"Belly."
I collapsed and lay in Asher's arms. He looked at me with worried eyes and caught my eye.
"Are you out of your mind?"
He gently pulled my hair from the sweat on my face and pressed my forehead to my forehead. Confused at the approaching street, he opened his mouth in a low voice.
"I… , why… … ."
"Breathe with me."
… Breath?
It was only then that I realized that I was panting and not breathing properly.
I reflexively grabbed his hem and closed my eyes.
I inhaled and exhaled slowly, following his warm breath on my face.
"Ha… ."
As the rough breathing gradually regained stability, the pain that had spread from the heart slowly disappeared.
While I calmed down, he never let go of his hand holding me till the end.
As the creepy sensations attached to my body disappeared, it was only then that I realized what was going on with me.
I leaned back slightly and looked at him with trembling eyes.
My face has heated up and now I will look like an apple.
Crazy, Crazy! No matter how crazy you are Does it make sense to be tangled in someone else's arms?
I woke up late and let go of the hem of his robe that I had been holding on to. Then I slightly avoided his gaze, who was still looking at me worriedly.
"This… , it's fine now. Please let me go."
"Since when have you been so unwell?"
He didn't look like he was going to get me out of his arms. I rolled my eyes at him, who was still holding my hand tightly.
"It was because I was a little tired. I'm really fine, so please let me go, my lord."
"… Okay."
Contrary to my shaky gaze, his voice was calm and even cold.
I just remembered that he and I had a fight.
Besides, I didn't want to show any more that I was so embarrassed.
I felt his hand tremble slightly as he grabbed my hand. He supported me well and lifted me up, then gently released his hand.
"Can I not call the senator?"
"… Yes I'm okay."
As soon as he let go of his hand, he took two steps back. It had been close until a while ago, so now I feel like I can breathe properly.
I sighed a little and looked at him for a while. He showed a slight regret.
Then he quickly erased his expression and turned his gaze to the high priest who was standing nearby.
"High Priest, I think it would be unreasonable to proceed with this kind of ritual."
"The ceremony is already over. Since the divine power is entering my body, I think that there may have been something wrong with the preliminary Crown Princess."
While I was talking to God, it seems that the ritual ended quickly.
The high priest, who looked a little older, glanced at me and bowed his head.
… Is it your mood?
For a moment, I felt as if the high priest was looking at me. It was really fleeting, so I may have felt it wrong.
"Are there any more problems after this?"
"Yes, no. The divine power is not harmful to the body. Holy power will fill the weakened body of His Majesty the Crown Prince."
"I get it. Then let's go."
Acher glanced at me for a moment, then walked out of the temple first. As I followed him, I heard the high priest's voice.
"May God's blessing be with you."
God's blessing... . Having met God in person, I did not feel welcome with those words.
I don't know what kind of mentality I was walking from going out of the temple to getting into the carriage.
Suddenly, it felt like a heavy load was placed on me. I didn't want to carry that burden, but it was hard to bear because I gave it so recklessly.
God didn't give me the right answer. I just told them to find three people and ended the conversation at will.
If I told you to find someone, shouldn't I give you more hints? It was hard to find someone blindly.
He said that he had given me a present. As soon as the conversation was over, the painful pain came to me.
What did you do to me?
He leaned his head slightly against the wall, looking out the window.
I could feel a stinging gaze from him, but I didn't want to face him.
It was because an unfamiliar situation from earlier was popping up in my mind.
Besides, I'm tired because I have a lot to think about right now.
I was trying to roll my head somehow, but I was only embarrassed by the unfamiliar environment and people.
Usually, the main characters in novels quickly adapt to their surroundings and live.
It is not an exaggeration to say that the main characters' abilities are calm, which is desperately needed now.
It was only after experiencing it firsthand that I realized why the writers wrote so calmly.
If I had to choose between being calm or anxious, I would choose the former.
Choosing the former will make it more comfortable for the main character and the writer.
The latter… , to be honest, it tastes like death.
That's exactly how I am now.
°˖✧๐·°º✲º°·๐✧˖°
I think I fell asleep for a while without realizing it. When I opened my eyes, the speed of the carriage was slowly decreasing.
After waking up, I lifted my head, leaning on something, and looked into the air and blinked.
When I was still in a dazed state because I hadn't fully woken up yet. I could feel the eyes staring at me from the side.
It was only when I turned my gaze to the side without thinking, I realized what kind of situation I was in.
"Did you sleep well?"
He was looking at me with a smile on his face.
… Did I sleep on my shoulder?
Going crazy I don't know what the hell I've been doing since.
Wouldn't you like to be held in his arms a little while ago? Now he leaned on his shoulder and slept soundly.
Where do you see this attitude towards strangers?
I hurriedly moved to the corner of the carriage and straightened my slightly messy hair. Then he looked calmly as if nothing had happened.
"I was just tired for a while because of my consciousness."
He laughed lowly at my words. I couldn't make eye contact with him until I finally looked away and asked.
"… Why are you laughing?"
"Aren't you supposed to laugh?"
He still gave me a warm gaze. Every time I felt his gaze, I wanted to ask.
Why are you being kind to Veliana?
In the novel, he was by no means a warm-hearted person to Veliana. Rather, it was so cold that I wondered if a person could be that cold.
Therefore, Veliana in the novel was deeply hurt by his actions. It's so obvious that he doesn't love him.
"… I'm still not mad."
For the first time, I thought I was lucky that I had a fight with him.
It was the best excuse to get away from this awkward situation and get out of his gaze.
Of course, I still don't know what caused the fight.
It was time for him to open his mouth to my words.
The carriage stopped slowly and the door opened. He shut his mouth as if he had no choice but to get out of the carriage first.
Holding his outstretched hand, I followed him down from the carriage, and I couldn't help but be amazed at the scene in front of me.
I blinked once and looked at the huge castle that filled my eyes. The architecture that only appeared in the illustrations of novels had no sense of reality.
I thought the building of the temple was great, but the castle was not even comparable.
Even though the sky was dyed black, the castle was shining brightly as if it was not bound by darkness. It was thanks to the power of magic.
As I got closer to the castle while holding Accher's hand, I became more and more nervous without realizing it.
"Belly."
As his hands got stronger, he called out my name.
"There are days when you get nervous too."
"Because I am human too."
If it was Veliana of the novel, I wouldn't be nervous. Because she is always dignified and full of her self-confidence.
But I was not possessed by her body.
This is how I acted as casually as I could. It seemed to me that he wanted to sit on the sidewalk and shout at the gods, even a whale whale.
I took a deep breath, releasing the strength I had given my hands.
As they approached the door, the guards opened the huge door and shouted.
"His Majesty Crown Prince Acer Rustias and the daughter of the Duke of Lumiere, Veliana Lumiere, are entering!"
Many nobles had already gathered in the banquet hall. Three or three people who had been talking to each other were polite to me and his appearance.
As I walked to the center of the banquet hall under his escort, the door closest to the podium opened and the guard's voice resounded loudly.
"Sun of Rustias Empire, His Majesty Emperor Jerlot Rustias is entering!"
Everyone in the banquet hall knelt on one knee and bowed their heads.
"I see you, Your Majesty."
Slow footsteps echoed in the banquet hall. Eventually, when the footsteps stopped and silence came, a dignified voice was heard.
"Everyone, get up."
Everyone stood up slowly at the Emperor's command. I too rose up with them and saw the Emperor's face for the first time.
… You don't resemble Asher more than you think, do you?
It was a thought that came to mind as soon as I saw the emperor's face.
The emperor had black hair that was different from Acer's golden hair, and his eyes were dark blue. At first glance, he never seemed to be related by blood.
It seems that Asher had inherited the blood of the empress rather than the blood of the emperor.
"First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to those of you who helped us to welcome the new year."
The emperor moved his gaze slowly and continued.
"Without your hard work, our empire would not have been able to maintain this peace. It's a happy new year, so I hope everyone enjoys it. May God's blessing be with you."
After the emperor's brief remarks, everyone bowed once again.
"May God's blessing be with you."
The ambassador also gave the same greetings earlier. It was the greeting of the empire ruled by the goddess of blessing, Anastasia.
I, too, shared that greeting with him, but my mood subsided when I remembered the conversation I had with God.
The emperor left immediately, as he had no intention of staying in the banquet hall for a long time from the beginning. She had gone to protect the weak empress.
Even in the novel, I remember he was quite pathetic. He remembered his unwillingness to leave the empress's side.
As the emperor left the banquet hall, the silence disappeared and a beautiful melody resounded.
"Lady, give me your hand."
Suddenly, Asher reached out to me. I gently placed my hand on his palm, and he gently grabbed me and led me.
Looking around, it was not only us, but everyone else who gathered in the center of the hall, holding each partner's hand.
The music changed as his arms gently wrapped around my waist. He took a step accustomed to a tempo that was neither slow nor fast.
I, who had never danced before, was moving to the music. It was because Veliana's body remembered the dance she had been practicing.
One step back. One step around half a turn. One step forward this time.
Acher skillfully led me. Every time he moved, his blonde hair seemed to sparkle more.
And his blue eyes were always with me.
God told me to change Veliana's fate.
Her original destiny was to be executed by the guillotine.
However, it was an ending that would not come true if Asher's love turned to Veliana.
No, even if Accher loves the female protagonist like a novel, I can easily let him go.
It was said that there was no need for me to try to change her fate.
… What kind of fate are you trying to avoid?
I turned around lightly to the music, and met a man in the corner.
Beautifully curly, light blonde hair set down on her back and dark golden eyes.
The heroine of the novel was T-ara Carcienne.