Those in black mourning clothes gathered solemnly in the dim atmosphere.
At the center lay the body of Mohichi, the King of Hangury, who had departed from this world. The monarch, who had dedicated his life to protecting his country, had finally laid down his heavy burden and entered his eternal rest, surrounded by mourners grieving his passing.
Among them were Gerard, commander-in-chief of the Hangurian army, the soldiers of the Black Legion, and Robert, son of King Mohichi and now the new monarch of Hangury.
With heavy hearts, they bid farewell to the ruler who had guided them through hardship and restored stability to their land.
As Robert stood in sorrow, a familiar figure caught his eye, and he approached her.
***
“…Yuria? How are you here…?”
“How? I came to pay my respects, as requested by Mr. Bahamut,” Yuria replied in a gentler tone than usual, aware of the solemn occasion.
Seeing her more composed than before, Robert felt a slight comfort amidst his grief.
“Are you alright? You don’t look well,” he remarked.“Yes, I’m alright. It was difficult at first, but…” Robert found himself momentarily struggling to hide his sadness. Yuria still thought of him as a nobleman, and he briefly considered confessing the truth to her. However, he couldn’t gather the courage, fearing it might make her uncomfortable or cause her to turn away.
Meanwhile, Yuria, unaware of his true status, sympathized with his sorrow. She understood that, despite his usual strength, he held deep respect for his king, making the loss even harder.
Trying to comfort him, she gently patted his shoulder and offered a reassuring smile. “Stay strong. Though it’s heart-wrenching to lose His Majesty, I believe the future king—Prince Robert, was it?—will lead Hangury well. I’ve heard he’s quite capable.”
The weight of her words caused Robert, who was now the king, to fall silent.
Unbeknownst to him, Isolda Evergarden had been observing their exchange, sighing to herself.
“Ah… These two, so clearly fond of each other yet unable to express it. Then again, I’m not one to talk,” she mused, recognizing it might be time to intervene.
‘Hangury still has debts to repay, and we could benefit from a stronger alliance. Perhaps it’s time to lend a helping hand.’
***
About a week after the funeral, Yuria grew increasingly curious about Isolda’s extended stay in Hangury.
“Miss Isolda, I thought we’d completed our business here. Why are we still lingering?” she questioned.
“There’s still work to be done.”
“What work? You haven’t told me anything,” Yuria pressed, frustrated by Isolda’s mysterious behavior.
“You’ll know soon enough. Just wait one more day,” Isolda replied.
Yuria puffed her cheeks, clearly irritated.
Just then, a servant entered, whispered something to Isolda, and her smile grew even broader.
***
Isolda and Yuria entered the castle at the king’s invitation.
Yuria’s face turned tense as she realized she would soon meet King Robert.
‘King Robert… I’ve never actually seen him before. What could he want from us?’
Though Isolda appeared calm, Yuria felt anxious. Even though the Beden Merchant Company had supported Hangury in the past, a summons from the ruler was a daunting experience for her as a commoner.
The grand doors opened slightly, and a servant conveyed a message: “His Majesty requests that only Miss Yuria Sweets enter.”
“Me… alone?” Yuria asked, her tension rising. But Isolda urged her firmly.
“Go in. It’s His Majesty’s order.”
Though reluctant, Yuria had no choice but to obey. She moved with nervous steps, and Isolda barely contained her laughter as she watched her go.
Yuria walked cautiously through the grand hall. The silence, combined with the grandeur of the room, made her feel more intimidated than she had during times of war. She barely dared to raise her head, feeling overwhelmed by the atmosphere.
‘Looking back… I once played hide and seek around a place like this as a child. I must have been braver back then.’
Reaching the lower part of the throne, Yuria bowed deeply. “Yuria Sweets of the Beden Merchant Company greets His Majesty the King.”
Having practiced proper etiquette beforehand, Yuria managed the formal greeting without trembling. Just as she finished, a familiar voice spoke.
“Raise your head, Yuria.”
“…What?”
Startled, Yuria opened her eyes wide. The man before her, the King of Hangury, was the one she had known as Robben. He smiled warmly at her.
“Robben? How are you…? I haven’t heard of any coup in Hangury…” she muttered, confused.
King Robert chuckled awkwardly, watching her surprise. He stepped down from the throne, took her hand, and spoke gently.
“I apologize for not telling you sooner… There was never a good time.”
“So… you really are…?”
“Yes, I am Robert, King of Hangury, Yuria Sweets.”
With those words, Robert knelt before her. Though they were alone, the act of the king kneeling made Yuria feel overwhelmed.
“I arranged this meeting because I wanted to apologize for hiding my identity. And also… because I wish to redefine our relationship.”
“M-my relationship with you…?”
Fearing she might be reprimanded for speaking so freely in the past, Yuria felt increasingly nervous. Meanwhile, Robert, his cheeks slightly flushed, held her hand and brought it to his lips.
In that moment, Yuria recognized him fully as the Robben she had known.
“Yuria Sweets, would you honor me by accepting my proposal, with marriage in mind?”
The confession from the man who had captured her heart filled Yuria with both joy and shock. Though she had hoped for this, she had almost given up due to their difference in status.
Finally, convincing herself that she could not refuse a king’s request, she replied in a shy voice.
“…Yes… I will… Your Majesty.”
“Robert.”
“…What?”
“You may call me that in private. Just as before.”
“…Ah…”
With his words, a joyful smile spread across Robert’s face. Yuria felt the burden in her heart lift, and she looked at the young man before her with the same fondness she always had.
“Alright, Robert.”
***
In the carriage returning to Schwyz, Isolda watched Yuria, whose face was flushed with happiness.
“You look pleased. It’s only natural, after all, since the man you cherished confessed to you.”
“That’s not it… Well, maybe… Thank you, Miss Isolda. Truly, for everything this time…”
“Heh, you’re welcome. I still owe you a lot, after all.”
It was thanks to Isolda’s advice that Robert had found the courage to confess.
Pleased with the success of her efforts, Isolda also made a silent decision for herself.
‘When I return, I’ll make my own confession. I’ll reveal my heart to him, no matter what.’
Though she wasn’t sure how it would be received, she resolved to take the chance.
Love, she reminded herself, ultimately belonged to those with the courage to pursue it.
[END]
Get More Chapters onPatreon: From now on, FSM Level 2 will become the CN WN Bundle. The price will remain the same which is $10. Also, the price for the KR WN Bundle will also be decreased to $10 to match this bundle.
With this I have gotten rid of the level system. The reason I am doing this, is because I plan to add more chapters to the $5 Patron tiers. Currently the readers get 2 advance chapters when they become a $5 Patron, but I want to increase the chapters they get to at least 5 chapters and more. So the current updated tier system will work like this:
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