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Chapter 11
“Will You Be My Partner”
The Emperor spread his thumb and forefinger apart as he held something up.
Rowenhart had already thought there must be a reason the Emperor was suddenly pushing for Tessia’s marriage. It was true she was of a suitable age to marry, but such things were of little importance to the Emperor of Estonia. If anything, the Emperor would have wanted to keep Tessia by his side longer.
And now, the reason for his sudden preparations for Tessia’s marriage was about to be revealed.
“If the prince’s love runs deep, I believe our Tessia will respond to that affection and come to love him as well. If that happens, won’t the number of times Tessia rides to the battlefield lessen?”
Ah. So in the end, it really was about keeping Tessia close.
Of course, if the Emperor forbade her from going to war, Tessia would have to obey. But such a method would only win her resentment.
That was why the Emperor had come up with a gentler, roundabout way to keep her tethered. Rowenhart hid the crooked smile tugging at his lips.
‘Ah. This is far too easy.’
Rowenhart declared,
“I shall devote my entire heart to loving the Princess.”
The Emperor looked at the sweet-talking prince with satisfaction.
For him to suddenly appear and say such things, there had to be a reason. The Emperor’s eyes narrowed.
“Since you say so, Prince, I feel at ease. Tell me, is there nothing I can do to help?”
The Emperor spoke smoothly. Clearly, Rowenhart must want something if he was buttering him up so. Well, what harm was there in indulging him? Especially since Tessia seemed to like him too. In fact, if Tessia truly took a liking to him, the Emperor had considered fixing Rowenhart as her betrothed.
The Emperor always kept his ears wide open for any news concerning Tessia. He had even heard the rumor that she once made a heart shape over her head in front of the knights. Her fellow knights had been terrified, thinking she was signaling her intent to smash Rowenhart’s skull. They had even tried to coach Rowenhart on how to win Tessia’s favor.
But the Emperor knew better—Tessia hadn’t meant it that way. A heart! She hadn’t shown such a gesture even once since she turned seven. To think he might never again see that cute Tessia who used to draw hearts and shout her love—it broke his heart.
He was a little jealous, yes. Well, perhaps more than a little. But it was undeniable that Tessia harbored affection for Rowenhart, and that was a relief. Even if it stung, for the sake of greater things, he had to be generous. The Emperor chose to focus on the fact that Tessia might indeed grow to love Rowenhart.
“In fact, there is something I wish to ask of Your Majesty.”
“Speak.”
“I do not want Princess Tessia to feel pressured because of our engagement.”
“Pressured, you say?”
“Princess Tessia already has much to worry about with her duties to the Order. Sadly, there are still many things more important to her than I.”
“Hah! Our Tessia does have much to do.”
Ahem. The Emperor cleared his throat. Because of all that work, glimpsing his adorable Tessia’s face was like grasping the stars.
“That is why, Your Majesty, I ask that you refrain from mentioning anything about the engagement to her. I would prefer if everyone who knows about it did the same.”
“You ask me not to speak to Tessia of the engagement?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I believe it will help her open her heart to me more easily.”
“That is not a bad idea. I shall do as you say.”
The Emperor nodded. Indeed, if they kept bringing up the engagement, Tessia was likely to dislike it. She hated being bothered. Instead, it could only breed resentment toward Rowenhart. Better to clamp down on loose tongues.
“In exchange, Prince…”
“Yes, Your Majesty?”
“When you win Tessia’s heart, will you persuade her to visit the Imperial Palace more often? For meals and such?”
The Emperor discreetly revealed his true wish.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I most certainly will.”
Rowenhart smiled and bowed his head.
“Hahaha! How delightful that the Prince understands me so well! It warms my heart to think that the Imperial Family of Estonia will gain such good kin.”
“I am only grateful for your kind view of me.”
“Soon, we will hold a grand celebration—both a welcoming banquet for you and a victory banquet for Tessia. The delay until now has been due to the grand preparations. Naturally, you will attend as Tessia’s partner, will you not?”
The Emperor’s question was really: Have you not won at least that much favor from Tessia? If Rowenhart had no chance at all, the Emperor was ready to overturn everything at once.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Rowenhart readily answered.
Surely, if he acted just a little pitiful and suggested it, Tessia would easily agree. He had already pledged to “take responsibility”—what was a banquet partnership compared to that? Winning Tessia as a partner for the banquet would be no difficult feat.
“Excellent. Speaking with you eases my mind. I will see to the matter as you request. Is there nothing else you desire?”
“No, Your Majesty.”
That was enough. Rowenhart had achieved his purpose today—winning the Emperor’s favor and having him take care of the engagement issue. Thrilled, Rowenhart exchanged farewells with the Emperor and left the audience chamber, humming to himself. It felt as if the whole world was aiding him. He strode proudly, chin high, hand on his hip.
The Emperor seemed not to have suspected a thing. Well, of course—no matter how shrewd he was, even the Emperor could not see through Rowenhart’s act.
At the Tirnaban Academy, Rowenhart had always played the lead roles in stage dramas. Compared to those, this little charade was nothing. And now, it seemed the Emperor was completely taken in by Rowenhart’s pretense of loving Tessia.
‘As expected. I was born to be the protagonist.’
He would become Tessia’s beloved husband and anchor himself firmly in Estonia. Today, he had taken the first step. His footsteps were light.
After Rowenhart left, the Emperor summoned his aide.
“The Prince plays his part cutely. Bones, when will the other candidates arrive?”
“They should be here before the banquet.”
“Keep an eye on the Prince as well. But I must say, I do rather like him. He’s quick on the uptake.”
“I’m glad to hear he pleases you.”
“It is Tessia he must please. Do you know how noble and clever our Tessia is?”
A faint crease appeared on Aide Bones’s brow. It seemed the Emperor was about to launch into his “101 reasons Tessia is adorable” speech yet again. But Bones would never risk the disrespect of showing his exasperation. No need to sour the mood the Prince had so carefully sweetened. He let the words pass in one ear and out the other.
The Emperor soon announced the victory banquet for Tessia, combined with a welcoming feast for Prince Rowenhart. Invitations were sent to every notable noble household.
Naturally, the protagonist herself—Tessia—received one too.
Her cheeks flushed red as she trembled. She had begged the Emperor not to make a fuss, and yet here he was, being ridiculous again.
The pink invitation, written personally by the Emperor and addressed to Tessia alone, seemed almost to burst with drawn hearts.
In front of the steward who delivered it, Tessia forced her lips upward into a smile.
“Another… banquet, is it?”
“His Majesty eagerly awaits it. And since this time we host a precious guest, it carries even greater meaning.”
“Ah. You mean Rowenhart. Yes, he truly is precious.”
Tessia nodded. He was a healer, knew his way around a sword, and could hold his liquor too. A man of many talents—such a person was rare. Tessia smiled brightly.
“I’m relieved to hear the Princess thinks so highly of him. His Majesty chose him with much care.”
“Steward, allow me to say—this is the best thing my brother has done all year. Out of all the countless useless things he has done, this is the one thing of worth.”
Indeed, it had been a long time since the Emperor had done something useful. Not sending fussy letters to the battlefield, not whining for her to return quickly, not preparing extravagant birthday parties, not pestering her daily to come to the palace despite her busy schedule.
Among all those annoyances, this was the sole good deed.
At Tessia’s rare praise, the steward’s smile deepened. This would be a delightful report to deliver. After all, the Emperor’s mood often rose and fell with Tessia’s words.
“Hearing you think so will make His Majesty very happy.”
“Of course!”
“Then may we expect the two protagonists to attend the banquet together as partners?”
The steward asked carefully. The Emperor had insisted no one mention the engagement to Tessia. At the question, Tessia paused in thought.
‘But Rowenhart already has a fiancée.’
Surely, he would attend the banquet with her. Still, she decided to ask. If he could not, then he would have no partner at all. Rowenhart was still new to Estonia; finding someone would be difficult.
And if, feeling lonely because of it, he decided to return to Tirnaban? Of course, he didn’t seem the irresponsible sort—but one never knew. Tessia resolved that she must rescue that pitiful soul herself. After all, she was the one who most wanted him to feel at home in Estonia, especially in the Order of Knights.
“That won’t be hard!”
“Thank you, Princess.”
The steward bowed and departed, already planning how he would phrase Tessia’s words for the Emperor: “Princess Tessia said that Prince Rowenhart’s arrival in Estonia is the happiest thing to have happened this year.”
A little embellishment never hurt. The Emperor’s delight soared sky-high, and his affection for Rowenhart deepened slightly more.
After the conversation, Tessia went looking for Rowenhart in the Order. Today was a workday. Strike while the iron is hot. Surely he had already received the Imperial invitation. She quickly found him in his laboratory, working quietly.
Tessia knocked lightly on the already-open door to call his attention.
Rowenhart, who had been deliberately pretending to be absorbed in his research while ignoring her presence, lifted his head as if only just noticing.
It was an eternal truth: any man focused on his work in his own domain looked attractive. And Tessia especially loved Rowenhart’s magic.
Rowenhart widened his eyes in feigned surprise.
“Princess—I didn’t realize you were here.”
“So it seems. Then I’ll get straight to the point so as not to disturb you.”
In fact, Rowenhart had also planned to speak to Tessia—about the banquet, acting pitiful, and suggesting she be his partner. He had planned to wait for her words first. But before he could bring it up—
“Heart. Will you be my partner and attend the banquet with me?”
Tessia asked gravely, like a groom proposing to his beloved.
Tessia always exceeded Rowenhart’s calculations.
Wasn’t this normally the man’s line to deliver…?
