# 28
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“Edwin, I'll ask a question just in case… since we're a couple now.”
“Go ahead, say whatever you want.”
“Are you also... I mean... your relationship with your parents... not good?”
Edwin smiled as he looked at Dana, who hesitated in her words.
“Don't worry, there's nothing to worry about. We're just busy with each other's lives, so we stay away from each other.”
“Aha… I see.”
No matter how much she tried to convince herf, his words seemed to mean that his parents were not interested in him.
Suddenly, Edwin leaned down slightly, approached her ear, and whispered in a low, lazy voice.
“Were you worried about me?”
There was some hidden joy in his voice. Dana sighed lightly, then reached out to brush his hair away from his forehead.
His body froze for a moment under her gentle touch.
Dana laughed lightly seeing him like this.
He always surprises her and acts confident, but when she touches him, he doesn't know how to react.
The tip of his ear was red as evidence of this.
“Yes, I was worried about you.”
She worried that he might have the same loneliness and darkness inside him that she once had.
Edwin raised his body and returned to his position, then turned his face away to hide his blush.
“Don't worry, it's nothing to imagine, Senpai.”
"truly?"
“But… I would like you to feel some pity for me.”
Dana looked surprised.
“If the emotion you give me comes from compassion... that's fine with me.”
“Don't say such nonsense.”
“Well then, at least pamper me a lot.”
She couldn't help but laugh at his puppy-like words.
“So, how about we live in your house?”
Edwin's eyes widened in surprise.
She beat him to what he was going to suggest.
Thus, she will be away from the Hartwin family, and he will not have to reveal that he is a prince.
He smiled gently and said.
“Okay, let's go to my house then.”
"Good, and let me know if you need help with anything. We're going to live together after all."
Her words were enough to make his heart skip a beat. For a moment, the heavy anxiety he was carrying vanished.
As they talked, the Magic Department Gate began to appear to them from afar.
“Already arrived?”
Dana's eyes widened in surprise. The road time always seemed long and boring, but this time it passed strangely quickly.
Time with Edwin was never boring. Then she realized again that his presence had completely changed her monotonous world.
Even walking next to him down the aisle made her feel good.
Finally they reached the potion administration section.
With the sound of the door opening, the colleagues' eyes focused on the two of them. Looks of curiosity, resentment, and envy were all directed at Dana.
‘Hello!’
Kira, who used to wear her hair in two braids, nodded to her with a bright face as she moved her lips in silent greeting.
Dana smiled sweetly at her. Kira looked like she had a thousand questions she wanted to ask.
But before she started, Tony said sarcastically.
“Huh, you two, what were you doing yesterday? You made a mess of the office and then disappeared!”
Dana replied calmly.
“We registered our marriage.”
“Yes yes, bugger… what?!”
Tony's face collapsed in an instant.
“You registered your marriage? You actually got married?!”
“Yes, we went straight to the temple.”
Dana answered confidently again.
Tony pointed at Edwin nervously as he shouted.
“How long have you known this boy?! How can you leave someone like me who’s been with you for years for—!”
So he's still living in his illusions.
Edwin stared at him with a look as sharp as a sword, and Tony blinked and froze, remembering what had happened earlier.
But before the tension could escalate, Dana grabbed Edwin's arm and said calmly.
“Ignore it, and let's get our work done.”
“Yes, Senpai.”
In an instant, calm returned to his features, as if nothing had happened.
As he gave Dana a long, tender look, Tony looked completely stunned.
At that moment, Lighten entered the office.
“What is this strange atmosphere here?”
He looked at Tony lying on the chair and asked in surprise.
“It seemed like he couldn't bear to hear about our marriage.”
Edwin answered in a casual tone, tilting his head slightly.
“Already married? So quick, you two! But well done, live happily!”
"Thank you."
Edwin smiled with pure happiness at Lighten's words.
Lighten pursed his lips and continued.
“But whatever it is, a marriage without an official ceremony? Did you not have money to hold the ceremony?”
Dana felt it was better to devote herf to her work than to deal with Layton.
But the latter did not care and quickly continued his words, looking at her with exaggerated curiosity.
"And you don't seem to have money for a honeymoon either! You should have at least stayed with Tony…"
“Don't worry, the ceremony and honeymoon trip will go ahead without any problem.”
Edwin smiled very calmly.
“So, please give us sufficient leave.”
Dana was the most surprised of all.
'What party exactly is going on?'
***
The servant knocked on the door of the tea room in the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor was enjoying quiet time with the Empress over a cup of tea and some sweets.
"What's the matter now! Didn't I say that no one would interrupt me when I'm with the Empress?"
The Emperor's face frowned as he felt annoyed at the moment their privacy was interrupted.
The Empress gently sipped her tea and said softly.
“It seems urgent. Let him in.”
"Well, my dear."
The Emperor answered immediately, as if his tantrum had completely disappeared.
The servant entered followed by High Priest Lohas, and then bowed respectfully.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, Your Majesty the Empress, may the Lord bless you both with His everlasting protection—”
“Stop boring greetings, take a seat.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Lohas sat in front of her, always feeling the prestige radiating from her.
Her calm gaze resembled the gaze of a predatory beast.
Quiet now, but who knows when it might explode?
'Whenever I see her, she reminds me of the Third Prince…'
He swallowed fearfully, then said.
“I came to ask when the wedding will be held.”
He is, after all, the one responsible for the third prince's royal marriage ceremony.
The Emperor said as he chewed a piece of orange jam biscuit.
"Hmm? Who's getting married?"
“…Your Majesty does not know?”
‘It can’t be… Did he not even tell his emperor parents?!’
Lohas began to regret coming.
The anger that should have been directed at the prince might now fall on him.
He hesitated for a moment, then finally said
“Your Majesty the Emperor, His Highness the Third Prince visited me yesterday with a young woman, and they have officially completed the marriage registration.”
The biscuit fell from the emperor's hand.
“My little son… got married?”
He opened his mouth, not believing what he heard.
“But… why didn’t he bring his bride to the palace? Aren’t they supposed to live in the prince’s palace?”
The Empress alone answered with a completely calm face.
“Edwin has lived outside the palace since he was young, and he cannot bear to be restricted.”
“But I... I just wanted to see his beautiful wife’s face...”
“Maybe he has his reasons, and remember we agreed to support him wherever he lives and whatever he does.”
It stemmed from her deep feeling of guilt towards him, because she couldn't protect him properly in the past.
She remembered the accident he caused when he was unable to control his enormous energy.
And how in the end they had to send him away to the north.
“However... I still feel sorry...”
The Emperor frowned and tilted his lips in complaint.
The Empress looked at him sternly and said.
“This is inappropriate. Shut up.”
"…Yes, my dear."
“Anyway...what did they look like?”
Lohas raised his eyebrows in surprise.
“Excuse me? What do you mean, Your Majesty?”
“Did they look happy? Edwin, and the girl he married.”
'Happy?' Rather, they were completely overwhelmed with happiness.'
He remembered their bright features and answered with a certain voice.
“Yes, they seemed very happy.”
The Empress smiled at these words.
“Edwin looks like he did something interesting this time.”
Her face showed that she was really enjoying it all.