Chapter 5: War
Chapter 5. War
Louisa concentrated on the noises spilling from outside the window.
Four days after her abduction, she remained imprisoned in this room, spending her days being railed by Gaius—nevertheless, she hadn’t given up on escaping.
…I have to return to Charule somehow!
With her disappearance, only God knows the circumstances of Charule and Adriace. However, there was no doubt that she was in a situation where war could break out at any time.
I can’t stay like this forever!
Anyway, first and foremost, she had to escape from Gaius’ clutch.
Thus, Louisa thought of winning over Vanozza. After all, other than Gaius, Vanozza was the only person she came into contact with. Basically, she had no choice.
…Based on their conversation, Gaius and Vanozza don’t seem to get along that well.
Gaius was curt and indifferent towards Vanozza, while the latter barely respected him.
I wonder if it’s a dog-monkey relationship…
They were incompatible—that much was obvious.
Hence why if Louisa used Vanozza’s disdain towards Gaius to her advantage, she might be able to win her over.
However, I have to make sure that Gaius isn’t there…
Otherwise, he’d find out in no time and she’d be severely punished. After her last attempt, Gaius didn’t stop even after embracing her three times. He also turned a deaf ear to her tearful pleas. If anything, it only roused him, and the act lasted until the next day. Afterwards, Louisa was too tired to get out of bed.
She didn’t want to experience that again.
Louisa shivered—at the same time, she heard the neighing of a horse. Standing by the windowsill, she saw Gaius leaving the mansion on horseback/
Alright—! Now’s my chance—!
She spun around, and rang the bell to summon Vanozza. After doing so, she quickly returned to the bed and laid down. Before long, Vanozza’s voice could be hard along with the sound of knocking.
“Princess, did you call for me?”
“Come in…”
When she deliberately made her voice hoarse, the door swung open as Vanozza peeked at her face.
“Oh no, Princess! What on earth happened!?”
Surprised by the bedridden Louisa, Vanozza screamed and rushed to her side. Louisa sat up, but not before making a display of how “frail” she was, and stared at Vanozza.
“M-my body aches…”
Louisa stared up at her and appealed with a weak voice, angering Vanozza.
“—That man…! What has he done to such a delicate woman!? I told him to be considerate of the difference in physique!”
Her angry mutter was—as expected—aimed towards Gaius. After all, there was no way that Vanozza was completely clueless.
Vanozza probably didn’t think that Gaius was being forceful. At the same time, she was also aware that after her subsequent kidnapping, Louisa was trying to escape. Therefore, she probably didn’t think much about the relationship between Louisa and Gaius.
…She must be sympathizing with me—!
Thus, Louisa intended to rouse her sympathy.
“Are you okay, Princess? I’ll prepare a medicinal bath to recover you strength, please wait a moment…”
“…No, I don’t need medicinal baths. More importantly, I feel sore everywhere… I want to relax in a hot spring, will that be alright?”
Upon hearing that, Vanozza stared at her in surprise.
“A hot spring…?”
“Yes, this place is Ballad, right? Therefore, there should be hot springs everywhere.”
When Louisa answered with a smile, Vanozza gasped. She probably didn’t expect Louisa to figure out where they were.
“How did you know…?”
“If I calculate the amount of time that has passed since I was kidnapped, then Ballad is the most fitting place. Moreover, as a resort with many hot springs and noble villas, isn’t Ballad the perfect place to stow me away?”
Vanozza sighed at Louisa’s answer.
“—A marvelous conclusion, is that what you were expecting me to say?”
With humility, Louisa lowered her gaze and clasped Vanozza’s hand between hers.
“No, not at all. Anyone can arrive at such a simple conclusion. …Nevertheless, if you think that I’m a clueless little girl, then you’re sorely mistaken. While I may be a little girl, I’m also the princess of the Holy Kingdom of Charule. Therefore, I’m astute enough to understand that if the political marriage between my country and Adriace isn’t established, a war may break out.”
Increasing the strength in her grip, Louisa peered straight into Vanozza’s eyes.
Seemingly overwhelmed and at a loss for words, Vanozza tried to retract her hand. Refusing to allow that, Louisa clung to her with all her might. Now that it had come to this, she couldn’t just let go.
“…Princess.”
“Vanozza, I don’t desire any war.’
At Louisa’s words, Vanozza’s face contorted in pain.
“…The history of a country is also a history of war. There are times when you have no choice but to fight for what is necessary, Princess.”
“…For what is truly necessary?”
Louisa knitted her eyebrows. She used to see it as the logic of the strong—the one who stood above the others. But at the same time, true to Vanozza’s words, such was the history of the continental countries.
To invade before being invaded—that was how the countries of this continent had continued to persevere.
Even if as of the present, they were in peace, with just a single spark, war would break out in no time.
Is she telling me to let the invasion happen? But the Duchy of Valentia should’ve been far away from the three counties that are in the midst of the power struggle… Therefore, I don’t think it’s really necessary for the Duchy of Valentia to join the fray.
“What is your purpose?”
Why did Gaius kidnap her? Why did Vanozza collude with him? For what reason…?
At Louisa’s question, Vanozza smiled bitterly.
“…Do you honestly not understand?” She asked with a troubled look on her face.
Louisa was perplexed by that—
—After all, wasn’t that the exact reason why she was asking her?
However, upon seeing that Vanozza was reproachfully staring at Louisa as if she was a low-performing student, Louisa involuntarily became silent.
When she hesitated, Vanozza spoke quietly.
“…While I can’t tell you about the Duke of Valentia’s purpose, I can at least tell you about mine.”
“Please tell me…”
It should suffice for now.
Thus, Louisa nodded. Depending on the answer, she might be able to understand the relationship between the two.
“Since ancient times, my family has been in the salt industry.”
In response to Vanozza’s words, Louisa nodded—
—again, as expected.
She’d guessed from Vanozza’s previous conversation with Gaius.
“A little over a hundred years ago, the government began to control the trading of salt in the same way as alcohol and iron. Because of that, we progressed even further.”
“Wow…” Louisa exclaimed. “If such is the case, then you must be a big shot in the salt industry.”
“Well, yes. Thanks to that, our family became very wealthy, and around 100 years ago, we received a peerage from the ruler. Or more like, bought it from him.”
I see…
In Charule, the baronet could be bought with money. But she also heard that in other countries with financial difficulties, an even higher peerage could be brought.
Since Vanozza mentioned buying it, her family may have achieved some kind of achievement with salt and was awarded the title as a reward…
Salt wasn’t only essential for human survival, but also for raising war horses. Horses on average had a huge appetite. From the fact that he’d given a title to a salt mine owner, the former ruler must’ve not understood how precious and important salt was for raising warhorses.
“I inherited part of my father’s stock in the salt mine.”
“Eh, even though you’re a woman?”
Louisa involuntarily covered her mouth. On the continent, there was still a strong belief that a woman was a property of her father or husband. As such, it was very uncommon for a daughter to receive the inheritance instead of the son.
As if to agree with Louisa’s shock, Vanozza nodded.
“At my father’s behest, I was married to a high-ranking aristocrat. During that time, my father bestowed a part of the concession in the countryside.”
“I see, in an exchange for the dowry…”
What belonged to the wife also belonged to the husband—as such, the rights belonged to her husband.
“But my husband died young…”
“I-I’m sorry to hear that…”
For the first time, Louisa learned of Vanozza’s marriage and the subsequent fate of it. To think that Vanozza was a widow…
Then, Vanozza became expressionless for a moment, before showing a sardonic smile.
“No, you don’t need to be. I’m lucky that he died. When he was in a foul mood, my husband used to beat me.”
“…I—”
Louisa was taken aback by Vanozza, who spoke lightheartedly.
Nevertheless, that wasn’t rare. Most aristocratic marriages were political in nature. In social circles, the talk about how marriage was getting colder was commonplace.
“Anyway, thanks to my husband’s death, I was able to obtain the concession to my family’s salt mine despite being a woman.”
“B-but, if your husband dies, shouldn’t his successor inherit his property?”
Or at the very least, that was how it went in Charule, if not most of the countries in the continent…
Upon hearing that, Vanozza chuckled happily.
“My father is very arrogant, but it soon became his undoing.”
After giving such a vague explanation, Vanozza laughed once again.
Unable to comprehend why, Louisa tilted her head. Finally, Vanozza’s laughter ceased as she resumed her explanation.
“My father used the salt mine as a dowry, but with one condition.”
“…A condition?”
“Yes, the one condition being that I’m the rightful owner. I guess he prepared it in case I was divorced from my husband. After all, before he even married me, my husband had taken a mistress… If the marriage ends with a swift divorce, that condition will prevent the salt mine from falling into my husband’s hand, and instead be returned to my parents…”
“I see…”
Louisa nodded while wondering if it was appropriate to do so. It broke her heart to see that both Vanozza’s father and husband had treated her as a tool. While, at the same time, she also didn’t expect such a past from Vanozza.
“However, my husband died before he could divorce me, so the salt mine fell into my hand. But of course, my parents asked me to return. They’d even prepared a successor in advance to reclaim the salt mine from me…”
“That’s…”
Louisa frowned as if she’d chewed a bug.
In that continent, the actions of Vanozza’s birth father came within the realm of senses. After all, wealth, status, and authority belonged to men. As for women, they simply had no rights to anything—
—and such was the norm.
However, that didn’t mean women weren’t dissatisfied with that, and Louisa could relate to the sentiment.
There were countless things that her brothers were given approval of that otherwise were forbidden to Louisa and her sisters. Regardless, she had no choice but to obey due to the silent pressure.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Vanozza was the victim of such pressure.
Not only was her marriage decided by her father, she was also abused by her husband. After the death of her husband, her father attempted to sink his claws into her.
…Merely listening to it angered her.
“How deplorable.”
At Louisa’s soft muttering, Vanozza’s gaze lit-up.
“So, I stood up against my father. Instead of going back to him, I’m defecting to Adriace.”
“Eh!? To Adriace!?”
Louisa was startled by the unexpected remark.
…What a wonderful idea.
For a noblewoman to defect to another country without the security of her parents and husband—it was inconceivable.
Still, Vanozza spoke with conviction.
“Adriace is the sole republic on this continent. Although the aristocratic system remains, the status of commoners is incomparably higher than in other countries. At the same time, the status of women is improving. As a result, it’s very tolerant of immigrants. Even immigrants are granted the same rights as citizens of the republic—as long as they pay.”
Certainly…
—Louisa suddenly recalled something.
Since Adriace was the only republic in the continent, it wasn’t only vulnerable to pressure from other countries, but also to war. Therefore, it became a well-known fact that in order to rise in power, Adriace was accepting immigration. In other words, national power in the form of its populace.
“…Are you going to sell your rights to the salt mine and move the Adriace with the profit?”
At Louisa’s question, Vanozza smiled.
“Correct. In exchange for the mining rights to my salt mine, Valentia is to ensure my safety until I arrive at Adriace. Hence why I’ve been collaborating with him.”
After arranging the new information, Louisa furrowed her brows.
“W-wait, while I understand your goal, but what does it have with kidnapping me?”
While Vanozza had informed Louisa of the reason she was collaborating with Gaius, it wasn’t what she wanted to know.
“…I never said I was going to explain about the kidnapping?”
“How cruel… Can’t you spare me a bit of information?”
When Louisa bitterly complained, Vanozza seemed to be at a loss.
“Well, it’s not like I don’t understand the princess’ concerns, but you’re in the right hand…”
…Apparently, despite their cathartic relationship, Vanozza trusted Gaius.
Louisa sighed, feeling bamboozled.
“But that’s easier said than done… I can’t stop thinking about it. After all, he’s married. I feel bad for his wife…”
Once again, she was reminded of the painful reality, and her chest constricted with remorse.
What is Vanozza thinking?
Why would she help a man who was trying to kidnap the princess of another country? Furthermore, that man was merely trying to get a new mistress!
Everyone in her surroundings—including herself—were all hopeless!
Amidst the trepidation, she found herself crying.
Upon seeing how desperately she tried to suppress her tears, Vanozza opened her mouth, only to close it again. She had a conflicted look on her face.
“Uhm, Louisa, actually…”
At that moment—
—with a bang, soldiers barged into the room.
“Kyaa—!”
“Princess—!”
Vanozza shielded Louisa, who was in shock.
However, they were quicker than her. One of the soldiers seized Vanozza and restrained her.
“Vanozza—!”
As if a woman could rise up against a bunch of burly men. Nevertheless, the soldier still twisted her arms to her back. Upon seeing how brutal the soldier was, Louisa rushed to her aid.
“What do you think you’re doing—!? Leave her be—!”
Before anything else could happen, a soldier had arrived to her side and tapped her shoulder. When she tried to shake him off, the gruff voice of the soldier could be heard.
“Your Highness, we came at the behest of the emperor. We’re the imperial army.”
Shock ran through Louisa as she registered their words. She turned around, taking a good look of the soldiers. The red cloak, emblazoned with the Northern Star at the middle, was definitely the emblem of the Holy Kingdom of Charule. In that kingdom, only the elite troops—in charge of the safety of the royal family—may don such a cloak.
Father…
Despite knowing he did it to help her, Louisa’s heart became clouded at once.
Gaius…
He was nowhere to be seen. If she was taken back to Charule as it was, they wouldn’t see each other again.
No way…
Louisa immediately turned to look at the door—
—will he suddenly emerge from there?
If she couldn’t meet him anymore, then at the very least, she’d like to burn his image to her eyes.
However, that’d be selfish of her.
If Gaius was present, he’d be captured and executed for kidnapping the princess.
She was angry at him for kidnapping and imprisoning her.
She was angry because he wouldn’t listen to her no matter what.
—But she never wished for him to die.
Because I still love him.
As if she could bear to watch him die.
Even though she was desperately trying to escape, when the chance arrived, why did she hesitate?
“Your Highness? Is something the matter?”
A soldier asked, interrupting her train of thoughts.
As if to dismiss her selfish thoughts, Louisa shook her head.
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.
Nevertheless, preventing international issues should be the top priority. With her disappearance, crack may have formed in the Charule-Adriace alliance. While her return was unlikely to mend the rift completely, the main conflict would still be averted.
Because of that, I have to do my best…!
After the kidnapping, she subsequently lost her chastity. Suffice to say, her value as a tool for political marriage had dwindled. Nevertheless, the fact remained that she was a princess.
Therefore, there had to be something only she could do.
Louisa adjusted her posture and smiled at her soldier.
“No, it’s nothing. Let’s go. Also, release her. After I was kidnapped, she took care of me. She’s my benefactor. Please don’t mistreat her.”
At that, the soldier spared Vanozza—who was all tied up—a confused look, before affirming Louisa’s words and signaling his subordinate.
Louisa approached Vanozza and helped her stand.
Freed from her restraint, Vanozza looked up at Louisa.
“…Princess.”
“Thank you for your help. No, thank you for everything, Vanozza.”
Along with those kind words, Louisa dearly kissed her on the cheek. At that moment, she whispered to Vanozza.
“—You’ll be watched. Be sure to lose them and escape.”
Vanozza faintly nodded, and Louisa drew away from her.
Louisa was going to leave her there.
After all, if she were to take her, Vanozza would be subjected to interrogation, or even torture.
Even if they had only known each other briefly, Vanozza was kind to her. She didn’t deserve such a fate.
If Louisa were to insist that Vanozza was her benefactor, the imperial army would have no choice but to relent. However, they’d surely put Vanozza under a strict surveillance.
At the same time, since Vanozza was colluding with Gaius, she’d surely inform him later.
Louisa could only hope she’d heed her advice and escape with Gaius, lest her soldiers capture them.
“You’re free now, Vanozza.”
After Louisa said so, the soldiers escorted her out of the mansion.
***
Six days after her abduction, the gate of Catterberg Palace came into her view.
In Ballad, Louisa was placed under house arrest—and from there, it was a two-day journey by a carriage to Hermann, the capital of Charule.
Within the carriage, Louisa exhaled deeply and closed the window drapes. She never knew the day would arrive where she despise the sight of her own house.
—How nostalgic…
That’s right, after I went back home from my first marriage, I also experienced this feeling…
At that time, it was via sea route. A ship from Valentia docked at Potavis—a port town North of Charule. From there, she returned to Hermann by carriage. At that time, Louisa—who didn’t get seasick—was tormented by the rocking of the carriage; which somehow felt more painful than the clamor of the ship.
…At that time, she cried for the entire journey after being torn apart from her love.
But now, her frustration outweighed her sorrow. After all, she’d been mulling over how to deceive her father so that he wouldn’t find out that Gaius was the kidnapper.
If I don’t think this through, I’ll cause a lot of hassle to other countries…
If she claimed that the perpetrator was Adriace, there’d be war. The same went if she were to name Elandia or other countries as the culprit. In that case, she’d just feign ignorance.
…I’ll just tell him that the kidnapper was wearing a mask the entire time.
In addition to that, she’d also say that there were multiple people. They used the official language of Charule, but they had a thick accent, making it difficult to comprehend.
Anyway, her father mustn’t know that Gaius had something to do with it. But somehow, she felt like her father would still find out…
…Well, if things go awry, I can always faint.
She didn’t know that her lie about having a weak constitution could be useful in that way.
Life sure was unpredictable.
—Still, what is Gaius planning, though!?
Well, whatever it was, if not for him, she’d safely be married to Adriace by now. Although, she didn’t really want to marry Lorenzo… Somehow, she felt that she was partly to blame.
Nevertheless, even though she’d landed herself on deep waters, she had no regret about dallying with Gaius.
Perhaps, I really don’t have eyes for men…
Despite being married, Gaius kidnapped another woman and had his way with her. Moreover, he was also a ruler of a small duchy. As a man, many aspects about him were controversial.
At the end of the day, she was at fault for loving such a man…
After that, the carriage stopped, and the door promptly opened.
With the soldier’s assistance, Louisa alighted from the carriage, only to be greeted with a surprise.
In front of the castle, stood a row of fully armored soldiers.
When she was overwhelmed by the tense atmosphere, the soldier told her as if to reassure her.
“Rest assured. Even if Adriace attacks, we’ll be sure to protect Your Highness! Furthermore, the Charule army is currently marching towards Adriace!”
“They’re marching to Adriace…!? What on Earth happened…!?”
At the soldier’s words, Louisa unintentionally screamed.
…As expected, her kidnapping caused a war to break out with Adriace.
It’s the worst-case scenario—!
Louisa shook off the soldier’s hand and ran off.
“—Your Highness!? Please wait!”
The alarmed soldier yelled at her to stop, but she didn’t care.
Adriace had nothing to do with her kidnapping! Of course, it had nothing to do with Charule, either! It was unacceptable for innocent countries to start a war by imposing blame on each other!
Louisa bolted as fast as she could. Her destination was her father’s office. Hopefully, upon seeing that she was safe and sound, he’d change his mind.
A soldier stood in front of his office. He was confused at the sight of the breathless princess.
“—I-I’m the first princess, Louisa Charlotte d’Albret—! I seek an audience with my father, His Majesty the Emperor, Matthias III—!”
When she screamed at the top of her lungs, the soldier was stupefied. After all, the imperial princess—who should’ve been frail—was running at full speed. Perhaps due to her booming voice, a voice flew from inside the room.
“Louisa—!? Come in—!”
Prompted by her father, the soldier hastily opened the door, and Louisa hastily stepped inside.
In addition to her father, the prime minister, the marquis, and the general stood in his office. All three of them—with their haggard expressions and dark circles—told Louisa of how dire the situation was.
“Oh, Louisa—! You’re safe…!”
The moment he spotted Louisa, her father ran up to her and cradled his daughter in his arms.
Embraced by her father, a strange sensation enveloped her.
…Has my father always been this small?
Back then, he seemed like a majestic figure. Within his arms, Louisa began to see that he wasn’t that grand.
Oh, it must be because I’m used to how taut Gaius is…
Gaius was taller than her own father. Apparently, during the few days she’d been abducted, she’d become accustomed to his body.
As he peered into his daughter’s eyes, his eyes brimmed with tears.
“Oh, Louisa…! What a relief…! I’ve almost given up on your survival…!”
From his wavering voice, she could tell that he was genuinely worried. Tears soon welled up in her eyes. If she was in her father’s shoes, she wouldn’t be able to sleep at night. From the bottom of her heart, she regretted having caused such trouble.
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Father.”
As he apologized in-between his sobs, her father shook his head.
“As long as you’re safe—!”
The warmth of her father’s hand told her that returning home was the right choice.
The parent and child reunion was interrupted by the minister.
“—Your Majesty, should we announce the return of the princess?”
Her father froze at the prime minister’s question. Releasing her from his embrace, his father turned to look at the prime minister and firmly shook his head.
“There’s no need. The war has already begun in earnest. Until it’s over, we have to hide the fact that Louisa has come home.”
Louisa was taken aback.
What kind of answer is that—!?
“—N-no way! Didn’t I return safely? Please cease this useless altercation with Adriace!”
She tugged at her father’s sleeve and clung to him, appealing. However, her father only gazed coldly at her.
“It’s not as simple as that, Louisa. Originally, our country and Adriace were in a hostile relationship, but due to the circumstances at the time, we had a temporary truce. In reality, we’re always thinking of invading each other. We’re beasts starved for opportunities. Once war has broken out, we have to win lest Adriace devours us all.”
Certainly, her father had a point.
The Holy Kingdom of Charule, the Kingdom of Elandia, and the Republic of Adriace—which were adjacent to each other, had been in skirmishes for nearly a hundred years.
Still, there shouldn’t be a need to prolong such a pointless fight?
If the war drags on, people would fall.
Conflicts stemmed from the speculation of those who rule, while the victims were always people who were left in the dark.
“But Father—!”
“I don’t have time to explain right now. Someone—”
With a wave of his hand, the emperor tried to dismiss Louisa, who was about to argue.
At that time, there was knocking on the door, followed by a flurry of noises. When her father gave permission to enter, a bedraggled messenger wobbled in.
“Your Majesty the Emperor! Last night, a fleet surged into the Potavis Harbor and occupied its city!”
“What did you say—!?”
The emperor uttered aloud. Both the prime minister and the general paled immediately.
Potavis was a trading hub with the Northern Continent. In other words, it served as the cornerstone of Charule’s trade. If that place were to be occupied, they’d suffer a devastating impact.
“—A fleet!? But why Potavis!?”
“A surprise attack!? At a time like this!? From which country!? Elandia!?”
When the prime minister and the general shouted in unison, the messenger meekly replied.
“I saw the flag of the Duchy of Valentia hoisted on the warship!”
The name of the country almost made Louisa faint.
W-what is…?
The Duchy of Valentia—in other words, Gaius had attacked Charule. While she’d suspected that he was plotting something when he kidnapped her, who would’ve guessed that he’d outright start a war?
Why—!? Why is Gaius attacking my country—!?
After all, the Duchy of Valentia was far away from the three countries who were always at each other’s throat. Furthermore, Gaius’ father should be indebted to Charule.
I don’t understand…
Above all, there was no way Valentia could compete with Charule in terms of military power.
Why are you acting so recklessly, Gaius—!?
The general, who seemed to have arrived at the same conclusion as Louisa, sighed in relief when he heard the name of the country.
“Valentia? What can such a dwarfish country do? If you ask me, they’re simply too proud of their warship. In reality, they’re just a bunch of idiots trying to play pirates on a small boat—”
“—That’s not it…”
The messenger shook his head at the underestimating general.
“…In my entire life, I’ve never seen such a colossal warship loaded with so many cannons! To top it off, there are a dozen ships—such as galleys, galleons, carracks… The numbers of navigators and soldiers on board seemed to exceed 15.000…!”
“F-fifteen thousand…!?”
The general was rendered speechless by the excessive number.
No country on that continent had a fleet of 15.000 men. Even if it wasn’t a surprise attack, there was no way Charule could compete against a fleet of that scale.
“Furthermore, their canon is several times more powerful than pre-existing canons. The cannonball may be small, but it’s made of sturdy material, so it can pulverize buildings and the wall of cities in an instant. Not only that, it also explodes on contact! The night after their arrival, Potavis was already on the verge of collapse. The lord of Potavis—Count Balam—is holding out by cooping in the castle, but how long will he be able to maintain that…!? Please, please send us reinforcements as soon as possible…!”
Everyone in the office stared at each other at the sorrowful plight.
They might be wondering whether or not it’s real…
Louisa was wondering about the same thing.
What is happening…?
If the report of the messenger was true, the Duchy of Valentia—which was thought to be a small rural country—had invented the strongest navy in the continent.
How could a small, fragile country that couldn’t even quell a guild rebellion on its own acquire such immense power in just over a decade?
Despite being surprised by the unbelievable fact, she was still in doubt.
After all, if it’s true…
Louisa felt complicated.
The picture of her own people being harmed stirred both the anxiety and the resentment towards her enemy.
…At the same time, the enemy might be her beloved Gaius. She couldn’t bear to imagine the backlash he’d receive from the Holy Kingdom of Charule.
I really fall in love with such a troublesome guy!
As she struggled with the emotional turmoil, the outside of the office suddenly became noisy.
“Wait—!” “Stop—!”
She could hear some angry voices, followed by the clanking of swords.
“—What is that!? Are we under attack!?”
In shock, the general headed for the door—
—Bang!
At the same time, the door flew open.
To the awe of everyone, Gaius emerged from the door.
He was clad in a dignified blue military uniform that suited his large frame very well. Upon seeing him again, she was astonished by how tall he was. His legs, which extended out of his long coat, were unbelievably long.
“Ga—!”
Louisa reflexively yelled his name, but immediately covered her own mouth. If they found out that she was acquainted with him, she’d have to confess the truth.
…How dangerous.
As she broke into a cold sweat, Gaius passionately stared at her, and she pretended to not notice.
Stop…! If you keep gazing at me like that, they’ll find out…!
Despite her nervousness, her father didn’t seem to have caught on.
Instead, he angrily confronted the sudden assailant.
“W-what are you…! And you’re—Lorenzo Agnadello!? What are you doing here!?”
…Sir Lorenzo!?
If not for her father’s words, she wouldn’t have noticed the presence behind Gaius. Once again, she was repulsed at herself for only having eyes for Gaius.
Lorenzo was clad in a voguish formal attire in the style of Adriace; a style that really suited him even at a time like this.
But what is Sir Lorenzo doing with Gaius…!?
After all, the two shouldn’t have any connections to each other.
At the same time, one was her future husband, while the other was her ex-husband…
Seeing the two of them standing side-by-side was somewhat unsettling.
Behind them, were soldiers donning uniforms that weren’t Charule. They must’ve been either the subordinates of Gaius or Lorenzo. Most of the soldiers were strict, but in addition to that, there was something unique to them. If she had to hazard a guess, they probably belonged to an elite unit.
With such a small force, they boldly stormed the imperial castle of the Holy Kingdom of Charule, overtook the castle’s guards, and arrived here.
There should be a limit to one’s recklessness…!
She had an inkling that Gaius was both bizarre and fearless, but as for Lorenzo…?
With long strides, Gaius immediately arrived in front of her father, and showed him a daunting smile.
“It’s the first time we met, Father-in-Law.”
“—Father-in-Law?”
The unexpected words confused her father. The same went for the prime minister and the general. After all, in the middle of an emergency, the emperor was referred to as ‘Father-in-Law’ by a stranger. Of course they wouldn’t understand.
But Louisa almost blew her top.
G-Gaius—!? What are you talking about—!?
She’d rather pretend to fall unconscious at this point. But since she hadn’t grasped the situation, she couldn’t afford to do that. She could no longer tolerate being left in the dark.
Gaius stared alternately at the equally dumbfounded three, before tilting his neck.
“Could it be, you aren’t my wife’s—Louisa’s—father?”
There, he finally said it. With that, she could no longer hide the fact that he was her captor. Louisa glared at her while resisting the urge to slap him.
“Louisa’s…?”
The emperor muttered skeptically while glancing at Louisa, before returning his gaze to Gaius. The prime minister, who had put two and two together, gasped and hastily whispered to her father.
“N-no way, he’s the Duke of Valentia!?”
Gaius smiled politely at their conclusion.
“A keen observation.”
“You—! Why did you invade our country!? Did you forget that you’re still indebted to us after the Irmani Rebellion?”
Her father brought up the incident that led to their White Marriage.
With a smirk, Gaius nodded.
“Of course I do. After all, I lost my wife due to that very reason.”
“Y-you lost what…!?”
Her father interjected.
“Louisa is my daughter, and also the princess of the Holy Kingdom of Charule! In the first place, the premise for the treaty was a White Marriage! My daughter is never yours to begin with!”
Upon hearing that, all traces of emotions vanished from Gaius’ face. At the same time, the glint on his silver eyes terrified her father to the point that it took his breath away.
“Do you need to be taught how to listen to others? I said that Louisa is my wife.”
He looked so intimidating—as if he was the direct messenger of God himself.
Both the emperor and the prime minister were overwhelmed and became speechless—but only briefly.
Soon, they realized that Gaius was talking nonsense and argued.
“How cocky—!”
“Who do you think you are—!? She’s the princess of a country—!”
“—Furthermore, you’re already married! We were informed that you’ve married your brother’s wife!”
Gaius didn’t seem to be the slightest bit affected by the barrage of denunciations.
“I didn’t marry my brother’s wife. Although, to the world, we made sure that it looked like that. Strictly speaking, we’re just contract partners. The only person I pledged my love to before and after God is Louisa.”
Gaius spoke nonchalantly, and Louisa went blank.
The information she didn’t know—and yearned to know—was disclosed so abruptly, she couldn’t keep up.
Still, Louisa braced herself.
—No, I have to stay firm. I mustn’t get caught in his pace. Otherwise, I’ll be swept away again!
After sneaking a glance at her father and the others, Louisa inadvertently stepped forward while staring straight at Gaius.
“What do you mean by that? What do you mean by ‘making sure that it looks like that’?”
Depending on the circumstances, she may have to slap that man across the face. Her determined expression was met with his gentle smile.
“That’s exactly what I said. Vanozza needed someone to play the role of her husband, so I took up on her offer. Of course, I received plenty in return.”
“…Wait, did you just say ‘Vanozza’?”
At the sudden mention of that name, Louisa had to clutch her forehead. She felt dizzy. Her head was also throbbing.
“—In other words, Vanozza was your brother’s wife and your spouse!?”
“I don’t necessarily consider her as my spouse, but it is what it is.”
At his casual nod, Louisa held her head.
—Oh my goodness…
In other words, when she was imprisoned in that mansion, she was spending time with his legal wife…
…No, not just spending time, she even took care of me!
Gaius’ brother’s wife… To put it simply, the princess of Valentia. Louisa almost fainted when she realized that she’d made someone in the same position as herself to assume the role of a humble servant… Moreover, Vanozza even prepared her bath and took care of her meals…
While she felt remorseful about that, when she discovered Vanozza’s true identity, all her previous jealousy and guilt towards Gaius’ first wife vanished without a trace.
After all, Gaius and Vanozza don’t seem to share a romantic bond…
Based on her viewpoint, the two didn’t seem to hold the slightest hint of attraction towards each other. On the contrary, they seemed to disdain each other…
Certainly, the term ‘contract partners’ is very fitting…
Due to the contract, the two had no choice but to cooperate. In fact, Vanozza herself attested to that.
Furthermore, what Gaius said was consistent with what Vanozza had previously explained to Louisa.
Vanozza’s deceased husband—who allegedly assaulted her—was none other than Gaius’ older brother. Instead of a dowry, his brother was granted the rights to her family’s salt mine. Thus, in order to reclaim her interests and escape her father’s scheme, Vanozza faked her marriage with Gaius.
“…By ‘reward’, you meant the interest of Vanozza’s salt mine, isn’t it?”
Louisa clarified, earning her Gaius’ look of satisfaction.
“As expected, my wife is smart.”
He spoke as if he was coddling a toddler, and Louisa was a bit annoyed. But she didn’t let it show—
—after all, now wasn’t the time to dwell on such trivialities.
Since it was Gaius’ brother’s ex-wife they were talking about, she must’ve hailed from the neighboring country. To be precise, the Country of Maians. After all, Valentia never produced any salts. By earning the concession to the neighboring country’s salt mine, he’d be raking in huge profits.
As for what the money’s for…
Louisa suddenly recalled the messenger’s news.
—I see…
“Did you organize a fleet with the profit you earned from the salt mine?”
When she pointed that out, Gaius smirked.
Upon hearing the conversation between Louisa and Gaius, her father and the others turned pale.
After all, the content basically confirmed that Potavis was, in fact, besieged.
The Duchy of Valentia—once a small, impoverished country without any potential—had developed such a fleet in just over a decade. Without masterful manipulation over money, people, and politics, such a feat would be unheard of.
…Yet, he did it.
Who could’ve foreseen such a thing?
“For the time being, why don’t we put Lady Louisa’s case aside? If I may, I’d like to discuss something as well. It’s pertaining to my republic.”
With a lighthearted tone, Lorenzo interrupted their conversation.
Overwhelmed by Gaius’ presence, she was once again reminded of Lorenzo. Thus, Louisa hastily shifted her gaze to him.
“L-Lorenzo Agnadello—! How dare you show up here—!”
The general—who seemed to forget Lorenzo’s existence until a moment ago, spewed some threats. Nevertheless, it sounded so forced.
This man is the general of the Holy Kingdom of Charule, huh….
She couldn’t help but feel somewhat dejected…
“Since I appeared alongside the Duke of Valentia, I’m sure some of you already have a rough assumption. We, the Republic of Adriace, have decided to form an alliance with the Duke of Valentia.”
Lorenzo smiled brightly like a merchant who’d struck a huge deal.
…Come to think of it, the Agnadello family was originally a banker.
From ancient times, they’d amassed quite a fortune as a family of bankers. Several generations ago, the head of the family bought their title and passed it down to their son. By that time, their influence hadn’t only spread in the economic world, but also in the political world. Thus, the successor of the family became the de facto leader of Adriace.
Since Lorenzo hailed from a merchant family, he should be an adept negotiator. Therefore, that development wasn’t actually that surprising.
“I haven’t heard of it—! To begin with, didn’t your country form an alliance with the Holy Kingdom of Charule—!?”
“That’s a different story. In the first place, I only agreed to form an alliance on the condition we, the Republic of Adriace, were accused of being responsible for it. Therefore, doesn’t it go without saying that our coalition has come to an end?”
“Ugh…!”
At Lorenzo’s sound argument, her father could only groan.
…So, Charule was the first to pass the blame.
Louisa sighed inwardly.
Unfortunately, the causes of wars between nations were often unjustified. In most cases, it was merely an excuse to invade another country.
Despite being aware of that, seeing her father’s decision fell under that category weighed heavily on her conscience.
“On top of the groundless accusation, we were shocked when we received information that the Charule army was approaching the border. I mean, to be held responsible for a crime you know nothing about? Thus, I asked a friend for help, and he promised to help clear the misunderstanding! So, we rushed over here as fast as we could!”
The way Lorenzo languidly explained it made everyone agape. Louisa was also stunned. She felt as if she was watching a scene from a comedy.
Then, Lorenzo stopped explaining and glanced at Louisa, before questioning them.
“As if that wasn’t enough, upon arriving, I met the one and only Lady Louisa…! In other words, you knew of her whereabouts all along! It’s as if you loathe the idea of marrying her to me!”
“Basically, they’re just making an excuse to cancel the marriage…”
To aid Lorenzo’s performance, Gaius nodded at the end.
Louisa was seething.
—Unbelievable! Even though you were the one who kidnapped me!
Instead, the two had the gall to act as if they were exposing a crime. But alas, it wasn’t like she could expose their lie, since it’d spell doom for Gaius.
Furthermore, Louisa would like to know why Gaius had kidnapped her, along with the reason he attacked Potavis.
What is your purpose?
It was obvious that Gaius and Lorenzo were conspiring with each other. Perhaps, even the marriage between Lorenzo and Louisa was part of the scheme.
“Y-you misunderstand! We searched high and low for the princess and she’d only arrived here!”
When the emperor tried to deny it in panic, Lorenzo casted a dubious glance at him.
“Well, whatever.”
But soon, he shrugged his shoulders and said in a cheerful manner while pointing at Gaius.
“Oh, pardon the late introduction. This is my close aide—the Duke of Valentia, Gaius Julius Caesar Cattanei!”
Silence descended upon the office.
…What a bizarre atmosphere it was.
Lorenzo was smiling. Gaius was expressionless. Her father, the emperor, was in too much of a panic to finish his sentence.
It was only natural.
Even without that, Gaius had introduced himself earlier.
After looking at the disconcerted emperor, Lorenzo nodded.
“…Hmm. It doesn’t seem like you understand. Then, let me break it down to you.”
Lorenzo cleared his throat. His expression, which had hitherto been cheerful like a clown, changed drastically into that of a ruthless politician.
“—If you don’t want Valentia to take over your country, pledge a semi-permanent non-aggression pact to our country.”
“W-what are you—!?”
Furious at the tone of the order, her father rebuked, only to be silenced by Lorenzo’s next words.
“Do you still not understand the might of Valentia? With just a small force of a dozen men, this castle was seized in an hour. Our arrival here is a testament to that. The warships aren’t the only ones built with cutting-edge technology. Throwing weapons that can destroy enemies within 3 meters with a single swing. Projectiles that can accurately shoot enemies from afar. Spears that can pierce through armor as if it were paper. Your outdated armaments are simply unmatched for us. …And yet, the current state of Potavis is still not enough to open your eyes.”
At the low growl of threats, her father began to sweat fountains.
Certainly…
The two’s unexpected appearance had diverted their attention from the abnormalities.
But, as Lorenzo said, it was a very unusual situation.
Apparently, the military power and technology invented by the Duchy of Valentia was just that amazing.
Lorenzo took a step forward and shot back at her terrified father.
“We’ve grown tired of being looked down upon by you and Elandia for being a republic. What use do we have for an alliance that can be overturned in the blink of an eye? Not to mention, by the slightest change in circumstances? Instead, we want a solid treaty. Make your choice, His Majesty the Emperor of the Holy Kingdom of Charule, Matthias. Death, or treaty?”
Forced to choose between the two, her father helplessly shook his head.
“I-I can’t decide something like that here…”
“Oh, why? Aren’t you the emperor of this kingdom? Unlike our country, which has become a republic, you—as the emperor—should possess the right to make political decisions.”
“T-that’s just a front—! We aren’t a monolith—”
Gaius cut off her father’s desperate appeal.
He laughed sarcastically, before arrogantly lifting his chin to look down on the emperor of Charule.
“…A front, huh? Well, isn’t that your specialty? You think that you’re doing this country a favor by embracing that. But in truth, because of that, your country is the same as it was 100 years ago. Time passes and the world is constantly changing. If you insist on denying that, you should perish while clinging to the old custom!”
His words were absolute.
Among the three countries here, it was obvious that Valentia—Gaius, had the authority to decide things.
His single word may spell an end to the long history of Charule.
Surely, her father was aware of that.
“Wait—!”
He yelled in a hurry, and after gritting his teeth, managed to muster the next words.
“—I shall accept your request.”
Condemnation flew from the general and the prime minister to the de facto declaration of defeat.
But the emperor quickly raised his hand to quell them.
“If they want to, they could make quick work of us. The only reason they didn’t is because they have no intention of destroying our country. I intend to protect this country.”
The imperial castle had already been dominated by Gaius. If his goal was to invade the Holy Kingdom of Charule, he’d have seized this opportunity to kill the emperor.
Upon hearing that, the general clenched his fist and burst into tears.
As for the prime minister, he stared alternately between Lorenzo and Gaius, full of suspicion.
“Forgive my uncouthness, while I understand that the president’s goal is semi-permanent non-aggression treaty against Adriace, but I don’t understand the Duke of Valentia’s purpose.”
Louisa had the exact same question.
Her father, who shared the thought, cautiously asked Gaius.
“Duke of Valentia, what is your purpose?”
Then, Gaius casted his sharp gray eyes towards Louisa and smiled brightly. A smile that he used to show her back when they were children. The nostalgia captured her heart, and her chest constricted.
Suddenly, from nowhere, the scent of lilac filled her nostrils.
What flashed across her mind was the face of a certain boy as he smiled at her. The smile of her beloved husband, who cradled her under the lilac tree as she wept.
“Give me back my wife, Louisa. That’s all I ask for.”
As a vortex of emotions swirled inside her, Louisa stared at the man in front of her.
He, who was taller than her, seemed as dauntless and handsome as ever. Every corner of his body exuded gallantness and masculinity. He was no longer just a boy.
Yet, somehow, he was also the same.
I wonder how many hardships he’d overcome.
Why did he kidnap her? Why’d he go as far as organizing the strongest fleet in the continent and invading the Holy Kingdom of Charule?
She’d always wanted to know, but—…
“—Do you honestly not understand?”
Once, Vanozza had asked her that.
Louisa closed her eyes.
…I may have known.
What did Gaius want? What was his aim?
Louisa reflected on herself and what she wanted in her life.
Up until that point, she’d lived her life wishing only to reunite with Gaius.
Sincerely believing that Gaius was her rightful husband, she clung to the hope that even if they were separated, their hearts were still connected.
…Surely, Gaius is the same.
He strove endlessly to reclaim his rightful wife without letting anything stop him.
To fight against one of the most powerful nations in the continent—the Holy Kingdom of Charule—he raised the small country of Valentia, which didn’t have the national or military power to defeat Charule, to such a level—
—All to get Louisa.
She didn’t place her trust in him for nothing.
Heat welled up in her chest.
…Who wouldn’t be happy to be so sought after by her beloved?
As her tears began to overflow, Louisa softly erased them with her fingers.
Her father was the one who spoke.
“…That’s, the only reason why? You didn’t want a territory, or a non-aggression pact?”
Gaius shook his head at her father’s question.
“But why, for such a trivial matter…”
When the emperor muttered in disbelief, Gaius furrowed his eyebrows.
“I’m here to get my wife back. How is that trivial?”
“…Aren’t you just insisting that she’s your wife?”
“It’s the truth.”
To Gaius, who answered matter-of-factly, her father groaned while knitting his eyebrows.
“Seriously, you… You did this just to get Louisa back?”
“Otherwise, you wouldn’t have given me your daughter.”
“Well, that’s…”
To her father, Valentia was hardly an important country. Therefore, if he were to use his daughter as an instrument in a political marriage, Valentia would be at the bottom of the list.
…But now, it’s different.
The Duchy of Valentia had become the country with the strongest military power on the continent.
Her father no longer had any reason to refuse a marriage proposal from such a powerful country.
Eventually, her father relented. With a smile, he shrugged.
“…I see. If that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”
“…Father.”
Louisa involuntarily called out. She didn’t know what she was going to say. Nevertheless, she couldn’t help but speak.
Her father glanced at her with narrowed eyes.
On the corners of his eyes, there were fine wrinkles, which seemed somewhat morose.
“My daughter has been waiting for you, too. Took you long enough. …Please, make her happy.”
As he finished his words, his voice was faltering.
Louisa teared up once again when she felt the love of her father, instead of the emperor.
She lifted her hand, about to erase her tears, only to be stopped by a hand that was much bigger than her.
“You’ll only irritate your eyes.”
Gaius whispered softly, before gently wiping her eyes with a handkerchief he took out from somewhere.
“At last, you fulfilled your promise…”
She spoke with a myriad of emotions as tears trickled down from her eyes, refusing to stop.
“—Even if we’re separated, you’ll always be my wife. I’ll definitely come for you.”
He kept his promise from that day—the very same promise Louisa had been keeping in her heart. Just thinking about it made her so happy, she was about to cry.
“…I thought you’d already forgotten.”
When she spoke with a voice full of sorrow, Gaius peered into her face; his face filled with rapture.
“There’s no way I’ll ever forget you. I lived solely for you.”
Louisa burst out laughing at the flirtatious remark.
In the past, Gaius used to be a thin and lean boy. She never expected that he’d grow into a fine young man with an equally fine pick-up line.
Gaius, on the other hand, seemed to misunderstand the meaning behind her nostalgic smile.
“What? You don’t believe me?”
Louisa faintly shook her head.
If she had heard that line when she was still being kidnapped, she’d probably just dismiss it. But after being made aware of everything he’d done, she only had a single choice.
“No, I believe you.”
Gaius seemed satisfied at her reply.
…Regardless, her once-forgotten anger rose after seeing that haughty smile.
Louisa faked a smile.
—That doesn’t mean I’ll overlook everything, Gaius!
After taking a deep breath, she declared firmly.
“—Nevertheless, you aren’t my husband. I’m unmarried, while my future husband is the man who stood over there, Sir Lorenzo.”
“—Pfft!”
When she turned around, she saw Lorenzo covering his mouth with his sleeve, desperately trying to not laugh.
As for the Charule’s side, everyone was pale and at a loss for words.
After all, the princess herself had rejected the emperor’s blessing. Under normal circumstances, it’d undoubtedly become an international issue.
Of course, she was aware that she didn’t have the right to refuse. But even so, if she didn’t somehow settle the score with that arrogant man, she’d never be satisfied.
—Yes, Louisa was angry.
First and foremost, just how many people—no how many countries did he rope in his scheme!?
It doesn’t have to be like this.
Surely, there’s another way…?
Certainly, the method of silencing them with overwhelming military power was the fastest way to get results, but it included invading her country. As a princess, how was she supposed to rejoice when her happiness was based on the tragedy of her homeland?
Moreover, while she was thrilled that Gaius spent more than a decade scheming to get her back, he never told her anything. No matter how she looked at it, it was plain ridiculous.
If I had known… I wouldn’t have to torment myself with grief, or suffer the guilt of becoming someone else’s husband—!
…Did he know how much she’d suffered?
Most of Louisa’s life consisted of Gaius. All this time, she’d only ever longed to return to his side. Thus, she waited and waited—…
Yes, she only waited, for that was the limit of her ability.
As a princess, Louisa had no freedom. She wasn’t allowed to write a letter to Gaius, much else visit him. After acquiring the rights to the iron mine, Charule deemed Valentia as unworthy to have their princess.
Louisa was proud of the many feats Gaius had achieved to bring her back.
But at the same time—
—What was all that loneliness for?
Sure, she could do nothing but wait, but the wait was especially lonely.
For the past decade, Louisa had been lonely.
She harbored love that no one around her could understand. Love that only she herself believed to have existed, because her surroundings much preferred to sweep it under the rug.
It was especially difficult for her past self.
Time was cruel.
No matter how much one cherished it, a memory would wear out and become hazy. As time went on, there were some instances where she suspected if “Gaius’ promise” was nothing more than a figment of her imagination.
—Maybe it was all my imagination.
—In reality, Gaius might have not existed…
Even though she doubted herself and was about to lose her mind, she was able to keep on believing due to Hoover. Because of that clever dog, along with the letters that Gaius entrusted to him, Louisa managed to believe that her memories of Valentia weren’t a delusion.
By withdrawing to a world that consisted of only Hoover and herself, Louisa was able to keep herself together and endure the long wait…
…Why didn’t you say a single word to me?
Considering that Gaius was somehow able to entrust his many letters to Hoover, couldn’t he have at least told her that he didn’t actually get married?
If he’d done that, she wouldn’t have despaired of being betrayed by Gaius.
Whenever she imagined him with another woman, she was about to go insane from jealousy.
The entire time we made love, I suffered at the thought that he’d become someone else’s man…!
The more she melted at his passionate touches, the deeper she drowned in sadness because Gaius was no longer hers.
—If he had told me, I wouldn’t have to be so miserable!
In truth, everything went as Gaius’ plan, only that Louisa had no clue about it.
Don’t be silly!
She wanted to scream in annoyance.
Why, why didn’t you let me do anything—?
That’s right, the reason I’m angry…
She didn’t care about her own loneliness, sorrow, suffering, or despair. Instead, she was furious—or rather, most saddened by the fact that she wasn’t relied on by Gaius.
Gaius decided—Gaius acted—Gaius succeeded…
Meanwhile, she didn’t contribute a single thing. How lame and pathetic.
Why didn’t you tell me about your plans?
…Why didn’t you tell me that you did it for my sake?
The chances of his plan falling through were surely not small. If Lorenzo betrayed him and sided with Charule, the situation would be reversed in no time.
Or maybe, Gaius didn’t tell her precisely because of that.
After all, if she had no clue, instead of a partner, she’d be a victim to his crime. A pitiful, kidnapped princess.
Gaius wanted her to stay safe, no matter what.
…But still, I wanted to fight alongside you instead of just being protected.
Even if she had known, Louisa doubted she’d be able to do anything. In spite of that, she’d like to be able to do something for their future. Otherwise, she’d feel unworthy to stand beside him.
…She was fretting like a child.
In this way, she was merely projecting her own shamelessness on Gaius.
She was fully aware of that, but when she saw his smug, ‘everything-is-according-to plan’ visage, she couldn’t help herself.
She made a lot of excuses, but in short, Louisa wanted to make amends for misunderstanding him the whole time.
Gaius seemed to understand that, and watched her reaction in silence.
As the two were on standstill, Lorenzo suddenly interrupted them.
Inserting himself between Gaius and Louisa, he took her hand and brought it to his lips. In all actuality, his lips never brushed against the back of her hand, for it was all an act.
Nevertheless, the mere act seemed to infuriate Gaius, as veins began to bulge on his temple.
“Then, may I ask for your hand in marriage, Lady Louisa?”
Lorenzo, who asked in a gentlemanly manner, seemed utterly amused.
Louisa, who always saw him as a responsible adult, was taken aback by his jest. After all, he was treating someone else’s love affair like a toy.
Should I go along with him?
She didn’t know Lorenzo all that well. When she was with Gaius, she always acted so daring. But with Lorenzo, whom she barely understood, she found herself hesitating.
Before she could finish contemplating, Gaius lost his patience.
“…You bastard—!”
With a snarl, he grabbed Lorenzo by his collar.
“Let go of her—!”
“Wait, Gaius, stop—!”
Louisa clung to Gaius’ arm. If he was left alone, he’d probably hit Lorenzo, and there shouldn’t be a need to explain why he mustn’t beat up a president…
Furthermore—yes, she knew she was grasping, but what if the alliance between Valentia and Adriace were to dissolve right there and then? Right after they had announced their coalition against the Holy Kingdom of Charule, and in front of the emperor, to boot?
Gaius proceeded to glare at Louisa.
“Why are you taking his side!?”
“…What did you say!?”
“You are my wife—!”
“…What!?”
Louisa was taken aback.
…Is this truly the innovative duke who transformed a small duchy into a mighty military state?
Besides, it’s obvious at a glance that Sir Lorenzo is just joking—!
Sure, she did it to rile him up, but it was a different story if someone like Lorenzo were to get involved.
Then, as if fed up, he hoisted the dumbstruck Louisa up by the waist with both hands.
“—Kyaah!”
As her vision began to tilt, Louisa let out a scream.
Instead of the usual princess carry, he carried her across his shoulder like an object. Apparently, he was THAT angry. His shoulder sank into her belly, making it difficult to breathe. On top of that, when he started walking, the vibration ran through her body, and she was in pain.
As she involuntarily groaned, someone grabbed Gaius’ arm and stopped him.
It was Lorenzo.
“Hey, where are you taking my bride?”
With a teasing tone, he tried to get Louisa’s off Gaius’ shoulder.
Of course, Gaius refused. While readjusting her body on his shoulder, he glared at Lorenzo.
“Don’t touch my wife.”
“Can’t you see that the person you love is in pain? You should put her down.”
Gaius gritted his teeth at Lorenzo’s words. Perhaps, seeing that he had a point, or due to listening to Louisa’s groan earlier, he put her down.
Relieved, Louisa took a deep breath.
However, when she was about to express her gratitude to Lorenzo, she couldn’t believe what she saw next!
Gaius was about to draw his sword.
“Ga-Gaius—! No—!”
Since she was hidden behind him, his sturdy back obstructed her view, but there was no mistaking it.
Gaius was aiming his sword at Lorenzo!
“Stop—! Are you going to start a war with Adriace—!?”
Flustered, she hugged Gaius from behind, and he turned around in response.
“If you don’t want me to stop, say it in your own words—admit that you’re my wife.”
“Wh—!?”
Where did that come from!?
Louisa’s face was dyed red.
What is he thinking!? Just for that, he…!
Not only did he waged a war against the Holy Kingdom of Charule, one silly exchange was all it took for him to turn against Adriace!
“You’re insane!”
When she spat out those words, Gaius simply lifted an eyebrow.
“Did you only realize that?”
Upon hearing their exchange, Lorenzo couldn’t hold it any longer and burst out laughing.
“Hahahahaha! The two of you are a match made in Heaven!”
Perhaps judging that he didn’t intend to steal Louisa from that line, Gaius sheathed his sword.
After confirming that in the corner of her vision, Louisa turned to face Lorenzo.
“Sir Lorenzo.”
She didn’t know the depth of the president’s involvement in Gaius’ scheme.
Maybe, even our marriage was part of Gaius’ plot…
Regardless, the fact remained that she’d once accepted his marriage proposal.
No, she’d even considered spending the rest of her life with him.
Since she’d basically betrayed him, he deserved an apology.
“I know we’re supposed to get married, but I’d like to apologize… I’m in love with someone else. Therefore, we are not to be. I’d like to annul our engagement.”
As if he hadn’t seen that coming, Lorenzo’s eyes went wide.
But soon, a wholehearted smile spread across his face.
“I understand. I thereby annul our engagement. You should be with someone you love. I also married my late wife because of love.”
Louisa was stupefied at the unexpected story.
…For the president of the Republic of Adriace to marry for love.
When he saw Louisa’s expression, Lorenzo smiled wryly. Perhaps, he didn’t expect her to be that surprised.
“Both of you, you should cherish that feeling. This may be unexpected, coming from me—but love is a precious thing. If you carry the weight of a country, it’s a self-evident truth that you’ll adopt an old-fashioned mindset. How ironic. The more old-fashioned you become, the more you distanced yourself from love.”
…Judging from the distant look on his face, she wondered if Lorenzo was reminiscing about his old wife?
Based on his words, perhaps even Lorenzo intended to have a loveless marriage with Louisa. Surely, only his wife could occupy the special place in his heart.
Lorenzo gazed forlornly at Gaius, before shrugging his shoulders in amusement.
“…I don’t know of any other man who, like the Duke of Valentia, went to such lengths to attain his love.”
Louisa couldn’t argue against that.
…Still, it feels as if none of this would happen if not for me.
Would they be shocked if she admitted to feeling proud of that?
When she glanced at Gaius, the stunning madman was grinning proudly.
“So what of it?”
As expected of Gaius…
“—Still, when you’re tired of young men, you’re welcome to visit Adriace. This Lorenzo Agnadello shall gladly welcome you.”
Lorenzo’s last mischievous attempt enraged Gaius once again.
In annoyance, Gaius clicked his tongue and declared.
“I’d sooner destroy that country than let Louisa step a foot there—!”
Louisa was about to stagger when she heard such a barbaric line.
“What are you talking about…!?”
With a dull sound, Louisa slapped his cheek.
Gaius, who was confused, looked down at her.
“I’m so angry—!”
“Louisa…?”
With a dumbfounded look on his face, Gaius tilted his head. He didn’t seem to know why she hit him. Louisa then sighed.
“While I’m glad for everything you’ve done for me… But why didn’t you tell me anything?”
Upon hearing that, Gaius curiously peered into her face.
…He didn’t seem to know why she asked such a question, either.
“Why would you want to know…?”
“If I had known, I might have been able to do something. Since this is our future we’re talking about, one shouldn’t have shouldered everything alone…”
If they’d fought together, then they might be able to persuade her father—Louisa scowled at herself for thinking that.
…No, my father isn’t the type who’d be persuaded easily—especially by someone like me.
Despite knowing that, she so wished to know the purpose and the meaning behind Gaius’ actions. She regretted not knowing that the person she loved was risking everything for her.
As if her earnest feelings had reached him, Gaius replied in a somber voice.
“…I don’t want to burden you with anything.”
Somehow, she’d seen that coming.
Louisa smiled bitterly.
True enough, Gaius didn’t want to risk anything.
“…Why?”
“Because I want to keep you safe.”
Another expected answer. Deep down, she already knew. Everything he did was for her sake. To reclaim her. To keep her safe.
Her eyes moistened once again.
At the same time, Gaius must’ve never expected that she wished for the same—that she yearned to protect him.
“…Hey, Gaius. Do you ever suspect that I might be the same?”
Upon hearing that, Gaius was awestruck.
“Why do you look so surprised? I love you just like you love me. Therefore, what’s so weird about me wanting to protect you just like you did for me?”
Gaius frowned in embarrassment at Louisa’s theory.
“…Even so, I want to keep you safe.”
For Gaius, who was parroting his earlier remark, that was probably the only answer.
For Gaius, Louisa was someone he had to protect.
It wasn’t that she was unhappy about it.
On the contrary, she was so happy, her chest was about to burst.
It was only natural.
Gaius was her place to return. There was no safer place than in his arms.
Louisa already knew how rare and fortunate she was to be protected by her safe haven.
…But that’s not all.
If he was the only one doing all the protecting, then the title of wife was wasted on her.
What was she, a child?
Louisa wanted to be on equal footing with Gaius. Well, not exactly. Nevertheless, she wanted to see eye-to-eye to him. Hopefully, with her presence, she could offer him an entirely new perspective on everything.
While a couple wouldn’t necessarily agree with each other all the time, she’d like to overcome everything together with him—such was the kind of future that Louisa envisioned.
“I don’t want to be protected all the time. I want to be your equal. To me, that’s what it means to be your wife.”
Gaius listened attentively to Louisa’s words. His gray eyes stared intently at her, making her somewhat nervous, but Louisa endured it.
He seemed to have taken every single word to heart.
He’s trying to understand me…
She almost couldn’t contain her happiness.
They were entitled to their own opinion. Even if they loved each other, they were still two different people. But that was precisely why it was essential to make an effort to understand each other.
Gaius was downcast for a moment, but soon he met her eyes again, and nodded once.
“I understand. From now on, I swear that I won’t decide anything without asking you.”
At his concession, Louisa stared straight at his face.
“Eh…? That easily…?”
Gaius furrowed his eyebrows.
“What are you talking about? My desire to not burden you remains the same. But for me, being your husband means that you’ll remain by my side. So, I just thought I should make concessions otherwise.”
…It seemed that Gaius only did it reluctantly.
Somehow, Louisa could grasp what he wanted. Gaius intended to treat her like a newborn chick. He’d like to keep her within sight and protect her from any potential harm.
…Uhm, I feel like I’m being held captive again.
Such were Gaius’ ideals in a nutshell. A world where the two of them could love each other without anyone getting in the way—a depraved world full of desires.
But I’m the same…
During her captivity, she’d thought of escaping over and over again. But whenever Gaius held her, she’d drown in irresistible euphoria and accept him.
In other words, she’d already experienced said ideals—and enjoyed it.
I’m already too far gone.
We’ve been separated for too long.
Due to the long separation, her love had been distorted with obsession and madness.
—But it shouldn’t be like that.
There was no way Gaius—the ruler of a country—could live forever in such a mad world, and the same went for Louisa. As a princess, she had to lead her people. In exchange for her privileges, she was obliged to protect her people and their livelihoods. After all, a princess who selfishly neglected her people was set on a path to ruin.
Louisa wished for a happy future with Gaius, instead of destruction.
So, I’ll teach you—
—Instead of the depravity of love, she’d teach him the happiness of loving each other amidst the madness.
Instead of indulging in his torrent of affection, she shall control the flow.
…This is how I’ll protect you.
With a renewed resolve, Louisa stared at Gaius and smiled.
“Thank you, Gaius.”
Seeing that smile, Gaius was in awe for a moment.
Louisa, still smiling, reached out to caress Gaius’ cheek.
My dear, beloved husband…
“I love you, my dear Gaius. As long as you respect me, I shall be your wife.”
She whispered softly in a mellifluous voice as if seducing him.
—It’s my turn to make you happy.
With such an oath in her heart, Louisa waited for her husband’s answer.
Gaius blinked, before smiling gently.
Closing his eyes, he nestled his cheek against her palm and closed his eyes.
Then, once again, he reignited their childhood vow—
“—I pledge my love, loyalty, and devotion to my dear wife.”