Chapter 31

“How can you just show up now when tomorrow’s the match?”

Shutal, who had been waiting at the lodging, spoke in a reproachful tone as soon as Braden walked in.

He’d been considerate enough to send the carriage after lunch, telling him to take his time.

But to arrive after sunset?

“What’s the problem?”

“How could you do this? You never even glanced at a woman before, and now that you’ve fallen, you don’t care about anything else?”

“Adela isn’t just any woman. She’s Adela. The only one in the world.”

“Crazy!”

Shutal was at a loss for words.

‘This guy, he’s really lost it.’

He hadn’t known that when a man falls for a woman, he gives her his heart and body completely. His taste in women was odd, but his actions were even more so.

“So, are you going to retire after losing to a woman? How very honorable, huh?”

“Who says I’ll lose? I’ll dedicate the sword of victory to Adela.”

On Braden’s face was the pride of a man wanting to look good for a woman.

“Boasting, huh. You haven’t trained once all week, and you think you’ll win?”

Braden was known for his self-discipline. Ever since entering the Colosseum, he had always been the champion, but he never made the mistake of neglecting training out of arrogance.

“Why wouldn’t I train? I worked my muscles plenty in bed.”

“Ha! You call that training?”

“Yeah. It was more intense than ever.”

Braden was truly shameless.

“Fine. Let’s say you did muscle training. Don’t you know pouring out your energy like that will leave you drained?”

“That’s what potions are for. Ask Anne for a potion.”

“So you do need to take one. Just how much energy did you use?”

Braden had never taken a potion to help his bodily functions before.

“I don’t need it, but since you’re making such a fuss, I’ll take it. For you.”

“Excuses.”

“Anyway, are the gossip papers running the articles properly?”

Braden scanned the headlines of the gossip papers piled on the table.

“They’re veteran reporters. Their skills are solid. Every day is abuzz with the two’s scandal. ‘Lasve’ even hired an illustrator.”

Braden glanced at the article and chuckled.

It was full of sensational stories even the people involved didn’t know. He felt like he should follow the articles himself.

“For the next two weeks, it needs to be on the front page every day.”

To spread across the entire Edel Kingdom in a month, one or two articles wouldn’t be enough.

“Don’t worry. No newspaper would miss the goose that lays golden eggs.”

“How’s the play coming?”

“Script is done, casting finished. It’ll be staged at the Marsha Theater.”

“Marsha Theater?”

Braden looked at Shutal.

“My wife insists it has to be at her theater. She’ll even split the profits.”

Shutal replied hesitantly.

“Must be a hit if the Midas touch is involved.”

Shutal’s wife, Tera, was shrewder with money than her father, who was both merchant lord and guildmaster. Some even said she had a nose for money.

The largest of the three gossip papers, ‘Lasve’, was also Tera’s.

“Good. If even the Duchess wants it, lots of people will come.”

Tera would surely handle the publicity in a big way.

“Probably.”

Shutal didn’t doubt his wife’s abilities either.

“I’ll give you a week. It must go up next week.”

“A week? That’s nowhere near enough rehearsal time.”

“Triple pay. Tell them not to eat or sleep.”

“You think money solves everything?”

“It does. People risk their lives for money, hunting beasts and fighting.”

Shutal was speechless.

Braden had lived that life himself. He couldn’t say no to him.

“I’m going to warm up, so go.”

***

「Braden, succumbs to the power of money?

The scale of a Princess who gives away a whole mine.」

「Braden’s worth. At least a mine.

How long will their relationship last?」

「The beautiful Princess and the gladiator slave’s burning love,

premiere confirmed at Marsha Theater.」

After reading the gossip papers delivered in the morning, Adela fell into quiet thought.

“Is something troubling you?”

Logan, watching Adela’s expression, asked.

“So Duke Shutal knows, too.”

Adela lifted her teacup and took a sip of the now cooled tea.

At first, she thought it was just the pairing of the top gladiator and the Princess that was making waves. But seeing the daily articles, she realized—they were carefully manipulated.

The story about receiving a mine was just that. They leaked something only insiders would know. Focusing on Braden instead of herself was probably out of respect for the Princess.

From the content, it seemed Braden’s worth was high, but ultimately, it meant the Princess was so taken with the gladiator that she gave away a mine.

The nobles of Edel Kingdom wouldn’t miss that point.

“Is it that your contract with Braden is a scandal?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think he knows the intent?”

“He’s a politician, so he probably suspects.”

She hadn’t told Braden the reason for the scandal. But as a politician, Shutal would have easily figured out what she was trying to do through it.

“Marsha Theater, huh.”

“The Duchess runs that theater. They might have made the play on purpose.”

“I’m embarrassed to say I can’t keep up with their cleverness.”

To make a play out of it.

No matter how sensational an issue, it would fade over time. But if it was performed as a play, it would keep being talked about.

It was a beautifully romanticized love story, but in the end, it was just a scandal. It would reach Edel Kingdom faster than expected.

“It’s even more surprising that they have the resources to pull this off.”

“She does her job well.”

To have even Duke Shutal wrapped around her finger.

With the Duke involved, the scale was completely different. Adela knew she could never have managed this much.

“It’s awkward that the Duke knows. I’ll keep running into him.”

“What’s awkward? He’s from another country.”

Adela’s voice was flat.

At that moment, Alexa, who was guarding outside, came in.

“Your Highness, Duke Shutal has arrived.”

“Alright.”

Adela rose from her seat. It was time to act like a woman utterly enchanted by a gladiator.

‘Braden’s doing such a good job, I can’t lose out.’

“Did you sleep well?”

Shutal greeted Adela politely.

“Thanks to you.”

“Let’s go.”

Adela took Shutal’s escort and headed to the viewing box.

“If Braden loses, please don’t be disappointed.”

Shutal began in a dignified tone.

“Is something wrong with Braden?”

‘Did he get injured in the meantime?’

Her body tensed with worry.

“No. He couldn’t train all week, so he might not perform at his best.”

Adela glanced at Shutal, catching a hint of reproach on his face.

From the Duke’s perspective, this was understandable. He’d lose a lot if Braden lost.

“Then it’s my fault.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s because I didn’t let him go. So, Duke, don’t blame him too much. If there’s a loss, I’ll compensate.”

Adela’s lips curled into a seductive smile.

Gasp!

Shutal quickly turned his head in surprise.

Somehow, the Princess’s aura had changed. He felt like he’d seen something he shouldn’t have.

***

Edel Kingdom King’s office.

“The gladiator slave is her lover? My sister?”

Holden looked at his aide, Dan.

“Yes.”

“My prim sister, with a lover? And with a brute gladiator slave? You expect me to believe that?”

Holden scoffed.

He knew his sister better than anyone. She was more aware of her status and duty than anyone, and she would never fall for a wandering gladiator.

“Lasve is buzzing with their scandal. There’s even a play based on their story.”

Dan placed the gossip papers from Lasve, the neutral country, on the desk.

It was such a hot topic that the weekly gossip magazine had published special editions solely about their scandal. Two volumes, even.

With this much popularity, even though it had only been a little over two weeks since Adela’s scandal broke, rumors had spread throughout Edel Kingdom.

“She’s even giving away her magic mine to keep the proud gladiator as her lover.”

“Magic mine.”

Holden’s voice trembled slightly.

That mine was one of Adela’s dowry items.

The turbulent emotions made Holden clutch his head.

‘Is this the method my sister mentioned?’

‘Is this how she sacrifices herself?’

Unable to raise her own reputation, she deliberately brings herself down through a scandal—a humiliation for a woman.

Guilt surged.

He knew. The problem wasn’t his sister, but his own lack of kingly qualities.

Why did he say those things?

Why did he drink so much and spout nonsense?

Because Adela was taking the blame to secure his position as king, Holden was deeply tormented.

‘Please don’t do this, Sister.’

‘You’ve sacrificed enough already.’

‘Don’t sacrifice more because of me.’

“I must bring my sister here.”

Holden stood up abruptly.

“Marquis Adamante seems to be leaving soon.”

At that, Holden sat back down.

Indeed, his maternal grandfather wouldn’t just sit still after hearing of his granddaughter’s scandal.

“So the Marquis only just found out?”

“Seems so.”

A headache came on. Holden pressed his temples with his fingers, frowning.

“Would you like a drink?”

Dan walked to the cabinet where the liquor was kept.

“No, I’ll never drink again.”

“It’s honey wine. It’s not very strong.”

“No, it’s still alcohol.”

Holden was firm.

“What did alcohol ever do wrong?”

“It’s because of alcohol. I got drunk and drove my sister to this.”

At first, he drank a little to calm his nerves. But at some point, once he started drinking, he couldn’t control himself.

Knowing now that he couldn’t control it, it was right not to drink.

“Marquis Adamante is taking action. Don’t worry. He’ll turn things that happened and those that didn’t into something else.”

“That’s why my sister went to Lasve, the neutral country.”

“…….”

“It’s all my fault. Ha, I should never have become king. I shouldn’t have let myself be persuaded to take the throne. My sister would’ve made a better king than me.”

Holden clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

“Because of me, my sister can’t even marry.”

Even if she does, no proper family would propose marriage.

To mortgage her life just to be shunned by nobles.

So typically sister-like.

***

“Where is Her Highness sleeping tonight? Colosseum? Suite room?”

Alexa asked Logan.

It was a question that assumed Adela wouldn’t be sleeping in her own quarters.

“There hasn’t been a message yet, but since today was the match, probably the Colosseum.”

Logan replied indifferently.

There was a time when it bothered him that she slept with a gladiator slave, but as time passed, he became numb to it.

“Shouldn’t we prepare extra dresses?”

Alexa asked Joy.

Whenever Adela entered the Colosseum’s quarters, she couldn’t wear the dress she came in with—it would be torn.

“I’ve already put several extras there.”

The three fell silent for a moment.

Time really is scary. To be able to talk about this so casually now.

When they first heard they needed to prepare extra dresses because the ones she wore would be torn, it was a huge fuss.

“But are they really just acting? The way they look at each other, it’s like starlight pours from their eyes.”

Joy tilted her head.

“Her Highness is good at everything, so she’s probably good at acting too.”

Logan replied in a firm tone.

“Physical affection, that’s a scary thing. Isn’t it, Logan?”

Alexa asked Logan, whose face immediately turned red.

“Oh ho, so physical came first for those two?”

“How could I have known? I never thought I’d meet a man who’s exactly my type in bed.”

“What kind of type?”

Joy’s eyes sparkled.

“A man who cries….”

“Ah, Madame! You shouldn’t carelessly reveal private matters between spouses.”

“Shouldn’t I?”

Alexa looked as if she didn’t understand why not. Joy signaled to talk about it later, just between them.

“And Her Highness is different from us.”

“Why?”

“Because she’s Her Highness.”

“She’s not a woman? How could she not fall for such an attractive man when she’s with him almost every day, all day?”

Though Alexa wanted to argue that Braden wasn’t that attractive, she couldn’t. Even Logan, a man, thought Braden was impressive.

It wasn’t just his looks or aura. He was arrogant and proud to everyone—even Duke Shutal.

But when it came to Adela, he was different. He looked at her not as a Princess but as a woman, and his eyes dripped honey whenever he saw his woman.

He never took his eyes off her, and provided for her needs before she even spoke.

He noticed things faster than her own attendants. No matter how hard they tried to find his flaws, they couldn’t.

Because he was usually rude to others, his changed attitude was obvious.

And he constantly sent Adela a smile that seemed calculated to melt any woman.

If she didn’t fall for him, she’d be a vase, not a person.

“How could such an outstanding man be a slave? It’s more dramatic than any play.”

Joy sighed.

Her sigh spread to the others, and a relay of sighs followed.

“He’ll be a commoner now. With his skills, Duke Shutal’s recommendation could get him into the Sovaro Empire’s knight order, right?”

Logan mused.

“Right. He’s skilled, so he could quickly become the Imperial knight commander. Then he’d get a title, too.”

Alexa chimed in.

“Oh! That’s the plot of the play.”

“Play?”

“Yes. The one based on those two, <Princess and Gladiator>.”

On the first day the play was staged, Shutal handed out tickets. Alexa and Logan didn’t want to go, but Joy couldn’t resist her curiosity and went.

“It was so, so fun. The leads weren’t as good-looking as the real ones, though.”

“I should have gone. Should have taken the ticket when he offered.”

Alexa clicked her tongue.

It’s so popular now that tickets cost several times more than face value.

“So if he becomes knight commander and gets a title, the status issue is solved, right?”

Joy asked.

“It’s not quite equal to Her Highness’s status, but theoretically, yes.”

Alexa nodded. Normally, it would be difficult, but this was the Princess who had caused a scandal.

“If it’s true love, then there’s justification.”

Alexa clapped her hands together.

There was a subtle spark in the eyes of the three as they looked at each other.

No one knew since when. At some point, they had begun plotting to pair the two together.

Except for their status, they really were a perfect match.