“The ravine is not good for defense.”

Henrik said, pointing to a section of the map with his pointer.

“Let’s cross the plains instead. It’s faster too.”

“Understood.”

The guards surrounding the map spread out on the table nodded.

“How many men do you plan to take for the escort?”

Thomas, the Chamberlain, who had been moving his quill pen with a serious expression beside them, asked.

“…His Majesty said to take no more than ten men.”

“That’s unacceptable!”

At Henrik’s words, the Chamberlain jumped up with a surprised face. It was quite an undignified movement for someone who had risen to a position where he could command all the imperial servants like attendants.

“Just ten guards! That’s far from proper protocol. Even when His Imperial Majesty goes outside the castle alone, thirty men is the minimum. And when we calculate the Empress’s escort as well…”

“I know. But those are His Majesty’s orders.”

Henrik sighed lightly as he placed his hand on the table.

“Besides, he ordered us to move as inconspicuously as possible.”

Even ten is bothersome. Emperor Josef had said this with a rigid face, and the only person who could raise any objection to that was Henrik, who had become the captain of the Emperor’s guards.

However, at that time, Henrik had simply bowed his head without saying much. He had noticed that Josef had been quite irritable lately. Considering his personality, he would probably dislike not only the escort but even sharing his travel itinerary with the guards when going on a trip alone with Empress Amelia.

But if he disliked that, he shouldn’t have become Emperor.

“Why did His Majesty decide to have a honeymoon at such a time in the first place…”

Henrik turned his gaze toward the window, leaving behind the Chamberlain who had begun venting his frustrations to the assembled guards.

Through the window of the meeting room located on the second floor, the courtyard was visible. Duke Leonid of Brienne was standing there, leaning on his cane.

He soon smiled broadly with his wrinkled face. It was a smile that seemed to emit light. Leonid then put down his cane and opened his arms.

Across from him, Louis and Julia were toddling along. Louis was staggering as if about to fall but was heading toward Duke Leonid. Julia, trying to run ahead of Louis to get into his arms first, was making a great effort, swinging her small arms.

Leonid, who had waited patiently until the twins entered his embrace, soon held them tightly, one in each arm. He rubbed his cheeks against the foreheads of the energetic little ones, alternating between them.

The people who appeared next were Empress Amelia and Emperor Josef. The Empress was watching the encounter between Leonid and the imperial heirs from a step away. Her eyes also held a smile as she looked at her father. It made her look strangely like a young girl.

Standing beside her, as always, was Josef. As usual, he was gazing at Amelia’s profile. Henrik found himself smiling without realizing it.

It was a strange thing. None of them was looking at each other. Leonid was busy hugging the twins, Amelia was proudly watching that scene, and Josef seemed to just want to see Amelia’s joyful face.

Henrik felt peace in the three non-intersecting gazes. That scene seemed to be the most authentic representation of who they were.

As the imperial family that would eternally protect the prosperity of the empire.

* * *

“Have you come from far away?”

A polite voice was heard beside Amelia, who had been standing in a daze.

Amelia turned her head. A merchant with a pleasant appearance was looking at her with an expression as if dazzled, like someone looking directly at the sun.

“I apologize if I’ve disturbed you, madam.”

The merchant bowed his head apologetically upon seeing Amelia’s blinking eyes. Only then did Amelia come to her senses and waved her hand.

“…It’s fine. I was just distracted looking at this…”

“Ah.”

She smiled as she saw the carriage Amelia was pointing at.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Even though I’m a merchant myself, I’ve never seen so many flowers.”

The carriage itself was an ordinary one used for carrying cargo, but it was loaded with so many flowers that it caught the attention of not only Amelia but everyone passing through the Ahon port.

Each bouquet tied with string was so large that one couldn’t fully embrace it with their arms. Among them were some placed in baskets, some decorated with luxurious lace, and others that had been pruned and arranged in vases. Their various fragrances mixed together and spread freely on the sea breeze.

“Someone ordered a large quantity of flowers to be brought to Ahon port by today. It must be an incredibly wealthy nobleman.”

“Ah… I see.”

Amelia nodded with a small smile. She had been captivated by the fresh flowers, which still seemed to have morning dew on them, and had thought of buying a bouquet, but it was disappointing to learn they already had an owner.

Perhaps Amelia’s expression revealed this thought, as the merchant continued in a comforting tone.

“Are you also just stopping by the port during your travels, madam? Though that nobleman has bought all the flowers in this area, you could find some in other villages.”

“I’ll do that.”

The merchant, who had been staring at Amelia’s gentle speaking face, hesitantly opened her mouth.

“…Um, madam. I’m not sure if I should say this, but…”

“…Yes?”

“Actually, the nobleman who bought these flowers seemed to be no ordinary aristocrat.”

When Amelia made a puzzled expression, the merchant lowered her shoulders slightly and spoke as if whispering.

“His build was just like a soldier’s, and his expression was so intimidating… It was even more frightening when such a person said he wanted to buy lots of flowers.”

“…”

“You seem like a very nice person, madam. So I’m telling you this, but if you happen to encounter that nobleman, it might be better to avoid him…”

The merchant, who had been carefully continuing her words, suddenly flinched in surprise and closed her mouth.

“Here you are.”

At the same time, Josef’s voice was heard from behind Amelia.

“Shall we go now?”

“Ah, yes.”

Josef’s gaze, as he wrapped his arm around Amelia’s shoulders, turned toward the carriage.

“Why is the carriage still here?”

He said with displeasure.

“I told them to load everything onto the ship.”

“Y-yes! I’m sorry!”

The merchant, who had been standing with a stunned face, bowed so deeply that her head almost touched the ground, then hurriedly ran to the carriage.

Even as she pulled the carriage toward the dock, the merchant kept glancing back at the two standing there like a perfect couple.

“…The flowers, did you buy them?”

Josef nodded at Amelia’s question.

“To decorate the ship.”

Amelia knew that Josef had specially brought in a new ship for their trip. However, she had just learned that he had bought so many flowers.

“I made a mistake.”

Josef clicked his tongue.

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“I was surprised enough.”

“Really?”

He relaxed his expression a bit as he saw Amelia nodding.

“There will be more when we board the ship. We’ll have to wait until the decorations are complete.”

More…? Just how many flowers had he bought? Josef led Amelia away without giving her time to resolve this question.

* * *

Josef took Amelia, who had been leisurely exploring the port, toward the sandy beach. There were few people on the long blue shoreline that extended beyond the dock.

“Is it uncomfortable to walk?”

Josef asked, noticing Amelia walking more slowly than usual.

“No.”

Amelia shook her head.

“The sea is just so beautiful.”

This was her first actual visit to Olstein’s Ahon port. It was a quiet place despite its size, with gentle waves. The sight of seawater washing over the sand was something Amelia had seen all her life but never tired of.

“Shall we depart a bit later?”

“I’m fine with that, but won’t Henrik be waiting? We should stick to the schedule.”

By Josef’s order, only a few guards were allowed to accompany them. The travel route was also focused solely on visiting the ports Amelia had expressed interest in seeing. Since it was so informal and arbitrary for an Emperor and Empress’s vacation, Amelia thought they should at least avoid causing worry to the guards.

“You call Henrik’s name so readily.”

Josef, walking beside Amelia, turned to face her and said.

“How do you plan to address me?”

“…Address you?”

Josef’s brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at Amelia, who tilted her head in confusion.

“You were worried about it too. That you couldn’t call me ‘Your Majesty’ during our travels.”

“Ah… That’s right.”

Since this wasn’t an official schedule, Josef and Amelia had to conceal their identities and appear as an ordinary noble couple. Judging from their experience at the port just now, that seemed difficult.

“…”

“If you happen to encounter that nobleman, it might be better to avoid him…”

Amelia gazed at Josef, who was wearing a short-brimmed hat and a black suit. Though he had dressed as simply as possible to avoid attracting attention, it seemed to have the opposite effect, making his features stand out more.

“Call me Josef too.”

“…Wouldn’t letting others hear your name draw more attention?”

“We can just say it’s a coincidence.”

“I’m not sure. That doesn’t sound convincing.”

Just as Josef was about to speak, a slightly stronger wind cut between the two. Amelia reflexively brought her hand to her hat brim.

“Be careful with your hat. It might fly away.”

“It’s fine.”

Josef lifted his hat slightly to show her.

“It’s thicker than yours.”

However, at the same time, a sea breeze that came in even stronger easily blew it from Josef’s hand.

“Ah!”

The person who cried out in surprise more than Josef, who had lost his hat, was Amelia. The wind immediately carried it to the water’s edge and surrendered it to the waves. The hat, getting soaked in saltwater, began to roll on the sand.

Josef turned his head slightly and stared at it. To others, his shoulder line would still appear unmoved, military-like.

But to Amelia, his embarrassment was clearly evident.

“See?”

Amelia burst into laughter.

“You dropped it.”

It was amusing to see Josef take such a clear hit, and the sight of the Emperor’s hat being unceremoniously swept away by the waves was so funny that Amelia laughed merrily.

“…”

Josef was staring intently at her laughing face. Amelia only noticed this after some time had passed.

Before Amelia could ask “What is it?”, Josef’s hand wrapped around her waist. His face slowly approached under her hat.

“Wait… We should pick up your hat first.”

“It’s fine.”

Josef gently held Amelia’s shoulders as she became flustered.

“It’s fine.”

“But…”

There were other people on the beach… Was it okay to kiss in such a place? Would they run into guards coming to look for them?

Josef’s soft voice settled on Amelia’s lips, which were mixed with worry and confusion.

“All I need is you.”

“…”

“Anywhere, doing anything.”

“My Amelia.” A faint vibration touched her lips. Amelia responded by embracing Josef.

As the kiss continued, Josef’s hat gradually drifted away from the shore on the waves.

“…Is anywhere really okay?”

Amelia looked up at Josef and asked playfully.

“If that’s what you want.”

“Even if I say let’s go to a very distant island? Captain Sonya has told me about many sea routes.”

“I don’t mind.”

Just as he pulled Amelia close once more, a sudden loud crying sound came from a little distance away.

“Waaah!”

“S-sorry, little one.”

A short boy standing next to a large rock was crying with his mouth wide open. It was Henrik, crouched down with a troubled expression, trying to comfort the child.

“I’m just… well… standing here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

However, the more Henrik tried to comfort him, the louder the child’s crying became.

Seeing Henrik’s awkward posture, half-revealed from behind the rock, the situation became somewhat understandable. He had been looking for them and hastily hidden himself, and the child had become frightened by the intimidating man acting suspiciously.

“…”

“…We should go back.”

Amelia spoke instead of Henrik, who couldn’t bring himself to look this way, and Josef, who was looking at him with a displeased face.

“Let’s go.”

Amelia held Josef’s hand and said softly.

“Josef.”

As if the low, clear voice reached his ears, Josef looked at Amelia. Instead of looking back at Josef, Amelia turned around and began walking.

“Say it again.”

“Later.”

Amelia said as she walked slowly.

Because there would be plenty of time together in the future.

For now, she just wanted to walk here. Feeling Josef’s warmth as he embraced her shoulders, walking slowly to match her pace.

The two walked side by side along the beach.

~~The End The Crown Prince Desires Me~~