MTD 8

Thinking it was Adam’s hand, I reflexively placed my hand on it….. Only after touching it did I realize that the hand was smaller and softer than Adam’s.

I had already stepped out and hesitated, but my body tilted towards the owner of the hand, allowing me to see who was standing in front of me.

‘Briton!’

My heart skipped a beat the moment our eyes met – Briton Aslet, with his beautiful silver hair, clear-cut eyes with blue irises, the epitome of a pretty boy who seemed to have stepped out of a fashion magazine.

I lost my balance and swayed, and though Briton staggered slightly, he quickly steadied my body.

I found myself holding Briton’s hand, slightly leaning into him, facing him.

A few seconds passed, and a bright smile formed on Briton’s lips.

“I’ve caught you, my lady.”

His gentle and sweet voice flowed into my ears.

“It was worth chasing after you so earnestly.”

I looked at Briton with startled eyes.

Briton casually raised my waist that he was holding, helping me regain my balance.

I stared at his face, feeling dazed.

“…I wanted to greet you properly, but you left again today….”

He continued, mixing in a slightly disappointed tone.

“I felt I couldn’t let you go, so I followed you.”

At last, Briton’s beautiful sapphire-colored eyes that met mine sparkled brilliantly.

I almost nodded unconsciously at the boy’s beauty but barely managed to come to my senses.

☁⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ🌱ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹☁

In the Marquis’ drawing room, I looked at Briton nervously, as it was my first time entertaining a guest in this unfamiliarly large space.

Briton, holding a teacup and savoring the aroma of Earl Grey, met my eyes.

A faint smile once again crossed his lips.

“Next time, I’ll make sure to bring sweet desserts that go well with the tea.”

What I felt while briefly interacting with Briton was, well…..

That he would become the epitome of the prince on a white horse that all women will desire in the future.

A promising, no, a certain unicorn-like man combining intelligence, beautiful appearance, and noble character!

From birth, beyond a silver spoon, a diamond spoon, and also the Crown Prince at that.

‘Indeed, it’s too overwhelming.’

Before my possession, when I lived in modern times, I somehow ended up as an office couple with an admired male employee, and I went through hardships that are difficult to explain.

Since then, I’ve avoided dating men who don’t match my level, and that stance hasn’t changed even now.

If it’s impossible to persuade Parmes, I have no choice but to persuade Briton!

“Um, Your Highness.”

“Yes, my lady.”

I clenched my fist and solemnly opened my mouth to get to the point.

“So, what do you think about our marriage, Your Highness?”

I believed that Briton, who kept smiling at me, must have some complaints too.

Suddenly being married to a girl from the countryside.

Especially in a private setting like this, I should be able to know his true feelings.

But his answer took me by surprise.

“Actually, I’m so excited that……”

The boy’s lips moved, and a seemingly shy voice flowed out.

“……I often can’t sleep at night and end up walking outside.”

Wh-What?!

At Briton’s unexpected response, I looked at him with bewildered eyes.

Briton, unfazed, continued speaking with a seemingly joyful smile.

“It’s frustrating that there’s still a lot of time until we reach the marriageable age, but until then, I’d like to meet and spend time with you like this often, my lady.”

“……”

“I hope you feel the same way, my lady.”

This wasn’t the kind of answer I was looking for.

But why do I keep feeling this tickle inside?

This boy, he’s too cu… cute… No, stop it!

I barely managed to regain my senses from Briton, who was stealing my soul with his pretty face and bright smile.

“We first met at the Imperial Palace, didn’t we?”

“…Yes, my lady.”

After a brief pause of a few seconds, as if to build anticipation, Briton answered brightly.

Huh? The atmosphere felt a bit strange just now.

Anyway, I continued speaking.

“Don’t you think it’s unreasonable to have a political marriage that doesn’t reflect Your Highness’s will? You were told to marry a girl you hadn’t even seen before. So please, be honest with me. If we come up with a plan together, even Uncle Zimmer, I mean, His Majesty the Emperor might…”

“My lady……”

Briton’s blue eyes rippled like waves.

“Do you think marrying me is unreasonable?”

“That’s……”

I couldn’t continue speaking.

This boy who had been smiling brightly at me now lowered the ends of his eyebrows as if prepared to be hurt by whatever I might say.

It’s unfair to make such an expression with that face.

Briton, who had been waiting for my answer, soon opened his mouth again.

His voice was even somewhat melancholic.

“If you think it’s unreasonable……”

I hesitated at Briton’s words.

Yes, although my heart stings a bit, it seems we’re approaching the conclusion I was hoping for.

As the Imperial Crown Prince, his pride must have been hurt.

“……I will try not to think of it as unreasonable.”

Huh?

I was left speechless by Briton’s voice, which flowed in the opposite direction of my expectations.

And then came that bright smile.

When the beautiful boy smiled, it was as if thousands of flowers bloomed behind him.

Briton slightly bowed his head and brought his face closer to mine, which wore a bewildered expression, then added shyly.

“I really… like you, my lady.”

At that soft voice, I felt a chill run down my spine for some reason.

The young boy’s voice, seemingly gentle yet not entirely so, resembled Parmes’s a little.

☁⊹₊┈ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ🌱ㆍ┈ ▫ ┈ㆍ┈₊⊹☁

“I feel like I’ve aged another ten years today.”

Adam looked at me with a kind expression as I let out a deep sigh.

“Oh my, you’ve only lived for just over ten years, so you shouldn’t say that. I think I’ll have to tell them to prepare the pecan chocolate cake that the young miss likes today.”

“Hmm, that sounds good.”

Adam had already figured out my personality trait of feeling better after eating something sweet.

‘By the way, I wonder if Mas isn’t coming today?’

It’s been a week since I came to this mansion, and Mas has been visiting me every other night.

Although he couldn’t speak and thus couldn’t be a conversation partner, the boy listened attentively to my complaints.

That alone seems to be a comfort in this unfamiliar daily life.

“Um, Adam.”

“Yes, young miss. What is it?”

“I’ve been thinking carefully about this.”

All the recent events that happened to me were utterly unbelievable.

But for me, who knows the future, what I needed to avoid was clear, and to move in that direction, what I needed first was.

“I… I’m going to rebuild the Marquis family and restore its reputation.”

Clenching my small fist, I recalled the image of the city two years from now.

Corpses strewn across the streets and the gaunt faces of the poor. One of them could be Mas.

Perhaps some of the people from Galnem village could be among them too.

“You know, Your Highness. If I knew a very important secret about the country’s future, but it was so unbelievable that no one would believe it… how should I make people believe my words?”

“I’ve heard that Marquis Mylar was deeply respected. They say that as the Elementalist, no one easily dismissed his words. In the end, the influence of words depends on how trustworthy You are and how influential You are.”

Right. No one would listen if a child who just came up from the countryside warned about a coming famine.

The heir to the Marquis family and the fiancée of the Crown Prince, neither of these positions were obtained through my own efforts.

‘Briton said that to secure enough budget for several years’ worth of food supplies would require the Emperor’s approval and the consent of the four ministers.’

Parmes, who is called a tyrant, has a solid support base in the form of four ministers.

The Ministry of the Imperial Household, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Military Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They wield immense power right below the Emperor.

To persuade them, I first need to establish myself as Dad’s successor.

And I must prevent the famine two years from now at all costs!

I will also definitely protect my money in Hugo Brint!

“…Young miss, I’m truly moved.”

Adam’s eyes glistened slightly as if touched by my determination.

“If Marquis Mylar knew how admirably the young miss has grown…how delighted he would be!”

After looking at me for a moment, Adam suddenly put on a serious expression and continued speaking.

“I was planning to tell you after you had adjusted a bit, but since you seem to have a clear goal for rebuilding the Marquis family, I think it’s better to tell you now.”

Adam’s gaze became even more solemn.

“Besides the trust in Hugo Brint, there are other assets the Marquis left behind. These assets can be accessed even before you come of age.”

At the mention of assets, my eyes sparkled.

“What are they?”

“Would you follow me for a moment?”

At Adam’s words, I followed him, taking small, quick steps.

He opened and entered Dad’s study.

Then, at the end of the study, standing against the right wall, he said to me.

“Please place your palm on this handprint.”

There was a large palm-shaped mark on the wall.

I spread my small palm and placed it there, and after a moment, a part of the wall slid open like a sliding door, revealing a small safe.

“This is…”