CH 4

Chapter - 4 || It Would Be Most Kind To Leave The Broken-Engagement Duchess Alone

As I was walking towards the exit of the temple, my father and mother came running up to me.

"Elvira!"

"No matter what happens, you are our daughter, don't worry."

At these words, I almost felt my nerves tense up.

But I didn't want to show Prince Alexander any tears, so I tried my best to hold them back.

"Father, mother, I'm sorry to trouble you."

"It's all right. Come on, let's go home."

"Well, that..."

I had no intention of going back home. I was about to tell my mother and father about it.

"Wait, Elvira!"

For some reason, Prince Alexander stopped me.

Naturally, the surrounding nobles were watching our conversation in silence.

"What is it?"

"We will escort you to the place you are going. Of course, the people will not know where you are going, so you will be safe."

Do you want to know what I'm doing so that you can keep an eye on me and make sure that I won't harm Lady Natalia?

If that is the case, you have underestimated me.

I do not seek revenge.

I replied without expressing any emotion.

"Please don't mind me. It would be most kind of you to leave this broken-engagement of a duchess alone."

"But..."

"Your Majesty, with all due respect."

My father stood between me and Alexander-sama and interrupted.

"I beg you to do as my daughter says in this matter."

But Prince Alexander became angry.

"What is your attitude? If that was true, I would have you thrown in jail right now as a fake saint! 

Not only did I allow it, but you refused to let me keep you in the court because of your past achievements, and finally you refused an escort!

Who the hell do you think you are? I'll have you arrested right now."

However my father will not back down.

"If you're going to put me in jail, Your Majesty, you can't give me a proper trial, can't you? So, it's not a bad idea for the dukes to object to this rite of sainthood.

In order to hope for a neutral decision, we could ask a foreign temple to certify us as saints. However, that would cause a lot of commotion.

Isn't His Majesty the one who doesn't want to stir things up any further? I'm sure that the new saint over there will be investigated in various ways as well?"

I knew that my father thought that my lily was the 'Maiden's Lily.'

However, he must know that His Majesty wanted to make Natalia a full-fledged queen so much that he took such a harsh action.

He must have seen through the fact that the temple is in league with the nobles who are against our dukes.

"Shut up! I'm the king! Do as I say!"

"My daughter has worked so hard to become that queen! She's worked hard all her life to become the queen of this kingdom, and you don't show her a bit of mercy!"

"That's why I said she'll have an escort!"

I was thinking about how to stop my father and Alexander from shouting at each other when...

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but you can leave the guarding of Lady Elvira to me."

He must have been mixed in with the nobles on the tour.

His face was neat and dignified, and his hair was black.

Rudolf-dono came in front of me and said so.

[ E/N - Rudolph is the red-nosed reindeer while Rudolf is just a name. I couldn't just name him Rudolph, could I? ]

The ladies were whispering to each other.

"Isn't that the crown prince of the Zomer Empire with his black hair?"

"Well, he is as beautiful as they say."

"He has a mysterious charm."

Rudolf said to Alexander,

"My name is Rudolf Rüdiger Eberwein, and I have been in this country with the intention of observing the ceremony of the saint certification."

"I was the one who invited you."

My father added.

He is the crown prince of the Zomer Empire and is related to our dukes.

I had met him several times before.

I was delighted to hear that I would be able to see him again at the Ceremony of the Saints, but I had no idea that I would have to show him this scene.

I felt sorry for him, but Prince Rudolf gently took my hand.

"I hope you will give me the right to send you wherever you wish, Elvira-sama."

Then he smiled mischievously, just like in the old days.

For the first time in my life, I felt a little relaxed.

I looked up at my father's face and saw him nodding. My mother, who was wiping away her tears with a handkerchief, nodded as well.

Originally, I had planned to enter a convent on the border.

Even though I was called a fake saint, I had no intention of leaving a prayer.

If Rudolf-dono can escort me there, I will be at ease.

I'm sure that Alexander-sama will not go against the will of the Zomer Empire.

I thought I would take advantage of Rudolf-dono's kindness.

However,

"Nice to meet you, Rudolf-sama. My name is Natalia."

When did she get so close?

Natalia had just walked up to Rudolph and was greeting him.