Erika made an appearance at the palace banquet held the night before Gerick’s wedding after a long absence.

Despite all her running around here and there, Erika was dignified, her face radiant.

Those who envied Erika snickered behind their fans, but most people carefully observed her reactions.

Thanks to Gerick spreading rumors early on that he would marry Erika, she had never received even one marriage proposal.

Even though it was supposedly a political marriage, it was natural for it to appear as though Evelyn had stolen Gerick from her.

In the center of the banquet hall where the Crown Prince’s pre-wedding celebration was being held, Gerick and Evelyn danced closely together under the magnificent chandelier, whispering something to each other.

Their naturally flowing laughter as they looked at each other was as sweet as honey.

Erika scanned the banquet hall and, spotting Casano and Mornie, quickly approached them.

While they were debating whether to avoid her, they came face to face with Erika and awkwardly smiled in greeting. Erika nodded lightly and asked them:

“I’m going to ask one last time, but this time you need to answer carefully.”

If you don’t, I might hold you responsible for participating in Gerick’s shameful behavior.

Facing Erika’s eyes flashing like those of a predator, they gulped and nodded.

“Now, do those two really look like they’re in a political marriage to you?”

Following Erika’s finger, they turned to see Gerick and Evelyn ignoring all the formalized dances of imperial banquets, swaying together as if they were the only two people left in the world.

Casano and Mornie found it difficult to be honest.

Erika was frightening, but they couldn’t ignore their conversation with Gerick from a few days ago.

— What’s going on? Why are you suddenly marrying Evelyn?

— I told you. I need the Temple’s help.

— Erika suspects that it’s not a political marriage, that you’ve fallen for Evelyn and abandoned her.

— That’s somewhat true.

— Casano and Mornie felt chills down their spines at Gerick’s nonchalant confession.

— So you love Evelyn now?

— She’s worth loving. Thanks to Erika, I’ve mastered the Sparta family’s secret techniques to become a Sword Master and won the imperial succession battle to become Crown Prince. What use is Erika to me now? As you know, she’s too fierce, and her family possesses unrivaled power in swordsmanship. When I become Emperor, could I completely subjugate them under me? Wouldn’t it be better to cut off some branches in advance?

— You know that’s a very dangerous statement, right? If Erika finds out……

— That’s why I offered her the position of imperial consort. The Empress’s authority is too great. Erika loves me, so she’ll gladly accept even the position of imperial consort. The Sparta family won’t be able to exert power as imperial in-laws either.

Casano and Mornie were shocked that Erika was just another piece on Gerick’s board. All this time, Gerick’s behavior had seemed like the epitome of true love to anyone watching.

— What if Erika gets angry and goes berserk? Can you handle that? None of us has ever defeated Erika.

— It will be different if the three of us join forces. Though Erika is a Sword Master, we’re not to be underestimated. No matter how strong Erika is, how could she handle all three of us attacking at once? We know each other too well. Now we can defeat Erika, so don’t worry too much.

Casano and Mornie couldn’t agree with Gerick’s confident assertion.

Erika had taught and cared for them a lot, but they couldn’t shake the feeling that she had never fully revealed herself.

They felt they didn’t know Erika completely, despite what Gerick claimed.

Casano and Mornie thought about saying something to the overconfident Gerick but decided against it. They were just friends standing one step away, and Gerick was Erika’s lover, so he might know something they didn’t.

— The Duke of Sparta won’t stand by quietly.

— That’s why I want to eliminate them beforehand. As long as Erika is my imperial consort, neither the Duke of Sparta nor Hermes will point their swords at me.

Though they were longtime friends, Casano and Mornie got goosebumps at Gerick’s meticulousness. That’s why they didn’t want to make him an enemy. No matter how many times they thought about it, their conclusion remained the same.

“Is my question that difficult? Do you need to think this long?”

Erika was impatient and wouldn’t give them much time, so they needed to decide quickly.

Casano and Mornie looked back and forth between Erika and Gerick, then reluctantly nodded.

“Yeees…… Of course it’s a political marriage……”

Because Gerick will become Emperor.

Because he said he had a secret plan to defeat Erika.

“I thought so…… I understand.”

Casano and Mornie felt their hair stand on end at Erika’s cold gaze. It was that chilling and ominous.

Erika nodded slightly to Casano and Mornie in farewell and leisurely headed toward a corner of the banquet hall. There stood Ion, sipping champagne with one hand while his other arm was in a splint.

“Let’s go.”

“Finished your final confirmation?”

Erika briefly glanced at Casano and Mornie.

They had already turned their backs to avoid Erika’s gaze—they were no longer her friends.

“Yes. It’s done.”

Erika left the banquet hall with Ion.

It was time to meet the Duke of Sparta and Hermes, with whom they had arranged an appointment in advance.

***

Erika and Ion sat side by side in the reception room of the ducal residence. The Duke of Sparta’s face looked very complicated as he gazed at Ion from across the room.

Erika smiled affectionately at the Duke of Sparta and repeated:

“Dad, I hate being a concubine. If I’m going to marry, I want to be the legal wife. You said political marriages are like fate for nobles. It’s not love yet, but I think Grand Duke Ion isn’t a bad choice.”

“……Does Your Highness feel the same way?”

Noticing where the Duke of Sparta’s gaze was resting, Ion smiled brightly and nodded.

“Of course. What greater honor could there be than having someone as perfect as Lady Erika as my wife?”

“She broke Your Highness’s arm, didn’t she?”

“It was a fair duel.”

“If she gets angry, she might break Your Highness’s leg next time.”

“Then I must have done something terribly wrong. Lady Erika wouldn’t do that without reason.”

Despite having fought as enemies on opposite sides until now, Ion’s trust in Erika was no mere bluff.

In the current situation, Ion’s willingness to marry Erika was actually something to be grateful for.

Who knows when Gerick would become Emperor.

It’s easy to say, but the Duke of Sparta knew well that waiting was an agonizing ordeal for both the person waiting and those watching.

Erika, confirming that the Duke of Sparta was gradually accepting Ion, drove in the final nail.

“I’d like to make the official announcement at the reception after His Highness the Crown Prince’s wedding ceremony. I’d like to have the wedding in the capital before going up to the territory.”

A smile slowly spread across the Duke of Sparta’s face as he caught on to Erika’s scheme.

Hermes, who had been watching carefully, relaxed when he saw his father and sister exchange wicked smiles.

Ion didn’t understand why the three members of the Sparta ducal family were smiling at each other, but he smiled along. They would soon become family, after all.

“Very well. Since it’s a political marriage, we should write up a contract, right?”

Erika quickly pulled out the documents she had prepared and handed them over.

When Erika nudged Ion in the ribs, he also hurriedly produced his documents.

He had thought they would draft the contract just between the two of them, not knowing it would happen in front of the Duke of Sparta.

The Duke of Sparta and Hermes carefully examined the contracts the two had prepared.

Soon they had to bite their lips to hold back their laughter.

The documents were extremely simple, reflecting the straightforward personalities of both parties.

Hermes couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out loud, earning a smack from the Duke of Sparta.

“Ahem, ahem, are you really going to contract like this?”

The Duke of Sparta asked Ion.

Ion tilted his head, then slowly nodded as if he didn’t understand what the problem was.

“Is there something you don’t like?”

“Ah, no, not at all.”

The Duke of Sparta had them exchange the documents they had each prepared.

Erika’s conditions were simple:

First, Ion would wholeheartedly help define what a political marriage is.

Second, if Erika de Sparta ever needed to take revenge on someone, he would not stop her and would gladly join her side.

Ion’s conditions were even simpler:

First, recognize Ion, who had separated from the imperial family, as the head of the Kaiser grand ducal family and help establish the new family.

Second, there is no divorce in the Kaiser family, and they follow the principle of monogamy.

They had agreed not to include in the contract that they would divorce after a year, to keep it secret from the Duke of Sparta.

Erika thought Ion’s second clause was excessive for a pretense, but guessed he had included it because he had nothing else to add.

Erika and Ion nodded vigorously as if they were satisfied with each other’s conditions, then wrote and signed their names at the bottom.

After watching the entire process, the Duke of Sparta finally burst into laughter and offered his hand to Ion.

“Please take good care of my daughter from now on.”

“Not at all. I’m the one who should be grateful for being accepted.”

Hermes also rose from his seat and offered his hand.

“I thought you’d be difficult since you were aiming for the throne, but like this…… Oof.”

Hermes stopped mid-sentence, unable to breathe properly due to a sudden jab to the ribs from the Duke of Sparta.

Erika didn’t understand why the Duke of Sparta had stopped Hermes’s words.

She also thought Ion had a sensitive and difficult personality, but she was discovering many unexpected sides to him while arranging this political marriage.

It was natural for Hermes to have such doubts, so she couldn’t understand why her father was reacting sensitively and stopping him.

Anyway, after completing the satisfactory contract signing, the Duke of Sparta added what he would give as Erika’s dowry at the bottom of the contract the two had prepared.

He thought there was no need to take out new paper since the contract had so little content and much blank space remained.

He also thought multiple pages might be difficult for Erika to keep track of.

“This is what I’ve prepared for Erika. I hope it helps in establishing your new family. Please contact me anytime if you need assistance.”