A Fairy Tale Written by a Villain

Chapter 3

“Perhaps the reason you called the prince of the Nevellant Empire a bastard is...”

As Snow asked while touching his ear, Isabelle quickly cut off his words. “My second request: Let me meet Grand Duke Waschke. I’m going to propose to him.”

Snow was going to argue that she had just insulted the prince of the empire, but his jaw dropped at her next words. It probably was the most ridiculous look he made throughout the year. “Pro-propose?” Why, of all the people, was she trying to get involved with his liege? Oh… Come to think of it, there was a time I sent the liege’s portrait to a foreign royal family that was searching for a husband. He would have never thought that would be this princess.

“Did you, perhaps, not hear the rumors about our grand duke...?”

“I know of the fact that the bride dies on the first night very well,” Isabelle cut off Snow’s words again. “It’s a proposal I’m making despite this knowledge, so help me to meet the grand duke as soon as he arrives.”

I am not usually a person who gets interrupted like this, Snow thought, flabbergasted. “I understand. Then shall we wait here for a moment?” He pointed to the Mage Tower near the dock.

Isabelle shook her head. Strangely, whenever she tried to go near the Mage Tower, her body trembled and she felt uneasy. “Let’s just walk.”

“It will probably be about an hour until the ship arrives.”

“A man should be able to walk that much.”

“Sorry?”

“I wonder how you have seven partners when you’re that weak.” Isabelle scanned his body and clicked her tongue.

“Ahahaha!” Snow burst out laughing. Tearing up from laughing so much, he lifted his glasses slightly and wiped the corners of his eyes. “It seems like there is a very big misunderstanding, but I am stronger than I look, Princess.” Snow naturally headed toward the sand that spread out past the castle walls. “Princess, do you think you can handle my strength?”

“Useless concerns.”

As soon as they left the castle walls, they stepped on the crumbly sand. The heels of her pointy shoes sank into the sand with every step she took. Isabelle took off the red heels and laid them down side by side on the sand. She exposed her thin legs, clothed by white stockings, in front of the man without hesitation. “Then shall we walk, Sir Snow?” Isabelle stretched out her hand.

It was unexpected. Snow opened his eyes wide and looked back and forth between Isabelle’s hand and feet. Then he smiled happily. He pulled Isabelle’s outstretched hand toward him as politely as possible and placed it on top of his forearm.

“Once you leave it to me, I shall show you the best escort you have ever seen, Princess.”

***

Grand Duke Waschke’s ship arrived at Dejar Kingdom. The majesty of the ship with its back to the slowly setting sun was amazing. Expressionless marines moved in unison on top of the ship. Among them, there was someone disembarking leisurely.

It was Grand Duke Karl Waschke. Under the short-brimmed military cap appeared black hair and sharp eyes. His purple pupils tracked the soldiers slowly and gracefully, and hundreds of marines tensed up even at that single movement. Every time he slowly and rigidly stepped forward, the admiral jacket on his shoulders flapped about. His tall height, sturdy physique, immaculate military uniform, and even his shadow radiated an intimidating aura befitting of the ruler of this ocean.

“Any news from the prince?” As he spoke, one naval officer ran to him quickly and whispered something. Soon, the grand duke’s eyebrows furrowed. “Meet privately?”

“Yes. I received a message that the kingdom’s sixth princess requested a private meeting with you.”

“Tell them I refuse.” It was a refusal without a moment’s hesitation.

The soldier became flustered and reported the next situation. “Adviser Snow White is reportedly with the princess already. Oh, there they are.” The grand duke spotted two peculiar figures on top of the sandy beach the soldier pointed to. Snow had on a wide-brimmed hat for women and was blocking out the sun. On the other hand, Isabelle was basking in the sunlight and walking barefoot. A bundle of various wildflowers that she had picked from the corner of the beach was in one of her hands.

“What are you picking those for?” Snow asked.

“In case I need them,” Isabelle replied.

Snow scoffed. “I am not a man who falls over for a bouquet of flowers.”

“It’s not for you, though.”

“You’re being shy... Oh, the liege is here!” As soon as Snow found the grand duke, he hastened his steps. Isabelle hung on his arm, as he walked briskly, and was basically dragged along. Hey, you crazy bastard, you said you would show me the best escort.

“My liege, you have arrived.” Snow bowed, greeting him politely. Isabelle’s hat, which he had borrowed, flapped beautifully following his head movement.

“What’s with... the hat?” the grand duke asked.

“I borrowed it in case my porcelain skin got burnt, my liege.”

“From whom?”

“From the princess. Oh, I’m sorry for not introducing you sooner. This is Princess Isabelle Dejar. She’s the owner of this hat.” Snow pointed to the hat in question while introducing her.

Isabelle, who was out of breath from following after him, barely managed to greet the grand duke with a scrunched face. “Phew, whoa. Nice to... meet you, Grand Duke.” The voice rising from her stomach sounded more like that of a breathless animal than a princess. Oh, it’s hard to even stay standing. Isabelle clutched her chest at the breathtaking pain.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. I am Grand Duke Karl Waschke.” If it were another man, they would have been flustered by the princess’s ungracious greeting, but the grand duke was different. He glimpsed Isabelle’s bare feet with an indifferent gaze and looked at Snow again. Snow wordlessly shrugged.

“I heard that you asked for a private meeting, Princess.”

“O-oh well, it’s hardly a private meeting at all.” Phew, whoa. Oh, I can’t talk anymore. Because Isabelle’s body was weak, she would find herself out of breath if she walked even a little bit quickly. But since she had almost run while following Snow’s pace, she was practically gasping.

“Are you okay?” The voice was cold without any emotion.

Isabelle shook her hand instead of replying. There was silence for a moment. When the rays of the setting sun hit Isabelle’s face directly, the grand duke gestured to Snow with his chin. Oh, right, he thought. Snow placed the princess’s hat back on her head.

Isabelle, who had barely composed herself, straightened her back and lifted her chin arrogantly as if nothing had happened. “Thank you for waiting, Grand Duke.”

Right then, Snow—who burst out laughing—quickly covered his mouth with his hand. Did he find her sudden change of behavior funny?

Isabelle glared at him. “Sir Snow’s escort was so energetic that I was breathlessly tired.”

“My apologies. I will give him a warning, Princess.”

“Wait, why am I to blame?” Snow cut into the conversation, saying it was unfair, but the grand duke just ignored him and asked his question.

“For what purpose did you request a private meeting?”

“It doesn’t really have to be a private meeting, since the discussion will be short.” Isabelle lifted her head and looked directly at the grand duke’s face. Since he had the military cap pressed down tightly, she couldn’t see his face. But seeing him from this close, she understood why Maria had praised him so much. Glimmering purple eyes like precious gems blinked up at her from under thick, raven hair. His Roman nose and firm, pouted lips were in perfect harmony.

“Princess?” he asked.

“Oh, sorry.” Observing the grand duke’s face, she ended up losing focus. Isabelle quickly got to her point. “Well, it’s simple, Grand Duke Waschke. Will you marry—”

“That’s not a discussion to be had here.” As soon as the word “marriage” came out, the grand duke cut her off right away. “I shall escort you to the commander’s office, Princess.” His sharp, discerning eyes reached Isabelle, then Snow. Without any way to avoid his liege’s complicated gaze, Snow became uneasy.

The grand duke cleared his throat. “Shoes, Snow.”

“Sorry?”

The grand duke eyed Isabelle’s bare feet.

“Ah. Yes, right away...” Snow lowered the corners of his lips and took off the shoes he had on.

“I’m fine. Being barefoot is better, Grand Duke.”

“I’m sorry, Princess.” His purple eyes took a glance at their surroundings, then made contact with Isabelle. “As you can see, this place is filled only with men. Put the shoes on.” His usual forceful tone came out. It was powerful and made those who heard it submit to him. Because she wasn’t concentrating, she almost forgot her status as a princess and followed his command immediately.

Get it together. You’re here to make a deal. There’s no need to follow the grand duke’s command like a dog. She lifted her skirt up right below her knees gracefully, then raised the tip of one leg. Isabelle tilted her head to one side and grinned, giving him a look that said: If you want me to wear shoes, then you put them on me.

Understanding what she meant, the grand duke let out a long sigh. Ugh, how annoying, he thought. Although he wanted to ignore this woman, even a princess of a small country was a princess.

The grand duke lowered one knee slowly. She felt like she could hear the soldiers who were watching from a distance gulp. I didn’t know when I spotted him from far away, but he’s bigger than I thought. Even though he lowered his stance, the strange pressure that his size gave off was the same. The man with a back so broad that it would not collapse under any pressure placed the large shoes carefully on her feet. Despite his size, the way his hands tied the shoelaces tightly was delicate.

“Thank you, Grand Duke.” Isabelle stretched out her hand with a smile on her face. She did not forget to raise one eyebrow as if to say, You won’t escort me rudely like your aide, right? She wanted to get her point across. The expressionless grand duke took her warning like it was no big deal and held her hand. His escort to the commander’s office was flawless.

***

“There’s no need for tea, since I will get straight to the point.” Isabelle opened her mouth as soon as she sat down on the sofa in the commander’s office.

“I never planned to give you any...” He went on to explain how a tea party was impossible on an army ship constantly fighting against time. He was a man who did not even fake a smile while saying such things.

Wow, what an asshole. The only interesting thing about this man was his face. Isabelle clicked her tongue inwardly. What would she have done if even his face was boring? Oh, I guess his body also looks a bit interesting.

The grand duke spoke first to Isabelle, who was thinking about something else. “What is it that you need?”

“Oh, marriage.” Isabelle brought it up as if it were a casual subject.

“Marriage...? With whom?”

“With you.” Isabelle pointed directly to the grand duke.

Seeing a crack form on his expressionless face was quite amusing.