Chapter 20

Pondering for a long time, Reina let out a sigh and stared straight into the viscount's similar light purple eyes.

"Father."

"Yes, go ahead."

"Do I have to tell you my decision now? Can't you wait for a year… No, half a year?"

Her father stroked his chin as he put on a pensive expression.

"There's nothing you're not allowed to do. But in the meantime, there's no guarantee that he'll find another fiancée."

"..."

In short, there's a possibility that she'd lose both stakes.

"Ha… I really can't do this or that."

"That's not true. You can just give up on Ethan's face."

"…How did you know that?"

Was there a rumor going around that she's drooling after Ethan's face?

"If I don't know my own daughter, then who will? Hahaha."

"Tch. Do you need to point out the truth like that?"

"People should be honest."

At the gentle smile the viscount gave her, Reina rose from her seat.

"Alright, I understand, Father. But this is just so sudden that I need some time to think."

When she answered in this way, her father let out a sigh and swept a hand over his forehead.

"Are you going to that place again?"

Going out to the hallway, she heard the voice that's half given up from the room. At this, she just smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

"Why ask if you already know. I'll be back soon. You can't attach people to me, okay?"

* * *

One thing that was fortunate for Reina was that both she and Ethan were part of the nine major households, which were the pillars of the empire.

It was oh so easy for them to coincidentally bump into each other now and again.

'Still though, I'm going to meet him again after the incident last time as soon as she could, but it's thankfully going well.'

Before leaving for Mount Thurn to organize her thoughts, she just had to see him first.

"I've missed you, my love."

Hearing the familiar voice crooning behind him, Ethan turned around.

As she approached him, she could whiff out the faint scent reminiscent of a cold glacier, or perhaps the emerald Mediterranean sea's breeze.

'Yeah. This definitely isn't perfume.'

Using perfume wasn't really widespread in the empire, so the kind of perfume that people sprayed on themselves was, to put it bluntly, 'nauseating'.

But Ethan was different. The scent that emanated from him, was it maybe a natural body scent?

That's why her mood always changed whenever she was around him.

"We meet again here, so I think we really are meant to be, my love."

How could he be perfectly her taste, even when it came to his scent?

As deep as ever, his dark eyes scanned Reina's face. He tucked his slightly disheveled sleeves, then he soon shifted his gaze back to the front.

"With that logic, then you must be destined with all members of the nine major households."

"Oh my? Of course not. The two of us alone are special. You're from House Liam and I'm from House Chantra, isn't that right, my love?"

Naturally, there was also an established hierarchy in the nine major households. At the time of the empire's founding, the Liam household was founded one generation after the Chantra household.

But who was the ruler of this empire, you ask? Of course, it was the dragon tribe.

Dragons weren't all that shocking considering that this was a fantasy world, right? They were strong entities that no human could beat. The imperial family, including of course the emperor, were the descendants of a mixed bloodline between humans and the omnipotent dragons.

That's why when they took the throne and ruled over the empire, people would just say, 'If it's them, then there shouldn't be a problem,' to the point that it was very peaceful.

Conspiracy? Villainous masterminds? Battles for the throne?

It might be a wonder why there wasn't a dragon slayer in this world. But if there's someone out there with enough courage to face a dragon, you best believe that their life would soon be extinguished.

During the early days of the empire's founding, House Chantra played a role in stabilizing the country as they killed many an enemy and spent each day as if they're in a war. But in the end, after that period, there was no longer a role for House Chantra, which held mastery over the poison arts.

This was because the allied five kingdoms, which charge headfirst into attacking 'that' dragon tribe, like a moth to a flame, disappeared.

'If medical technology was more advanced here, poison-based medicine could be widely used, but…'

Because this world was wholly dependent on magic, the advancement of medicine was medieval at best. That's why there's no particular role for House Chantra in the empire.

She wasn't sure why there was a worldbuilding setup like this, but besides that, just like the previous year, the first-ranked and ninth-ranked families in terms of contributions to the empire were set to join forces in organizing the reunion of the nine major households.

And this time again, the family in the last place was House Chantra, and the unrivaled first place was House Liam. That's why the heirs of each family were to join hands in announcing the start of the coalition conference.

It's just that House Chantra's heir apparent, Scarlet, had just given birth and needed to rest, so Reina was her proxy only for this year.

"As soon as I called you, Ethan, as my love, I was given the chance to work together with you like this. If that's not fate, then what is?"

Rather than a dream, why did that sound more like an interpretation of a dream.

"That's a talent, too, I guess."

"Hm? What is?"

"That you never get embarrassed."

At Ethan's words, one corner of Reina's lips twitched.

'You think I don't get embarrassed with this, huh? I'm absolutely ashamed to say things like this, you punk.'

But before prioritizing dignity, wasn't it better to survive first?

Tilting her head to the side slightly as she let out a half-forced smile, Reina said something completely opposite to what she thought.

"Would I ever need to be embarrassed about my love?"

At that, Ethan paused for a moment and glanced down at Reina with an unreadable expression. Then, he soon averted his eyes and looked to the front again. A business smile tugged up on his lips as though he wasn't interested in what she said.

"When are you going to stop with that?"

"Oh my, I wonder when. Maybe when 'my love' turns to my 'honey'."

Reina's answer was sincere, but the moment she finished saying so, an unfamiliar voice called out to them from a short distance.

"Your Excellency, how have you been?"

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

It's Fran Carter.