrian.
“一I like Sid.”
Blush.
A faint blush appeared on Ruatisha’s cheeks as she lowered her gaze slightly.
The Duke of Paeraton quietly watched his daughter.
In his eyes, she was still an endlessly young daughter.
But一.
“……Okay.”
This child has always had a firm will since she was very young.
She never made the wrong choice by mistaking her feelings.
Ruatisha, who is now saying that she likes Sidrian, looked happy and excited.
It was as if her heart was pouring out even when she said those words.
“Then that’s enough.”
The Duke of Paeraton closed his eyes.
‘Inais.’
The face of his dead wife came to mind.
If Inais were alive, she would have been happier than anyone else about the love that had come to her daughter.
And that keynote is the same for himself, his sons, and his father-in-law.
There is only one thing I want.
The perfect happiness of the youngest.
“I won’t let that bastard make my cotton ball cry! If it gets even a little damp!”
“If we’re going by tears, the line is too low. If my sister’s expression hardens even a little, he’ll have to take responsibility for it, right?”
“The youngest’s eyelashes…… I’ll kill him the moment they fall.”
“Jeon, eyelashes fall out anyway.”
Ruatisha scolded Jeon.
The Marquis of Tarenka, who had been silently watching the peaceful scene, said to the Duke of Paeraton.
“……I should have made that decision back then too. I’ve always regretted it, but especially today.”
“……”
“I’m glad I didn’t repeat my mistakes.”
The Duke of Paeraton raised his head.
The sunlight was good.
“I’m going to do everything Ruu wants, but the marriage discussion with the Imperial Family is not over yet.”
“Then?”
The face of the Empress, who must be humming even at this moment, was vivid in my mind.
And until a few days ago, she kept posting official Imperial Family articles saying “Marry right away!” and showing off, which scratched my nerves.
“I can’t let it go the way the Imperial Family wants. Whose daughter’s marriage is it.”
A dangerous smile appeared on the Duke of Paeraton’s lips.