A Blend of Romance and Fantasy - Chapter 35

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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35.
I closed my eyes in the forest last night, and when I opened them again in my bedroom, I must have fainted.
“Hmm….”
I blinked, watching the dawn sun beyond the Terrace.
I thought fainting only happened in novels, yet here I was experiencing it firsthand.
Ever since meeting Leonard, my once-peaceful—no, it was never peaceful to begin with.
The life I had anticipated would be peaceful is now unraveling.
“At least, the last person beside me yesterday was Ignis, wasn’t it?”
To avoid a lecture from Abigail, I needed to continue pretending to sleep.
I quietly changed into my slip without anyone noticing.
I was about to go back to sleep until Abigail woke me, but the sight of a red dragon sitting squarely on my bed left me gaping.
“Ignis?”
“Yes. I came. You haven’t been summoning me, so I was worr….”
Ignis clamped his mouth shut and crossed his arms.
“Worr? You should finish what you’re saying.”
“It’s annoying when my summoner dies, so I just came to check if you were actually dead!!”
So his nature really was tsundere…. These days, tsundere characters don’t sell well in romance fantasy novels.
I was certain that if Ignis had been the male lead of a novel, that story would never have gained popularity, and I crossed my own arms.
“Thanks. I’m alive, so you’ve confirmed it now, right?”
“…Fine. Whatever.”
Ignis wore an indifferent expression while constantly glancing at me.
“Is there anything else you need to say? I have to pretend to sleep now, or Abigail will find out I left.”
“You mean that terrifying platinum-haired handmaiden?”
“Abigail is terrifying?”
“When she speaks to you, I feel an aura as imposing as a mountain. Like a general, really.”
Well, Abigail is certainly like that.
That’s why I can only eat Jarrett cake six times a week.
I was nodding along when Ignis casually asked me something.
“Does that handmaiden know how to fight?”
“Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“The one who brought you here yesterday wasn’t me—it was Leonard. I stayed behind to spy on what Camilla was doing.”
Ignis calmly recounted what had happened in that forest yesterday.
That this woman named Camilla had been searching for something, which seemed to be the same rift I had accidentally discovered yesterday.
That while dealing with the demons roaming about, her skill level was quite considerable.
“If you had faced that woman, you wouldn’t have lasted more than a few minutes before dying. So while you’re in Blake, you must always travel with a Guard Knight. Or with Leonard.”
* * *
After sending Ignis away, I lay back in bed and greeted the morning.
When the handmaidens came to wake me, I dressed and immediately sought out Leonard.
“My, Princess, if you go looking for your fiancé this early in the morning, you’ll make it seem too easy for him.”
Dorothy, who had clearly misunderstood something significant, laughed teasingly at me, but correcting her wasn’t what mattered.
When I arrived at the Rose Room where he was staying, Eric stood before the door.
“Your Highness? Without any notice, why have you come to the Guest Palace…? The Sixth Prince has gone to meet the King.”
“So early in the morning?”
“Ah, here he comes now.”
Following the direction of Eric’s finger, I spotted Leonard Blake in neat attire.
As always, he trailed behind him a procession of Guard Knights for navigation.
With a startled expression, he approached me quickly.
“Why have you come so early in the morning?”
“You’re one to talk—why are you visiting Brother so early in the morning?”
“This isn’t the place to discuss it. Let’s move somewhere we can be alone.”
He lowered his head and whispered softly near my ear.
The ticklish sensation against my ear stirred an odd feeling, and my face flushed for a moment.
Dorothy and Eric exchanged meaningful glances.
“Well, ahem. Your Highness, you haven’t even had breakfast yet, have you? Shall we go to the Separate Palace 2nd Floor Lounge?”
“Yes! Since the Princess has only had a light breakfast, I’ll bring some refreshments.”
Wait! Don’t misunderstand!
I wanted to say, but the truth is, being misunderstood works in my favor. We are betrothed, after all.
In the end, I allowed myself to be misunderstood and moved to the 2nd Floor Lounge with Leonard Blake.
A wide table was laden with beverages and sweet treats.
“You two, then—enjoy your time together.”
Ordinarily, an unmarried man and woman, no matter how betrothed, should never be alone together.
Yet Dorothy ushered out the attendants and even closed the door behind them.
“Why do you have such a sullen expression?”
“It must be nice to have nothing on your mind.”
It irritates me that only I seem aware of the tension.
Leonard Blake, who had been pushing away the chocolate cake before him, tilted his head curiously.
“What else is bothering you now?”
“Nothing. Rather, why did you go to see Brother?”
“I reported what happened yesterday. Of course, I didn’t mention that you came along, so don’t worry. More importantly, how is your body—”
“No!”
I cried out in surprise at his unexpected words.
“If you say it like that, what will happen? You have to tell him I came with you too!”
“What? If you came along, you’ll be scolded for it.”
“That’s because… I used my divine power yesterday to seal the rift.”
I explained in detail what had happened yesterday.
As I continued speaking, Leonard Blake’s expression grew increasingly stern, which made me feel somewhat timid.
“Leonard Blake, your expression doesn’t look good.”
“How could it? Why on earth are you so fearless?!”
Leonard Blake shot up from his seat and approached me in large strides.
He seized my hand, which had been toying with an ice cream spoon on the table.
I was startled by the sudden physical contact, but only for a moment.
As Leonard examined my hand meticulously, I felt my cheeks flush and had no choice but to rise from my seat.
“Let go of me!”
“I’m checking for injuries. You tried to close a rift in the Demon Realm alone. What would you have done if you’d been hurt!”
“In the original story, the Priest closed it alone too. Aurora closed it alone as well. What’s the problem with me closing it?”
“It’s your first time! Someone using their power for the first time lacks control—there’s no telling what might happen. You actually lost consciousness.”
My hand throbbed painfully in his firm grip. I twisted my hand weakly within his grasp.
“It hurts. Please let go.”
“!!”
Leonard flinched in surprise and released my hand.
“I apologize. Did it hurt terribly? I was simply too startled.”
“…It’s fine. But what did you tell Brother?”
Leonard hesitated before sighing and confessing what had happened earlier.
“That I stopped you from leaving and put you to sleep, then followed Camilla. That I saw what Camilla did there. That’s all.”
“I heard what Camilla did from Ignis. What did Brother say?”
“He said he understands, but without evidence, he’ll simply keep a careful watch. However, I truly believe you were in danger.”
Leonard withdrew something from the inner pocket of his outer coat.
It was the blue letter I had received from Eric at the restaurant before.
“What is this?”
“An invitation to a tea party from the Empress.”
“From the Empress? Isn’t it too early for a tea party invitation?”
“It’s likely a warning letter—reminding you that she is the Empress and your senior.”
After a moment of consideration, I opened the letter.
The contents were unremarkable.
That she was sending this letter privately to deepen their friendship. That she couldn’t wait to meet me. That she welcomed me.
And that there was an exclusive tea party for Imperial Court women at Blake, so I should prepare ‘accordingly’.
“‘Prepare accordingly’….”
“Don’t worry. When we arrive at Blake, my subordinates will assist you. You only need to prepare yourself mentally.”
“What kind of mental preparation? Preparing for a power struggle?”
I glanced at him playfully, but his expression remained serious.
“This is no laughing matter. That woman is capable of poisoning food—not fatally, but enough to cause harm.”
“What?”
“Of course, I’ve prepared antidotes for all types of poison. But you wouldn’t want to suffer, would you?”
“Of course not!”
I responded firmly, then suddenly remembered something and bit my lip.
“Come to think of it, Cedric brought up the ‘Silver Ring’.”
“The Silver Ring? Isn’t that the Myers Family’s wedding ring? Why would he bring that up….”
A flash of displeasure crossed his eyes as he spoke.
“Did he perhaps ask you to wear it?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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