Cheryl desired to avoid it by taking a detour. However, the man had seen it before. She was afraid of offending Edgar if she turned around now. Cheryl was well aware that Edgar was a vindictive individual.
"Regards, Your Highness Princess Claudia, what a coincidence we happened to meet here." Edgar extends a friendly greeting. But it sounded accusatory to Cheryl, as if she had purposefully run there to meet him.
Cheryl responded, laughing to mask her nervousness, "That's just a coincidence. Please continue, Marquess; don't mind me."
She took two steps back as she prepared to flee.
Of course, Edgar was aware of her movements. The girl's fear was clearly communicated to him. Edgar smirked.
He used to think that what this girl was afraid of wasn't him. He couldn't think like that now because there were only the two of them. The fear and discomfort were clearly directed at him.
"Please wait, Princess Claudia." Said Edgar, pausing Cheryl, who had already intervened.
Cheryl became immobile. With a stiff smile, I looked at Edgar.
"Do you require anything, Marquess?"
The implication of Cheryl's words is that if it isn't important, don't talk to her!
Edgar was taken aback the first time he felt a woman's resistance. His mind was racing with all the possibilities that had occurred, but his face remained calm.
Edgar took a few steps forward, closing the gap between himself and Cheryl.
"Actually, Princess Claudia, I came here to see you."
Cheryl's heart trembled as a result of Edgar's light words. What's the matter? Why was this heinous individual looking for her?
"Is there anything? Why is the Marquess on the lookout for me?"
Only God knows how difficult it is for Cheryl to complete a sentence without stuttering.
"There must be something. Because we're both getting married later, I'm thinking we should get to know each other better." Edgar responded nonchalantly.
Cheryl's back was drenched in cold sweat. It was frightening enough that Edgar wanted to meet her, let alone that they were getting married. Cheryl had the distinct impression that this plot reeked of horror.
"The marquess is obviously joking. Yvette, your future wife is the Third Princess. So it's up to you, not me, to meet her." And now get out of my way!
Cheryl's lips were still smiling as she glared at the man in front of her.
Cheryl's repeated refusals rendered Edgar speechless for a time. He could tell Cheryl was rejecting him sincerely and not on purpose. This gave him the impression that this girl was unique. Not only because he was rejected by her, but also because every time he saw her, he got a different vibe. There was a sense of familiarity with the girl.
That's why he went with it. He was curious as to what made his heart so fond of this woman he had never met.
"However, I chose you as my future wife, and the King agreed."
Cheryl felt her heart leap into her throat as a result of Edgar's words. Hearing the gossip versus hearing the truth from the person in person had the greater impact.
She made as many excuses as she could to avoid disaster. Cheryl recalled that a noble's marriage required a king's decree to be approved. Cheryl knew that the king had been very cautious with Edgar recently, so perhaps the decree wouldn't be passed so quickly.
"However, because the decree has not been passed, the king is unlikely to approve it. It's possible that the bride will have changed by that point."
Cheryl struggled with the final straw, blaming it on the decree.
Edgar did not respond right away. He took something from his pocket and displayed it to Cheryl.
"Are you sure, princess?"
Letters were written in gold ink on the thick rectangular paper. The carved embossed decorations on all four sides appear to be real. Cheryl had recognised it. It was a marriage edict, which she described as being almost as useful as a marriage book in the real world.
Cheryl also noticed the names written on the marriage licence. Edgar Baldwin and Claudia Rowe's names are beautifully displayed.
Cheryl's mouth dropped open.
"This is... this is..."
Edgar suggests to Cheryl that she obtain the decree. Cheryl took it with shaky hands.
Edgar took another one, the same one Cheryl had given him.
Cheryl gave him a horrified look. She recognised it as a man's marriage book, as opposed to the one she was holding. Her face turned pale.
Edgar's mood lifted when he saw Cheryl's surprised expression, and he couldn't help but smile. He even laughed. Cheryl, however, was too tense to notice the Marquess' contented laughter.
"I wanted to see you because I wanted to personally deliver this edict to you."
So this was Edgar's goal from the start. Cheryl lamented the futility of her refusal attempts.
However, a large question mark appeared above Cheryl's head right away. Why was the bride's name changed to Claudia? Shouldn't it have been Yvette based on the plot?
"May I ask you a question, Marquess?"
Cheryl's dissent was visible in Edgar's eyes. He had a sour feeling in his heart. Why does it appear that this girl does not care for him? What is lacking in this Marquess?
For the first time, such thoughts entered Edgar's mind.
Edgar was adamant about not allowing Cheryl to file a complaint.
Edgar took Cheryl to a relaxing pavilion in the middle of the royal gardens because she was uncomfortable talking halfway. Some of Edgar's maids arrived with tea and snacks and then quickly left, leaving only Edgar and Cheryl sitting opposite each other.
"Do you think we'll become husband and wife in the future?" Edgar asked, crossing his arms.
Cheryl was forced to nod when she saw the thick gold-inlaid paper in her hand. "Yeah, but..."
"The second reason I came to see you was to invite you to a marriage discussion."
Cheryl quickly raised her hand. "In that case, I'd like to protest this marriage."
"Please accept my apologies, Your Highness Royal Princess. That does not fall under the category of marriage discussion."
"May I then refuse to agree to this marriage?"
"That, too, does not fall under the category of marriage discussion."
Cheryl remained silent.
Edgar triumphantly smiled as he saw the girl in front of him at a loss for words. He sipped his tea gracefully, ignoring Cheryl's agitation.
"When do you want the engagement party to be?" Edgar inquired.
Edgar arrived before Cheryl could respond.
"What about in two days?"
Cheryl exclaimed. "You're going too fast!"
"Is that correct?" Edgar gave a faint smile. "Can you give me a week?"
"For a week..."
"Agreed!"
"Eh?!"
"The engagement party has been scheduled for a week later. Princess, don't worry, I'll handle everything." Edgar went up to his feet. "Your Highness Royal Princess, I appreciate your time. It was a pleasure talking with you."
Edgar walked away, a big smile on his face.
Cheryl is taken aback by the abrupt plot shift.