Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 169

“Thank you. Thanks for saying that.”

“Of course. So, you did well. In the future, it will be helpful if you cooperate with the king to a certain extent, as long as it doesn’t strain you. Although the king is currently quite friendly with us, the future is uncertain.”

Not only was he trying to comfort her, but he was also planning to use the current situation to their advantage—he really is the best husband.

Miesa smiled brightly again and began eating her meal.

And across the dinner table, Eirik’s face seemed even more handsome to her.

His deep-set eyes, hollowed cheeks, and the straight line of his sharp nose, along with the scar on his cheek and his penetrating gaze that couldn’t hide his displeasure—all gave him a more masculine charm than before. At that moment, all she wanted was to climb into his lap and forget dinner.

“What’s wrong?”

When Miesa paused in midair with her fork, staring blankly at his face, Eirik asked cautiously. After a brief moment of thought, Miesa decided to be honest.

“You’re so handsome that I’m just debating when I should come over and cuddle with you.”

“All of a sudden?”

He made a face and was about to drag his chair back to create space but stopped abruptly and shook his head.

“No, wait. I almost got caught in your tricks without thinking. Dinner comes first.”

“Tch.”

“Once you’re done eating, we can have some intimate time together.”

Though his voice was calm, the speed at which he sliced the pork leg had visibly increased.

A week later, there was a great move from the Cladnier Mansion in the capital to Cladis. Since Miesa wasn’t used to long journeys, they planned it generously, allowing about a week, but an unexpected reason delayed their journey to Cladis.

“What is this place?”

“This is Lake Flasci. Right here, where you’re standing, is the land you awarded me as a victory prize.”

“Wow. I never imagined it would be this beautiful just by looking at the map!”

During their stop for rest by Lake Flasci, Miesa jumped around like a child, delighted at the unfamiliar scenery.

Eirik looked back, and the new knight commander, Emmerich, waved his hand to signal to everyone that they would spend the night here.

“Miesa, shall we take a walk until the meal is ready?”

“I wanted to do that, but how did you know? Can you read my mind?”

Miesa beamed with joy. Madam Manere brought a bright pink cape and draped it over Miesa’s shoulders before stepping back.

Holding her hand, Eirik slowly walked along the lakeshore with her.

The gentle breeze rippled across the surface of the endless lake, and as they walked under the clear sky through the dense conifer trees, a sense of peace enveloped them.

Meanwhile, those waiting at the Cladnier Mansion in Cladis were growing restless. They must have come within the radius of where a carrier pigeon could reach, as a letter arrived by evening, saying that it would take another three days for them to arrive.

“I don’t know when exactly they’ll arrive. We’ll have to postpone the welcoming banquet by a week.”

The Great Madam of Cladnier, the former margravine, sighed, yet once again made thorough preparations.

“Make sure you have enough firewood ready, as the former queen is sensitive to the cold. Isn’t there a softer cover for the blankets?”

The attendants had already caught several geese to make lightweight and warm blankets.

“We tried a softer cover, but the goose feathers might escape.”

“Wait, goose feathers won’t do. Change it to wool immediately—we almost made a big mistake.”

Despite having checked multiple times, there was still something that needed changing. The great madam inspected the room even more meticulously.

After finishing yet another round of inspections, she stepped back a few paces and looked around the bedroom. The bridal chamber, decorated in bright and lively colors—the only one of its kind in the simple and neat Cladis castle—satisfied her.

A tapestry, woven from colorful threads, depicted a lush garden and adorned the walls, while the delicate embroidery on the ivory curtains and the red carpet on the floor added an air of elegance and warmth. The furniture, made of solid ebony wood, was also top-quality, decorated with intricate carvings.

“It’s finally ready.”

“Alright. In three days, spray the scent again lightly and change the flowers in the vases.”

The old nanny laughed silently at the great madam’s words, as if she wouldn’t check the room again for those three days. She had been entering the room three or four times a day, unable to tolerate even a speck of dust.

When Miesa finally arrived at the gate of Cladis Castle, she tilted her head back. As she tried to see its height, her head bumped into Eirik’s chest; the castle wall was so tall and massive.

“Wow, it’s truly impressive.”

As they neared Cladis, Miesa had ridden on Eirik’s horse, nestled in his arms.

The imposing grandeur of Cladis Castle, already breathtaking from afar, felt almost unreal when seen up close. Its height and magnificence, all made of stone, made one feel small.

“Who goes there?!”

When the gatekeeper shouted from atop the wall, Miesa’s heart sank. Despite the Cladnier family’s banner fluttering over their procession, the gates remained closed—could something have happened?

Then she heard a low chuckle behind her as Eirik grabbed both her hands and covered her ears. As if that wasn’t enough, he used his own hands to cover them again.

“I am the son of Cladnier, soon to be a father!”

Eirik shouted in a loud voice, and the procession trailing behind them raised their hands and shouted as well. Startled, Miesa blinked as she heard cheers echoing from afar even before the gates opened.

With a clattering sound, the drawbridge lowered, and with a heavy noise, the castle gates slowly began to open. From above, paper flowers scattered everywhere, welcoming them.

“Waaah!”

Now she understood why Eirik had covered her ears—the cheers were deafening, beyond what one could imagine people producing.

As their horses crossed the moat and entered the castle, the residents of the estate came out to surround the procession. It was so noisy with everyone’s overlapping voices that it was impossible to make out any words. Eirik, who was slowly leading his horse, finally stopped.

Miesa, wide-eyed, turned her head to look at Eirik, who gestured for her to be silent, pressing his finger against his lips. Realizing this, the people’s voices quieted down.

As Eirik smiled and lowered the hands that had covered her ears, the cheers erupted once more.

“Miesa! Miesa Esquillir Cladnier!”

Miesa had never seen anything like this in her life.

Not even in her dreams had she imagined such a scene—so many people, their faces full of smiles, calling her name.

The cheers quickly mingled, making it impossible to discern individual words, but the bright expressions on their faces conveyed the meaning of their blessings and welcome. Everyone was rejoicing in her presence, delighted by her arrival.

Unable to hold back her tears, Miesa bowed her head.

Eirik immediately bent his head to check what was wrong, and seeing her crying, pulled her tightly into his embrace from behind.

Before long, the cheers transitioned into a kind of song—a song that sounded like a military march or a folk tune. Though she didn’t understand its meaning, the melody, sung in unison by the people, struck a chord in Miesa’s heart.

Here and there, women and children offered flowers. Miesa, still wiping away her tears, hesitated, so Eirik took them instead, inspecting the stems and scent before handing them to her.

One, two flowers—eventually, they formed a bouquet. By the time her arms were full, they had arrived at Cladnier Mansion—which, for a mere mansion, looked excessively grand and majestic, more like a small castle within the fortress.

“I thought my neck would fall off from waiting.”

The Great Madam of Cladnier greeted them warmly, standing in front of the mansion alongside the great lord, the former margrave, whose expression remained a bit stiff.

Eirik dismounted first, took the flowers Miesa was holding, and handed them to an attendant. Then, he carefully helped Miesa down from her horse. As soon as her feet touched the ground, Miesa rushed over to the great madam and embraced her.

“Mother!”

“Your Majesty, there are many people here.”

The great madam seemed troubled, but Miesa, ignoring her protests, rubbed her face against the great madam’s shoulder.

“No. This is my home, so I’ll do as I please.”

“…Oh dear. I can’t exactly say it’s not your house, can I?”

Taking a step back from the muttering great madam, Miesa addressed the great lord and the attendants.

“Father, I would like you to call me by my name, and I’d like the attendants to call me ‘Madam.’ That’s how it was at the mansion in the capital.”

“Indeed, let it be so here as well.”

Eirik interjected with a smile, leaving the great lord speechless. Being addressed by someone who once held the throne as “Father” left him rather flustered, but his wife nodded happily.

“Alright, since Your Majesty commands it, there is no other way.”

The great madam smiled as she led them inside the mansion.

“Miesa, it must have been exhausting to come all this way. Rest for today, and I’ll explain everything to you slowly.”

Though the Cladnier mansion was far taller and more imposing than the palace, its line of bright-faced attendants immediately endeared the place to Miesa.

“Oh my, I had no idea Madam was this beautiful.”

While the great madam was momentarily distracted by giving instructions to one of the maids, an elderly woman stepped up and spoke to Miesa.

“Madam, I am the nanny who accompanied the great madam when she came to this estate.”

“My mother’s nanny?”

“Oh, please speak casually! Yes, I raised both the great madam and the young lord—though there was a wet nurse as well.”

“You raised Eirik too?”

“Yes, yes. I’ll share some fun stories with you later.”

“Alright, I look forward to it, Nanny.”

Taking advantage of the nanny’s conversation, others also jumped in to introduce themselves.