Chapter 32-2
The Palace, second-floor corridor.
Hanette was urgently summoned by the king and entered the palace hastily.
When I first heard the news, I was taken aback, but it didn’t take long before I realized why and realized that she must have been dragged in as the fiancé due to something that happened because of Sion.
‘How did you explain yourself to end up in this situation?’
Hanette was heading towards the office with a knight.
She had never met the king before today, let alone entered the palace.
She had heard a few precautions from Yenid, but she couldn’t even remember them now.
‘… He said he was using me as a reason. He must have made a mistake while doing so.’
Hanette checked the letter that Sion had received and agreed to the demand.
‘I want to use your existence as a reason for refusing to join the royal knights, and I hope you didn’t feel bad about it.’
Moreover, he had even offered to give 100 gold coins as compensation for fulfilling this request.
He probably intended to return the 80 gold coins he had received from her through this incident Hanette thought.
‘We agreed to cooperate with each other, so we should do what we can for each other.’
Hanette lets out a bitter smile and a sad look in her eyes.
She couldn’t even understand why he didn’t want to join the Royal Knights in the first place.
Although Sion said he wanted to live freely, she couldn’t really empathize with him.
It was because she had to live a life bound since the time she got engaged to Sion.
‘You know too much about kids’ stuff.’
Hanette stands still in front of the palace, lost in thought.
The Royal Knights were standing before her, guarding the palace without even looking around.
She felt a strange sense of calmness by just being aware of the necklace around her neck.
“Are you Hanette Adelaira?”
“Yes.”
“… Her Majesty the King is waiting for you.”
Glenone opened the door with a slightly dissatisfied expression.
Hanette entered the palace and recited a consistent sentence with courtesy.
“I greet You Majesty, the pinnacle of the Alain Kingdom, the owner of the palace, and the great King who has left significant achievements.”
“You came quite quickly. Is Duke doing well?”
Brandis turned around from the window to greet Hanette.
Although Hanette was taken aback by her appearance, she instinctively continued the conversation.
“Yes, thanks to Your Majesty’s grace, He’s doing well.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. A loyal subject shouldn’t be suffering.”
Brandis slowly stepped forward and stopped in front of Hanette.
Hanette felt an inexplicable sense of intimidation and cautiously avoided her gaze.
“Do you know why I called for you?”
“…I think it’s because of my fiancé.”
“That’s right. Your fiancé is causing me trouble.”
Brandis looked Hanette and murmured.
Despite being called a ‘Crazy Young Lady’, she didn’t look so bad.
Above all, her eyes alone were enough to make me feel as if she were looking at Duke Adelaira.
“How can I help you?”
“I want you to give me your fiancé.”
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, but I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Why are you asking me to give you my fiancé?”
“Sion Laird swore to become your knight. He said he couldn’t back out because he put his life on the line. If you allow it, he will join the royal knights.”
“…?”
Hanette’s mind went blank for a moment.
The contents were different from what was previously discussed.
He had only offered plausible excuses about the circumstances of his family or fiancé, but suddenly oaths and lives were being thrown out.
How could he lie to the king like this?
“Sion Laird possesses the most outstanding qualities among the swordsmens I have seen so far. If he receives systematic training in the royal knights, he will bear fruit within a few years. How about you make a concession for your fiancé?”
Brandis spoke sincerely, but did not show an oppressive attitude.
This was not a problem that could be persuaded by royal orders or justifications.
In order to break Sion’s oath and determination, she had to receive Hanette’s consideration.
She had to trample on the promise and emotion of the two people because of her own greed.
‘Maybe because he not just a kid…’
Hanette repeatedly thought, barely suppressing the urge to sigh.
She couldn’t say that Sion had lied in this situation.
There must have been circumstances that forced Sion to do so, and we had promised to help each other.
If he was going to make a mistake, it would have been better to make it more perfect.
‘But… why do I have to compromise? Isn’t it okay for me to do whatever because he’s my fiancé?’
Hanette was filled with inexplicable discomfort and struggled to contain it.
If Sion joined the royal Knight, his time at the mansion would be reduced.
In the end, she would not be able to be with him and would always wander within the palace.
Why should I allow that to happen?
“Your Majesty, I’m afraid I cannot grant your request.”
“What? Why not?”
“My fiancé has sworn to die for me. I have accepted that oath, so my life is also in my fiancé’s hands. Therefore, one of us must die before the oath can be broken.”
“… Are you asking me to kill you?”
“If Your Majesty orders me to die, I will. However, I only ask that you keep this a secret so that my fiancé will not be saddened.”
Hanette herself was not aware of the words she was speaking.
She was simply expressing the emotions that were flowing through her mind.
She didn’t know what the future held, but she couldn’t undo what she had already done.
“Are you threatening me with your life?”
“If it sounded that way, I apologize. But I, too, have committed to live for my fiancé. So I have no choice but to risk my life for my fiancé’s sake.”