Chapter 362. Is He Happy? (1)

“What?! Why would I care about that?! What do I have to do with him?!”

Mastas immediately refuted Rose, but she was very upset. Her shouts startled me as I tried to clear my troubled mind. I noticed that Mastas’ face was flushed.

“Miss Mastas? Are you all right?”

“I, I really didn’t think about that.”

Mastas’ answer to my concern was strange.

“I’m only interested in strong people. Sir Koshar is weak and innocent., I don’t care if Sir Koshar marries!”

I remembered that Mastas once asked me to take food beneficial for the body’s recovery to Koshar. Besides, it was suspicious that she was so nervous. Could it be that Mastas is in love with my brother?

Mastas usually expressed her opinion firmly. I expected that in a case like this she would say,

‘I only like him because he’s the Empress’s brother!’, or ‘I only like him because he’s a strong man!’, or ‘No, I don’t like him!’

But before I could inquire, Mastas had already walked away. As I looked at her, Rose, who had started all this, muttered with her arms crossed,

“This is suspicious.”

“Empress, what will you do if Mastas is in love with Sir Koshar?”

Countess Jubel asked. Unlike Rose’s serious attitude, Countess Jubel seemed to find the situation amusing. She knew that my brother had a bad reputation in the Eastern Empire.

For that same reason, Laura said with a smile,

“In terms of personality, I think they would make a good match.”

But Rose disagreed, so she spoke realistically and worriedly.

“Mastas is a good girl, but she’s a little clumsy. Besides, I don’t think Mastas is from a family worthy of marrying Sir Koshar…”

My ladies-in-waiting stopped talking and looked at me.

“My brother’s opinion is what matters.”

Truth be told, both matches had strengths and weaknesses.

Princess Charlotte was smart and determined, so she would be able to control my temperamental brother, and due to her status as a princess, it would be an honor for Koshar to marry her.

However, my brother became easily angered, so it could be a problem if he became the son-in-law of the King of Whitemond.

In contrast, Mastas would get along well with my brother because she liked weapons, but as they were both easily angered, no one would be able to stop them if they caused trouble…

In any case, my parents were here. There was no need for me to intervene. Still, that night I asked my brother directly.

“Did you hear that Princess Charlotte wants to marry you?”

“Yes…”

“What do you want to do? Do you want to marry the princess, or do you want to marry another young lady?”

My brother was so embarrassed that he didn’t even look me in the eye, and he took a while to answer.

“I’m not interested in marriage, but I’ll have to do it if I want to help the family. In that case… I think Princess Charlotte is the best choice.”

“Do you know Princess Charlotte?”

“No, but it will help the family.”

That’s true.

“But it could be very stifling for you.”

I was worried because my brother lived a lifestyle with much more freedom than most young gentlemen. I feared that he could not endure the traditional life of the nobles.

“I only caused trouble by living my way. I never helped our parents or our family. Now, I want to be useful.”

“…”

“Once I marry the princess, I’ll have to live in Whitemond. But it will be a shame not to be able to see my nephew often. I have no doubt that your baby will be lovely.”

I felt inexplicably moved, and the feeling didn’t go away, even after my brother left. I sat in a daze at the dressing table for a while until I heard a knock at the door.

“Come in.”

I waited a moment, but no one came in, although I was sure that someone had knocked on the door.

It was strange. Normally, my ladies-in-waiting and guards would announce their names before knocking on the door.

Could it be Heinley? Puzzled, I got up and personally opened the door.

I knew it. Heinley was standing there, carrying my favorite dish.

“Heinley?”

When I said his name in confusion because I didn’t expect to see him here, Heinley held out the plate of food,

“Here you go.”

“Why are you suddenly bringing me this?”

“I got the signal to bring this.”

“I didn’t send any signal.”

“… Our child sent it.”

Liar!

When I narrowed my eyes, Heinley quickly kissed me on my right cheek.

“Give that kiss to our child from his dad.”

“Stop joking.”

I felt so embarrassed that I spoke firmly, but this time Heinley kissed me on the lips.

“My Queen, that kiss is for you.”

Seeing me blush, Heinley laughed.

“It looks like you liked it.”

Heinley spoke slyly and wrapped me in his arms. I was worried that our relationship would become awkward after my confession. But on the contrary, I felt more comfortable.

I was resting my head against his chest when I impulsively asked him,

“Would you like to take a walk with me?”