One Month Later

Roland was eating the egg fried rice Silva had just made for him. He couldn't help blurting out, "This is seriously good."

Over the past month, he'd tried all kinds of escape plans. Every single one had failed. So with a "since I'm here, I might as well settle in" mindset, he ended up staying in the palace.

Roland finally understood just how extravagant rich people lived. Here, every meal he ate was made from top-tier ingredients. Afternoon tea came from the hands of famous pastry masters, the kind of desserts money alone couldn't buy. If his clothes got dirty, there was no need to wash them. They'd just buy new ones. When he bathed, maids attended him personally. Even when he took a dog for a walk in the palace, knights followed behind him.

Most importantly, there was a rich, beautiful girl clinging to him every day, trying to drown him in this life of luxury and excess. Luckily, his will was firm and he hadn't been seduced. Otherwise, he'd be living a life of nothing but burning money and banging every day.

And to deepen their relationship, Silva made time to eat and chat with him every day no matter how busy she was. Just like now, she sat by the table, quietly watching him eat breakfast.

"Is it good?" Silva looked at Roland with a face full of anticipation. As the Empire's First Princess, she'd never stepped into a kitchen to cook before. But to fulfill her duties as a wife, she'd started by learning how to chop vegetables, and in the end had made this plate of egg fried rice. So she was very eager to hear Roland's verdict.

"Mhm, mhm..." Roland chewed the rice and spoke unclearly. "It's really good. Just a little dry. It'd be even better with something to drink."

Silva made a small gesture, and two maids immediately poured Roland a glass of fresh lemonade.

Roland picked up the cup and drained it in one go. He let out a long, refreshed breath and slumped back in his chair.

Across the table, Silva looked at him with gentle eyes. Her slender hand propped up her cheek, and a cute, charming smile curved her lips. "If you like it, I can make it for you every day."

"Let's not go that far. You're the First Princess. You have so much to deal with every day. I couldn't bear to take up the little rest time you have." Roland smiled at her fondly, while inwardly calculating how to make Silva happy enough to help along the escape plan he'd been plotting for ages.

Silva lowered her head shyly and pressed her lips together in a soft laugh, a little pleased inside. "Y-You... since when did you start caring about me?"

"I've always cared about you." Roland stood up, walked around the table, and moved behind Silva to massage her shoulders. "You've done so much for me. If I gave nothing back, wouldn't that make me seem too heartless?"

Silva was shy, but she hadn't lost her reason. She quickly realized something was off about Roland. "Do you want to ask me for something?"

"Uh..." Since he'd already been seen through, Roland stopped hiding it. "Yeah, I do."

"Look, I've been in the palace for a month now. Every day, it's either reading, training, or spending time with you. As a Bard who absolutely can't sit still, this kind of boring life is torture to me. So I'd like to apply for a trip around the capital."

Silva turned around and fixed Roland with those clear eyes that seemed able to see straight into people's hearts.

"Are you planning to run away again?"

Roland tapped the magic bracelets on his wrist. "With these things on me, do you really think I can escape?"

These magic bracelets were linked to the entire great defensive formation around the city. As long as Roland remained inside it, he could be found easily no matter where he hid. And without magic power, he couldn't leave the formation at all. But there were always exceptions. Over the past month, Roland had already studied the loopholes in the bracelets. As long as he got one chance, he could unlock them.

"Not necessarily." Silva gave him a sweet smile. "I've investigated you very carefully. I know exactly what you're capable of.

"If I gave you even the tiniest chance, you'd probably slip away without anyone noticing. So stop thinking about it and just wait obediently to marry me."

Roland was startled inside. How does Silva know me this well?! She investigated me way too thoroughly!

Even though he was shocked, none of it showed on his face. "Then how about you come with me? You're an Archmage, and I don't have any magic power right now. I'm completely no match for you. If I try anything, you can just knock me out and bring me back."

In this world, the ranks of mages were: Magic Apprentice, Probationary Mage, Junior Mage, Intermediate Mage, Senior Mage, Archmage, Sage, and Grand Sage.

Roland had put immense effort into the field of magic. His current level was Archmage Tier, ahead of the vast majority of people in the world. Unfortunately, all of that power was suppressed right now. He couldn't even beat Silva.

Silva said nothing, as if she were thinking.

Roland still refused to give up. "You wouldn't want to watch your fiancé die of boredom, right? I swear, I really might get so bored I end up depressed to death."

"Mmm..." Silva made an adorable thinking sound. After a while, she nodded. "I can agree, but I have conditions."

Roland hurriedly asked, "What conditions?"

"Once we get to the capital, you have to hold my hand at all times. And you have to hug me more too. That's not too much, right?" Silva looked at Roland with a bright smile.

Roland thought it over for a moment. "Deal. When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow."

After Roland and Silva reached an agreement, Silva left the table first since she still had things to handle.

Roland sat there, planning out what came next in his head—

—I only need to find one item that contains magic power. Then I can break the seal on one bracelet. Once I recover a bit of magic power, I can open the rest. After that, I'll be free of the city's great formation and its surveillance. Escaping will be easy.

As long as I'm careful and don't let Silva notice anything, this plan is solid!

But Plans A through Z have all failed. I've already used up all twenty-six letters of the alphabet. So what should I call this one?

Got it!

It'll be called—

The Bard's Runaway Marriage Plan!

While Roland was preparing his runaway marriage plan, Silva was walking through the palace corridor. Her light footsteps showed just how good her mood was.

"Hehe, just like I thought, you still fell right into my trap." Silva revealed a satisfied smile, her cheeks slightly red. "First it'll be hand-holding and hugs. Later it'll be kisses and caresses. I'll make you slowly fall in love with me..."

While Roland was scheming against Silva, how could Silva not be scheming against Roland too?