I Thought It Was An Arranged Marriage - Chapter 33

“Take whatever you want. I will give you everything you desire. Just don’t covet the throne. I want to be a kind and generous brother to you.”

The wise Raymond proposed a compromise that allowed coexisting with Lucas. Lucas, who had no desire for the throne, received the key to the imperial treasury filled with magical artifacts and became the Grand Duke of Bryant. The title had been returned as the previous Grand Duke of Bryant, who was the Emperor’s brother, had died without an heir. Lucas was nominally registered as the adopted son of the previous Grand Duke of Bryant.

Five years later, Raymond became Emperor, and his eldest son was appointed Crown Prince.

Lucas had little interest in politics or power. He was fascinated by artifacts and spent most of his time living in the imperial treasury, studying them. Among them, what caught his eye was an artifact called the Necklace of Fate.

Some called it the Black Diamond, others the Heart of the Black Dragon, and some the Holy Stone. The necklace, adorned with black gems, was said to perform miracles if used by someone worthy.

To prove it, three of the seven gems were already broken. If the legend was true, it meant that four more miracles could be performed.

Lucas, enchanted, took it out and placed it in his room. And then he forgot about it.

His interest in artifacts shifted to magic itself. He practiced, cast, and improved various spells. Naturally, he turned his attention to war. Using the same magic, he was met with negative reactions in daily life but became a hero on the battlefield. Thus, he became a war hero.

He hated meeting people. But there was one event he always attended: his victory celebrations. As the war hero, he couldn’t miss it, but even then, he only made a brief appearance. It was bothersome.

The Emperor seemed to welcome this. He was genuinely grateful to his strong but power-indifferent younger brother.

It was at such a victory ball that he attended for the first time in a long while. The only reason he attended the ball, which he usually found bothersome, was because of his brother.

“You’re already twenty-five, isn’t it time to think about marriage?”

Such audacious nagging could only come from his brother. Their parents had already passed away. Of course, Lucas wasn’t interested. Neither in marriage nor an heir.

Just as he had been registered as the adopted son of the previous Grand Duke of Bryant, he thought he could adopt his nephew, the Emperor’s third son. He genuinely thought so. He had never been interested in women, nor had any woman ever caught his eye.

And then he met her. The only woman in his life. She was smiling sweetly with her silver hair flowing. He had seen many women smile, but for some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was beautiful and enchanting.

Rosaline, who had just turned twenty, was attending the victory celebration for the first time. Since Lucas didn’t attend any other gatherings except victory celebrations, it was the first time they met. Or rather, it might be more accurate to say they didn’t meet. They didn’t exchange a single word.

Lucas simply noticed Rosaline and took a liking to her on his own. He wanted Rosaline Marte. In a life where he could have anything he wanted, for the first time, he desperately desired something.

So he recklessly abducted Rosaline, who was about to get married. The Marquis of Addis protested, the Count of Marte was troubled, and the Emperor had a headache. How could he kidnap and imprison a bride-to-be?

Still, the Emperor decided to think positively. At least she wasn’t married yet. The Emperor busily cleaned up his reckless brother’s mess. Marte, though bewildered, accepted the situation, but Addis was different.

“No matter how much of a Grand Duke he is, this is unacceptable!”

The Marquis was somewhat reasonable, but the young marquis was not. Having become the tragic hero who lost his beloved due to his lack of power, he roamed the social circles, spreading his tale.

It was infuriating, and it hurt the Empress’s pride, but what could she do? It was the Grand Duke’s fault. If he had given any hint, they could have wrapped it up nicely or persuaded in advance, but he had caused a scandal first, truly befitting a grand duke.

“I understand how heartbroken you must be. But what can we do about what’s already happened? I will find a good match for you.”

Knowing the Emperor’s deep affection for his brother, the Empress had no choice. As a senior member of the imperial family, she had to comfort and soothe the young marquis.

Lucas was inexperienced. Not knowing what he felt for Rosaline, he recklessly imprisoned her and cut ties with the social world.

To others, it must have seemed like he was the great demon king who separated a couple who was deeply in love and locked her in a tower. In reality, he simply stopped attending social events and even lost interest in the wars he once cared about, shutting himself in the castle.

He just wanted to have Rosaline and monopolize her. To put it bluntly, he didn’t treat her as a human being.

“Could you please call a maid, even if just for a moment?”

“What is it that you need? I’ll help you.”

No one could come near Rosaline. Not her family, friends, or even servants. The only person she could meet was Lucas. She had to spend all her time in a cage just for him.

Rosaline was always lonely, sad, and seemed tormented. But Lucas didn’t care. As long as she was by his side, it was fine. He thought her bright smiles and soft laughter were beautiful, but even if she didn’t smile, it didn’t matter. As long as he could have her, she could be less beautiful. Even then, she was dazzlingly beautiful.

But not for Rosaline. It was natural. She was human.

You can’t cage a human. But Lucas didn’t know that. He didn’t know such an obvious thing. He didn’t realize her heart was dying slowly. He was just satisfied that she was by his side and didn’t try to understand her feelings. He was that selfish and violent man.

That day felt eerie all day. He didn’t want to leave her side, but he had an unbreakable order from the Emperor.

So Lucas left Rosaline’s side for a very short time and left the castle. When he returned, he wasn’t greeted by Rosaline’s dark expression. The first thing he noticed was a very familiar but forbidden scent.

The thick smell of blood. His bedroom reeked of blood. Along with it came a nauseating, foreign scent. She lay sprawled on the bed, shackled, no longer of this world.

“Ah… Rosal, no. Rosaline, Rosaline…”

Only then did Lucas realize what he had done wrong and how much he loved Rosaline. With trembling hands, he tightly embraced her cold, lifeless body.

Her stiff and cold body pierced him. If he hadn’t isolated her, he could have discovered her sooner. He couldn’t forgive himself for being the reason she ended her life so lonely and desolate.

After crying in a daze for a long time, he kissed her cold cheek. Then, frantically, he searched the room and grasped the necklace. He had no time to think about his qualifications or anything else. He couldn’t let her go like this. He would do anything to bring her back.

He recklessly infused mana into the necklace, filled with desperate longing.

Second Life.

Lucas, age 25. He regained his senses at the victory ball.