Return of the Female Knight Chapter 111

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The couple rode together on horseback towards Blaise Mansion . Lady Elena was in front, while Carlisle was seated behind her . She originally intended to take the carriage, but that changed when Carlisle suddenly offered to go on a horse . Elena was curious about his sudden suggestion, but she liked riding and had no reason to refuse .

'Does he remember?'

The two had ridden together at fast speed at the night of the opera . The sense of freedom she felt was still vivid in her mind . Trotting through the city was quite slow in comparison, but the wind was still cool and she liked the open view from this height .

“Did you choose to go on horseback because of me?”

“Well, what do you think?”

“I'm not sure . I don't know if you would remember those trivial things . ”

“I remember everything about you . I'm still wondering if you'll invite me to the bakery like you did in the past . ”

Elena hadn't known then that the child she once promised to go to Charlie's bakery with was the crown prince .

— I'll watch the opera with you, and we can go to the bakery…I'll show you a lot of other fun stuff . Promise!”

She didn't realize that he would remember all that, and she turned her head around to look at him .

Tuk–

Her cheek touched Carlisle's chest . Their bodies were closer together than she thought .

“Ah…”

Elena gave a small exclamation of surprise at the unexpected contact .

“What is it?”

“Oh, nothing . You really remembered all those details . ”

Elena turned her head back again, and Carlisle replied in a soft voice .

“I told you, I remember everything . So keep watch . ”

His voice was husky in her ear . She could feel his body heat behind her, and she flushed when she remembered the image of his naked, muscled torso .

'…Crazy, crazy . '

She shook her head to toss away the delusions in her mind .

While it wasn't intentional, the couple riding through the streets caught the attention of many . In any case, it was not a bad idea to show this kind of open affection .

The pair finally arrived in front of Blaise Mansion . Carlisle dismounted the horse first, and was about to take Elena's hand when an unexpected voice rang out .

“Elena, what are you doing there?”

Elena turned her head towards the sound, and saw Derek staring at them with an expression of disapproval on his face .

“Brother…?”

At that remark, Carlisle seemed to realize the other man's identity . There was still one other family member he hadn't met yet . But before Carlisle could speak, Derek strode over and reached out to Elena . It meant one thing: for her to take his hand, not Carlisle's .

Carlisle's blue eyes flared . Elena hesitated over this sudden war of nerves, but she could not ignore Derek's hand in this situation and quickly took it . Her brother gently lowered her to the ground, then turned towards Carlisle, who was as hard as stone .

“Elena, you can't be escorted by a man you are not married to . ”

A drop of sweat gathered on Elena's forehead . No one could have mistaken Carlisle's identity . The horse they rode on was decorated with the symbol of the imperial family . She quickly thought of a way to alleviate the situation somehow .

“Don't be so rude . This is the Crown Prince Carlisle . ”

It wasn't until then did Derek bow belatedly, pretending as if he had not realized it was the prince before .

“Hail his Royal Highness the Crown Prince . Eternal glory to the Ruford Empire . ”

She had never known Derek to be so sly . Alford was overly concerned with the prince's status, while Derek treated him first like a suitor . However, Carlisle was the crown prince of the Ruford Empire before he was Elena's lover .

Carlisle turned to Elena and addressed her first .

“Please call me Caril as usual . ”

Derek's face twitched slightly at the revelation that she called him by a pet name .

“Ah…yes, Caril . I was going to introduce you . ”

She anxious about Derek's rudeness, but Carlisle was wearing a faint smile .

“Are you her older brother?”

“Yes, I'm Derek Blaise, brother of Elena . How are you?”

Despite this superficial exchange of greetings, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was watching a battle between a dragon and a tiger, each of them an equally immovable force . Elena hoped it was only an illusion, but she cut in, hoping to end their meeting early .

“Brother, Caril brought me back from the palace . When we're done saying goodbye I'll come in, so please go ahead . ”

“Don't stay too long . I'll leave now . Your Highness . ”

She forced a smile . After Derek disappeared, there was silence for a moment . A dangerous glint was in Carlisle's eyes, but surprisingly he didn't act as unpleasant as she thought .

“…Your brother doesn't seem to like me very much . ”

“Actually, he was a little worried about me marrying you . If you're offended, I apologize for it . ”

Carlisle shook his head lightly .

“It's fine . It was only once…”

His words implied that he wouldn't tolerate it a second time, and Elena felt a prick in her chest .

“I was a little nervous because everyone agreed to our marriage so easily . But this makes me relieved . ”

Before Elena could even ask why, he gave her a soft smile .

“I was hoping that you were loved . ”

Elena was momentarily speechless . There were so many implications in what he said . Perhaps he was also aware of the sorrow she felt about her father's attitude towards her marriage . She was strangely moved . Carlisle's words sounded so warm, and Elena answered with a faint smile on her lips .

“Yes . They are my precious family . ”

The day of her meeting with Emperor Sullivan finally arrived . She was not to see him at one of the massive, elaborate halls, but at a relatively regular building .

Elena left the mansion looking as neat and elegant as possible, nervous as the time Carlisle came to meet her father . When she finally arrived at the palace in a carriage, there were several servants waiting for her at the entranceway .

Ttogag ttogag–

She followed the servants down a pathway, and a beautiful annex built at the center of a pond appeared before them .

“Just go this way . ”

“Oh, yes . ”

The servants pointed down a straight path, then disappeared from her side . She didn't come across a single soul as she was walking there . The emperor seemed to have gone to some considerable lengths for this meeting .

When she finally arrived at the annex, she met the man who had invited her there . Emperor Sullivan had a gentle expression and kind eyes .

“Welcome . ”

Chapter end