“They only respond to monsters, but I think they’ll be pretty easy to use,” he said, casually tossing a chunk of wyrm flesh toward the barrier. The moment the flesh touched it, the cold air around it crackled, and it split cleanly into two pieces.
The townspeople fell silent.
Even though the barrier would only react to monsters, which made it easier to get their cores, it was a bit terrifying to imagine what it would be like if it worked on people.
But when the merchants realized how convenient it was and started chucking whole monster corpses at the barrier just to extract the cores the easy way, I couldn’t help but laugh. That’s definitely big merchant energy!
The damage to buildings was less severe than expected, and repairs wouldn’t take long.
And because Lucas, the Majaarian army, and our mercenaries had all been deployed quickly, there were surprisingly few injuries, and not a single death. It was truly a miracle. The people of Aram were overjoyed and came to thank us one after the other.
Yana was especially grateful. She was thrilled that we’d saved Alfred, and watching Islan’s panicked expression made me want to burst out laughing. But of course I couldn’t, because that would be rude.
“I-I can’t even begin to express my gratitude! The Salkishan family of Aram will forever be grateful to the descendants of Bern’s Hero and his wife, the princess. If you ever need anything, just ask, and we will rush to your aid. I’ll come straight to you, Princess Cecilia, even if I have to leave the palace!”
“What?!” Prince Islan exclaimed.
“This is my way of repaying her personally, Your Highness,” Yana replied. “There’s nothing to object to in that.”
“Y-Your Highness? What kind of tone is that?! You’re my wife! I understand repaying a favor, but you’re coming back afterward, aren’t you?!”
Islan frantically tried to reason with her, his arms still supporting Alfred, who couldn’t yet stand on his own. Everyone around them gave them awkward but warm looks, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“You’re still whining, Prince Islan?”
“He’s a good ruler, but he’s hopeless when it comes to romance. Apparently, he was so crushed after getting rejected the first time that he started practicing proposals with other women and wound up with a reputation as a playboy. What a mess!”
I see… So he got into serial dating to practice his proposals. Not exactly healthy coping!
In that case, maybe giving him the desert rose was the perfect solution. Since it’s Yana’s decision, it takes the pressure off him. Just as that thought ran through my head, Anna silently handed me the rose, and I blinked in surprise.
My incredibly perceptive maid just read my mind!
“Prince Lucas’s spell is still intact, so there’s no damage at all,” she said.
“Thank you.”
Just as I reached for the rose with a grateful smile, Lucas plucked it away instead. “You’re not touching it. I’ll give it to him.”
Then as if that weren’t enough, he pulled me into a tight hug and chucked the rose at Prince Islan like he was throwing a ball. I nearly screamed. Honey, don’t throw things like that!
“Here, Islan. Catch!”
“Wha—Prince Lucas, there are manners to—what? A desert rose?” The prince stared at the rose in disbelief. Then, instead, of looking at Lucas, he glanced over at me.
Pretty sharp!
And maybe the reason he didn’t comment on our very public meddling was because he was genuinely grateful. Because I didn’t know how I was going to survive if he’d gotten used to how clingy we were with each other.
Because I was very close to collapsing from embarrassment over how many public kisses I’d gotten today. Can someone please tell him to choose better timing?
“Princess Cecilia, am I really allowed to use this?”
Or maybe not?
My mood dropped a little, but then I saw how sincerely he gazed at Yana. Wait, he’s serious! I smiled at him.
“Yes. I already have a rose that will never wither, one I’d never find again even if I searched the world over. I want to love only this miracle, until death do us part.”
If he’d finally made up his mind, then I would show him I had too.
The right words of love at the right time were what mattered the most. I ran my fingers through Lucas’s dark hair and kissed him lightly, throwing him off guard. He froze and blushed, staring straight at me.
The mixture of joy and shock on his face was so precious that it made Prince Islan burst out laughing.
“Ha! That’s right. I forgot that Princess Cecilia already has her Knight of the Blue Rose.”
“I do,” I nodded.
Lucas looked like he thought Islan was teasing him, so he narrowed his golden eyes threateningly.
“Princess Yana,” he said.
“Eep!”
She flinched as he loomed over her, growling in that deep voice of his.
But instead of letting her squirm, Prince Islan pulled her into a protective embrace and gave her the exact same kind of kiss Lucas had given me, making my jaw drop.
“Eek! Why did you kiss my hair?!” Yana shrieked.
“Isn’t she scary? Princess Cecilia, those thorns of yours are a little too sharp,” Islan said. Then, turning to Lucas, added, “Think you’ll be okay? Even roses that beautiful might draw blood if you’re not careful.”
Wow, this guy…
First, he tells me to be more delicate like Yana, then has the gall to warn Lucas to tone down the jealousy. But he’s the pettiest one of all!
I understood now. The reason he beat Prince Akeem wasn’t just because he was clever. It was because he never backed down and always played to win, even if he had to get a little dirty.
When Islan and Yana ascended to the throne, Majaar was going to change and grow stronger.