110. Date for Two

Larael never expected that Edward’s frequent “when I make some time” would actually happen. She hadn’t understood the meaning behind Edward’s smile when they woke up facing each other in the same bed that morning. Even while having a simple breakfast with Edward in the bedroom, Larael had felt impatient watching him dawdle leisurely.

“Your Majesty, shouldn’t you go to the main palace to attend to your duties?”

Despite Larael’s urging, Edward only smiled without saying anything else. After breakfast, Trix brought simple attire that commoners would wear, as Edward had requested. The maids who entered the bedroom to help her change tilted their heads in confusion at the dress Trix had brought.

“Your Majesty, what is this?”

Only then did Edward reveal his plans for the day to Larael. Edward complained to the surprised Larael about how hard he had worked to make time for a day with her.

After changing into the dress Trix had brought, Larael looked at herself in the mirror.

‘But won’t this silver hair stand out too much?’

Larael fidgeted with her hair. Edward, who had already changed his clothes, came and stood behind her. Larael stared at Edward’s reflection in the mirror. Then she shook her head.

“I think we’ll stand out too much, Your Majesty.”

Their faces were already too well-known through newspapers.

“That’s why I’ve prepared something. I got it specially from the Tower Master.”

Edward showed Larael what he was holding in his hand.

“This is a magical tool that prevents facial recognition. When activated, it creates magic within a two-meter radius that makes people unable to remember our faces. That means we have to stay close to each other from the moment we leave the palace.”

“Ah…”

It was a magical tool she had heard of before. Larael nodded and firmly held Edward’s hand. She was confident in the mission to not leave Edward’s side.

“But when did you prepare this? I’m really surprised.”

“I may not be able to keep all my promises, but I always remember them in my mind.”

Edward and Larael left the palace by carriage and got off near the central district.

“We’ll walk from here.”

“Your Majesty, we will guard you from a distance.”

When Edward nodded, the knights bowed and stepped back. Edward activated the magical tool. Larael looked at Edward. He met her gaze and nodded.

Perhaps due to the effect of the magical tool, no one paid them any special attention even as they entered the central district. Seeing this, Larael let go of her worries.

“So, Your Majesty, do you have any plans?”

“How about calling me by my name? Our voices can still be heard.”

“Ah… yes. I understand. Edward, do you have any plans?”

“Of course I do.”

Edward smiled with a confident expression. There was a reason for Edward’s confidence. He had pestered his aides to research all the famous restaurants and date courses for couples in the capital. Then he had carefully selected and planned their date course.

In truth, Edward had never been to the central district alone, let alone for non-official business. So he did feel a bit anxious.

‘Should I have checked the date course beforehand?’

Edward suddenly felt nervous seeing Larael’s bright, sparkling eyes.

‘First… the most famous dessert shop in the capital.’

He had chosen this shop after seeing how well Larael ate desserts. Edward recalled the map well-imprinted in his mind and headed toward the dessert shop. He wondered why there were so many people from the morning and missed the street he was supposed to take. Though they wandered a bit, they eventually arrived in front of the dessert shop.

“Edward, there are too many people here, aren’t there?”

This was something Edward hadn’t anticipated.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me there would be a waiting line?”

If they waited here, the precious time he had worked so hard to arrange with Larael would slip away. At Edward’s words, Larael chuckled and pulled him in a different direction from the shop.

“Let’s go somewhere else.”

Edward’s mind became complicated. He had allocated time according to his plan, and the thought that it had all fallen apart quickly flashed through his mind.

“Somewhere else? Hmm… where else is there?”

Seeing the evident confusion on Edward’s face, Larael smiled and said. She found his confused face unbearably cute.

“What is there to worry about? Just being together is good enough…”

Edward and Larael began walking, blending in with the crowd.

Larael pulled Edward to a stall selling accessories. She picked up a small earring and held it up to her ear.

“How does it look?”

Larael quickly put it down and tried on several other earrings in succession. Edward watched her contentedly with a smile on his face.

“Larael, if you want earrings, I can…”

Larael gave Edward a sidelong glance.

“Edward, you definitely learned about romance from books. I’m not doing this because I want you to buy them.”

Larael put down the earrings and took Edward’s hand again as they resumed walking.

“We don’t need to make plans. Just walking together, eating together—that’s enough.”

Larael looked at Edward and smiled sweetly. That smile cleared Edward’s complicated thoughts.

Little girls were passing by, holding dolls similar to the one Larael had. Larael recognized them immediately and smiled at Edward. Edward didn’t recognize the dolls in the girls’ arms until he faced a huge crowd gathered at a stall.

Edward craned his neck. The stall had piles of dolls made in Edward’s likeness. Edward’s face turned pale. Larael laughed and asked Edward:

“Should I buy one for you?”

“No!!”

Edward quickly turned away.

In the end, they couldn’t use the plan Edward had made. Instead, they walked around, entering restaurants when they got hungry and stopping for food whenever something looked delicious. Just as they thought they had circled the entire central district, Larael’s eyes widened at the sound of someone calling her.

“Your Highness!!”

Joy had recognized her and was running toward her. Sensing something was wrong, Larael looked to the side. Edward’s face was contorted.

At Joy’s words, the attention of those around them turned to the couple. Larael looked around and spotted a teahouse with few people. She grabbed Edward’s hand and hurriedly entered. Joy, of course, followed them inside.

“Your Highness.”

“Joy, just a moment… go back for now.”

“Joy?”

Edward repeated the name to himself, setting aside his obvious killing intent. He was the boy Larael had mentioned a few times.

“Your Highness, please don’t send me away. Please.”

Joy suddenly pleaded with Larael. The teahouse owner stood there, staring blankly at them.

“We’ll order in a moment.”

Larael said as she took a seat at a table. As Larael sat down, Edward and Joy sat on either side of her. Edward glared at Joy with an unpleasant expression.

“How can you recognize us?”

“Who are you?”

Edward snorted and placed his and Larael’s intertwined hands on the table. Seeing would be faster than hearing. There was only one person in the Kazel Empire who could hold Larael’s hand like that. Joy frowned. He looked alternately at their hands, at Edward, and at Larael. With a reluctant expression, Joy bit his lip, stood up, and bowed to Edward.

“I greet Your Majesty the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire.”

It was as if he could hear Nora praising him. After all, he was the Emperor of the Kazel Empire. Larael looked around. Fortunately, the teahouse owner didn’t seem to have heard.

“How can you recognize us?”

Edward asked again. Joy opened his eyes wide at the question.

“What do you mean? I recognized Your Highness because you are right in front of me.”

Joy gave what seemed to him an obvious answer.

“Then describe my appearance. Tell me about my hair color, face shape, eye color, things like that.”

Joy looked at Larael. When Larael nodded as if to say it was okay to answer, Joy opened his mouth with a puzzled expression.

“That… this isn’t a joke, but I can’t describe it.”