Chapter 145 - Your Majesty... Your Majesty...

Wondering what could make a person like him uneasy, I watched as he started pulling his hair out and scolding himself, to the point where I felt dizzy just watching him.

I know he’s indecisive but…

“If you don’t regret marrying me, then what do you regret?”

“…. Damn it, I don’t regret it. I’m not trying to say something like I want to start over….”

“Then what?”

“It’s more like reflecting on the past.”

“……”

“Yes, that’s right. I just wanted to ask if you had any regrets.”

With a sweet but blurry light flickering in his eyes as he scratched his head again, I just stared at him blankly.

After a while, I finally managed to open my mouth.

“If that’s the case, would you divorce me?”

“…. Don’t even dream about it!”

“Hahahaha!”

He gave me a familiar look that resembled that of a grim reaper, and I couldn’t help but laugh until I held my stomach.

Looking at me like that, Izek’s face gradually turned red.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You, hahaha! You’re just so…!”

“Every time I talk seriously…. Hey, stop laughing! I’m just naturally like this! In the first place…. Ruby!”

Oh, that startled me.

As my husband, who was growling with a very agitated expression, suddenly reached out with his arm, I was dumbfounded for a moment.

After a few seconds, I realized with embarrassment that I had almost fallen over while laughing uncontrollably.

The sandwich fell onto the bushes.

“Ah, you saved me again?”

“That’s right.”

As Izek dragged me onto his lap while clicking his tongue, a shy smile spread over my face.

In an instant, our positions had been reversed.

I couldn’t lose like this.

“As expected of my knight-“

“Stop it.”

“Why? My knight, my king-“

“Ah, please….”

I was quite satisfied with the sight of the person avoiding me, turning his head away, his ears turning red.

I don’t know why I’m weak to this kind of reaction.

“There’s no reason for me to regret, you idiot. Are you prepared to take the throne, Your Majesty?”

“That seems like a question I should be asking first….”

Huh? Why is he saying something so out of the blue?

He finally turned to me slowly as I stood there speechless.

His gaze, which had been awkwardly shifting all day, was now fixed on me with a deep and solid intensity.

Suddenly, I remembered the afternoon when we had together cared for the dragon writhing in pain inside the cave.

The sight of him beginning to long for something while suppressing his anger towards my family and stepfather.

(T/N: yes, she refers to him as stepfather now.)

“If it weren’t for you in the first place, I wouldn’t have even thought about it. And….”

“….”

“Even if you have no regrets, we haven’t even properly held a wedding ceremony nor did I get to treat you properly from the beginning….”

“….”

“You came to the north as Omerta’s Duchess. However, now… with your family’s death, there’s no lineage left.”

I was not exactly sure what he was trying to say.

The man who briefly glanced at my puzzled expression let out a short sigh and pulled my wrist slightly.

As a result, my gaze naturally lowered.

And then it froze.

“So what I’m saying is… Be my queen.”

Was that what you were thinking about all day long?

I swallowed dryly and blinked my eyes.

A pair of shining gold rings was placed on his rough palm.

I noticed the particularly vivid red jewel in them.

Is that…?

“No way…”

“That’s right. It’s from the dragon’s collection. I could make other things with what’s left because there’s so much.”

“When did you make this… Is this even okay?”

Wasn’t it ironic that the dragon’s jewel was used to craft the marriage ring of the strongest southern family’s daughter and the North’s top paladin king?

But then again, I was just a bundle of irony.

“I originally planned to find something on my own, but I wanted to tease the lil’ guy… Well, do you like it?”

Was he really asking me that question?

I tilted my head and pretended to look away.

The man who was gradually examining my expression seemed a little taken aback.

“You’ve been staying in bed all day long because of this?”

“Not all day long….”

“Hiding and surprising me?”

“I didn’t really plan on hiding….”

Scratch, scratch.

He scratched the back of his head and blushed.

Laughter burst out.

“Would it be okay if the Queen of Britannia, who has the heart of a dragon instead of a divine core, has runaway friends like the Popori and the Griffin, and is keen on pestering the ice dragon to play with her?”

“If you bring that up, then I’m the one who destroyed the Papal States by riding on the ice dragon. Everyone misunderstands, but thanks to that, they don’t mess with me anymore.”

“….”

“Dark and intriguing secrets are the basic qualities of every royal family.”

That sounded convincing.

Did couples really resemble each other so much? Because his words seemed clearer than water to me.

I didn’t say anything more and leaned my head on his chest, stretching my fingers.

The hand that was fidgeting with my wrist carefully moved to his hand.

The old plain ring came off, and in its place was the feeling of a new ring taking its place…

The feeling was as happy as it was precious to keep the old ring as well.

Because that was how we met.

I couldn’t even guess what other things will happen with the dark and intriguing secrets in this world, and what the future of this world, which has turned out to be different from what I knew, will be like. I still couldn’t even fathom if this was allowed for me…

Strangely, I was not afraid at all.

The jewel ring inserted on my ring finger shone with a clear, deep red light.

His eyes, kissing each of my fingers as he held my hand, also sparkled with the same color.

My heart jumped again.

Suddenly, I found myself playfully murmuring at the feeling of my heart pounding in my chest.

“Your Majesty, it’s an honour.”

He let go of my hand and pulled me tightly into his arms with both arms.

My body was completely engulfed by his embrace.

“If I am the king, that would make you my Queen…”

A passionate whisper echoed in my ear.

It was almost like a vow.

As I turned my eyes to the sky and looked up, a smile spread across my lips.

Side Story 1: End of the Summer Festival.

It was truly a beautiful summer in the northern region.

The golden sun outside the window shimmered the green scenery of the palace grounds, and the sound of cicadas crying out for their partners could be heard from all around.

The streets of the capital were bustling with people preparing for the summer festival with excited hearts and young people out to enjoy the festivities.

And the king was feeling particularly low.

“Your Majesty, please approve the party budget today…”

“Your Majesty, we need more security personnel for the festival…”

“Your Majesty, another envoy is expected to arrive…”

“Your Majesty, Your Majesty! There’s been a sudden commotion at the secret construction site in the Frost Forest…”

“Your Majesty!”

“Speak!”

It wasn’t because he was swept up by the frenzy of his enthusiastic staff, like a pack of wild wolves, from the fresh summer morning until now.

There was nothing particularly new about repeating the same routine for almost a few months now.

Anyway, the king was in a bad mood.

The rumour that the king seemed particularly unhappy today had spread throughout the palace since the morning, which allowed the king to have lunch and a meeting separately for a change.

But still, the king’s mood was low.

Normally, he would have rushed to the queen’s palace without hesitation, but today, he just sat there, staring at the empty space without even blinking.

When those who came after hearing about the king’s condition as lunchtime approached gathered together, the king was still in the same state.

“Your Majesty, why didn’t you go to the queen’s palace for once?”

“….”

“Excuse me, Your Majesty.”

“….”

“Are you still unable to make a decision?”

His friend, whose head was filled with flower gardens, pestered the absent-minded king as if to scold him.

The reason why he had flower gardens in his head was that his wedding was just around the corner.

While some were struggling with work and unable to have proper dates with their wives in this beautiful season.

Izek frowned at Ivan’s irritating face.

“Anyway, I asked Ellen for advice.”

“And?”

“She asked if I wanted to congratulate her on our wedding anniversary or if I wanted a divorce.”

“What gift did you come up with this time?…”

“A diamond statue that looks just like the real thing. I mean, it’s not even made of marble, and it’s pretty good, isn’t it?”

Instead of responding, Ivan muttered a prayer while drawing a cross.

“Oh God, please save this b*stard!”

Meanwhile, Camu clicked his tongue.

“The more time goes on, the harder it gets. He used to come up with convincing gifts, but why did he end up like this?”

“How can I give the same level of gift as the scholars to my wife?”

Their arguments were all the same.

On top of that, this was a life-sized statue. Whether the material was diamond or stone, it didn’t matter.

It would be better to just build a new palace like last time than this.

The king’s friends, who were now tired of giving advice on a topic that had nothing to do with them and opening strange gifts, were thinking that it was time to stop.

“Damn it, comparing anything like jewels is meaningless thanks to that lizard..”

“Hey, forget it and just take the report first.”

“Report of what? There’s nothing.”

“Shut up and look over there.”

Izek frowned and followed Ivan’s gaze out the open window.

There was a commotion in the practice area.