I didn’t think about that.

Still, it seemed like I should nod in agreement with the atmosphere, so I did, and Floyd smiled brightly. Seeing the refreshing smile touch his lips, I thought I had done well to nod.

“I’ve occasionally looked after Hexten’s children. Those kids come to play at the Grand Duke’s palace every day.”

“Ah, I see.”

“You must be hungry. Let’s eat quickly.”

I had forgotten my hunger while looking at him. Roxiana picked up a sandwich wrapped neatly in clean paper at the ends.

The bread of the sandwich, carefully prepared by the chefs, was moist and soft with butter spread on it. Inside were thin ham, fresh vegetables, cheese, finely chopped and flour-battered fried shrimp meat, and yuzu sauce.

While Roxiana nibbled on the slightly large sandwich from the end, he took big bites and ate heartily.

Their gazes were directed at the calm lake, and although there was no conversation between them, it wasn’t awkward.

After eating about half of her sandwich and satisfying her hunger somewhat, Roxiana took a sip of apple juice from the bottle and said,

“The lake isn’t frozen.”

“The lake rarely freezes. In the dead of winter, a thin layer of ice forms, but it’s never frozen solid. Is the lake in Kanta still frozen at this time?”

“Yes, it’s completely frozen until February. It starts to thaw a little from late February.”

Roxiana recalled the days she played by the frozen lakeside. It was a happy yet painful memory, but being with him now, it didn’t hurt as sharply as before.

“When winter comes, children eagerly wait for the rivers and lakes to freeze. They go out several times a day to check how much it has frozen. Even though it’s impossible for it to freeze in just a few hours.”

“What do they do when it freezes?”

“They ride sleds. It’s made by attaching blades to the bottom of a rectangular wooden board. It slides well on the ice. They race to see who’s faster.”

“Have you ever ridden one, Princess?”

“When I was young. I was always the fastest. I didn’t realize it then, but I think the wind spirits might have been helping me.”

Floyd glanced at her profile.

He had worried she might look sad talking about the past, but fortunately, she wore a faint smile. She looked a bit lonely, but not as pained as before.

“By the way, you said you had something to talk about.”

Only when Floyd spoke did Roxiana remember she had a reason for seeking him out. She had momentarily forgotten, enjoying the leisurely passing time.

“Yes, about that.”

Roxiana glanced at his expression.

She feared how he would react when she brought this up. She didn’t want to ruin the good mood, and such concern perplexed her.

Would it always be like this? Would she always be checking his mood and expression whenever she had to tell him something she needed to do? Would she end up unable to do what she must for fear of angering him?

Roxiana gripped the blanket tightly and said,

“I want to meet Lord Iwis Brede.”

For a moment, his face hardened. Her heart sank at the slight displeasure that crossed his eyes.

But it was only for an instant, and he soon smiled. A bit hollowly, like the wind blowing.

“Should I be glad that at least you’re telling me first?”

“……”

“What are you going to do when you meet Lord Brede? Go to the Great Temple obediently as she wishes?”

“No. I won’t.”

She never intended to leave in the first place. Even though she thought leaving might be the best option, she couldn’t overcome her desire to stay.

Ever since she was kidnapped by Balde and received the non-proposal to go to the Great Temple, Roxiana had firmly decided not to leave. She decided to act according to her heart, because that’s what she wanted.

To be by Floyd’s side.

Roxiana gently placed her hand on the back of his hand.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Floyd’s hand moved slightly to intertwine fingers with Roxiana. The heat transmitted between their interlocked fingers felt strange.

“That’s a relief then.”

“I just want to talk a bit. About the spirits, since she seems to know more than I do, and I want to hear why she intercepted news about me.”

Floyd lowered his eyes. His thick eyelashes cast shadows on his eyes. Resisting the urge to touch those eyelashes, he said,

“Is it alright if I’m there too?”

“Of course.”

He grinned at her immediate response. His smile, clear as a boy’s, was dazzling.

“Alright then. Let’s meet her together.”

Roxiana looked down at their still intertwined hands.

“Yes, together.”

+++

A suffocating silence hung over the audience chamber. Usually filled with ministers and knights, today only King Joseph V, Queen Christine, Lucas, and Elise were present.

King Joseph V and Queen Christine sat side by side on the dais.

Elise and Lucas stood in a row below them, heads bowed.

The royal couple’s anger poured down on the crown prince and princess. For over an hour since entering the audience chamber, the king and queen had simply glared at the younger couple without saying a word.

Unable to bear it any longer, Lucas spoke up.

“Father, the crown princess is not feeling well right now…”

“Very.”

Cutting off Lucas’s words, King Joseph V’s angry voice rang out.

“You’ve done quite an interesting thing.”

“Interesting… It’s not like that. I was just taking responsibility…”

King Joseph V grabbed a nearby ornament and threw it. Lucas quickly blocked the frame aimed at Elise with his body. The frame hit Lucas’s back and fell.

“Responsibility? Did you say responsibility?”

King Joseph V spoke, suppressing a scream that threatened to escape.

“The story of the Franche family we fished out of Kanta still grips us like shackles, and you speak of responsibility?”

The Kingdom of Gania was currently being ostracized.

They weren’t even invited to the gathering at the Magic Tower where leaders from each country were invited to showcase various magical items and newly discovered magic. When they sent out invitations for a small banquet to reciprocate evaluations, no one responded.

The envoy sent to the Great Temple returned without even meeting the High Priest, and the Empire had completely closed its doors, not even letting envoys in.

But even this, they thought would be alright someday. It always had been. No matter how great a wrong was committed, a country couldn’t be ostracized forever.

Shocking incidents would eventually be covered by even more shocking incidents, and even if not forgotten, as the initial shock gradually faded, everyone would open their hearts again.

King Joseph V estimated this period to be one year.

They just had to endure for a year. Just stay quiet for a year.

But Lucas had secretly married Elise. He even brought a priest and witnesses to the wedding and submitted documents to the government office.

Somehow the news had leaked, and now Gania was in an uproar over the crown prince’s marriage. It seems an office clerk was responsible, so they executed the clerk who processed the documents. But that wouldn’t quell the rumors.

“And it hasn’t been long since Engis Braisa disappeared! It’s only been two months. And you marry another woman? Do you think the Braisa Marquis will stand idly by!”

At times like this, when they were internationally disgraced and ostracized, they needed the backing of families with great wealth.

The Braisa family was the first name that came up when talking about powerful nobles in Gania. There were even rumors that if the Braisa family defected to another country, it would shake Gania’s foundations.

But because of that foolish crown prince’s foolish choice, the Braisa family was likely to turn their backs. No, they had already heard rumors that the Braisa Marquis was preparing to leave his mansion in the capital and return to his territory.

“What can the Braisa Marquis do? You are the king, Father, and I am the crown prince. What can a mere noble do?”

“That thing still…!”

“Why are you so cautious? Why do you keep worrying about others’ opinions while sitting on that throne? I captured Kanta for you, Father, and killed the entire Franche family to eliminate future troubles. Yet you fret and worry about everything!”

“Eliminate future troubles? You eliminated future troubles? If you eliminated future troubles, why is the Franche princess still alive, and why are songs about the ill-fated princess heard even in the capital of Gania!”

“We can just catch and kill those who sing such songs. We can kill those who give sympathetic looks too! Isn’t that what a king does?”

The Lucas of the past would have flinched and shrunk his shoulders at King Joseph V’s shouts. But Lucas, trying to protect his child and wife, did not bow his head even at the king’s roar.

“Instead of wasting time like this, shouldn’t you be properly reorganizing Kanta to absorb its resources and appeasing the remaining local nobles to ensure their loyalty to Gania! Rather than being so scared and worrying about what others think!”

While Lucas confronted King Joseph V, Elise stood quietly by his side with her head bowed. Christine, after glaring at Elise with cold eyes, opened her mouth.

“Don’t you have anything to say, Elise Hailis?”

The moment Christine called her name, Elise fell to her knees. Lucas was startled and tried to support her, but Elise pressed her forehead to the ground and said,

“His Highness the Crown Prince has done nothing wrong. He simply tried to embrace me, who is carrying the royal heir, by going to extremes. It’s all my fault, so please blame me. Please punish me.”

King Joseph V’s eyes wavered at the sight of Elise asking to be punished while pregnant. But Christine spoke coldly,

“Very well, what punishment should I give you?”