"I didn’t know you two were like that."

  Because I went there so early in the morning.

  Emperor Jovannes’s face was still full of sleepiness.

  Nevertheless, there was a surprise and some doubt in the eyes of me and Perez.

  I suddenly had a hunch that if I leave it here, I would have to recite a love story that didn’t exist.

  It’s annoying, so I have to show it in action.

  I sneaked and grabbed Perez’s hand on his lap.

  Then I could see Perez’s hand flinching in my hand, I could see his body stiffening.

  "Hoohoo."

  Pretending to smile, I turned my head and stared at Perez.

  Hey, do it right?

  Did you come to your senses after being glared at by me?

  Perez’s hand, which was still under my hand, moved and rather held my hand.

  Firmly, as if he had never hesitated.1

  The sensation of my hands being wrapped in a big rough hand was quite warm and good.

  And I could feel Jovannes’s gaze falls into the hand that Perez held.

  On purpose, I made lovingly eye contact with Perez once.

  "Because I’m a little bit shy, Your Majesty."

  I could see Perez wriggling under his eyes.

  Why? What?

  "So I asked the Prince to keep it a secret for the time being."

  "Is there any particular reason you did that?"

  Jovannes persistently asked, even though I explained a little while ago that I was shy.

  Maybe I’m trying to dig into my mind.

  But I answered with a bright smile.

  "My heart is not ready yet.”


  "Prepare your heart"?

  "I’m preparing for my heart to speak to my family. Your Majesty is well aware of the Lombardy people’s extraordinary family love, right?"

  "That’s true."

  Look at this.

  Lombardy’s love for his blood is famous enough to immediately convince that sly Emperor.

  To be honest, Viese would have been kicked out a hundred times if it was not for my grandfather and Lombardy’s unique family style, which values blood relatives.

  "Your Majesty."

  Perez, who was listening to the Emperor’s conversation silently, opened his mouth.

  "It’s been a long time since Lady Lombardy and I have known each other, but it hasn’t been long since the relationship developed. So please understand that our delay in coming here is to check each other’s hearts."

  One of Jovannes’s eyebrows rose as he looked at Perez.

  "It’s all because of my lack of courage."

  With that word, Perez held my hand tighter.

  There was also a subtle smile around his mouth.

  There you go, Perez!

  It’s worth raising!

  Jovannes said as if he was amazed to see such Perez.

  Well, it’s only acting, but it must be strange to see Perez like this.1

  I quickly intervened and said

  "You said the combination of Lombardy and the Imperial Family would be a great help to the peace of the Empire, Your Majesty."

  And I smiled broadly at Jovannes.

  "You’re amazing, Your Majesty."

  What? I do not know either.

  However, I know that Jovannes is a very weak type of compliment.

  "Hmm."

  Sure enough.

  The corners of Jovannes’s mouth wriggled unbearably.

  I didn’t miss the chance and said.

  "Now that we’re engaged, there will be no unnecessary conflict between Lombardy and the Imperial Family, right? I am so happy to contribute to the peace of the Empire."

  "Are you talking about the Golden Order of the Lord of Lombardy now……"

  Jovannes tried to speak, hardening his loosened face.

  But I intercepted it first.

  "No, I’m talking about the citizens of the Capital and the nobles suffering from Lombardy’s absence."

  Jovannes shut up.

  He seemed to be lost in thought.

  I can’t believe I have to feed you this.

  Now, Emperor.

  Open your ears and listen carefully.

  "That’s what His Majesty said in the personal letter to my grandfather. ’Agree to the marriage between the Imperial Family and Lombardy.’."

  I can see Jovannes’s eyes shaking slightly.

  Now you can see a little hole to get out of.

  It must have been Jovannes who stumbled the most because of my grandfather’s super influence.

  Lombardy was free from public opinion, but the Emperor had to be wary of the public.

  I’m showing such an Emperor a way out.

  He can get what he wants and take his pride and leave the battle.

  "Of course, I’m here because my grandfather recognized my relationship with His Highness the Prince."

  "……Lord of Lombardy?"

  "Yeah, because I’m Lombardy anyway. The first thing I needed was my grandfather’s permission."

  "So the Lord of Lombardy agreed to the marriage between the Imperial Family and Lombardy?"

  "Yes, Your Majesty."

  Slowly, relief and joy are seen spreading on Jovannes’s face.

  "Hahahaha!"

  Suddenly, a big smile burst out of the Emperor that raised an eyebrow.

  "Yes! You guys who are already in love would be better than Viese’s daughter who said no and Astana! Oh my god!"

  Like a man whose ten-year-old burden had fallen, Jovannes looked relieved.

  Then he said, bouncing Perez on the shoulder.

  "You’ve done a great job, Second Prince! Very good!"

  Perez’s face was seen shaking with intense irritation.

  Hang in there, Perez.

  I held his hand tightly.

  However, the face of Jovannes, who is smiling a lot, does not look good to me as well.

  Finally, I solved my grandfather’s Golden Order.

  I succeeded in watering the Empress.

  But Jovannes, you’re not done yet.

  * * *

  "Grandpa, I’m engaged."

  After having a meeting with the vassals about the law of succession to the eldest son, Lulak, who was resting, heard a sound like a thunderbolt.

  "What are you talking about, Tia?"

  Lulak’s voice even shook.

  "Wait a minute. Come in, Perez."1

  Tia said to the door of the office.

  And it was Perez, the Second Prince who showed up.

  "You, you……!"

  Lulak also forgot that his opponent was the Prince and pointed with his finger.

  No, it didn’t matter now if the opponent was the Emperor and not the Prince.

  Jump!

  Eventually, Lulak stepped up from his seat.1

  Perez stood next to Tia with a perfectly normal face as if he had anticipated such a reaction from Lulak.

  Lulak was angry at the sight of standing side by side, but he breathed deeply and managed to calm himself down.

  "Explain what you mean, Tia."

  "The law of succession to the eldest son. You have to stop it."

  “What is it with your engagement……”


  The wrinkles caught in Lulak’s brow deepened.

  "Tia, don’t tell me……"

  "Can you show me His Majesty’s letter for a moment? The one he issued the Golden Order."

  Lulak reluctantly took out the Emperor’s letter, which had been roughly thrown into the drawer, and showed it to Tia.

  "Well, as expected……"

  Tia nodded her head.

  "According to this Golden Order, my grandfather only has to agree to the marriage of Lombardy and the Imperial Family. It doesn’t have to be Larane and the First Prince."

  “So now you and that guy are going to replace the engagement?”


  Lulak said, pointing at Perez with a chin gesture.

  Ever since Tia was young, he didn’t like it when Perez was next to his granddaughter like a fox.

  But it was useful to keep the Empress in check, so he saved him.

  How dare you do that to my granddaughter!

  There was a spark in Lulak’s eyes staring at Perez, who stood silently.

  "Yes, Grandpa."

  Whether she knows Lulak’s heartbreak or not.

  But his lovely granddaughter answered so calmly.

  "Tia……"

  "I’ve already finished talking to Perez. We made a contract engagement."

  "Letting you join the Imperial Family, it won’t happen until dirt gets into my eyes……"

  Lulak, who was muttering with his head on, stopped talking.

  And asked, raising his head.

  "Contract…… Engagement?"

  "Yes, Grandpa."

  Tia grinned.

  "Because Perez is also in trouble if this law is passed."

  "……Really?"

  Lulak looked at Perez and asked as if to confirm.

  "Tia is right."

  It was the answer he had been waiting for, but Lulak’s heart was not at ease.

  He’s a man who can’t be easily convinced.

  But, it was obvious what kind of feeling he would have for his granddaughter under that expressionless face.

  It can be seen at the red-eye that blindly followed Tia.

  "A contractual engagement. Then it wouldn’t be his idea. Tia, you’re come up with it."

  "……Yes, that’s right. That’s what I think. Perez and I are going to stop the law of succession to the eldest son through an engagement and go through the process of breaking up after a certain period of time." (I heard Perez’s heartbreak)9

  If Tia does, then so be it.

  From the moment his granddaughter had already spoken, Lulak’s anxiety about the contract engagement itself had disappeared to some extent.

  But there was something on his mind.

  "Break off…… I don’t know what it will be like for the Prince, but for Tia, it might be quite a costly deal."

  "I know."

  "Even though you know it, are you going to stop the Golden Order of this grandfather by contractual engagement?"

  "Yes, Grandpa."

  Tia nodded her head.

  "Because it’s for Lombardy."2

  Rattle.

  Lulak woke up from the flashback with a single carriage shaking.

  The law of succession to the eldest son was rejected.1

  Lulak’s expression was not so good even though he buried himself deeply in a soft carriage seat.

  Even if it was a contract engagement, he felt uneasy at the thought of winning at the expense of his granddaughter.

  Then he suddenly remembered the Second Prince, who became the official fiance of his granddaughter, and he felt even worse.

  "It’s only engagement, engagement. Just try to be more greedy. I won’t let you go."

  Durelli’s blood as our Tia’s mate, that’s ridiculous.

  It was Durelli, who had never been a good guy for generations. (So that’s the reason)

  The Second Prince himself may have quite the ability.

  Tia’s involvement with the Imperial Family is totally unacceptable for him, as her grandfather.

  "I will find Tia’s mate separately, with an obedient and reliable man……"

  Lulak stopped talking.

  An obedient, reliable man.2

  It was somehow overlapped with Perez’s image.8

  In the meantime, Lulak’s granddaughter, who was looking straight at him, could not get out of Lulak’s head.

  ’Because it’s for Lombardy.’


  "Oh my…… When do you grow up like that?"1

  He thinks it was just yesterday that she was running around the mansion with a small body, sitting on the office couch eating cookies and drinking juice.

  "Yeah, Lombardy must have that spirit."

  Lulak smiled with satisfaction.

  It was an affection for the Lombardy family, which seemed no less than Lulak himself, the owner of the household.

  "If that’s the way you feel, it’d be reliable even if I left the house to you."2

  It was a word he said without much thought.

  But Lulak paused.

  And soon, stroking his beard, deep thought.

  He can give Tia the Lord’s position.3

  It was half a joke, but the picture he drew in his head was not bad.

  Rather, it was a very good match.+

  Like a child who grew up as a successor from the beginning.3

  "Florentia. Tia……"

  In the carriage back to the mansion, Lulak’s thoughts continued one after another.