Book 1 Chapter 980
Celia, dragging Emira into a room as if kidnapping her, locked the door and let out a deep breath.
Leo looked at Celia and said,
"You know, you look like a child desperately trying to hide the fact that they've done something wrong? Ah, but it is a big accident."
At his words, Celia glared at Leo, her eyes wide.
Seeing Celia's reaction, Leo pointed at Emira with his finger.
"But… you've covered her mouth and nose. Is she okay?"
"Huh? Hah!"
Celia gasped and released Emira, who was trembling violently.
"Haa… Haa…!"
Emira, who had fallen to the floor, gasped for breath, trembling.
Having barely regained her breath, Emira, her legs shaky, struggled to get up.
She then tidied her disheveled clothes, which Celia had disturbed, and opened her bright, clear eyes.
Her trembling body and rapid breathing had already subsided.
Emira, now looking like a perfect young lady, looked at Celia.
"I have a lot of questions, but…"
Setting aside her curiosity, Emira slightly lifted the hem of her dress towards Leo and curtsied.
"It's nice to meet you, Leo-oppa. I've heard a lot about you from Father for three years. My name is Emira Zedinger. I've always wanted to meet you."
She greeted Leo, her cousin whom she was meeting for the first time, with a shy smile.
"It's nice to meet you too. I've heard a lot about you from Celia as well."
Leo returned her greeting with a smile.
Emira blinked her red eyes and stared intently at Leo's face.
Then she asked.
"Leo-oppa. You make many girls cry, don't you?"
Slap-!
"Don't say something rude upon our first meeting."
"Huuung!"
Celia lightly slapped Emira's face.
Emira, clutching her face, cried out in pain.
At first glance, Celia and Emira looked like sisters.
However, their atmospheres were completely opposite.
Celia, impeccably dressed in a white uniform and exuding a strong aura, possessed a knightly charisma.
In contrast, Emira exuded a delicate, noble lady's aura, giving the impression of a fragile herbivore.
"You said you were a bit frail and stayed home often?"
"Yes. Cough- cough-"
Emira suddenly started coughing.
After coughing for a moment, covering her mouth with a white handkerchief, Emira removed it.
Looking down at the red liquid staining the handkerchief, Emira then gazed out the window with a melancholic expression and murmured.
"As you can see, I'm a frail beauty."
"It looked like it was already on the handkerchief."
"Yes. It's ketchup."
After replying, Emira clasped her hands together and approached the window, murmuring.
"The leaves are falling again this year. As ephemeral as I am… But I'm suddenly hungry."
"…"
Leo, who had been silently watching her, asked Celia in a low voice.
"Celia, that girl…"
"…Yeah. She's a bit eccentric."
"She's the same age as Chelsea, right?"
"Yeah."
Celia ran a hand through her hair and sighed.
"Incidentally, she's Chelsea's natural enemy."
"Natural enemy? Why?"
"If Chelsea is a devil, this girl is like pure evil."
"Pure evil?"
"You'll know if you experience it. By the way, she found out about something she absolutely shouldn't have…"
Celia clutched her head.
Meanwhile, Emira walked over to Celia.
"By the way, Celia-unnie. What did you mean by being promised marriage to Abad-ssi?"
At Emira's question, Celia put on a determined expression, knowing it was time.
Taking a deep breath, Celia smiled.
"You heard wrong."
"What?"
"You heard wrong."
"Ah. So I heard wrong."
Emira nodded and murmured, stroking her chin.
"Then it's okay to tell Selde Uncle, right?"
"Sorry. I'll tell you properly."
"Huh? Didn't I hear wrong?"
Emira exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
Watching her act so innocently while knowing everything, Leo understood why Celia called Emira pure evil.
'Well, she doesn't seem like a bad person.'
While Leo was inwardly assessing Emira.
Celia told him everything about her relationship with Abad.
"So, Abad-ssi fell for Celia-unnie… and Celia-unnie also has feelings for Abad-ssi, and if Abad-ssi wins in a one-on-one duel, you'll get married?"
"Yes."
"Celia-unnie."
"Why?"
"Do you intend to live as an old maid for the rest of your life?"
"What are you talking about!"
"No, it's just that… I know Abad-ssi is amazing, but how can Abad-ssi beat Celia-unnie in a one-on-one duel?"
"…"
"Or are you planning to lose on purpose?"
"That will never happen."
At that, Emira shook her head lightly.
She knew her cousin's personality well.
There would be no cutting corners.
'Well, Abad-ssi is also not ordinary, so it's not hopeless.'
Emira thought of Abad.
While they weren't close as Zedinger and Lewalin, they had known each other since childhood, so she knew a fair amount about Abad.
As Emira recalled the situation between the two, her eyes sparkled.
"And to think, a forbidden love between children of enemy families… how romantic."
"It's not exactly forbidden love, is it? We're from the same country after all."
"Celia-unnie. You've changed a lot since entering Lumern. You always said Lewalin must be defeated."
"W-well, that was when I was young."
"It was only three years ago."
"Ahem! Anyway! Don't tell Father or Uncle."
"Hmm? But when do you plan to tell them?"
"…I will tell them during this noble family meeting."
"What? Really?"
Emira's eyes sparkled.
"This is going to be so much fun!"
"I sometimes genuinely think it's a good thing you don't have talent as a knight."
Celia sighed deeply.
"By the way, does Chelsea know about this?"
"Yeah."
"Knowing Chelsea's personality, she wouldn't have stayed quiet. Isn't she interfering?"
"She interferes. She butts in every time Abad and I are together."
Emira tilted her head.
'If Chelsea really wanted to thwart them, she'd just prevent them from meeting.'
Interfering between them could be seen as tacit approval of their relationship.
'Perhaps they are more emotionally close than I thought? After all, they promised marriage without family permission.'
Emira rolled her eyes.
"Either way. I will tell Father, so keep it a secret until then."
"Yes."
Emira smiled.
Seeing Emira smile, Celia sighed again.
Although she was mischievous, now that she had made such a request, she wouldn't blab.
'Of course, she'll use this to blackmail me.'
Celia said, pressing her temples.
"Leo."
"Yes?"
"No. You should call her 'Young Lady', shouldn't you?"
Seeing Celia's smile, Leo let out a hollow laugh.
"Why would Leo-oppa call Celia-unnie 'Young Lady'?"
"I decided to hide my identity and attend the noble family meeting as my servant."
"So that's why Leo-oppa was here."
Emira, with a look of understanding, smiled brightly.
"Then, instead of being Celia-unnie's servant, can you be my servant?"
"What? Why?!"
"Because I want to talk a lot with Leo-oppa."
"No."
"Hmm. As expected, Celia-unnie's problem is a grave family matter, so I should tell Uncle…"
"Fine! Fine!"
Celia's face contorted with annoyance.
"It was a chance to get revenge…"
At those words, Emira smiled at Leo.
"Please take care of me for the next week, Leo-oppa."
"I will. Emira-young lady."
***
Jiss looked at his nephew and daughter, who were in his room, with a displeased expression.
"So? You asked Leo to be your servant?"
"Yes."
"…"
Jiss ran his hands through his hair without a word.
"Leo, I apologize on their behalf."
"It's alright. It seems like it will be fun."
"It's not a time to just say it's fun. If it gets out that you attended the noble family meeting while serving as a servant, there will be big problems. The Archy Kingdom might even be publicly disgraced."
"We just have to not get caught."
"Yes. Just like Leo-oppa said, we just have to not get caught."
Jiss sighed deeply, looking at his nephew and daughter who were in sync.
"Ris and Celia aren't like this… You two have a clear mischievous streak for causing trouble."
"That's unfair. I've never caused trouble. It was Ris-oppa who caused trouble."
Emira protested softly.
Leo cast a sympathetic glance at his uncle.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because you're about to become busy."
"What are you talking about now?"
"You'll know soon."
Jiss sighed deeply.
Then he adopted a serious expression.
"Emira."
"Yes."
"You have a marriage proposal."
"That's always the case."
Emira smiled faintly.
A direct descendant of Zedinger.
However, born frail, she had no talent as a knight.
In a heroic family, it was common for descendants lacking heroic qualities to be used in political marriages.
Emira also didn't expect to have a 'love' marriage.
Therefore, she didn't particularly complain about being used politically.
She was different from Celia, who bore the Zedinger name at the cost of her life.
However, Jiss loved his daughter dearly and had rejected most marriage proposals.
Furthermore, with the collapse of the Elder Council, the pressure for political marriages had lessened.
Therefore, it was a bit unexpected for Jiss to bring up the marriage proposal.
'Does this mean the person is someone truly wonderful?'
"I wanted to pair you with someone you truly liked, but…"
Jiss said with an apologetic expression.
'Hmm… As a father, he can't do anything about it? Even with the Elder Council in ruins, Father is making a choice for the family… Is the other party from an exceptionally great family?'
Of course, she didn't particularly mind.
Jiss, unable to face his daughter who was so readily accepting the marriage proposal, got up from his seat.
"Still… I think he's a good man."
Watching Jiss leave the room with those words, Emira smiled faintly.
"Father is really… you don't have to worry. Well then, Leo-oppa. Shall we go see the face of my future husband together?"
"Can I see too?"
"Of course!"
Emira smiled brightly and opened the photo album for Leo to see.
"…"
"…"
After a moment of silence, Emira spoke.
"Leo-oppa."
"Yes?"
"I shouldn't think this situation is amusing, should I?"
"You shouldn't, but it is indeed amusing."
Leo and Emira smiled at the same time.
***
Abad looked down at the photo album with a grim expression.
Watching him, Chade Lewalin, the head of the Lewalin family, said calmly.
"You know, right? Emira Zedinger. The woman who will become your wife."