On the morning following the announcement, I woke up early in the guest room of the castle. The bed was spacious enough to accommodate both Anna, who was still asleep beside me, and my folks, who were resting in a separate room. Moreover, even though I've already mentioned it, the term “guest room” seemed to underestimate the comfort that was available here. The castle spared no effort when it came to offering quality accommodations.

After gathering in the dining room, we enjoyed a quick breakfast to prepare ourselves for the rest of the day. Being a weekend, I had the whole day free to enjoy at the palace alongside Emi. The idea of holding the party just before the weekend was suggested by Emi's mother, and personally, I had absolutely nothing to complain about. I silently thanked Emi's mother for the consideration she had shown.

“Since we left, you seem thoughtful, Ren. Did something happen?”

As these thoughts raced through my mind, Emi's voice sounded next to me in a solemn and pleasant tone. We were strolling along a meticulously carved path, surrounded by various flowers that adorned the area. My hand was intertwined with hers as we walked together.

“It's nothing major, just thinking about how kind your mom is. After all, she arranged the announcement right before the weekend, allowing us to spend this time together”

I said as I looked at Emi, a gentle smile lighting up my face. Her expression remained steady as ever, but her cheeks turned slightly rosier, indicating that my words had hit the mark. When Emi turned her face to the side, a soft yet audible whisper escaped her lips.

“That's quite unfair, you make my heart race with such simple words”

Emi murmured by my side. A discreet chuckle escaped my lips.

“Actually, every time I see you, my heart speeds up. Even now, while we're holding hands, it's pounding like crazy. After all, the person I love is by my side”

I exclaimed, shifting my gaze to the blue sky above us. There were no clouds in sight, and the sound of birds filled the air. Mornings were the perfect time for me to share moments like these. As these thoughts passed through my mind, Emi's voice echoed again, causing me to turn back to her.

“I feel the same way too. To be honest, I never imagined that I would fall in love with someone. I always thought I'd end up in an arranged marriage”

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Emi said, looking up at the sky. Her eyes seemed to carry a certain sadness, as if they were glimpsing an uncertain future. However, a glint of determination soon emerged, bringing her expression to life.

“But all of that changed when I met you. It started with an interest in your intellect, but before I knew it, it had turned into love”

Said Emi, turning towards me. Even after we shared our feelings, I didn't feel embarrassed, and I could tell that Emi was comfortable too. The only emotion hanging in the air was happiness, and it seemed like that feeling was shared as we exchanged smiles with each other.

After reaffirming our feelings for each other once again, we continued to walk through the garden, supporting each other. After a while, we decided to sit on a bench, our hands still intertwined, as Emi watched the butterflies flying around the garden, a gentle smile lighting up her face.

"Ren, I heard that you're working on something in secret on your territory, along with my father"

Emi said in a clear and direct tone of voice. She didn't necessarily seem to want to know the specific details of what I was developing. From what I could gather, her concern was more about the possibility of it being something dangerous. And that was indeed the issue. The device I was developing was a firearm, something highly dangerous. I knew I needed to share this information with Emi, even if it was difficult.

"Yes, it's a kind of weapon. But don't worry, we don't have any plans to use it irresponsibly"

I responded honestly. Emi turned her gaze to me, her eyes locking onto mine as she processed my words. After a few seconds of silence, she finally spoke.

"I didn't expect you to tell me, to be honest... Also, this seems like a huge secret. Are you sure you should be telling me?"

Emi questioned, her expression showing a mixture of surprise and understanding. A soft laugh escaped my lips as I turned to face her.

"Somehow, I just can't hide things from you"

I admitted with a self-deprecating tone. Emi smiled and turned to me.

"What a complicated husband I have"

Emi joked, shaking her head in an adorable way from side to side. Hearing her words, I couldn't help but let out a laugh in response.

"Well, I can't deny that"

After that, we were silent for a moment before my words echoed through the area.

"Would you like to take a look? We'll be conducting a test soon"

I offered, turning to Emi. Her face lit up with excitement upon hearing my words.

"Can I really?"

In that moment, Emi seemed to transform into a child about to visit a park. Her gesture was genuinely adorable, and an involuntary laugh escaped my lips.

"Of course, I'd love to have my lovely wife with me"

I responded, adding a touch of teasing to the words, hoping to make her slightly embarrassed. However, it seemed my words had a different effect than expected. Instead of embarrassment, Emi appeared to become even more motivated.

"Well, I guess you're right. As your wife, I think it's my duty to take a look at what my husband is working on. Besides, I also need to oversee to make sure you're not working beyond the limit"

Emi said, with a new sparkle in her eyes. It seemed her initial reasons for wanting to visit my territory had been replaced with a completely different motivation.