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Chapter 14
“What’s with that reaction? Too handsome it’s bad for your heart or something?”
Elza didn’t answer, and I walked lightly toward where Friedrich was.
Let’s see—just how much more handsome has he gotten? What if there’s, like, a halo glowing behind him when I arrive?
“Fritz, are you ready—”
The moment I stepped into Friedrich’s room with an excited face—
A tall man in an olive-green tailcoat, standing with his back to me, turned around.
When I met his eyes, my excitement faltered for a second.
“Uh…”
“……”
“You—you look amazing!”
He looked the same as usual, though.
Of course! He was stunning. Even if you threw a burlap sack on him, he’d look like a high-fashion model—and now that he was dressed in a tailored outfit that showed off his build, it was like looking at a sculpture in an art museum.
But his face hadn’t changed. Not that he wasn’t handsome—it just looked like he hadn’t put on any makeup.
“I erased it all. They said it looked much better without.”
The makeup artist was still fussing about how this was the first time something like that had ever happened.
Well, sure—on that perfect face, anything you add is unnecessary.
“…Does it look all right?”
He didn’t seem to agree with me. With a slightly anxious look, he asked,
“This is an important occasion. Is it really fine for me to go bare-faced…?”
“Covering that face with makeup would be the real crime.”
I smiled, satisfied, as I examined his clean, unpainted features from different angles.
Seeing my reaction, Friedrich seemed a little relieved.
“Shall we go?”
Friedrich nodded and offered me his bent left arm.
When I looked at him questioningly, he lowered his gaze slightly. It took me a moment to realize what that meant.
“You’re… escorting me right now?”
“I am Your Highness’s partner, after all.”
Honestly, since he’d been imprisoned for five years, I hadn’t expected much.
“I was a prince for fifteen.”
“Oh, r-right.”
Does he read minds or something? I quickly smoothed over my expression and lightly placed my hand on his arm. I could feel his muscles tense beneath my fingers.
Thinking he might be uncomfortable, I said gently,
“You don’t have to overdo it already. We can start acting proper once we reach the ballroom.”
But unexpectedly, Friedrich looked disappointed. After all that thoughtfulness, he made that face?
“Is my escorting that bad?”
“What? No, I was just worried you might be uncomfortable.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Then relax those arm muscles first, I almost said—but decided against it. It wouldn’t do to tease someone who’s clearly trying his best.
The victory banquet of the Empire of Stade was, by custom, held in the grandest hall of the palace. Before entering, I spoke quietly.
“Friedrich.”
He turned to look at me. I met his gaze and smiled.
“Don’t be nervous. You’ve got me, René Stade, by your side.”
He looked at me for a moment, then curved his lips in a small smile.
My heart dropped—just like that—and I snapped my fingers.
“If anyone says something mean to you, smile like that. They’ll be too stunned to say anything else.”
But even after hearing my advice, Friedrich didn’t look very satisfied.
“What’s wrong?”
“You told me to stay by your side all night.”
“As much as possible.”
“Then no one would dare say anything unpleasant to me.”
He added softly,
“…As long as you don’t leave me alone.”
“I won’t. Ever. So don’t take your eyes off me either, okay? If you get lost here, we’re doomed.”
“Yes.”
A short, firm answer. I liked that.
Together, we stepped into the ballroom.
In an instant, dozens of eyes turned toward us.
“The hero of the victory herself! And the man beside her must be the ‘trophy prince,’ right? The one she demanded instead of the succession.”
“Thought she was insane, but looking at that face—yeah, makes sense. He’s gorgeous.”
Right, Joachim had failed to understand my decision only because he’d never seen Friedrich in person.
Now that he had, surely he’d get it.
Still, meeting him could wait—I had to greet the Emperor first.
Where’s the biggest crowd…?
I looked around, when suddenly someone tapped my hand lightly. Turning, I saw Friedrich saying something.
“…ere.”
“Hmm?”
“…over there.”
“I can’t hear you.”
It was too noisy. I frowned in frustration, and Friedrich gave an awkward look—then leaned close and whispered low in my ear,
“They’re over there.”
His quiet voice struck directly into my ear.
Like an arrow through the heart. For a moment, I couldn’t move.
When I turned to look at him, Friedrich was gazing back calmly.
It felt as though every sound around us had vanished, and we were standing alone in a bubble of silence.
“Your Highness?”
Only his voice reached me clearly in that vacuum. Snapping out of it, I laughed lightly.
“Oh… right. Let’s go.”
I took his arm and walked toward the Emperor and Empress.
“May divine grace shine upon the brilliant Sun and Moon of Stade. I greet Your Majesties.”
The imperial couple looked at us—or rather, at Friedrich’s face—and froze briefly. Then, understanding dawned, and they both nodded as if things suddenly made sense.
I smiled with satisfaction and continued,
“I came to pay my respects with the man who will soon be my husband.”
“So you truly mean to marry him…”
Emperor Otto stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“Your children will be striking, no doubt.”
“I’d like to hold the wedding as soon as possible. Would that be all right?”
“How soon?”
“In a month?”
I answered, recalling what Friedrich had said last night. The imperial couple exchanged surprised glances.
“That soon?”
“That’s how much I love him.”
“Couldn’t you wait a bit longer before deciding?”
“I have to marry before my twenty-fifth birthday anyway.”
“Still…”
“So that’s permission, then?”
I beamed and hurriedly led Friedrich away before they could change their minds.
Now that we’d secured approval for the wedding date, it was time to inform Joachim.
“Your Highness.”
Perfect timing—Joachim’s voice rang out.
Immediately, Friedrich stiffened beside me, and I understood why a moment later.
Joachim knelt before me and drew a ring from his breast pocket.
“You promised to give me your answer today.”
“Lord Rommel.”
“Will you marry me?”
The crowd’s murmur swelled around us like a wave.
Just as I was about to publicly refuse him—
“Duke Rommel.”
Friedrich, who’d been silent all this time, suddenly stepped forward.
I looked at him in surprise—
And he said, in a low, steady voice:
“You are disgraceful.”
