Chapter 22. I need to propose marriage
2022.10.29.
‘I try.’
I watched the chief attendant and chief maid of honor clenching their chins.
When Xavier put a chair in front of Larima for a moment, Larimar burst into anger as if he had waited.
“I told you not to leave it here, you idiot!”
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
The two desperately pretended not to be dating… but
‘really?’
As expected, Lisandro, who was standing guard, leaned over and whispered in my ear.
“your majesty. Those two too…?”
“huh. They said they finally dated.”
“aha. at las! It took so long!”
I patted Lisa on the shoulder as she shouted knowingly.
“Just pretend you don’t know, Lisandro. Maybe they are dating secretly.”
“It’s a secret relationship that doesn’t even seem like a secret. Yep I see.”
Lisandro replied with a smirk. It seemed interesting to watch the two desperately acting.
The sheep, who was lying happily on the sofa wagging its bountiful tail, snorted as it wandered around Larimar and Xavier.
[Why don’t you wear ‘We’re in love’ written all over your face?]
However, because I didn’t make it gigantic, other people’s ears were like ‘nyangnyang.’ Nyan nyang nyang?’ it sounded like
Larima, unaware that the sheep had cursed at her, bent her legs and sat in front of the sheep and asked kindly.
“Why are you like this, Yang Shin-soo? snack? Would you like a snack?”
[suddenly? Give it to me first.]
The excited sheep pricked up his ears when I said he was giving me a snack anyway.
Xavier, who was removing the chair, hastily stopped.
“Larima. Shinsoo-nim ate a snack earlier. Oh no.”
kya It wouldn’t be easy to be this awkward.
I looked at Xavier with admiration. Then Xavier looked at me and sneaked out of the room.
Perhaps it was because their relationship as childhood friends had developed into lovers in an instant, and both of them could see that they were at a loss for what to do.
‘It’s fresh and fun.’
It seemed like it would be a good idea to ask people to pretend they didn’t know until the end.
Since we became lovers from friends, it is only natural that there will be ups and downs. Those two weren’t particularly worried.
Rather…
I leaned my chin and glanced at Aidan.
It looked like a normal face, but only I could feel it.
‘Aidan is strange.’
Since when? A few days ago, Aidan was strange from the day he went out with Larimar over Aidan who said he would follow him.
Of course, that was just how I felt.
Aidan’s attitude was not much different from usual.
As always, we had casual conversations, drank tea together, and took walks in the northern woods together, but the feeling was very cold.
‘It’s just a little weird.’
It was a matter of intuition that cannot be expressed in words.
Insinuating ‘What’s up with Aidan?’ When asked, the answer was ‘no’.
‘Or where does it hurt?’
I jumped up and put my hand on Aidan’s forehead, and Aidan froze in embarrassment.
“Hmm.”
‘I don’t have a fever.’
What’s the matter?
***
‘Company romance.’
Xavier and Larimar knew those cruel words better than anyone else.
How long did you roll in the imperial castle?
Countless times I have seen hundreds of couples born, broken, and torn apart.
The two of them were having such a company romance right now.
You don’t know how people work, so first of all, they were dating in secret.
The two had no doubt that they were deceiving others well.
In the meantime, Xavier learned the truth about what he had arbitrarily misunderstood.
“what? You said you had already turned down the marriage talk?”
“okay. Did you think I would get married just because I had a lot of money and a title?”
“No, that’s not it…”
Without knowing that, I mistakenly thought that Larima was going to send a letter accepting the marriage proposal.
‘Anyway, does it matter if it turned out well?’
After hesitating for a moment, Xavier gathered courage and grabbed Larimar’s hand.
Then Larimar shuddered and shook his hand.
“Oops. What are you doing all of a sudden, disgusting!”
“It’s disgusting….”
Seeing Xavier’s wounded face, Larimar only felt sorry for him.
‘I forgot that we were dating.’
However, after being friends for over 30 years, there was no way they could show affection just because they suddenly dated.
Larimar deliberately and earnestly asked.
“If you’re going to hold hands, say it and hold it.”
Then Xavier asked without hesitation.
“Then can I catch you now?”
“…or so.”
He replied as if nothing was wrong, but Larima’s cheeks turned red.
Even though they held hands this time, Larimar did not shake it off.
one minute two minutes.
Amidst the awkward passage of time, Xavier was the first to get lucky.
“Hmm. that larimar. Hey.”
“What?”
“Actually, Your Majesty knows. I’m larimar you jo jo jo jo….”
“What do you like?”
In an instant, Xavier’s face lit up. Xavier asked calmly, covering his blushing face.
“That’s why I’m only going to tell His Majesty. Larimar, what do you think?”
“It’s fine if it’s your Majesty.”
They could trust their emperor without hesitation.
Xavier, who was uncomfortable at the thought of cheating on Mabel, let out a sigh of relief.
Then, suddenly, something I had always wondered about came to mind.
The first night I confessed my heart. It was the first thought I had upon returning to my room.
‘Does Larimar like me too?’
It reminded me of something I had never heard of.
“By the way, Larimar, do you… like me?”
Larimar’s face also turned bright red at Xavier’s sudden question. Larimar slapped Xavier on the shoulder with his other hand, not facing him.
“you idiot! …why would you date someone if you don’t like it?!”
A secret I couldn’t even tell Mabel.
In fact, the person Larimar liked was Xavier.
From the time I comforted Larima, who was heartbroken over a broken heart. However, it was a feeling that I had been hiding all along, fearing that we might not even be friends.
Even in a situation where they couldn’t see each other’s faces because of the shame that made them shudder, the two did not let go of their hands.
***
“Your Majesty. We…”
“Let’s go out together!”
Suddenly, he summoned me to say something closely, and Larimar and Xavier shouted in turn.
For a moment, I was speechless, so I opened my mouth wide.
‘How should I react at a time like this…?’
I couldn’t tell the truth that I already knew it because the two of them were waiting for my answer with a lot of tension.
‘good. Let’s match the rhythm.’
I smiled broadly and clapped my hands.
“and! Are you two dating? Goes well!”
“haha.”
Xavier smiled shyly, and Larimar spoke condescendingly.
“I am only telling His Majesty. Madame doesn’t even know!”
“It is an honor.”
I thought to myself as I answered Larima’s words.
‘no. The nanny probably knows…’
I know, but you’re pretending not to know because you’re tearful.
In any case, wouldn’t it be enough for just the two of them to be happy?
I sincerely congratulated Larimar and Xavier.
“Since when have you been dating?”
When I asked as if I didn’t know anything, Larima looked away and answered as if she was embarrassed.
“Oh, not too long ago.”
“Then who confessed first?”
Xavier smiled awkwardly in response to my mischievous question.
“I am…”
“As expected, at our mercy. I do it when I do it!”
“It’s all thanks to Your Majesty. Because His Majesty listened to my concerns.”
“What are you talking about. Courageous Xavier is the coolest.”
Then Larimar opened her axe eye and glared at Xavier, asking ferociously:
“your majesty. What about me? Aren’t I cool?”
Larimar burned a competitive spirit in a strange place. Xavier winked at me.
‘I want you to make Larima feel better?’
Seeing through the meaning, I quickly turned to Larimar.
“Larimar is cooler than Xavier.”
Then Larimar was delighted and satisfied with mercy.
Caught in the middle, I became even more embarrassed.
After chatting for a while, the two got up from their seats.
“Then we will go.”
“your majesty. Please keep the secret!”
Finally, after Larima’s request, the two left the office.
Not long after that, Gustav and Oscar came in one after the other. Oscar pointed a finger behind his back as he entered.
It was referring to Larimar and Xavier, who had just left.
“I heard you two are dating?”
“…”
When I thought of the two people who went out after claiming it was a secret, I became solemn.
“It’s a secret.”
“secret? Too obvious for that?”
“Pretend you don’t know. Pretend not to know.”
“I don’t even want to interfere.”
Oscar shrugged and sat down next to me. It seemed that he was not interested in other people’s love affairs.
‘My Oscar should also meet a good partner…’
What the hell is wrong with not having a single date at that age?
I narrowed my eyes and looked closely at Oscar. Today, his handsome appearance was dazzling.
Oscar looked down at my penetrating gaze and pressed both hands on my cheeks.
“Woogu nooo.” (Leave this.)
“Didn’t you look at me so cutely?”
“Noooo!” (No!)
Gustaf, who was laughing as he watched us arguing, added an insinuating word.
“It’s a secret, so rumors have already spread throughout the imperial castle, right?”
He even snorted.
“Hump.” (Heuk.)
I was embarrassed as Oscar pressed the cheek.
People who know don’t know, but rumors spread all over the place.
But Larimar and Xavier didn’t know.
It seemed that an unknown operation was unfolding that only the parties were unaware of.
***
Aidan, who was returning to his lodgings after the mission was over, stopped at the familiar presence felt from a distance.
Someone came running from afar, panting.
“Your Excellency, Grand Duke of Aserad!”
It was Xavier. He immediately bowed his head and cried out.
“Last time I was rude!”
“Not at all.”
“You showed ugliness.”
“…”
It was ugly.
When Aidan didn’t answer, Xavier, embarrassed, scratched the back of his head.
“I can’t tell you to drink because I’m too shy. Why don’t we have a cup of tea?”
“…”
Xavier added, impatient with Aidan’s refusal.
“I have something to tell you.”
If he had no business, he would have refused, but if he had something to say, the story was different.
Aidan nodded.
“If only for a moment.”
.
.
.
“oh. This is my first time visiting this palace. The interior decoration is more colorful than I thought.”
Xavier smiled awkwardly and looked around the bedroom. The interior did not match Aidan’s image.
‘It looks similar to His Majesty’s bedroom. I must be mistaken?’
It was not an illusion.
Once, after Mabel’s surprise attack, he looked at Aidan’s room and fell back.
“Bang-i… What is this room? There is nothing!”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s okay, what’s okay? The obsessive light-gong interior is not recommended!”
After that day, Aidan’s bedroom, which had been deserted under Mabel’s leadership, was quickly decorated.
Aidan’s bedroom, which is filled with Mabel-like furniture, has become rather lovely, cute, and colorful.
Of course, it was far from Aidan’s taste, but he was satisfied with the fact that Mabel had picked it himself.
After a while, there was an awkward silence as usual between the two of them.
Xavier asked urgently, realizing that the tea was getting cold.
“dismissal. Do you have any worries these days?”
“…”
“If it’s okay with me, I’ll be your counselor. Your Excellency also listened to my story.”
It has been more than 20 years since Xavier became Mabel’s attendant. It was enough to know what he was thinking just by looking at him.
Of course, Aidan also boasted that he knew better than others because he had been watching him since he was young.
Others wouldn’t notice, but Xavier noticed that something was going on between the two of them.
Especially on Aidan’s side.
“Sometimes there are moments when it’s comforting just to confide in someone.”
“…Mabel.”
When Aidan, who had been thinking for a while, really started to worry, Xavier was a bit surprised, but soon kept his composure.
“yes. Your Majesty?”
“It sounds like you want me to spend time with someone else.”
“okay.”
“I want to be with Mabel.”
That was something that had been bothering Aidan lately.
He thinks Mabel can do anything he wants, but he doesn’t understand.
Why should I hang out with others? what does that mean
Mabel is the only meaning to him.
“If you are not with the Emperor, are you lonely?”
be lonely If it was just waiting for the time to meet Mabel, it was.
When Aidan agreed, Xavier nodded in understanding.
“that’s right. I know that feeling.”
“know?”
“yes. Larimar also has many friends. That’s why, when I’m on vacation, I go around without even being attached to my room. At that time, it is not easy to see your face.”
“so?”
“I deliberately made an appointment with Larimar and met him. Because I want to see you.”
“…”
“It seems that His Majesty wants you not to be lonely when His Majesty is not around-.”
“Impossible.”
It was impossible no matter how you thought about it. When Aidan spoke firmly, Xavier, taken aback, raised his finger and suggested an alternative.
“How about trying a new hobby?”
“….”
“Then what about a trip?”
“…”
“Mmmmm. So… marriage?”
Aidan, who had not responded to the other words, showed interest.
“What’s good about getting married?”
Until now, Aidan had never felt the need to get married.
Because I thought there was no need to follow the customs of such people.
“hmm. Is it that I can see the person I love as soon as I wake up in the morning?”
“….”
It wasn’t immediately after waking up in the morning, but Aidan’s routine was to head straight to Mabel’s bedroom.
So I didn’t feel any benefit.
“Anything else.”
“For everyone else to know that you love each other?”
It was the same even now.
As Aidan’s expression changed to boredom, Mercy also became serious.
“More than anything.”
“….”
“It can be the closest. It becomes a family.”
The closest. And family.
As soon as I heard Xavier’s words, memories of the day passed through my mind.
“You’re not trying to disrupt the ‘family’ time, are you?”
It was Esteban who took Mabel out with a provocative statement, and Mabel who walked out with an awkward greeting.
If it’s a family, do those things come naturally?
“…okay.”
At that moment, Aidan made up his mind.
‘I have to propose.’
