Chapter 6.1 – A Shocking Surprise

It was truly an absurd statement. After receiving the approval of the Marquis of Thruella, Heizen had immediately sought King Loen’s permission for the marriage as well. King Loen had blessed the union of the two, not verbally but with his signature.  

The document, bearing his personal signature, was carefully stored in a drawer in the study. And yet, now they were saying he should become the nephew-in-law of the Emperor? This was nonsense, absolute nonsense.  

“Perhaps you’ve misunderstood something? I am going to marry Rizle Thruella, the daughter of the Marquis of Thruella. This marriage has already been approved by King Loen.”  

Heizen assumed that Viscount Lambus had misunderstood the royal command. Otherwise, how could the king, who had already given his approval and signed the document, suddenly demand that he marry someone else?  

To Heizen, who was full of doubt, Viscount Lambus handed over a document. Heizen snatched it and examined its contents. What he read was so shocking that his mouth fell open.  

The document was a decree of annulment, and, to his astonishment, it bore King Loen’s unmistakable signature.  

“Please don’t think too harshly of this. His Majesty made this decision after much deliberation.”  

Viscount Lambus tried to console Heizen, who stood frozen, clutching the paper.  

The ceasefire agreement between Loen and the Western Empire had one critical condition: one of Loen’s unmarried noblemen would marry the Emperor’s niece.  

It appeared to be a condition set by the childless Emperor to secure a potential heir. The Emperor had even threatened to personally lead an army and invade if the condition was not accepted, leaving King Loen no choice but to agree.  

At the time of the agreement, the specific nobleman had not yet been decided. The Emperor had said he would determine it later and then seemed to forget about the matter entirely, making no demands—until a week ago, when the situation changed dramatically.  

“The Emperor’s niece and Duke Digory have arrived in the capital. They have expressed their desire for you, Heizen Warkliber, to be the groom.”  

“I already have someone I’m set to marry. Can’t you just refuse them?”  

“If the Duke had agreed and backed down, do you think I would have come all the way here?”  

Viscount Lambus shuddered, clearly harboring resentment toward the Duke of the Empire.  

“The Duke argues that since you’re not yet married, there’s no issue. And, well, thats not entirely wrong.”  

“What do you mean not wrong?”  

Heizen’s temples throbbed as veins bulged in his frustration. Viscount Lambus emphasized that he was merely a messenger and bore no responsibility for the decision.  

“I can’t accept this. Relay that to the king.”  

“If you don’t accept it, war will break out again—this time directly with the Emperor.”  

“Let him come, then.”  

“Don’t be reckless, Count Warkliber. Think of how many innocent lives will be lost.”  

Viscount Lambus shook his head in disapproval, trying to reason with Heizen. But Heizen gritted his teeth and leaned in close to the Viscount.  

“Let me be clear. I cannot accept this command. My own marriage will proceed as planned.”  

Go and tell the king.

Heizen said as he turned his back on Viscount Lambus and strode past him.  

“If the Emperor moves directly, it will be a war on an entirely different scale than before! The land will be devastated!”  

Viscount Lambus shouted at Heizen’s retreating figure.  

Heizen ignored him and left the audience chamber. He was so furious that he felt like he might explode at any moment. He took deep breaths to cool his rising anger. If Rizle saw him in such a state, she would be alarmed.  

They were about to go on a date, and there was no need to ruin her mood. It was enough for him to bear the brunt of this absurdity alone. She didn’t need to know about it.  

Taking another deep breath, Heizen went to find Rizle, who was surely waiting for him. He expected her to be in her room, but to his surprise, he found her just outside the audience chamber. Her expression was unusually dark.  

“It seems things have gotten complicated.”  

Oh no. She had heard everything.  

“The Empire must know this won’t work. They’re just trying to assert dominance.”  

Heizen took her hand and kissed it as he spoke. The fact that they had specifically demanded someone who was in the middle of preparing for marriage was proof enough.  

Was Heizen Warkliber the only unmarried nobleman in Loen? Even Viscount Lambus, who had delivered the royal command, was unmarried.  

“How the negotiations with the Empire proceed is King Loen’s responsibility.”  

He reassured her that they had nothing to worry about, kissing her hand repeatedly with a gentle smile. Rizle hesitated for a moment but eventually returned his smile.  

“Then shall we set aside our worries and go on our date?”  

Relieved by her smile, Heizen nodded. 

The two of them rode a carriage into town. They shopped, drank tea, and bought scarves and chocolates. On their way back, they visited a scenic spot known for its beauty.  

It was a pleasant time. Heizen, who had worried that Rizle might still be troubled, was relieved. When they returned to the castle, however, Viscount Lambus was waiting for them.  

“Please reconsider, Count Warkliber.”  

He continued to insist that Heizen annul his engagement with Rizle and marry the Emperor’s niece. To Heizen, the Viscount was as bothersome as a Kabakia mosquito buzzing in his ear. Unfortunately, he couldn’t simply swat him away.  

The only option was to ignore him. No matter what the Viscount said, Heizen refused to respond.  

He intended to make the Viscount feel like he was talking to a wall, hoping that he would eventually report back to the king that Heizen Warkliber was too stubborn to persuade.  

“You’re incredibly obstinate.”  

When Viscount Lambus finally clicked his tongue and withdrew, Heizen allowed himself a faint smile of victory. He immediately headed to the bedroom, where Rizle would be waiting. Though he had won, the ordeal had drained him mentally. He longed to hold Rizle and rest.  

“Rizle?”  

But Rizle was nowhere to be found in the bedroom. Heizen asked the butler where she had gone.  

“She said she had somewhere to go, so I prepared a carriage for her. She left just now with a maid named Mary, whom she brought from Troskan…”  

Before the butler could finish, Heizen was already running. He sprinted through the corridors and down the stairs at full speed. Just as he reached the castle gates, he spotted a carriage about to leave. Without hesitation, he stopped it.  

He flung the carriage door open to find Rizle and Mary inside, along with a large bag he immediately recognized as the one she had brought from Troskan.  

“Where are you going? It’s too late at night for an outing.”  

Heizen’s voice was calm, but his suppressed anger was evident. Startled, Rizle opened her mouth to speak but quickly raised her hands in surrender.  

“Heizen, listen to me. If there’s a way to avoid war and save everyone, then I…”  

Heizen listened, hoping he had misunderstood, but her words confirmed his worst fears. Rizle was trying to leave. Overwhelmed by shock and anger, Heizen acted on impulse.  

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her out of the carriage.  

“Heizen, Heizen! You can’t do this!”  

Rizle struggled, but Heizen scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder. She pounded on his back and shouted for him to let her go, but he didn’t budge. He carried her back to the bedroom and tossed her onto the bed.  

“Wait…!”  

Before she could say anything more, Heizen silenced her with a forceful kiss. Though his roughness caused her lips to bleed slightly, he didn’t stop. He grabbed the neckline of her dress and tore it apart.  

Her exposed skin was marked by his bites as if he were punishing her. He lifted her ankle, causing her skirt to fall, and she gasped in shock at the compromising position.  

“Stop, please!”  

She begged, kicking her legs, but Heizen tore off her undergarments without hesitation.  

“Heizen…”  

She called his name in a trembling voice. Her clothes and underwear were in tatters, leaving her feeling even more vulnerable. Strangely, however, it was Heizen who looked hurt.  

“You broke your promise.”  

Heizen’s voice was firm. He reached for Rizle’s sensitive spot and began rubbing it. After circling it a few times, he leaned in and bit down. Rizle flinched in surprise and struggled as the sensitive area was stimulated.  

Heizen held her down with his strength to prevent her from escaping. He deliberately made loud sucking sounds as he firmly sucked on her sensitive spot.  

The stimulation caused Rizle to flinch, biting her lip. Slowly, moisture began to gather in her opening. Heizen inserted one finger inside her. The sudden intrusion made Rizle’s hips jerk.  

“Let me go, Heizen. Please…!”  

Rizle pleaded. At that, Heizen played with her inner walls a few times before quickly withdrawing his finger. He also lowered her legs. Rizle sighed in relief. For a moment, she thought he was ready to talk.  

She was mistaken.