Chapter 148: Happy Ending
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 148: Happy Ending
“How on earth did you do it? No, more importantly, this is a blatant manipulation of an oracle.”
“It is a manipulation, but His Holiness gave his permission.”
“Why would he… Hah, never mind.”
I stopped myself from thinking any further. Nathaniel’s attitude was incredibly bold.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance. You seemed busy lately.”
“Yeah, I think it would be better to tell me about things like this beforehand.”
“I’m sorry,” Nathaniel apologized in a small voice.
While we were having our brief spat, Dantalion was still in a standoff with the priests. His chilling voice reached my ears.
“An interesting oracle, indeed.”
His tone was calm, but his voice and actions suggested otherwise. Even from a distance, I could see his smiling lips trembling.
He looks absolutely furious.
Dantalion seemed to already know that I was dating Nathaniel.
However, I was his daughter and the Imperial Princess of the Empire. Even if he had no intention of stopping me from dating someone personally, marriage was a different matter. As the Emperor, Dantalion had to be meticulous about the Princess’s marriage partner.
To be honest, a foreign royal is a better match than a future Pope.
Just like Donovan, who had asked me for a dance earlier. Though not as large as the Empire, the Colt Kingdom was a significant nation. A royal marriage with them would bring many diplomatic advantages.
On the other hand, while the Empire was close to the Temple since it was the state religion, Dantalion would be reluctant to bring a priest into the Imperial Family due to the history with the Empress Dowager.
He was currently working hard to ensure the Imperial Family was no longer dragged around by the Temple, so he couldn't know what kind of obstacle a future Pope becoming his son-in-law might be.
That was why I was worried Dantalion might oppose it.
“I assume this is an oracle that His Holiness has also acknowledged?”
“That is correct.”
“Hmm.”
Perhaps because everyone was watching, Dantalion seemed to be choosing his words carefully.
In the end, he replied that he would review it seriously and sent the priests away.
“And I’ve already persuaded His Majesty as well.”
“What? Really?”
“Yes.”
What Nathaniel said after the priests left was shocking.
The oracle was something Dantalion had already permitted? Then did Mom know about it too?
My head was filled with questions. And so, today’s ball came to an end.
*
The next morning, I was summoned to the Emperor’s Palace for an early breakfast with the family. Since it was so early, Kairen wasn't there; it was just me, Mom, and Dantalion facing each other seriously.
“Nathaniel has asked for permission to marry you.”
Dantalion was the first to speak, his voice calm. I nodded at his words.
“I heard he received your permission regarding the oracle as well, Father.”
“Yes. Well, rather than permission, it was more like ‘try it if you can.’ I never imagined the Pope would actually agree to it.”
“Ah… so that’s how it was?”
Nathaniel had spoken as if he and Dantalion had planned it together, but it turned out that wasn't the case.
Dantalion had said those words from the start because he looked down on Nathaniel. Nathaniel, taking that as permission, had bulldozed ahead and committed the oracle manipulation.
The two of them seemed to communicate well, yet not at all at the same time. I bit my lip hard to keep from bursting into laughter.
“So, I called you because I thought your opinion was the most important. Do you intend to get engaged to Nathaniel?”
Before I could answer, a sigh escaped from beside me.
“Sigh, an engagement at such a young age.”
“Berry, members of the Imperial Family usually decide on a fiancé around this age—no, even younger.”
“You weren't like that, Your Majesty.”
“I was a special case.”
Dantalion had been under threat from the Empress Dowager’s faction since he was a child, let alone having a fiancé. When he replied with a bitter smile, Mom fell silent as if she had nothing left to say.
“For us, rather than marrying you off to a foreign royal and sending you far away, we thought it might be better for you to be engaged to Nathaniel.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I whipped my head around to look at Mom. She nodded with a sad expression.
It was unexpected. I was certain Dantalion would try to marry me off to a foreign royal.
But it seemed he had no choice but to make that decision because he loved Mom so much. I was truly glad Nathaniel was a citizen of the Empire.
“I…”
Because of that, I was able to answer more easily than I had feared.
“I want to marry Nathaniel.”
“Hmm, as I thought.”
“Haaa…”
Dantalion nodded as if he had expected it, and Mom let out another sigh.
Even though she had permitted the engagement to Nathaniel because she didn't want to send me far away, the mere thought of me marrying someone seemed to give her a headache.
Watching Mom, I quickly added more.
“Just an engagement for now.”
“Yes, since an oracle has been delivered, everyone will accept your marriage to Nathaniel.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s why he intentionally manipulated the oracle.”
I spoke in a low voice in case someone was listening. Dantalion muttered quietly that the lad was quite clever.
I hadn't expected Nathaniel to do that either. I had always thought he was as pure as he was when we were children.
Perhaps because of his past, where he was captured and brainwashed by the radical faction of the Temple, I still held a prejudice that made the shock even greater.
[Well, thanks to that, one less thing to worry about, isn't it?]
[Exactly. I didn't know he had it in him to manipulate an oracle. He’s quite the sly one, isn't he?]
The demons' reactions weren't bad either. It seemed that a "bad deed" that benefited an ally actually earned the demons' favor.
Well, it’s true that my worries have vanished thanks to him.
I had worried a lot about how to get permission for my relationship with Nathaniel, but it was solved in an instant because of the oracle.
It was unexpected, but it was fine. I had used all sorts of schemes for Mom’s sake, after all.
Still, I should tell him to get my permission first next time.
My only complaint was that he had manipulated the oracle without my knowledge. I just needed to give Nathaniel a firm warning about that.
I nodded, feeling satisfied.
*
“Congratulations on your engagement, Princess.”
“Congratulations on your engagement.”
Every noble I passed in the Princess’s Palace smiled and greeted me. Of course, I smiled back and nodded.
In the end, Dantalion accepted the oracle and pushed forward with my engagement to Nathaniel.
The nobles were surprised but accepting, and the citizens of the Empire were ecstatic. It seemed the romance between Nathaniel and me had already become such a craze outside the palace that it was practically a syndrome.
Furthermore, since Nathaniel and I had become national heroes by defeating the Kraken, it was only natural that there was no opposing opinion.
The only ones expressing displeasure were the Temple and its followers, but since God had supposedly permitted our marriage through an oracle, no one could say a word.
Everything is going so smoothly.
It felt like I could marry the person I loved and stay with them in this world.
Moreover, I was surrounded by people who cherished me. In my past life, I had struggled just to survive, but now those days felt like a distant memory.
Mom is happy, and I’m happy too.
At first, I only wanted Mom to be happy, but now, it wasn't just her—I felt a sense of fulfillment every single day.
Harnen, the Good Omen and messenger of God, had been angry, saying I had ruined this world.
But was that really true? Could it be said that I ruined the world within the novel?
In fact, since the original protagonists ended up dead, if one were to say I ruined the novel, that would make sense too.
It doesn't matter who curses me.
I will continue to ruin the novel, this world, as many times as it takes for the sake of those precious to me. Even if time were turned back, I would save Nathaniel and eliminate the protagonists over and over again.
Because that is the path to happiness for me and the people I hold dear.
“Dia.”
“…!”
Nathaniel was standing before me, holding a bouquet of flowers and smiling.
My eyes widened at the sight, which looked like a scene from a movie. Nathaniel’s snow-white hair fluttered in the wind, and the purple flowers he held swayed along with it.
“I love you, Dia. Please stay by my side forever.”
“Niel…”
Looking at him once more, I made a vow. That I would never regret my choice. And that I would make the same choice a thousand times over.
“I love you too.”
I took the bouquet from Nathaniel and gave him a bright smile. I could hear the demons cheering and the people watching us burst into applause.
But in my eyes, there was only Nathaniel. Only his smile filled my vision.
And so, we held each other tight, promising each other eternity.
<The Villainess’s Daughter Needs a New Dad> – THE END