The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

140 – 140. Transaction (1)

After the chaos, some minor but significant changes occurred.

Rudolf returned to the Imperial Palace during the day and went back to the Hohenberg estate at night. He had been staying at home and working remotely since then.

Jebilene was the same.

It seemed that she had decided to become a full-time homemaker, as she had stopped taking on her previous responsibilities.

The servants of the Hohenberg estate, who had witnessed the princesses’ overt changes, murmured to themselves, “Ah, it seems so…”. Some of them were already discussing the succession plan.

“Her Highness the Princess must become the heir of the Hoenberk family.”

“We cannot overlook the influence of the First Saint. She is the White Dragon of the Holy Empire, after all. If the Gael Empire directly intervenes in the succession, the head of the family will have no choice but to reconsider.”

It was a hasty assumption.

Hadn’t they just barely crossed the threshold of their union?

Yet, the candidates competing for the head of the family were none other than the Empire’s princess and the Holy Empire’s saintess. With formidable women, even the founding families of the Empire found it hard to contend, all eyes were inevitably drawn to the unfolding drama.

“Y-you…! Good morning.”

“Indeed.”

Since they had crossed that threshold,

Like beasts in heat, they reveled in outdoor exposure at every opportunity.

Perhaps it was a reaction to that.

Every time Ludmila welcomed Edanant, she would blush and avert her gaze.

Though she had finally achieved what she desired, she still felt flustered. Where had her usual dignified and gallant demeanor gone? With one hand covering her face, Ludmila wore an expression brimming with shyness.

“Will you be working in the mansion’s office today as well?”

“Uh, yes… The reconstruction of the imperial capital is nearing completion, so I could leave it to my subordinates. Is it… burdensome to stay as a guest?”

“Why would it be? Being together day and night feels wonderful, like a newlywed couple.”

“Ah!”

A newlywed couple.

What a romantic relationship that was.

As Edanant spoke while holding her hand, Ludmila’s face flushed like a ripe apple.

As the second young master and the princess made their entrance, the servants working in the garden all moved in unison. They had no intention of interrupting the romantic date, whispering sweet nothings and planning their future together.

“Ahem!”

The maids, who had been watering the flowers, hurriedly fled.

The gardener, who had been pruning, followed suit.

The garden, once bustling with over thirty people, was now eerily empty. Watching the comical scene unfold, Ludmila felt a twinge of awkwardness and cleared her throat.

“I’ve heard that the Holy Empire has still not made its position clear.”

“They remain silent. It seems they intend to pretend the incident in the sanctuary never happened.”

“Is that even possible? A city of the One God vanished overnight.”

“I too find that questionable… I cannot fathom what the cardinals of the Holy Empire are thinking.”

Numerous nations across the continent, including the Baltaria Empire, were demanding a statement.

The fall of the sanctuary.

It was a situation that shook the very foundations of all nations that worshipped the One True God, beyond the Holy Empire.

It was only natural for the Baltaria Empire and numerous other nations to rebel against the Holy Empire’s actions, which were marked by a consistent silence and an aimless attempt at concealment. Nevertheless, the Holy Empire did not reveal the truth.

“Hmm….”

Were they frightened by the innocent calamity that swept through the sanctuary and the forces of heresy?

No,

Surely the fanatics of the Holy Empire were not so easily cowed.

Isn’t dying for the One True God the very essence of worship? In fact, the holy knights of the Holy Empire, who had participated in the tribal wars, displayed a madness that charged into battle while shouting for a holy war.

‘It must be because the Calamity of Death has been resurrected. Even the saintly party, which represented humanity, has turned against us.’

The Saintly Party.

The Calamity of Death.

Just recalling it for a moment sent a wave of dizziness crashing over him.

Eda Nante gently released the grip he had on Ludmila’s hand and let out a heavy sigh.

“Ethan!”

As he continued to ponder deeply,

A girl with flowing silver hair approached.

It was Jeblinne.

Setting aside his complicated feelings, he welcomed the saintess dressed in pure white robes.

“We agreed to clean the cathedral together today. Honestly, Ethan, you’re always late for our appointments.”

“Oh, right.”

As late autumn arrived, the leaves that had been precariously hanging on finally fell in a flurry. Today, they had promised to clean up the leaves that had piled up around the cathedral.

Hmm….

Couldn’t they leave it to the holy knights dispatched to the Marquisate?

If it were the words of the First Saintess, wouldn’t they believe it as firmly as if it were carved in stone? Surely they would burn the leaves to ashes without a trace, even if it meant staying up all night.

“If we don’t quickly clear the leaves, the visiting parishioners will have a hard time getting through. I believe you are someone who leads by example for the sake of the parishioners, Ethan.”

“…….”

Ludmila seemed to agree, as she did not interject with Jeblinne’s words.

In the end, Eda Nante had to pick up a broom.

“That’s a good idea, Saintess. Then I will take charge of the cleaning. As someone who will one day serve the House of Hoenberk… I cannot ignore the hardships of the subjects.”

“What are you saying, Your Highness the Spinster? This is an important community service, announcing to the subjects of the Hoenberk Marquisate that Ethan and I will one day be married.”

Ah.

They fight again.

The red dragon wielding a broom and the white dragon glared at each other in opposition.

Red eyes and blue eyes sparkled.

The resolve not to yield even a little, mixed with jealousy, was chillingly fierce.

The servants hiding everywhere sent forth a silent cheer. They must be supporting their respective fiancées. Witnessing this, Edanant tried to turn away and leave the scene.

“Sir! You must speak firmly!”

“Edan! Quickly tell the cruel truth to the unmarried princess!”

You must choose me.

If you don’t want to die.

As always, the choice between two paths leading to destruction was imposed.

Faced with the fierce anticipation in Ludmila and Jeblin’s gazes, Edanant stepped back repeatedly, sweating coldly. Their unwavering belief that he would choose them only pushed Edanant further into a corner.

“Ta-da! Big sister has come to play.”

At that moment, when he felt like a bomb disposal team defusing a ticking time bomb.

A beauty with emerald green hair fluttered her skirt as she arrived on the scene.

“Madam Master of the Magic Tower?”

“No matter what, it’s too rude to call me that. Just call me big sister comfortably.”

“Then let’s compromise and call you auntie.”

“No way. Call me big sister.”

The owner of the red magic tower revealed herself.

What on earth brought her to the Hoenberk family?

Edanant shifted his gaze from Ludmila and Jeblin’s fierce stares to focus on the Master of the Magic Tower.

“The deposit is late. It’s troublesome to start off like this.”

“You took a small amount of blood and the essence of the deity last time. What more do you want?”

“It was the price paid for betraying the long-standing relationship with the Kingdom of Seonghwang. You haven’t paid for hiring the Master of the Magic Tower yet. No matter how much a friend of your son, calculations must be meticulous.”

“……”

At Querisa’s explanation, Edanant let out a groan.

It was because the astronomical amount the Master of the Magic Tower had demanded in a confident voice came to mind.

Five thousand pounds.

That damn Master of the Magic Tower demanded five thousand pounds of gold.

Considering that about 22 pounds is roughly 1 kg, five thousand pounds was undoubtedly an immense weight. Truly, as the head of the magic tower commanding numerous grand sorcerers, her worth was beyond imagination. It was on a completely different level from the amount the Valteria Empire had once demanded from the Hoenberk family.

“I will pay on your behalf. Just leave it to me.”

“I’ll gladly join in as well. For Ethan, anything is worth it, isn’t it?”

Though I had acquired territories granted by the Imperial Family of Baltaria, including gold mines, it would take several months before development could truly begin.

For now, it was difficult.

Just as I was about to say, “Shut your mouth,”—

The Empire’s second princess and the first saint of the Holy Kingdom joined in simultaneously.

“……”

From the dignified voices of Ludmila and Jeblinne, who readily accepted the astronomical sum, I sensed an almost euphoric anticipation.

What on earth are they plotting?

I looked at the princess and the saint with eyes soaked in foreboding.

* * *

Ludmila Draig Baltaria and Jeblinne Albion Russell pay 5,000 pounds of gold to Querisa Nesserhane on behalf of Edanant von Hohenberg.

The princess and the saint signed the contract at the same time.

And a new contract arrived for Edanant as well. It was the contract handed to Edanant under the condition that Ludmila and Jeblinne would pay the astronomical sum on his behalf.

「Marriage Registration Form」

“……”

When comparing 5,000 pounds of gold to the rest of one’s life, which would weigh heavier?

A lifetime’s worth of a marriage transaction was about to unfold in the Hohenberg family’s office.

Ludmila handed over the pen.

And Jeblinne offered the inkpot.

Edanant wiped the cold sweat from his brow as he gazed at the two marriage registration forms laid out on the table.

“Sign it. Quickly.”

“All you need to do is sign at the end. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Was this how a king of a weak nation felt when signing an unequal treaty?

The princess and the saint pressed down on his shoulders with their slender hands, compelling him to sign.