Emperor Lucas Aedon would have fallen into Princess Rebella’s trap without resistance if Duke Raphael had not arrived.

Although she was a princess of another empire, the Emperor could never have expected her to attempt to kidnap him, someone with whom they had maintained a friendly relationship.

Perhaps the Emperor had underestimated her, believing she would never go that far.

It was a careless response, and he had let his guard down in the face of unforeseen danger.

Lucas Aedon could not even look up in front of Duke Raphael.

He felt sorry for him.

To think he had tried to use such a loyal servant, and yet here was Duke Raphael, who had come to his rescue, saving him at the cost of his own life. The Emperor was deeply moved.

Duke Raphael had come with the Jamie brothers and, after waiting for the soldiers from the Praga Empire who were trying to enter the Union Empire’s palace, he used his private soldiers to capture them.

To get to this point, Duke Raphael had to take risks. His assistants, who had already prepared Union Empire knight uniforms, could ride horses disguised as nobles from the Praga Empire and meet the soldiers without raising suspicion.

Furthermore, as they entered the palace, Duke Raphael boldly walked in without his helmet, drawing his sword and loudly shouting to all the soldiers:

“The Emperor is in danger. Soldiers in the palace, prepare your weapons and head to the office. Also, imprison the soldiers from the Praga Empire in the underground prison so they can’t escape.”

Startled by his words, the soldiers immediately followed Duke Raphael and, in the office, they swiftly subdued and captured both Emperor Lucas Aedon and Princess Rebella’s assistants, who had been attempting to kidnap him.

Thus, Duke Raphael safely returned to the palace.

“I apologize, Duke Raphael Rodney.”

Emperor Lucas Aedon, looking at Duke Raphael Rodney, spoke to him while giving a cold and stern order to Princess Rebella, who had thoroughly deceived him.

“I intend to send a letter to the Emperor of Praga Empire. Since things have come to this, there will be no further cooperation with the Praga Empire.”

“This is slander! Slander! Duke Raphael Rodney is plotting something against Lady Kristin. I am innocent! The nobles who came today are really nobles, not soldiers!”

Princess Rebella tried to explain to Emperor Lucas Aedon, but he did not flinch and replied in a monotone voice.

“According to Duke Raphael Rodney, the so-called nobles were carrying a large number of weapons. Is it a common hobby for the nobles of the Praga Empire to carry weapons?”

When Emperor Lucas Aedon spoke with contempt, Princess Rebella could do nothing but kneel and fall into despair. She couldn’t understand how her plan was exposed so easily. She had not faced any interference and had no suspicions about anyone.

Suddenly, an idea seemed to pop into her mind, and she spoke as though she had devised a clever plan.

“Please, just trust me once. I will investigate my assistants. I have no connection to this incident.”

“Ha, unbelievable. Now you’re using your own assistants as shields.”

When Duke Raphael spoke, Princess Rebella glared at him. Standing beside him, she moved her hand, which was wearing the magic restraints, to retrieve a hidden dagger from her sleeve, attempting to attack.

However, Marquis Winston, disguised as a knight, stopped her.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

In an instant, Marquis Winston seized her dagger, and as she collapsed to the floor, he removed his helmet. He knelt before the surprised Emperor and spoke.

“Greetings, Your Majesty. I apologize for the delay in my greetings.”
“Wait, you….”

Princess Rebella clearly remembered the armor of this knight. It had the English spelling of “Scarlet,” so she had thought that Selena Scarlet had truly sent a knight for her, but in reality, it was Marquis Winston Zenon.

“Marquis Zenon.”

The Emperor, seeing his actions, was equally shocked. He could only lower his head before Marquis Winston Zenon.

Although he initially aligned with Princess Rebella under the pretext of serving the empire, he ultimately drove two of his most loyal servants into a dangerous situation. He felt nothing but shame and guilt, unable to lift his head.

However, what Winston Zenon and Duke Raphael Rodney wanted next was only one thing: the restoration of Kristin’s honor.

“I am so ashamed. I don’t know how I can bear this. If you want anything, I will do whatever it takes to grant it.”

At those words, Duke Raphael Rodney and Marquis Winston Zenon answered simultaneously, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

“Please revoke Kristin’s demotion to commoner status and lift the marriage ban so that I may marry her, Your Majesty.”

“Kristin’s honor has been tarnished, so please restore it. Kristin infiltrated the palace as Princess Rebella’s new personal maid and passed on important information. While she had some loyalty toward Duke Raphael, her actions were driven solely by a desire to help Your Majesty.”

At their words, Princess Rebella screamed as if she wanted to escape the situation, but under the Emperor’s orders, a magical restraint was added to her lips, silencing her.

With the room now quiet, Emperor Lucas Aedon spoke.

“Understood. From this point on, I will recognize Kristin Edith as the rightful heir of the Edith family. Additionally, I will lift the marriage ban enforced through the executive office. Furthermore, Princess Rebella, who had attempted to meddle with the Union Empire, will be punished in consultation with the Emperor of the Praga Empire.”

He then smiled kindly and continued.

“Duke Raphael Rodney.”
“Yes.”

“Marquis Winston Zenon. And Kristin Edith, who is not present here.”

“Yes. Lady Selena Scarlet also cooperated in this matter. Without her, this wouldn’t have succeeded.”

“I see. I will reward all of you for your efforts.”

—

A long and fierce storm had passed.

Kristin had been waiting at Duke Raphael’s villa, and when they reunited, they embraced each other and did not let go for a long while.

Meanwhile, Kristin Edith, Duke Raphael Rodney, Marquis Winston Zenon, and Lady Selena Scarlet were awarded new honors at the grand banquet in the palace, receiving applause from all the nobles.

Two weeks later, after receiving their honors, Kristin Edith and Duke Raphael Rodney decided to marry at Grace Hall.

“So, we’re really getting married now. You won’t run away again, saying you want to break off the engagement, right?”

On the wedding day, Duke Raphael joked as he looked toward Kristin, who was waiting in the bride’s room. Kristin smiled as if to ask what he meant.

“You look lovely in the dress. You also looked good in the commoner and merchant outfits, but this dress suits you best. You look stunning.”

“I was so worried, wondering if something had happened to you that day. You weren’t really shot with an arrow, were you?”

“The fact that you keep asking me the same question means you must love me.”

When Duke Raphael spoke, Kristin took his hand and replied.

“I wouldn’t have done all this if I didn’t love you. If something had happened to you that day, I would have turned back repeatedly.”

“A pocket watch that turns back time.”

Duke Raphael gently touched the pocket watch hanging around Kristin’s neck before looking at her again.

“From now on, you won’t need that watch. While returning to the past might be nice, it’s more important to live well in the present so that we don’t go back to the past. I realized that even more after everything that happened. I don’t want to have any more regrets.”

“Duke.”

Just then, the maids entered the bride’s room and announced to them.

“The wedding is about to start. When the doors open, you two should enter together. Many people are waiting.”

When Kristin looked through the door crack, she glimpsed the ceremony hall.

All the nobles were smiling, each holding a bouquet for the bride.

It was a sight she had never seen before.

Giving the bride a bouquet was a gesture to bless her future marriage, and Kristin was so happy to see them. It was certainly a different reaction than before.

Then, the doors opened, and the maid spoke.

“It’s time for you to go out. Congratulations to you both.”

Hearing the maid’s words, Duke Raphael and Kristin looked at each other and slowly walked forward, simultaneously saying:

“I love you, Kristin.”

“I love you, Duke Raphael Rodney.”