I Married the Beautiful Female Protagonist In Order To Survive

22. Hands Off, Azer! (Begging for votes at the start of the month~)

The Pruesh Kingdom’s elven technology, the best in the world!

Who knew they could manage remote control from ten thousand miles away! However, that “ultra-large magic” that looked like it was aimed at the Queen of Great Britain was just a flashy distraction. Zerola and Mel’s true purpose was to use that “smoke bomb” to directly “snatch” Philora away!

Henry III dared to say she had to “get past him?” Hmph, why should they use the “noble’s way” to solve things? A poor kid with no status who wants to chase his dream “goddess” should use the kind of foolish methods only “poor kids” would think of.

Right now, at the student council room of the academy.

After dragging the stunned Philora, still reeling from the sudden events, all the way here, Zerola finally breathed a sigh of relief. The Queen and Henry III’s side was in chaos, and although they’d recover soon enough and send people after them, Zerola had bought a precious bit of time.

That… was enough.

After all, Philora wasn’t some naive airhead. The moment the surroundings plunged back into darkness and silence, she understood the cause and effect of everything that had happened tonight, and… what the man and woman in front of her had done.

So…

“Zerola! Have you finally gone mad!?”

Philora, furious, immediately yelled at Zerola! What he was doing had gone far beyond just being “disagreeable.” It had reached the point where it was questionable whether “he’d live to see the sun rise again”.

Zerola’s reaction, however, was simple.

“Of course not! Isn’t this just snatching someone away! I’m perfectly clear on that! Doing this kind of thing requires speed, decisiveness, and no frills!”

“You!”

Philora felt her common sense beginning to warp from anger. She couldn’t even think of words to retort with against Zerola, who could actually say such things with a straight face.

Did this blockhead even consider the consequences when he was doing these “big things?” What was the point of bringing her here!? Didn’t he know the true strength of Great Britain? Even setting that aside, he should at least know that the very academy they were in was part of Great Britain, right!?

He gets into trouble, and he insists on dragging Mel along with him!?

Before Philora could speak, Zerola continued. Though it was a tactic that would seem childish to clever, scheming adults, it at least showed that Zerola had prepared in advance. “Relax~ There’s still a chance.”

“Wh…”

“Mel will take you away and disguise you as an elf, blending you among the others. As for Mel, she’ll be fine. She was sent by that King of Pruesh, after all, and has absolute diplomatic immunity.”

Casting a glance at Mel, who was keeping watch by the door, Zerola continued, “So, you don’t have to compromise and agree to those ridiculous some-odd kings or anything. If you want freedom, you have the chance now!”

“As for me, haha~ I’ll just skip town for a bit, then I’ll find a way to get in touch with Mel and then see you. Of course, after that… I’ll definitely have to lay low for a while. It’ll be a bit troublesome if I’m found out.”

Besides silence, Philora couldn’t muster any other reaction.

After all, the meaning of Zerola’s actions was clear: he wanted her to “escape” from Great Britain and not accept the future arrangements set by her older sister and Henry III.

Perhaps… he was right, but… what of it?

Some facts are like fate, and it can’t be changed just by “suddenly running away with her”. As royalty of Great Britain, she wouldn’t mind a simple exile life, but… so what?

Not minding, doesn’t mean I’ll do it. Not accepting, doesn’t mean… I must refuse.

Zerola, not everyone can be as free as you are. She’s not, and I… certainly am not.

Because…

*SMACK*

In the next instant, Filora had slapped the man before her, a clean hit, her expression composed, without the slightest wavering or regret.

The sharp crack even drew Mel’s attention, but Filora had absolutely no intention of apologizing.

Not giving this one a punch was already being soft!

“Zerola, what… what right do you have to decide for me?”

“Of course I don’t.”

Zerola, cradling his face, suddenly gave a knowing smile. “No one does.”

“!”

For some unknown reason, Filora’s heart felt as though it had been gripped, finally losing all the restraint and rationality befitting a royal of the Great Ying Empire!

“Then you shouldn’t have brought me here! Zerola! You’re just a commoner, a nobody with no qualifications, no future, nothing at all! What right do you have to interfere with my future tonight, what right do you have to drag me along and decide for me!?”

“You have no right, and you’re not worthy!”

“I will have my Royal Sister treat tonight as if nothing happened. Don’t… bother me again! Next time, you’ll learn just what kind of cataclysm you’ve unleashed today!”

With that, Filora turned and left.

Her hands trembled uncontrollably, but… she had to pull herself together, immediately return to her Royal Sister and Henry III, and resolve this farcical absurdity in a proper manner.

Only when Filora’s figure had completely vanished into the distance did Mel, leaning against the door, turn to face Zerola.

Letting out a sigh that held more confusion than pity.

“Is this the result you wanted, Zerola…? To gain nothing, to shoulder a dangerous accusation… and even acquire a slap to the face? It’s obvious that Filora wouldn’t agree to something like this just because you said a few words.”

“I know.”

Zerola rubbed the side of his face, which was already starting to swell, walked to the bedside, and, in the dim moonlight, watched the girl’s figure slowly disappear. “It’d be a lie to say I didn’t imagine she might agree, but… if she refuses, I don’t lose either.”

“I just want her to know that she doesn’t have to have her future decided by anyone, and that of course includes me. So… whether she agrees or refuses, as long as she has that thought in her mind, I’ve achieved my goal.”

“And, by the way, this will give me an opportunity to completely disappear from her thoughts, after all, we have done such a big thing, she will be suspected of it if she sympathizes with me.”

“Haha, such a simp.” Mel chuckled, but the sound had a distinctly sour edge.

“If you say so, then that’s what it is. Anyway… everything I could give, I’ve… already given.”

“It’s over, finished! Time to quit!”