2

The residence and office of the Duke of Adelaira.

The Duke of Adelaira had similar concerns to the Marquis of Reggiard.

We had already reached an agreement with each other and said we would give an answer within three days.

However, there was no guarantee that the desired result would come out, and if things went wrong, other noble families had to be looked at.

“It has already been two days. Why is there no news?”

“You still have a day left. We’ll have to wait.”

Robbers Adelaira, head of the Adelaira family and duke, answered calmly.

He spoke as usual, but deep inside he was quite nervous and anxious.

If the Marquis of Reggiard did not accept the engagement, he would have to find a Marquis or a low-ranking count.

“I heard that you were given generous conditions?”

“It is a generous condition. I promised to break off the marriage right away if there is damage to your son and give you a lot of compensation.”

“… even if we say we get engaged, will Hanette stay still?”

Robbins’ first wife, Yenid Adelaira, asked with a worried look on her face.

Yenid did not want to marry his own daughter this way.

However, from a certain point on, he went in and out of gambling houses while enjoying alcohol, so he was reluctant to take special measures.

“Hanet has never beaten or killed anyone, although he has been addicted to drinking and gambling. If I had been close to a man, I wouldn’t have forgiven him… but I didn’t. You must know your fraction.”

“If you drink too much, you become violent, right? And then, if you even lay a hand on your son…”

“There are ladies-in-waiting and knights. We won’t sleep together until the wedding.”

“If Hanette wanders around too much, your son won’t like it too much.”

“I won’t do anything stupid. An escort driver is always following you, so don’t worry.”

Roberns didn’t like what his eldest daughter was doing, but he couldn’t let it go.

Because he was a child who inherited his own blood, and it was also a means to expand the family’s influence.

Although he was called an idiot, he did not do anything evil, and he was surprisingly quiet inside the mansion.

“Have you considered other families?”

“… Among the marquess, Reggierd is at least better. Other marquises are either strong or lacking in dignity.”

Considering the prestige of the duchy, Robbins carefully searched for the family.

From noblemtl.com

Just being rejected was something that hurt his pride, and it was funny that he was suggesting an engagement over a foolish young lady in the first place.

Because he wanted to make his eldest daughter’s engagement a success at once, he was the first to approach the Marquis of Regiard.

“What does the Countess think?”

“Even a healthy family won’t give you a decent guy. There will be rumors that you sold it to the count family to get rid of trouble. Maybe I can’t handle Harnett.”

Rumors about the eldest daughter of the Duke of Adelaira were widespread in the capital of the kingdom of Alain.

A woman addicted to drinking and gambling, a beautiful but withered flower, an aristocrat who has abandoned formality after gaining beauty, and a crazy daughter of a duke.

Overall, the evaluation was not good, but at least one appearance was outstanding, so some noble children showed interest.

“That’s why you chose the Marquis of Reggiard.”

“I said I would send my youngest son as my fiancé. Although he seems lacking compared to his other siblings, it’s not a problem. He’s the son of a marquess family, and he’s the son of the royal family, so there’s no way he’ll be abandoned.”

“It’s normal, but you won’t know until you experience it yourself.”

The outside and the inside couldn’t always be the same.

Rumors were often mixed with lies, and people do not easily reveal their inner thoughts.

I couldn’t be sure that the youngest son of the Marquis of Reggiard wouldn’t do the same.

“The Marquis of Reggiard is not that stupid. There’s nothing good about putting people with problems together.”

“It could be that the Marquis of Reggiard is trying to use the head of the household.”

“It is the same for me. We get married because we have something we both want to achieve. Even if there is a quarrel between the two sides, our side has the advantage. That’s the duke’s name.”

Yenid pondered for a moment, then nodded.

Titles are originally inherited through lineage, but in order for the authority to be maintained, wealth and reputation must be supported.

If the power of the family weakened over time, they would naturally be weeded out.

Eventually, they are pressured by other nobles, and even titles and family names become meaningless.

“How has our family endured so far? I have served the king well and rallied the nobles. The commoners continued to pamper them and tossed them a few pieces of bread. If you can’t keep the basics, you can’t go beyond that.”

“… How much does the head of the family look forward to with this engagement?”

“I’m not looking ahead. It’s a little bit greedy. Being engaged doesn’t lead to marriage, doesn’t it?”

“The head of the family is looking forward to getting married.”

“Good for you and me. If you pass on Hanette, you will have a suitable in-law. You don’t have to pay attention to Hanette anymore.”

Since he was the head of the family, he had to consider many aspects.

He put the interests of his family ahead of his personal desires, and he put the future of his family ahead of his wishes.

He had to raise his family to be successful, and his family could get more things.

“Even if you don’t pay attention, your heart will hurt. Even if you act as you please, aren’t you my child?”

“I also want to let my children do what they want to do. But what can I do? If you were born as my child, you should obey my words. Just like me and you.”

Marriages between aristocrats are mostly initiated by the parents of both families.

They don’t listen to their children’s opinions and enter into relationships only for the benefit of the family.

So some nobles ran out of the mansion to find a life of their own, but rarely did anything good come of it.

Young nobles were well aware of that fact, so they couldn’t go against their parents’ will.

“If I don’t do this, I won’t be able to get married. You may be able to make a connection with the marquis now, but no one will accept it later.”

“… Maybe so. I also think that we should send a wedding collection.”

“Once you get married and start a family, things may change a bit. You always hang out alone, so you don’t have any thoughts in your head.”

“For that to happen, the other person must be good.”

“That’s why you need your youngest son. If you’re too good, you’ll just get ahead, if you’re bad, there’s nothing you can do. It’s normal, so I can strike a good balance.”

Yenid has doubts, but reluctantly agrees.

It was something that sounded plausible and strange.

If that’s true, wouldn’t it be better to marry a son of an aristocrat who has a lot of bad rumors?

“Will there be a letter tomorrow around lunch or dinner? Wait until then and think again.”

* * *

The residence of the Marquis of Reggiard, a restaurant exclusively for the family.

Fried finished his meal and did not open his mouth until tea was served.

None of the family members left their seats and only looked at each other.

Fried had something to say to the whole family, so he was waiting quietly.

“… It’s sudden, but the wedding was caught.”

“Yes?”

“uh…”

Rien knew everything, so he didn’t even show a sign of surprise.

The eldest son and the second son were a bit taken aback, but Shion still had an indifferent expression.

Instinctively, he knew that the time had come.

‘Ah, is it finally being sold?’

Shion raised the teacup and sipped slowly.

If you follow the original story, you will definitely get engaged to the crazy lady.

In addition, the engagement is not broken until the end, and even in the middle of it, the spoiled young lady does not leave the main character.

In other words, Shion Regarde had no choice but to become a victim of an arranged marriage and a loser compared to the main character.

“Who is the person caught in the marriage?”

“It is Zion.”

“phew…”

Caltz Reggiard, the second son of the Reggiard family, belatedly tipped his teacup with great relief.

There must have been special circumstances in a marriage that was so rushed.

There was a high probability that the other side had a problem, or that Shion had made a big mistake.

“Who will be Zion’s companion?”

“She is the eldest daughter of the Duke of Adelaira.”

“Hup!”

“…”

Barchen Regard, the eldest son of the Regard family, turns his gaze to Shion, swallowing silence.

I was able to roughly guess what Fried had intended for the marriage.

He must have been trying to make use of Shion’s existence somehow.

“Zion. I’m sorry I didn’t ask your opinion… but accept it. Other than that, there is nothing I can say.”

Fried looked at Shion with a solemn expression on his face.

Unlike him, Shion was just drinking tea leisurely.

“Uh… Uh… When is the wedding going to take place?”

“Marriage is later. We decided to hold the engagement ceremony first.”

“Ah… is that so?”

Caltz answers carefully and understands the meaning of the engagement ceremony.

Fried also knew about the crazy lady, so he must have been checking it out for a while.

If it’s better than I thought, I’ll go ahead with the wedding, and if there’s a problem, I’ll break it off right away.

“Patriarch, why don’t you reconsider marriage for the sake of Zion?”

Barhen showed a serious look in his eyes and spoke politely.

It was common to proceed with a marriage without the person concerned, but the partner seemed a little wrong.

If at least he had chosen the count’s daughter as his companion, he would not have been a little convinced.

“I understand how you feel for your brother. However, it has already been decided.”

“How could I understand everything the head of the household is doing? However, I want you to reconsider the wedding ceremony in Zion.”

“…”

Fried was satisfied inside, but his expression did not change.

Even Rien stayed silent, but the eldest son stepped forward and tried to break his will.

The basis was clear, and it was also a mantra raised out of concern for Zion.

He was overly upright, but in time he would also learn to come to terms with reality.

“It cannot be overturned. I have already sent a letter to the Duke of Adelaira.”

“… All right.”

“Cartz, do you think the same as your brother?”

“We must follow the words of the head of the household. But I think it would be a bit difficult for Zion.”

“Then will you go instead?”

“Uh… that’s a bit…”

Shion, who had been listening quietly, burst into laughter and covered her mouth.

His own brothers were conveying the opposite intentions of their own.

However, he had no choice but to be unconditionally reluctant to perform an engagement on his behalf.

“Zion, you don’t have to be afraid. Everyone will have a partner someday. Although he may not be the person you want, he is not inferior in origin and appearance. You will get used to it as soon as you start a family.”

While comforting Shion, Fried feels a strange feeling.

When Shion heard this, he didn’t even show signs of being shaken.

Rather, as if he had expected everything, he was calmly sipping his teacup.

“… Family head, if you do my favor, I will hold a wedding ceremony as you said.”