Chapter 35: Chapter: 33

"Grizel..."

Rex called his fiancee who is focused on reading a book about the sole religion in this world, the Temple of Cronus and their 4 worshiped Gods.

"Hhmm?..."

She just humming to answer him, Grizel just keeps her eyes on the book not caring the one who called her, quite a rude manner towards the prince if there are any other people around.

"Why don't you marry me?"

Stopping her good read, she shifts her gaze at her fiance who is speaking absurd things casually while inspecting some urgent paperwork in his hands, buried by his Imperial duties as the Crown Prince.

Both of them are currently in the spacious Imperial carriage on the way to the capital, their servants are in the different carriage including Levi, Lucy, and Dion,

"Your Highness wants me to die earlier?"

Early marriage is common for noble families because all they need is the official documents to tie the families, the sooner the better.

On the other hand, it's extremely rare for the Imperial family to marry at a young age since this empire has a unique tradition related to Imperial marriage, divorce within the imperial family members are prohibited, and the Empress couldn't be dethroned, making it hard for the Imperial family to marry in young age, instead, they will carefully observe their soon-to-be spouse during the engagement before deciding to step into the more serious relationship like a marriage.

Just like Rex in the novel who decided to annul his engagement with the real Grizel because of her unbecoming behavior as the mother of the Azure nation even if she has the highest status among nobles.

Nonetheless, this world regards polygamy negatively, even though there are no lawful rules about this matter, people's belief since ancient times couldn't be changed easily, that's why love affairs and illegitimate child of nobles is not unusual hot topics among those who love to gossip.

Even the Lord of Belial's family chooses to take the next heir from the branch family than having an affair or taking a new wife to maintain his good name among the people.

fortunately, the current late Empress still managed to give birth to Rex even with her poor health, thus, Emperor Drake didn't need to take a new wife due to his true love for his wife. It means that if Grizel married Rex right now, she will inherit the vacant seat of the Empress' Crown and will be regarded as a bigger obstacle as long as she is alive for those traitors, and needed to be erased as soon as possible.

"Then why don't we marry in secret?"

Grizel furrowed her eyebrows upon his nonsense, a crown prince of a big nation married in secret like a runaway couple, it's laughable.

"Why are you in such a rush about the marriage? Even without it, our alliance is still valid. Besides, you still have 4 years before your coming of age ceremony"

There are a lot of reasons he wanted to say including his feeling but...

"As the best and resourceful informant, isn't it best to tie you down with me through marriage"

In the end, he chooses to say the most beneficial and practical reason in his mind casually. He wasn't sure of what is love yet but he likes to be with Grizel and didn't mind to crown her earlier.

"Rest assured my Prince, I have no intention to hand over my crown as well"

As someone who has the title of The Lord of Avarice, Grizel wouldn't want to hand over her position as the future Empress to the heroine either.

Though she needs to confirm one thing before deciding how to take advantage of the heroine, instead of killing the heroine easily, isn't it more beneficial for me to use her? Is what this former businesswoman is thinking about, enemies or not, she will do it to gain the greatest profit.

"Hooo? Did you fall for me already"

And here the misunderstood crown Prince asked with a smug smile and an annoying teasing tone but get a cold blunt answer in return.

"I am always in love with your gold and authority"

"Pfft, I love the secret information provided by you either"

"Isn't that is why we allied?"

"Haha, exactly as a mutual benefit partner"

Grizel back to her book while Rex is resuming his paperwork, a peaceful and smooth ride before the first wave of the upcoming storm when they arrived at the capital city.

-•-

"Your Highness, His Majesty sent you a letter as a reply"

A Knight hands over a letter sealed with the crest of the Azure empire.

"Alright, you are dismissed"

Rex said with his usual princely image and started to read the letter.

They just arrived at the capital this evening, in a pretense of helping Grizel to adapt to the new environment, Rex decided to sleepover in the mansion owned by the Belial family at the capital city and delay his report to the Emperor, but he still sends one of his Knight to inform his father of his arrival at the capital.

Knock! Knock!

Grizel could sense the one who knocks on her door this late at night even without him saying anything.

"You may come in, Your Highness"

"Wow! ...what a hardworking fiancee"

Rex chirped in amazement with wide eyes when he entered the room as his gazes catch on Grizel.

The very first wave of the storm in the capital has been detected from none other than his troublemaker fiancee.

"It's time for you to sleep, Your Highness"

Wearing her usual black assassin attire for the hunting routine, she speaks to Rex without looking at him while fixing her fingerless leather gloves.

Even though tonight's hunting prey is not mere monsters anymore, she had gotten used to this attire.

Rex comes to Grizel's room to relay a message from the Emperor and saying good night, but instead of seeing her cute sleepy face, Grizel is getting ready to sneak out of the mansion even if they are just barely arrived at the capital.

"You look unexpectedly awesome in black"

Rex said casually while leaning his back to the closed door observing Grizel with his arms crossed, the busy Grizel seems like didn't care about the Prince acting leisurely in the room assigned to be her private chamber while she is living in the capital.

"Your Highness, won't you ask me anything?"

She looks at the relaxed prince who is yawning casually.

"Stop testing me, I've promised not to ask any further"

Grizel smiled, she will plant her Illusion World into his dream tonight and make him forget about him coming to her room if he tried to pry on her business any further.

'This Prince knows exactly where to draw his line'

"Then, may I ask why is the respectable Crown Prince here, in his fiancee private chamber in the middle of the night?"

Pulling the curtain a little bit to see the patrolling guards outside the window before sneaking out, she asked the prince sarcastically.

"Ah, I was going to say that my father sends a letter wishing to meet you tomorrow at the Palace to discuss the contract agreement and..."

"And...?"

Grizel moved her gazes from the guards outside to Prince Rex.

"For my goodnight kiss?"

She rolled her eyes, it's her stupidity to think this teasing prince will say something decent by wasting her precious night hunting time.

"I presumed your Highness has no more things to say, then Good night Prince Rex"

Hop!

Without giving her fiance time to answer, the girl jumps out of the window and disappeared along with the cold night breeze.

Rex who left alone in the chamber let out a chuckle, he recalled a few days ago when he holds his unconscious fiancee's hand, seems like she couldn't completely maintain her usual trick when she was in the awakening stage, he accidentally saw a glimpse of a crossing dual daggers tattoo on her wrist even though the non-awakeners servant couldn't see it.

'Pfft, a healer who holds a dual daggers'

He chuckled inwardly and close the door of Grizel's room, heading towards his own with a smirk on his face.

'Such a fierce wolf in the sheep's clothing'

'Well, though it's no different from me either'

Rex glanced at his wrist, 2 small tattoos that usually concealed with magic powder caught his gaze, a crossing dual sword, and a flame armor tattoo carved beautifully.

"Good night, My Villainess Princess"

To be continued...

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Author's Corner:

I am back with this warming-up chapter before the first mess in the capital caused by none other than the...

Devil, herself.

Bwahahaha, well I hope you enjoy the story.

Especially for those who keep on waiting, hope it worth the wait.

With love,

Mauzhr