THSMW 50

chapter 50

Ah, that rock… I smashed it.”

“That’s probably why the monster was summoned. His Highness ordered that if we couldn’t find the summoning stone, we were to bring in everyone related to it. Young Lord Miliard, you must come with us.”

“W-Where to? You don’t mean the Imperial Palace, do you?”

Miliard stammered as he asked. The knight replied without batting an eye.

“That’s right. Damaging His Highness the Crown Prince’s possession is a serious offense.”

“H-Hey! How was I supposed to know it belonged to the Crown Prince?!”

“Does ignorance absolve you of guilt? Come with me.”

“This land is clearly Elifritz’s private estate. Even if you’re a knight of the Imperial family, do you intend to arrest my brother right in front of me?”

Abishion stood up and blocked the knight’s path in front of Miliard. The knight merely shrugged, as if he expected that response.

“Are you saying, Count, that you intend to disobey a royal order?”

“How dare you speak so insolently. I won’t hand over Miliard.”

“Then say that to His Highness the Crown Prince’s face.”

Abishion inhaled sharply, no longer able to contain his anger. Just as he opened his mouth to shout something at the knight, Siegfried interjected.

“Do try to make your story believable. You’re telling me you heard about a monster being summoned all the way from the capital—days away—and arrived here in just two days? Don’t tell me you weren’t already stationed nearby?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“He means that this whole incident may have been orchestrated by your Crown Prince from the beginning.”

“Why would His Highness do such a thing?”

“Oh come on, at least give him better lines if you’re going to script this. Your acting is off. So, what is the real reason behind this charade?”

There must’ve been a reason behind the knight’s stiff demeanor. At the word “acting,” his thick brows twitched.

“I don’t know anything. I was just ordered to bring in whoever broke the summoning stone.”

“No way! I’m not going! What did I do?! Why don’t you go arrest the servant who brought me that rock instead?!”

“That servant has already been apprehended.”

“Then he should be the one held responsible—why me?!”

“Did you not hear me? His Highness ordered that everyone involved be brought in.”

“Enough.”

Siegfried sighed. Miliard looked up at him with teary eyes.

“P-Prince…”

“Seems like my brother’s desperate if he’s resorting to this. He must really hate that I’m staying in Elifritz.”

“His Highness never said such a thing.”

“Tell me the truth. Didn’t he set some conditions? Like, if I left, this whole incident would be swept under the rug?”

The knight fell silent. Siegfried’s eyes narrowed.

“I’ve already informed His Majesty that I’ll handle the conflict on the eastern front. Once I receive his reply, I’m ready to depart at any time.”

“What a convenient coincidence. The Crown Prince also wished for Your Highness to join the eastern front.”

“So he wants me to go die, huh?”

“……He said that if Your Highness agreed to go, he would generously forgive those involved.”

So it really was a setup from the start. I was speechless.

Volunteering for the war and being coerced into it are entirely different. And why is Eisa making these decisions instead of the Emperor?

I knew the Emperor favored Eisa excessively, but I didn’t realize he’d even entrust him with matters of such importance.

Siegfried, strangely enough, was now smiling faintly. I had a bad feeling he might actually say he’d leave tomorrow.

“His Highness the Crown Prince wishes for the eastern conflict to be resolved as quickly as possible.”

“And if I leave, will he leave the Elifritz family alone?”

“He did say that. Lady Ariel has even been mentioned several times as a candidate for Crown Princess. Would His Highness really harm the Count’s family?”

Siegfried’s expression twisted at those words. I barely stopped myself from groaning aloud.

I thought if I avoided meeting Eisa, my chances of becoming his fiancée would drop. But the talks already started?! I don’t even want that!

But it’s not like I can say that to the Crown Prince’s face. I anxiously bit my lip.

I was already overwhelmed by the thought that Siegfried might someday bring the heroine and make me miserable.

Now what if I’m forced to get engaged to the Crown Prince before that even happens?

Forget pitying Siegfried—my life is the one that’s tragic. I tried to avoid the villain and ended up on the male lead route, only to get thrown back into the villainess-fiancée path.

…Well, it’s not like I’ll actually die alongside Eisa or something. But still. I hate this!

“It’s just talk, nothing more. Lady Ariel, what’s with that face? Don’t tell me… you don’t want to become Crown Princess?”

Now the knight’s gaze turned to me. I forced a smile.

“……Of course not. It’s an honorable position. It’s just so immensely honorable that it feels overwhelming.”

“Still, don’t get your hopes up too much. The other candidates are formidable.”

“I wasn’t hoping in the first place.”

I really hoped they’d take me off the candidate list entirely. When I answered almost reflexively, the knight gave me a puzzled look.

If you think it’s such a great position, you go be Crown Princess, why don’t you? I nearly said that aloud.

“Tell my brother this—he’d better remember his promise to leave this family alone. Not until I return.”

When the knight said they wouldn’t “touch” the family, he probably meant they wouldn’t pressure the Count’s household if Siegfried left.

But the way Siegfried said it, it sounded more like don’t lay a hand on Ariel.

The knight seemed to notice it too and stared at Siegfried in silence for a moment. Then he bowed.

“I’ll deliver your message as is. When will Your Highness depart for the eastern front? I need a specific date.”

“Regardless, I still need His Majesty’s decree. You understand that much, right?”

“Then I’ll tell His Highness you’ll depart upon receiving the Emperor’s reply.”

The knight lifted his head and responded.

It still felt like everything was unfolding exactly as Eisa intended. But once Siegfried returns from the war, Eisa won’t be able to act as he pleases anymore. I hoped that day would come quickly.

“By the time you arrive back at the palace, I’ll already be at the eastern front. I believe that should satisfy him. Now leave.”

The knight retreated without another word. The dining room, which had been thrown into chaos, was now filled with silence.

Normally, I would’ve lightened the mood with a joke, but not this time.

Didn’t rumors already spread that Siegfried and I had a thing because of the vineyard gift? Doesn’t Eisa care about those?

Even the southern nobles started avoiding me just because the Prince supposedly showed interest. Villains were truly unpredictable.

“Noona, since when were you a candidate for Crown Princess? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”

Miliard asked in a casual tone, probably trying to cheer me up as I looked gloomy too.

Trust my little brother to be the first to bounce back after nearly being dragged off as a criminal. Blood doesn’t lie.

“I don’t know. I planned on never marrying and leeching off you and Abishion until you both died of old age, but the world won’t leave me alone.”

“Yeah, right. Weren’t you the one saying you’d travel to the ends of the earth to find your dream man?”

“And you’re the one who said I’d die single and tried to set me up with Young Lord Helix.”

“That was then! Now you’ve got a prince, and even the Crown Prince… gasp.”

Miliard quickly shut his mouth and glanced nervously at Siegfried, who was glaring daggers at him.

“I will never let Eisa take you from me.”

He didn’t even call him “brother” anymore. The knight’s words had really pushed him over the edge.

Wasn’t this the same guy who barely said a word over the past two days? Siegfried seemed most rattled by the idea that Eisa was targeting me.

“Ariel, you said you’d wait for me.”

“Yeah… I did.”

“Eisa has too much pride to touch you for now. But he’s not the only one I’m worried about. Helix, Manuel, Palesa… and all the other unnamed men out there. Damn it, why am I five years younger than you?!”

His voice grew more agitated, as though he’d lost control of his emotions mid-sentence.

Miliard fell silent and quietly slipped away. Even Abishion glanced our way before wordlessly exiting the dining room.

I found Siegfried’s inability to hide his jealousy… endearing. The way he blamed his age was oddly cute—this was getting dangerous.

“You make it sound like if only our ages matched, you’d propose on the spot.”

“You heard me correctly. I may not come back alive, but selfishly, I wanted to.”

“Then just do it. It’s only not legal yet, right?”

I tilted my head slightly.

If we became an item now, I’d definitely be disqualified from being Eisa’s fiancée. We could worry about the heroine’s arrival later.

To be honest, I was acting out of character—too impulsive. I knew Siegfried would leave eventually, but the thought of sending him off like this filled me with dread.

It must have been the adult version of Siegfried I saw in that vision—he’d captured my heart. Otherwise, I’d never be saying this nonsense.

My rational mind warned, He’s five years younger than you!, and I shot back internally, So what?! It’s not like I’m going to do anything now! I’ll wait until he’s of age, okay?!

“……How could I do that? At the very least, I should be a man capable of taking care of you before I propose. I won’t be irresponsible.”

But Siegfried, unaware of my thoughts, shook his head firmly. You already are that man—you just don’t realize it yet.

“Your Highness will undoubtedly become strong enough to make even the Crown Prince feel threatened. I believe in you. No—more than that, I know it.”

“You really do have a way of saying things that make people fall for you.”

“I’m serious!”

I wasn’t just trying to sound sweet. But Siegfried, fueled by my encouragement, smiled as if he drew strength from it.

It was the first time he’d smiled in two days. Before I knew it, my hand moved on its own—reaching out to touch his face.