The Protagonists of the Novel Escaped

Why did Maximilian return the wedding ring he gifted to Beatrice to his father?

Unease crawled in.

Could it be that something happened to Beatrice?

Even during our conversation at the Immortal Fortress, he had insisted on keeping silent about anything related to Beatrice. Something must have gone wrong.

‘What on earth happened…?’

A symbol that adorned the epilogue.

The fruit of love between the heroine Beatrice and the hero Maximilian.

It lay right in the palm of my hand.

A complex feeling dominated my mind.

Ever since I received the wedding ring from Father, an ominous feeling had been creeping in.

“It’s pretty. It really suits the heroine of a Romance Fantasy.”

In the center of the ring, a sparkling blue diamond shone brilliantly.

The band meticulously crafted from silver.

And inside the ring were romantic phrases engraved for the beloved.

It was a piece worthy of the highest class.

If I were to take it to an appraiser, it would surely fetch an outrageous price.

However, I had no intention of coveting the wedding ring recklessly. The stunning blue wedding ring was a treasured heirloom gifted by the Hohenberc Family’s past successors to their beloved.

“Edan!”

“…Ah, yeah.”

A girl with light green hair trotted up.

It was Rue.

She roamed the Valtarian Imperial Palace like it was her home.

Today, she must have been rummaging around the flower garden with her friends, Luinong.

“Such a pretty ring! But where did you get it?”

“It’s nothing.”

When Maximilian confessed while gifting the wedding ring to Beatrice, it was a moment just for the two of them. Thus, it was natural that Rue, who didn’t appear in the epilogue, didn’t know about the wedding ring.

How should I explain it?

No, there’s no need to tell her.

After a moment’s hesitation, I decided against explaining.

I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and wrapped the ring in it.

Then, as I tucked the ring away, I turned a blind eye to the innocent fairy’s curiosity. Rue poked my side repeatedly in protest, but I ignored her.

*

Edanant left Rue behind and headed to Zebeline.

Just in time, a message had arrived for Zebeline.

Was it because he hadn’t shown her the ring that Rue was puffing out her cheeks in dissatisfaction as she approached Elizaveta?

“Hmph! Edan is so mean! Even though I nagged as his partner, he ignored me right to the end! From now on, I’ll ignore Edan too!”

“Edan messed up. How could he neglect the request of a silly, cute fairy? Want some cookies?”

Looks like they had a fight again.

Edanant was probably in the wrong.

Due to their somewhat similar mental ages, Edanant and Rue often bickered.

Elizaveta offered Rue cookies while observing her displeased expression. Rue then broke into a bright smile and munched on the cookie filled with chocolates.

“Hehe, it’s delicious-.”

Her sulky feelings melted like cotton candy under the sweet taste of chocolate.

The fairy, with chocolate smeared on her lips, beamed widely.

“Looks like Edanant ignored you again.”

“Doesn’t he always? Edanant is just like Maximilian, lacking consideration. Must run in the Hohenberc Family’s males.”

Just then, Ludmilla, who happened to visit Elizaveta’s room, muttered while watching Rue bask in chocolate ecstasy.

Elizaveta nodded in agreement.

“If you marry Edanant next year, you’ll have a lot of work to do, sis.”

“I-I actually like that careless side of Edanant…! Even if he can be excessive sometimes.”

“The Red Dragon of the Empire is completely head over heels.”

“Cough cough!”

They plan to hold the wedding ceremony around next spring or summer.

Upon hearing that, Elizaveta teased her sister with a playful smile.

So jealous. So envious.

And I just want my sister to be happy.

Various emotions swirled in the villainous princess’s emerald eyes.

While loving Edanant, she sincerely congratulated her sister on the wedding news. Ludmilla answered with a shy smile.

“Edan was holding a ring I’ve never seen before! I asked to see it for a bit… but I was completely ignored!”

A ring.

A ring. A ring.

Ludmilla and Elizaveta’s minds went blank for a moment.

As if to prove it, the movements of the princesses, who were drinking black tea in the bedroom, froze like statues.

“I couldn’t see it up close, but it was super pretty! I saw it from afar, and the gemstone sparkled like crazy!”

It had to be.

There was no doubt it was the wedding ring.

If it was a ring adorned with beautiful jewels, then it could only be a wedding ring for a proposal.

I can’t believe he’s already prepared a wedding ring.

Ludmilla and Elizaveta jumped up simultaneously, their reactions agitated.

“Edanant has already… prepared a we-wedding ring?”

“A ring?! Is that for real?!”

Joy and excitement surged.

Anticipation bubbled as they assumed they’d soon receive wedding rings.

‘No, maybe he could give the wedding ring to me instead of my sister…! Though my sister got proposed to first, Edanant is a flirt, so I might have a chance!’

I want it.

I want it so badly.

How happy would I feel receiving a wedding ring from Edanant?

It feels like a dream.

If it’s from the one I love, I’d surely experience ecstasy.

I imagined Edanant kneeling and slowly putting the beautiful wedding ring on me. Elizaveta seemed to have a budding desire as her happiness circuits began to whirl vigorously.

“Best to keep it a secret. Edanant might be secretly preparing a proposal right now.”

Ahem.

Ludmilla spoke with her arms crossed.

Her flushed face reflected her strong anticipation, brimming with confidence.

When will he propose?

Today? Or tomorrow?

I giggled at the thought of Edanant earnestly preparing the proposal on his own. Could he be secretly planning the proposal all along…? A smile wouldn’t leave my lips.

‘Edanant usually shows indecisiveness but occasionally shows boldness, just like that daring kiss on the terrace one midnight. Cough! How embarrassing, Rue and Liza are right next to me!’

I tried to calm my racing heart.

But the rising smile at the corners of my mouth showed no signs of subsiding.

I’m happy.

What do I do with this happiness?

How can I possibly contain this glee?

I’m finally so close to the finish line.

After 27 years of being a hopeless single, the time has come to graduate.

Ludmilla hoped Edanant would deliver the wedding ring along with a romantic proposal.

*

While Ludmilla and Elizaveta were burning with desire for the wedding ring,

Edanant was meeting with Zebeline.

The Creator Deity’s Second Divine Oracle.

He had encountered a grave issue that could not be overlooked.

“Why on earth did the Holy Sovereign fail to reveal the oracle at the gathering of kings?”

“Perhaps he thought it wasn’t the right time. Or maybe he intended to keep it as a trump card for later.”

Information is a weapon.

And of course, the oracle was the same.

When news spread that the Creator Deity had issued an oracle, many kings ruling the continent gathered in the Imperial City, didn’t they?

What was he up to?

Edanant clicked his tongue, pondering the cunningness of the Holy Sovereign.

“I just had something weighing on my mind today…”

“What is it?”

At Zebeline’s question, Edanant pulled a handkerchief from his pocket. Specifically, it was the ring wrapped in the handkerchief.

The ring with a blue diamond embedded in it.

Zebeline’s eyes widened as she beheld the ring’s magnificent shine.

“My father gave this to me. It was the wedding ring he once handed to Maximilian… he told me he returned it.”

“If it’s the wedding ring Lord Hohenberc gifted to the hero, it must have deep significance.”

“It was the wedding ring he used to propose to my mother. He promised her eternal love while handing her the ring. Well, my mother did pass away early, though.”

“E-eternal love…!”

I can’t believe such a romantic story is behind such a beautiful wedding ring.

I want it.

I’ll do whatever it takes to have it.

I want Edan’s mother’s wedding ring, even if I have to pay a fortune for it.

Zebeline gazed at the wedding ring with manic intensity, revealing her extreme desire. It was clear she was determined to claim the wedding ring at any cost.

‘A wedding with the Red Dragon? Let them do as they wish! But this wedding ring? I’m definitely having it!’

Just as the First Saintess of the Holy Kingdom was revealing her intense greed,

Edanant noticed a bat perched on the windowsill and moved towards it.

It was a summon sent by Ariel.

Just like using pigeons to relay messages from the battlefield, a bat had been sent.

– “Lord Seer, all the apostles have been gathered. They will soon arrive at the promised location you mentioned.”

“Good work.”

The apostles of the Disaster God are a means to control that damn Creator Deity.

Little did they know that the newly selected hero of the Holy Kingdom had gathered the apostles of the Disaster God scattered across the continent. Given his past encounters with countless cultists, they would never expect this.

He won’t be dethroned from the Creator Deity’s throne.

But I could throw some mud at the Creator Deity’s throne.

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