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Chapter 28
“You said we’d go to your house, so why the Imperial Palace?”
“Edwin, I’m just asking because I’m not sure… we’re married, after all.”
“Go ahead.”
“Well… with me… um… my relationship with my parents… it’s just that….”
Edwin smiled at Dana, who hesitated.
“Nothing to worry about. It’s just that we’ve each been focusing on our own lives.”
“I see…”
No matter how Dana heard it, it sounded like Edwin’s parents had been indifferent to him.
Then it happened.
Edwin leaned forward, his face close to Dana’s ear.
And he murmured lazily:
“Were you worried about me?”
For some reason, his face looked strangely excited as he said it.
Dana let out a big sigh and brushed aside his bangs.
At the gentle touch, Edwin froze.
Seeing that, Dana chuckled softly.
He always approached her suddenly to startle her, yet when she touched him, he didn’t know what to do.
As proof, Edwin’s ears turned red.
“Yes, I was worried.”
He was concerned that, like her, a shadow of loneliness might remain in her heart—that there might be lingering sadness she couldn’t erase.
Edwin straightened up and returned to his spot.
Then he cooled his face while gazing into the distance.
“There’s nothing like what you might be thinking, Senior.”
“Really?”
“But I hope you consider me a bit pitiable.”
Dana looked at him, puzzled.
“If the affection you give comes from pity, that’s fine too.”
“You shouldn’t say things like that so carelessly.”
“Alright. Then please, treat me very kindly.”
Dana laughed at his puppy-like words.
“Then shall we live together at your mansion?”
Edwin’s eyes widened at her words.
She had spoken exactly what he intended to say first.
A way to get Dana out of that house while keeping his identity as a prince secret.
He gently lowered his eyes and said:
“Alright, let’s go to my mansion.”
“Sure. And if you need help with anything, just tell me. We’ll be living together.”
Dana’s final words lifted Edwin’s spirits.
The heavy anxiety that had been weighing on him disappeared, if only for a moment.
After talking for a while, they saw the front gate of the Magic Department.
“Already here?”
Dana’s eyes widened.
The long, tedious commute suddenly felt short.
Strangely, time with Edwin was never boring.
Dana realized once more.
A significant change had come into her dull world—Edwin.
Even walking side by side down the hallway was enjoyable.
Eventually, they arrived at the Potion Management Department.
Drreeuk—the sound of the door opening brought their attention to them.
Curious and disapproving gazes landed on Dana.
“Hi!”
Kira, with her hair braided into pigtails, greeted them energetically with her mouth.
Dana smiled at her.
Kira seemed full of questions she wanted to ask.
At that moment, Tony sneered:
“What were you two doing yesterday? Making a mess of the office atmosphere.”
“We filed our marriage registration.”
“Really? What nonsense…?”
Tony’s face crumbled.
“…You filed a marriage registration? You got married…?”
“Yes, we went straight to the temple.”
Dana answered again.
Tony, unable to believe it, pointed at Edwin.
“How long have you been seeing him? How could you leave me, who’s been with you so long…!”
Still not over it, huh?
Edwin’s sharp gaze fixed on Tony.
Recalling the past, Tony hunched his shoulders.
Just as Edwin was about to glare at him again, Dana grabbed his arm.
“Ignore him. Let’s work.”
“Yes, Senior.”
As if nothing had happened, Edwin composed his expression.
Seeing Dana’s long, curved eyes, Tony’s face went blank.
At that moment, Leyton entered the office.
“Why the atmosphere like this?”
He looked at Tony sprawled across a chair and asked.
“Apparently, it’s because we filed our marriage registration.”
Edwin tilted his head casually.
“Already registered? Amazing! You’ll live very well together!”
“Thank you.”
Edwin smiled, pleased by Leyton’s words.
Leyton pursed his lips.
“Even so, registering a marriage without a ceremony? Must not have money for a wedding, huh?”
Since it wasn’t entirely wrong, Dana stayed quiet.
Dealing with Leyton seemed less troublesome than answering him.
Leyton, seeing Dana’s silence, continued to chatter enthusiastically.
“Not even money for a honeymoon! And with Tony…”
“The wedding and honeymoon will proceed without issue.”
Edwin smiled calmly.
“So, please give us plenty of leave.”
Dana was the most surprised.
‘What’s going to proceed…?’
Knock knock.
A servant knocked on the Emperor’s tea room door.
The Emperor was enjoying tea with the Empress.
“What is it! I told you not to disturb me when I’m with the Empress!”
The Emperor frowned, annoyed at being interrupted.
The Empress sipped her tea and said:
“It must be urgent. Let them in.”
“Understood, dear.”
The Emperor answered immediately, as if he hadn’t been angry at all.
Soon, the servant entered with Chancellor Lohas.
“Your Majesty, Your Empress, greetings. May the divine hand always…”
“Skip the boring greetings. Sit down.”
“Yes, Your Empress.”
At the Empress’s words, Lohas sat.
The authority the Empress carried was always imposing.
Her calm eyes were like those of a predator.
Though she was placid now, one never knew how she might react if provoked.
‘She looks more and more like the Third Prince.’
Lohas swallowed nervously.
Then he got to the point.
“I have come to ask when you plan to hold the wedding ceremony…”
After all, he had to oversee the Third Prince’s state marriage.
The Emperor crunched on an orange jam cookie and asked:
“Huh? Who’s getting married?”
“…You didn’t know?”
Could it be that even the Emperor hadn’t been informed by his own parents…?
Lohas immediately regretted coming here.
Anger meant for the Third Prince might turn on him.
He cautiously spoke.
“…Yesterday, His Highness the Third Prince came with a woman. They completed their marriage registration.”
At that, the Emperor dropped the cookie from his hand.
“…Our youngest is married?”
His mouth fell open, disbelief written all over him.
“But why didn’t he bring the Princess Consort? Shouldn’t they live together in the palace…?”
Only the Empress remained calm.
“Edwin has lived away from the palace since childhood. He cannot stand being tied down.”
“Still… I want to see my daughter-in-law’s face too…”
“Surely there must be a reason. Wherever he lives, whatever he does, we decided to support him.”
It came from the guilt of not being able to care for Edwin properly.
Recalling the past, the Empress’s expression sank deeply.
Edwin, who couldn’t control his immense abilities and caused trouble.
And their decision to send the child to the North.
“Still, I feel a bit hurt…”
The Emperor pouted in displeasure.
The Empress spoke firmly:
“That’s childish. Be quiet.”
“…Yes.”
“By the way… how did they look?”
Taken aback, Lohas asked blankly.
“What do you mean…?”
“Did they look happy? Edwin and the woman he married.”
Not just happy, but it seemed like pure joy.
Lohas recalled them and answered:
“Yes, they looked happy.”
At that, the Empress smiled.
“Edwin really did something amusing.”
She looked genuinely pleased as she said that.
