Chapter 174: Oath
After the situation cleared up, I couldn’t help but start nagging. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“The strategy we planned earlier got completely fucked up, didn’t it?”
“…fucked up…”
Ah, I realized I’d used the wrong word.
I waved my hand dismissively. “Did you forget everything? Why didn’t you stick to the timing at all?”
“….”
Carl, who had acted outside the plan first, fell silent. Sigren’s reaction wasn’t much different.
“Well, things worked out in the end, so I guess that’s good.”
I hadn’t meant to scold them, but seeing these two men look so remorseful felt strange.
Carl hesitated for a moment. “I thought you shouldn’t have to hear that.”
“Huh? Oh, the stuff those bandits were saying about…? It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
It didn’t bother me—I’d dealt with them anyway. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Aren’t you a noble lady?”
“Oh, I see, you were being considerate because I’m a noble lady. Well, thanks for that.”
“….”
Carl remained silent.
Hmm, it seemed I had grown closer to Carl. In the past, he wouldn’t have said something like this. Or maybe he was being extra mindful because of what I’d said last time.
After that, the villagers, including the village chief, expressed their gratitude. It seemed the village had originally been a peaceful place, and now that the bandits were gone, everyone’s faces lit up. Eze, resting in his family’s arms, had regained his energy.
“Thank you so much….” The chief kept repeating his thanks. “Even though I am old, I promise to repay your kindness for the rest of my life, Your Highness.”
The chief was so persistent in front of Sigren that it made him look a bit embarrassed. In the end, Sigren slipped away to the village hill to avoid the cheering crowd and the chief’s gratitude.
Of course, I followed him. As I climbed the hill, I could see the mine in the distance. The wind up there was refreshing. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Congratulations, Sigren.”
“What?”
“You’ve gained something more precious than diamonds.”
Money is a convenient tool, but it can’t buy a human heart completely. It was a wonderful thing that the village chief was loyal to Sigren. Furthermore, the villagers would spread the word about the prince’s mercy.
“A child’s life is more precious than diamonds. Those are wise words, Your Highness,” I recalled playfully, echoing what Sigren had said before.
Sigren blushed slightly.
Was he embarrassed?
“Don’t tease me.”
I giggled, pleased to see him overcoming his unhappy childhood and moving forward. Read the translation on ladygrey.com.
“What are you going to do with this diamond mine?” I asked.
“First, we’ll use it to save the Agni estate.”
That made sense. The Agni estate was poorly located in barren land, making it difficult for commerce and agriculture to thrive. But now that the mine had been discovered, everything would change.
“Good plan.”
Since Sigren wasn’t a materialistic person, I knew he would dedicate himself to saving the estate.
As I quietly took in the scenery of the mine, Sigren asked, “Do you want it?”
“What?”
“The diamond mine.”
I was dumbfounded. Why did he phrase it as if he were giving away a piece of jewelry? This was a diamond mine! It was on a completely different scale!
“What if I ask for it?”
“I’ll give it to you.”
This stupid guy! That was not possible. I was against it. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“If people knew about this, they would surely think the prince was foolish and crazy about women.”
“I don’t care.”
“But I care about you, so please behave, Your Highness.”
“Okay, I’ll do whatever you want me to do.” Sigren lightly kissed the back of my hand.
“….”
After seemingly hesitating for a moment, Sigren knelt on one knee like a knight and looked up at me. His posture radiated extreme loyalty and nobility.
“Sigren?”
“Fiona.”
He took my hand carefully, as if he were cradling a snowflake.
“As I said before, I have something to tell you.”
“What?”
I looked at Sigren’s face. He was as serious as could be, and he also looked nervous. Somehow, I knew why he was making that expression. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Fiona, my dearest, please….”
I recognized that whenever he had that look, everything he said made me surprised, blush, and feel excited.
“Will you get engaged to me?”
Just like now.
I took in Sigren’s nervous expression to my heart’s content. I rarely got the chance to see him like this.
“….”
“Why engagement? Not marriage?”
“I don’t think I could ask that without any prior discussion.”
I grinned. “Sigren, are you worried that you might get dumped?”
“….”
I stared at him, who was stubbornly silent for a moment. In the end, he nodded obediently. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“That’s right.”
Fufu, he was worried about all that. What a cute fellow.
Sigren clumsily continued, “And there’s also the thing with Carl recently…”
It seemed he had been paying attention to me the whole time. I ruffled his hair, feeling extremely happy for the first time in a while.
“Fiona…” Sigren called my name in a dissatisfied voice.
I stared at him again, still stubbornly silent. But eventually, he nodded obediently. I was torn between my naughty desire to tease him more and the urge to quickly give my answer. However, the choice came easily. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“Yes.”
“….”
Sigren looked at me quickly. “That’s a delightful answer, Fiona.”
“Are you dissatisfied?”
He laughed briefly and stood up. “No way. I felt relieved. I was worried that I might get dumped, like you said.”
Only then did I realize why Abel had mischievously asked, “Did you forget to scoop the soil?” So, that’s what he meant?
Soil.
Haha, then I really have to scoop the soil.
Anyway, Abel was really mean.
“After we go back,” I hugged Sigren’s neck, “let’s make fun of the Duke.”
Sigren smiled lightly. “I wonder what his reaction will be when I tell him this news.”
I might have to call him ‘father’ and act cute to show some affection, though I wasn’t very proficient in that area.
Eventually, I laughed as I imagined Abel turning upside down. Read the translation on itsladygrey.com.
“That’s right.”
***
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