I hesitated for a moment, but soon relaxed my expression and laughed, “Ha ha.”

“Isn’t a fake marriage already a failed strategy?”

Bringing up an old plan—how very unimaginative of you.

I asked jokingly with a smile, but Levi’s expression remained serious.

No, he even scratched his head awkwardly, as if flustered by my reaction!

‘……’

What’s with this atmosphere?

Only then did it occur to me that this might not be a joke.

“Sir Merten, are you just teasing me after not seeing each other for so long?”

Please laugh brightly again and say it was a joke. I was exhaling, waiting for his answer.

“Len, I’m not repeating our old plan or making a joke right now.”

“Sir Merten.”

“Many things happened while I was in my homeland, and many things have changed.”

Levi continued in a calm but firm tone.

“Throughout a series of overwhelming events, I kept thinking about you.”

“……”

‘W-what?’

Is this development what I think it is?

“What if you had been by my side? What did you mean to me?”

It was difficult to meet Levi’s gaze. I wanted to avoid it, but even that wasn’t possible.

It felt like his intense gaze was holding me captive, making me unable to move, as if I were caught.

“I didn’t realize it when you were by my side. But being apart made it clear.”

He carefully grasped my hand.

“That I must never let you go.”

“……”

“Leonora Chadmon. I am ready to love and cherish only you. Come with me to Bilmotz.”

When his dignified and respectful voice ended, Levi showed another gentle smile.

“……”

I froze for a moment, unable to say anything.

But thinking I shouldn’t keep him waiting too long, I managed to loosen my stiffened lips.

“Did I just receive a marriage proposal?”

Perhaps thinking my words were out of place, Levi burst into laughter.

“Yes, that’s right. You just received a proposal.”

“…Ah, I see. So that’s it. The very proposal that’s always the talk of society. I just… received that.”

In my flustered state, I started blurting out whatever came to mind.

I thought it might be better to keep my mouth shut, but then Levi’s eyes felt too burdensome.

“Thank you. That you think of me that way, really… I’m so grateful I don’t know what to do with myself.”

I should at least say thank you. Someone liking me is something to be grateful for and special.

But when I expressed gratitude, Levi’s expression darkened slightly.

“So it’s gratitude, not joy.”

“No, I mean…”

When Levi pointed that out, my mind actually became clearer.

It was a regrettable thing to say, but the emotion wasn’t joy or happiness.

It’s true that when I heard his confession, a tsunami-like emotion surged and my head felt hot.

It was definitely a different feeling from usual.

But it wasn’t happiness.

“I’m sorry. But I have things I need to do here right now.”

Yes, I had a mountain of tasks to complete.

If things went wrong, Foil might take all of Ostrin. I needed to find evidence and stop him somehow.

And the most important issue.

After returning to my body lying there like the dead, I’ll seek my freedom and leave.

‘I’m sorry, but the person you’re looking at isn’t the real Leonora Chadmon.’

So about the proposal, couldn’t you ask Leonora again later, not now?

“Things you need to do?”

Of course, I couldn’t say such things to Levi.

“His Majesty hasn’t fully recovered yet.”

“Len.”

“He needs someone to take care of him.”

Then Levi slowly withdrew his smile and said:

“There are many people who can take care of His Majesty. It doesn’t have to be you. If that’s your reason, I can’t accept it.”

“Sir Merten…”

In a normal situation that might be true, but Ainberg needs me right now.

Of course, I can’t tell him that Ainberg has lost his memory or that there are people targeting him.

After a brief pause, I opened my mouth.

“Then let me put it differently. His Majesty won’t allow it, just like last time.”

I tried to alleviate my guilt by hiding behind Ainberg.

I knew it was a cowardly method, but my priority was escaping this awkward situation.

But Levi spoke with a somewhat flushed face compared to before.

“If that was the problem, you don’t need to worry.”

“What?”

“Permission is no longer necessary.”

“What do you mean? Permission is no longer necessary?”

When I made a confused expression, Levi slightly bowed his head and then raised it.

“He’s more tight-lipped than I expected.”

“……?”

“It seems Allentain didn’t say anything.”

Just then, a scene suddenly came to mind.

When Brother brought me Levi’s letter, he seemed to have said something with a similar nuance.

‘Don’t you have anything to tell me?’

‘No. Oh, thank you for bringing the letter.’

‘Is that all?’

‘Are you curious about the letter’s contents?’

‘I’m saying this because you had no reaction after reading the letter.’

‘What kind of reaction should I have?’

‘Never mind. You’ll hear it directly later.’

While I was still looking up at Levi with puzzled eyes, Levi smiled meaningfully.

“I’ve become a different person since leaving Ostrin not long ago.”

“What do you mean?”

What’s different about you?

You look exactly the same on the outside.

‘No, your aura has changed slightly.’

Is there really something I don’t know?

“You look like you don’t know anything.”

Levi gave a strange smile. Then he began speaking in a somewhat subdued voice.

“Recently, the imperial prince who had been battling illness after an unfortunate accident passed away.”

“Ah.”

I bowed my head in condolence.

“That’s sad news. I express my deepest condolences for the imperial prince who was the star of Bilmotz.”

When I politely paid my respects, Levi also bowed his head.

“The unfortunate riding accident changed many things.”

“……”

“The Emperor, who was already frail, collapsed from severe shock, and though there are two imperial princesses in Bilmotz, they are too young to become heirs.”

“You must be very concerned about your homeland’s situation.”

So that’s why you couldn’t come.

I felt a strange sense of kinship with Bilmotz’s complex and gloomy situation, no less severe than Ostrin’s.

The gloomy situation in Bilmotz must have been what kept holding Levi back whenever he tried to leave.

“…Because of that incident, His Majesty adopted me, his sister’s son, and ironically, I became first in line for succession.”

“……?”

At this point, I was too shocked to even ask questions.

While I just stood there with my mouth open, Levi continued speaking nobly.

“Sadly, His Majesty doesn’t have much time left. Though I desperately hope for his miraculous recovery.”

“……”

“If he doesn’t recover…”

The rest didn’t need to be said.

Good heavens. Levi Merten will become the Emperor of Bilmotz.

I couldn’t say anything, as if my lips were glued together.

“W-wow.”

When I finally dropped a word that was neither an exclamation nor admiration, Levi laughed awkwardly.

“I’m sorry for suddenly appearing and saying all this.”

“No, Sir Merten, you have nothing to apologize for.”

Then, realizing I might have made a mistake, I covered my mouth.

“Then I should call you Imperial Prince now. Please forgive my rudeness until now.”

When I immediately lifted my dress and bowed my head, Levi waved his hand.

“No, Len. Don’t do that. Treat me exactly as before.”

“But…”

“Nothing has changed. Really. My feelings for you are exactly the same as before.”

But my mind was in complete chaos.

Levi becoming the Emperor of Bilmotz.

What on earth is happening?

When my silence lengthened, Levi spoke first.

“More importantly, Len, you don’t have to answer the proposal right now.”

He immediately added:

“No, please don’t answer now.”

“Sir Merten.”

“Just as I took time to think, you’ll need time too.”

“……”

“I won’t rush or pressure you. In fact, I’m very good at waiting.”

Then he smiled brightly and continued:

“I was happy and comfortable when I was with you. Wasn’t it the same for you?”

That was true.

Levi was an upright and good person.

We could have pleasant conversations on any topic, and we understood each other well.

He also readily stepped forward when I was in trouble.

“Yes, that’s right.”

When I nodded slowly, Levi stood up.

Being tall, he slightly bowed his head to meet my eyes.

“So think about it slowly.”

Levi’s gentle voice continued.

“And when you’ve sorted out your thoughts, please tell me. I’ll be waiting.”