Episode 24

?????? (8)

“Duke…Argonod?”

So, based on her common sense, this was the correct answer. However, Ragnar’s face is again filled with disappointment. Looking at the gradual shaking of his head, she guesses he didn’t want this.

However, it is a difficult problem for Christa no matter how hard she thinks. She couldn’t answer what she didn’t know, so she decided to ask.

“Then what should I call you?”

Ragnar crept up his eyes. No wonder it was Christa who felt uneasy with that full smile.

“Honey.”

“What?”

Then he instructed her.

“Call me, honey.”

Christa’s face is now flushed red.

“Come on.”

“H, honey?”

Then Ragnar’s expression bloomed. It was like seeing a cat that was very full. Christa opened then closed her mouth. She vowed not to use this endearment even if she dies in the future.

There was no longer a corner in her face that wasn’t red, and now something came into Christa’s mouth, which was about to burst.

“Well done, this is a reward.”

It was sweet caramel.

Christa’s eyes widened as the sweet flavor came up with a soft, fragrant smell of milk and butter. The raw sweetness that seemed to melt under her tongue was the first pleasure she had had in her life.

Sugar was treated with high importance during wartime. Due to the lack of supplies due to the long unification war, it was difficult for her to taste dishes that used seasoning.

In addition, Christa, who was not treated well in the Palmaril family, was unable to have it.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes…”

Even though she knew she shouldn’t lean on such lukewarm feelings, her answer slipped out without realizing it.

All this kindness and goodwill was rightly a pleasure. It’s a warmth she’s never received before. That warmth was so tempting that she wanted to leave herself to it.

But at the same time, a corner of her chest cooled down. Like this caramel, which melts in her mouth and becomes smaller, there will be an end to this someday. Christa licked her lips in regret.

At that moment, Ragnar knew what it meant to be full without eating. It was a pleasant feeling of fullness. But he decided not to name the feeling.

It didn’t suit him to be absorbed in something. It should not have happened as long as the target became someone in particular.

Because the sweet things he had were always entangled with insects.

??

Prince Elio was briefed on incredible information.

“So, who is the Duke of Argonod in love with?”

“It is presumed to be his colleague.”

Elio was able to gather rumors faster than anyone else. In the capital, there were many spies whom he could ask for information.

“At that time, the Duke’s attitude was strange.”

Ragnar’s appearance at the last banquet was somewhat unusual. But don’t tell me that the Duke of Argonod…….

“Besides…”

The spy gave a pause.

“What is the word?”

“I’m not sure, but there’s a rumor that the Duke instigated the meeting.”

“What?”

It was unbelievable for Elio to hear. He couldn’t believe Argonod had sown the seeds.

“Make sure you’re sure of that right now.”

“Yes.”

After the spy stepped down, Elio smoothed his cigarette as if he had not believed it for a long time.

“This has become very interesting.”

It wasn’t long before the Princess learned about the Duke of Argonod’s untimely affair. Upon hearing the news, Natalia, the princess, was stuck in her room and did not come out for several days.

Elio knocked on her door.

“Don’t come in!”

Natalia threw a vase nervously. When they heard the sound of the object breaking, the servants looked at each other and huddled together.

A few days ago, the princess was humiliated. So it was a servant that was given a severe slap for it.

“Well, the princess told me not to let anyone in.”

A servant pleaded with Elio. But Elio opened the door without hesitation.

“Our princess is very angry.”

“Older brother!”

The room was a complete mess. Elio passed leisurely by the place where necklace beads and broken fragments were scattered.

Natalia blushed with anger.

“How could he have a wedding when he has me……. What premarital pregnancy? How can he be so beastly…… You can do something, right? I’m too embarrassed to show my face.”

Rumors have already spread throughout the capital that the Duke impregnated his colleague, a knight, and now the rumor has spread even in the Imperial Palace.

“I’ll have to investigate more.”

“What kind of woman is she?”

Natalia chewed on her index fingers nervously. Then Elio affectionately smoothed her lips.

“Doesn’t my princess’ fingertips hurt?”

Brother and sister were quite alike. Light blond hair and green eyes. They are almost identical, like twins. Elio cared very much for Natalia, who looked like his alter ego. In his own way.

“Come on, brother! Come on…… Ugh.”

Brother and sister hugged for a long time. Elio whispered in Natalia’s ear.

“This brother of yours is looking into it. You don’t have to worry about anything.”

“Is that true?”

“When has your brother ever lied?”

Then Natalia’s expression quickly turned pale.

“It’s only once or twice that you’ve let me down.”

“Hahahaha. I got this. You don’t have to worry about this.”

Elio’s green eyes gave off a strange glow.

“Even if she’s pregnant, well, shouldn’t she just pretend it didn’t happen?”

Then Natalia’s face finally turned bright.

“I love you, brother!”

??

“So she’s pregnant?”

“I told you. I saw her have morning sickness.”

The Duke of Argonod’s maids were busy chatting while dusting the window frames. This is by far the most popular topic these days.

“Hey, guys.”

“Madam Tatiana!”

Tatiana criticized the maid lightly. But a gentle smile hung around her lips.

And Ragnar, the party in question, was drinking tea naturally with his aide.

Mervin Ferride had no choice but to doubt his ears. What did he just hear?

“So Master is getting married? To Knight Palmaril, not Natalia, the Imperial Princess?”

“I told you so”

“Did I hear it wrong?”

It was Mervin who wanted to deny reality. However, the Master in front of him responded with a sly smile.

“You heard it right.”

Mervin Ferride literally screamed.

“Crazy. You must be crazy, right? Or am I still asleep….?”

Was it because of his unstable dream last night? He wanted to deny everything. As if to drive a wedge into the truth, Ragnar responded.

“No, we’re about to get married.”

He couldn’t wrap his head around the context of what happened to this man who decided to get married in just a day.

“Did you threaten Knight Palmaril?”

“Do you think she’s the type who can be threatened?”

“No, then how the hell did you coax her?”

He just didn’t think it would be a normal marriage. He can’t believe that Ragnar is getting married.

“Don’t you suppose that we’re getting married because we love each other in the first place?”

“Say something that makes sense.”

Ragnar, who had avoided marriage for years, is now about to get married. Doesn’t Christa Palmaril seem completely indifferent to the world? But all of a sudden, love. It didn’t make any more sense.

“What should I do with this marriage contract?”

Mervin pulled out the imperial document on the table in the office.

“You have to reject it well.”

“Hey, stop it. Please!”

Cried Mervin, shaking his body. He wanted to deny reality. If he could, he wanted to hit that brilliant Duke on the chin.

And Ragnar’s next words put strength into Mervin’s unconscious fists.

“And I think Christa is pregnant.”

“Is she pregnant?”

Kuk-kung. An invisible lightning strike fell on Mervin’s head.

“Yes.”

Mervin Feride picked up the teacup with his trembling fingertips. It was a tea that stabilizes the mind and body, but he couldn’t taste it.

“So I have to take responsibility.”

“……responsibility.”

The word that is most incompatible with Ragnar’s image popped out of his own mouth. Responsibility. Despite exchanges of documents, he did not demonstrate any sincerity in devoting that responsibility to marriage to the imperial family.

“Send the document to Baron Palmaril. We should have a wedding.”

“You mean it.”

“I told you so”

But somehow, Ragnar’s expression seemed to suggest something. It’s as if he’s hiding something.

“What did I miss?”

“Nothing.”

“I think I’m being fooled.”

“The reality is always harsh.”

Raphael simply said that and got up, tapping Mervin on the shoulder.

“Do you think the imperial family will step back like this?”

“Of course not.”

Ragnar leaned over the office table and looked at the marriage papers bearing the seal of the imperial family.

“So shouldn’t you use your strength?”

Mervin made a sick sound. But he had no choice. In an empire that strictly prohibits premarital pregnancy, this is a huge responsibility.

Since then, there have been rumors that someone has been wailing all night in his office.