### Chapter 367
Clatter!
Just after Kraush accepted Astria…
The carriage he was riding suddenly came to a stop.
Astria, now fully aware, became as red as a ripe tomato.
“You, you have to take responsibility for me for the rest of my life! Really, the rest of my life!”
Well, that was the plan, wasn’t it?
Despite biting her lip, Astria held onto Kraush’s collar tightly.
Her eyes sparkled with a resolute determination that she’d never let go.
Kraush chuckled lightly at her and reached out to ruffle her hair.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“W-who said anything?!”
Astria exclaimed defensively, embarrassed that Kraush had noticed her feelings.
But that prickly side of Astria was something Kraush was quite familiar with, so he could only chuckle.
‘More importantly, why did the carriage stop?’
Kraush leaned toward the door, intending to ask Ebelasque about it.
Clatter!
But at that moment, someone opened the door before Kraush could even move.
Through the open door, hair the color of the sea blew in the wind.
As he locked eyes with her amber gaze through the flowing strands, Kraush immediately recognized who it was.
“Sigrid.”
Sigrid Ephania.
The fourth princess of the Ephania Empire.
“Oh, what a surprise!”
With Sigrid’s brother gone, now there was only one princess left, and suddenly she showed up at their carriage door.
Kraush’s expression was one of disbelief.
“Sigrid, can you just wander around like this when you’re a princess?”
They were in the middle of the forest, after all.
Given how crazy the world had become, he had no idea what could happen next.
Thus, Sigrid’s unexpected appearance left Kraush scratching his head in confusion.
“I knew the path ahead, so I was just waiting. More importantly, I had urgent messages to deliver.”
She casually hopped up into the carriage.
Then, he noticed her guard, Sera Betella, bowing her head to Kraush.
Sera looked worn out, probably from having been around Sigrid for too long.
And she wasn’t the only one present.
Members of the White Dragon Knights were also by her side.
In the distance, he spotted the hero of the commoners, Felray, who smiled and nodded at Kraush when he saw him.
Looks like he’s doing alright.
“So now you’re being guarded by the White Dragon Knights, huh?”
“Heh, I’m the only princess in the world, after all!”
With that, she sat confidently inside the carriage.
“Besides, I’ve established my position in the empire. Things have changed a lot from before.”
Sigrid had been stirring things up in the empire.
Throughout her exploits, she absorbed Sigrid’s influence, forming her own unique faction.
Even Kraush, upon hearing this, could only look shocked.
Who would have thought she would pull moves like that?
‘If she puts her mind to it…’
She could probably swallow the empire whole.
Not just the empire, Sigrid might one day dominate the entire world.
“What’s blowing in today?”
“The wind has always been blowing, hasn’t it? Thanks to the winds blowing toward you, I’m almost dizzy myself.”
Sigrid replied with a playful wink.
“After all, my lord is putting in all this effort. I can’t just sit back as your fiancée.”
So it’s still a work in progress, huh?
“The emperor said I should have at least three kids. Keep that in mind.”
Kraush half-listened, letting it go in one ear and out the other.
Then Sigrid suddenly shifted her gaze toward Astria, who was dumbfounded by the sudden arrival.
“It’s been a while. Holy Maiden, oh, is that title okay with you?”
“No, it’s fine. I was a holy maiden after all.”
Astria still found herself being called a holy maiden more often than not, and she nodded as if she didn’t mind.
“Good. Then I’ll continue to call you ‘Holy Maiden.’”
With that, Sigrid glanced back and forth between Kraush and Astria.
“So, Holy Maiden, have you decided to marry my lord?”
Upon hearing her question, Astria’s body stiffened.
Her face turned bright red as she fumbled with her words, while Kraush just stared at Sigrid.
They had literally talked about this just moments ago in the carriage.
How did Sigrid pick up on it so quickly?
The observational skills were impressive, to say the least.
“Don’t underestimate the princess.”
“Don’t read into others’ thoughts without permission.”
“Reading too much into it is one thing, but it’s the one who looks guilty who’s truly at fault. But regardless, this is good news! Congratulations!”
The princess, the one and only princess of the empire, clapped her hands gleefully.
Astria stared at her, bewildered, and soon followed up with a concerned question.
“Um, aren’t you worried about this, being the fourth princess?”
Despite having talked with Bianca, Sigrid was officially recognized as Kraush’s fiancée by both the empire and Starlon.
With more women beginning to hover around him, Astria wondered if it was okay to be overlooking this.
“Hmm, I’m just a stone that rolled in unexpectedly.”
Considering Bianca as a precedent, Sigrid seemed unfazed by the whole situation.
“Besides, my lord is quite capable.”
She beamed radiantly as she gazed at Kraush.
“From my perspective, this could lead to better outcomes.”
The women around Kraush were all top-notch individuals.
In terms of status, abilities, or resources, each of them was at the peak of their game globally.
Their collaboration around Kraush would make it easier for him to bind together the powers from across the world.
Sigrid was someone who could make the most out of this opportunity.
“I think given this situation, how about we go global with it?”
Sigrid’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
It was as if she was envisioning a world where everything revolved around Kraush.
“Don’t say terrifying things.”
“There are still loads of candidates out there. Like the Demon Lord’s daughter or the World Eroder, even Princess Poseus.”
How much does this girl know about his personal life?
“Sigrid, are you stalking me?”
“What kind of wife wouldn’t know about her husband’s life?”
That’s one way to put it, but it feels like it goes beyond just knowing.
“Anyway, let’s get to the main topic.”
This definitely didn’t seem like a visit just for random chit-chat, so Kraush prompted her for the real deal while Sigrid gave him a slow smile.
“Just like you adore, I want to help you out. We’ve got a little something going on.”
“Due to the war with Ixion, the world is currently declaring war on the Kingdom of Jeblam. Kraush, my lord can shut the Kingdom of Jeblam, right?”
So it was already known.
Kraush didn’t deny it.
“At present, the empire is focusing on forming a strike force led by you. It’s separate from the defending forces.”
Then she spread out four fingers.
“Moreover, the Four Kingdoms are doing the same—they’ve also pledged their support to you.”
“Sigrid, is this your doing?”
Kraush hadn’t expected such a quick response from them.
As Kraush looked on, astonished, Sigrid shook her head.
“I did have a hand in the empire’s preparations, but the Four Kingdoms were a different story.”
Sigrid kept quietly observing Kraush.
“Your emergence as the centerpiece is purely because of you, my lord.”
Kraush’s eyes gradually opened wider.
“The empire wanted to extend support even before I intervened.”
Kraush had traveled far and wide, making a name for himself in various places.
Everyone who witnessed his capabilities had no doubt they would back him up.
After all, he was someone who could walk the talk.
As the world faced danger due to the rampaging Kingdom of Jeblam,
Kraush was precisely the type of fierce individual who could tackle such crises head-on.
This was a consensus shared by both the empire and the Four Kingdoms.
“With Ixion, my lord was the starting point for everything.”
Sigrid stated firmly as she gazed directly into Kraush’s eyes.
“I will assist you until you can wrap it all up neatly.”
Kraush’s name would undoubtedly leave a deep mark in history.
That was Sigrid’s determined intention.
She harbored rational feelings toward Kraush and carried the ambition that ran in the royal bloodline.
She would go to any lengths to achieve her goals.
“Sigrid, are you only looking after the empire?”
Sigrid was, after all, the princess of the empire.
Up until now, she had prepared many strategies to ensure the empire thrived.
Hence, Kraush’s inquiry seemed quite natural.
However, Sigrid, with her characteristic playful smile, leaned her elbows on her knees.
“Do you think that’s the only extent of my ambition?”
In Sigrid’s eyes, there was no denying a vision that transcended the empire.
“If I’m aiming for something, I better look at the entire world, not just the empire.”
Sigrid was no longer fixated solely on the empire.
Instead, she now had her sights set on the entire world, reaching for the boundaries beyond Kraush’s reach.
Making plans to place Kraush at the pinnacle of power.
In reality, Sigrid was gradually maneuvering the world with her own hands.
With Kraush as the shining beacon, she was spreading her talents to the fullest.
‘Maybe…’
Kraush contemplated as he looked at Sigrid.
Just before he faced death, he had a fleeting thought—
the world might actually be within her grasp.
The world’s greatest genius.
That title suited her ambitions perfectly.
“Of course, if my lord dislikes it, I won’t pursue it.”
Sigrid stood up from her seat.
But in that moment, she stumbled slightly and bent forward.
Kraush instinctively reached out to catch her.
And before he realized it, Sigrid’s lips brushed against Kraush’s cheek.
Both Kraush and Astria sat there, dumbfounded.
But Sigrid, unbothered, flashed a mischievous grin and rose from Kraush’s embrace.
“I’ve never done anything you’d dislike since the beginning.”
She pointed to her own lips with a sneaky smile.
Her movement suggested that kissing wouldn’t be something he’d disapprove of.
With a whirlwind of energy, Sigrid exited the carriage through the door opened by her guard, Sera.
“Well then, I have a mountain of tasks, so I’ll take my leave. Don’t be shocked if help starts pouring in from all around.”
Kraush knew he’d just have to accept and make good use of the support.
Sigrid left them by saying that, along with her guards.
She was just as much a whirlwind when she left as when she arrived.
“…I feel like I just lost something here.”
In the wake of Sigrid’s departure, Astria wore a vexed frown.
She then stared at Kraush’s cheek, prompting him to raise his hand.
“Don’t go thinking about adding any extra nonsense.”
“Who’s thinking about anything?”
Astria crossed her arms huffily and turned her head away.
Even though she still couldn’t shake off the sulky appearance.
And as the carriage resumed its journey, it somehow felt even more rugged.
[What a playboy.]
The Crimson Garden gazed at Kraush with eyes that seemed unfazed.
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