She’d made the suggestion with high hopes, but their reactions weren’t exactly encouraging, which made her feel uneasy. The worst-case scenario was that all 15 of them would reject her proposal. That was the one thing she couldn’t bear.

Tears began to well up in Anelope’s eyes. When the knights saw this, they opened their mouths hastily to speak.

  “Your Highness, it’s not that we find you lacking…”

“How could someone like us be worthy of such generosity from Your Highness?”

“Exactly, if you offer such terms in a situation where everyone can see how precious you are…”

They were all thinking the same thing.

‘She’s the perfect target to be taken advantage of.’

If she had issued a high-handed order, forcing them to marry, locking them away in a mansion and offering them nothing in return, the knights wouldn’t have been able to resist at all.

Unlike them, who were commoners, she was royalty – the Grand Duchess of Besetene.

Yet Anelope sincerely offered such generous terms, looking at them with desperate eyes. While the knights were more than willing to accept such a proposal with enthusiasm, they couldn’t help but worry about her lack of shrewdness.

“The terms are far too favourable for us.”

“Exactly, they’re too unfavourable for Your Highness.”

One by one, the knights stepped forward. Then, as if making a decision, they spoke to Anelope.

“We like you too, Your Highness.”

“Of course we admire you as our ruler, but our feelings for you as a person are much stronger.”

After all, Your Highness is an incredibly charming individual.

The knight swallowed the rest of his words.

“We are open to marriage. But let’s renegotiate the terms.”

“With terms more favourable to Your Highness.”

All 15 knights nodded in agreement, their eyes fixed on her with the same determination. Anelope stared at them, dazed.

“Are you serious…?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“You really agree to marry me?”

“Of course, isn’t it obvious?”

“We wouldn’t… do such a thing with someone we had no feelings for. Even if it’s someone we serve…”

Their faces flushed as they avoided her gaze. Hearing their positive responses, Anelope covered her mouth in disbelief.

“…Oh my goodness.”

Then, as if overcome with emotion, she shot up from her seat.

“I-I will do my best! I’ll make sure you won’t regret it!”

She flailed about, stamping her feet in excitement. The knights approached her, trying to calm the over-enthusiastic Anelope.

“Your Highness, you don’t have to do anything.”

“It is we who should do our best for you.”

“First, we’ll remove all these ridiculously favourable conditions you’ve set for us, one by one.”

—

Anelope immediately informed Astrid of her decision to marry the knights. Astrid, as if expecting this, simply smiled and provided additional funds for the wedding preparations.

Although the preparations began immediately, it was still a royal wedding. No matter how fast they worked, it would take at least two full years. The titles of knighthood also had to be created, adding to the workload.

Of course, it wasn’t Anelope or the knights who bore the brunt of the preparations, but the Emperor and his staff.

The official paperwork listed Kane, the captain of the knights, as the primary spouse, while the remaining 14 knights were listed as consorts.

There was no ulterior motive in the choice of primary spouse.

Anelope loved them all equally, and the knights had no foolish intentions of scheming or vying against each other. There was no room for such petty conflicts among them.

The preparations for the wedding went smoothly.

Except for one thing: the marriage clauses.

“Your Highness, I think this clause should be revised.”

“I agree. Let’s change it to: ‘All matters concerning the marital relationship shall be decided solely by the judgement of Anelope Besetene.‘”

Anelope and the knights had a little debate about the terms to be included in their marriage contract.

She wanted to do even more for them, while they wished Anelope would act a little more selfishly.

“And here, this part too.”

“If Her Highness is paying us all monthly stipends to keep up appearances, she’s wasting an exorbitant amount of taxpayers’ money. It’s better if we just ask permission when we need something and buy it accordingly.”

“Exactly. We don’t need much anyway. These maintenance grants are unnecessary.”

Anelope pouted as the terms that had been so advantageous to them were revised one by one.

“Just a moment, Your Highness. Article 15, Clause 2: If either of us falls in love, we will confess the truth to Anelope. What is that supposed to mean?”

“Let’s change it to: ‘If either of us looks at another woman, his eyes shall be gouged out – or his manhood cut off.’”

The crude phrase, uttered out of habit, prompted the other knights to poke the offender in the ribs. Words like “manhood” or its vulgar counterpart might be freely thrown around in the privacy of the bedroom, but in broad daylight, in front of a sober Anelope, they were hardly appropriate.

The knight, noticing the sharp looks from the others, cleared his throat awkwardly and corrected himself.

“My apologies. I’ll revise that to g*nitals.”

“Oh, and let’s add this: If Anelope Beseten so wishes, she may divorce us at any time. The husband’s opinion will have no bearing on the matter.”

At this shocking suggestion, Anelope slammed the table in a panic.

“No! Absolutely not! That’s not right at all!”

“Pardon? What’s wrong with it, Your Highness?”

“It’s completely unreasonable! It’s a clause that doesn’t respect you at all!”

In her urgency, Anelope grabbed the marriage clause document and tore it to shreds in front of them.

“Enough. This is all pointless.”

“B-But, Your Highness…!”

“Being royalty or whatever doesn’t matter. We’re all just people in the end… I just want to live happily and lovingly with all of you.”

One of the knights, seeing her disheartened expression, quickly drafted a new clause and handed it to her.

“How about this then?”

The document contained a single, simple line:

[Article 1, Clause 1: Anelope and her husbands shall love and cherish each other sincerely.]

A smile finally spread across Anelope’s lips. Holding the paper in her hands, she beamed and exclaimed,

“Perfect!”