Book 1 Chapter 980

980.

Celia, who dragged Emira into a random room as if kidnapping her, locked the door and took a deep breath.

Leo said, looking at Celia like that.

"You know, you're just like a child desperately trying to hide the trouble you caused? Oh. It *is* a major incident, though."

At those words, Celia opened her eyes wide and glared at Leo.

Seeing Celia like that, Leo pointed at Emira with his finger.

"But… you're covering her mouth and nose, is she alright?"

"Huh? *Gasp*!"

Celia, aghast, let go of the trembling Emira.

"Haa… haa…!"

Emira, collapsed on the floor, trembled and gasped for breath.

Emira, who barely managed to catch her breath, struggled to her feet with trembling legs.

And after tidying her clothes, which had been disheveled by Celia, she opened her eyes wide and clear.

Her trembling body and rapid breathing had soon calmed down.

Emira, now looking like a perfect lady, looked at Celia.

"First of all, I have a lot of questions, but…"

Emira, putting her curiosity aside, slightly lifted the hem of her dress and curtsied towards Leo.

"It's my first time meeting you, Brother Leo. I've heard a lot about you from Father for three years. My name is Emira Zerdinger. I really wanted to meet you."

She gave a shy smile as she greeted Leo, her cousin whom she was meeting for the first time.

"Nice to meet you. I've also heard a lot about you from Celia."

Leo also smiled and greeted her back.

Emira blinked her red eyes and stared intently at Leo's face.

Then she asked.

"Brother Leo. You make a lot of women cry, don't you?"

*Smack*!

"Don't say rude things on our first meeting."

"Ouch!"

Celia lightly hit Emira's face.

Emira, holding her face, let out a pained cry.

Celia and Emira looked like sisters at first glance.

However, their auras were the complete opposite.

Celia, neatly dressed in a white uniform and exuding a confident aura, was literally radiating knightly charisma.

On the other hand, Emira exuded a delicate aura like a young lady from a noble house and gave the impression of a fragile herbivore.

"You said you're often at home because your body is a bit weak, right?"

"Yes. *Cough- cough-*"

Emira suddenly began to cough.

Emira, who was coughing with her mouth covered by a white handkerchief, took the handkerchief away from her mouth a moment later.

Emira, looking down at the red liquid stained on the handkerchief, soon murmured with a melancholic expression, gazing out the window.

"As you can see, I am a fragile beauty."

"It looks like it was already on the handkerchief."

"Yes. It's ketchup."

Emira, who answered like that, clasped her hands together, approached the window, and murmured.

"This year too, the leaves are falling. How fleeting, like me… But I'm suddenly hungry."

"…"

Leo, who had been silently watching her, asked Celia in a small voice.

"Celia, she…"

"…Yeah. She's a bit quirky."

"She's the same age as Chelsea, right?"

"Yeah."

Celia, holding her head, sighed.

"By the way, she's also Chelsea's natural enemy."

"Natural enemy? Why?"

"If Chelsea is a devil, she's like pure evil."

"Pure evil?"

"You'll know if you experience it. Anyway, I got caught by the one person who absolutely shouldn't have found out…"

Celia clutched her head.

Meanwhile, Emira came stepping towards Celia.

"By the way, Sister Celia. What does it mean that you're engaged to Mr. Abbad?"

At Emira's question, Celia wore a solemn expression, as if knowing what was coming had arrived.

Celia, who took a deep breath, smiled faintly.

"You heard wrong."

"What?"

"I said you heard wrong."

"Ah. I heard wrong, then."

Emira, who nodded, stroked her chin and murmured.

"Then it's okay if I tell Uncle Celd, right?"

"Sorry. I'll tell you properly."

"Oh? So I didn't hear wrong?"

Emira, flustered with wide eyes.

Seeing her skillfully act innocent even though she knew everything, Leo could understand why Celia called Emira pure evil.

'Well, she doesn't seem like a bad kid.'

While Leo was internally evaluating Emira.

Celia told everything about her relationship with Abbad.

"So. Mr. Abbad fell in love with Sister Celia… and Sister Celia also has feelings for Mr. Abbad, so you decided to marry if Mr. Abbad wins a 1:1 duel?"

"That's right."

"Sister Celia."

"Why?"

"Are you planning to live as an old maid for life?"

"What are you talking about!"

"No. Isn't it obvious? I know Mr. Abbad is amazing, but how can Mr. Abbad win against Sister Celia in a 1:1 duel?"

"…"

"Or are you planning to intentionally lose?"

"Absolutely not."

At those words, Emira lightly shook her head.

She also knew her cousin's personality well.

There would definitely be nothing half-hearted.

'Well, Mr. Abbad is also not ordinary. So it's not like there's no chance.'

Emira recalled Abbad.

While they couldn't be called close as Zerdinger and Rwallyn, as they had known each other since childhood, she knew Abbad to some extent.

Emira's eyes sparkled brightly as she thought about the relationship between the two.

"By the way, a forbidden love between the children of enemy families… How romantic."

"It's not exactly a forbidden love, is it? We're from the same country anyway."

"Sister Celia. You've changed a lot after entering Lumen, haven't you? Even though you always said that Rwallyn must be knocked down no matter what."

"Th-that was. That was a childhood story."

"That was only three years ago, wasn't it?"

"*Ahem!* Anyway! Absolutely don't tell Father and Uncle."

"Hmm? But how long are you planning to hide it?"

"…I will tell them during this noble family conference."

"What? Really?"

Emira's eyes sparkled brightly.

"That'll be so much fun!"

"I sometimes feel truly relieved that you have no talent as a knight."

Celia sighed deeply.

"By the way, does Chelsea also know this fact?"

"Yeah."

"Given Chelsea's personality, she wouldn't have stayed still, would she? Doesn't she interfere?"

"She does interfere. Every time I'm with Abbad, she butts in."

Emira tilted her head.

'If Chelsea really intended to hinder them, she would just prevent them from meeting, wouldn't she?'

If it's just interfering between them, it's fair to say she's implicitly agreeing to their relationship.

'Perhaps they're emotionally closer than I think? Well, they've even arbitrarily promised marriage without the family's permission.'

Emira rolled her eyes.

"Anyway. I'm going to tell Father, so keep it a secret until then."

"Yes."

Emira smiled faintly.

Seeing Emira like that, Celia sighed once more.

Although she has a mischievous personality, since I've asked her like this, she won't chatter arbitrarily.

'Of course, she will use this matter for blackmail, though.'

Pressing her temples, Celia said.

"Leo."

"Why?"

"No, wait. I should call you 'Young Lady,' shouldn't I?"

Seeing Celia smile faintly, Leo let out a wry chuckle.

"Why does Brother Leo call Sister Celia 'Young Lady'?"

"He decided to attend the noble family conference as my attendant, hiding his identity."

"So that's why Brother Leo was here."

Emira, making an understanding expression, smiled sweetly.

"Then instead of being Sister Celia's attendant, could you be my attendant?"

"What? Why?!"

"Because I want to have many conversations with Brother Leo."

"No."

"Hmm. As expected, Sister Celia's problem is a serious matter for the family, so to Uncle…"

"Alright! I said alright!"

Celia made an indignant expression.

"It was a chance to repay the humiliation…"

At those words, Emira looked at Leo and smiled faintly.

"Please take good care of me for a week, Brother Leo."

"I'll take good care of you, Young Lady Emira."

***

Zis looked at his nephew and daughter, who had come to his room, with a wry expression.

"So? You asked Leo to be an attendant?"

"Yes."

"…"

Zis silently clutched his head.

"Leo. I'll apologize instead."

"It's alright. Because it seems like it will be fun."

"This is not the time to say it's just fun. If it becomes known that you attended the noble family conference while acting as an attendant, a big problem will arise. The Arhi Kingdom might also be publicly disgraced."

"We just need not to get caught."

"Yes. Just as Brother Leo said, we just need not to get caught, right?"

Zis sighed deeply, looking at his well-matched nephew and daughter.

"Rhys and Celia aren't like that, but… You two certainly have a mischievous streak for causing trouble."

"That's unfair. I've never caused trouble. On the contrary, the one who caused trouble was Brother Rhys, wasn't it?"

Emira protested softly.

Leo sent a sympathetic look to his uncle.

"…Why are you looking at me with those eyes?"

"Because it seems like you'll be busy."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You'll find out soon."

Zis sighed deeply.

And made a serious expression.

"Emira."

"Yes."

"A marriage proposal has come in for you."

"That's a common story."

Emira smiled faintly.

The direct lineage of Zerdinger.

But because she was born with a weak body, she had no talent as a knight.

In a noble house of heroes, it was a common story for a bloodline without the qualities of a hero to be used for a political marriage.

Emira also didn't think she would have a 'love' marriage.

That's why even if she was used politically, she didn't have any particular major complaints.

Because she was different from Celia, who carried the name of Zerdinger, risking her life.

However, because Zis loved his daughter dearly, he had rejected most marriage proposals.

Furthermore, as the Elder Council collapsed, the pressure for political marriages also lessened.

Therefore, Zis bringing up the marriage proposal to her was a bit unexpected.

'Does that mean he's such a good person?'

"As much as possible, I wanted to pair you with a partner you like, but…"

Zis made an apologetic expression.

'Hmm… Does that mean he can't help it as a father? The Elder Council has fallen, yet Father is making a choice for the family… The other party must be an incredibly great family, then?'

Of course, even so, she had no particular complaints.

As if he couldn't face his daughter who was obediently accepting the marriage proposal, Zis got up from his seat.

"Still… I think he's a decent man."

Emira smiled faintly, watching Zis leave the room after saying those words.

"Oh, Father, really. You don't have to worry, you know. Now, then, Brother Leo. Shall we look at my future husband's face together?"

"Can I see too?"

"Of course!"

Emira, who smiled brightly, opened the photo album so Leo could see.

"…"

"…"

Emira, who had been silent, said.

"Brother Leo."

"Why?"

"I shouldn't think this situation right now is fun, should I?"

"You shouldn't, but it certainly is fun."

Leo and Emira smiled simultaneously.

***

Abbad looked down at the photo album with a stiff face.

Seeing Abbad like that, Chade Rwallyn, the head of Rwallyn, said calmly.

"You know, right? Emira Zerdinger. She is the woman who will be your wife."