Chapter 136
Elena let out a sigh of relief seeing her lover appeared uninjured.
Lupeon gave her an affectionate look.
“Though it seems I’ve been beaten to it, I really wanted to tell you this.”
“…?”
As Elena looked at him with a bewildered expression, Lupeon gracefully bent one knee.
“Will you help me lead the empire together from now on?”
Elena’s golden eyes trembled wildly at his unexpected words.
‘So that’s why… he wanted to propose.’
Elena had wondered why she heard her lover was participating in the swordsmanship tournament.
After all, as emperor, he had no particular obligation to participate.
At the time, Lupeon had vaguely said it was to boost the knights’ morale, but it seems his plan was to win and propose.
Elena felt touched thinking that perhaps he had been envisioning this moment even before she had.
Receiving the golden rose, she showed a brighter smile than usual.
“Anything would be wonderful with you!”
Rising from his position, Lupeon gazed at her intently with clear eyes and said.
“I love you.”
“…!”
“To an uncontrollable degree.”
Elena’s heart swelled at his passionate confession.
It was the first time Lupeon had directly expressed his love.
She was consumed by deep happiness, feeling as though only the two of them existed in this world.
In the evening twilight as the sun set, Elena responded with a gentle eye-smile.
“I love you too, Lupeon.”
At her shy response, an elegant smile spread across Lupeon’s lips.
The spectators quietly watched the couple from afar.
Someone cheered as they watched the emperor present the golden rose to his fiancée, and soon applause erupted from the crowd.
Though no one seemed to realize that proposals had actually been exchanged between the lovers.
* * *
Elena smiled brightly looking at her nervous lover.
“Lupeon, are you very nervous? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this.”
“Of course. After all, we’re going to deliver news to your family.”
She laughed softly hearing such words from a man who usually never showed nervousness.
Elena planned to visit the Rohenbach mansion today to announce her marriage to Lupeon.
The couple wanted to inform their families before announcing their marriage to the imperial citizens.
When they told Anasha, who was closest to them, the news, the child jumped up and down with joy, offering her congratulations.
Elena had no doubt her family’s reaction would be similar.
After all, the marriage arrangement with Lupeon had essentially been decided by the marquis.
Therefore, she believed her father would welcome it with open arms, never opposing it.
However, for some reason, Lupeon didn’t seem to think so.
His unusually nervous appearance suggested he felt somewhat uncomfortable.
‘There’s really no need to worry so much.’
Elena squeezed her lover’s hand and showed a bright smile.
“Don’t worry, Lupeon. I’m sure Father will be pleased.”
He nodded slightly, responding with a faint smile.
Their carriage soon stopped in front of the Rohenbach mansion, and Elena got out holding Lupeon’s hand after he descended first.
The Rohenbach father and son, who had come out to greet them with the servants, showed proper courtesy.
“Sacred glory to the Valdeon Empire. We greet His Majesty the Emperor, guardian of Valdeon and possessor of the wondrous crown.”
Receiving their greeting, Lupeon looked at Marquis Rohenbach and spoke.
“It’s been a while, Marquis.”
“Ho ho, what an amusing jest. We just met at yesterday’s state council.”
When the marquis responded wittily with a kindly smile, Lupeon’s blue eyes trembled slightly in confusion.
“…”
Seeing her lover’s nervous state, Elena deliberately addressed her brother in a bright voice.
“Lisette, have you been well?”
Though she often encountered the marquis at the palace, she hadn’t seen Lisette since their mother’s death anniversary at the mansion.
He nodded and smiled brightly at his sister’s affectionate greeting.
“Of course! But Sister, what brings you to the mansion today?”
Elena’s golden eyes showed embarrassment at Lisette’s direct question, as he always asked about whatever made him curious.
“Well…”
As she trailed off without answering, the marquis added with a puzzled look.
“Indeed. I was quite surprised to receive your notice a few days ago.”
Elena exchanged glances with her lover beside her, and Lupeon nodded slightly before continuing.
“It would be better to discuss this inside.”
Thus, the four headed to the mansion’s reception room.
After refreshments were prepared and all servants dismissed, the marquis asked with a worried expression.
“Has something happened at the palace?”
“No, Father. There’s nothing wrong at all.”
Elena quickly shook her head and gave a gentle smile to reassure him.
The marquis tilted his head, expressing his confusion.
“Then why have you come here?”
Just as Elena was about to clear her throat to speak, Lupeon opened his mouth before her.
“Marquis… no, Father, I have something to tell you.”
“What? Father…?”
The marquis blinked slowly as if trying to understand the situation.
Then he glanced at his son and asked.
“Lisette, what did I just hear?”
“It seems my brother-in-law is changing how he addresses you, Father.”
Lisette shrugged slightly with an interested look.
The marquis, seemingly parched, began gulping down water from the cup before him.
As if driving home the point, Lupeon continued in a respectful and sincere voice.
“We’ve decided to marry, Father-in-law.”
*Pfft*—
At that moment, the marquis, who had started coughing from choking, looked at Lupeon with a bewildered expression.
“What do you mean…”
As his father trailed off, Lisette glanced at him and began clapping to congratulate them.
“Wow, you two are finally getting married. Congratulations!”
“Thank you, Lisette.”
Elena nodded slightly with a clear smile and gently took Lupeon’s hand.
Amidst the warm atmosphere, there was notably one person who couldn’t smile.
‘Strange. I thought he’d be the most pleased…’
Tilting her head at the marquis’s reaction, she called out to him quietly.
“Father?”
“Ahem, marriage seems too early.”
“What? Too early?”
Even at Elena’s startled question, the marquis looked at his future son-in-law with a triumphant expression.
“The engagement period was surely set for two years, Your Majesty.”
According to the marquis, their engagement period wouldn’t reach two years until this coming winter.
Elena raised her eyebrows as her father proudly spoke of the clause written in the contract.
“There’s no such thing, Father.”
Though Elena tried to protest with an incredulous expression, Lupeon shook his head at her.
Then he suggested to the marquis in a grave voice.
“Your words are correct, Father, but I’d like us to discuss this together.”
“Ahem, I don’t particularly have anything to—”
“Yet you were so eagerly waiting for Sister and Brother-in-law to come.”
When Lisette, who couldn’t stand it anymore, spoke words that were hard to refute, Marquis Rohenbach reluctantly nodded.
“…Very well, Your Majesty. Let’s discuss it then.”
Elena rose from her seat with her brother somewhat reluctantly, looking worriedly at the two men remaining in the reception room.
* * *
In the excessively quiet reception room, Lupeon and Marquis Rohenbach maintained an awkward silence.
Glancing at the marquis, who seemed somehow displeased, Lupeon finally managed to speak.
“I know how precious Elena is to you, Marquis.”
“If you know that so well, why are you rushing into marriage?”
As Marquis Rohenbach touched his forehead and let out a long sigh, Lupeon recalled a conversation they had long ago.
