Chapter 32
32
Killian wore a serious expression, confirming that this was no ordinary occurrence.
It wasn't a matter of being ignored; it felt like everyone would be terrified of me. If anyone was going to be arrested for attacking the Imperial Palace, it would be us.
"Please be careful, Master."
Elluaerd, in a gray-brown suit with a handkerchief in his pocket, waved his hand and got into a black car I'd never seen before.
We had a car at our mansion? It looks pretty expensive.
"See you at the Imperial Palace."
"See you later, Master."
Ezekiel and Dante were already in the car.
"Wait, why are you guys going by car?"
My aggrieved question hung in the air.
The car they were in had already sped off, escaping the mansion as if fleeing.
Only then did I realize. They were embarrassed to ride the dragon, so they preemptively ran away.
"Those cheapskates..."
I felt like I was being punished for losing a staring contest.
I sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of my nose.
Still, thinking of Killian's thoughtful gesture, I decided to become a Dragon Slayer as well, now that I was reborn as a Spartan warrior.
As I flew through the dark sky on the now-enormous Toto, I sensed something ominous.
I expected to see the night view at a glance, as if looking down from an airplane, but it was obscured by dark clouds, and I couldn't even open my eyes because of the strong wind.
My ominous premonition was right.
We encountered a storm on the way, and a torrent of rain and sardines came from who knows where.
I had no time to worry about my clothes getting soaked in the rain, as I fervently prayed that nothing would happen to me.
"Killian! Can we survive?"
To my cry cutting through the wind and rain, he patted my shoulder as if to tell me not to worry.
"Yes. Just pray earnestly that we arrive safely."
Does that mean we're going through a life-or-death situation? I felt a little teary.
Then, Killian put his hand to his ear and began to speak as if sending a radio message somewhere.
"This is Killian Bark Gene O. Requesting landing permission for Imperial Palace-registered aircraft 286."
- This is the control tower. Landing is restricted for safety reasons due to poor visibility.
I didn't care whether that helmet had a radio function or not; all I wanted was to live.
"Master, we will still land at the Imperial Palace. Don't worry."
"How can I not worry! You have to listen to the control tower guy! If we damage anything, the Imperial Family won't let us off easy!"
"It's okay. I've contributed a lot to the country, so they'll take that into consideration."
Killian was a man with the heart of a beast.
Soon, Toto broke through the dark clouds and began to descend rapidly, and the roof of the Imperial Palace was right in front of us.
I was almost fainting.
The surprised faces and screams of the people entering to attend the ball were all too clear.
"If a major disaster occurs and people are injured, it'll be at least a life sentence...!"
At that moment, Toto landed with a thunderous crash, digging into the ground, and everyone's attention was focused on us, who had appeared with such a spectacular performance.
No matter how you look at it, we're the only ones who came through the storm on a dragon. I really think no one will be able to ignore me now.
"Life is..."
I didn't feel any shame. In that short time, I had a panoramic view of my past life and was in a state of enlightenment, having learned the lesson that life is precious.
Anyway, I managed to arrive safely, crossing the line between life and death.
"We were lucky."
Killian sighed and smiled weakly.
"What's with the state of you two? Did you save the world or something?"
Ezekiel came over and asked, picking a leaf off my hair.
I wrung out my wet hair and said,
"It was terrifying. I survived after defeating a storm that threw sardines."
I looked like I had just been rescued after being shipwrecked, and there was a sardine stuck in the long horn of Killian's helmet.
I desperately wanted to go home, but with a snap of Ezekiel's fingers, everything was restored to its original state, so I couldn't use that as an excuse to go home.
I was a little worried that they might create a human chariot with the four of them and carry me so that I wouldn't be ignored, but fortunately, that didn't happen.
Even an enlightened saint would find that hard to endure.
"Let's go."
Dante, in a black uniform I'd never seen before, came over and offered me his elbow. I hadn't seen him properly because he was in the car earlier.
"You're wearing your uniform even though you're on leave?"
"Yes, I'm still in the military."I glanced at the wonderful uniform with its decorations and medals, and the Sam Browne belt."
It suited his black hair and cold image very well, and he looked different from when he was wearing an apron.
I almost suggested, 'Can you wear that in your daily life?' but I held back.
Meanwhile, Elluaerd came over and stood next to me, smiling brightly.
"After causing such a commotion, no one will be able to ignore Master."
"I was thinking that it would be okay to be ignored on the way here. Everything depends on how you think..."
I talked about my enlightenment and gave an enlightened smile.
And so, we passed through the marble hallway full of splendid gold decorations inside the Imperial Palace and entered the entrance to the grand ballroom.
Someone called out to me.
"Mia! You're so pretty, I almost didn't recognize you."
It was Aunt Gertrude, who looked like a voodoo priestess with a gaudy feather decoration on her head. Next to her was my uncle, wearing the same outfit as last time.
Were they waiting with bated breath? How did they find me right away when there were so many people?
They looked at Dante in his uniform standing next to me with a dubious expression, then their eyes widened as they saw the countless ranks and medals on his chest.
"Ah, your fiancé is a high-ranking officer!"
My uncle took off his bowler hat and bowed politely.
They were comparing Dante with Congressman Karl's delinquent son, weighing them like they were on a scale, their eyes busy.
Feeling unpleasant at their obvious intentions, I said in a firm voice to my aunt,
"Now you see? So don't bother me about marriage anymore."
"We're just doing it for your own good. It hurts me when you say that. Are we strangers?"
My aunt, who had completely changed her attitude, smiled and bowed to Dante.
"Please forgive our rudeness back then. We were just overly concerned because we raised her like our own daughter. A parent's heart wants a better husband, right? The gentleman who formally proposed to Mia said that a betrothal is just a betrothal, so he won't give up and will keep waiting."
It was a very intentional remark.
Then, my aunt raised her head and quickly scanned Elluaerd, Killian, and Ezekiel standing next to me.
"But Mia, who are these people next to you? They must all be important people, right? I should introduce you to my one and only cousin, Ermingard..."
She craned her neck and looked around as if looking for Ermingard.
I didn't feel the need to answer. Just as I was about to ignore her and pass by, Elluaerd haughtily raised his chin and said,
"Fiancé."
"Yes?"
When my aunt and uncle looked at him at the same time, Elluaerd gave a charming smile.
"Future fiancé. Do you not understand?"
"You have... two fiancés?"
"Yes, legally you have to choose one person to marry, but there's no limit to betrothals, right? As you just said, a betrothal is just a betrothal, not a marriage."
It was absurd but logical, so even I was speechless.
This is really dizzying.
"So, it doesn't matter who you pretend to be engaged to, right? It's just a justification for refusing marriage."
So, that's what you meant when you said that back then?
How can you make me a free American-minded person with simultaneous betrothals to two people as a justification for refusal!
Elluaerd swept back his platinum blonde hair and continued in an arrogant tone.
"I don't know who the man who formally proposed is, but tell him he'll have to wait until the next life for his turn. This Tin Can and the kid are 3rd and 4th reserve candidates."
He gestured to Killian and Ezekiel, who were standing still.
I was dizzy with absurdity and disbelief. It's revolutionary in a different sense.
I could see my uncle grabbing the back of his neck with a reddened face, and my aunt was even shaking.
"Such licentiousness..."
At that, Elluaerd narrowed his red eyes and raised one corner of his lips diagonally.
"To become a 5th reserve candidate, you'd have to move into the Garciel mansion and start as Lady Fortuna's footstool. That's how we all started. Eight people have already been eliminated and met their deaths."
Is this a survival-type husband audition program?
I don't know how such a terrible hybrid was born.
I let the mastermind into my house as a housekeeper.
