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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: TushChen
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Why did Maximilian return the wedding ring he had given to Beatrice to our father?
Anxiety gnawed at me.
Could something have happened to Beatrice?
During our conversation at the Immortal Fortress, Maximilian had adamantly refused to answer any questions related to Beatrice.
Something must have happened.
‘What on earth could it be…?’
The symbol that adorned the epilogue.
The fruit of the love between the heroine, Beatrice, and the hero, Maximilian.
It was now in my hand.
Complex emotions overwhelmed me.
A sense of foreboding had been lingering ever since I received the wedding ring from my father.
“It’s beautiful. It’s truly a wedding ring worthy of the heroine of a romance fantasy.”
The blue diamond that shone brilliantly at the center of the ring.
The band crafted from refined silver.
And romantic phrases, like confessions to a lover, were engraved on the inside of the ring.
It was a top-class accessory.
If I were to take it to an appraiser, they would surely offer a fortune for it.
However, I had no intention of simply coveting the wedding ring.
The blue wedding ring, radiating a dazzling brilliance, was a treasured heirloom passed down through generations of Hohenberc successors, given to their beloved.
“Edan!”
“…Ah, yes.”
The girl with flowing light green hair approached with quick steps.
It was Rue.
She was treating the Valtarian Imperial Palace like her own home.
She must have been out wreaking havoc in the flower garden of the rear garden with her Luinong friends again today.
“That’s a super pretty ring! Where did you get it?”
“It’s nothing.”
When Maximilian confessed his feelings to Beatrice and gave her the wedding ring, they were alone.
Therefore, it was only natural that Rue, who wasn’t present in the epilogue, wouldn’t recognize the ring.
How should I explain this?
No,
There was no need to tell her.
I hesitated for a moment and decided to give up on explaining.
I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and wrapped the ring in it.
And then, I put the ring away, ignoring the innocent fairy’s curiosity.
Rue protested, nudging my side, but I ignored her.
???????
Edanant put Rue down and headed towards Zebeline.
He had received a message from Zebeline.
Perhaps because he hadn’t shown her the ring,
Rue, her cheeks puffed out in a pout, headed towards Elizaveta to express her displeasure.
“Hmph, hmph! Edan is so mean! He completely ignored me, even though I begged him to show me! I’m going to ignore him from now on!”
“Edan was wrong. To neglect the request of such a cute and adorable fairy. Ah, do you want a cookie?”
They must have fought again.
It was surely Edanant’s fault.
Edanant and Rue often argued, their mental ages being roughly the same.
Elizaveta looked at Rue, who was full of complaints, and offered her a cookie.
Rue smiled brightly and munched on the chocolate-filled cookie.
“Hehe, yummy-”
Her sulking heart melted away like cotton candy at the sweet taste of chocolate.
The fairy, her lips smeared with chocolate, grinned.
“Edanant must have ignored you again.”
“He always does that. Edanant lacks consideration, just like Maximilian. Maybe all the men in the Hohenberc family are like that.”
Ludmilla, who had just visited Elizaveta’s bedroom, muttered as she looked at Rue, experiencing the bliss of chocolate.
Elizaveta nodded in agreement.
“Sister, you’ll have a hard time after marrying Edanant next year.”
“I-I like Edanant’s inconsiderate side…! Even though it’s a bit much sometimes.”
“The Empire’s Red Dragon is truly smitten.”
“Ahem!”
They were planning to get married next spring or summer.
Elizaveta smiled playfully and teased her sister.
Ahh, I’m envious-
I’m jealous.
And I hope you’ll be happy.
Various emotions were reflected in the villainess’ emerald eyes.
She loved Edanant, but she also supported her sister, so she genuinely congratulated her on the news of their marriage.
Ludmilla smiled awkwardly and replied to her younger sister.
“Edan had a ring I’ve never seen before! I asked him to show it to me for a moment… but he completely ignored me!”
A ring.
A ring?
A ring.
Ludmilla and Elizaveta’s minds froze simultaneously.
As if to prove this, the princesses, who had been sipping tea in the bedroom, stopped moving completely, like statues.
“I couldn’t see it clearly, but it was a super pretty ring! Even from afar, the gemstone was sparkling!”
There was no doubt.
It was a wedding ring.
If it was a ring adorned with beautiful gemstones, it could only be a wedding ring for a proposal.
To think he had already prepared a wedding ring…
Ludmilla and Elizaveta jumped to their feet simultaneously, their reactions filled with excitement.
“Edanant already… p-prepared a wedding ring?”
“A ring! Are you sure?!”
Joy and excitement surged within them.
Anticipation filled their hearts, imagining the moment they would receive the wedding ring.
‘No, maybe he’ll give the wedding ring to me instead of sister…! Of course, my sister received the proposal first, but Edanant is a womanizer, so it’s not like I don’t have a chance!’
I want it.
I desperately want it.
How happy would she be to receive a wedding ring from Edanant?
It would be like a dream.
She would surely experience ecstasy if she received it from the person she loved.
Elizaveta imagined Edanant kneeling on one knee and slowly slipping the beautiful wedding ring onto her finger.
Her desire began to grow as she indulged in her fantasies.
“We should keep this a secret for now. Edanant must be secretly preparing for the proposal.”
Ahem, ahem.
Ludmilla said, crossing her arms.
Her flushed face and confident demeanor reflected her strong anticipation.
When will he propose?
Today?
Or tomorrow?
She chuckled, imagining Edanant diligently preparing for the proposal.
To think he was secretly preparing for the proposal.
A smile wouldn’t leave her face.
‘Edanant usually acts indecisive, but he can be bold at times. Like when he kissed me so daringly on the terrace in the middle of the night. Ahem! I’m being silly, Rue and Liza are right here!’
She tried to calm her racing heart.
But the corners of her lips, raised almost to her ears, showed no signs of settling down.
I’m happy.
What can I do about it?
How can I contain my joy?
We’re finally at the finish line.
The time had come to graduate from her 27 years of being a miserable old bachelorette.
Ludmilla eagerly awaited the moment Edanant would present the wedding ring and deliver a romantic proposal.
???????
While Ludmilla and Elizaveta were burning with desire for the wedding ring,
Edanant was meeting with Zebeline.
The one true god’s second oracle.
It was a grave issue that couldn’t be ignored.
“Why didn’t the Pope reveal the oracle at the gathering of all the kings?”
“He probably thought it wasn’t the right time. Or maybe he wanted to save it as a trump card for later.”
Information was a weapon.
Naturally, the same applied to oracles.
Countless kings who ruled the continent had gathered in the Imperial Capital at the news of the one true god’s oracle.
What was his game?
Edanant clicked his tongue, pondering the Pope’s cunning.
“Something’s been bothering me today…”
“What is it?”
In response to Zebeline’s question, Edanant took out a handkerchief from his pocket.
To be precise, it was a wedding ring wrapped in a handkerchief.
A ring with a blue diamond.
Zebeline’s eyes widened as she saw the dazzling brilliance and stared at Edanant.
“My father gave it to me. It was the wedding ring he had given to Maximilian… but he returned it to our father.”
“If it’s the wedding ring the Marquis of Hohenberc gave to the hero, it must be a very meaningful accessory.”
“It’s the ring Father used to propose to Mother. He said he promised her eternal love when he gave her the ring. Well, Mother passed away early, but…”
“E-Eternal love…!”
To think that such a beautiful wedding ring had such a romantic story behind it…
I want it.
I’ll have it, no matter what.
She wanted the wedding ring that Edan’s mother had received, even if it cost her a fortune.
Zebeline stared at the wedding ring with a crazed look, her desire evident.
She seemed determined to obtain the ring, no matter the cost.
‘A wedding with the Red Dragon? Do as you please! I’ll have the wedding ring!’
As the Holy Kingdom’s First Saintess was displaying her insatiable greed,
Edanant noticed a bat perched on the windowsill and moved his steps.
It was a familiar summoned by Ariel.
She had sent the bat to deliver a message, just like using pigeons on the battlefield.
-Pioneer, I’ve gathered all the apostles. We’ll arrive at the designated location soon.
“Good work.”
The apostles of the Disaster God were a means to keep the damn one true god in check.
They would never dream that the one chosen as the Holy Kingdom’s new hero was gathering the Disaster God’s apostles scattered across the continent.
They would be even more oblivious due to their past experiences dealing with countless cultists.
He couldn’t dethrone the one true god.
But he could throw dirt on her throne.
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