51. Free Pass at Meeting the In-Laws
“Your Highness, I humbly dare to speak…”
“What is it?”
The Grand Duke asked his father-in-law with an uncomfortable expression.
The ministers, including Duke Smirnov, were truly strange. If they felt so humbled, they shouldn’t have brought up the matter in the first place.
Whenever they were about to say something that might upset the sovereign’s mood, they always used the word ‘humble’ as a shield.
“In any country, there is no place where the sovereign’s father-in-law lowers his speech. As your humble subject, I cannot do something that goes against proper etiquette.”
“You seem like you can’t? Does that mean even you aren’t certain?”
“I will correct my statement. It is impossible. Boyars must set an example for society, and I do not wish to flaunt familiarity by breaking protocol just because I became the Grand Duchess’s father. Such display of power would unintentionally create factions, which would not only destroy society’s foundation but further dishonor Your Highness with public criticism of in-laws running wild.”
Baptiski, who had stayed away from factional fights his whole life, risked his life to add these words to the tyrant who was known to kill even noble boyars if provoked.
Nikolai slowly nodded.
Every single word was correct.
“What protocol does a tyrant need? Isn’t a tyrant someone who overturns everything at will when displeased?”
But his gesture merely meant he understood, not that he agreed.
“I understand your position. But there’s a saying that fathers-in-law should love their sons-in-law…”
“Your Highness, it’s mothers-in-law, not fathers-in-law…”
Luka, who had interjected to point this out, immediately shut his mouth when he felt the sharp glare.
Katya tried to recall how they had ended up in this situation.
Originally, today’s schedule wasn’t meant to be carried out with everyone gathered so chaotically.
Traditionally, it was the role of the matriarchs from both families to help the bride oversee the wedding.
Since both the bride and groom had no mothers, Baptiski and Bianca were helping with the wedding preparations.
Usually, there were only two things a groom did before the wedding.
Prepare the wedding ring to put on the bride during the ceremony, and try on and make the final decision on several formal attires chosen by the mothers or bride.
But Nikolai was different.
“This is our wedding, yours and mine, so I can’t just leave everything to you. Let’s decide everything together.”
He even chose the menu for the wedding banquet together.
It was a wedding being held secretly from not only the north but also other southern cities.
If the news of the wedding were announced in advance in the capital, it was obvious that Grand Duchess Oksana and Duke Oblonsky’s faction would create all sorts of excuses to interfere.
As they wanted to plant a spy wearing the mask of Grand Duchess by Nikolai’s side, they wouldn’t welcome Duke Smirnov’s daughter who had escaped from their influence.
In fact, this was partly why they rushed the registration.
Since the registration was processed through an office in the south, the north was completely unaware of it.
By the time this news reached the north, the couple would have already finished their honeymoon.
Since the ceremony would be held with only the Duke’s household members present, Katya wanted to keep it as simple as possible.
After all, they would have to hold a state wedding when they went up to the capital.
But Nikolai was a man who didn’t know moderation.
Conversely, this was his first and last chance to hold a wedding exactly as he wanted.
The state wedding would inevitably come with restrictions.
Just as Katya was scratching her cheek while looking back and forth between her father and husband with a troubled expression, there was a knock from outside.
Following the butler’s guidance, Boris appeared in the reception room like a savior.
“I have brought Your Highness’s gifts for Duke Smirnov.”
He unfolded a large scroll like an imperial decree and began to read.
“Ice magic tools from Arsetia for maintaining freshness in the food storage, medicinal herbs and porcelain from the Eastern Continent’s Celestial Empire, silk from Ekadot,”
The eyes of the Smirnov household members all widened simultaneously at the endless list.
Even Luka, who had watched him closely since childhood, was surprised.
While the Grand Duchy was rumored to be the wealthiest among all royal families in the world, this still seemed excessive.
It was a parade of expensive items comparable to the gift list that the Grand Duchy prepared when sending delegations to other countries.
“Why did you prepare so much?”
Katya asked Nikolai in a small voice as the recitation continued.
“Because I had nowhere else to show off my money.”
He was a groom intent on making the greatest display of wealth to his beloved in-laws.
His intention to properly win his father-in-law’s affection was obvious, and in Nikolai’s own mind, it was a flawless plan.
After all, isn’t it human nature to melt like spring snow when receiving gifts?
“Ah, and finally, premium grade black tea carefully selected from the northern Grand Duchy’s estate farms–”
Crash!
Baptiski, who had already turned pale at ‘black,’ dropped his teacup when he heard ‘tea.’
Oh dear heavens. Seeing her father’s face, Katya pressed her throbbing temples.
His expression suggested he was convinced the Grand Duke had ordered his death without leaving a trace.
“B-black tea…”
Poor Baptiski was even trembling.
What Boris had brought was the highest grade black tea that was only supplied to royal families.
The premium grade rarely appeared in the market and was very precious, and Nikolai had specially set aside a quantity thinking of his father-in-law.
But by this point, even he noticed something was wrong.
“When did I order black tea to be prepared?”
“I ordered exactly as you wrote before, is there some problem?”
When Nikolai tried to deny it, the tactless Boris countered.
He seemed not to understand despite Luka vigorously shaking his head beside him.
“You must have confused it with the black tea I ordered for myself.”
“This much just for yourself, Your Highness? You can’t even carry all this while traveling incognito. Didn’t you order it to be packaged as gifts for everyone in the Duke’s household, including the servants?”
To think even the servants would receive this death tea as gifts.
Could this be the rumored extermination of an entire household?
As the head of household, Baptiski Smirnov’s misunderstanding only deepened.
“The workers are unloading the gifts from the carriages and loading them onto carts now, where should they be moved?”
“Ah, regarding that matter, please speak through me. I’ll guide you.”
The butler quickly caught on and led Boris out.
Such a tactless aide.
Nikolai shook his head watching the closing door, then suddenly stopped.
Thinking it over, he felt hurt again.
He thought he had managed to open up and build a relationship with his father-in-law during their short time in the south.
Despite his past actions in the north, he didn’t think the black tea warranted such suspicion.
Somehow it felt they were more distant than when they were just sovereign and subject.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere between father-in-law and son-in-law, Katya changed the subject.
“How are Bianca’s ancient language lessons going?”
“Good. The content is difficult but the teaching makes it interesting. The lute is fun too.”
“You’re truly skilled indeed.”
Katya addressed Luka who was sitting quietly in proper posture.
Though the Smirnov household members didn’t know, finding someone to surpass Luka’s abilities would be difficult, given he could debate with professors from Hersen National Academy.
“You’re too kind. Miss Bianca is so bright that she follows along well, making her easy to teach.”
Luka smiled as he spoke, then closed his mouth again.
Though he was usually very sociable and friendly with everyone, for some reason he became very tense in front of Duke Smirnov.
Perhaps because he was the father of the one he liked.
Baptiski, Nikolai, Luka.
In these relationships between in-laws and quasi-in-laws, the three men were silent.
All three were far from taciturn when apart.
“Father, when sister gets married, I’ll stay in the north for a while.”
Feeling a sort of responsibility to help her sister lighten the mood, Bianca broke the awkward silence.
“What do you mean?”
“His High– I mean, brother-in-law gave permission to stay at the palace.”
She quickly added, worried her father would object.
“Your Highness, why trouble yourself–”
“I suggested it, thinking it would be good to have family nearby while Tia adjusts to life in the Grand Ducal palace. Won’t you feel lonely too when the young lady who used to chatter in this big house is gone?”
Though he had only permitted the stay and hadn’t suggested it first, Nikolai gladly played along for his sister-in-law’s sake.
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Highness.”
Luka was startled at the mention of the north.
If she stayed in the north, they would inevitably meet again someday.
What if Bianca discovered his true identity?
“Bianca, let’s do that then.”
“Thank you, Father!”
“You should thank His Highness.”
“Thank you, brother-in-law!”
Watching his sister-in-law bow deeply while clasping her hands together in her seat, Nikolai waved it off casually as if it were nothing.
“We might find you a suitable match in the north.”
Baptiski brought up the topic as if the timing was perfect.
“I heard there’s a very popular young man in northern society. They say he’s considered the top bachelor not just among young ladies but among nobles with daughters too.”
“Really?”
“He’s apparently quite handsome and so well-mannered that what was it — Free Pass at Meeting the In-Laws? That’s what they call him. Which family’s son was it? I definitely heard…”
The Duke snapped his fingers as if remembering.
“Ah! The youngest son of the Oblonsky family. Luka Oblonsky!”
“Yes!”
Lost in thought and suddenly called upon, the ‘well-mannered young man’ Luka jumped to his feet and responded.
