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chapter 28
Even if dawn is dark, the sun still rises. Difficult problems eventually get solved, and looking back afterward, you realize they weren’t that hard after all.
“Child abduction, impersonating a public official, and now exercising the right to remain silent… what a collection of misdeeds.”
Gilbert, who had only just learned the full story of the incident, entered the abandoned building and spent some “quality time” with the perpetrators.
The door didn’t seem to be locked, yet a terrifying sound kept leaking out, as if something fragile was constantly being broken.
“Ah! Please! Have mercy…!”
The pleading voices and screams gradually faded into an eerie silence.
“Surely he didn’t kill them…”
Fortunately—or unfortunately—Gilbert seemed to possess the skill of extracting confessions without endangering lives, a truly excellent form of torture.
After a long while, once Gilbert’s “mental education” was complete, the criminals confessed, looking as if they were in agony, coughing up blood.
“We did follow orders, but our intentions were not malicious. We lied because we feared the princess would refuse. Prince Diego is completely unrelated to this matter.”
They subdued others with force, threatened lives when numbers were against them, and yet shamelessly lied. Truly, like master, like servant—their audacity was evident in their faces.
“They must know I won’t hold back the truth.”
If inconvenient truths come to the surface, friction with the royal family—or worse, an all-out war—could escalate uncontrollably.
Having already restricted Rosinante’s words in advance, I quietly observed Gilbert press Diego’s subordinates.
“Even so, bringing your subordinates to a sacred arena is clearly cheating. Surely you’re not going to claim otherwise?”
“…Yes.”
Thus, Diego was disqualified for breaking the rules.
Most of the princes hunted herbivores; some came back empty-handed without even catching a rabbit, and a few hunted lower-level monsters.
But even combined, none of those captures compared to the ferocious monster Rosinante had taken down. By unanimous agreement, Rosinante, who had secured an overwhelming advantage, was declared the winner.
“Please give a warm round of applause to the final victor of the tournament, His 13th Highness, Rosinante!”
As Rosinante ascended the stage, applause and cheers poured out, though some cast suspicious glances.
The youngest prince hunted a monster? Impossible. There must be some misunderstanding. After all, he’s weak and an illegitimate son…
Hearing the whispers, I shot a sharp glance. They’d shut up soon enough, but no need to mutter. If you can’t say it loudly, don’t say it at all.
“And that guy isn’t the real one.”
He was perfectly disguised as Rosinante, but underneath the costume was someone entirely different. Otherwise, the immature male lead from before exile could never have captured such a strong monster.
Feeling smug at holding this secret, I lifted my head and clapped. Coincidentally, Rosinante looked directly at me at that moment, and our eyes met.
He didn’t look away. Reading a strange current in his gaze, I instinctively knew that he desired me too.
“You need me to naturally carry out the impersonation, right?”
If spies stick together, the risk of being discovered is high. Therefore, the fake Rosinante needed interaction with the Empire’s people.
But being an illegitimate with poor connections, he had no close friends. Any interaction I initiated could give him a slight opportunity to blend in, he must have judged.
“Good thing I took out the pocket insurance!”
To exact revenge with Zerodines against our enemies. And to move to the next step—changing over to the “husband death insurance.”
“I want to talk to you for a moment over there.”
I sent a subtle signal. Rosinante on the stage gave a small nod, just enough for me to recognize.
After the awards ceremony, as the tournament wound down, the atmosphere became chaotic. I took the opportunity to lead Rosinante to a secluded spot.
The forest at sunset glowed like fire. A reddish hue touched Rosinante’s face as well.
Everything was the same as when I first met him, except that he seemed slightly older. Looking at his face made the information I knew feel unfamiliar.
Had I not remembered that “Shadow, the spy of the Divine Kingdom, perfectly impersonated Rosinante,” I might never have suspected his true identity.
“Your Highness.”
I called out, but didn’t know where to begin. How many times in life does one confess feelings? People say false love confessions are easy, yet seeing Rosinante’s face made a fake confession feel heavy.
“The reason I called Your Highness here is because I have something to say.”
“I’m listening.”
It seems spies are trained in the art of operation. He took a handkerchief from his pocket, laid it flat on a rock, and gestured for me to sit.
His movements were so gentlemanly and practiced that I obediently perched on the rock.
“The male lead before growth would never do this. No, he couldn’t.”
If a boy who could barely meet a girl’s eyes changed this much, it could only mean he had become a different person.
With renewed conviction, I mustered courage and proposed.
“Honestly, I’ve had feelings for you since the first time we met. If Your Highness is not opposed, I’d like to help by filling the vacant princess consort position. What do you think?”
“……”
“You saw earlier, I can use magic and have some social skill. Though I am a ward, I come from a decent family, so I could be of help.”
“That won’t do.”
“If marriage feels too burdensome, we could start with just dating… okay?”
A confession is not a challenge, but a confirmation. I had read his gaze, actions, and words for signals, yet he said no?
“Could the plan have changed without my knowledge…?”
As I scrambled, Rosinante produced a hidden flower from behind his back and extended it toward me.
“I should be the one confessing, but you can’t do this, Princess.”
“…?”
I accepted the flower in a daze. Despite the confusion, the flower was beautiful. Its rich fragrance reminded me of a conversation before the tournament.
“Honestly, I’m not that interested in flowers.”
“And receiving them?”
“Of course, I’d be happy.”
“Ah! Good to know.”
…So he had planned to confess to me from that moment? I had been unnecessarily anxious all this time!
“Princess Levieta, if you become my consort, I would be sincerely happy.”
He placed a tiara adorned with sparkling jewels on my head.
“This is…”
“It’s the prize for the tournament winner.”
The coveted prize Grey wanted was not the Ego Sword or a magical artifact, but a tiara.
“It is said to be a legendary item blessed by the goddess of victory.”
“Oh.”
True to his father’s character, he must have planned a grand gesture.
Though the concept of divine blessing was unusual in the Empire, mythic figures like the goddess of victory were allowed in a dualistic sense.
No reason to refuse it.
“Thank you. So, our relationship is…”
“We will be married.”
Even as he said it, Rosinante looked startled and quickly added:
“Of course, not immediately. This will take effect after official royal approval, once the Princess is crowned consort.”
Everything in the royal family goes through the Empress—including matters concerning illegitimate engagements and the tournament results.
