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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall]
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Chapter 18 - At The Lakeside
There were two ways for Sephian nobles to marry.
The first was with the Emperor's permission.
Two noble families would inform the Emperor of their intention to unite and, upon receiving his approval, hold a wedding ceremony.
Selina and Morgan Patel were a prime example.
Had they not broken off their engagement, it would have been a typical, unproblematic noble marriage.
"If only that fool hadn't broken off the engagement."
The Emperor gritted his teeth, recalling Morgan's foolish actions.
The second method was to visit a temple and exchange wedding vows before a high priest.
"Tell them to immediately blockade all temples with a high priest."
"As you wish, Your Majesty."
As Ruth left, the Emperor pounded on the armrests of his throne, his voice echoing with barely restrained fury.
"Let's see how long you can defy me."
* * *
"They must have blockaded all the temples by now."
"The temples must be excited for the first time in a while. Their popularity has been declining ever since the dragon’s power became known. This incident will bring them attention, which is good for them."
Selina laughed briefly at Will's joke.
"Thanks to Lord Chase's brilliant idea, we were able to come to the wedding venue without being noticed. Thank you so much."
"Don't mention it, Lady Arsene. It's an honor to serve the future Grand Duchess. My goodness, I never imagined that your mate would be right here in front of me..."
"If you agreed to be the coachman, just look ahead and drive the carriage."
"Yes, yes, I understand."
Will looked ahead and drove the carriage. A moment later, Selina asked,"You didn't use a word of power just now, did you?"
"No. I often train to not use my power."
"But you said you refrain from speaking in front of people because you never know when your power might slip out?"
Janus nodded at Selina's words.
"Everyone was curious about what your story was."
"What about you, my lady?"
"Me?"
"Were you curious?"
"Me? Oh..."
'I wasn't particularly interested. But if I say that, it might wound his pride... or worse, hurt his feelings.'
Recalling the expression he had when they talked about the engagement contract, Selina said,"Of course I was... the most curious, yes."
Seeing Janus's satisfied smile, as if pleased that she was interested in him, Selina blushed slightly.
'He can seduce with his looks as well as his voice. Dangerous, dangerous.'
Clearing her throat, Selina said,"I have a question."
"Ask me anything. I will never lie to you, my lady."
"If I had refused to marry you until the end... what would you have done? You said words of power don't work on me because I'm your mate."
Janus looked at Selina with eyes that seemed to be dripping honey, as if he found her question adorable.
"Is that what you're curious about?"
Will, who was driving the carriage, also perked up his ears, curious about the answer.
Janus, who had been sitting next to Selina in the luggage compartment, suddenly stood up and knelt on one knee.
"It's dangerous, please get up."
"I wish to take you as my wife, my lady. Please accept my heartfelt feelings."
Janus gazed at Selina fervently once more and extended a hand.
'What if he hears my heart pounding?'
Selina turned her flushed face slightly and placed her hand in Janus's.
Only then did Janus rise from his position, grasping Selina's outstretched hand tightly, and sat beside her.
"They say sincerity always wins."
Seeing Janus smile joyfully, Selina couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
"Now that we've had our fill of food and drink, we'll retire for the night, my lady. We're in the room right next door, so just shout if you need anything."
"Yes, thank you for your consideration."
As night fell and they settled into their rooms at the inn after washing up, various thoughts crossed Selina's mind.
'To think that I'm His Grace's mate.'
She knew of the existence of the Grand Duke of Justia, who possessed the power of the dragon, but to Selina, he was a figure of myth and legend.
Having practically lived on the battlefield, Janus rarely crossed paths with her, neither in social circles nor in private settings.
Although the Arsene Merchant Group dealt in some military supplies, it wasn't their main focus, so she couldn't meet him through business either.
The fact that she was fated to marry someone from a world she had no connection with was both burdensome and exciting.
"I'd like to get some fresh air, but it's probably too dangerous at night."
As Selina muttered softly while opening the window, a rustling sound suddenly came from the next room, followed by a knock.
"My lady, it's me. I'll escort you."
Selina told him to wait a moment and smiled as she dressed.
‘His hearing is remarkable.'
After quickly putting her hair up and covering herself with a shawl, she opened the door to find Janus waiting, his hand outstretched in invitation.
"My lady."
The two of them walked outside, passing through the inn's narrow hallway and stairs.
"I heard there's a nice lake nearby. Shall we go?"
"Yes, let's."
After walking for about five minutes, they reached the lake.
Sitting by the lakeside, gazing at the moonlit surface of the water, Selina's curiosity got the better of her.
"It seems you're no longer troubled by lakes, Your Grace."
"Lakes?"
"Yes."
After a moment of thought, Janus asked,
"Is there a false rumor in the Empire that I'm afraid of lakes?"
"Oh, no. It's not like that."
He looked at Selina, clearly puzzled.
"You really don't remember?"
"Is there something I should remember?"
'Should I tell him even though he doesn't remember?'
Selina hesitated for a moment.
"Please tell me if there's anything I've forgotten. I want to hear it."
Seeing Janus look at her with eyes that shone like the moonlight reflected on the lake, Selina made up her mind.
"It can't be helped if you've forgotten. It was a long time ago, when we were both children. It was when you were five years old."
"A lake when we were young... Don't tell me."
"Yes. The day you fell into the lake at the Crown Prince's Palace."
Janus's expression darkened noticeably.
"Most of what I know about that day is from what I've been told."
"Do you not remember anything?"
"I don't remember what I did right before falling into the water. I recall arriving at the Crown Prince's Palace that day. When I finally regained consciousness, I was in my bed. They said I hadn't opened my eyes for over three days. I almost drowned in the lake, and..."
"You also heard that the Crown Prince saved you, right?"
"Yes."
"Thanks to that, rumors spread that the Crown Prince was a lucky prince who could even bring back the dead."
"Yes, but how do you know all this so well, my lady?"
After asking Selina, Janus added in a somewhat aggrieved tone.
"I... I really didn't know anything... I just believed what the Imperial Family said."
"What did they say?"
"They said the Crown Prince and my mate saved me that day. They said I survived because my mate nurtured the dragon's power within me. But at the time, people didn't know who my mate was, so they couldn't find her."
When Janus didn't wake up for three days, the Emperor, assuming he would die, called for Phillip.
Philip took care of Janus and investigated the whole incident in detail.
"They said a commoner's daughter, who came to help deliver goods to the Imperial Palace, saw the Crown Prince shouting for someone to save me by the lake. She knew how to swim, so she jumped into the water and rescued me. After seeing that I was breathing, she refused any reward and left the palace."
Janus continued to recount the story calmly.
"From then on, my father constantly tried to gather information about my mate. But it wasn't easy. The Imperial Family spread a lot of false information to interfere."
Finding his partner was a long-cherished wish for both Phillip and Janus.
If they couldn't find her, he would be consumed by his power and face a painful death like his maternal grandfather.
"It must have been... very difficult for you."
As Selina stroked his back in comfort, Janus rested his chin on her small shoulder and said,"I only realized what it truly means to have a mate after meeting you, my lady."
Blushing at his words again, Selina fanned herself slightly and asked,"What... what's different?"
"There's always an irresistible fragrance coming from you, my lady."
"Fragrance?"
Janus lifted his chin from her shoulder, his gaze locking with Selina's. Gently, he covered her hand with his own where it rested on the ground, his voice a soft caress.
"When I smell that fragrance... I always want to be close to you like this."
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall]
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