Chapter 29
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Chapter 29
A hooded youth suddenly appeared from nowhere.
He effortlessly freed my wrist from Howard's grip.
"Ugh! Aaaahhhhh!"
The youth even twisted Howard's arm.
It was a simple movement. Yet Howard couldn't budge.
"Who are you? Why are you interfering in someone else's business?"
Howard squealed indignantly.
"This is between us two... Ugh!"
Of course, when the youth applied more pressure, Howard crumpled to the ground.
"Who am I?"
I peered at the youth's face beneath the hood and my eyes widened in shock.
"This woman is my superior."
While the youth spoke coldly, I found myself speechless.
Was he insane?
For a moment, I was so flustered that I panicked.
"Looking after one's superior is only natural."
The hooded youth was the foreign Intern who had quit after just one day not long ago.
I never imagined I'd encounter him here. I was utterly dumbfounded.
What on earth was the Intern doing here?
Had the Intern come to watch the trial too? Was this entertaining for a foreigner?
"Get out of here. Now."
The Intern warned in a low voice and released my arm.
Howard grumbled but said nothing, immediately fleeing.
I didn't even think to watch his retreating figure, simply staring blankly at the Intern.
The Intern covered head to toe in a hood—Kibon Altes.
Unlike when I'd seen him before, he wasn't wearing glasses.
"Are you alright?"
His pitch-black eyes and mine met in an awkward silence.
* * *
Kibon Altes felt a slight pang of regret as he observed the bewilderment in Namia Loapi's eyes.
'Did I really need to step in like this?'
He had simply been heading to the Restroom.
Then he saw Namia Loapi's wrist being grabbed by a middle-aged man.
'It looked like a difficult situation...'
Of course, at this point in time, Namia Loapi was merely an ordinary low-ranking civil servant.
A low-ranking civil servant's personal affairs were something he could simply overlook.
'But she is my benefactor.'
Even if she were his benefactor, there was no need for him, as Crown Prince, to intervene personally.
He could have simply sent a knight to handle it.
'But she's a woman I could potentially marry.'
Of course, nothing was certain yet.
Still, if I grew too concerned, I could simply dispatch a higher-ranking knight to investigate.
'But something feels off. Decidedly suspicious.'
In the end, Crown Prince Kiaros decided to take matters into his own hands.
She clearly had some connection to Fron.
I couldn't treat her as merely a passing benefactor.
'I need to observe her directly from nearby. This is a rational decision.'
But I couldn't go as the Crown Prince.
Everyone's eyes would turn toward me, and baseless rumors would only multiply.
After a moment's deliberation, I changed my appearance in the Restroom.
Soon, a young man with black hair and black eyes—a different face—reflected in the mirror.
It was the appearance of Kibon Altes, who had once worked as an Intern at the Scroll Management Department.
'I wish I could transform into an entirely different form, but since I can only change into this appearance....'
Or perhaps not? Actually, since I already had some acquaintance with Namia Loapi, it might be easier to insert myself.
In the Restroom hung a loose, oversized hood used by the staff.
I wrapped it around myself to conceal my clothing.
And I immediately separated that old man from Namia Loapi.
"Ah.... Kibon Altes."
After Howard fled, Namia Loapi rolled her eyes in apparent bewilderment.
"I thought you'd returned to your homeland. How did you come to be here...."
"I came running."
Since I'd always been in the Empire, I reflexively answered how I'd arrived.
But Namia Loapi's brow furrowed slightly.
She tilted her head and murmured.
"Your pronunciation is good, but your Imperial is not quite fluent, is it?"
"It is fluent."
"Ah.... So that's what you believe."
"Yes. That's what I believe."
"Ah...."
I had always received clear reports while conversing with my subordinates.
I'd never had a comfortable conversation with a friend.
Naturally, I didn't know how to speak to a superior either.
"Ahem."
In any case, Namia Loapi appeared quite flustered.
She hadn't even offered thanks.
Of course, I hadn't expected gratitude.
But still, shouldn't one properly express appreciation regardless?
"Is there nothing else you wish to say?"
"Ah, yes?"
Namia Loapi, momentarily flustered, rolled her eyes and spoke.
"Well, yes, I do have something to say."
"Yes. Please, go ahead."
Crown Prince Kiaros responded graciously, but Namia Loapi spoke with deliberate slowness.
"Normally, one doesn't say 'this woman is my superior.'"
"...Pardon?"
"One says 'this person is my superior.' Hmm, I didn't realize you were unfamiliar with the Imperial tongue. I suppose I misunderstood your manner of speech last time."
"What? Isn't it you who's been acting in a way that invites misunderstanding?"
Crown Prince Kiaros furrowed his brow and found himself rebutting without thinking.
Namia Loapi tilted her head and asked.
"What misunderstanding?"
"Well, um... yes."
I couldn't very well say 'you said you wanted to treat me well' in front of everyone.
Those words had been spoken only when Namia Loapi and I were alone.
In the end, I stammered and said nothing at all.
Then Namia Loapi nodded as if she understood.
"That's fine. This is more than sufficient."
What, what's sufficient?
As I stood bewildered, she added with an awkward expression.
"In any case, I was truly grateful."
Namia Loapi scratched her cheek and continued.
"That man was someone my family forced upon me for marriage because of money... but as you can see, it wasn't done with my consent."
"Marriage? With that man?"
Crown Prince Kiaros asked in surprise.
It wasn't that I didn't understand her words. It was merely a reflexive question upon hearing the word 'marriage.'
Because until now, I had been seriously considering marriage with Namia Loapi.
"Ah, my apologies. That must have been difficult to understand."
Namia Loapi opened her eyes wide and spoke slowly.
"To put it simply, it meant I wouldn't marry that old fool no matter how much money he has."
"I see. But how do you intend to handle that man? It doesn't seem like he'll back off easily."
"I'll handle it myself. You don't need to worry about it, Kibon. Thank you."
Namia Loapi's response was polite, but something felt unsatisfying about it.
She was still so gaunt... it seemed her family wasn't helping her at all.
Of course, I had been planning to work on it from behind. Yet she maintained such a carefree attitude.
Crown Prince Kiaros grew frustrated and furrowed his brow as he spoke.
"I understand your gratitude. But what exactly do you mean by handling it yourself?"
"Um, Kibon."
Namia Loapi rolled her eyes and spoke calmly once more.
"In the context of this conversation, 'thank you' means 'my story is finished.'"
"Pardon?"
"I think it would suffice if Kibon simply understood that I won't be going through with this marriage."
"Won't be going through with the marriage...."
Crown Prince Kiaros cleared his throat briefly at that point.
After steadying his breathing, he continued with his question.
"A-ahem. Is it marriage itself that you dislike, or is it marriage to that old man that you dislike?"
"Again, this doesn't quite fit the conversational context.... But it's not that I dislike marriage itself."
"I see. Then...."
Crown Prince Kiaros hesitated slightly before taking a deep breath.
So this was merely a question.
Since the topic of marriage had come up, I was simply trying to probe her thoughts a little.
Absolutely, absolutely not because I was curious.
"Would marriage to the Crown Prince be acceptable?"
"...Yes? Suddenly...?"
Namia Loapi furrowed her brow, her expression somewhat taken aback.
Crown Prince Kiaros quickly added to his statement.
"In my homeland, we engage in such conversations casually, as naturally as inquiring after someone's well-being. Questions like 'How would you feel about marrying the Crown Prince?' are treated as ordinary greetings."
"Ah, yes...."
"So please simply answer me truthfully."
"Ah, yes...."
Fortunately, she had agreed! I couldn't have been more delighted by her simple "Ah, yes."
Namia Loapi tilted her head, then murmured in an uncertain voice.
"Well, if it's the Crown Prince...."
"If it's the Crown Prince?"
Crown Prince Kiaros swallowed dryly without realizing it.
Namia Loapi continued slowly.
"Given my current circumstances, I think I would marry if I could...."
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org