Roxiana calmly explained.

“Joseph V would have prevented their marriage, and Lucas is still mindful of his father. Elise probably pressured him into having a private wedding ceremony, but Elise won’t be satisfied with just that.”

She will likely use people to subtly spread rumors about their relationship. She will widely publicize the fact that Elise Hailis is now the crown princess of the Kingdom of Gania.

“After that, she’ll try various things, and then she’ll realize. That becoming the crown princess isn’t the end of the matter. And…”

Roxiana thought of Joseph V and his queen, Christine Pelur. Those who had cast Floyd into hell also deserved proper punishment.

“The king and queen will have to endure it too. The hell that is Elise Hailis. Of course, Elise Hailis will also have to endure the hell of wearing a crown that doesn’t fit her.”

“Do you really think Elise Hailis will become hell for the Pelur royal family? She might surprisingly do well.”

“You’re right, she might do well. But she won’t. Because I’ll draw her down a different path.”

“Ah!”

Nelly grinned as she realized the meaning of Roxiana’s words.

“Shall we look for some people?”

“Many. And I think we’ll need someone established in the capital of Gania too. Perhaps someone who runs a salon or a dressmaker’s shop?”

“Of course. I have my people occupying a few positions in each country’s capital. But what are you planning? Please tell me a little.”

Seeing Nelly’s eyes sparkling like a child listening to an exciting fairy tale, Roxiana smiled softly.

“Elise will dream. She’ll want to live like I did as a princess in the Ider Palace. She’ll think that since she’s become the crown princess, everyone will respect and love her. Not knowing what efforts are needed behind that, she’ll think just occupying that position will earn her adoration.”

But that sweet dream will soon be shattered.

“As long as the king and queen exist, Gania’s Robva Palace won’t be very warm. She’ll be lonely. She’ll feel isolated. She’ll need allies. She’ll want to accomplish something. She’ll want to put the king, queen, and those who looked down on her in their place.”

“She’ll become reckless.”

“Very much so.”

“Alright, Master. I’ll prepare people who can move well in that direction.”

“Yes, please do.”

“Ah, and one more thing. The captain of the Catus Holy Knights is still in Selchar City.”

I thought he had returned.

Though I didn’t see it directly, the spirits acted out what had happened between Floyd and Iwis as vividly as if they were there.

“You should be careful. Those people don’t like Torkan very much.”

+++

Floyd was watching the morning training of the knights in the training grounds. As he was eating a sandwich stuffed with meat and cheese, and was about to pick up a sword after being impressed by a new knight with particularly good movements.

“The princess has arrived,” Kirshan whispered quietly.

Feeling a small ripple in his heart, Floyd slowly turned his head. Roxiana was walking towards this place from the edge of the training grounds.

-“And yet I love you this much. Every time I see Your Highness, I’m this overwhelmed. I can’t withdraw my heart.”

While her words from last night vividly came to mind, he also thought that perhaps it had been an intensely realistic dream. But the kiss they shared and her small trembling remained so clearly that he decided it wasn’t a dream.

Then another question arose.

How do normal lovers greet each other in the morning? Should they kiss? But when there are many eyes watching, shouldn’t they use a different method? Should he hug her? Should he just end with a kiss on the back of her hand?

Having never been in love before, and never having closely observed other couples, he couldn’t get a sense of what to do. It was the first time he had encountered such a difficult problem, but thinking back, it seemed he had always found it difficult when dealing with Roxiana.

Love is truly difficult.

While Floyd was lost in these various worries, Roxiana arrived beside him. Even while training, the knights kept glancing this way.

“Your Highness.”

Roxiana greeted him as always, bending her knees slightly and bowing her head.

Floyd stared at her small hand gently grasping her skirt, then unconsciously reached out and pulled her hand. He lightly kissed the back of her hand, which came without resistance, and the glancing knights stopped their swords. Some opened their mouths in disbelief.

“Did you sleep well?”

Floyd asked, keeping his lips on the back of her hand while raising only his gaze to look at her. Roxiana blushed and nodded.

“Yes. And you, Your Highness?”

“Me too.”

In truth, he hadn’t slept at all. Her voice, body temperature, and trembling had been too vivid for him to fall asleep.

“Um, I have something to tell you.”

“Alright.”

Floyd stood up. He kept holding her hand.

The knights blankly watched the two walk hand in hand down from the platform and along the edge of the training grounds. Even after the two were out of sight, no one moved.

Arsen and Adrian were on another platform, and Arsen particularly thought it most important to focus during training hours, but he didn’t rebuke the knights for their distraction. Like the knights, he was staring at Floyd and Roxiana in a daze.

“Something seemed a bit…”

Adrian broke the silence.

“Different, right?”

It was often the case that Floyd held Roxiana’s hand, and there were even occasional instances of him embracing or kissing her to share his life force when she collapsed, but.

“The atmosphere was strange, wasn’t it?”

Today was somehow different.

“Our lord, he seemed kind of… very, how should I put it. Like an ordinary noble man?”

Arsen cleared his throat with a “hmm” and then shouted.

“What are you all doing! Get your heads straight and pick up your swords!”

+++

Floyd was smiling the whole time he walked holding Roxiana’s hand, like an ordinary man in love. Seeing him smile, Roxiana couldn’t help but smile too.

‘I was overthinking things.’

When Roxiana had talked about the future, Floyd said he had never imagined the future.

‘This man only looks at the present.’

Floyd, who only looked at the present, was happy just knowing that his feelings were mutual with Roxiana, and the good feeling he felt was fully conveyed to Roxiana as well. Happiness is contagious, and even Roxiana, who had been lost in thought, was infected by his mood.

“Have you eaten breakfast?” he asked like an ordinary lover.

“Not yet. Nelly came early, so…”

“Then shall we eat together while we talk?”

“You haven’t eaten either, Your Highness?”

“Just one sandwich. That’s not enough.”

Floyd called over a passing servant and told them to prepare breakfast, then turned to Roxiana.

“Shall we have a picnic?”

Seeing him looking slightly excited, Roxiana bit her lip slightly to hide her flowing smile before answering.

“Yes, that sounds nice.”

“Did you hear? It’s a picnic.”

Surprised by the monarch’s gentle demeanor, the servant answered “Yes!” and quickly ran off. As the servant ran into the building, they shouted “His Highness and the Princess are having a picnic!”, so before long, everyone in the Grand Duchy Palace knew about the two’s picnic.

The head maid Eledrun hurriedly prepared blankets and parasols, while the head butler gathered coats and hats. The chefs began preparing various dishes that could be eaten easily by hand, and the servants rushed to the stables to prepare the best horses and carriage.

The ‘picnic’, which was meant to be a light walk and meal, instantly became a big event that stirred up the entire Grand Duchy Palace.

Only after going through the not-at-all light preparation process were Roxiana and Floyd able to leave the Grand Duchy Palace in a carriage.

“I thought we were just going to spread a blanket in the palace garden and eat…”

Roxiana muttered, and Floyd nodded.

“Me too.”

“Is this alright? You seemed busy.”

“I’m not busy.”

In fact, he was busy. But Floyd thought there was nothing more important now than having breakfast with her.

“It’s our first picnic, where should we go?”

The word ‘our’ coming from him sounded sweeter than yesterday’s ‘our’.

“Anywhere is fine.”

As long as it’s with you.

She didn’t say the last part out of embarrassment.

“Then, shall we go to the forest today? We always went to the sea before.”

It was still chilly February, so the forest wasn’t very lush. Still, evergreen trees and flowers that bloom in the cold were holding their places here and there.

The carriage stopped at the edge of a large lake that gave a somewhat lonely feeling. The lakeshore, which would be lush with green grass in spring, was now full of brown grass.

“Maybe the forest was a bad idea?”

As Floyd was personally taking out the picnic basket and blankets, Roxiana lightly exerted her power in response to his muttering. A gentle breeze blew, and as it brushed the fallen yellowish-brown grass blades, a pale green began to emerge.

Floyd watched in awe as the desolate lakeshore quickly turned green. Brushing back her hair that had been tousled by the wind, Roxiana said,

“This should do, right?”

Floyd grinned.

“I forgot about the princess’s power for a moment.”

A wide and soft blanket was spread on the lakeshore, now full of life from the spirits’ power. A thick blanket was also draped over Roxiana’s shoulders.

Roxiana sat down, pulling the edges of the blanket close, and watched as Floyd opened the basket and took out sandwiches. As she was about to help, wondering if it was alright for her to make a ruler of a country do this, he said,

“Just stay there. I’ll do it.”

He even took out napkins, spreading one wide and placing it on Roxiana’s lap. Seeing his skillful movements, Roxiana unconsciously muttered,

“You’re quite adept at this.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Pardon?”

“Wondering if I’ve done this for other women.”