As Varsel mulled over the series of events, he burst into hearty laughter.

“Ha ha! Ha ha ha! I am curious to know who the woman is that has stirred your hearts. I hope it is one of the princesses…”

At that moment, Lutz turned around and suddenly pulled Hinael by the wrist, bringing her in front of the king.

Varsel’s eyes widened as Hinael appeared unexpectedly. Marsily, standing beside him, frowned at Hinael, who had flirted with the prince.

Hinael felt like her heart was about to burst. Now, all Lutz had to do was declare that he wanted her and get the king’s approval.

The goal was within reach.

“Your Majesty! I have something to say!”

But Chetter abruptly intervened, disrupting the moment. His eyes, filled with urgency and obsession, darted between Lutz and Hinael, unable to hide his frustration at losing what he had coveted.

His eyes, which didn’t seem normal, rolled wildly as he squeezed between Lutz and Hinael, glaring openly at Lutz.

At his annoyed gesture, Lutz’s hand fell away from Hinael. Her pupils quivered anxiously.

She wished Lutz would suppress him as before, but perhaps because they were in front of the king, he remained silent. She was anxious that the decision might shift to Chetter.

“Speak.”

As feared, Varsel’s tone towards Chetter was very gentle.

While Lutz was important, Chetter was also a significant figure to the king. The astronomical taxes from the mines bolstered the royal finances, so he couldn’t be overlooked.

Encouraged by Varsel’s favorable tone, Chetter spoke confidently.

“As I mentioned before, I seek Your Majesty’s permission for marriage.”

“You want Hinael?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Varsel had been watching Lutz’s reaction from the start.

The wealthy Chetter and the prince of a victorious nation.

He weighed which side would be more beneficial.

But the contemplation didn’t last long.

As part of the war reparations, Sarr had ceded the canal city to Trycas. With the canal rights transferred, it was crucial not to offend the empire.

If they did, Trycas might break the agreement and demand greater compensation. They might even devastate Sarr and subjugate it.

Varsel shuddered imperceptibly and began to gently persuade Chetter.

“What to do… I have a direct promise with the prince, so I must first seek his opinion.”

“Y-Your Majesty! I was first.”

“I will give you a princess as well, so please be patient and wait.”

After calmly placating Chetter, Varsel extended his arm towards Lutz.

“Prince Viant.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Lutz took a few steps forward, closing the distance between himself and Varsel. As soon as Varsel granted him the floor, Lutz tore his persistent gaze away from Hinael and focused on Varsel.

“As you may have heard, Your Majesty, I owe a great debt to the princess. She found a very precious item for me. Even if I leave Sarr and go to Trycas, I will cherish and take good care of her, so please do not worry and grant her to me.”

“Hinael, step forward.”

At the king’s call, Hinael stepped forward with a graceful demeanor.

As she passed by Chetter, she heard him desperately calling, ‘Your Highness…’ but she ignored it.

Lutz, standing next to her, glanced at Hinael and smiled gently.

The scene was entirely different from her past life.

It was a complete contrast to the indifferent expression he had when he chose anyone randomly.

The affectionate gaze with which he regarded Hinael was a surprising reversal, and escaping from Chetter was nothing short of a miracle.

Varsel’s authoritative voice echoed heavily through the hall.

“I grant permission for the marriage with Princess Hinael Flake.”

“I am deeply grateful.”

This is unbelievable! She had truly changed her fate by her own will.

She was no longer Chetter’s possession.

She was free.

A thrilling shiver ran through her, and she felt tears welling up.

Unable to contain her emotions, she bit her lip hard, and Lutz gently touched her with his finger. He released her lower lip from her teeth and asked softly.

“I would also like the princess’s consent. Will you come with me to Trycas?”

He had always spoken down to her, but now he was incredibly respectful. His eyes were fervent, as if he couldn’t do without her.

Hinael, caught in the strange feeling that made it hard to tell if it was an act or genuine, stared blankly at Lutz.

At that moment, Lutz pressed her lips gently, urging her to answer quickly. Hinael nodded hastily.

“Yes. I will follow the will of His Majesty the King, and the Your Highness.”

When she answered obediently, Varsel laughed heartily.

“In my heart, I wanted to pair you with my beloved Seilla, but unfortunately, she is already engaged. It seems like fate that you wanted Hinael.”

Everyone knew that Varsel had hastily sought a match to avoid sending his legitimate daughter, Seilla, as a hostage.

Though he had declared that any princess could be taken as a partner, it was no different from a lowly trick to mock Lutz.

If Lutz had been sincere about the marriage, he could have criticized Varsel’s ruse. As a result, Sarr might have had to offer additional tributes to Trycas to pay the war reparations.

Hinael felt more ashamed of herself because of the king’s duplicity. It was humiliating to think that she shared the same blood with him, making it hard for her to hold her head high.

Though he was her father, she couldn’t even call him ‘Father’ due to the lack of affection between them, and he had never once embraced her despite being his daughter.

In her turmoil, Lutz unexpectedly provided a sense of relief.

“Deciding on Her Highness’s fiancé in just a few days… doesn’t it seem a bit hasty to arrange a marriage for your beloved daughter?”

Who else would dare to embarrass the king to his face?

If he were a subject of Sarr, he could be executed for the crime of insulting the king, but as the prince of the Trycas Empire, he could do so.

Varsel’s face turned as red as it could get.

Though her father was embarrassed, Hinael didn’t feel angry; instead, she felt her complex emotions dissipate quickly.

It was as if a stagnant pool inside her had finally burst forth.

Unable to hide his angry expression, Varsel turned his gaze away from Lutz, his brows furrowed. Unable to argue further, he shifted his attention to Chetter.

Varsel sat on the throne prepared in the banquet hall, and called for Chetter.

“Count Phil.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Choose a princess who pleases you to be your partner.”

Though it was a grace granted by the king, Chetter trembled with betrayal. The only woman he wanted was Hinael.

Despite having informed the king of his wishes, Hinael was given to another due to the considerations for the enemy nation. Though the fate of war depended on Sarr’s actions, Chetter cared little for that.

Grinding his teeth silently, Chetter feigned a peaceful expression as if nothing had happened.

His face, as calm as a serene lake, showed a hint of boredom. He seemed to have given up in frustration at the absurd outcome.

Chetter scanned the gathered princesses indifferently, excluding Seilla and Hinael. There were five left.

With eyes devoid of any caution, he glanced around quickly and pointed his finger.

“I will choose that one.”

The face he wore… it was as if he was selecting an object.

The indifferent expression that had once appeared on Lutz’s face in the previous life now appeared on Chetter’s.

And the person his finger pointed to.

It was Mie.

Mie, who had been Lutz’s wife before her regression.

The shock hit Hinael like a blow, causing her to stagger back. Lutz swiftly supported her back and whispered.

“I know you’re overjoyed, but don’t faint and cause trouble.”

Then he brought Hinael back to his side and let go of her.

None of Lutz’s words registered in her ears. Her mind was so dazed that her ears felt blocked.

She had been elated, thinking her fate was changing. But now, it seemed she had merely shifted her burden onto Mie.

Though someone was bound to marry Chetter, she had never imagined it would be Mie.

The joy of escaping a nightmare was short-lived, and facing the changed situation, she felt a sense of debt to Mie.

In her dismay, Hinael watched Mie blankly. She slowly approached the king and knelt with a submissive expression.

‘You might be harmed.’

There had been a time when Chetter was genuinely fond of Hinael, charmed by her beauty and treating her with care.

But Mie was different.

Chetter, harboring only anger towards Hinael rather than love, chose Mie. From the beginning, it was highly likely she would become a target for his frustration.

Hinael anxiously bit her nails, recalling the horrific events she had endured.

Losing her position as countess to a mistress, having the heir’s position taken by an illegitimate child, and ultimately being killed by her husband.

Could Mie endure all that…?

Could she take care of Mie’s life when she was barely managing her own…?

In a distant foreign country, it seemed impossible.

A fleeting thought crossed her mind that it might be possible if she borrowed Lutz’s power. However, seeing the indifference reflected in Lutz’s profile beside her quickly dampened her resolve.