After sharing body heat and mana for a moment, we lay side by side on the bed. Hadel carefully touched my arm and waist.

“Did you get hurt?”

Seems worried about what happened when I caught the intruder earlier. I clapped my hands. Concern should go towards that woman.

“The woman who came today seemed to have no idea how to use her body at all. She probably hasn’t even tried exercising.”

“Why are you finding this so amusing?”

“It was amusing.”

“…What was?”

With my cheerful response, Hadel’s voice, on the contrary, lowered.

‘Seems quite tired.’

It’s natural at this late hour. I also understand rationally that I should put Hadel to sleep quickly.
But since this moment is the only time I can see his face for a day, I couldn’t stop the chattering words that kept flowing.

Well, it was genuinely funny.

“My body is too hot.”

“What, what?”

Hadel was startled by my whisper. I chuckled.

“That woman said this. Isn’t it amusing now that Hadel has heard it too?”

“…Well.”

Blushing heavily, Hadel scratched the area around his ears. Grinning mischievously, I added another interesting incident.

“I used a stink bug for the first time, and it was truly disgusting, but I felt proud. It was difficult to catch because it kept releasing gas.”

“Are you still tormenting people with bugs?”

“That’s the most effective. I’m a pacifist.”

“If they hear that, the young ladies will cry.”

Isn’t it better to cry because of bugs than enduring torture like pulling out nails or breaking fingers? I consider myself a pacifist.

While I was whistling and being whimsical, Hadel suddenly pulled me tightly into his arms.

With his face buried in my shoulder, Hadel murmured in a somewhat melancholic tone.

“My wife is here, yet everyone keeps doing strange things. It would be better if they worked hard during that time for the stability of the country.”

Blinking my eyes, I responded with a teasing smile.

“I’m not your wife yet.”

At my rebuttal, Hadel’s eyes narrowed. The hand holding my arm tightened.

“M-Marian?”

Even the voice calling my name trembled. I smirked and kissed Hadel’s nose.

“I haven’t left yet.”

“Ah…”

Did he think I was leaving? Smiling, I patted Hadel’s back.

“I promised I would never leave your side. Why can’t you believe me?”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. I just feel uneasy.”

“Hadel.”

It was just a joke, but it seemed to be a joke that shouldn’t have been made. I kissed Hadel’s lips, which looked noticeably uneasy. Then, with a mischievous grin, I whispered.

“So, should we get married tomorrow?”

Hadel’s red eyes sparkled like beads.

“Wearing flower rings?”

“Wearing flower rings.”

It doesn’t matter if there’s no ring-like thing. If a ring is necessary, I can make one.

“Especially, the jackdaw will use its front paws to make it.”

“That sounds good.”

Hadel giggled.

“I prefer that over a ring made by any artisan.”

This guy seems to like jackdaws more than me.

Even though I’m the one soon to be a jackdaw, he strangely seemed pleased.

Anyway, calming his unease like that, we fell asleep.

And the next day, during the court meeting, Hadel actually mentioned our marriage.

“The queen’s seat cannot remain vacant for long, and since I am already engaged to Princess Jim, I plan to hold our wedding soon.”

However, the courtiers who wanted to control Hadel as they pleased unanimously opposed our marriage.

“There is no way to have a royal wedding this quickly.”
“It is customary to prepare for at least a year before holding a royal wedding.”

Even after knowing that I am Princess Marian and assigning tasks almost equivalent to those of a queen, they have no conscience to oppose this.

Of course, I understand that our marriage, with the added justification of ensuring the legitimacy of Hadel’s somewhat deficient succession to the throne, should be delayed as much as possible.

‘Is an over-speeding pregnancy the only solution?’

It was when I started to entertain even such absurd thoughts.

“Your Highness, I have something to say.”

Hart Duke, the old noble who vehemently opposed Hadel’s succession to the throne, suddenly stepped forward.

And without saying anything, he pointed his finger at me, who had been sitting silently.

“Many people still find it hard to believe that she is the same person as Princess Marian from 100 years ago. The only evidence is that she looks like the portrait from 100 years ago, isn’t it?”