“No, but.”

I rested my chin on my hand and thought crookedly.

There were not just one or two people who doubted, and eventually, in front of many people, I received confirmation that I am indeed Princess Marian.

‘Even though he participated in the verification himself, why bring up those words again?’

It seemed like there was a very dirty trick.

Not only I but also Hadel seemed suspicious. Hadel, with a sternly hardened face, looked at Duke Hart and asked.

“I am curious about the one who keeps bringing up past stories, Duke Hart.”

“There are rampant creatures appearing in the southern harbor zone, causing extensive damage to the fishermen.”

Duke Hart seized the opportunity and began to speak.

“Aren’t you, Princess, with abundant combat experience, the most suitable person to resolve this issue to protect the country?”

At his words, I burst into laughter involuntarily. Although he spoke at length, the ultimate message was simple.

“So, instead of the dowry, should I bring the head of the monster in the southern harbor zone?”

In response to my sarcastic question, Duke Hart bowed his head and politely said,

“How can we ask for a dowry from a member of the royal family? However, Princess, if you establish such a feat, it will surely increase the support of the people.”

I rose from my seat slowly. Since I was not yet the official wife of Hadel, I could not openly sit in the queen’s seat.

As I stood up and walked towards the center of the conference room, everyone’s gaze naturally turned toward me.

With a calm tone, I also opened my mouth.

“As Duke Hart said, I have fought in the sea. I have also faced creatures of different races. Perhaps the monsters the Duke is talking about could be the same species I expelled.”

“If that’s the case…”

Duke Hart’s face brightened. It must have been interpreted as my willingness to step forward.

What Duke Hart said was not entirely wrong. Even if I were really Princess Marian from 100 years ago, due to the deep-seated flame attribute hatred planted by Aspen, Hadel’s support base was very shallow.

But if I, as Hadel’s wife, were to deal with the trouble in the south—the monster, the support among the people would undoubtedly rise. And in reality, there would be no one alive who could handle different races better than me.

‘But moving as you please is annoying.’

I changed my tone to an intense one that sounded like I was angry.

“But it makes me uncomfortable to leave the current palace empty. Wasn’t there someone who sneaked into the king’s chamber just yesterday?”

I deliberately didn’t mention that it was a woman. It was to obscure the topic and make it ambiguous, whether it was an assassination or something else.

“…Was there such a foolish person?”
Duke Hart, who had been silent for a moment, responded a beat late. I made a sarcastic expression.

‘You sent them, didn’t you?’

Suddenly, why was he dragging on about my background? It seemed like he was interested in the position of the queen.

‘There might not even be any creatures of different races.’

So, it could mean they are using magic to keep me away from the sea as long as possible.

‘During that time, they might try to attach Hadel to another woman.’

My inner thoughts were so transparent that they could be read as if looking inside the water.

‘Hadel might have been in a position where he was ostracized here and there until then, and he might have fallen in love with me, but now that he has taken a new position, he might think he has the opportunity to be interested in another woman.’

So, they keep sending different women to the bedroom, and since I keep interfering, they are trying to get rid of me.

Oh, why are they all like this?

‘Really, even after a hundred years, things like this haven’t changed.’

The palace was indeed a messy place. I just forgot about it for a while.

Duke Hart urged me for an answer.

“What do you want because you feel uncomfortable? If it’s about reinforcing the military power of the palace, I’ll approve anything…”

“No. What I’m asking for is not that.”

“Then?”

I had various thoughts, but in the end, there was only one thing I wanted to say.

“Your Highness, please marry me.”

Just clear everything and let us get married.

In the end, the Daejeon meeting revolved around various discussions and ended with our national wedding.

Of course, there were opposing opinions, but I passionately argued like this:

“How can you not get married and fight again, possibly dying?!”

Has anyone here died? I have died, you know?

Even the nobles who opposed the national wedding eventually closed their mouths in the face of my blunt opinion.

The discussion heated up again, and when they said we had to prepare for the wedding for over a year, I exclaimed in frustration.

“The southern harbor zone is suffering so much right now, and you want to delay for a year! You’re all too much! I don’t feel any love for the citizens of this kingdom!”