100 – 100. The Marriage Ring (3)
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When will Edanthe present the marriage ring along with a romantic proposal,
Rudmila, filled with anticipation like a child waiting for candy, awaited Edanthe’s confession with a hopeful expression.
Today?
Or tomorrow?
Since a night has already passed, it won’t be long before signs start showing.
By now, Edanthe must be focusing his efforts on preparing a once-in-a-lifetime proposal. Delighted by the endearing efforts of the younger man trying to surprise her, Rudmila burst into laughter.
“You’ve been all smiles since yesterday. Do you really like Edanthe?”
“hehehehe!”
The red dragon’s mood was at its peak.
He was in a position to show mercy for all sins except treason.
They should make the day of the proposal a commemorative day.
It seemed appropriate to plead with the Empress for a large-scale amnesty decree.
Edanant will definitely propose to me. Ludmila confidently asserted to herself.
‘What if I lose the engagement ring to the First Maiden…’
Beyond certainty, Ludmila’s delight bordered on arrogance.
Seeing her sister so pleased, almost smug, Elisaveta sent a worried glance her way.
The greater the expectation, the deeper the despair.
If the engagement ring were to pass to the First Maiden… that would mark Edanant’s deadline.
“Are you still keeping an eye on Edanant’s movements?”
“Yes, I heard recently that he’s been going out more often.”
“Of course! Naturally, that would be the case!”
“While tracing Edanant’s whereabouts, I couldn’t track his destination as he concealed his tracks every time.”
Ludmila, aware of her impoliteness, was nonetheless monitoring Edanant’s every move with confidence in the proposal.
He’s been going out more often.
Intentionally hiding his whereabouts each time.
Upon hearing the maid’s report, Ludmila shrugged her shoulders even more vigorously. It seemed like she considered all of Edanant’s actions to culminate in a proposal.
“The weather is getting colder now. The wind is picking up…. Candles would easily go out outdoors. It’s worrisome.”
“Indeed.”
To spread out candles on the ground, hoping for a confession.
Elisaveta, adjusting her coat, saw through her sister’s mumbling and glimpsed her inner thoughts.
‘A bit anxious, but… I’ve kissed Edanant, so I should be reassured. But really, to have a romantic kiss on the terrace after the alliance meeting. I’m truly envious.’
She looked at her sister with a gaze filled with envy and admiration.
The first kiss with the man she loves.
What were the feelings when their lips first touched?
It must have tasted like sweet cherries, right?
In romance novels, the taste of the first kiss is always likened to sweet fruit.
Elisaveta, swallowing dryly, imagined a scandalous scene of secretly kissing Edanant while nestled in his arms.
“Liza.”
“Uh, yeah…! Why are you like that, sis?”
Suddenly sticking her lips out with a teasing smile, Ludmila, feeling puzzled by her younger sister’s behavior, spoke up.
Upon which, Elisaveta sprang up from her seat.
“We used to bet often since we were kids.”
“Shall we bet this time too? When do you think Edanant will confess?”
“I, I… will go with today.”
“Then I’ll choose tomorrow! It’ll take time to prepare thoroughly.”
It was a bet without any stakes.
Whether today or tomorrow, it didn’t matter… it was just a promise for assurance.
Ludmila smiled faintly.
And Elisaveta nodded with a bright smile.
“Ludmila, Your Highness!”
As the princesses of the Valtaria Empire continued their conversation hand in hand,
This time, a subordinate who was overseeing Ludmila rushed in with news of Edanant’s declaration.
“What’s the matter?”
“Um, Lord Edanant… after leaving a note for Your Highness, he suddenly disappeared with the First Maiden. It’s a report from the knights who were monitoring Lord Edanant.”
Cracks began to form in Ludmila’s once unwavering confidence, now filled with deep bewilderment at Edanant’s abrupt departure. She stood frozen in place, struck by profound confusion at Edanant’s departure without a trace.
They had touched the dragon’s tail.
No, they had yanked the dragon’s tail out in one breath.
As if to prove this, Ludmila’s hair started to stand out fiercely like a white witch’s. The red eyes of the dragon blazed like sulfur flames from hell. It was a terrifying vision of treacherous assassination that might haunt her nightmares.
“You drank ambrosia with the White Dragon of the Sanghwang Kingdom, didn’t you? Indeed, Edanant is the younger brother of the hero Maximilian.”
“It’s not ambrosia now since it’s not night.”
The words of her sister did not reach her ears.
A rage that seemed to freeze her rationality began to grip her mind.
Left the Sanghwang Kingdom?
And with the most detested Maiden in the world?
She wouldn’t be this furious if he had left alone. The Maiden’s sly smirk seemed to echo in her ears like a taunt.
Ludmila cursed the coward who fled without a word, grinding her teeth in anger.
* * *
Before the roar of the Red Dragon began,
Edanant visited the Star Palace where Javelin resided without any warning.
It was a completely unexpected visit.
Javelin, who was preparing for the cathedral’s prayer meeting, looked puzzled.
“What, what’s going on? You show up out of the blue without any notice… Wait a moment! I’m not ready to accept a confession yet!”
Sensing a proposal in the infinitely serious demeanor of Edanthe, Javelinne showed a confused reaction and quickly began deep breathing.
Hoo, haa! Hoo, haa!
Placing both hands on her delicate chest, she repeatedly inhaled and exhaled deeply.
The time had come to receive the engagement ring.
But could he really be proposing out of the blue like this…
Javelinne sparkled her blue eyes with strong anticipation.
“I hope you’ll accompany me to Viscount Hohenberg. It’ll be enough for just a day.”
“What?!”
She exclaimed fiercely, her voice tinged with confusion.
Viscount Hohenberg.
Could it be that he’s thinking of confessing in his hometown?
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It seemed like he was planning to propose a lifetime commitment in the hometown that held countless memories. Javelinne tried to calm her wildly beating heart and listened carefully to Edanthe’s voice.
“The disciples of the disaster deity who responded to Ariel’s call have gathered at Viscount Hohenberg. I’d appreciate your help to prepare for any contingencies.”
“…What.”
Wait.
It wasn’t a proposal?
Of course not.
The man before her was utterly clueless.
Javelinne, whose rising expectations were abruptly shattered, looked at Edanthe with a cold gaze. Her sharp side-glance seemed as if she was looking at a wife betrayed by her husband.
“W-what did you just say? You gathered the disciples of the disaster deity at the viscount’s residence?! I know it’s a rude question, but… Have you gone so mad as to forget even basic reason?”
“I’m fine.”
“An ordinary person wouldn’t scheme such things.”
“Of course, I’ve put several layers of security measures in place.”
She knew he was serving as a steward to the vampire who barely survived the catastrophe of the Yellow Plains.
However,
To gather scattered disciples across the continent using vampires.
What on earth is he thinking?
Could it be that he plans to gather the disciples of the disaster deity and then exterminate them?
If that was his intention, she would have accepted it, but Edanthe’s meaningful response clearly indicated he was devising an outlandish plan.
Javelinne exhaled with a hesitant expression, feeling uneasy.
“I don’t know what Edan’s intentions are, but this time, I will politely decline. So, go and ask the Red Dragon, to whom you even went as far as proposing.”
Hmph.
Thinking of burdening me with another difficult task?
While planning to dedicate the engagement ring and proposal to the empire’s spinster.
Since she probably only sees me as a tool.
Though she would never admit it, she responded by pursing her lips at the man who would just turn away every time she brought up something akin to a confession.
“I forced you into something against your will. I spoke as if it were natural.”
“That excuse won’t work now, will it?”
“I mean it sincerely now. I always need you. Help me, Javelinne.”
“…”
No matter how many sweet words he tries, I won’t yield this time.
She wagered her very existence on her resolve.
But even with unwavering faith, she couldn’t push away a one-sided love. Javelinne’s fair face was redder than ever, as if to show it.
Accepting him now would only prove I’m an easy woman.
“You really are an impossible person! Edan, truly can’t do without me after all!”
Knowing this, Javelinne reluctantly accepted the unreasonable coercion, sealing her lips.
