I’m Stuck on a Remote Island With the Male Leads - Chapter 224
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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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Side Story 9
Enoch did not answer James’s question.
It seemed that Margaret would ultimately light the fireworks for the Fireworks Festival, as Enoch had suggested.
Of course, this was contingent upon Margaret’s own consent.
In any case, the portrait gallery of Margaret Rose Flone had become the center of attention even within the Imperial Palace.
Since they had returned from the island, the two of them had openly displayed their love for each other, yet many people still struggled to adapt to this sudden shift in their relationship.
In the past, Enoch and Margaret had existed in a decidedly one-sided dynamic for an extraordinarily long time. The conflict between them was so renowned that even commoners walking the streets of the Capital knew of it.
Perhaps only after Margaret truly ascended to the position of Empress and she and Enoch’s affectionate newlywed life continued for at least one or two years would people fully accept their relationship.
In any case, Enoch’s extraordinary concept of the “ill-fated Crown Prince yearning for his lost beloved” did not end there.
The coronation preparations, which would have ordinarily taken at least half a year to a year, were drastically condensed to three months—all because of Margaret.
The palace staff could only express their regret at Enoch’s unwavering determination not to waste even half a year.
It was the coronation of the new Emperor who would usher in a new era, yet completing the preparations in merely three months felt somewhat lacking.
According to the imperial law of Langrid, unmarried women were prohibited from attending the Emperor’s coronation ceremony. Compared to the neighboring Hestia Kingdom, it was an extraordinarily conservative and antiquated tradition.
However, Enoch shattered even that tradition.
“How can it be that the woman who will become my wife cannot witness my coronation because of imperial law? Scrap that wretched law. The world nearly fell to ruin precisely because we kept following nonsense like this.”
His words were entirely justified. Only the hidebound high nobility would have dared refute him, and most of them had lost their power following the purge of the Peony Faction.
Moreover, because it was Enoch—who had directly saved the world—who spoke these words, they carried far greater weight. And Margaret, the “unmarried woman unable to attend Enoch’s coronation” whom he had singled out, was also one of those who had saved the world, so there was legitimate justification.
“I’ve been so exhausted lately.”
Enoch’s Protocol Aide, with dark circles beneath her eyes, voiced her fatigue to James, his chief aide and personal secretary.
“You know the coronation schedule for the King of Hestia is even sooner, don’t you? Because of that, the secretaries from Hestia Kingdom have already been stationed at Langrid Palace for several weeks.”
As the Protocol Aide lamented that there was simply too much to do because the coronation dates of the King of Hestia and Enoch’s coronation overlapped by a narrow margin, James could do nothing but listen to her grievances.
“Did you know that the Crown Prince of Hestia sent Your Highness Enoch a coronation invitation? He’s not just asking for greetings to be conveyed—he’s asking Your Highness Enoch to attend his coronation in person. This is absolutely unreasonable….”
“The two of them are close friends, aren’t they? And the world has changed. In fact, since the timing overlaps, attending each other’s coronations as a gesture of friendship might actually make for a fine picture. Still, I do think conveying only the invitation greetings would be more appropriate.”
At James’s words, the Protocol Aide muttered that she had no idea how Enoch would react.
These days, Enoch was truly like a ball that could bounce in any direction.
Of course, most of his actions had reasonable justifications, but from the aides’ perspective, following in his wake was quite grueling.
Then James grasped the Protocol Aide’s shoulder with an ominous expression.
“Wait—that invitation. It must have gone to Lady Flone as well, right?”
“It should have. Everyone now knows that the bond between the seven who returned is particularly special….”
The Protocol Aide trailed off mid-sentence. The two exchanged ominous glances.
“Lady Flone will naturally attend the King of Hestia’s coronation.”
“If His Highness Enoch hears that the Young Lady is going to meet the King of Hestia, then naturally he will….”
want to attend as well.
The two did not speak the final words aloud. If that truly came to pass, it would be the beginning of a hellish schedule for the aides.
“Come to think of it, it might actually be faster to pressure Lady Flone into compliance than to persuade His Highness Enoch.”
The Protocol Aide wholeheartedly agreed with James’s murmur. Their eyes sparkled simultaneously.
Of course, they had completely forgotten that Margaret herself was a person of no less formidable character.
“Damn it! Emergency! Emergency!”
At that moment, the Crown Prince’s work aide came rushing toward James, the chief aide.
“His Highness Enoch has escaped the Imperial Palace!”
“What!? Where did she go?”
“The Flone Estate.”
Upon hearing that answer, everyone’s faces fell and their mouths snapped shut. And they all arrived at the same thought simultaneously.
Yes. We’ve waited long enough.
* * *
Prince of Asdal and Archbishop Luzef visited the Flone Estate in Capital Beneton early in the morning.
The visit was so sudden that I rushed to the Reception Room where they were, and in my haste, I dropped the duty manual I’d stuffed into my Dress Pocket.
“Hmm. It seems there’s something amusing at the Flone Estate that I alone don’t know about?”
As Prince of Asdal read the duty manual with interest, Archbishop Luzef also seemed curious and skimmed through it alongside him.
‘Sigh. I have no idea either.’
I gave up trying to snatch the paper from them and sprawled across a Chair in the Reception Room.
It was shaping up to be an exhausting day from the start.
“Young Lady, did you develop sleepwalking while we weren’t looking?”
3. Miss Margaret’s Room is in the western section of the Third Floor, rooms 1-5.
If Miss is found sleeping in the Garden in the dead of night, quietly move her to her Room.
Prince of Asdal pointed to rule number 3 and asked.
“Ah.”
I swallowed my words, feeling a bit embarrassed.
No, it’s just that writing the duty manual like that made it seem odd, but I wasn’t actually sprawled out haphazardly on the Dirt Ground of the Garden sleeping.
Though I had despised that Remote Island terribly, there were times when I wanted to cherish the memories of the time I spent with my companions.
So I had a Temporary Cabin built in the Garden, and I would occasionally go there to watch the stars, and when I fell asleep, the servants would carry me to my Room.
I didn’t bother elaborating on such matters and changed the subject.
“But what brings everyone all the way here? Aren’t you all busy?”
Prince of Asdal and Archbishop Luzef are both leaders of their respective factions. I couldn’t fathom how they’d made time to come here.
At my question, both men exchanged displeased glances.
“We came to request you as our partner.”
They spoke the words simultaneously. I tilted my head in confusion.
“A partner request?”
“The Langrid Fireworks Festival is coming up soon. It’s the first Fireworks Festival to be held since Magic disappeared, and I simply couldn’t resist my curiosity about how it’s being prepared.”
Well, I could understand Prince of Asdal’s reasoning, but Archbishop Luzef is now the Pope—was it even proper for him to make a partner request to a Noble Lady like this?
While I was still flustered, maid Vanessa entered the Reception Room and delivered an urgent letter sent by Yuanna.
“Miss, an urgent letter has arrived from the Saint.”
It was none other than a partner request to attend the Langrid Fireworks Festival together.
But the Fireworks Festival isn’t even a Social Circle party, and one doesn’t necessarily have to bring a partner, so why is everyone….
“They all simply adore you, Miss.”
“Consider yourself blessed. Think of it as an honor.”
Archbishop Luzef and Prince of Asdal each added their remarks.
I had been hoping to attend the festival with just Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid, but somehow it seemed I’d end up sightseeing at the festival with everyone.
It wasn’t unpleasant, but I still felt a twinge of disappointment.
Click.
At that moment, the door to the Reception Room opened.
Creeeeak—
And there stood Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid, cradling a small boy in his arms. The sight was so tender it resembled a father holding his own son.
“What is this.”
Prince of Asdal voiced the very words I wanted to say. Soon after, he turned to me with a bewildered expression.
“…Have those two already been setting up house here at the Estate?”
That couldn’t possibly be the case.
“Eun-ji was lingering outside, so I brought him in.”
Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid added an explanation. I was curious why a man who should be at the Imperial Palace was here, but my attention was drawn more to Eun-ji.
I took Eun-ji from Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s arms. The moment I held him, Eun-ji’s eyes widened as if he’d suddenly remembered something.
Then he dropped a bombshell.
“Right! Grandfather’s been worrying about a gift for Sister! He keeps asking Eun-ji every day what would be good, and it’s getting annoying.”
The color drained from Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s face.
“What gift?”
Both Prince of Asdal and Archbishop Luzef looked at Eun-ji with curiosity. Nestled in my arms, Eun-ji nodded happily, swinging his feet with a pleased expression.
Just as Eun-ji was about to open his mouth excitedly, Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid hastily covered the boy’s mouth.
A moment of silence fell over the Reception Room.
“What is this. What kind of situation is happening right now?”
Prince of Asdal stared at Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid with an expression of utter confusion.
Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid let out a sigh. Then, after quietly observing Eun-ji, he suddenly snatched the boy from my arms.
?!
I flailed helplessly with empty hands. Eun-ji, equally startled by Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s grip, looked back at me.
“W-what! Put Eun-ji down! Eun-ji wants to go to Sister!”
“I think you and I need to have a talk.”
“…Huh? Gasp! N-no! Eun-ji has nothing to say!”
“You seem to have remembered something.”
“No!”
I didn’t understand the conversation, but Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid suddenly disappeared with Eun-ji.
Prince of Asdal, Archbishop Luzef, and I stood dumbfounded like a dog chasing chickens, staring blankly at the spot where the two—or rather, one person and one serpent—had vanished.
What is this.
And here I thought I was meeting Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid for the first time in a month, yet how could he just disappear like this!
* * *
“Say this: I know nothing.”
“No. Eun-ji knows.”
“No, you must not know.”
“How can I unknow what I already know.”
“Didn’t you promise Margaret’s father? I thought you also promised to keep secrets with me.”
Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid deliberately brought up the letter in which they had shared a “secret.”
The innocent young serpent found sharing secrets with someone entertaining, so he was quite fond of the word “secret” being mentioned.
Sure enough, Eun-ji covered his mouth with both hands and nodded.
“Mm-hmm. That’s right. A secret. Eun-ji is sorry.”
She then offered an adorable apology and began rambling excuses to Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid, retracing her own actions.
“Grandfather said Eun-ji is grandfather’s Eun-ji. Eun-ji likes grandfather. Eun-ji wasn’t trying to break the promise. Eun-ji is sorry.”
“That’s right. You must honor your word to your grandfather.”
“Mm-hmm. That’s right. Must honor the promise!”
Having barely persuaded Eun-ji, Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid performed a dry face washing with a weary expression. Then, burying his face in both palms for a moment, he swallowed back a sigh as self-loathing washed over him.
At that moment, Eun-ji quietly placed her hand on Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s shoulder and patted it gently as she spoke.
“If you promise not to abandon Eun-ji, I’ll allow you to marry sister. Sister promised Eun-ji. You have to promise too.”
Then she wiggled her fingers while stealing a glance at Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s expression.
“Eun-ji won’t be a bother. Eun-ji is good at being cute. Rosemary taught me. When Enoch is tired, Eun-ji can massage your shoulders too.”
Eun-ji, prettier than most girls her age, clenched and unclenched her maple-leaf-like hands, even demonstrating how she could competently massage Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid’s shoulders.
Had Rosemary been present, she would have shrieked with delight at such adorableness.
Resting his chin on his hand, Enoch Aster Klaus Langrid gazed quietly at Eun-ji and reflected.
Yes, I would indeed prefer a daughter like Eun-ji as my firstborn.
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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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