I Once Thought I Had No Place, Being Married Off to An Enemy Nation as A Token of Apology but That Was Only for One Night - Chapter 25

The identity of the man I admired was Emperor Albert. Therefore, being invited for a walk by him was not something I disliked in itself. The problem was the timing. Why now, at this specific moment, had he invited me for a walk when he had never done so before?

No, that is not quite it. I already had a general idea of what he wanted to discuss. That was why I was afraid to confirm it. I walked beside him like a lover, my heart racing for an entirely different reason.

“Noel. As you know, traces signaling the arrival of the Saint of White Snow have been found in various regions,” Albert said. “Yes, so it seems.” “In fact, a White Bell Cherry tree is planted here in this courtyard. Look, over there. It does not seem to have bloomed yet, but…”

Emperor Albert turned his gaze toward the tree. In that exact moment, the buds of the White Bell Cherry began to pop open and bloom.

What terrible timing for it to bloom! You should have read the room a little better! This is practically shouting to the world that I am the Saint of White Snow!

“What do you intend to do?” Albert asked. “What do you mean by what?” “You allowed people to misidentify your Black Snow as White Snow, did you not? Once the Saint of White Snow truly appears, everyone will know you were a fake.”

Oh, so that is what he meant. I was startled; I thought he had finally figured out my identity.

“So, what will you do?” “I will do nothing different. I will simply work hard to be recognized as the Saint of Black Snow.” “I see. You have been working so hard to create a place for yourself ever since that day, haven’t you?”

A sharp breath escaped my lips.

“By that day, do you mean…”

Emperor Albert and I had spoken once before while both hiding our identities. Had he realized that the girl from that day was me?

“I knew from the beginning. There are not many illegitimate children whose maids come to collect them,” he admitted.

Ah, I see. My circumstances, combined with my age and appearance at the time, would have made my identity easy to guess.

“Were you the one who realized and yet kept quiet about it?” I asked. “Well, that is because…”

Back then, I had boldly declared that I would become a magnificent Saint and protect him! And yet, here I am, married off as an apology gift from my brother and loathed as the Saint of Black Snow.

“Stop it,” I whispered. “What is wrong? Why are you suddenly hiding your face with both hands and squirming?” “I cannot help but squirm! Having you see me in such a pathetic state is…” “Pathetic?”

Emperor Albert tilted his head, appearing truly puzzled.

“It is pathetic, is it not? I stood there with such confidence and told you I would protect you. Yet now, I am just an apology gift, and even as a Saint…”

I felt as though my face was on fire from the embarrassment.

“It is true that you are in a difficult position. However, I know that you are working just as hard as you did back then,” Albert said. “What?” “I wish I could have told you that a little sooner.”

I did not understand. Was he actually praising me?

“Your Majesty, did you not hate me because I am the sister of the Crown Prince?” “It is true that I do not think fondly of the Crown Prince’s sister as a concept. However, the moment I met you, I knew you had not changed since we first met. I would never hate you simply for being his sister.” “But…”

Then why? I looked up at Albert’s profile, wanting to know the answer. Bathed in the morning sun, a gentle smile appeared on his handsome face as he turned his gaze toward me.

“Your bad reputation was too widespread. If I had protected you forcefully, it would have clearly caused backlash from my subjects.”

So, he treated me coldly on purpose? That makes it sound as though he was trying to protect me all along. But could such a thing really be possible?

“Did I not tell you that day that if you could not find a place to belong, I would lend you a hand?”

I felt as though I remembered hearing that. However, at the time, I was so caught up in the goal of creating my own place that I didn’t remember it clearly. Even if it were true, I wondered something else.

“How does that relate to this situation?” “While I was demanding reparations, I thought I would help you, since you had no place to go. However, your brother’s reckless behavior threw my plans into disarray.”

I see. When he tried to protect me, my brother suggested me as a bride instead. That must have flustered even Emperor Albert.

“If I had refused carelessly, there was a possibility you would have been married off to someone else, perhaps one of the Hexagram Lords who already disliked you,” he explained.

Finally, I understood the reason Emperor Albert accepted my brother’s proposal. It was for my sake. He chose Frieda as the Head Maid because he knew her fair nature would allow her to judge me correctly. Even though I had talked big about protecting him, in reality, I was the one being protected.

“But why go that far?” I asked.

To me, he was the admired older brother who showed me the way. But to him, I should have been nothing more than a child he comforted in a plaza once.

“It started as a small amount of sympathy. But…”

Gently, he brushed aside a stray lock of hair that had fallen near my cheek. In the next moment, he brought his lips close to my ear.

“Now, I am satisfied with this choice.”

For a moment, I thought he might kiss my cheek. His deep blue eyes stared at me quietly.

“Let me ask you once more. Noel, do you wish to return to your homeland?”

Did I want to return to Ashtar? The answer to that had been decided long ago.

“There are people I care about in that land. However…”

The person I admire is in this country. More than anything else.

“I have no desire to return and be used by my brother or father. I do wish to check the archives of that country to find a way to break your curse, but I do not wish to move back there.” “I see,” Albert exhaled quietly.

“Your Majesty?” “I hear that in the Kingdom of Ashtar, various problems are surfacing now that you are gone.” “Is that so?” “Yes. Apparently, the purification efforts cannot keep up. Dissatisfaction with the country is growing. Furthermore, the Crown Prince’s temperament has become even more violent, and complaints are erupting everywhere.”

A certain reason for his violent temperament flashed through my mind, and I instinctively covered my mouth. I must be careful. I certainly cannot discuss such things in front of the Emperor.

“The knights and Saints told me they would work hard to support the country. But I suppose a day will come when things fall apart. When that time comes…”

I will lend a hand to help that country become better, perhaps by overthrowing the King and the Crown Prince. I will do it for the sake of the people I care about. I already hold the trump card for that.

“You have quite a wicked look on your face,” Albert remarked. “I was just thinking of getting some revenge on my brother and the others who made me into an apology gift.” “I see. That sounds like it would be quite satisfying.”

Emperor Albert laughed from deep in his throat. He, too, had been made to suffer by my brother. If that was the case, seeking revenge together sounded like fun.

“Noel, let me welcome you once again. While many have not yet accepted you, I believe that you will win their trust through your own strength.” “Thank you. I will certainly succeed.”

Not as the Saint of White Snow, but as the Saint of Black Snow. As I smiled brightly, a sudden gust of wind blew. Petals of the White Bell Cherry danced through the air as if welcoming my new life. I plucked a petal that had caught in my hair and looked up at Emperor Albert’s face.

“When we return to my room, may I send a letter to the maid who looked after me in Ashtar?” “I do not mind, but why so suddenly?” “That is…”

Because I promised her, I would send a letter once I became happy. But I did not say that.

“It is your fault, Your Majesty.”

I playfully bumped my shoulder against Emperor Albert’s.