If it’s the Emperor, it was certain that he would send someone who supports Raul.

Since the first Prince is already here, and because Raul had saved face by being rejected by Velia, the situation wouldn’t benefit Khaled any more than it already has.

“Count Ceylon.”

“What a coincidence.”

The topic had shifted from her son to her father.

“Raul is just trying to save face. You don’t need to worry too much about it.”

Velia agreed with his statement.

“By the way, have you tried on the dress I sent?”

He seemed to be referring to the dress for the engagement ceremony he sent a while ago.

He kept sending various gifts. First a necklace, then shoes, a bracelet, and finally a dress. She could sense his anticipation for the engagement ceremony and couldn’t bring herself to refuse them.

“Yes, it’s very beautiful. But, Khaled.”

Velia hesitated for a moment before speaking.

“It’s not common for the groom to take care of the bride’s clothes himself.”

“What does that matter?”

Velia was even more taken aback by Khaled’s nonchalant response.

“No, it’s just… If you take care of even the smallest details, people might…”

Velia tried hard to explain, but she stopped talking as she met Khaled’s gaze, which seemed to ask ‘so what?’

“No, thank you.”

She decided to accept the feeling of embarrassment and awkwardness as her lot.

It had already been three months since Khaled arrived in the Kingdom of Ronica.

It’s a short period, but since he proposed, many letters have been exchanged, and the wedding date was set for next spring.

“I’m glad we can have the engagement ceremony in the Kingdom of Ronica.”

Clozé lay sprawled across the sofa in a rather informal manner as she spoke.

“What? You’re not planning to attend the wedding?”

“Of course I have to go.”

Despite her positive response, her tone lacked enthusiasm.

Velia laughed as she watched Clozé.

She found herself constantly thinking that her younger sister, who had been complaining all the while she was preparing for the engagement, was cute.

“Do you dislike my getting married?”

“No.”

“It doesn’t seem like a good thing, does it?”

“Well, my mind just feels a bit noisy.”

Clozé responded in a graceful tone, imitating their mother.

However, she was still sprawled out on the sofa, causing Velia to burst out laughing.

“Ugh!”

Looking at her overly excited sister, Clozé puffed up her cheeks.
“You’re not going to head straight to the Empire after the engagement ceremony, are you?”

The leaders of the Ingot Empire and Ronika Kingdom had agreed to share many things and proceed without bias towards either place for the sake of an equitable alliance.

Since Prince Khaled, the betrothed, was already here, the engagement ceremony was moved up to be held simply in the Ronika Kingdom, and the wedding would proceed in the Empire thereafter.

‘The wedding is in spring next year……. There’s less time than I thought.’

Yet, the emperor seemed to value the alliance with the Ronika Kingdom more than expected.

‘Well, there’s also the matter of joint gold mine exploration…… Having the robust Ronika Kingdom on their side would undoubtedly be beneficial for the Empire.’

Velia made a coolheaded assessment of the situation.

She remembered that in her previous life, the emperor had treated her very well when she first went to the Empire.

‘Part of it was due to Raul’s influence…….’

It was clear that there had been some calculation regarding the Ronika Kingdom.

If the Ronika Kingdom had been an insignificant minor country, the emperor would not have approved the marriage in the first place.

‘He must have picked the most helpful place to give Raul a boost and arranged the marriage there.’

Velia’s only worry was the fact that she was marrying a son the emperor didn’t particularly care for.

She wondered if this might affect her own treatment, but it seemed that the political attitude remained neutral.

‘There’s no need to waste effort in useless places.’

If the emperor continued to hold this attitude, she would not suffer major disadvantages even if she lived as the prince’s wife upon arriving in the Empire. For now, the label of the Princess of the Ronika Kingdom held more significance than the name of Prince Khaled’s wife.

Velia preferred this level of attention to a lot of attention. This allowed her more freedom to maneuver.

“……I have a bit more to prepare. As soon as that’s over, I’ll head straight to the Empire.”

Cloche quickly sat up from her sprawled position.

“You can just send the second prince and stay here until your wedding next year.”

Cloche was increasingly saddened by the sight of her sister, who seemed to be in a hurry to leave as soon as possible, wondering why she was so eager to go to the Empire already.

“How can you say that.”

Cloche turned her head abruptly at her sister, who was smiling and answering without understanding her feelings.

Then she gathered her knees and buried her face in them.

“……If I knew you were going to get married so quickly, I would have said that the second prince wasn’t great.”

“What?”

Velia let out a hollow laugh.

“Why are you rushing into marriage like this?”

Cloche grumbled to herself.

Velia was taken aback.

“Cloche. You do know how old I am, right?”

“Tsk.”

Sometimes she was so mature it was worrisome, but now she seemed still a child.

“Generally speaking, I’m on the late side for marriage.”

“What’s late! Big brother hasn’t even gotten married yet!”

Cloche fell over the idle Herald.

“Big brother is about to get married too.”

“……You don’t know anything.”

Cloche grumbled with a pouty expression, as if Velia, who didn’t understand her feelings, was cruel.

She then let out a big sigh and asked.

“By the way, will the first prince come to the engagement ceremony?”

Cloche had a very curious expression.

After all, it was virtually the same as Raul being rejected by Velia. Many others seemed very curious too.

“I wonder.”

He would surely come, given his personality?

He would act friendly on the surface, laughing heartily as he congratulated his sister on her engagement. And then he would grit his teeth behind their backs, fanning his anger at Khaled.

“Come to think of it, it’s funny if the first prince comes, and it’s strange if he doesn’t…….”

“He’ll probably come.”

Because he cares about his public image most of all.

‘Someday, I’ll expose that mask to everyone.’

Velia gritted her teeth.