As monsters continued to appear in Ice Valley, the northernmost part of the Arepe Empire, the empire needed troops, and Emperor Khalif requested support troops to confirm the loyalty of the vassal states.

The Portia Kingdom, Princess Arnica’s kingdom, pledged loyalty to the empire by conscripting and sending 3,000 mercenaries. However, the emperor made greater demands of the Portia Kingdom, which had a knight order that matched the empire’s military power. What was thus arranged was the political marriage between the princess of the Portia Kingdom and the crown prince of the Arepe Empire. Despite knowing he was being used politically, Theodore had no right to refuse marriage with Arnica. Conversely, Princess Arnica greatly welcomed her marriage with Theodore. This was because his beauty was so outstanding that rumors spread throughout the continent. When the marriage proposal arrived for the princess, she was so happy that she held parties for several days.

Though she had dreamed of a happy married life, after learning that Theodore had no feelings for her, she became jealous of Biella and caused trouble. So she eventually died miserably from the crown prince’s anger.

“Ha. What to do.”

When several hours passed after the boring march began and Theodore was nowhere to be seen, her heart became anxious. Knowing the ending of the original work, each passing hour felt like her blood was drying up.

As if Theodore knew she was constantly looking for opportunities, he led the procession without leaving the front.

‘I need to at least face him to talk about breaking off the engagement.’

Since Theodore didn’t even show his nose, she soon became disheartened. Occasionally Greg would go to the end of the procession to boost the morale of the procession members, then head back toward the front of the formation. Each time, Greg would pass by her carriage and ask if she was alright.

“Princess. Is there anywhere you’re uncomfortable?”

“No. I’m fine.”

She was so absorbed in thinking about how she could break off the engagement with Theodore that she had no mental capacity to pay attention to anything else.

A few hours later, to refresh her completely exhausted mood from endless thinking, she opened the window to welcome the cool breeze. Enjoying the cool breeze was short-lived, as the rising sun brought increasingly heated air she couldn’t easily get used to.

Then, Greg approached again and saw her face drooping against the window frame, chuckled, and threw out a joke.

“Are you planning to dye even your face red?”

Is he teasing me because my hair is red? Since she was bored, she mischievously retorted.

“Wouldn’t that be better than getting tanned black?”

Looking at the soft black hair flowing down Greg’s forehead, she opened her mouth. Greg laughed heartily as if something was very amusing.

“As expected, you don’t disappoint my expectations.”

As she glared at him, he gripped his reins tightly and stuck close to the window.

“But what happened with His Highness the Crown Prince?”

What happened with Theodore…… There was a lot to say.

The incident where Theodore saw her body while changing her clothes. The incident where her foot delivered a fearless high kick toward him. And most importantly, the incident where she declared ‘breaking off the engagement.’

But she was reluctant to tell Greg about any of these things. Emotionally, Greg, who had declared he would protect her, felt more trustworthy and close than Theodore who tried to cut her throat, but she couldn’t tell him every detail of her personal affairs.

“It’s nothing special.”

Hoping he wouldn’t ask any more questions, she turned her eyes away from Greg and stared at Theodore who was far ahead. Theodore sitting on his black horse overflowed with intimidation even from behind. His  sturdy body swaying rhythmically with the horse’s movement overflowed with even more dignity under the bright sunlight. Greg followed her gaze to look at Theodore and spoke matter-of-factly.

“Theo seems to care about you very much, Princess.”

He cares about me? A lot at that? Not knowing at what point he could have such an absurd thought, she shook her head vigorously. He says that because he didn’t see Theodore sharply uttering words like insolence and rudeness. She answered with a confident look, wagging her index finger.

“You don’t know. His Highness the Crown Prince cares about Lady Biella.”

I’m just a political ally.

“So you should be very tense.”

Having sub-male lead stocks, she gave a subtle hint hoping he would do well with Biella. But the clueless Greg didn’t understand her meaning and frowned.

“You’re telling me to be tense?”

She slowly nodded affirmatively. Yes, you. Be a little tense. Since I’m going to break off the engagement with the crown prince, nothing will happen to make Biella suffer. Then you’ll have no excuse to comfort her. If that happens, you won’t be able to get close to her either. So look for opportunities to visit Biella and show her that smooth comedy of yours! It’s not my taste, but who knows? Biella might like it.

She didn’t need to give such detailed dating advice so she didn’t ramble on, but she clearly conveyed one thing.

“Women are attracted to straightforward men.”

Greg nodded lightly and his expression deepened as if he was thinking deeply about something. She felt proud after giving advice.

A few hours later. The procession stopped briefly to water the horses tired from the long march. She got out of the carriage and stretched her hands high above her head, tilting her waist left and right.

Just then, Theodore, who was going somewhere, passed by her side and glanced at her. She quickly approached and spoke.

“Your Highness! I’m too tired to go on. Let’s break off our engagement.”

His gaze went to her hands floating above her head, then came back down to her eyes. Soon a firm voice was heard.

“It’s not allowed.”

You should have put the three words ‘iron wall man’ in the male lead’s keywords, Author!

As she grumbled inwardly, Theodore returned the way he came as if nothing had happened. Even after that, whenever Theodore appeared, she didn’t give up and very persistently shouted ‘break off the engagement.’

Even when the horse Theodore was riding passed by her carriage.

“The carriage is too bumpy. Let’s break off our engagement.”

“It’s not allowed.”

Even when their eyes met as he spurred his horse forward.

“Why is the empire’s land so vast? Let’s break off our engagement.”

“It’s not allowed!”

Even when she was hungrily eating the prepared lunch that was so delicious despite expecting no appetite from sitting long in the bumpy carriage that made her stomach queasy.

“Why is the food so delicious? Huh? Your Highness! Let’s break off our engagement!”

“……”

Her eyes were solely directed at Theodore. Whenever Theodore came near her, her mouth constantly muttered ‘break off the engagement.’ Finally, Theodore, unable to bear it anymore, shouted to stop her carriage. When the coachman understood the signal and stopped the carriage, Theodore dismounted and climbed into the carriage. That’s right. You’re changing your mind too, aren’t you?

“Depart!”

When Theodore gave instructions to the coachman, the carriage slowly started. The procession formation that had stopped briefly also began to move. She thought he would soon say something, but for some reason Theodore kept his mouth tightly shut and even closed his eyes. Right. As a crown prince worried about the empire’s security, he couldn’t easily decide on the engagement issue that might lose powerful military strength. He must be having some thoughts too, so she decided to wait patiently.

How long had she waited for his answer? She was tired from constantly looking for opportunities, and perhaps her body was weary from riding the carriage for a long time, as her eyes kept closing without her knowing. She entrusted her body to the bumpy carriage’s movement and waited steadfastly for his answer while swaying back and forth, but his regular breathing that came softly felt just like a lullaby. Even Theodore’s breathing was warm and wonderful.

How far had they gone like that? Quiet murmuring voices could be heard. The escorts guarding the carriage seemed to be having a conversation out of boredom.

“Like that ……? Now ……between ……what to do …… What’s the plan ……?”

What are they muttering about like that? The voices continued to be heard distantly, and she ran endlessly across a vast green meadow. It was a place where pretty flowers of unknown names bloomed, beautiful bird songs could be heard, and pleasant fragrances flowed. She kept running.

‘Ah, I’m tired. I should stop and rest.’

But she kept running endlessly without knowing the end. She couldn’t stop! Like a squirrel trapped in an infinite wheel, her body was tired but her legs kept running.

Now the blue sky and green meadow were spinning around. As everything spun round and round, her head grew increasingly dizzy when suddenly a huge hand came down from the sky and firmly grabbed her head.

At the same time, the spinning sky and meadow stopped instantly. Her legs that had been moving restlessly could finally stop.

“Ah, I feel like I’m alive……”

Then her body collapsed limply and she fell asleep comfortably.