That Marriage, I’ll Do It in this Life - Chapter 29
Before long, the entrance to the Imperial Palace came into view.
Nobles lived within the inner part of the capital, Phaesle. The more prestigious and long-established a family, the closer their townhouses were to the Imperial Palace.
While it couldn’t compare to the Kramer family’s townhouse, the Debov family’s long history meant their residence wasn’t far either.
The Kramer family’s carriage, bearing their crest, passed through the palace gates without pause. Even the disembarkation point for their carriage was closer to the main palace, requiring less walking.
The disparity in their status became clear once again.
When the carriage came to a halt and Rupert opened the door from outside, the Duke alighted first. Saena, having no time to put her gloves back on, quickly grabbed them and rose.
He extended his hand toward her from outside. Without thinking, she placed her hand on his and was startled.
The Duke of Kramer’s hand was…
‘Bare?’
Wasn’t he someone who always wore gloves, almost obsessively, as if he had a phobia of germs?
The unexpected sensation of his bare skin left her flustered, and she instinctively withdrew her hand.
Since she pulled her hand away while stepping down from the high carriage, her body tilted precariously. She felt as though her heart had dropped as she squeezed her eyes shut.
“…Ah!”
She nearly ended up sprawled embarrassingly on the ground.
Fortunately, the Duke caught her.
He handled her as though she were a child, easily steadying her.
His arm around her waist left her feeling as though she were being held in his embrace.
He smelled like a deep forest, still shrouded in morning mist.
Her heart thudded inexplicably.
“…Thank you.”
Her voice trembled slightly, but she managed to push him away. If she hadn’t, he might have kept holding onto her indefinitely.
“You fall often.”
“…….”
Right. Why did this dynamic of her falling and him catching her feel so familiar?
Feeling the lingering touch of his hand on her waist, Saena blushed slightly and stepped away.
“It would be better if you didn’t go around alone.”
Uncertain if it was a joke or a serious remark, Saena briefly looked up at him.
As she slowly put her gloves back on, his gaze remained fixed on her. Once she finished, he extended his arm.
Saena hesitated for a moment before putting on her gloves as well. The silk fit her hands perfectly, as if custom-made. For some reason, the sensation made her palms itch.
Avoiding his gaze, she lightly rested her hand on his arm. Together, they walked toward the entrance of the hall. The attendant waiting by the door recognized them and announced their arrival.
“Oathkeeper of the Guardian Spirit Morev, His Grace Duke Constantine Kramer, and his partner, Lady Saena Debov!”
The resonant voice echoed inside.
As Saena entered, following his lead, she was momentarily overwhelmed by the flood of gazes directed at them. The sudden silence that fell, as though someone had commanded everyone to stop speaking at once, was suffocating, and the attention was blatant.
If she had truly been nineteen, she might have frozen under the excessive scrutiny.
Thanks to her past experiences, Saena had grown accustomed to being the center of attention. Though the attention she had received before wasn’t positive—scorn and pity due to her reckless husband, or disdain and disregard because of her worn dresses and weary demeanor—it had prepared her for moments like this.
The gazes in the banquet hall were filled with excessive curiosity but lacked malice.
It wasn’t difficult to endure.
Her composed demeanor left a strong impression on many.
“The youngest daughter of the Debov family, who was said to be so engrossed in her studies that she had no interest in society, doesn’t seem that way at all, does she?”
“Indeed. Look at that calm and elegant demeanor.”
“The contrast between black and white is intriguing.”
“It’s not just that. Look at the accent color. Did they coordinate this?”
“Oh my, you’re right. What kind of relationship do they have? Could it be…?”
Saena stood beside Duke Kramer, who was dressed in pristine white, while she herself wore a very dark-toned outfit.
With her black hair and dark dress, her appearance could have easily seemed dull. However, her naturally pale, almost luminous skin, coupled with the fact that she was standing next to the Duke, completely negated that impression. Instead, she appeared as a woman far more mature and composed than her age would suggest.
Unaware of the whispers surrounding them, Saena simply followed the Duke into the ballroom and stood to one side. Judging from the atmosphere, it seemed the imperial family would soon make their appearance.
Saena idly scanned the hall, her gaze wandering without much thought. To her surprise, she spotted some familiar faces and exchanged light nods.
She saw Kirsten, who looked cheerful, and beside him, Kayan, whose expression seemed a bit stiff.
And then there was Elizabeth. Saena tried to offer her a polite nod, but Elizabeth turned her gaze elsewhere, her expression cold.
“The moon that supports the Empire’s night, Empress Charlotte Macfeyden!”
“His Highness Prince Gillian Macfeyden and Lady Hebeta Elaine Barnes!”
“Her Highness Princess Madielle Macfeyden!”
The imperial family entered, treading on crimson velvet. Once again, the Emperor was absent.
Everyone in the ballroom simultaneously bowed their heads in respect.
“Rise.”
They all stood at the Empress’s command.
Unlike the first day of the Founding Festival, the Princess was present this time. In her previous life, Saena recalled that the Princess rarely attended banquets. Feeling a strange sense of unfamiliarity, she observed the Princess closely.
‘There were rumors she rarely appeared because of poor health….’
Yet the Princess looked perfectly healthy. In fact, she was quite tall—nearly the same height as the Prince—and her lively demeanor showed no signs of frailty.
As Saena discreetly studied the Princess, the Empress gave a brief speech and soon declared the opening of the ball.
Music began to play.
Since the Emperor was absent, the first dance of the banquet was performed by the Prince and his fiancée.
Saena watched the couple dance, lost in thought.
‘…Did those two ever get married?’
And… did the Prince ever become Crown Prince?
In her previous life, she had been too preoccupied with mere survival to pay attention to external affairs, but surely she would remember significant events involving the imperial family… wouldn’t she?
Whether it was their marriage or the Prince’s ascension to Crown Prince, it seemed neither would happen anytime soon.
The Prince’s current fiancée, Elaine Barnes, was already his fifth Hebeta. The term ‘Hebeta’ referred to a unique status granted to a woman who was engaged to the Prince and potentially on the path to becoming Crown Princess.
The process of a Prince becoming Crown Prince in the Macfeyden Empire was somewhat peculiar.
The Guardian Spirit bound to the imperial family was passed down through the imperial bloodline, ensuring the Empire’s protection. This meant that if the covenant with the Guardian Spirit was broken, the Empire’s peace could be jeopardized.
As a result, the process of succession was of utmost importance. However, because the imperial family was not particularly prolific, proving one’s ability to continue the bloodline had become a prerequisite for ascending to Crown Prince.
This proof of succession was essentially a demonstration of reproductive capability.
The process was divided into two main parts:
First, finding a woman capable of bearing the imperial bloodline.
To be chosen as a Hebeta, certain conditions had to be met. While the exact requirements were a closely guarded secret, it was clear that they were stringent.
Second, proving conception.
Being engaged to the Prince meant entering the imperial household and sharing his bed.
Some might question why such intimacy was necessary during the engagement period, but the imperial bloodline was notoriously difficult to conceive, so daily efforts did not guarantee success.
For these reasons, it was not uncommon for the Prince to have multiple fiancées. If years passed without conception, the engagement would be annulled, and a new Hebeta would be chosen.
‘Still, reaching the fifth fiancée seems unusual….’
Whatever the issue, it seemed particularly challenging to secure an heir in this generation.
Because of this unique situation, central nobles were especially reluctant to send their daughters to marry into the imperial family.
The process of becoming Empress was far too uncertain. While the imperial family provided considerable compensation and even arranged a new match for women whose engagements were annulled, most central nobles were wealthy enough that monetary rewards held little appeal.
Even if one were willing to endure the ordeal, the position of Empress in the Macfeyden Empire came with disappointingly little political influence.
In many ways, it was a title that looked far better than it actually was.
‘Will they break it off again?’
Saena suddenly found herself thinking this and was startled.
