By Zephyria 
Having easily defeated the nuisance, I decided to focus on the letter again with a light heart. The feeling of the dry flower petals rolling around in my hand brought peace to my mind.
I would have liked to come with you, but considering the increasingly chilly air here, it would be better for you to stay in the capital. That kind of air suits you. Warm and cozy. Perfect peace without a single flaw.
There are still various reasons that I can’t tell you yet, so it will take a long time for that peace to come to you… On nights when I can’t sleep, I sometimes feel my heart flutter childishly at that thought. I want to give you that peace with my own hands, and embrace you with it, because you are the one who deserves that peace more than anyone else in the world.
What do you think? Is that a bit presumptuous?]
If I were by his side, I would have shaken my head a hundred or a thousand times, saying that it could never be. I would have told him with conviction that no one but him could give me such overwhelming hope and faint expectations.
Carlisle’s heartfelt letters, which arrived once a week, became a primer of hope that lifted me up from my exhaustion and permeated my whole body.
In fact, even though he was writing such touching phrases that made my eyes water just by looking at them, the situation in the North was not so relaxed.
Immigrants pouring in from outside the Empire and increasingly ferocious beasts in the Mountain Range. Unlike other regions that were gradually being brought under control, the North, which had been outside the central power system and support from the beginning, was still in a state of chaos. There was no need to ask Allen. There were more than a few people clicking their tongues, saying that the last Archduke would be lost like his older brother who had left first.
The garden where I first met you is still full of roses and peonies in full bloom. I am deeply looking forward to the day I meet you again.
However, Carlisle’s letter, written with each character carefully pressed down, did not show any of that anxiety. According to what I heard from Allen, the arm wound he sustained while dealing with a beast last week had not yet healed… He had suffered a major injury that exposed his flesh and bones, and he had urgently called a priest. But it was useless.
‘My power can’t work on that race. He probably already knew that too. He was just grasping at straws.’
‘……’
‘Why are you making such a resentful expression, Noah. You chose him because my power doesn’t work on that race, didn’t you? Isn’t that right?’
Allen smiled kindly and whispered in my ear once again.
‘No matter how much you seem to cherish him, in the end, he’s just a refuge for you to run away from me.’
‘…That’s not true.’
‘Yes, it is. Tell me honestly. If a trace of power to resist me didn’t flow through his blood. Could you have fallen so deeply for him like you do now? You said you feel comfortable when you’re by his side. Even that feeling would have become unsatisfactory after it was out of my control.’
Allen even patted me on the shoulder, telling me to try running away as hard as I could. I was still angry that I couldn’t logically refute his words.
With deep longing, your Carlisle.
I was helplessly moved by his kind consideration and thoughtfulness, which filtered out all the dark content, such as how dangerous the situation was and where he was injured, even in the few lines he dedicated to me… Helplessly… I missed Carlisle.
* * *
“I, Pearson, who governs the vast sky of glory, solemnly declare that I will take the Hamilton’s bloodline, who claims to be the guardian of the most abundant land, as my lawful spouse.”
After a long time, the Hall of Glory, which had only been opened during the Crown Prince’s enthronement ceremony, was finally opened wide.
Duke Grachio and all the high-ranking nobles were pushed aside, and my father stood proudly in the front row with his shoulders straight, looking quite dignified. The Countess also erased the nervous look she had been showing lately and stood next to my father with a picturesque, elegant, and virtuous smile.
Today was the day when the Crown Prince himself would publicly announce to the world who he had chosen as his Crown Princess, instead of the Emperor, who was not even known to be alive or dead, and the Empress, who had long lost her power.
Everyone who needed to know already knew, but there was a big difference between whether or not an official declaration had been made.
As of today’s announcement, I would obtain the official status of ‘quasi-royal’ as the prospective Crown Princess. Because the Crown Prince’s will was so firm, everything was being processed rapidly, and although the date had not yet been set, the engagement ceremony would probably not take long either. I heard that the Crown Prince, who was in a hurry to skip all the procedures such as the engagement ceremony and hold the Royal Wedding right away, was being dissuaded by all his subordinates with one heart and mind. It was an unfortunate result for me, who wanted to quickly finish the Royal Wedding and achieve complete victory, but unfortunately, there was nothing I could do. The situation inside and outside the country was so dire that there was no atmosphere to hold a grand Royal Wedding. The Crown Prince, who was quite kind to the people, though not to the nobles who were constantly trying to challenge his power, eventually accepted his subordinates’ opinions.
“Noah of Hamilton!”
The Crown Prince, who was standing on the platform and looking down arrogantly at the densely packed nobles, lightly tapped the floor with the Royal Scepter and called out my name.
I, who had been standing quietly behind Count Hamilton and his wife with Frederick and Allen on either side, slowly stepped out to the side with Frederick’s escort. The Emperor’s Road, the Royal Road, covered with red carpet, stretched out in a straight line before my eyes.
“……”
“……”
I made eye contact with Allen. He had been pretending to be frail when other people were around, but after his appearance had grown up beyond recognition, he seemed to have completely given up on playing the role of ‘Allen’. He frowned openly as if he was dissatisfied. Perhaps from tonight onwards, rumors would spread that the youngest of the Hamiltons, who had grown up so much unlike an Omega, was so jealous of his older brother who was being appointed as the Crown Princess. Well, it was true that he was jealous, so maybe it wasn’t a complete miss. It was just that the object of his jealousy was the Crown Prince, not me.
“Noah?”
Frederick, who was escorting me, asked quietly, as if he found it strange that I had slowed down. I shook my head and focused on walking straight ahead again. It was originally Andrew, the heir to the family, who should have been walking the Royal Road and leading me to the Crown Prince, but for some reason, he was still unable to return to the capital and was staying in the Hamilton territory even after the Southern region had regained stability. He was scheduled to come up the day before the date of the Crown Prince and my engagement was completely confirmed.
The Royal Road, which stretched out straight without any small curves, was a magnificent sight that anyone would dream of. At the end of that road, a confident Alpha, born of humble origins, who had finally achieved the victory of fate, was waiting for me.
Adrian Pearson stared without blinking as I approached him. From the corners of his lips, which were lazily raised, I could immediately feel how good he was feeling.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Frederick, who had brought me in front of the Crown Prince, stepped back and bowed in a serious manner.
“Ah, you’ve finally come. I don’t even remember how long I’ve been waiting.”
He skipped over the cumbersome formalities and immediately brought my hand to his lips and pressed them down hard. Then, leaving only Frederick behind, he led me to stand above everyone else.
“I swear on the blood of the conquering King that flows through my body. My only spouse, Adrian Pearson, will be none other than Noah Hamilton.”
His calm voice was not quiet at all. Only Duke Grachio’s clenched fist trembled resentfully.
“Noah Hamilton, do you also swear?”
I smiled brightly as I met his purple eyes, which were filled with a satisfied smile, without a hint of shame.
I heard that you might be having an engagement ceremony with the Crown Prince soon… Please don’t feel sorry. Isn’t this what we planned? Whether you become someone’s fiancé or spouse for a while in the process of coming to me. That’s not important. The only thing that matters to me is whether or not there is a place for me in your heart. That’s all.
I carefully recalled the contents of Carlisle’s letter that had arrived a few days ago.
“Yes, I swear. My only spouse will be you alone.”
There was not a hint of hesitation in my false lips as I recalled the divorce proceedings for the Imperial Family through the Great Temple.