Chapter 83: I Want to Get Engaged to You

After Tia followed Isa away from the Duke’s estate, the news that the Great Princess’s personal maid had personally stepped in to help Tia out of trouble spread throughout the entire Imperial Capital in less than half a day.

The noble circles erupted.

“What? The Great Princess personally stepped in?!”

“Who exactly is that Miss Tia?!”

“The Great Princess has never meddled in this kind of thing! Why would she…?”

“Could it be… that Miss Tia has some connection with the Great Princess?”

Rumors flew wildly, growing more absurd with each telling.

Those who had previously attended the arranged marriage meetings began preparing to visit again, though this time their intentions were different.

They came both to apologize and to build connections.

As for the arranged marriage?

No matter how beautiful Tia was, none of them dared to compete with the Empire’s Great Princess for a partner.

Soon, as the rumors spread far and wide, everyone reached a consensus—that Count’s daughter from Hela City was not someone to be trifled with.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Tia followed Isa into a carriage and entered the Imperial Palace.

From a distance, the palace looked like a massive castle.

The Empire’s banners hung from the towering city walls, and the guards standing watch all held long spears, their faces stern and cold.

After stepping down from the carriage, Tia followed closely behind Isa, unable to relax for even a moment.

The palace was enormous.

From the moment she walked through the main gate, she had already passed through three corridors and two gardens, yet they still hadn’t reached the reception hall.

If she let her guard down and lost sight of Isa, she felt she would surely get lost in the palace within seconds.

Perhaps because the journey was so long, Tia bit her lip and asked with some confusion and unease, “May I ask what Her Highness the Princess wants to see me about?”

Isa, the lady-in-waiting beside her, tilted her head slightly.

A flicker of something elusive shone in her gray eyes, but she soon sighed and said:

“Who knows? No one can guess Her Highness’s thoughts.”

She paused, took a step forward, and gestured for Tia to follow.

“But no matter what Her Highness wants with you, you must not be discourteous in her presence.”

Tia nodded.

“Of course.”

Finally, the two passed through the corridor and arrived at a grand hall.

The hall was spacious, furnished simply yet exuding understated luxury.

The oil paintings were originals, the vases were antiques, and even the carpet on the floor was embroidered with golden patterns reserved exclusively for the royal family.

In the center of the room were several sofas and a dark brown coffee table.

Behind the sofas was an office desk, and seated in the chair behind it was a figure.

She wore a moon-white long dress, her hair cascading over her shoulders.

She sat there silently, her back to the entrance.

Sunlight streamed in from the side window, casting a faint golden glow around her.

Isa stopped at the door and bowed slightly.

“Your Highness, I have brought the person you requested.”

“Mm.”

Receiving the response, she walked into the hall and quietly stepped aside, lowering her head and standing still like a statue that could not speak.

Tia took a deep breath and stepped forward.

She stopped three paces away from the desk, bowed gracefully, and greeted:

“Greetings, Your Highness the Princess.”

The Princess did not turn around, nor did she move at all.

She simply sat there with her back to Tia, as if no one was behind her.

Soon, a lazy, cool female voice came through the air from ahead.

“I heard you came to the Imperial Capital to find a marriage partner?”

This voice…

It sounded a little familiar, but not quite…

In her confusion, Tia nodded and replied, “Yes.”

“Have you found one yet?”

“Not yet.”

Tia’s voice was soft, tinged with humility.

“I come from the remote Harris Territory, unworthy of these Imperial nobles.”

The figure seemed to shift slightly.

“No need to be modest. In my opinion, it’s the Imperial nobles who don’t deserve you.”

Tia’s heart skipped a beat.

She didn’t know the Empire’s Great Princess at all, so why was she calling for her today?

She couldn’t help but think the Princess had taken an interest in her.

And now, her suspicion grew stronger.

If the Princess hadn’t taken an interest in her, why would she say such nice things?

Damn it. How was she supposed to reject this Princess without earning her resentment?

Her mind racing, Tia lowered her head and said softly, “Your Highness flatters me too much…”

“Do you have someone you love?”

Tia’s body trembled.

She suddenly thought of a perfect way to reject the Princess.

If she simply said she had a deep love for someone and they were committed to each other, wouldn’t that work?

She believed that with the Princess’s character, she wouldn’t forcibly tear apart a couple.

“Yes, I do.”

She said softly.

The figure leaned forward slightly, as if interested.

“Who is it?”

Tia took a deep breath.

“Mephia.”

A very soft intake of breath sounded in the room.

It was Isa.

Standing to the side, her usually unruffled expression finally cracked.

Especially in her eyes, there was nothing but shock and disbelief.

But Tia didn’t look at her. She only heard the figure ask next:

“Who is she?”

Tia frowned slightly.

The Princess didn’t know Mephia?

Mephia was a Gold-Rank Inquisitor.

Could it be that such a high-ranking Inquisitor was common in the Imperial Capital, so the Princess didn’t know her?

Or did she simply not care about Inquisitors?

…Come to think of it, she was a lofty princess.

Why would she pay attention to the Inquisitors in the Imperial Capital?

Just like how Tia, as a Count’s daughter from Hela City, didn’t pay much attention to the City Guard.

Tia’s face showed no sign of concern as she answered respectfully:

“She is an Inquisitor in the Imperial Capital.”

The figure propped her cheek on her hand, a playful tone deepening in her voice.

Isa bowed her head, trying hard to keep her face hidden.

“Do you truly love her?”

Tia was taken aback.

In that instant, for some reason, countless images flashed through her mind.

Their first meeting at the inn, the clash in the old library, the touches in the Illusion Realm, the rescue during that mission…

“Yes, I do.”

She admitted she loved her, but she told herself it was only a lie to dash the Princess’s hopes.

But she didn’t notice that when she admitted it, the corner of her mouth lifted in a barely perceptible smile.

‘From the moment I first saw her, I fell in love, and she loves me too. This time when I came to the Imperial Capital, I had to persuade her for a long time before she let me come.’

Lying came naturally to Tia, without the slightest blush.

After she finished speaking, an eerie silence filled the room.

The Princess said nothing, while Isa beside her kept her head down, her shoulders inexplicably trembling violently.

Tia’s eyes twitched.

She thought the Princess might be displeased, but soon she heard her ask:

“If that’s the case, then let me make a decision for you. How about I have the two of you engaged?”

Engaged…?!

Tia gasped, even more shocked.

“Th-this, this…”

Had she taken the act too far and angered the Princess?

Or was the Princess moved by their story and wanted them to be engaged?

…Damn it, this woman’s tone gave nothing away, so she couldn’t read her thoughts at all!

“Your Highness is too kind, but love is better left to take its course. Besides, she’s not by my side, and I don’t know what she thinks.”

She tried to make her voice sound calm.

Whatever the Princess was thinking, she had to refuse this engagement!

“She’s an Inquisitor in the Imperial Capital; perhaps she’s busy with work and has no time for romance recently. I can’t hold her back. I hope Your Highness understands.”

With a soft snort, the Princess laughed.

“She’s not by your side?”

There was a faint, almost imperceptible smile in her voice, but the unease in Tia’s heart grew stronger.

Especially when she noticed the Princess’s silky silver hair, an incredible thought formed in her mind.

“Are you sure about that?”

With those words, the Princess slowly stood up.

Her moon-white dress swayed with her movements, rippling gently in the sunlight.

She turned around.

The light shone from behind her, illuminating half of her face while leaving the other half in shadow.

But her golden eyes were fixed firmly on Tia.

Tia’s pupils contracted violently.

“Me, Me, Mephia?!”

Her voice trembled with disbelief, stammering so badly she could barely form words.

Mephia seemed to have expected her shock; her smile grew even more playful.

“What’s wrong? Surprised to see me?”

Tia opened her mouth to say something, but found she couldn’t speak at all.

She stared blankly at Mephia, at that face so familiar, her mind completely blank.

“You, you… you’re the Empire’s Great Princess?”

Mephia nodded lightly.

“Yes.”

“B-but, aren’t you an Inquisitor?”

“That was just a false identity I used when carrying out missions outside.”

She paused, took a step forward, drawing closer to Tia.

At the same time, her fragrance drifted into Tia’s nose, making her feel as if she were in a garden.

“Tia, now I’m standing right here. Will you still refuse me?”

Tia looked away.

Her heart was racing uncontrollably, causing a blush to spread across her cheeks and neck.

“Refuse? Refuse what?”

She pretended to be clueless.

Mephia chuckled softly.

She stepped forward, pinched Tia’s chin, and forced her to meet her eyes.

“The engagement. Didn’t I say? I want to get engaged to you.”

Terrible! This was absolutely terrible!

Getting engaged to Mephia?!

That would be trapping herself!

She had only used the honey trap in the first place to retrieve her Witch’s Tear from Mephia!

Now that she had taken it back, there was no way she wanted to get engaged!

“Th-that’s too fast, isn’t it? Besides, I haven’t convinced my father to agree…”

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s, barely hiding her panic.

Mephia seemed to enjoy watching her fluster; her smile deepened.

“Convince him? The Empire’s Great Princess wants to marry you. Do you think he would refuse?”