Chapter 08
Thinking it was Adam’s hand, I instinctively placed my hand on it.
…But the moment our hands touched, I realized it was much smaller and softer than Adam’s.
I’d already stepped forward, so I couldn’t stop. My body tilted toward the owner of the hand, and I finally saw who it was.
Briton!
The moment I met the sapphire-blue eyes of Briton Aslet—a handsome boy with beautiful silver hair who looked like he had stepped out of a magazine—my heart skipped a beat.
I lost my balance and stumbled forward.
Briton staggered slightly as well, but immediately caught me and steadied me.
Holding his hand, I found myself leaning lightly against him.
A few seconds passed before a bright smile spread across Briton’s face.
“I caught you, my lady.”
His gentle, sweet voice flowed into my ears.
“It was worth chasing after you.”
I looked at him in surprise.
Without a hint of awkwardness, Briton adjusted the arm around my waist slightly so I could regain my balance.
I stared blankly at his face.
“…I wanted to greet you properly, but you left again today…”
His voice carried a trace of disappointment.
“So I felt like I couldn’t let you get away and ended up following you.”
His beautiful sapphire eyes sparkled brilliantly.
For a moment, I almost found myself nodding at his handsome face before barely coming back to my senses.
In the Marquess estate’s reception room, I nervously faced Briton.
It was my first time receiving a guest in such a grand room, and I still wasn’t used to it.
Briton lifted his teacup, savored the aroma of Earl Grey, and met my eyes.
A faint smile crossed his lips again.
“Next time, I’ll have them bring a sweet dessert that goes well with the tea.”
After spending only a little time with Briton, I’d realized one thing.
He was destined to become the ideal prince charming that every woman dreamed of.
Intelligence, extraordinary looks, and a noble personality.
He wasn’t just promising—he was guaranteed to grow into a man as rare as a unicorn.
And on top of that, he wasn’t merely born with a silver spoon.
He was the Crown Prince.
He’s way too much for me.
Back in my previous life, I’d once accidentally ended up dating a highly admired male coworker.
It had caused me more trouble than I could explain.
After that, I avoided dating men who were too far out of my league.
That hadn’t changed now.
If I can’t persuade Parmes, then I’ll have to persuade Briton!
“Your Highness.”
“Yes, my lady.”
I clenched my fists and spoke with determination.
“What do you think about our marriage?”
I believed that even Briton, who kept smiling warmly at me, must have some complaints.
After all, he’d suddenly been told he was going to marry a country girl he’d never even met.
Surely he’d be honest in a private conversation like this.
But his answer completely caught me off guard.
“Actually… I’ve been looking forward to it so much…”
His lips moved as he spoke shyly.
“…that I can’t sleep at night and end up taking walks outside.”
“W-What?!”
I stared at him in disbelief.
Completely unconcerned by my reaction, Briton continued smiling.
“There’s still a long time before we’re old enough to marry, which is unfortunate.”
“So until then, I’d like to meet with you often and spend time together.”
“…”
“I hope you feel the same way.”
That wasn’t the kind of answer I wanted.
Then why did my heart feel so strange?
This kid is so cu… cu…
No!
I barely managed to pull myself together despite Briton’s dazzling smile.
“We only met for the first time at the palace.”
“…Yes, my lady.”
After a few seconds of silence, Briton answered brightly.
…Huh?
For a moment, the atmosphere had felt a little strange.
Anyway, I continued.
“Don’t you think it’s unfair to be forced into a political marriage that doesn’t reflect your own wishes? You were suddenly told to marry a girl you’d never even met. So please be honest. If we work together and come up with a solution, Uncle Zimmer—I mean, His Majesty—”
“My lady…”
Briton’s blue eyes rippled softly.
“Do you think marrying me is unfair?”
“Well…”
I couldn’t continue.
The cheerful boy who had been smiling at me all this time lowered his eyes as though he was ready to be hurt no matter what I said.
With a face like that, making such an expression was completely unfair.
After waiting for my answer, Briton finally spoke.
His voice sounded almost sorrowful.
“If you think it’s unfair…”
My hands froze.
Right. It hurts a little, but this is finally heading toward the outcome I wanted.
After all, he was the Crown Prince.
There was no way his pride wasn’t hurt.
“…Then I’ll do my best to make sure you never feel that way.”
…Huh?
I was left speechless by Briton’s completely unexpected answer.
Then he smiled brightly.
When such a beautiful boy smiled, it felt as though thousands of flowers bloomed behind him.
Briton leaned closer until his face was near mine and added shyly,
“Because I really… like you, my lady.”
Something about his quiet voice sent a chill down my spine.
It sounded gentle.
But it wasn’t entirely gentle.
There was something about it that reminded me of Parmes.
“I feel like I’ve aged ten years today.”
As I sighed deeply, Adam looked at me kindly.
“My, my. You’ve only lived for about ten years. That won’t do. I’ll have them prepare your favorite pecan chocolate cake today.”
“Mmm, sounds good.”
Adam had already figured out that sweets always improved my mood.
I wonder if Mas is coming tonight.
A week had passed since I’d moved into the estate.
Mas had been visiting me every other night.
He couldn’t speak, so he couldn’t really hold a conversation with me.
But he always listened patiently to everything I had to say.
That alone was a great comfort in my unfamiliar new life.
“Adam.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“I’ve been thinking.”
Everything that had happened to me recently had been unbelievable.
But since I knew the future, I knew exactly what I had to avoid.
And before I could move in that direction…
“I’ve decided to rebuild the Marquess Mylara family and restore its reputation.”
I clenched my small fist and pictured the city two years from now.
Corpses scattered through the streets.
Starving people with gaunt faces.
Mas could become one of them.
Maybe some of the people from Galnem would too.
“You know, Your Highness. If I knew a very important secret about the Empire’s future, but it was something no one would believe… how could I convince people to trust me?”
“I’ve heard that Marquess Mylara was greatly respected. As the Great Spirit Master, there was no one who ignored what he had to say. In the end, the weight of someone’s words depends on how trustworthy and influential they are.”
Exactly.
Even if a country girl who had just arrived in the capital warned everyone that a famine was coming, no one would listen.
Being the heir of House Mylara and the Crown Prince’s fiancée…
Neither of those were positions I’d earned myself.
Briton said that spending enough money to prepare years’ worth of food would require the Emperor’s approval and the agreement of all four ministers.
Parmes, the tyrant, had the unwavering support of the Four Great Ministers.
The Ministry of the Imperial Household.
The Ministry of Finance.
The Ministry of War.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Each wielded enormous authority directly beneath the Emperor.
If I wanted to persuade them…
I first had to establish myself as Father’s true heir.
And then I’d stop the famine that was coming in two years!
And I’d definitely protect my money in Hugobrint Bank too!
“…My lady, this is truly moving.”
Adam’s eyes grew slightly moist as if he were deeply touched by my determination.
“If Marquess Mylara knew how wonderfully you’ve grown, he’d be so happy…”
After looking at me for a moment, Adam became serious.
“I intended to tell you after you’d settled in a little more. But since your determination to rebuild House Mylara is so clear, I think it’s better to tell you now.”
His gaze became even more solemn.
“Besides the trust at Hugobrint, the late Marquess left behind another asset. And unlike the trust, you can access this one even before reaching adulthood.”
My eyes lit up.
“What is it?”
“Would you come with me?”
I hurried after Adam.
He led me into Father’s study.
Then he walked to the far end of the room and stopped in front of the right wall.
“Please place your hand on this handprint.”
There was a large hand-shaped mark on the wall.
I spread out my tiny hand and placed it over the mark.
A moment later, part of the wall slid open like a hidden door, revealing a small safe.
“This is…”
Instead of a combination lock, the safe had circular, triangular, and square-shaped slots.
It looked like something had to be inserted into them before it could be opened.
Tilting my head, I studied the safe carefully.
“What’s inside it?”
