“Well… like what happened this morning?” 

At her hesitant words, Layla let out a small chuckle, as if she now understood the reason for the question. 

“Ah, you mean spending the night with the knights?” 

“Yes, that.” 

Embarrassed, Anelope buried her face in the pile of documents. A silent silence fell between them, only broken when Layla spoke again. 

“Who am I to interfere with Your Grace’s personal life?” 

“What?” 

“I’m just a secretary.” 

“But still…” 

Layla put down the document she was holding and turned her eyes to Anelope. Her expression was serious as she addressed her. 

“Your Grace, it is not my place to judge or lecture you. My duty is to assist you, not to tell you how to live your life.” 

Her words, calm and determined, carried no trace of reproach, only sincerity. 

“To be honest, I’m not entirely comfortable with Your Grace being intimate with commoners. After all, you are a member of the royal family,” Layla admitted frankly. 

“Ah… well… I thought as much.”

Anelope murmured, her voice tinged with embarrassment. 

“But in the end, it’s your decision and your private matter. I decided it wasn’t something I should interfere with.” 

“Really?” 

“And to be even more frank, I’d rather see you with these knights than with some old, bald nobleman who dares to propose to you without knowing his place.” 

Contrary to Anelope’s fears, Layla didn’t seem overly upset. 

“I have always worried about the possibility of you being married off, almost sold, to one of those decrepit old m*n. Frankly, handsome commoners seem like a much better option to me. But that’s just my personal opinion.”

Hearing the unexpected comment, Anelope let out a small laugh. 

“I didn’t expect you to feel this way.” 

“What about you, Your Grace?” 

“Hm?” 

“What do you make of all this?” 

The sudden question made her blink in surprise. 

“I’m only a secretary. Even if I were against what’s going on between you and the Knights, if it’s something you really want, you shouldn’t hesitate or hold back because of me.” 

Layla folded the stack of documents and handed them to Anelope. 

“Just make sure it doesn’t interfere too much with your work.”

Anelope, caught off guard by her secretary’s unexpectedly direct and pragmatic words, let out a small laugh. 

— 

Time passed quickly. 

Neither Anelope nor the knights had managed to organise their thoughts on the proposed marriage, and already two weeks had passed. 

Their views on the matter were quite different. 

Anelope found the idea of marrying her knights absurd. After all, who applies for a job in the Royal Guard with marriage in mind? Besides, the proposal had come from the Emperor himself. She figured that as commoners, it wouldn’t be easy for the knights to refuse, even if they didn’t want to. 

Meanwhile, the knights were consumed with concern for Anelope’s honour and happiness. Regardless of the political constraints that limited her chances of finding a suitable mate, they couldn’t help but think that it would be unfair for someone of her royal stature to marry a lowly commoner knight. They feared that such a marriage would condemn her to a life of unhappiness, and they worried about how history would remember her – as a grand duchess who married commoners, leaving a stain on her legacy. 

Both sides found themselves trapped in their own concerns, unable to bridge the gap in understanding. 

The offer of titles was undoubtedly tempting to the knights. Even a minor title such as baronet or baron was a monumental leap from their current status as commoners. The privileges that came with nobility were considerable – the ability to move freely within the realm, the ownership of a small estate, and the comfort of a well-kept home sheltered from the elements. 

But despite the lure, they couldn’t bring themselves to declare their intention to marry Anelope for such material gains alone. Unlike the shrewd, self-serving nobles, they weren’t calculating enough to pursue marriage for personal gain. And Anelope, in her own way, shared their reluctance.

So the days passed with no progress. 

With no word from Anelope, Astrid finally sent her an invitation to the Imperial Palace, making it clear that the matter could not be put off any longer. 

Unable to come to any conclusion, Anelope went to the palace with uncertainty weighing heavily on her mind. 

“Have you been well, Anelope?”

“I’ve had no particular problems. Have you been well too, brother?”

“Of course. So, have you given any thought to what we discussed earlier?” 

She had barely sat down when Astrid broached the subject. Anelope lowered her eyes as if she had anticipated this. 

“I know it’s a lot to ask, and I know it’s stressful, but I really need an answer soon…” 

Sensing his unease, Anelope asked carefully.

“Why? Has something happened?” 

“This time, an offer of marriage has come from the Kingdom of Saton. It’s not yet an official proposal by written correspondence, but discussions are taking place verbally.”

“Ah…” 

The mention of Saton made Anelope furrow her brow uncomfortably. 

The Kingdom of Saton was the only nation on the continent that possessed magical stones – a resource of unparalleled strategic value. It was also one of the few countries that the mighty Cresso Empire couldn’t afford to pressure or antagonise. 

The situation had clearly become much more delicate. 

Magic Stones weren’t just a resource for the Cresso Empire; they were imported and used by nations on the eastern, southern and northern continents. As a result, even the most powerful nations couldn’t afford to monopolise Saton’s magic stones – to do so would be tantamount to turning the entire continent against them. 

Each country on the continent had an unspoken agreement to import Saton’s magic stones fairly, maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship. 

This naturally increased Saton’s power. Although not as powerful as the Empire, it was an exceptionally strong kingdom for its size, both militarily and economically prosperous. 

To refuse a marriage proposal from Saton required a convincing justification. One misstep could make her a dangerous opponent. 

Anelope fidgeted nervously with her hands. 

“…Honestly, I haven’t had a proper conversation with the knights about it yet.”

A proposal of marriage from Saton. She couldn’t put it off any longer. Anelope rubbed her face in frustration, the weight of the decision weighing on her. 

“Sigh… Three days. Can you just give me three more days?”

“Understood, Anelope.”

Her thoughts became more and more confused.

Anelope quickly returned to the manor and went straight to the training grounds. The knights were, as always, busy with their training. 

Watching them from a distance, Anelope let out a heavy sigh. If she was honest, the thought of accepting an arranged marriage proposal from someone she’d never even seen – like Saton’s – was unappealing. Marrying the knights she had hand-picked and spent so much time with seemed infinitely better by comparison. 

But did the knights feel the same? That was the only question that weighed on her mind. 

She could have used her authority as a member of the royal family to make a decision without consulting them, but Anelope couldn’t bring herself to act that way. 

“Your Grace!” 

Before Anelope could call to them, the knights noticed her presence and approached with smiles. Their expressions were as warm and familiar as ever. 

But Anelope couldn’t hide the guilt on her face. Fidgeting and looking at them nervously, she finally spoke. 

“I… I need to ask you all something.”