“...Your Highness. Are you alright?” Stella asked worriedly.
It was likely a question born of concern, given that Noel’s face had been deathly pale for some time now. She had never shown such signs of agitation even when standing on the battlefield together; ever since the Prince took Aiden away earlier, she had remained in this state. “If you are feeling unwell, please rest for a while. I will cover it up for those around you.”
“...Then. I’ll be right back.” Saying this, Noel rose from her seat with a strained smile.
She walked briefly out of the hall. Outside the noisy and opulent venue, the cool night air rustled and scattered her hair. “....” Noel’s face hardened as she looked in the direction the wind had blown.
Possessing superhuman sensory organs, she could clearly see what lay beyond the dark vision. Mr. Aiden.
And the Prince. They were sitting across from each other at a table, talking about something. She took a deep breath. 'I have no right to interrupt.' No matter what was said, she had no right to stop the Prince's actions.
Considering the 'past' she was entangled with the Prince, it was only natural. It wasn't for nothing that she had let Aiden go so easily. She turned around and tried to distance herself from the people across the way.
With Noel’s hearing, she would surely hear every conversation happening over there from this distance. “Break off your engagement with Sajasim.” … … Had she not heard those words, she would have done so. “In return, I will grant you everything you desire, Mr. Aiden.”
“-”
Noel’s footsteps came to a sudden halt. She unconsciously scrutinized Aiden’s face. She didn’t know why she immediately checked his demeanor upon hearing those words, but for some reason, she felt she had to.
He, on the other hand, was staring blankly at the Prince’s face without any particular reaction. With a look that made his thoughts unreadable. “……May I ask why you are making such a request?” At the question Aiden raised in a hoarse voice, the Prince clasped his hands together and rested them under his chin. “The Mandate of Heaven is coming, Mr.
Aiden. Soon, many interesting things will happen within the system.” That inscrutable smile still lingered gently on his face. “I simply do not want a good citizen like you to be by the side of such a wicked person and get entangled in such matters.”
“Did you say Lord Noel is wicked?”
“Ah, yes. Of course.” He continued.
Like a snake’s tongue coiling. “It would take a long time to explain the situation, but simply put…” The Prince’s voice lingered in Noel’s ears. “…That woman has ruined my future.” In an instant. “That woman known as Lionheart.
She is a coward, a traitor, a failure, a murderer, and a fugitive. She herself would not be able to deny it.” Noel’s breath caught in his throat. “Isn’t that enough reason to call her wicked?”
“…….”
“Keeping you away from such a woman—shouldn’t you actually be grateful?”
“…….”
“And, I know who you are, Aiden Kellermain. And I know what you want.” The Prince said this with a smile. “Getting entangled in matters beyond your station is bound to bring great misfortune.
Aren’t you currently taking on a task you cannot handle?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I wish to offer you peace.”
Aiden’s body froze. Even to Noel, who had not spent much time with him, it was undoubtedly a look of being caught off guard. In contrast, the Prince continued to gaze at him with a gentle smile. “I’m telling you to rest at home.
Leave the difficult tasks to great people. And stay away from life-threatening dangers.” Words filled with conviction poured out one after another.
As if it were only natural for Aiden to do so. As if calmly revealing the truth. As if emphasizing the fact that he had been ‘forced’ by someone else to take on a task that was unsuitable for him in the first place. “And, more than anything else.”
As if he hadn’t stopped there, the Prince paused for a moment before speaking. As if promising to give Aiden exactly what he 'truly' wanted. “No matter what happens in the future. I will protect your family.
No matter what happens. Even if it costs me my life.”
“…….”
“I swear on the honor of the Imperial Family. If you still don’t believe me, I will make a pact with the Karba you gave me. I keep my word.”
“…….”
“Throw the woman who dumped such…… a 'cruel' fate on you onto me. I am telling you to return to your original life.” Noel clenched her hand until it bled.
She wasn’t wrong. Everything Aiden Kellermain was going through right now began when he met her. It wasn’t something he wanted to do, but something that started 'because' of her. “…….”
She let out a gasp and lowered her head. Having heard all those words, it was obvious what answer would come out of Aiden. And.
A 'rejection reaction' was rising. '… … Why?' Even she herself could not understand why she was reacting this way. She and he are bound by a contract. There is nowhere to be found to provide them with emotional support.
If Aiden were to accept the Prince’s proposal in that manner, he could simply find someone else to fill the void somehow. It is likely a relationship where they do not assign any value to each other beyond that. But... 'I don't want to hear it.' She did not want to hear that man utter words of refusal.
For reasons she could not understand, such thoughts were creeping into her mind without her realizing it. She wanted to leave the spot and move immediately, but her legs felt as if they were nailed to the spot, unable to move a muscle. And as Aiden quietly opened his mouth, Noel squeezed her eyes shut. “Your Highness.”
—But. “There is nothing you cannot say to my fiancée.” The words that followed were completely different from what she had expected. … Noel’s eyes widened even further.
* * *
A chilling air settled over the table.
Such an atmosphere was to be expected immediately after unleashing abusive language upon a direct royal. “……It seems you still do not know.” But even after hearing those words,After a brief silence, the Prince spoke without any noticeable change in atmosphere. “He does have a good public reputation, indeed. After all, the Imperial Household and the military ‘fabricated’ it that way.
But—” “There must be some propaganda mixed in. There must have been many terrible things during the war.
I never assumed from the beginning that Lord Noel was completely innocent.”
“…….”
“As Your Highness says, Lord Noel might be a different person than he appears. I will not deny it.” Aiden calmly responded. “But, even so.”
Calm, yet resolute. He dropped those words. “I have no intention of breaking off the engagement.” Certainly, everything the Prince just said was unexpected from beginning to end.
It was clear that he had some bad history with Noel in the past. That must be why he harbors such clearly visible animosity. However.
No matter how dark and monumental those events may have been. He had a reason why he absolutely could not give up on this marriage. -Quest Info ▶ Failure to complete the events listed in this section will result in massive penalties! ◈ Fake Marriage - You have been chosen as Lord Noel's spouse. Maintain the contract with your partner to the very end!
Because the reason he absolutely could not give up was explained and embedded right here, in a very clear and distinct way. 'Does this bastard intend to kill someone...!' No matter what happens, I cannot give up on my relationship with Noel...! There is no answer other than continuing this with a do-or-die attitude...! “...You will be facing a lot of things you cannot handle.” At the sight of the Prince speaking with such a heavy atmosphere, Aiden gritted his teeth inwardly.
I mean, I understand everything he is saying... but... 'I told you, if you break off the engagement, I will die right now...!' He somehow managed to retort by replacing that desperation with a relaxed smile. “I am prepared.” At the immediate reply, the Prince fell silent for a moment. It felt as though he was testing the waters, unable to figure out exactly what Aiden was thinking. “...You would better think straight.”
The Prince says this in a cold voice. He is likely warning that their relationship could turn hostile, even to him. 'So what...!' It's better than dying right now, you punk...! "It doesn't matter." As he rattled off this, the Prince stared at him with a speechless expression. "...Why are you going to such lengths? You are merely bound to Lord Noel by a contract." What reason is there?
I'm just doing it because I have to... But there is no point in explaining that. It seems like no matter what I say, he will just keep acting this way.
So, let's rack our brains. I don't know why the Prince is demanding the annulment of the engagement right now, but at the very least, I must stop him from continuing to interfere with the relationship between the two of us in this manner. It is troublesome and extremely annoying.
Then, the best pretext to stop it all at once is... well... 'Ah.' There is one. Even if it isn't a solution, it is a pretext to completely block the Prince's attempt to squeeze in and 'persuade' him. "Um." Aiden smiled broadly. As if it were a sincere truth, without a shred of falsehood. “I like him.”
… … He uttered a lie without even wetting his lips. It was the confidence of a man whose main profession was a con artist. “…….” The smile vanished from the Prince’s face for the first time.
He looked as if he had never even imagined such an answer. “…… You like him?”
“Yes.”
“…… You would turn against the Crown Prince for such a mere reason? Against the man destined to become the ruler of the Empire?”
“Yes.”
Silence fell. It was much heavier and more desolate than before. Time passed like that for quite a while. “Ha.”
Along with that short exhale. “Ha-hahahahaha—!” Soon, a roar of laughter followed. -System Message ▶ Contacting 'The Usurper', Arden Brimstone Lionel. ▶ [Malice] Level increases by 1! ▶ New ability for 'Weaver of Fate' unlocked. ▶ Copies 'Mutated Skills' from the target! “……?” Aiden frowned at the system window that popped up next.
It was a window he had never seen before. Until now, he had been copying skills as his affection level increased, so what on earth were these things about "Stages of Evil" or "Mutated Skills"? However, before he could even finish questioning that, another window appeared immediately. -System Message ▶ The affection level of the target 'Noel Astria Seamus' is increasing. ▶ The rate of increase in affection is extremely high! ▶ The Bond level skyrockets from Stage 3 to Stage 5. ▶ The number of skill copies is increased by 2! ▶ The accumulated bond is sufficiently high.
The application method of 'Weaver of Fate' will change soon! ▶ Related content will be added to the Main Quest soon! ▶ A new item will be added to the quest 'Fake Marriage'! “…….” Why is this person… … ?