Rather, it was probably because he had noticed the suspicious circumstances surrounding her.
The Marquis drove the point home in a firm voice.
“Go and win the young master’s heart, Rachel. My wife and I will do our best to speak with the Valencia family and the Duke, so you can tie everything together. What do you say? Can you do it?”
“……”
So it was going to come to this after all?
Rachel, who had been trying to buy herself some time by responding favorably, tightened her clasped hands again. Only when her nails dug into her cold, delicate flesh did she finally regain some composure.
Rationally, she knew she should nod at her parents’ words at a time like this.
But even so, she could not go looking for Nathan Valencia now. She had already aroused his suspicions, and since she had no idea what he was doing, Rachel had absolutely no intention of showing herself in front of him.
Therefore—
“I can’t. No, I won’t.”
“Hmm?”
“What?”
Rachel stared at the startled Marquis and Marchioness of Ingrave with eyes that had turned cold and hard.
“I’m not going to marry the young master of the Valencia family. I don’t like him, and I already have someone else in mind as a marriage partner.”
In the end, Rachel decided that this was where she would part ways with her parents. It was undoubtedly a better choice than carelessly hovering around Nathan and letting him discover the truth about her .
“……!”
“Th-then who is it?”
Rachel named the three young men she had just chosen.
“Ash McNair. Kaul Solena. Shulei Ronan.”
“They’re all from viscount or baron families!”
“But their bloodlines are certain. I heard all three family heads even underwent bloodline tests.”
“Rachel!”
Her mother’s scream reverberated through the private room. The Marquis stared at her for a moment before his expression turned troubled.
“Are you serious, Rachel? You really intend to marry one of those three?”
“Yes.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
The Marquis’s expression turned icy.
“Fine. I understood why you wouldn’t leave your room because you were so deeply shocked. But to say you’ll marry into a viscount or baron family over something as trivial as that? Are you truly out of your mind?”
“At least there won’t be any danger. Besides, all three have decent reputations, and their families—”
“Rachel!”
The Marquis’s roar swept through the private room. Rachel quietly stared at her father. His face had flushed red, as though he were about to explode with anger, and he glared at her as if he could devour her whole.
“Stop talking nonsense! If you truly intend to defy my wishes and do whatever you please, I will throw you out of this family immediately. Do you think I won’t?”
“Father.”
Illya called out to the Marquis in surprise. The Marquis glanced at his son for a moment before spitting out his words.
“Instead of setting an example in front of your younger brother, what kind of behavior is this? Get ready to attend the succession ceremony immediately! If you fail to draw a positive response from the young master of Valencia that day, I will not let you off. Do you understand?”
The Marquis stormed out of the room.
The Marchioness, who had turned to look after him, then fixed a stern expression on Rachel.
“This is your fault, Rachel. How dare you even bring up viscount or baron families? The only reason you’ve grown up without lacking anything is because you were born into this family. You surely know that someone like you has a duty to contribute even more to the revival of this family. I never thought I would have to give you a lesson meant for children even after you had become an adult.”
“……”
“Reflect on what you’ve done. You are forbidden from going out for the time being.”
The Marchioness sighed and followed the Marquis out of the private room.
Rachel silently clasped her hands together.
They didn’t know.
Duty.
She had already fulfilled it once. But what had happened in the end?
—You’re not even a member of the Ingrave family anymore. What do we have to do with you?
—You’re a daughter who married out of the family. You even married the son of a knight who used to be a slave.
She had married according to her parents’ wishes, yet she had been the one to bear all the responsibility. If she had been burdened with duty, then protection should have come with it. But the family had been the first to abandon her.
“……Once was enough.”
No one remembered it, but she had fulfilled her duty. This life was the time to live for herself.
Just then, a hand of a similar size was placed over her bloodless hand.
“Sister.”
“……!”
Rachel flinched and raised her head. Her younger brother had approached her until he was right beside her.
She had thought he had followed their parents out.
Illya carefully removed his sister’s hand before her nails could dig into her flesh. After hesitating for a moment, he continued.
“Please don’t be too upset. I support your decision. I’m sure there’s a reason you chose those three people. You wouldn’t do something like this without a reason……”
“……”
“Is there anything I can do to help you, Sister?”
Rachel stared down at her younger brother.
His hands had gradually come to resemble hers. As befitting someone aspiring to become a knight, there were even a few calluses on them.
“……You don’t need to. I’ll handle it myself.”
“Sister.”
“Do you remember what I told you before?”
—Don’t worry about a sister who will be leaving soon and just live comfortably. It’ll be better for you that way.
Remembering his sister’s final words, Illya’s eyebrows trembled.
“Sister.”
“To be honest, I’m uncomfortable around you. Just looking at our parents makes me dislike them. All I want right now is to leave this place.”
“……!”
Seeing his blue eyes widen, Rachel gave him a faint smile.
“So don’t act like this toward me. Just be a good son to your parents instead. Unlike me, they’ll be very happy to receive your comfort.”
“……”
Rachel stood up and left the family’s private room.
Now that things had turned out this way, she would have to hurry with her plans.
The night of the succession ceremony—the imperial ball—would be the decisive moment.
Since it was a special imperial ball hosted by the Emperor, the marriage candidates she had chosen would definitely attend.
Then I’ll try proposing marriage to one of them.
If that didn’t work, she would consider nobles from other countries as well.
As Rachel headed toward her room without a trace of hesitation, Illya silently bit his lip behind her.
—……Once was enough.
Those words, along with the books related to that he had seen his sister reading as he followed her around, continued to swirl through his mind.
Could it be that his sister had experienced something like this once before?
***
The Emperor, Terrius Rogdan di Olsher, was looking over the guest list for the upcoming imperial ball.
In order to announce that the Great Monster’s seal remained intact, they had specially invited guests from other countries as well.
As his eyes fell upon one of the countries listed near the bottom, he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten.
“Come to think of it, it has been a long time since the Borza Kingdom sent a visitor, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It has been three years.”
The Marquis of Aslan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs who had brought the guest list, answered.
“I heard that when the Deputy Minister personally visited with the invitation, the atmosphere was extremely unpleasant. As reported by the northern region, it seems that the kingdom is experiencing difficulties internally.”
“Hmm. We’ve been increasing our financial support every year, though.”
The Borza Kingdom.
It was a country located at the northernmost point of the continent, sharing a border with Olsher. Having put down roots in a barren land, its people were constantly forced to fight monsters. They sold minerals and monster by-products to Olsher and used the proceeds to purchase food, firewood, and other necessities.
Knowing that they served as a shield against the monsters, Olsher respected them and provided a substantial amount of financial support every year.
Recently, the northern grand lord had once again complained about the difficulties faced by the Borza Kingdom.
That was why the amount of money spent on them in a single year had doubled, yet they were still struggling.
Tap, tap—
Terius tapped his fingers against the desk before nodding.
“I should meet them at least once. If an envoy attends the ball this time, bring them to me. I want to hear about the situation within the kingdom.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
With the matter of foreign affairs settled, he turned his attention back to the guest list for his own country.
Just as his gaze stopped at one particular name, the Chamberlain, Pavlek, approached and reported,
“Your Majesty. The Lady of House Labelyn has arrived.”
“Hmm? What brings the lady here?”
As far as he knew, Aisha Labelyn had no plans to enter the palace today.
“It seems she has come on behalf of the Duke of Labelyn. I heard she brought fine liquor to present to Your Majesty.”
“Haha!”
Terrius burst into hearty laughter and tilted his head.
“The Duke certainly knows how to ask nicely for the position of my partner.”
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