Chapter 5….
“The Day of Departure”
Time passed in the blink of an eye… and at last, the day had come for Elze to depart for Ernstal.
In the plaza in front of the royal castle, the people of Magriel had gathered, cheering her on.
“Have a safe trip, Princess!”
“A heartbreak is nourishment for the future!”
“We’ll prepare the consolation party!”
“We’ll bake delicious cakes and wait for you!”
“You’re not allowed to cry until you come back!”
Honestly, not just her family—even the people of Magriel did not believe that Elze would be able to become Prince Richard’s bride.
Standing on the platform, Elze performed a graceful bow that was unrecognizable compared to a few months ago, then opened her mouth with a calm smile.
“Dear citizens of Magriel, I, Princess Elze, am truly delighted to have been chosen as a bride candidate for Prince Richard of the nation of Ernstal.”
At Elze’s unusually composed tone, the gathered crowd fell silent.
Internally smirking at their reaction, Elze continued.
“Becoming a bride candidate and traveling to the country of Ernstal is not only for my personal future, but also an important step for the future of Magriel as a whole. I sincerely hope that my actions will serve as a bridge to further strengthen the friendly relations between our two nations, and to bring about peace and prosperity. I swear to always remain a princess worthy of pride as the representative of Magriel, keeping its culture, traditions, and values close to my heart.”
A murmur spread through the plaza.
“…Who is that?”
“Is that really Princess Elze!?”
“Did she eat something strange…?”
“Is that actually Princess Ulrika in disguise?”
To the confused citizens, Elze let out a small laugh.
Well, she could continue acting as the ideal princess until the very end… but if possible, she wanted everyone to send her off in good spirits.
“Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the citizens for giving me this opportunity. And…”
She took a deep breath—and then suddenly burst out:
“When I return, it won’t be a consolation party—it’ll be a ‘Congratulations on the Marriage’ party! Don’t get that wrong! Please be ready with a giant wedding cake!”
The moment Elze declared that, cheers erupted from all directions.
“That’s our Princess Elze!”
“She has to be like this!”
“We’ll bake a cake that won’t lose to any imperial patisserie!”
“Make sure you bring back the prince!”
Waving back at the delighted crowd, Elze boarded the carriage sent from Ernstal.
The moment she did, her eyes met those of the Ernstal ambassador waiting inside, and Elze froze in shock.
(This is bad… I completely forgot the ambassador was waiting…!)
Naturally, he must have also witnessed her earlier energetic outburst.
“Um… the bride selection process starts after we arrive in Ernstal, right? There won’t be any deductions based on how we act during the journey… right?”
She asked cautiously.
The serious-looking ambassador gave a small chuckle and explained:
“Please rest assured, Princess Elze. The selection process will begin after arrival in Ernstal, under the supervision of the examiners. There will be no additions or deductions during the journey, so you may spend the time freely.”
“Oh… thank goodness…”
Elze let out a relieved sigh.
Soon the carriage began to move, and the voices of the crowd grew even louder.
“Elze, take care!”
“If it gets hard, come back anytime!”
Even her usually composed older brother and sister were shouting with all their strength, waving desperately.
Elze leaned out of the carriage and waved back at everyone.
(Magriel… my beloved homeland…)
Her beloved people and the beautiful scenery gradually faded into the distance.
“…Now then, regarding the schedule going forward—”
The ambassador muttered deliberately, looking down at his notebook.
Taking his hint—his unspoken kindness of “I didn’t see anything”—Elze wiped away her overflowing tears.
(It’s okay… I will definitely protect it…!)
She looked back one last time at her cherished homeland.
Then, turning forward with determination, Elze rode onward.
