# 39
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Karl arrived with Edwin at the glamorous white palace.
Edwin smiled at him.
“You won't forget what I said, will you?”
"Yes, of course."
During their arrival at this place, Edwin gave several instructions.
1. Do not call him Prince.
2. Dealing with the woman who Karl will take care of as the prince’s wife, according to the politeness and respect she deserves.
3. Do not disclose this matter to any external party.
So, the Third Prince should not reveal his royal lineage, yet his wife should be treated as befitting her… Karl couldn't fully understand the idea.
Before the palace door opened, a look of worry passed across Edwin's face, which had been smiling from the beginning. Karl's sharp gaze did not ignore this.
Edwin spoke in a whisper.
“I hope my wife won't get hurt too much.”
They were unexpected words. The depth of his gaze reveals the sincerity of his feelings towards his wife, for fear that she will be harmed or that she will receive disgruntled looks if the news spreads.
Karl nodded.
“I will do my best.”
Satisfaction appeared on Edwin's face, and he opened the door. At the same moment, the solemn prestige surrounding Edwin subsided, and he seemed more gentle.
Karl, who was accustomed to the royal court, noticed this immediately.
“Senpai.”
His voice rang warm, his steps quickened as if he couldn't wait to see her.
A delicate woman came out from afar, smiling with rosy cheeks.
“Edwin, you come?”
She exchanged glances with the Third Prince for a few seconds, then noticed Karl. She received him warmly.
“I heard you were close to Edwin.”
Karl concealed his astonishment lightly.
“Yes, I am.”
“You can call me directly by my name.”
“No, it can't!”
How dare he call the prince's wife by her name!
Carl exchanged quick glances with Edwin, who nodded in permission for once.
“Okay...Mrs. Dana...”
Dana smiled gently.
“Thank you for coming despite your concerns... I hope for your cooperation.”
Karl looked at her for a while, a feeling of warmth and simplicity emanating from her, but some hidden traces of pain were felt in his soul, perhaps because she was close in age to his daughter, which made Karl's smile carry a subconscious fatherly aspect.
Dana said.
“Shall we start talking together?”
Everyone moved to the place Edwin had prepared, and Edwin was next to Dana, pouring her tea and preparing desserts, while Karl tried to ignore the scene that he was not accustomed to.
Dana began with a calm account of what happened.
“…Is this the evidence?”
Karl looked at the papers arranged on the table, dissatisfied with the actions of the perpetrators.
“They took advantage of it a lot.”
His legal thoughts swirled coolly, and he began listing the upcoming forecasts using professional jargon, while Dana actively participated in the conversation.
“I have stopped the bank's transactions. They will not be able to use my name again.”
Karl nodded, admiring her wisdom.
“I was freed from the family by marriage, and secured the palace as collateral for their loans.”
But Dana wasn't satisfied with that, and showed video records and Jimmy's contract with Viscount Humbern.
"This is evidence of my family and Viscount Hamburn's illegal dealings. They agreed to extradite me in exchange for money."
“The extradition of people for money is strictly prohibited under the laws of the Empire.”
Dana's evidence was complete; The contract was sealed with the signatures of both the Hartwin family and Viscount Hamburn.
“The matter must be dealt with calmly and with certainty.”
Karl pushed his glasses up his nose, he was a man no less cold in performing his duties.
“From now on, there is no need for Ms. Dana to meet her family. I, as her lawyer, will meet them on her behalf.”
His eyes reflected concern that Dana might be harmed by her family members.
Dana smiled softly and replied.
“Thank you, however I would like to meet them at least once.”
She had a desire to see their faces filled with despair, and a firm determination appeared on her delicate features, threatening to take revenge on her family.
Karl answered calmly.
“I'll keep that in mind.” Then he picked up his coat.
Dana accompanied him to the palace garden, adhering to her desire despite his repeated attempts to stop her. Naturally, Edwin follows them on their way.
Dana said, holding her thanks in full until the last minute
"Thanks for everything today. Take care."
She quickly motioned to Edwin to say hello.
'There's no need for that...'
It was clear that the arrogant Edwin would do nothing like his greeting.
Unexpectedly, Edwin approached Karl, then held his hand, and Karl trembled in surprise.
Edwin deliberately raised his voice so that Dana could hear him.
“Dear uncle, thank you for today.”
my paternal uncle?
Karl's eyes widened, and he wanted to withdraw his hand, but Edwin's strength was too great.
Edwin patted the back of his hand and whispered.
“Let's keep this going.”
Karl replied.
"…Yes."
Edwin smiled contentedly, then returned to Dana's side to say goodbye again.
“See you soon, uncle.”
“Ah...yeah...”
Karl barely opened his heavy mouth and replied.
If this was the case with the friends' children... he never wanted to see him again.
As Karl hurriedly walked away, Edwin turned and asked Dana in a friendly tone.
"Senpai, you must be hungry now. Shall we come in?"
“Before that… I would like to take a look at the garden.”
Didn't look at it carefully a while ago.
Dana smiled faintly and walked through the quiet corridors.
The tension that had previously suffocated her was gone, and as her conversation with Karl ended, a heaviness lifted from her chest.
She inhaled the scent of the grass, and felt her head clear.
Edwin followed her silently.
“The garden is really beautiful, Edwin.”
She turned to him and smiled brightly.
For him, there was nothing on earth as pure and beautiful as that smile.
"…correct."
He looked into her.
The young grass and the white hydrangeas were all there for her alone.
As she approached, carrying the soothing scent of flowers, his consciousness seemed to fade little by little.
“Edwin, can I water the flowers?”
He answered her directly.
“As you wish.”
And perhaps, if I had asked anything, he would have nodded as well.
Dana grabbed the sprinkler and started watering the flowers.
As drops of water splashed on its petals, Dana's face flushed with light life.
Edwin did not miss that small change.
Dana had a quiet nature and did not show much of her emotions.
However, Edwin had been reading it from the beginning...and keeping every detail in his heart.
For example…
If she spots something that interests her, her eyes widen slightly.
If she doesn't like something, one eyebrow raises slightly.
When her condition improves, cheerfulness creeps into her voice.
In embarrassing situations, she closes her eyes tightly and speaks in a trembling voice.
But when he surprises her with an unexpected approach...
She blinked with flushed eyelids, and a slight blush appeared on her cheeks.
And every time, that little twitch in her long eyelashes messed with his heart.
Dana was always calm...still.
However, his world with her was filled with color.
When he looks into her blue eyes, full of affection, he surrenders without resistance.
When she calls his name with her sweet voice, his heart contracts from the intensity of the impact.
And sometimes... the situation reaches such a point that he loses his balance.
Then, he had to move her hair or touch her cheek, to suppress his inner turmoil.
As every time, he was the one who approached her first, hiding his urgency behind calm features.
“Senpai.”
His voice was soft.
He extended his hand to her...
However, Dana raised her head and asked him.
“Edwin.”
Eyes wide, gaze fixed.
“How long will you keep calling me Senpai?”
"Yes…?"
"We're a couple now. We have to call each other by our names."
Edwin stopped moving.