434 – With a New Heart – 4
Due to the passionate cooperation of the Marquis of Barandiga, discussions on the marriage of Ainter and the daughter of the Marquis of Barandiga—Shati—progressed rapidly.
“His Majesty said that he would send His Highness Ainter to our faction during the New Year’s celebration. This is to build friendships with new nobles as members of the royal family, so it will proceed without a hitch.”
– I also told Shati that it was a social activity. He’s the type of guy who hides and won’t come out when the topic of marriage is brought up…
This is a discussion that is carried out strictly politically, without the opinions of the parties involved, but this is a world where the caste system is alive and well. This means that we live in an age where arranged marriages are more common than love marriages. It is not particularly strange for marriage talks to come and go without the parties involved knowing.
Of course, an arranged marriage involves two people living together, so in most cases, it is a connection between people who have known each other since childhood. If you’re going to become a couple, it’s better to be close friends. However, since both Inter and Shati are already at an age where they are classified as adults, it is more efficient to create a reason and situation for marriage than to provide time for her to get to know each other.
‘Isn’t that what I plan to do?’
After finishing the discussion for which I don’t know how many times, I looked up at the ceiling. This is certainly not something someone who has had six lovers voluntarily, not politically, would do.
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Even more so if you are stepping forward to matchmaking with someone you were in unrequited love with until last year.
‘It’s trash.’
After thinking that way, I felt a heavy sense of self-destruction. Hooking up a man whose unrequited love broke up just a year ago with another woman? And the person who destroyed the unrequited love himself?
If you look at it objectively, there is no such thing as waste, but it can’t be helped. Because I’ve already received the sweet advance payment of a month’s vacation.
‘…Ainter would also like it.’
I worked hard to turn the happiness circuit. Since Ainter is a member of the royal family, there is a high probability that she will marry according to the will of the imperial family head and the emperor rather than her own personal will. If she gets into an arranged marriage anyway, it is beneficial to have a strong in-laws.
And if you are a marquess, your in-laws are more than enough. Although he has some disadvantages as a new nobleman, the name Marquis can easily cover up such minor disadvantages. Moreover, since the Marquis of Barandiga has only Shati children, Ainter’s children can become Marquis.
It is a good marriage. If it were Inter, who knew the importance of an arranged marriage as a member of the royal family, she would gladly accept it.
It will definitely happen.
‘Please.’
It must be so. If Ainter vehemently refuses to marry, I will be in trouble and the Emperor will be in trouble as well. Not to mention the Marquis of Barandiga.
So, if Ainter gets married, she is willing to give him three sword passes as a congratulatory gift.
While enjoying the vacation granted by the emperor and waiting for the New Year’s celebration, a call suddenly came.
Even if it was a call that went through someone else, it would be heartbreaking, but how scary would it be if it was a direct call to the situation? Because it was morning, any remaining sleepiness disappeared in an instant.
But thanks to the feeling of sleep gone, my head turned quickly.
‘Is it because of Ainter?’
I was soon able to guess the reason for the situation and calm the tension.
In terms of circumstances, Ainter’s marriage is the marriage of her youngest child and her last daughter-in-law. It is something she cannot help but be interested in, no matter how much she withdraws from all work. Whether it was the affection of a father or the interest of a former politician.
That’s why we skipped breakfast and headed to the imperial palace. I told you to come when the situation is convenient, but going when it’s really convenient is an act of ignorance.
‘What is this?’
But perhaps because she was in a hurry, she forgot the obvious.
The Gigong that appears in the imperial palace is an animal kept by the government. That means that all kinds of animals will be gathered in the space where the situation stays.
– Wow! Wow!
– Ki-ing, ki-ing!
As soon as she set foot in the situation residence located on the outskirts of the imperial palace, five Wen Injeolmi rushed at her.
I’m embarrassed. I don’t know how to react as things so small that I can hold them with one hand are running towards me. If I couldn’t ignore it, it seemed like it would wander near my foot and step on it, and if I tried to remove it with force, it felt like it would break somewhere.
What should I do? In some ways, this is a more effective sealing method than most magic spells.
“Everyone, come here. The guests won’t be in trouble.”
Soon, the humans who were wagging their tails near me at the sound of a low-pitched voice—no, the puppies—ran towards the direction of the voice.
I hoped it would fall, but I was a little disappointed because it was so quick. I was just a momentary entertainment for you.
“They seemed embarrassed to the minister. These kids are good at following people, so they must have been happy to see the minister for the first time.”
I was looking blankly at the four puppies that had left my side, and when I looked up, I saw a situation holding a small sack standing there with a calm expression.
“I am honored that the life under the hand of His Majesty the Sangha welcomes my convictions.”
Instinctively, he spits out flattery and quickly falls down in his seat─
– Woof!
…I tried to move, but I froze when I heard a sound right next to me.
Now that I think about it, why are there only four of them near the situation? Wasn’t there five at first?
“It seems that the child likes the minister.”
Hearing those words, I carefully looked down next to my feet.
A bright yellow Injeolmi was panting and wagging its tail.
“Let’s go inside first. It’s cold, so we can’t stay outside, right?”
“Ah, yes, Your Majesty.”
I turned around before I knew it and hurriedly walked towards the building. Fortunately, there was only one person wandering around near me, so there was no problem walking.
However, as Sang-tae headed towards the building and sprinkled something from the bag around, three chickens suddenly appeared and started pecking at what Sang-ang had sprinkled.
‘Crazy.’
I did something, but was that a bag of grain? No, more than that, why are chickens left out and raised? That’s why I escaped to the imperial palace.
While watching the chicken trio with such complicated feelings, I turned my attention to the background of the situation.
He was a person whose true nature was unknown even when he was emperor, but now, in a different sense, his true nature is unknown.
***
In the morning, news came that the Minister had called the Minister. This is the first time that the situation has met with a current official since the abdication ceremony.
‘You’re quick.’
Even though he is retired publicly, in private he is still our brother’s father. I already told you that the Minister was leading Ainter’s marriage.
That’s why I think you want to hear directly from the person in charge about how your last remaining child’s marriage is progressing. Even the person who treated his children coldly showed deep interest in marriage.
‘It’s marriage.’
I took a sip of tea and looked out the window. Suddenly, I remembered the time when I first announced my intention to marry the Empress.
It was the only time the cold and hard person seemed surprised. It would be a surprise to anyone if the 1st Prince, who was about to die, suddenly took his princess as his wife, but I never thought I would see him so surprised in my life.
Of course, it was a very faint, very brief feeling.
‘Will I be surprised again this time?’
The corners of his mouth slowly rose. How will the situation react to the fact that I, who once attempted to take Ainter’s life, chose a marquis as the child’s in-laws, and the fact that the marquis is from the Minister’s faction and I have no intention of abandoning him? I wonder whether he would be happy about the brothers’ reconciliation, whether he would shake his head at the emperor’s emotional behavior, or whether he would be unimpressed.
Of course, I have no intention of asking directly. It is a question I must keep to myself and erase from my memory.
Still, I hope you think favorably of it. Since becoming the head of Liv Norman’s family, he has decided on matters related to the royal family on his own for the first time.
“Your Majesty, I am the Minister of Inspection.”
‘You’re here.’
As I continued to sip my tea and look at the scenery outside, I heard news that the minister had arrived from beyond the door.
I originally had no intention of meeting the minister, but if the minister had dealt with the situation alone, the story would be different. You need to know what the minister said to him and how he reacted.
“Please come in.”
With those words, the door was carefully opened─
– Woof!
?
I suddenly turned my head when I heard an unfamiliar sound.
Then, I saw the minister with a mixed expression of embarrassment and liberation, and a yellow dog turning his head back and forth in the minister’s arms.
‘What is it?’
I lost my mind. I am used to meeting animals outside of Taeyangjeon. Didn’t you see a chicken riding on the head of a black horse just yesterday? On the contrary, I am excited to see who I will meet next.
But I had no idea that I would even see animals inside the building. No matter how excited I was, I didn’t want this situation to happen.
“Long live your Majesty the Emperor. Head of the Crasius family─”
– Woof!
“…Karl Crasius of Tyglehen sees the sun of the precious empire.”
“…….”
Despite the minister’s greeting, he could not say anything.
***
It’s cold. Although his head is clearly lowered, it feels like he can physically feel the emperor’s gaze.
And in proportion to that gaze, Injeolmi in my arms began to whine and struggle as if she was frustrated.
Please stay still. If I put it down and you wander around here and there, I have to take responsibility.
“Minister.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Well, what is in your arms?”
I couldn’t bear to open my mouth because of the voice that seemed to be genuinely puzzled. Because I couldn’t understand why I was holding this child.
However, I could barely muster the courage to open my mouth. Not answering the emperor’s questions is disloyal.
“His Majesty said that this child follows me a lot… He told me to take him in and raise him.”
These were words full of courage, but unfortunately the emperor fell silent again.
‘Damn.’
I suddenly feel resentful towards the emperor. He ended up like this because he called me on his way back from receiving it.
When you are summoned by the emperor, you cannot go to the mansion and then come back to the imperial palace. However, you can’t entrust the gift of the situation to just anyone. Worst of all, even the vice-captain of the Imperial Knights outside the door waved his hand.
“…He’s a cute kid.”
“…Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I don’t know what I’m thankful for, but I just answered that way.
After that, for a while, only the mournful sound of Injeolmi whining rang out.