Chapter 9
Sole was speechless.
Everyone else was the same.
Silence.
Only the sound of the wind blowing through the garden seemed unusually loud.
“…Prince Verunoa.”
The first to move was Mishnight.
His voice was low.
Cold.
“Do not come any closer to my daughter.”
The atmosphere changed.
This was not the Chancellor speaking.
This was a father.
The pressure in his voice was so intense that even the surrounding knights held their breath.
But—
Verunoa did not look away.
Still kneeling on one knee, he quietly watched Sole.
“You are mistaken.”
“…”
“I did not come here to take her away.”
At those words, Shurles scoffed.
“That statement has absolutely no credibility.”
“I find that rather unfair.”
“Says who?!”
Verunoa remained completely unfazed.
Impressively so.
Then—
Sole cautiously opened her mouth.
“…Um.”
Everyone’s attention immediately turned toward her.
Eek.
But she had to ask.
“I-I… um…”
There was simply too much information.
Dying?
An engagement?
A neighboring kingdom?
Her brain could not keep up.
So—
“Can I think about it while cuddling something fluffy?”
Everyone:
“…”
The entire atmosphere froze.
Even Verunoa fell silent for a moment.
Sole herself was completely serious.
After all, the magical beast in her arms was incredibly soft.
It was basically emotional support fluff.
Then—
A quiet laugh escaped.
“…I see.”
It was Verunoa.
Everyone froze.
He had laughed.
Verunoa Ashley = Emanraat had laughed.
And—
He actually looked slightly amused.
“As I thought, you are interesting.”
“Was that supposed to be a compliment?”
“Yes.”
“I have a really bad feeling about that.”
An immediate response.
Yuris burst out laughing.
Aalto pressed a hand against his forehead.
Shurles was still gripping his sword.
Mishnight remained expressionless.
Amid all this—
Verunoa slowly stood up.
“I will not press the matter any further today.”
“Obviously.”
Mishnight’s voice was cold.
But Verunoa paid it no mind.
“However.”
Those sapphire eyes found Sole once more.
“There is not much time.”
Sole’s shoulders trembled slightly.
At that—
Verunoa narrowed his eyes for just a moment.
Then—
“Please do not worry.”
His voice was quiet.
“As long as you do not wish it, I will not forcefully take you away.”
The people around them finally released small sighs of relief.
But in the very next moment—
Verunoa continued.
“However.”
A bad feeling crept in.
“If that is the case, then I will simply make you want to come on your own.”
Everyone:
“Huh?”
Sole:
(THAT’S TERRIFYING!?!?)
It was essentially a declaration that he intended to slowly and thoroughly win her over.
