# 20
“Marriage proposal...?”
“Yes, someone named Aachen proposed to you.”
At Shivalin's question, Helen put the racket aside.
'She's seen it all before. Maybe you'll ask now that I'm feigning ignorance.'
Helen approached Sheveline, bent down to her eye level, and took her hands.
“A marriage proposal is a request to marry someone.”
She had asked her before about starting a new family, but it was time to give a clear explanation.
“My mother is going to marry that guy. So… we have to move north.”
“…Are you going to give up on Cherry?”
Shivalin frowned, lowering her head.
"No! Why would a mother abandon her daughter? Who told you this?"
Helen hugged Shivalin tightly, biting her lip sadly.
“Why should I abandon you? I can’t live without you.”
The thought of parting with Sheveline was unbearable, something she had never imagined.
I felt bad about not spending more time with her.
'Oh my God, how much pain I felt! I didn't realize that early on. '
Her heart was beating hard. She didn't know that Shivalin thought like that.
“Shivlin.”
Helen put her hands on Shivalin's face and spoke.
“Do you remember what I said? You are the most precious thing to my mother, Shevelin.”
“Yes… my mother said so.”
Shevelin answered calmly, acknowledging what she remembered.
“Can you always remember that?”
“Why?”
“No matter what happens, knowing that I love you and will always be with you will make us happy together.”
Shivalin's face gradually brightened.
“Okay. You will never forget Cherry and you will always remember that my mother loves Cherry very much.”
"Thank you."
“Mom, remember too. Cherry loves my mom very much.”
"Sure. I've known that for a long time."
Helen suppressed her feelings and wiped away Shivalin's tears.
“Mom...but why do people get married?”
“Ah…”
It was difficult to explain political reasons to a child.
“Okay...”
While Helen was choosing the right words to explain, Shevelin asked another question.
“Does that person love you, mom?”
“Well, I'm not sure.”
Helene did not know Aachen well, and did not understand why he had avoided her when they first met.
But he sent a valuable baptismal gift to Sheveline and a heartfelt marriage proposal letter, much to her bewilderment.
“Aachen Belzeit.”
Helen considered the strange name on her tongue.
“Her Highness.”
“What's wrong?”
“The palace office has come to see you.”
A maid entered and announced a minister's visit.
“Tell them to wait a minute.”
“They said it was urgent...”
The maid stopped talking, looking worried.
"What could it be now? I hope it's nothing serious."
“Shevlin, can you go to your room and start eating a canapé? I will be back soon.”
Helpen sighed and patted Shevlin's cheek.
“Mom, have a nice trip.”
Shevlin understood, so she murmured the words silently, a delicate child as she is.
“Why can’t she speak clearly? Ah… She can’t speak to me freely when others are around. That’s why.”
Helen calmed her troubled heart and placed a light kiss on Shevlin's forehead.
She was worried about leaving Shevlin alone.
“What if I take poison while I’m gone?”
Although she was the one who prepared the canapes herself, and this is unlikely, anything is possible.
“Make sure she won't eat anything else... and no one should touch the canapes except you.”
If you give a strong warning, no one will dare do anything foolish.
“Okay, I will taste the canapes first to make sure there are no problems before serving them to the princess.”
“Do it.”
Helen left, reassured by the clever maid.
“Her Highness!”
The minister, who was pacing up and down the corridor, approached Helen as soon as he saw her.
“What's wrong?”
He was responsible for Shevelin's baptism, and was also preparing for this informal ceremony.
“Did something go wrong with the party preparations?”
The minister looked around nervously, bowing slightly and lowering his voice.
“Hmm… there was a meeting in the Senate…”
And what?
“They are opposed to the marriage of Her Highness to His Highness the Archduke. “It seems that the news of the national marriage has leaked to the Senate.”
:opposition?."
The word shocked Helen's ears.
“…why?”
Although there were legitimate reasons, the Senate's opposition left Helen speechless.
“I heard it from Countess Qin, so I’m not fully aware of the situation inside. I couldn’t get in.”
Although she did not know the exact reason for the opposition, she could not ignore it.
After the fall of Emperor Roman, the rising nobles began to reveal their ambitions, and imperial power was no longer as strong as it had been.
Disturbed by these issues, Glezi balanced power with the support of her maternal family.
Thus, the rising nobles could not act rashly, but the Senate, composed of the central nobles, wielded enormous influence.
No one was allowed to enter the meeting from the middle unless they were from the imperial family.
“I'm going to the meeting room. Please follow me.”
Helen reluctantly followed the minister, dusting off her dress.
When Helen arrived at the meeting room
When she arrived, she saw Countess Qin in front of her.
“Countess Qin, announce my arrival.”
Countess Qin nodded slightly, raising her voice more than usual.
“Your Highness, the Fourth Princess of the Pitstein Empire, Princess Helen, is here!”
As the big door opened and Helen entered the conference room, she could feel the tense atmosphere.
When she saw Glizzy's puzzled eyes, it was clear that she was not expecting it.
Helen walked steadily towards her.
“I greet Her Imperial Highness, Crown Princess Gleize, Little Sun of Betstein.”
She greeted Glizi with respect and a smile.
“As a party concerned with national marriage, I have come to hear from the Senate. May I?”
“Sure. Have a seat.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Hélène sat in the place of honor next to Glizy, and met the gaze of the Marquis Léon, President of the Senate.
“I greet Her Highness, the Fourth Princess.”
Marquis Leon bowed slightly.
“May Freya’s light be with Princess Helen.”
Everyone followed him and saluted Helen.
Glizi placed her hand on the round table, then resumed the meeting.
“Marquis Leon, why do you oppose national marriage?”
At Glizi's question, Marquis Leon frowned and spoke.
“If the princess marries again, Princess Shevlin will join her. But...”
Helen quickly understood the meaning of Marquis Leon.
If Shevlin goes to Belzeit, it will be a big problem for the Senate.
Shevlin, the royal daughter of the purest Byzantine blood, was young but a direct descendant.
If something were to happen to Glizi, who had no sons, they would see an opportunity to take control of the next emperor, Shevlin.
'How dare they try to take advantage of my daughter?'
Helen's anger was palpable. Marquis Leon trembled slightly and spoke cautiously.
“Can you reconsider national marriage?”
Helen immediately refused.
“No, that would be difficult.”
"Sorry?"
Marquis Leon frowned, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
“The Grand Duke of Belzeit has already agreed. How can we retreat now?”
“Then... how about we go ahead with the national marriage, but keep Princess Shivalin in Beitstein?”
Marquis Leon suggested, feigning generosity. His intentions were clear.
“For the princess to stay… in Beitstein?”
Helen got a good idea from the Marquis Lyon's suggestion. That would leave him no room to talk.
Helen smiled wickedly.
“I have already informed Freya about the marriage and received approval.”
At Beitstein, disbelief in religion was looked down upon.
“You dare try to negotiate this matter?”
Merely denying the ruler's existence was considered blasphemy.
“Do you disagree with Freya’s decision now?”
“I oppose, I oppose Freya’s decision? How does this make sense?”
Marquis Leon, confused, began to sweat profusely.
Helen hit the table and warned Marquis Leon in a sharp voice.
“Also, my father’s will is supreme.”
“……”
“How dare you discuss the whereabouts of the princess? How rude!”
The smile disappeared from her face.
‘He must have thought that the Fourth Princess had a different personality, as she rarely came forward, but was content to support the Crown Princess from behind.’
The Marquis Léon belatedly realized that he had fallen into Helpen's trap after underestimating her upon her arrival.
“My apologies, Your Highness. If this is Freya’s will… we have no help.”
Marquis Leon reluctantly agreed, clearly upset.