Chapter 25
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Counting by time, it had been six years.
The first marriage proposal arrived the year I turned sixteen.
"Joaquin Perez has been sending me marriage proposals consistently ever since."
Naturally, I had expressed my polite refusal.
Before I came of age, I used the excuse that I had not yet held my coming-of-age ceremony, and after I became an adult, I used the regency as a pretext to decline.
However, Joaquin Perez was persistent.
As time passed, the corners I could hide in were growing narrower.
Public opinion had begun to emerge, suggesting that since I was of marriageable age, it would be better for the stability of the Grand Duchy if I were to marry.
'But this is good. I’ve finally found a use for it.'
I looked up at Deyan, who still looked troubled.
"You can guess why Joaquin Perez is proposing to me, can't you?"
"He intends to swallow the Grand Duchy of Plene with as little loss as possible and then march on Adorif."
"I'm glad you're not an idiot. That's right."
I didn't forget to criticize him whenever I had the chance.
Instead of retorting, Deyan simply kept his mouth shut.
His jaw was set firmly.
"It has been six years since he started demanding marriage. If he has been preparing for war since then, it means it is truly time to see the end of it."
This visit would be the deciding factor.
Whether or not I would be able to catch my breath a little longer.
In reality, Joaquin Perez had provoked Adorif in a cunning way, and even though I had always kept my guard up regarding the surrounding situation, I had failed to grasp that fact entirely.
It would be safe to interpret that as a sign of how thoroughly he had prepared.
'Honestly, I don't particularly like this either, but it can't be helped.'
This was the only way to cloud Joaquin Perez's judgment for certain right now.
Of course, Deyan was already a card in my hand.
I hated the mistake of failing to utilize the cards I held more than I hated some pathetic game of romance.
"I will refuse Joaquin Perez's courtship this time as well. And..."
I will receive a proposal from Deyan.
I took out the item I had prepared in advance.
It was a small velvet box.
When I handed it to Deyan, he glanced at me with a puzzled expression.
"Open it."
"...A ring?"
"To be precise, it's my ring."
"Yes. It appears so."
Deyan, who stared quietly at the small-sized ring, closed the lid of the box.
Then, he carefully returned it to me.
"Why are you showing this to me?"
"It's my ring, but it's also your ring."
"It is too small for me to wear. I don't think it would even fit on my pinky finger."
"Did you really think I gave it to you to wear?"
Think, use your head.
I suddenly felt my energy drain away because of Deyan, who gave such a dim-witted answer.
The funny thing was that Deyan's expression was incredibly serious.
I stared at the man who seemed somewhat lacking with pity, then explained it in a way that was easy to understand.
"You just need to propose to me with this ring."
"Pardon?"
"You know what a proposal is, right? That thing where you kneel down and hand over a ring."
"I know at least that much."
"And you can take care of the bouquet yourself."
"Wait."
Deyan interrupted my one-sided demands.
"Why must I propose to the Grand Duchess?"
"Because that looks the best."
"Pardon?"
"And because it's the most infuriating method."
If I were to place his nemesis in front of Joaquin Perez, who had been unilaterally demanding marriage from me for a whopping six years, what kind of reaction would I get?
What if that nemesis even proposed to me?
And what if I gladly accepted that proposal?
Deyan nodded, looking sour.
"It would certainly be infuriating."
"Right?"
I, who had become delighted just by the imagination, looked at him with approval.
"Joaquin Perez's nemesis is you."
I don't know how Deyan thinks of him, but at the very least, Joaquin Perez is extremely wary of Deyan.
It becomes clear just by looking at the way he lured Deyan out of Adorif.
He went as far as to use a time-consuming method to wait for the Adorif Empire to move, and even went so far as to take those precious steps to attack Deyan himself.
The strongest sword of an enemy nation, trusted most by the Emperor of the Adorif Empire.
'He must have calculated that he could easily win if he just broke that.'
He probably didn't even care about the Grand Duchy of Plene, considering it nothing more than a bug from his perspective.
Little did he know that I, who was trampled under his feet, was cultivating poison from within.
After giving Deyan enough time to think about my plan, I continued speaking.
"As it happens, we have a suitable age gap and a reason for our eyes to meet."
An unidentified man found in the forest covered in blood.
The man lost his memory, and judging by his attire and appearance, it is expected that he was carrying out some secret mission.
It is only natural for me to personally manage and supervise a suspicious, unidentified person, and my public image is...
"Because I am a pretty, innocent, and kind person. Isn't it natural that I wouldn't be able to treat a wounded man who lost his memory harshly?"
"Pretty, and what was the rest?"
Deyan asked back, but I neatly ignored him.
"A soft-hearted Grand Duchess who pities an injured man. And an unidentified, mysterious man who, although he lost his memory, knows how to show courtesy to his benefactor."
Adult men and women of similar age often bump into each other under one roof, face each other, and share conversations, so feelings naturally develop.
...Isn't that a story that is common everywhere?
"I fell in love with you without even knowing who you were."
I poked his shoulder with my index finger.
"And you fell in love with me at first sight, as I nursed you back to health with the utmost devotion after you lost your memory."
The gap between Deyan's parted lips gradually widened.
"We shared our hearts with each other, and then, belatedly, your family found you."
If his mouth opened any wider, I thought his jaw might fall off.
Since his reasonably decent appearance was also one of the important elements of this farce, I kindly pushed his jaw back up.
Deyan shuddered as if he had been awakened from hypnosis.
As if that weren't enough, he even stumbled backward.
I took a bold step forward to close the distance again.
When he stumbled back again, I took another step.
When he fled backward in a big way this time, I took two steps.
It was exactly the appearance of me chasing after a fleeing Deyan.
"Are you seriously intending to provoke Joaquin Perez with such a farce? Truly?"
"Yes."
I cheerfully continued the next part of the story.
I felt like I had become an author of a romantic novel overflowing with passion.
'Do I perhaps have a talent for this?'
Deyan looked at me, who was beaming with smiles, as if I were absurd.
"You, who have yet to regain your memories, returned to your family, and I decided to give up my feelings after learning of your true identity, but..."
Deyan was eventually cornered against the wall.
I looked up at him with a smiling face and drove the wedge in.
The man who could not give up his intense love, in the end!
"...decided to return to the woman's side. Using everything he possesses."
There was one thing that had to be done for this.
The Emperor of the Adorif Empire must know our passionate and desperate love story.
Only then would he think, 'That's it,' and try to push for a state marriage between Deyan and me.
I could guess the Emperor's support just by the fact that this man had escorted me during the last banquet.
"Naturally, I will hesitate, worrying about diplomatic issues."
Then Joaquin Perez will be on pins and needles.
Even if I try to act calm with the reason of 'national issues,' one never knows what human emotions might cause.
Sometimes, this mysterious emotion called love can turn a person into an unparalleled fool.
Fortunately, Joaquin was the type of person who believed in the power of irrationality.
"We couldn't use this as a pretext for war. Because it wouldn't be justifiable."
Who would say anything about a woman of marriageable age looking for her husband-to-be?
No matter how reckless Joaquin Perez was, this had too much room for criticism.
That man is cruel, but he is not brave enough to endure unnecessary criticism and danger. It is because his nature is cowardly.
"If the Grand Duchy of Plene wavers between the two countries, the Alliance will have no choice but to keep a close watch as well."
They will surely test the waters.
It was a strategy that could also draw out those who were holed up in the snake pit.
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