Capitulo 97

Episode 97

His Majesty, Duke Pioneer has requested an audience.

Well? Go ahead.

Aster bowed her head at the sight of the duke suddenly requesting a visit.

The man who entered the office looked paler than usual.

After some silence, he spoke hurriedly from the main point.

I need to go to where my daughter is for a while.

Aster was surprised by the serious looking face.

Did something happen to the princess?

Karin is fine. just…

The duke’s face darkened.

He didn’t seem to want to reveal much.

Aster shrugged when he realized that at least it had nothing to do with Karina’s identity.

You can go. Didn’t you try to take a vacation for a trip abroad anyway?
Thank you.

After returning the duke, Aster called the attendant.

You called for me, Your Majesty?

Let the princess report what happened.

Yes, I will receive the report soon.

He secretly linked someone with Karina. However, due to their conscience, they did not look at the reports they published and simply kept them.

He promised not to see her no matter what.

A shallow determination was easily shattered by a little trepidation.

Not long after, the attendant arrived with a report.

Here I am, Your Majesty

As he read the report, Aster’s face hardened.

The Archduke was in the South.

Yes, it is said that Sir Wilhelm joined here.

Did he follow the princess?

That… It doesn’t seem.

To say it was a coincidence, he lingered around her.

The creaky relationship between Andrew and Tatiana was now widely rumored in the social world.

It wasn’t just Andrew.

Rumors began to circulate that Raymond and Daniel had a bad relationship with the Grand Duchess.

Meanwhile, the person they want to get close to again is Karina.

I don’t like her.

Aster’s expression gradually darkened.

And this report came out a while ago. Maybe that’s why the Duke went to Larensi.

In the last report he received, it was written that the mistress of the tower, Freya, had an accident.

The mistress of the tower?

Yes. The exact reason is said to be under investigation because only a few people know about it.

Mmm.

The tower master is a person who has a super legal position.

If there were even rumors that he was in trouble in the Empire, things could get pretty complicated.

He was really the Duke Pioneer in making a careful distinction between public and private matters.

All right, let’s go.

Yes your Majesty.

After the attendant left, Aster concentrated on her work again.

No, he was trying to concentrate.

He closed the papers and stood up.

The atmosphere in the office, where the sun was setting, had never been as stifling as it was today.

He wanted to go to Larensi where Karina was right now.

Contemplating, he shook his head and sat back down.

* * *

Clearly, he made the decision to continue with his work.

But his body betrayed the mind and he turned to her.

In the end, Aster ran south, leaving only a note.

Your, Your Majesty?

At the hotel where he went to meet Karina, only the Duke was waiting for him.

I just came to see the princess’s face, can you tell me where she is?

Oh, wait a minute.

At the Duke’s gaze, the maid who had always been with Karina answered.

The lady went out for a little walk. On the beach behind the hotel.

Hearing the maid’s words, Aster immediately went to the beach.

The gentlemen who recognized him bowed and greeted him.

Aster made eye contact slightly and approached the bench where Karina was sitting.

What on earth is the princess doing out here alone at this hour?

Karina looked at him with a look of surprise.

The corners of her eyes were slightly red, as if she was crying.

Your Majesty, how did she get here?

I wonder if I’m really seeing her… !

Before he could finish speaking, Karina suddenly reached out and hugged him around the waist.

Aster shivered at the cold body temperature that touched his body.

Come on, wait.

Embarrassed, Aster tried to push her away, but he saw her shoulder shaking and stopped moving.

Without a word, he placed a hand on Karina’s shoulder.

As she slowly comforted him, her sobs grew louder.

As if trapped water burst out, Karina collapsed.

Aster was relieved that he was the one to see her now.

What would have happened if someone approached Karina, who was mentally unstable?

Just imagining it made her spine feel cold.

After crying for a while, she slowly pulled back to see if she had calmed down.

As the warm body temperature escaped, the emptiness came.

Aster looked at Karina, hiding his regret.

Are you calmer now?

Yes.

When Karina, who had always had a cold face, became embarrassed, a smile came to her face.

I’m sorry. Are you surprised?

I should have been surprised.

No, on the contrary, she liked it.

She thought it was disgusting to have someone touch her body, but Karina was different.

Rather, she wanted to stay in touch longer.

Is it because of the teacher?

Karina had a strong attachment to her family.

In this world where there is no one to trust, only her parents were on her side.

I showed you this, but I can’t say no.

Seeing her helpless smile, his chest swelled.

I wanted to help her.

Honestly, I’m a little tired. Every time this happens, everyone whispers about me.

Even the first day I met His Majesty, I heard people say that I came to a banquet even though I broke my engagement.

When he heard those words, he sometimes thought about it.

It would have been a little different if it had not appeared in the original.

Even more so when I consider the words of the extra who became entangled with Tatiana.

Before meeting with them, each of them faced a miserable situation.

You’re doing the best you can, why do you have to avoid keeping quiet about your discomforts?

At Aster’s words, Karina smiled slightly.

It’s been a long time since anyone else listened to her.

It’s not that she doesn’t understand them. In the eyes of others she seemed like a person who has no feelings.

Those people would have cursed you if you had acted differently.

At Aster’s words, Karina’s eyes widened.

Maybe if you had hired someone else to fill in for you in your position, they would have called you lazy and not recognized you as if it was your job.

It seemed like you were telling your own story.

Even if you had stayed by your mother’s side and showed your feelings, people would talk anyway.

Is that Her Majesty’s story?

Is it?

That’s what you’re talking about. It’s something you’ve been through.

A bitter smile appeared on Aster’s face. He nodded and muttered.

The Emperor didn’t like what I did and hated it. Even if I was forced to do things the way I wanted to be praised by him, I was pretty tired of it.

Karina thought Aster took after her.

But unlike her, whose family was on her side, Aster’s family was an enemy.

I respect what His Majesty does. I think it’s great too. She also gives her best at work.

Aster turned to look at Karina.

What he said now was something he wanted to hear from someone, but not what he wanted to hear from Karina.

She wanted to hear stories other than respect and admiration.

I think you’re great too. No matter what anyone else says.

Her long hair waved in the darkness in the sea breeze.

Her hair, which looked deeper than the bright night sky with many moons and stars, made Karina stand out even more.

Aster reached out and stroked her hair behind her ear.

Love was not a prerequisite for all marriages.

Especially in Aster’s case.

Aster believed that mutual trust or political purpose was more important than love.
At least that was the case when he asked Karina out.

Aster grabbed her hand, which had grown cold in the night wind.

He whispered, rubbing the back of his hand with his fingers as if pushing away the cold energy.

Will you marry me when you finish working in the south?

Ha, but…

Seeing Karina’s puzzled look, he swallowed a laugh.

It was he who had turned down her proposal just a few months ago.

Even then, Aster thought he had the patience to wait for him to win Karina’s heart completely.

He thought that was possible.

He was stupid.

After they became a couple, it didn’t matter to win her heart completely.

Aster whispered as he pressed his lips against the back of her hand.

Karina Pioneer, will you marry me?

Everything hovered above her blue eyes, except the emotions he expected: surprise, gratitude, concern, and trust.

But it didn’t matter.

Yes. Okay.

This time, he reached for her first.

He watched a shooting star disappear from the darkness in the distance and hugged Karina.