By Zephyria 
One day, when the country had entered a stable orbit.
Elian faced the moment of his final crisis.
‘It’s almost time for the heroine of this world to appear.’
Although the situation had changed significantly from the novel he knew, he didn’t think there was any possibility that the heroine who was supposed to appear wouldn’t.
‘It’s not that I don’t trust Kirendis, but…’
Still, there’s a matter of feelings, isn’t there?
I feel jealous of the many people who admire the charming Duke, who is of marriageable age, and yet it’s the heroine.
I couldn’t help but be bothered.
‘I can at least interfere with their first meeting, right?’
The first meeting of the two protagonists.
It was the day of the National Foundation Day banquet.
As the bright moonlight shone and sparkled upon the beautiful Imperial Palace gardens, the heroine suddenly appeared.
Emperor Kirendis, who witnessed that absurd scene firsthand, was cold and composed.
It was the moment they fell in love at first sight.
‘If I can just stop that, I’ll be relieved.’
After that, it was a format where Emperor Kirendis would investigate various things to uncover the heroine’s identity, leading to episodes, so he didn’t need to worry about it now.
Besides, Kirendis wasn’t the Emperor, so there was no reason for him to be involved, and investigating the heroine was the responsibility of the Royal Guard, so it was unrelated.
‘Good. I’ll find her first that day, no matter what.’
With that resolve, Elian deduced the likely places the heroine would appear and waited for National Foundation Day.
He thought it was highly probable she would appear in a beautiful place with few people.
The Imperial Palace gardens were vast, and wandering aimlessly would lead to trouble. He was also likely to be caught by passing nobles if he wandered around thoughtlessly, so selecting a route was crucial.
‘The biggest problem is how to get Kirendis away from me.’
The best method would be to give the nobles some good bait. If they surrounded Kirendis and kept him occupied, he could move alone.
‘Kirendis always tries to stick by my side.’
I don’t know what he’s so wary of, but whenever he attended a banquet, he scanned his surroundings with intense focus.
He found it cute and didn’t stop him, but this time it was problematic.
‘So, what rumor should I spread?’
Fortunately, he had obtained good information. It was the news that a new trade route would be opened in Etilen, a trade city, which was a newly granted territory to Kirendis.
Opening a new trade route would create many opportunities for people. Merchants, as well as nobles, would surely flock to get a piece of the pie.
‘Good timing.’
Elian timed the spread of the rumors to coincide with National Foundation Day. That way, people would flock to Kirendis.
Using Phantoms to manipulate rumors was something he always did, so there was no difficulty.
As time passed, National Foundation Day arrived, and a grand banquet was held at the Imperial Palace.
“You look so handsome today, Elian. More so than usual. What if everyone falls for you?”
Kirendis said this, looking at Elian, who had put in extra effort to dress up. Elian felt unnecessarily embarrassed and pretended not to hear, clearing his throat.
“What do you mean, more handsome than usual? I’m always handsome. It’s the same as always.”
“That’s right. Elian is always handsome. I’ve fallen for you once more.”
Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t suspicious and was letting it slide.
‘Sigh. Did I do something unnecessary?’
Elian let out a silent sigh. The reason he had dressed up more than usual was because of the heroine.
More precisely, it was a plan to prevent the heroine from falling in love with Kirendis at first sight, even a little.
It was a shallow trick, wondering if having one more handsome man by his side might slightly diffuse his brilliance.
‘Yes. What’s wrong with trying something?’
Once this crisis passed, Elian would have nothing more to worry about. All that would be left was to live happily ever after.
‘Alright. Let’s do our best.’
Thus, Elian waited for the banquet to begin. After the banquet started, he danced with Kirendis as always and conversed with acquaintances, including Emperor Lion and other nobles.
In the beginning, they conversed with the main characters involved with both of them. Then, in the middle, came a time when they had to act separately.
This was because both had their own things to do.
Of course, if there was no one to talk to, they would spend time together, but not today.
“Elian… I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. It’s for a good cause. Go and make a lot of money.”
Kirendis, unaware that the rumors were spread intentionally at a good time, showed his regret and apology.
It would have been fine if both were busy, but if only one was busy, the other had to spend time alone.
While they could talk if they wanted, neither had any intention of having private conversations with people they weren’t close to.
Because of this, Kirendis seemed concerned. It was customary to stay at the banquet until the middle, at least.
‘I have no intention of doing that, though.’
Elian confirmed Kirendis was surrounded by nobles and then left the banquet hall.
With the title of Grand Duke, no one would say anything even if he disappeared midway. It was a choice Elian, who didn’t care much about his reputation, could make.
‘Good. No one is following me.’
After carefully checking if he had any tails, he took the path he had scouted and started walking. It was the optimal route, secluded yet connected to all the main spots in the garden.
‘She hasn’t appeared yet, has she?’
The two protagonists met around the middle to late part of the banquet. He couldn’t know the exact time, but it was the conclusion he reached because it was around the time the Emperor could leave his seat.
Naturally, his steps quickened. If the heroine appeared when no one was around, he might wander around and get caught by guards, causing a bigger problem.
‘It’s not too late yet, it seems.’
After circling the spot he had scouted once, he circled it again with relief. Then, he wondered how beautiful the heroine would be.
Elian, who liked beautiful things, felt a sense of anticipation. It was due to the protagonist buff this world provided.
Looking at Kirendis was proof enough.
Beautiful, cute, lovely, handsome, and even sexy. All sorts of adjectives fit his perfect face without awkwardness.
It wasn’t just infatuation; he truly saw it with objective eyes. Moreover, how capable was he?
He was a Sword Master and a mage, and he had a keen sense for politics and business.
There wasn’t a single flaw.
‘It’s highly likely the heroine would be at least this level.’
Elian liked talented people, not just beauties. If they were beautiful to look at, all the better.
‘How can I make the best use of the heroine?’
Elian pondered as he walked. He thought it would be most effective if he brought her in and utilized her himself.
‘Huh?’
Just then, a strange sound came from a short distance away.
“Come here, I’m telling you!”
“Why are you doing this? Let go!”
“Seeing you loitering around here alone, you wanted this too, didn’t you?”
“What are you talking about? Where is this place! If you keep this up, I’ll scream!”
It was the voices of a seemingly drunk noble man and a young woman.
It wasn’t strange, as such things often happened during the middle to late part of a banquet. However, there was something that bothered him.
‘Could it be…?’
Elian turned his steps and quickly headed towards the sound.
Where is this place? Wasn’t that exactly the kind of line a heroine who had just arrived in an unfamiliar world would say?
‘But why over there…’
The place where their conversation could be heard was very secluded. So much so that Elian, who was walking on a deserted path, had to go further inside.
‘This is…’
Upon arriving at the source of the sound, he understood why the heroine was there.
It was the place that had been used as the palace during Marius’s reign as Emperor. Lion had moved the palace as soon as he regained some stability, but this was something he hadn’t considered.
The novel’s plot would be based on the era when Kirendis was Emperor, but he was searching for locations based on the current circumstances.
It was a fatal mistake.
“Let go, I’m telling you! I really will scream?!”
Despite being flustered, the heroine shouted bravely and fought against the noble. It was the pluckiness befitting the protagonist, always described as bright and spirited.
“Yes. You like this kind of thing. I get it, I get it. Then I’ll have to accommodate you.”
However, the situation wasn’t good. The noble had started to use force.
No matter how spirited she was, the difference in physical strength was unavoidable. Fear began to appear on her face.
Fear…
‘…Huh?’
Elian’s eyes widened. Fear flashed across the heroine’s face, but it was only for a fleeting moment.
Now, she looked as if she was contemplating something.
‘Ah…!’
Elian had an epiphany. Her gaze was fixed on the noble man’s crotch.
‘Ahhh…’
Only then did the heroine’s spirited personality fully come to mind. The wicked noble-repelling technique that popped into his head seemed more than enough to be enacted.
‘Oh dear.’
Even though he wasn’t the one involved, he felt a cold sweat break out.
‘This is not the time to be standing around.’
It would be too late after the heroine dealt with the noble. Even so, nobles were nobles, and provoking them first would cause trouble.
It was easier to deal with them secretly from behind.
“What are you doing here?”
Elian stepped forward, revealing himself, and spoke.
With the moonlight behind him, Elian, who had put in extra effort today, exuded an intensified chilling aura.
His silver hair shone beautifully, and with the moonlight behind him, he looked like an embodiment of darkness.
He actually had a similar nickname, which made the noble gasp.
“G-Grand Duke. Wh-what brings you here…”
“Is this a place I shouldn’t come to?”
“It’s not that…”
The noble’s face turned pale at the chilling voice. Contempt was evident in Elian’s gaze and tone.
“Today is the day of the banquet hosted for the first time by His Majesty, who has come of age. Instead of offering congratulations on this important day, you are acting in a way that tarnishes His Majesty’s honor.”
While such incidents often occurred during banquets, the timing was unfortunate. It was a major anniversary banquet hosted for the first time by Lion, who had come of age.
Moreover, rumors were rampant these days that Elian was Lion’s shadow, making it difficult to ignore.
His newly acquired epithet was ‘The Shadow Grand Duke.’
He had heard the rumors that he, standing behind the brilliantly shining Lion, would not hesitate to do any dirty work.
Although no one had yet become his target and disappeared, there was no telling if he would be the first.
“I-I’m sorry. Please forgive me just this once. I was thoughtless. I had no intention of tarnishing His Majesty’s honor.”
“Whether you had the intention or not is irrelevant. What matters is that you attempted to tarnish His Majesty’s honor.”
At the cold retort, the noble trembled, prostrate on the ground. Seeing him made Elian feel sick. Elian scowled and said, as if annoyed, “Enough. I will deal with this matter separately later, so withdraw.”
“Th-thank you.”
Relieved that he had saved his life, the noble quickly fled.
Even though they were told not to, there were always those who acted foolishly and caused trouble, tarnishing the Imperial Family’s dignity. It was irritating.
Why were there so many foolish people?
Elian clicked his tongue briefly, then extended his hand to the heroine.
“Please rise, Young Lady. I have been waiting.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Young Lady?”
Did he say something wrong? The heroine’s expression was strange.
Her eyes, wide open and staring blankly, were both innocent and beautiful. She was the heroine, after all.
If it were someone else, their expression would look foolish, but on her, it looked like a scene from a movie.
“Elian!”
Just then, a familiar voice was heard from a distance.
‘Kirendis, already?’
Quite some time had passed, but he hadn’t expected Kirendis to have already dealt with the nobles and come looking for him.
‘This way they’ll run into each other.’
He had avoided their first meeting, but he still didn’t want them to meet today. That’s why he came out alone and had even spoken to her, saying he was waiting.
That way, he could escort her away smoothly.
‘I planned to have her stay at the Imperial Palace, explain everything to everyone, and then discuss her accommodations.’
If things had gone according to plan, the two would have met tomorrow. But fate’s thread was strong, and he had come to find her.
‘It was worth dressing up so meticulously.’
Elian turned around, hoping the heroine wouldn’t fall in love with Kirendis at first sight.
“Kirendis.”
“I was worried because you weren’t here. Why did you come out this far?”
“I just didn’t want to go in, so I was taking a walk.”
He offered the excuse he had prepared, and Kirendis seemed relieved, looking around. More precisely, he was checking who was with Elian.
‘Finally…’
Elian, swallowing nervously, turned his head to look at the heroine.
‘Huh?’
Elian tilted his head and looked back at Kirendis.
He was glaring at the heroine with narrowed eyes.
‘That look…’
It was the look Kirendis had when he encountered a new rival. A look filled with wariness and burning jealousy.
‘What in the world…’
Only then did he realize that things were going strangely. Elian looked at the heroine again.
She wasn’t paying any attention to Kirendis at all. She was only looking at Elian, her eyes sparkling.
As if she had fallen in love at first sight with the chilling protagonist and nothing else registered…
‘Wait. Chilling?!’
Elian’s jaw dropped in shock. He thought he understood why this situation had unfolded this way.
All of this was clearly due to his shallow plan and jealousy.
“Wow. Is this a dream?”
The heroine, looking at Elian, uttered the same words she had said to the male protagonist.
‘Right. The reason the heroine fell in love at first sight was because of Kirendis’s chilling aura.’
He had forgotten that crucial piece of information. Elian had to admit his mistake.
As he actively intervened in the story, Kirendis had become a kind personality, not a cold one. This meant he had drifted further from the heroine’s ideal type.
‘I didn’t need to worry about it in the first place.’
Why on earth had he made such a useless plan? If he had just left it alone, nothing would have happened.
“Haa. You’re a Grand Duke? How fitting, your status matches your aura perfectly.”
The heroine’s eyes sparkled with adoration. He didn’t know what connection there was between status and aura, but she seemed completely smitten with Elian.
“From the moment I first met you, I felt you were no ordinary person. Ah, did I thank you for saving me?”
“You already said…”
“Thank you so much, Grand Duke. When you appeared before me like a savior, bathed in moonlight, I thought I would stop breathing. When you scolded the wicked person with your chilling voice and kindly extended your hand to me, I was already…”
Seeing the heroine blush as she spoke, Elian couldn’t hide his complex feelings.
The heroine’s ideal type.
To explain in detail, it was someone who looked cold on the outside but was warm on the inside, in other words, the typical male protagonist in a novel.
However, Kirendis had already drifted far from that setting, and the closest person to it was Elian.
Moreover, his efforts to make the atmosphere colder had worsened the situation.
Adding to that, the dangerous situation and his act of saving her and showing kindness…
“So. Who is this woman?”
Kirendis asked, glaring sharply at her. It was obvious he was showing his displeasure without reservation.
“As I said a moment ago, she’s a talent sent from heaven? I saw her achieve countless accomplishments in the future.”
Elian replied that he had seen her with his power of the eyes. This was also part of a plan he had set up in advance, but having already failed spectacularly once, he wasn’t sure if this was okay.
“I believe Elian, but this time is an exception. I can’t trust it. It’s suspicious.”
“I agree. I don’t disbelieve my uncle, but I think a verification process is necessary,” Lion added calmly after Kirendis’s sharp reply. He nodded, as both of their points were valid.
“That’s true. Even if I did have a dream, there’s no guarantee that it will happen 100%.”
However, he was 99.99% sure that she was a talented individual. It didn’t matter if she wasn’t, but the possibility was certainly high.
Elian wanted to use this point efficiently to develop this country.
“Then, our Royal Guard will conduct the investigation. It will be easier to monitor if the majority, the Royal Guard, handles it rather than the elite few of the Imperial Guard.”
Lac raised his hand and volunteered, as if he had caught an interesting scent. He felt uneasy for some reason, but his words also made sense.
“What? Then, are we parting ways now?”
At that moment, the female protagonist, who had been observing the situation, asked in surprise.
Parting ways… The words felt like separating lovers, and she was taken aback.
“……It’s not parting ways, but a time to find out whether you are a dangerous individual or not. That way, we can be at ease.”
“I see. In that case, you may investigate and monitor me to your heart’s content. You can ask me anything you’re curious about. I will answer anything.”
Fortunately, she was cooperative. But that wasn’t the end of it.
“However, there is a condition.”
A condition…?
As she tilted her head, she said with sparkling eyes,
“I only want to receive the investigation in the presence of the Grand Duke. That is my condition.”
Huh?
It was a condition whose intentions were too transparent. Her motive to be with him somehow was too obvious.
“I have been suddenly dropped into an unfamiliar place, so I am in a very weak state, both mentally and physically. However, if the Grand Duke is present, I think I will be fine. You saved me from danger, so I find you reliable and trustworthy. Just looking at your face makes me feel stable and peaceful.”
She was flustered by how openly she displayed her affection.
It was funny and interesting when she read it in books, but being on the receiving end was incredibly awkward.
If asked what was the most awkward thing…
“I cannot agree. The condition that Elian must always accompany you? This person is already busy enough; we can’t add more work here.”
“Oh my. Is the Grand Duke’s name Elian?”
“I’d rather…”
“Kyaa. How can his name be so beautiful? May I call you Elian too?”
“I…”
“You must be a little uncomfortable since we’re not close yet, right? Then it would be good to have time to get closer quickly.”
“I…”
“What does the Grand Duke think?”
“……”
Kirendis, perfectly provoked by the female protagonist’s barrage, flared up.
His gaze was so fierce that it was easy to imagine what Kirendis, described as an emperor in the novel, would have looked like.
‘Hmm… I don’t think I need to worry about the two of them falling for each other.’
Kirendis’s current appearance was exactly the female protagonist’s ideal type. However, she didn’t even spare him a glance.
She was treating Kirendis like an invisible person and smiling kindly at Elian.
It was a truly awkward situation.
“I. W.I.L.L. D.O. I.T.”
Kirendis, gritting his teeth, said while shooting a fierce look at Lion. His will to rebel if not permitted was palpable.
‘The intensity of his jealousy seems stronger than usual, why is that?’
It wasn’t that there weren’t people around who admired Elian. Elian was beautiful, held high status, and owned territory. The formidable rumors that had been a major obstacle had also subsided to some extent.
However, because Kirendis was a barrier, people only watched from afar and never expressed their feelings.
Even if they did, Elian would ignore them or coldly reject them, so it had always been dismissed as minor complaints until now.
But the female protagonist was different. She charged straight ahead, ignoring everything, which seemed to be provoking Kirendis’s strong reaction.
‘Or is it because they are protagonists?’
Perhaps their destinies were intertwined in opposition because their connection wasn’t woven positively.
Regardless, the important thing was…
“What does my opinion matter? I will follow your decision, those who handle the practical matters.”
Lion subtly withdrew, handing over the decision-making power. The person who newly held the decision-making power was Elian.
‘Right. The important point now is that I am in a crisis.’
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
The female protagonist requested Elian’s accompaniment instead of passively undergoing the investigation and monitoring. Elian, who saw her potential highly, couldn’t shake off the thought that it was a good opportunity, despite his awkwardness.
After all, he knew better than anyone that she wasn’t a dangerous person, and he knew her competence very well.
In other words, there was no harm in getting acquainted in advance.
‘The problem is that she’s showing too much favor.’
Despite having such a significant advantage, he couldn’t readily answer because of Kirendis.
Just as he didn’t want to attach the female protagonist to Kirendis, Kirendis likely felt the same.
“Elian.”
“Grand Duke.”
The two called out to Elian in pleading voices.
‘This is awkward…’
But the answer was already as good as decided.
Even if he was tempted by the talented individual, she would eventually benefit the country as long as she lived here. He didn’t necessarily need to build a friendship himself.
Furthermore, if she refused the investigation, it would be her loss. Given the situation, the conclusion was reached surprisingly quickly. However…
“I refuse…”
“How about this, Your Majesty?”
Lac snatched away the answer. His face was sparkling as if he had discovered an interesting toy.
“The investigation will be handled by our Royal Guard, and the monitoring will be done by the Ministry of Finance.”
“By the Ministry of Finance?”
Lion showed interest before she could say anything.
“Didn’t the Grand Duke say that this person would achieve many great deeds in the future? Then it is best for the Imperial Family to protect and provide convenience. And isn’t the Ministry of Finance the most understaffed in the Imperial Palace? The Ministry of Finance will gain an extra hand, we can monitor her comfortably while keeping her close, and we will have an opportunity to judge whether she is truly a brilliant talent or not. It’s killing three birds with one stone.”
…Was Lac originally this logical?
Elian clicked his tongue, thinking that his brain cells must change for anything interesting.
However, the problem with this statement was that it was a method that sounded quite reasonable even to him. Once she gained some experience in the Ministry of Finance, she would be able to handle basic tasks anywhere.
Moreover, this method had a fatal reason that Kirendis couldn’t oppose.
“Duke Lipen’s concern is the Grand Duke’s workload. However, if we use this method, the workload will decrease, not increase, so there will be no problem. Isn’t that right, Duke?”
“……”
Kirendis glared fiercely at Lac. No one there didn’t know the real reason he opposed it, so he couldn’t help but seem annoying for pretending not to know.
But one couldn’t truly reveal that they knew.
“Th.a.t.’s. a. g.o.o.d. m.e.t.h.o.d.”
Kirendis gritted his teeth and answered, emphasizing each syllable. His lips trembled, showing how angry he was.
‘Oh no. I need to end this meeting quickly.’
If it continued like this, Kirendis seemed like he would explode. Elian quickly opened his mouth.
“Then, let’s conclude the meeting here. Young Lady, please understand our situation.”
“Oh my. Of course. It can’t be helped if the Grand Duke is busy. Still, I’m glad I can see you again. I don’t know exactly what the Ministry of Finance does, but I will work hard. I will finish the investigation quickly and rush to Your Highness.”
“Yes… Then I’ll be going now.”
To the very end, she continued to say things that would infuriate Kirendis.
Elian quickly stood up and pulled Kirendis along. Feeling that he was still wary of the female protagonist, he took Kirendis’s hand and intertwined their fingers in front of everyone. He paid particular attention to the angle so that the female protagonist could see it clearly.
It was a signal that he was already taken and should behave accordingly.
“Oh my?”
The female protagonist’s eyes widened in surprise. Elian couldn’t help but chuckle at her genuinely surprised expression.
Since she wasn’t unintelligent, he thought this might resolve the issue.
“Let’s go home, Kirendis.”
By deliberately not specifying whose home, he implied they lived together. Kirendis seemed to sense this, as his body relaxed, and he clasped Elian’s hand back.
“Let’s go. Home.”
Wondering if his intention had been conveyed, he glanced back. There, she was even more surprised, her eyes sparkling even brighter than before.
‘……Huh?’
He widened his eyes at the unexpected reaction. But since they were already outside, he couldn’t check again.
“I don’t like that person.”
While doubting if his intention had been properly conveyed, Kirendis opened his mouth in a displeased tone.
Because he was thinking of something else, Elian turned his head in surprise. Then, Kirendis said with a sulky, disappointed face.
“Why do you keep paying attention to that woman? You’ve never done that before.”
“Me?”
Is this possible? Did his attention show that much?
“You can’t fool my eyes. What future did you see to be like this? Is that person that great? More than me?!”
“Ah…”
What should I do?
‘So cute.’
He shouldn’t, but Kirendis’s jealousy was incredibly cute.
A wicked desire to see more of this and a good conscience that he shouldn’t clashed within Elian.
Fortunately, the good conscience won.
“Of course not. Who could be greater than you?”
“Then, why do you keep paying attention? Don’t say you’re not. It’s obvious that Elian is more relaxed than usual.”
“Hmm.”
As expected, the time they had spent together couldn’t be ignored. The child who used to worry without knowing Elian’s feelings was gone.
Kirendis had become someone who could bring out even his own small emotions, hidden deep within.
“Then you know I love you the most, right?”
“Why does that come up here…?”
His voice softened, unable to deny it.
“I know. But what can I do about my jealousy? I don’t like that person showing affection towards Elian. And Elian doesn’t exactly push her away coldly, so it makes me worry even more.”
“That’s only natural…”
Natural…
Elian couldn’t finish his sentence and tilted his head.
Although the ending hinted at a connection between Kirendis and himself, it was weak compared to Elian’s reactions so far.
While the female protagonist was special, what mattered to him was Kirendis.
Even though she was a talented individual, it wasn’t as important a reason compared to Kirendis.
Then, there was only one answer left.
“It’s because that person doesn’t genuinely like me.”
Yes. Elian’s weak reaction to the female protagonist’s affection was because he didn’t believe she had genuinely fallen for him.
“It’s just a crush, nothing more. She’s fallen into an unfamiliar world, so she’s just trying to follow the first person she sees like a mother bird.”
Just that kind of emotion. She might believe it was love for now, but she would soon realize.
He felt that certainty.
“Are you sure?”
Kirendis, who knew of Elian’s future-seeing power, narrowed his eyes and asked. His intention to meticulously check if he was lying was palpable.
Elian burst into laughter at that thoroughness, finding it cute, and replied.
“Of course. I’m worried I might fall for you instead.”
Although it seemed like there was no need to worry at all, he deliberately brought it up. It was somewhat true, as it was a worry he had before the female protagonist appeared.
“Especially when we walked out holding hands, your eyes looked strange. It felt like you were looking at me all of a sudden.”
“That was because she saw me as a rival. That person likes Elian.”
“No. She was looking at both of us precisely. I’m sure of it.”
Elian affirmed and began to speculate on the meaning of that gaze.
“Why would she look like that? It felt like something suddenly changed.”
“Hmm. So, do you think she might have fallen for me?”
“Isn’t it possible?”
“The fact that you say it so uncertainly suggests that guess is wrong.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. If that were the case, Elian wouldn’t have stayed still.”
“That’s true.”
Elian smiled at Kirendis.
Before meeting the female protagonist, he had been anxious, but the anxiety disappeared the moment he saw her.
Perhaps it was because the moment he saw her, he felt that the feared future would not unfold.
He didn’t fully trust this power, but he didn’t completely disbelieve it either, which put his mind at ease.
Especially since he knew that delving too deep often led to deviations, it was better to gloss over most things.
This was the same. Elian thought he had safely overcome the feared crisis.
Even though the female protagonist appeared, his mind was at peace, and neither of them fell for each other. Rather, they seemed to have become rivals.
So, he thought it would pass as a small incident.
A week later.
The female protagonist, who had been investigated by the Royal Guard and was now semi-free, began working at the Ministry of Finance.
Since it was impossible to entrust important tasks to someone who was essentially an outsider from the start, her work mostly consisted of menial tasks.
However, thanks to her energetic and diligent nature, she was gaining favor with everyone. After all, menial tasks were precisely what the Ministry of Finance needed most.
Not important tasks, but essential ones. She quickly and smartly took them on and handled them, so they couldn’t help but like her.
“Thank you so much, Young Lady.”
“You know the reward, right?”
“Of course. It’s a secret that I told you.”
“Naturally! I’ll never tell.”
“Grand Duke’s schedule is…”
…That was it. She had adapted to the Ministry of Finance at a frighteningly fast pace and was digging up Elian’s schedule.
This was because Elian was so busy that he didn’t spend much time at the Ministry of Finance. Even then, he would quickly handle paperwork and disappear, leaving no room to strike up a conversation.
Realizing this, she found out Elian’s schedule and was satisfying her desires in small increments.
“Oh my. You’re here, Grand Duke? My destination is the same, so may I accompany you?”
“……”
She said their destinations were the same without even asking where he was going…
He couldn’t hide his bewilderment, but since a beauty with a face as outstanding as Kirendis’s wasn’t making a difficult request, he couldn’t harshly refuse.
“Of course…”
“Elian!”
Just then, Kirendis, timing it perfectly, cut between them and intervened.
“Elian, you’re going to a meeting too, right? Let’s go together.”
He smiled charmingly, completely ignoring the female protagonist, but for some reason, a chill ran down Elian’s spine.
“Hah?”
Shoved aside, she was bewildered but soon her eyes sparkled as she moved to Elian’s other side and said, “It won’t be boring going together since the Grand Duke is here. Don’t you think so, Your Highness?”
“I think I’m hearing some nonsense. Elian, can you hear it too?”
“Your Highness. I’m currently learning Imperial etiquette, and there are many difficult parts. May I ask you a few questions?”
“No! Why are you asking Elian that?!”
“Are you talking to me right now?”
“Then who else is here besides you!”
“But Your Highness is also here.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“So, are you saying that the nonsense you were spouting earlier, the rubbish you were talking, was about Your Highness? How could you? Shouldn’t this be punishable by some Royal Family law?”
“Stop making up laws you don’t even know and just go on your way!”
“I am on my way, but it seems the Duke has poor eyesight.”
“This person, really!”
Caught between the two protagonists who had suddenly devolved into a childish argument, Elian let out a heavy sigh.
While he could understand it from the female protagonist, who had come from another world, it was truly unexpected for Kirendis to throw away all decorum and fight like this.
‘It must bother him that much.’
What was more, the problem with this argument was that Kirendis was the only one genuinely enraged and fighting.
“Are you done talking now?!”
“Yes? Done talking? I’m far from it? Did I say anything wrong?”
The female protagonist was so eloquent, picking apart his words point by point and thoroughly infuriating Kirendis.
It felt like the story was unfolding just like in the novel, to the point where he wondered if their eyes might meet. But Elian wasn’t worried.
He sensed Lac in her gaze.
‘It’s so obvious she’s doing it on purpose because the reaction is amusing.’
Lately, perhaps because she was learning Imperial Family etiquette, she had become increasingly effective at provoking Kirendis.
“Elian!”
Finally, Kirendis, his anger exploding, looked at Elian. It was a plea for him to step in, as he couldn’t win against her with words.
“I apologize, Young Lady. I have an urgent meeting and must leave first.”
“No, no. I know best that Your Highness is busy. Please, hurry and go.”
Even as she refused, Kirendis didn’t forget to glare fiercely at the female protagonist. Naturally, she didn’t seem to pay him any mind.
Elian pulled Kirendis along as he moved. Then, with a sigh, a lament poured out from beside him.
“I think I’m going to die of frustration at this rate.”
Honestly, seeing him speak his feelings so plainly was endearing, and a smile escaped Elian’s lips.
“What would I do if you died? You can’t die.”
“Elian, you know as well as I do. Why are you letting her follow you around like a lost puppy?”
“I told you. I just believe she’s like a mother bird, and she’s following me. How frightening would it be if I cruelly pushed her away?”
“…Still, I don’t like it. It feels like she knows that and is using it to her advantage.”
“Perhaps. She seems like a smart person.”
“Elian, you know that too? And you’re just letting it happen?”
“Please bear with it a little longer. Once she adjusts, it will naturally become alright.”
Elian gently coaxed him, but Kirendis scrunched up his face, clearly dissatisfied.
“…I’ll really only tolerate it one more time.”
“Thank you.”
As Elian squeezed his hand and smiled, Kirendis’s anger seemed to subside, and a smile bloomed on his lips.
Seeing that, Elian felt his heart warm again, finding her so cute. He felt that her mischievous behavior would soon end, and he wanted to imprint this sight in his memory for as long as possible.
Perhaps that was why he was letting it slide, even though he knew Kirendis disliked it.
However, there was one thing Elian didn’t know.
It was the fact that all of this was part of Kirendis’s plan.
Kirendis had made a plan. He had sensed something unusual about the woman who had suddenly appeared.
This was merely a tiny fragment of emotion, a consequence of them being protagonists, but he wouldn’t let his guard down.
He couldn’t afford even a small crisis. So, he devised a plan to turn a crisis into an opportunity. That plan was…
‘Marriage is the only answer. I’ll propose.’
Yes. Marriage would solve everything. By announcing to everyone in this world, ‘This person is mine!’, he felt they could avoid being swept away by ugly emotions like jealousy.
Until now, he hadn’t brought it up because Elian was skeptical about marriage, but that was no longer the case. Change was needed.
As a result, Kirendis was playing along with her provocations, building up his anger gauge.
He wanted Elian to know.
‘Elian is weak to my anxious side.’
Kirendis intended to use his vulnerability to Elian to gain his acceptance of the proposal.
So, he came up with a method to use the annoying female protagonist in reverse. He would use her to create a situation where Elian’s heart would inevitably soften.
‘The problem is that I’m genuinely getting angry.’
Despite this, Kirendis endured. He meticulously planned and used the female protagonist.
He even spread rumors that she and he were fierce rivals vying for Elian, and that Elian liked her more and would abandon him.
At times, he wondered if it was necessary to go this far, but he firmly shook his head. Without such events, Elian wouldn’t accept his proposal.
‘Elian is sensitive to rumors, so he’ll notice right away.’
Kirendis immediately put his plan into action. He deliberately ate less and acted as if he had many worries.
Then, when Elian asked if it was because of the rumors, he planned to take out the prepared ring and propose marriage.
‘Elian is definitely soft-hearted, so he’ll accept.’
The thought of marrying him made his heart flutter. However, that feeling didn’t last long. He happened to run into the infuriating female protagonist.
“The Duke is truly amazing.”
At first, he wondered what argument she was going to pick now. Elian had said it wasn’t the case, but her displayed affection seemed genuine, so he couldn’t let his guard down.
“I heard… that you’re preparing to propose?”
“……!”
Startled, Kirendis’s eyes widened. How on earth did she know that?
“I’ve been helping His Majesty’s information guild lately. That… Master person isn’t very talented at paperwork.”
He knew who she was referring to. Haron.
Annoyance surged through him, but she smiled as if she knew everything and said, “I’ll cheer for your success.”
“…….”
“I mean it.”
“……You mean it?”
Kirendis asked with eyes full of suspicion. Then, he heard an unexpected reply.
“Do you really think I’m after the Grand Duke?”
“…….”
Kirendis couldn’t say anything. There was no harm in being cautious.
“How can this be? I guess I have a talent for acting. Should I try acting instead of learning paperwork at the Imperial Palace?”
She teased Kirendis with a jest.
Yes. She was teasing him. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the situation.
“It would be a lie to say I don’t have any feelings for you. I still do.”
See!
Kirendis’s eyes gleamed. But she continued calmly.
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s just the common admiration one has for a handsome person. And besides, I have such a wonderful lover, so I have no intention of letting my feelings deepen.”
“…….”
Why was she suddenly acting like this?
Having always been picked on, Kirendis found it hard to believe her words.
“Still, thanks to you, I’ve quickly adapted to life in the Imperial Palace. No one looks down on me anymore.”
“Ah…”
Only then did Kirendis realize why she had been acting that way all this time.
“Who would dare look down on a woman who is acquainted with the Grand Duke of a nation and can fight a Duke one-on-one and win?”
That was it. She had quickly grasped the rules of this world and meticulously calculated how she needed to survive.
A powerless girl dropped into a rigid class-based society was an easy target for being looked down upon.
“So please don’t hate me and look upon me favorably. It feels like you’ve already used me enough.”
Her face, which spoke with a playful smile, was strangely not hateful. As she said, she had indeed been used enough.
“The result is not yet decided.”
However, Kirendis didn’t express his feelings. He maintained a poker face and spoke curtly.
“Then, once the result is decided, will we be on good terms? If so, I’ll help you in every way I can.”
Making an ally of someone with such resourcefulness wouldn’t be a bad thing. While he felt wronged by fighting her in genuine anger, looking at the future, it wasn’t a bad choice.
Isn’t it better to have them as an ally than an enemy?
“Fine. If my plan succeeds, I’ll consider it.”
“You promised?”
“I never go back on my word.”
And so, the two began to move towards the final stage.
With their combined efforts, creating an incident was remarkably easy.
With Kirendis’s tacit approval, the female protagonist spent more time with Elian, creating an incident that anyone would misunderstand.
An incident that could be misunderstood here was an extension of the rumor that Elian liked the female protagonist more.
She put on a masterful performance, falling in front of Elian, and as he reached out without suspicion to help her up.
“Kyaa.”
“Huh?”
As the female protagonist, losing her balance again, was about to fall, Elian instinctively embraced her and steadied her.
And the plan was for Kirendis to witness this and misunderstand.
“Kirendis!”
Elian was perfectly caught in their flawless plan. Kirendis put on a performance worthy of an Oscar, shedding tears.
“It’s absolutely not what you think. The rumors lately have been strange, but it’s really not. You know me well.”
“I know. But I’m anxious. It feels like Elian sees that person as a little more special than others.”
More precisely, it was his eye for exceptional talent. Kirendis knew this well. But he deliberately didn’t mention it and spoke pitifully.
“I know Elian likes me. But… but I’m still anxious.”
He lowered his head, preparing to take out the proposal ring he had prepared.
It felt like a somewhat pathetic proposal, but he couldn’t back out now. It had to succeed.
“Ah, really… I shouldn’t say this now.”
Elian looked at Kirendis, who had his head bowed, and ran a hand through his hair.
Wondering why, Kirendis looked up to see Elian’s face slightly flushed.
“So… I’ve been thinking about it for a while.”
“…….”
“The strange rumors spreading, and the fact that you’re suffering because of them… it weighs on my mind.”
“…….”
“I don’t mind you being jealous, but I don’t want you to feel such negative emotions in our relationship.”
Guilt bloomed in Kirendis’s heart. He realized he had been too focused on himself, not realizing Elian felt that way.
“So I thought…”
Kirendis decided he should apologize to Elian and tell him the truth. He intended to confess that he was sorry for pretending to be anxious and that he wasn’t anxious at all.
And then, he would ask for her hand in marriage, though he didn’t know if she would accept. Of course, even if rejected, their relationship wouldn’t end.
Kirendis had that much faith in Elian’s love.
“Here… take this.”
Elian carefully took something out of his pocket.
“Uh…?”
Kirendis, flustered, opened his eyes wide. It was because…
“Marry me.”
It was a ring.
“I’ve been thinking about it continuously. I have nothing to lose, but you do. So I thought I shouldn’t be greedy, but my mind has changed. I want to be greedy.”
“Elian…”
Kirendis began to weep, overcome with emotion. His heart felt heavy at the unexpected proposal.
“I want you to live happily with me for a long time. And… it would be wonderful to make you definitively mine under the name of God.”
Elian had realized these feelings during the incident with the female protagonist’s appearance.
Normally, he had thought it was fine as it was for various reasons, but that was entirely untrue.
Separate from trust, jealousy surged, and he wanted to make Kirendis completely his own.
Perhaps Kirendis felt the same way, which was why he was jealous and anxious. And he thought that being bound by the name of marriage would mean they wouldn’t have to be caught up in strange rumors anymore.
Not just this rumor, but the two of them were always surrounded by various baseless rumors due to their positions.
So…
“Take it… won’t you?”
He said this, blushing with embarrassment, and Kirendis’s eyes welled up as he bit his lip.
His expression seemed both happy and apologetic. Elian felt his heart pound at the ambiguous reaction.
‘Could he be rejecting me?’
As anxiety flashed through his mind, Kirendis spoke cautiously.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know…”
“……Huh?”
Elian tilted his head. The words were ambiguous for a rejection. But the words that followed made him understand why he was apologizing.
“Actually…”
Kirendis told him everything truthfully. How he felt when the female protagonist appeared, what his emotions were, and what he decided to do. And what he did and what plan he devised to put his decision into action, all of it.
“So, you’re saying that now…”
“I’m sorry. I was so jealous that I wanted to make Elian entirely my own. I thought you wouldn’t agree if I just asked, so I made a plan.”
It was as he said. If the female protagonist hadn’t appeared, if Kirendis hadn’t shown signs of anxiety, if rumors hadn’t spread, it would have taken time to reach this point.
Something like today would have happened eventually, but it was true that his plan had brought it about sooner.
“No, so you were acting anxious all this time?”
“……Yes.”
Seeing him avert his gaze and shrink back, Elian felt a wave of bewilderment.
He never knew Kirendis had such a cunning side.
Rather than feeling betrayed, he felt pity, wondering how much he must have wanted to get married.
‘He’s seriously ill.’
Kirendis seemed worried that Elian might withdraw his proposal if he knew this fact. But it was the opposite.
“If I had known, I should have said it a little sooner. Then you wouldn’t have to feel so sorry.”
“Elian…”
Kirendis looked moved once more. Elian’s heart was so vast, like an angel’s.
How could a person be like this?
He thought he really needed to marry him quickly and put the chain of ownership on him, and took out the ring case he had prepared.
“Oh, oh…”
Click.
He opened the case and revealed the prepared ring, and Elian quietly watched with a dazed expression.
Thump-thump.
Kirendis wondered if Elian’s heart had pounded like this and opened his mouth.
“Elian. Will you… marry me?”
As he spoke the prepared words, Elian looked up. His gaze still seemed dazed.
Thump-thump.
His heart pounded again, and his hands grew sweaty with tension as Elian burst into a pahat* laugh and said, “What’s the answer to my question?”
“Huh?”
Only then did Kirendis realize that Elian had proposed first. And that he himself hadn’t answered but had recited the proposal he had prepared.
“Y-yes! I want to get married!”
“I want to, too. Let’s get married.”
Elian smiled brightly at Kirendis. Seeing that face, his heart finally felt at ease, and he could smile back.
The anxiety and guilt that had weighed heavily on his heart melted away like snow.
Elian wasn’t disappointed or angry that he had lied. Seeing him smile so beautifully, it seemed his worries were in vain.
“Still, lying is unforgivable, so you must be punished, right?”
“What? Punishment?”
Kirendis asked, startled.
“Yes. Punishment.”
Punishment? He wondered what kind of punishment he would receive.
As he waited, praying it wasn’t a cancellation of the marriage, Elian took out the ring he had received from him and put it on, saying, “Since there are two rings, let’s make your ring an engagement ring. This is your punishment.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Kirendis feel relieved, blinking as he looked at the ring on his finger.
Although it was the ring he had prepared, it felt somehow more special as Elian put it on him.
“Aren’t you going to put one on me?”
Kirendis, who was staring blankly, heard a playful remark. Kirendis carefully slipped the ring onto Elian’s finger and said.
“Thank you. For asking someone as lacking as me to marry you.”
“What do you mean lacking? You’re so full it’s a problem.”
“No. Elian is always overflowing for me. It was that way in the past, it is that way now, and it will be that way in the future. So I will do even better from now on. I will love you so, so much.”
“Love me more than you do now? Just how much do you intend to make me unable to walk?”
“What?”
“That’s right. Even now, I spend my mornings in difficult days just to bear your overflowing love.”
At his words, spoken with a playful grin, I burst out laughing. He had deliberately changed the mood because my earnest expression of affection felt ticklish.
I couldn’t help but let out a stream of laughter at this trait of his, which was so endearing. Kirendis dropped the soft atmosphere and spoke playfully, just like him.
“Be prepared. Once we’re married, I’ll show you just how sincere I am.”
“What? Then, you haven’t been sincere until now?”
“It was just a warm-up. You can look forward to it.”
“You told me to be prepared just a moment ago.”
“I mean you should do both.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
The two of them looked at each other and burst into laughter. Their smiles were alike, filled with trust for one another.
That trust would continue to build, making the two of them even more solid.
Knowing this better than anyone, they no longer felt anxious.
They simply walked forward together towards a happy future.