Now, Go Ahead and Stamp It - Chapter 42

They followed Kaiden out of the hall, walking along the long colonnade.

At the path where the carriage was waiting, Ellen spoke up.

“Elsier.”

“Yes, sister?”

“You need to return to the academy now, right?”

“…What?”

Elsier asked with wide eyes.

“…Right now?”

“Yes. You have things to do, don’t you?”

Elsier looked deflated at her gentle yet pointed reminder of his responsibilities.

Right, it would indeed be risky to take his eyes off May Sorbon now.

“…Of course, but…”

“What’s this about?”

Unable to resist his son’s pleading gaze, the Count asked, and Ellen answered nonchalantly.

“Oh, it’s about the fight with Periwinkle a while ago. He was so frustrated, so I decided to teach him how to fight instead of throwing punches.”

“Boy, do you really need to be taught that?”

Learning such things one by one, really?

The Count looked at Elsier with a disappointed gaze.

“I’ve always been honorable, Father!”

“I didn’t teach you to use your fists first.”

“It was an honorable duel! We even brought in witnesses, and that guy lied…”

“El. Your voice is getting too loud.”

Ellen interrupted him with a deliberately stern expression, and Elsier mumbled again, feeling dejected.

“…Sorry.”

“Yes. And unlike someone, isn’t it commendable that he wants to learn, Father? Look how diligent El is.”

I’m afraid our boy’s spirit will be completely crushed.

Seeing her brother so deflated, Ellen gave a look to the Count.

“Well… in that regard, he’s grown up well. Yes.”

“You heard that, El?”

Realizing a bit late, the Count fumbled for words, and Ellen patted Elsier’s back as she spoke.

“I trust you can do it. His Highness will call you separately to the palace next time, so just hang in there for a while.”

“Next time?”

“Yes. During the break.”

Suddenly, with the arrow pointed at him, Kaiden glanced at her with sleepy eyes.

But Ellen, indifferent to his reaction, continued with what she wanted to say.

“Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”

Thinking ‘What a close sibling relationship,’ he hesitated briefly before responding, having suddenly been drawn into the conversation.

“Of course. Certainly.”

“You heard that? I’ll ask you to relay messages to His Highness from time to time.”

“Yes, we’ll see each other then, young master.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

Ellen looked at her brother fondly and patted his head once as she said,

“But El, you know your health comes first, right?”

“Of course, sister.”

“Good. I believe in you.”

With his mood lifted, Elsier responded brightly to his sister’s reminder.

He then approached his father, the Count, without awkwardness to bid farewell.

“Yes. Then, Father, I’ll be heading back now.”

“Alright. Be careful on your way.”

“Yes, Father.”

After sending Elsier off, the remaining group continued through the courtyard to Kaiden’s residence, the Crown Prince’s palace.

Upon reaching the drawing room, he sat in the seat of honor and invited them to sit.

“Please, have a seat.”

Ellen and the Count sat on either side of him, and an attendant brought a bottle of wine, an opener, three glasses, and some cheese as a light snack.

“I’ll handle the rest, so you may leave.”

The attendants left at his command and Kaiden picked up the corkscrew.

“First, once again, you’ve worked hard.”

Pop!

With a cheerful sound, he filled the three glasses and handed them out.

“Let’s toast.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The three wine glasses came together with a clear sound.

Clink.

Ellen swirled her wine glass and took a sip.

“How does it feel to have won your freedom?”

Kaiden asked lightly with a small smile.

Hearing the word ‘freedom’ mixed in his question, Ellen suddenly felt the reality of the situation and chuckled.

“That’s right. I’m truly free now.”

She’s finally letting go of the foolish things she had been clinging to.

She took another sip of wine.

It was then that Kaiden, observing her expression, asked,

“But your smile doesn’t seem entirely relieved… Is something bothering you?”

“Pardon?”

“Yes, Ellen. Your expression doesn’t look very good to me either. Is there something still weighing on your mind?”

The Count chimed in, supporting his words.

Slightly flustered, Ellen hesitated.

“No, there isn’t any particular problem yet…”

“For something like that, your expression doesn’t seem very happy.”

“Is that so?”

Ellen touched her face.

It seemed her lips were slightly downturned.

Right. Why do I look like this?

“Well, I feel very relieved. It reminds me of when I first left that mansion—”

Ellen unconsciously murmured, then stopped when she saw her father’s expression.

Why did I leave that mansion so abruptly, and what did I go through there?

Her father doesn’t know the details.

“Maybe it’s because it’s a name I was tied to for quite a while? It seems I’m still a bit unfamiliar with the sudden change.”

She spoke as casually as she could, but even she didn’t know why she felt this way.

Perhaps it was just the awkwardness of letting go of something that had been hers for so long.

Ellen said this and smiled brightly again.

The Count, unable to hide his reddened eyes, held her hand tightly and stroked it.

“Yes. Four years is indeed a long time. I can’t imagine how hard it must have been for you…”

“It’s okay, Father.”

“Yes, Count. It’s a day to celebrate, isn’t it?”

Kaiden laughed heartily, trying to change the mood.

“Let’s talk about something a bit more productive than being sad. What are your plans for the young lady’s residence from now on?”

“I was going to ask my daughter about that as well.”

The Count replied, wiping the tears from his eyes, and Ellen spoke, looking a bit perplexed.

“…Of course, I’ll return to the Crient estate, right?”

“It might be better to stay in the palace a bit longer. What do you think?”

Kaiden cautiously suggested, and Ellen, with a tone filled with curiosity as if he were speaking nonsense, replied.

“The palace? Until now, it was necessary to escape Krembell’s influence, but now there’s no need to worry about Krembell.”

Kaiden sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“I noticed Gillian’s expression was not normal earlier. I won’t ask what you two talked about, but if Gillian goes mad, I don’t know what he might do… I’m suggesting to be a bit more cautious.”

“Well, what more could he do but try to kill me?”

“Ellen!”

The Count shouted in shock, and Ellen laughed lightly, picking up her wine glass.

“It’s alright, Father. Krembell doesn’t have the luxury to harm me right now.”

She spoke with a voice that seemed genuinely delighted.

“If he knows how much of his goods have been seized due to the port incident, his head must be about to explode. And how will he avoid the pursuit?”

The wine in her glass swirled quickly in a circle.

“And now, he suddenly has to change his source of funds. If it were my job, I would have thrown the pen by now.”

“That I can agree with, but still…”

“And in this situation, it’s better to appear not too closely connected with the imperial family to cause more confusion.”

“…That is indeed true.”

As the Count found himself at a loss for words, Kaiden spoke with a slightly dissatisfied tone.

“So, you’re saying you won’t make public the ruby ring that we discussed earlier.”

“Yes.”

“But you are now a noble lady, not a duke’s wife.”

“I understand your concern. Well, there will be those who wish to insult me. But I’m confident I can handle them, so please don’t worry.”

Kaiden, as if unwilling to compromise on this point, said,

“…Still, it’s best to carry it with you, even in your pocket. It can prove you are under my protection if necessary, and it’s also in the name of protection.”

Hearing something new, Ellen widened her eyes.

“It has a name?”

“There’s a story that it has the power to protect the imperial bloodline. The Istazio dynasty has maintained an unprecedentedly long reign in history, so there’s no harm in believing it.”

“That’s quite an interesting story. If it’s true that the imperial family could end because this ring was placed in my hand…”

Ellen, who had been casually responding to his words, suddenly turned pale.

“My lady?”

“…….”

No, it must be just a superstition. It’s an exaggeration to say that the rise and fall of a dynasty are determined by a mere ring.

‘But if it’s true, then because this man placed the ring in my hand…’

Ellen touched her neck, which had once been severed.

Thinking about it, even her return to this time was an unbelievable story to others.

Seeing her unable to speak and frozen in surprise, Kaiden approached her and asked,

“Are you feeling unwell? Should I call a physician?”

“…N-no, it’s nothing. I just had a different thought for a moment.”

Kaiden looked at her curiously.

Ellen Crient, at a loss for words and stammering?

‘Ah, maybe she thinks it’s treason?’

Saying the end of the imperial family, it was indeed something that would cause a big stir if others heard it.

He chuckled inwardly at the thought that the young lady of Crient had an unexpectedly innocent side and said,

“Ending it? I’d say it’s being protected by your hand now. Even if not, all results are my responsibility for holding your hand.”

“…Right. I will do my best to assist Your Highness in ascending the throne and reigning safely.”

“Yes. So make sure to use that ring if needed.”

Kaiden lightly patted her shoulder.

Ellen tried her best to smile.

“I understand. I know how to take care of myself.”