Surprised by my words, Hadel stiffened. I playfully smiled and added.

“I even wrote that I want to have the engagement ceremony in the capital.”

Hadel seemed taken aback by my suggestion.

“Then you’ll have to step forward, Marian.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I do. I don’t want you in danger.”

“But without taking risks, it’s impossible to resolve this.”

And although I might not know about Jokjebi, as a human, I’m quite strong. Unless there’s a significant reason, I wouldn’t be put in danger.

“Above all, if I want to lure Espen, it’s most certain if I step forward.”

Thinking so, I wondered why I took such a roundabout way rather than choosing this easy path.
“The young lady who hopes for an engagement is named Marian. Write it clearly. Then there will be some reaction.”

Whether it’s a refusal or an approval, it’s fine.

“If there’s no response to my name, it’s evidence that the royal family has nothing to do with Espen.”

But if there’s a reaction…

I bit my lip.

“If you’re alive, I’ll personally settle things with you, Espen.”

And four days later.

A permission letter with the king’s seal arrived.

The idea to go to the capital was mine.

It was a method I came up with while contemplating how to prevent damage to the North, entangled with Nella, from the uprising. For that purpose, I kept Nella well within the castle for four days to ensure she wouldn’t die.

However, when the letter of permission arrived, I felt uneasy.

Late at night, as I lay in bed, I couldn’t sleep and wandered by the window.

“Is it true that the king and queen are under Espen’s control?”

I wasn’t sure if I could use the word “control.” It could be something they willingly followed.

“Everything feels like a dream. If I hadn’t met Yulnisia, I wouldn’t have believed that Espen was alive.”

Espen’s ice attribute was undoubtedly powerful. But was it powerful enough to freeze a person’s heart, forcibly turning them into the undead? I found that part strange.

“Espen didn’t have that kind of power. That’s a special technique that only supernatural beings or witches can use.”

We had already fought against the undead to secure human territory. It was a negative force that took advantage of human fear and dread. Conversely, it was a force that crumbled in the face of human strong will.

“Perhaps he pretended to be such a wicked supernatural being and plundered everyone.”

In my conjecture, there was a slight hope mixed with a desire for that to be the case. Knowing that it was not at all objective, I shook my head and dispelled the thoughts.

How long had I been absorbed in my thoughts? A strong arm pulled me from behind.

“Can’t sleep?”

It was Hadel.

It had been a while since we met, and being held by him had become familiar. Leaning against him, I revealed my weakness, shaking at the slight warmth.

That’s right. I wasn’t a strong person. I always pretended to be strong.

“Feeling anxious.”

Still, I was fortunate that I could honestly express my feelings to Hadel.

Unlike on the battlefield, where I had to swallow my feelings and hide my emotions with only subordinates around, Hadel was someone who looked at me as an equal.

Hadel gently pressed his cheek against mine.

“Worried about going up to the capital? It’s like entering the enemy’s den.”

“That’s true, but…”
If the opponent is Espen, who genuinely wants to save me, it was certain that he would be satisfied just knowing that I am the Grand Sorceress. The Grand Sorceress is familiar terrain for us, so it might be better if he’s led here on purpose.

“Well, Espen is an ice attribute like the Bird Prince. In the cold, and especially in the North, where he always has snow available, it could be an advantageous battlefield for him.”

What could be the cause of me dying first while trying to contain Espen’s mana explosion?

After several contemplations, I concluded that it was due to the terrain and climate. The day I died was also in the cold winter. It was conditions favorable to Espen, an ice attribute, rather than me with a fire attribute.

And there was another reason.

“Aren’t you curious about Hadel’s parents? Whether they were really controlled by Espen or if there was a reason they had to follow him?”

To me, the king and queen of no significance and the Bird Prince were the only family to Hadel.

“No one willingly faces the fact that their family abandoned them for experimentation and forces them to unilaterally bear a child.”

That’s why I thought that, for Hadel’s sake, I had to confront his family. They might be victims like Hadel.

Listening silently to my story, Hadel tightened his arms around me.

“I appreciate your concern. But you are the most precious person to me.”