She Was Sent by God

“Hahaha. I’m merely doing my absolute best to serve the Grand Duke.”

“That old man must be trying to kill me.”

“Haha. Your Excellency. Respect and loyalty should come through in your words when you address her highness.”

Laslo firmly grabbed Agnes’ shoulder. His face was filled with a sense of urgency.

“Your Highness, could you please choose someone else? I don’t need to study royal protocol with that old man.”

“But, Willy has been teaching the royal family manners and etiquettes for generations.”

“Your Excellency, you must obtain permission before touching Her Highness’s body. Come on, let go of her.”

“Niall is a thousand times better than him.”

Laslo whispered quickly in Agnes’ ear.

“Your Excellency, you’re still holding onto your majesty’s body. I’ll have you write the Nirseg’s royal etiquette fifty more times.”

“Fifty times? Do you intend to snap my fingers?”

Laslo looked at Willy with trepidation. Agnes chuckled while keeping her mouth shut.

“Hahaha. 50 copies will not break your fingers. Your Excellency is exaggerating.”

“Exaggerating? Twenty times, I’ve already written about royal etiquette. Nothing will be left on my fingers if this continues. See, my fingers have calluses.”

Laslo appeared upset as he opened his eyes widely. Agnes tried hard not to laugh and spoke solemnly.

“Lord René, kindly leave us alone. I need to speak with the Grand Duke about something.”

“Absolutely, Your Highness.”

Only after the Viscount shut the door and left did Laslo sigh deeply.

“Why is royal etiquette so complicated? When will I have everything ingrained in my memory?”

“You’ll improve as you practice. Try not to worry too much.”

“I had assumed that all we had to do during the coronation was clap next to one another, but there were several concerns. There’s a lot to memorize.”

He shook his head. Agnes grabbed his hand and sat down on the couch.

“Are you having a hard time?”

“Etiquette?”

“No, the palace life.”

Laslo lived freely compared to other high-ranking nobles. The Arpad family was not a strict household. There, survival was the first rule. The rest is irrelevant as long as you survive.

“It won’t be simple to adapt to this frustratingly conservative environment. You’re new to everything, whereas I was born and raised here.”

“Well.”

“If you have any inconveniences or difficulties, please let me know. I’ll tell them to change it to someone else if you don’t like Viscount Rene.”

Laslo, who was still looking at Agnes, abruptly stood up and sat down next to her and covered the back of her hand.

“Agnes.”

“What?”

“The only problem with living in this palace is that I can’t see you whenever I want. The rest is all right.”

“…… anything else?”

“I’m not sure.”

Laslo shrugged his shoulders.

“It seems greedy to want more when you’re right next to me and still alive and breathing.”

“Be greedy. You are the only Grand Duke in this country and the husband of the king. You can have anything you desire.”

“I don’t lack anything. I already have everything.”

There is no haze in his eyes. She suddenly remembered the early days of their marriage, when she had only recently begun to make money. She then inquired whether he had any requests, and she received the same response.

“Do you know what I was thinking each day after your death, Agnes?”

“What is it?”

“I wanted to see your smiling face for once. No, even if it’s a crying face. If that’s difficult, I just want to see you moving and alive.”

Naturally, Laslo grabbed Agnes’ shoulder and drew it toward himself. Agnes pressed her head against his chest. The warmth that passed through the cloth was pleasant.

“If I could see that, I don’t need anything else.”

“Laslo.”

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss Sutmar. There, I was born and have spent all my life.”

“…….”

“But there’s something else that’s more significant to me than that.”

Agnes’ forehead, the bridge of her nose, and the area above her lips were all touched by Laslo’s lips.

“I love you.”

His confession was quiet and collected.

“I might not be able to hold out and fall apart if I lose you again.”

“Laslo.”

“I doubt I’m capable of doing it twice. I’ve had enough of the world without you.”

“……You’re not going to die if I die, aren’t you?”

Agnes tightly gripped Laslo’s hand. Laslo then chuckled softly and spoke calmly.

“I’ll die,”

“Laslo, you are now this nation’s Grand Duke. If anything happens to me, you’ll take over the whole country…….”

“What does Nirseg mean to me without you?”

He spoke in a surprisingly low tone.

“What does that mean?”

“It is what it is. As long as you live, anything is bearable. Complex court etiquette, a burdensome obligation, and Conservative royal tradition. I will just smile and let it pass.”

“…….”

“I can’t do it twice. Agnes, the reason I didn’t kill myself after you died was because you died for me. Every night, despite the fact that your body was decomposing and my mind was disintegrating, I refrained from taking my own life. This is because you gave up your life for me.”

Agnes struggled to speak. His eyes and voice. All of it is sincere.

“Without you, this world has no meaning for me.”

“Laslo…”

“Thus, I ask that you live a long and healthy life.”

“I will do that for sure.”

“Please.”

Laslo lifted her finger and kissed it carefully. Agnes looked away idly because it was both itchy and embarrassing.

Laslo gave her a solemn glance. Just in time, another servant came over and announced Zoltan’s arrival.

“Tell him to enter.”

“Yes.”

The door opened, and a robed Zoltan walked in unsteadily. It appeared awkward, as though he was a bear in the wild in human clothing. He bowed to Agnes while repeatedly turning his body, as though his constricting clothing bothered him.

“Pri, Your Highness. No, long live. Peace be… Hmm? Is that accurate?”

“Yes, Lord Zoltan. I heard the news. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Your Highness! It’s all thanks to you. Ney read your letter and immediately replied, “Yes.”

“When will the ceremony be held?”

“The sooner the better.”

Zoltan had a wide smile on his face. Finally, after much courting, Ney agreed to his proposal.

“I heard Lisa is getting married soon, so maybe around the same time?”

“Oh, I saw it.”

“Saw what?”

In response to Agnes’ query, Zoltan chuckled and made a noise.

“Lisa brought a huge bouquet of flowers, got down on one knee, and asked Sir Max to marry her.”

[T/N: Lisa is so extra.]

“What?”

The noise came from Laslo, who was seated next to her.

“Lady Lisa?”

“Yes, your hair sparkles more brilliantly than the sun, blah blah blah. Sir Max’s face turned red. He snatched the bouquet of flowers and took Lisa out. It was so hilarious to watch from the side that I thought I was going to pass out.”

“That’s great.”

Agnes spoke. She can imagine Lisa popping the question to Max with a bouquet of flowers, for some reason.

“By the way, I heard that the execution date has been decided upon. When is it?”

“Ten days later.”

“It’s coming soon.”

Zoltan appeared to be anticipating the day. Laslo also muttered the phrase “ten days” repeatedly.

Agnes alternated between them. Although memories of the two men’s final moments are still vivid, it is still difficult to believe that they are still alive and standing next to one another.

“When the execution is over, will you head back to Sutmar?”

“That’s right. I’m tying the knot. Also the title ceremony. There are numerous concerns.”

The title of Duke of Arpad was automatically transferred to the second son, Zoltan, as Laslo resided in the palace after being named Grand Duke. Zoltan rubbed his head while furrowing his brow.

“You can ask me any time if you have any questions, and Niall can help you because he has a lot of experience.”

“What? In the event of the coronation, Brother will have more work than I do. Who’s asking who? It’s okay. When I’m done with work and have time, Ney and I will visit the palace.”

“Do as you please.”

They were all caught up in small talk. They recently had so much going on that their brief reunion was filled with fun.

“Your Highness.”

Zoltan had just begun to get up from his seat when the butler entered quietly.

“Count Cellon is here.”

“Oh, he requested an audience this afternoon. Let him in.”

“Yes.”

Emmerich walked up when the door opened. He was welcomed warmly by Zoltan.

“Count!”

“Your Highness. Your Excellency. Lord Zoltan as well.”

“It has been a while. When the war ended, you immediately departed for the South; when did you return?”

“Today. I immediately went to the palace after arriving.”

Emmerich said with a faint smile.

“Count, how are you?”

“I’ve significantly improved. Vasa nagged me a little bit.”

“How is the pandemic? Apparently, the disease is still present in some areas of the South.”

“It’s also significantly improved. It’s all thanks to you. I’m grateful.”

“You don’t need to thank me because they are also my people.”

Agnes spoke in a serious tone. Laslo, who was sitting next to her, smiled as if he were looking at a grown-up child.

“Right, Lord Zoltan. I was told you were getting married. Congratulations.”

“Haha. If you have time, come. I’ll demonstrate a fantastic western taste for you.”

“I’ll be there for sure if you let me know the date.”

“By the way, why aren’t you getting married? Do you not have a person in mind? You’ll age and eventually die by yourself.”

A brief awkward silence followed Zoltan’s crude remarks.

“I ought to. Get married.”

Emmerich said, casting a half-eye downward.

“You can’t just catch anyone, though. Like me. You must pursue any girl you are interested in.”

“Is that so?”

Zoltan has already acted bossy like someone who has been married several times, despite having yet to enter the wedding hall. Emmerich simply responded to his words with a relaxed smile.

Zoltan said more excitedly.

“Brother, please say something to the count. Am I correct?”

“Hmmm. You are not required to wed the person you love. …. Marriage was originally intended to strengthen the alliance between nobles, and when it is mutually beneficial.”

“What? You warned me that I would have to do it with the woman I care about.”

Laslo coughed irrationally and turned away.

“I’m planning to get married. Don’t worry too much.”

“What should we be concerned about? The count is capable of handling himself.”

Agnes said firmly. Emmerich looked her in the eye and smiled.

“Yes, that’s right.”