‘At first, I thought she was a really mean woman, but she had her own story.’

The birds chose me to tease, but it seems like it was my misunderstanding. With a surprised expression, I turned to Nella and spoke.

“But Orsini Youngae looks very different from yesterday, doesn’t she?”

Even Nella herself thought that she looked different from when she first met me. She chuckled.

“Anyway, since it turned out like this, I think I’m just going with the flow.”

Answering like that while making a fist, she seemed rather relieved. I nodded.

“You thought well. Life tends to flow more smoothly when you think that way.”

“Is that something for you to say?”

Well, it’s not something I can’t say. It’s not my fault that she couldn’t become Hadel’s bride. Even if it weren’t me, Hadel wouldn’t have liked a forced fiancée.

‘Ah, still, the Prince of Birds isn’t lucky either.’

How did he decide on my brother’s marriage so quickly? Even thinking about it again, the method of teasing was excellent. I really felt bad.

Nella started telling her story without me asking.

“Our house is a fallen noble family. The only peculiar thing is that I, the eldest daughter, am a shamanic mana possessor. However, it wasn’t meaningful because the amount I possessed was small. But one day, the royal family was looking for a shamanic mana possessor.”

I knew the rest of the story. She said that only she could bear the child of Prince Hadel. So she insisted that she must become Hadel’s wife.

‘Even thinking that if she says that, Hadel won’t kick her out.’

Didn’t she shout that as she was dragged away? I am a shamanic mana possessor!

At some point, the meaning of Hadel saying he didn’t want a child finally hit me.

With a bitter smile, Nella added,

“I dreamed for a very short time. The huge support they promised if I married Prince Hadel became meaningless because I couldn’t get married. Instead, since it’s my fault, I might even get a punishment.”

It turned out that the promise of substantial support was for the willingness to freeze to death. I shook my head.

“Oh, that’s unfortunate.”

Nella snapped again at my response.
“So, that’s something you shouldn’t say! Are you willing to give up the position of the Grand Duchess out of pity?”

“I don’t decide that. It’s Hadel’s heart.”

“…That answer is more irritating.”

I smirked. I didn’t intend to provoke her.

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll talk to prevent such things from happening.”

“Hmph.”

Nella, as if not believing at all, clenched her fist and turned her head away. I closed my eyes and pondered the words I couldn’t bring myself to say to her.

“I don’t need to ask Nella for forgiveness.”

Now that I’ve opened my eyes again, there’s no need for something like a second Flame Attribute possessor. I don’t need a living safe to keep my heart anymore.

“But that’s it. The experiment was only half successful. I am a vampire and…”

A terrible imagination crossed my mind. Now that I’ve opened my eyes, Hadel might be thinking of transplanting his heart to me. Although such a thing should not happen and is not possible. How could a vampire handle a human heart?

“Since he’s willing to experiment to this extent, he might try recklessly. I should consider him already lost.”

Stopping Espen from doing that is my job. I bit my lip and made a vow.

“I have to keep Hadel awake and protect him so that such a thing doesn’t happen.”

Despite making up my mind, it was still unsettling. After hesitating for a moment, I couldn’t resist and opened the window of the carriage.

“Marian? Why?”

Hadel was coming from the side of the carriage, driving the carriage as if guarding it. Usually, the leader is at the forefront.

“I knew it would be like this.”

In the end, our hearts are the same. I felt both joy and sorrow at the fact. However, without revealing such feelings, I smiled slyly and said.

“I want to feel the wind. I want to ride a horse.”

“Is it uncomfortable inside the carriage?”

At this rate, Nella might be transferred to a baggage carriage or be moved by horse. I shook my head.

“No, I really want to feel the wind.”

At my answer, Hadel hesitated for a moment, then raised his hand to stop the procession. Then, tapping the saddle, he replied.

“Then ride with me.”

Getting off the carriage, I mounted the horse. Honestly, I was confident in riding, so I didn’t think much about it. Unexpectedly, there was a problem.

“Ugh.”

Correct posture is essential for riding. Some people learn horse riding deliberately to straighten their backs.

However, today, I found it difficult to sit even on the carriage itself. I wasn’t lying down diagonally with a cushion because it was difficult for me today. Slanted, and having trouble sitting on a horse was the same.

“Ah, this is another unfamiliar pain.”

My back stung. It hurts whether I sit on the side or sit straight.

“Anyway, I’m not the one holding the reins, it’s Hadel.”

I wriggled my body here and there to find the most comfortable position. Eventually, I ended up sitting behind Hadel.

But the real problem started after the horse began to move.

“Ugh! It hurts.”
The horse and the carriage were in a different dimension of shaking. However, since it was me who couldn’t overcome the uneasiness and had the procession stopped, I couldn’t express it.

As I just hugged Hadel’s waist and groaned, Hadel sighed.

“I wanted to stop you because I thought this might happen.”