CHAPTER 2. We Got Married
1. That Marriage (1)
Though the deliberation was long, the progression was quick.
As soon as she nodded, Constantine announced their marriage the very next day.
The social circles and the imperial capital were turned upside down.
“……”
Of course, the household was also in an uproar.
From the left: her father, Sage, and the nanny.
As she received their stern gazes like someone waiting for punishment after causing major trouble, Saena felt beads of cold sweat forming.
Even Yolly, at the far right end, had joined in, tapping his tail while looking at her with a disapproving expression.
“Didn’t you say you’d live with your father forever without getting married!”
She wasn’t sure if she had used the word ‘forever’, but it was true she had said something similar.
“…Didn’t you ask me last time if there was a man I was interested in?”
“I never thought you’d actually get married!”
Weren’t you acting like you’d immediately arrange a marriage meeting if I mentioned anyone…
“Saya, I can’t send you somewhere so far away! There are plenty of men living nearby!”
Sage shouted. Setting aside the word ‘men’…
“What do you mean far away?”
“Do you know how far the Kramer territory is? It takes a month just to travel there and back!”
Saena told them about the warp gate. Since she was told it was kept secret to avoid troubling the dukes, it should be fine to tell family.
“…Such… a trick…”
Even Sage was dumbfounded upon hearing this.
“Kyang! Kyangkyangkyang! Kyaaang!”
Yolly also jumped around in circles. He was expressing his disapproval with his whole body.
“……”
This wasn’t anything new. Yolly had been like this every time she came back from meeting Constantine.
“Miss! How could you let them make such an announcement without any word to us! This isn’t some elopement!”
She had nothing to say about that part. As she was keeping her mouth shut awkwardly, the butler suddenly came in.
“Count. Duke Kramer has come to visit.”
Suddenly? It was an unannounced visit even to Saena.
‘Has he come to smooth things over?’
It made sense, since he had caused trouble without her consent.
And ten minutes later…
“……”
“……”
Now it was Constantine, not Saena, who had to endure the disapproving gazes of her father, Sage, the nanny, and Yolly.
It was even worse than before.
Rather rudely, her father and Sage had their arms crossed, taking an attitude of ‘Let’s hear your explanation’ toward the duke.
Though the nanny’s manner was respectful, her expression was very hostile, and Yolly, not satisfied with just tapping his tail, was now tapping his hind legs while glaring at Constantine.
“…I imagine you were surprised. First, let me apologize.”
Constantine spoke first, taking the position of a son-in-law rather than maintaining his title. He even used honorifics, perhaps for Count Debov’s sake.
“I had feelings for Lady Saena and proposed to her, and fortunately, she accepted.”
…Hm?
Though Constantine wasn’t the one who proposed first, he seemed to be adjusting the story appropriately to save Saena’s face.
“Even so, how could you make the announcement without any word to us!”
Count Debov voiced his complaint.
‘Yes, that point surprised me too.’
“Though Your Grace is an outstanding person… truthfully, as a father, I’d rather send my daughter to a man who loves her and cherishes her than someone of high status.”
“……”
Saena was surprised.
Though she knew her father loved her, hearing him openly express his dissatisfaction to the duke made her feel very strange.
‘But in my past life…’
I was forced to marry a man who neither liked nor cherished me and lived so miserably… Father must have been so heartbroken.
She was once again overwhelmed by the misery of that past time.
“Hah, let me be honest.”
Constantine sighed briefly before responding to the count’s words.
“My title didn’t seem to be much of an attraction to Saena.”
Saena froze as she received Constantine’s subtle glance.
‘…What is he trying to say.’
“Saena is very charming and… it wasn’t easy. I’m so grateful that she has finally accepted my feelings.”
Hmm?
“Even now, it feels like a dream… I couldn’t help but hurry.”
“Hmm. Saya is like that.”
Sage muttered.
‘Why is brother acting like that too?’
“You must know that I’ve been hovering around her in various ways all this time.”
Constantine picked up the teacup set before him and took a sip as if his throat was dry.
“…Then that time at the exhibition…”
Meanwhile, Sage’s eyes flashed as if he had figured out something significant.
“That’s right. Really, what use would I have for knowing House Debov’s history?”
Constantine responded as he set down his teacup.
“Ah… Right!”
Sage slapped his thigh as if his suspicions were confirmed.
“Then the Wednesday meetings too?!”
“…That was truly because I highly valued Saena’s Arlesian skills…”
Constantine added as Sage gave him a persistent look.
“…But I had personal motives as well.”
“Ha! And your extended stay in the imperial capital too?”
“Yes, it was because of Saena.”
…Hmmmm??
‘No, what exactly is this man saying!’
Looking at Constantine’s behavior, he seemed to be changing his stance to say that he was the one who proposed to her for her sake, but it was too cringeworthy.
“T-then… don’t tell me… even during the heavy snowfall?!”
The Count’s hand trembled as he lifted his teacup, suddenly remembering something.
“Could it be… you deliberately kept her from returning home?!”
“……”
No, how could you stay silent at that point!
Saena joined the Debov family line-up in glaring at Constantine in disbelief.
“What did you do to our Saya!”
“Kyaaang!”
Even Yolly suddenly joined in, screaming together.
“……”
Saena lowered her head, pressing her temples as she felt a sudden headache coming on.
This seemed to cause another misunderstanding for Sage, who whispered to her.
“Saya, perhaps… if there’s something you didn’t want… that, something… if that kind of thing happened…”
“……”
“…Did something happen? You can tell your brother quietly, okay? No matter what happened, your brother will protect you.”
“That’s not it!”
Saena shouted, seeing how Sage’s misunderstanding was getting deeper and deeper by her silence.
Of course… various things had happened but! It absolutely wasn’t because she was forced into anything.
One forced marriage situation was enough for a lifetime!
“Even if he’s a duke, if you don’t want to…”
“I want to!”
“What?”
“I want this, I’m getting married because I want to!”
“……”
“……”
Perhaps her expression of opinion was too intense.
A silence fell over the room as soon as Saena finished speaking.
‘What did I just say!’
When her eyes met Constantine’s, who was looking at her with a strange gaze while wearing a smile, Saena’s face rapidly turned red.
“Is that so, Saya?”
“……”
‘I want this, I’m getting married because I want to!’
Her face grew even redder as the words she had just spoken kept replaying in her ears.
“I’m glad. Me too.”
Saena felt like her flushed face would explode as she watched Constantine smile at her with languidly narrowed eyes.
“……”
“……”
“……”
“…Kyu.”
Her father, Sage, and the nanny all fell silent for a moment, wearing similarly gloomy expressions. Yolly lay down with his chin on his front paws, making a weak sound and looking up at Saena with puppy eyes.
“…Hmm. I understand the feeling of reluctance to marry off your lovely daughter. I’ll make sure she can travel to and from the imperial capital as often as possible, so don’t worry.”
Constantine spoke up, apparently thinking it was time to smooth things over.
“…Half a year. Please let her stay in the imperial capital for about half the year.”
Count Debov set his condition, seemingly accepting the inevitable.
Saena was slightly surprised by her father’s opinion, as she had only thought about getting married somehow to avoid being a Hebeta, without considering anything else.
‘Is it okay to stay in the imperial capital for that long?’
After all, the Four Ducal Houses all lived primarily in their territories, probably due to the demonic beast problem.
“I had no intention of marrying her off so early. No, I believed her when she said she wouldn’t marry…”
“……”
Constantine stiffened as he watched Count Debov become gloomy again. Saena also sat up straight, feeling as if she had committed a great sin.
“Kyuuu…”
As Yolly’s gloomy accompaniment added to the atmosphere, the Count’s eyes grew even sadder.
“…I understand. I will do so. Please don’t worry, Count.”
‘…Really?’
Saena was surprised, knowing the Duke wasn’t the type to make empty promises.
“Then, let’s discuss the wedding details soon. I’ll take my leave for today.”
“Yes, understood.”
The Count nodded, seemingly satisfied.
“Before that, I’d like to have a word with Saena.”
“…Just the two of you?”
But his eyes sharpened again at Constantine’s request.
“…Yes. Just us.”
“Just… the two of you?”
“……”
Constantine remained silent at the Count’s increasingly stern expression but didn’t withdraw his request. Saena let out a small sigh and stepped forward.
“Father.”
“Father?! Already calling me that because you’re getting married!”
“…Dad.”
“Sniff.”
“It’s okay to leave first. It won’t take long.”
“But child.”
Count Debov leaned in close and whispered to her.
“Regardless of their title, all men are beasts.”
“……”
Though it was whispered, it was clearly meant for everyone to hear.
“……”
Despite this discourtesy, Constantine’s expression remained unchanged.
“No, what could possibly happen in our house!”
“…Then, what happened in other houses?”
Count Debov narrowed his eyes, still unable to let go of his obsession with what had happened during the heavy snowfall.
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Legnakra
I really need a heart icon and to be able to “like” all the chapters, thank you very much for the effort and dedication of our dear translator-san 💕💕💕💕