Now that I think about it, that's kind of weird.
My father was and still is the Emperor's closest confidant, so he definitely saw it.
“I often went to the Imperial Palace with my father.
He said that when I was young, I cried when I couldn’t see my father.
So, he had no choice but to take me to work.”
I searched my memory.
I was in the imperial palace, so I could see the emperor.
So why didn't I remember any of that?
She remembered seeing the former Emperor and Empress and a baby, but why?
A little boy couldn't be the emperor.
The Emperor is now twenty-two years old, the same age as the Marquis of Cassion, Del, and my brother.
The current emperor did not retain anyone from the imperial family when he ascended the throne.
The infant could have died by then.
“Sometimes”
Dale said in a low voice.
“Some memories are better not to remember.”
"Right?
I can't remember it anyway."
She stretched and yawned loudly.
I looked at the branches that were starting to turn into green leaves.
There will be a fishing festival again this year, right?
“Anyway, when I was younger, I had hopes of getting married because of my parents.”
Dale looked at me.
“I was determined to marry whoever won the hunting competition.”
“And why do you care who wins?”
“Yes.
I know it sounds funny now, but I was very serious at the time, because hunting meant a lot.”
The hunt was a tough event, as my father was the only person to win first prize in consecutive years.
Hunting festivals often appear in romance novels, and there is a scene that is a staple of those romance stories.
‘The scene in which the winning hero honors the heroine and pledges eternal love to her.’
But what if the champion doesn't win?
It is excluded.
“If possible, I wanted the marriage to be as romantic as the first time my mother and father met fishing, and the last time my father proposed to my mother fishing.”
It feels like something out of a novel.
It's unfortunate that I only heard this story from my mother's mouth.
If I had been incarnated into the body of someone from this world earlier, I would have seen the story unfold before my eyes!
I let out a small sigh.
“I don't dream about it anymore.
The Emperor asked me to marry him anyway, and even if I get lucky and he cancels it, how many nobles do you think will ask me to marry him?”
“…….”
“I was once the emperor’s consort, so I’m sure I will never be asked to marry, even if it is just to get away from the eyes of powerful people.
Marriage is out of my life now.”
“…….”
“Dale, can you hear me?”
It was so quiet I could even hear my breathing.
I glanced up to see Dale staring off into the distance, lost in thought.
“A marriage proposal at a hunting festival.
That was the problem.”
He muttered in a low voice.
“But Enya didn’t like the people she met, do you still want to get married?”
“How did Dale know that?”
“Enya told me once.”
“Did you say that?”
Did you say that?
I tilted my head in confusion.
I felt strangely comfortable with Dale, so I would confide my secrets to him, even in trivial matters.
I think I did.
Who refuses a life of luxury?
I refused.
But I regretted it as soon as I left, it wasn't much better there than at Duke Lockhart, and I didn't have all the money I wanted.
If I had known it would be like this, I would have enjoyed the golden life I had.
Life as a princess was wonderful.
If I had married a commoner, I would have faced a huge and huge problem.
“The only thing that can protect me from the Emperor is someone from a family that has the ability to do so, and a commoner cannot be a match for me.”
“…….”
“But I don’t want to marry someone I don’t like!”
“So…….”
“That's why I ran away, because you only live once, and I didn't want to rush into making a big fateful decision in life because of the Emperor.”
Dale's expression as he listened to me was more annoyed than my own.
“Dale wouldn't have known, because he's never been through it before, and it's actually better that he doesn't.”
“Is that still the case?”
Dale looked at me.
"What?"
“Your ambition is to marry the winner of the hunting competition.
I want to know if you still think so.”
It's the most romantic way to propose in this world, so why not be the most romantic in the empire?
It was unlikely I would accept, but it would be fun to watch.
"yes i will."
I nodded.
* * *
The aides tensed to see the Emperor sitting there, looking three times as serious as he usually did, writing on paper.
“What does he write?”
“You see, it's a calendar.”
The assistants whispered as they watched Dale's behavior.
“I don't think he quarreled with Princess Lockhart, but he's not his usual self.”
His Majesty was sharp, but he was far from impatient or nervous.
He had imperial blood running through his veins, and even when he was still, he had a commanding air.
At the same time, he did not appear agitated at any point.
But now he looked impatient, like a man waiting for something.
As they suspected, Dale was impatient.
“It's almost time to hunt.”
He didn't realize that Enya wanted him to propose to her there.
Good thing she was on the run so far.
If she had attended the hunting competition as Princess Lockhart, she might have been tempted by the winning dwarf.
“…….”
He broke the pen without realizing it.
Dale took out a new pen and held it in his hand, sighing.
For now, Enya will not be able to join the hunt.
She is a solitary noblewoman.
But it was also an opportunity.
An opportunity to win Enya's heart and marry her legally, really.
Dale's heart began to pound in his chest.
“He turned pale and then turned red.
Do you know why?”
The assistants shook their heads.
At the same time, Dale narrowed his eyes, and the assistants tensed.
He felt like he was suffocating to death.
“Your Majesty, if there is anything we can do to help, please let us know.”
"……"
"Yes?"
Dale spoke, his eyes fixed on the calendar, in a low, serious voice.
“It will be the princess’s birthday soon.”
Spring had returned, and Princess Enya's birthday was approaching.
Dale had not forgotten Enya's birthday for a single moment, and although he could not visit her and boldly give her a gift, he was steadfast in his intentions.
For some reason, Enya knew he had sent her flowers.
But he didn't send anything more than a bouquet of flowers.
After Enya's birthday, Dale would immediately start planning the following year's birthday.
Hearing that Enya liked the gift was the highlight of his year.
But this time, he would be able to spend her birthday with Enya by his side.
“……This is crazy.”
Dale's heart beat in his chest with renewed joy at the realization.
“What’s wrong, does your heart hurt?”
Suho mumbled nervously.
"Can't you tell?
He's only thinking about Princess Lockhart, and it makes him feel good."
“You're the one making ridiculous assumptions…….”
At the same time, Dale's complexion lightened, and his stiff face relaxed, indicating that Getty was right.
……It’s real.”
Suho nodded in understanding.
Then Getty sent his report to the Emperor.
Dale raised an eyebrow, and Getty spoke, bowing low.
“I have chosen a gift that I think the princess will enjoy.”
The assistants' eyes sparkled at the cleverness of this move.
But no one could keep up with Getty, who was blinded by promotion.
Getty smiled broadly and began to explain.
“Her favorite narrative is the solution, it is time to make a change.”
“Her favorite author, Madame Cosette, has a little-known work.”