The Reason for Marriage

5-6 minutes

Looking at the detailed report that Kayden brought, he was absolutely convinced.

Everything fit like a puzzle. High school gaps, early admission with 4 years age difference, and her family background.

“Eve Jean, a confident and competent investigative officer you love… she’s not real. As I said before, I was originally a gloomy and depressed person. Now that I’m not useful anymore, I’m already returned to the old days. I have low self-esteem and have no self-confidence.”

Not knowing how far he knew, Kayden continued to look sour. He had no choice but to be wary of Daniel. He had already told him that there was no Eve Jean, and certainly, he was right. She was a different person.

“The whereabouts of the woman I personally asked for?”

Daniel had asked the Bureau of Investigation for the last time just before Iveca was greeted as Queen. Perhaps if all his guesses were correct, it was obvious that Kayden would rather keep Eve’s secret than his friendship with him.

“I’m looking for it,” replied Kayden. His answer was short and concise, and even seemed rather insincere.

“It’s strange that you still haven’t found it,” retorted Daniel.

“…I will give you advice off the topic. If all goes according to the plan, you will soon meet the Queen. She hasn’t eaten yet, and there are no fuss at all with the arrangements. Wouldn’t it be better to forget about the other person for now?”

“Ah.”

Is that where the Bureau of Investigation stand for now?

They couldn’t stop him for making Iveca as a Queen, but he couldn’t associate her with Eve… Their distrust of Daniel was buried in Kayden’s blunt words. They seemed to be worried about how far he knew and what he was thinking.

“There will be no other woman except for the Queen. They already caused an uproar with my ancestors, imagine the same thing happening to my generation. Terrifying.”

“Then why are you still looking for her?” Kayden asked, his tone blatantly sarcastic and unapologetic.

Daniel stared at him. If Kayden had told him the truth at that time, would Daniel have been able to tell the truth too? But he knew that he had to do it all by himself if he wanted to keep her by his side.

***

Daniel had never imagined that Anriq would be her first love. A corner of his chest tightened as he recalled her describe her childhood in front of him. At that time, that “one thing” of her that she lightly passed on was Anriq.

Daniel sighed and shook his head. He was just a little perplexed, but nothing of his original intention has changed. Her position as Queen didn’t actually mean much.

He had already confirmed that she had indeed loved him. If he heard it once, he would be able to hear it twice. The thought that he could give her all his love so that she wouldn’t, even for a splitting second, think in fear that she might be a nuisance to him, allowed him to bury his jealousy in his heart.

Now that he could have her by his side for the rest of his life, he was fine with anything.

So he married her, who doesn’t remember anything about him.

To be honest with her, he didn’t want her to do anything after he seated her in the palace and surrounded her with all the good things.

The thought of her returning alive from the war alone made him frantically anxious, and he was so anxious that he suddenly felt dried in his mouth when he remembered that she had already disappeared one day. He wanted to make sure with his own eyes that somehow he was by her side, even in the midst of his hectic and frenzy schedule.

No matter how many times he told her that it was okay to just be the way she was, if he stayed by his side, she could be whatever she wanted, the urge of wanting to prove her usefulness over and over again was no difference from back then.

She couldn’t be happy by him side if he didn’t solve the issue. He knew her well, so he eventually asked her to make the law.

Frankly speaking, it was something that she could do well, and although her identity and background were actually helpful… Daniel didn’t really want to put her in this position.

The Monarchy in Daniel’s opinion could have been implemented in other ways anyway. It was obvious that she would be exposed to dangers in the process. But he had to do it. No one else knew, but he knew her all too well.

What kind of expression would she make if Daniel told her that they had actually met, that he loved her so much that he couldn’t live without her by his side, and that she came to him like fate one day and taught him love, consideration, and suffering.

Perhaps she would be careful not to say a word, fearing that he would be disappointed because she was not who she was at that time.

Now she was too vigilant and had low self-esteem. If he had recklessly brought up his former lover, she would have been in pain like a crumpled cat.

So, he decided to hide the story of ‘Eve Jean’. Besides, he didn’t like her only because she threw her dagger so well, or because she looked cute, or her bold way of speaking. Well, those things may have influenced his first crush. But now it was all irrelevant. Because he loves Iveca.