Chapter 28

The mistress of Duke Clorin was a distinguished woman who stood in a position that no one dared to challenge.

The powers that constituted the duchess’s authority were all significant.

From the honor of her lineage surpassing even illustrious families to her position as the duchess, and even the fact that she managed the affairs of the imperial court. There was nothing to be taken lightly, so she was often referred to as the most noble lady in the empire.

When such a figure was mentioned, Carlos could understand more clearly what Russell was trying to say.

“There’s no need to stay married for long. Set a fixed period for the marriage, and when the time comes, you can divorce.”

Divorce was no longer a stigma in these times. Especially in noble society, where arranged marriages, contract marriages, and strategic marriages were rampant, divorce was much more common among nobles than among commoners, who predominantly married for love.

The problem was not the divorce itself, but what happened afterward.

“What about after that? It’s obvious the same thing will happen again.”

Carlos was all too aware of his status and the power he held. He was willing to stake all his possessions on the fact that after the divorce, someone would aim for the position of his next wife, and the same thing would happen all over again.

“It will be the same then. If you reject by saying that you couldn’t possibly fill the seat of that remarkable woman, there will be no way to cling on and extend it further.”

“Is there someone in the empire who can play the role of that ‘remarkable woman’?”

“Why wouldn’t there be? There is exactly one person.”

“And who would that be?”

“Aneta Adenauer.”

Until the topic of marriage came up, he had been thinking about Aneta, but he never expected to hear her name from Russell.

For a moment, Carlos expressed his surprise, then voiced his doubt.

“But Marquis Adenauer is close to being neutral among the nobles. Moreover, the current head of the Adenauer family, Derek Adenauer, was a troubled man, and it would be too risky to give another power in the family to a man like that.”

Even now, Derek boasted that his family was the wealthiest and most glorious in the empire. Despite his strained relationship with his daughter, it was clear what would happen if he had a duke as a son-in-law.

Derek’s arrogance and misdeeds would likely worsen, and Carlos couldn’t hide his negative reaction to such a prospect.

“I was already planning to propose that Marquis Adenauer shift from neutrality to our side. And even if Derek Adenauer causes trouble, it won’t last long. With his daughter, Marquis Adenauer, leading the charge to strip him of power, who would support him?”

Aneta wasn’t the type to stand by and watch Derek wreak havoc. Russell assured that if necessary, he would step in himself, so there was no need to worry.

“Do you really favor Marquis Adenauer that much?” Carlos asked.

Carlos dared to say that it was an unexpected decision from Russell. Why is he so actively coming forward like this?

“Except for her father, she’s the perfect match for you. She’s the kind of talent that I want to bring in, even if it means taking on troublesome tasks.”

Carlos agreed with the sentiment that it was surprising such a daughter could come from that father. After a moment of contemplation, he asked,

“Have you proposed this to the marquis?”

“Not yet. But the chances are high that she’ll accept, especially if we offer help regarding Derek Adenauer.”

“…Then I’ll meet her and decide.”

“Surprising. I thought you might reject the proposal immediately. Did you like the marquis too?”

“It’s not so much that I found her appealing…”

As Carlos trailed off, he recalled the words Aneta had said to Derek. At that time, he felt her sincerity in her words.

“She doesn’t seem like someone who would engage in corruption, unlike others.”

At first, he had considered the possibility that the situation might change, but Aneta Adenauer was the person who had been appointed to the position of minister for the very reason that she wouldn’t cause any trouble, as Russell had revealed.

Being from a prestigious family and considering that the Adenauers wouldn’t be at a loss even if divorced, he thought it might not be bad to align with her, provided they were on the same page.

“All right, let’s arrange a meeting then.”

“Yes, I’ll be counting on you.”

***.

Some people said that Aneta Adenauer seemed to want to take all her money with her when she died. However, such baseless rumors were heard only to a limited extent, as Aneta did not indulge in excessive luxury to the point of being unnecessary.

Unlike her father, who spent money like he was an emperor ruling the country, she was different.

Many rumors circulated about the young, blue-blooded female marquis ascending to the position of minister. This was because it was a time not long ago when the prejudice that politics, like art, was the exclusive domain of men, had been shattered.

Hence, it was unsurprising that those who had long enjoyed their rights would rise in protest.

To them, it was absurd that a mere twenty-one-year-old woman, who had already become the wealthiest person in the empire as soon as she reached adulthood, would now take a ministerial position.

It was also something they felt they had to guard against.

But Russell had created a situation they couldn’t help but accept.

He exposed the corruption of those who claimed they deserved the ministerial position, standing them as candidates alongside Aneta.

The outcome was predictable. Except for Aneta, everyone else had committed various forms of corruption, and naturally, the ministerial position went to Aneta.

Those who were forced to step down soon questioned Aneta’s qualifications, but she remained unfazed. Instead, she stabilized the remaining staff, eliminating any grounds for complaints.

Carlos keenly remembered Aneta’s actions and admired her abilities. This was also a strong reason why he didn’t outright reject Russell’s proposal.

However, marriage was not something to be taken lightly. The word weighed heavily on his shoulders.

It wasn’t long before the person carrying the same burden appeared.

Knock, knock. The sound of a knock echoed at regular intervals. Following the concise sound, a steady voice came through.

“Your Majesty, it’s Aneta Adenauer.”

“Please come in.”

Aneta, having heard that Carlos wanted to meet her, arrived at his office at the appointed time.

Seeing her for the first time since that incident, Carlos’s eyes instinctively went to her cheek, the blush that had adorned her cheeks faded back to its usual white glow as if it had never happened.

Though it was natural, given the time that had passed, he still felt a sense of relief.

While Carlos felt this unexplainable sense of comfort, Aneta, aware of his gaze, did not hide her awareness of it. Understanding what his gaze meant, she did not shy away.

“I’m used to it. So there’s no need for Your Grace to concern yourself.”

“Well, my perspective is a bit different. We might end up being a couple, even if for a short time, so I should care at least that much.”

As Aneta drew a line with her words, Carlos found himself strangely bothered by it. It must have been because she was asserting something that wasn’t confirmed.

However, despite the unfamiliarity of his own actions, he did not feel repulsed. The calm demeanor of the person in front of him, who seemed genuinely unaffected, might have played a part in that.

How many battles had she fought and how many tears had she shed to become so accustomed to such things?

He couldn’t even begin to imagine.

“Why did you come here knowing that I am the one involved?”

“I thought that, since you witnessed that event, I wouldn’t need to explain much.”

Aneta met his eyes directly. When Carlos gave her a questioning look, she continued.

“You remember the threats my father, Derek Adenauer, made. I intend to respond to His Majesty’s proposal for a contract marriage to prevent those threats.”

“You mean this marriage is a response to that threat?”

If the marriage were to take place, she would gain a higher status within noble society as a Baltimor, but internally within the Adenauer family, there would be no significant change.

“If your last name changes, you might even be pressured to renounce your title as an outsider.”

Despite this, why was she willing to go through with the marriage? Carlos patiently waited for her answer, as it didn’t seem like she intended to abandon the Adenauer family.

“Typically, a family’s wealth is distributed among the family members by the head of the house. But that’s not the case with Adenauer. Before my grandfather passed the title to my father, he changed the family rules so that all assets are solely owned by the head of the family. He probably foresaw this kind of situation.”

Although the rule could be changed by the authority of the head of the family, Aneta had no intention of doing so, at least not until Derek’s end.

Derek knew little about managing practical affairs. The only thing he understood was how to spend money in the most ostentatious way possible. Aneta openly revealed her father’s ignorance.

“He knows nothing, so he sees nothing. My father still doesn’t realize that the moment he abandoned his position as head of the family, all the assets transferred to me. He’ll probably protest as soon as he finds out, but what can he do? His Majesty has already agreed to support me.”

Taking a moment to catch her breath, Aneta also addressed the matter of titles. During the marriage, Russell had promised to help her retain both the title of marquess and the status of duchess.

With the situation now clear, Carlos asked with conviction.

“Then the condition for His Majesty supporting you is undoubtedly this marriage, correct?”

“Yes. His Majesty wants me to take the iron mine currently under my father’s control.”

Russell could have chosen to support Derek and buy iron at a lower price, but he preferred to support Aneta. He was never one to compromise with unworthy individuals.

Carlos, knowing Russell’s nature well, didn’t question this approach.

“And my father, if nothing else, understands the power of the social hierarchy. So this marriage is the best means for me to hold out until I can stand entirely on my own.”

“Hiding behind Baltimor to buy time?”

“I don’t like the term ‘hiding.’ Frankly speaking, I want to utilize the power of the name Baltimor.”

Carlos looked at Aneta with an unreadable expression for a moment before finally nodding.

“Very well. Let’s proceed with this marriage.”