I Married the Beautiful Female Protagonist In Order To Survive

21. So Over the Top It’s Trendy (Monthly Plea for Votes~)

Zerola felt as though he’d hurled every single thing he wanted to “express” to Filora, all at once! Forced as it was by the situation, at least he didn’t have to be a “riddle-teller” spouting cryptic comments around Filora like he did back at the academy.

Handsome? Rubbish. Zerola felt utterly pathetic. He radiated the clumsy aura of some extra doomed to die – because to truly shine here, he’d have to reveal some earth-shattering identity, then with a strength, power, and status no one dared even dream of, take Filora’s hand with dignity, handsomeness, and arrogant swagger, leading her away from this gilded cage that was the Great Ying Empire.

Alas, Zerola couldn’t even imagine such a thing in his wildest dreams: So, an obscure, penniless nobody could only resort to obscure methods to pour out his feelings to his “goddess,” to explain to her what true “life” meant. Was abandoning identity and duty for freedom the right choice? Zerola still didn’t know, but… resignedly accepting a future predestined down to the very moment of birth and death, that had to be wrong.

The latter was wrong, the former unknown, so… he had to at least try, right?

After all, this Filora was surprisingly “conservative.” Zerola could see it clearly now: She’d barely even registered his and Mer’s arrival, shocked at first, followed by displeasure and anxiety.

“Zer… Zerola, what nonsense are you spouting? This isn’t a place for you to…”

Zerola knew: The weakness had always been there, theoretically… he shouldn’t even be here. Fortunately, Mer’s forceful intervention smoothly glossed over the dangerous implication Filora had unconsciously blurted out!

“Hmm~ Your Majesty, you heard what my friend was trying to say. So, could you perhaps cease some of your recent demands and arrangements for Filora? It might sound improper to say, but it’s not just Zerola’s idea; in fact, Queen Adeph of our Prus Kingdom is also quite interested in your cousin and would love to invite her to visit us elves~ That is to say, Miss Filora is a very busy woman these days, and I was wondering… if we could free up some of her time?”

Zerola immediately shot her an adoring look.

Mer’s tactic was stalling! Niiiiiice! No surprise from an elf, with a big chest and a big brain!

A pincer movement, front and back! Now, it was up to Filora’s “relatives” to react!

Mer’s arrival was almost irrelevant. The key was Zerola’s passionate confession, so embarrassing to hear, that had surprised Queen Louise III. After all… no normal man had the nerve to say such things in this situation.

She glanced at Henry III beside her, then stepped back once she received “eye authorization”, who stopped Filora from intervening.

Then, he looked at the young man who was now seen as not just “audacious,” but as “courting death.”

Then…he let out a laugh: “You love Filora?”

“Yes!”

The sound of the answer could only be described as “piercing,” as if the louder he shouted, the deeper his sincerity.

Henry III couldn’t help but scrutinize Zerola more closely, and then…

He asked the questions that needed to be asked.

“So, since you love her, what can you give her? Wealth? Power? Status? Don’t tell me you’re going to say you can give a royal of the Great Ying Empire something as intangible as ‘happiness.'”

That… was the weakness of this man shouting “I love Filora.” Some things, ordinary people could never overcome. But this “critical hit” didn’t break Zerola, and Henry III frowned as he heard a firmer reply.

If “happiness” was an intangible answer, then his reply could only be described as “boundless.” Was it hollow, or did it contain…

“Everything!”

This answer truly caught Henry III off guard. After a moment of stunned silence, he burst out laughing. Meanwhile, Zerola continued to spout declarations that were either “outdated” or so “over the top they’re trendy.”

“From the stars in the sky to the diamonds in the earth, from the seas of the Merly Kingdom to my own heart, it’s all yours!”

It wasn’t just that these were things a “normal man” was unlikely to say; anyone would be embarrassed to say them! Henry III admitted he was utterly outmatched in this regard. At least Zerola had shouted it out loud, without the slightest embarrassment, which was something of a talent.

And looking at Filora, she was completely dumbfounded. It was no surprise, really; the destructive power of this “corny love talk” was so strong that even the queen had to hide her face. How could Filora, hit by such a direct assault, possibly withstand it?

But…

“Well spoken, but… perhaps you should first try to pass the initial trial, also as a reminder to yourself, so you understand just what an audacious statement you just made before the entire British Royal Family tonight.”

Having said that, Henry III blocked Zerora’s path. The nature of this first trial was now unmistakably clear.

A trial, and likely an insurmountable chasm. Because to fight here, regardless of the outcome, Zerora would certainly not be rewarded with a happy ending of carrying away the beauty.

Strength, after all, is not merely about raw power.

So…

“I know what you’re scheming, ‘Prince Charming’.”

Zerora was, of course, aware, and cracked a grin. “Except, whether I pass or not, that’s not for you to decide.”

Nearby, Mel signaled with her eyes, also making Zerora realize: it was time to “make a splash!”

“If I can get here, it means… Heheh~ I have other means! Mel!”

“Your Majesty, Adele, it’s about time~”

As the elf Mel’s voice faded, for a moment… the originally pitch-black night sky suddenly gained a single point of light! Appearing from who-knows-where, who-knows-what, as if from the distant crescent moon, about to unleash some dangerous magic towards Queen Louise III.

Of course, Henry III noticed all of this immediately!

“Protect the Queen!”

Before his words even finished, he had already rushed in front of Queen Louise III, embracing her tightly for protection. But the next moment, amidst everyone’s panicked cries…

That “super-sized magic” array, which looked very much like a pre-arranged set-up, ultimately didn’t unleash some terrifying, destructive magic to attack the Queen! It just…

Just… exploded in a dazzling, multi-colored display.

It must be that elf’s doing! Are she and her elven kingdom up to some new tricks!? Hmph, as he suspected, this group of elves wouldn’t actually have the audacity to attack the Queen of the Great British Empire, would they?

…

“Damn it!”

The next moment, Henry III realized something terrible. The instant he let go and looked towards Filora…

His “cousin” had already been “carried away” by a man and a woman, one in front, one in back!

In the chaos, where could their presence even be found!?

Remember to join the group if you won the lottery last month.

Please give me some tickets this month, sob sob sob.

The artist should finish the main character’s portrait in the next few chapters.

Portrait: Filora (Young version)