Chapter 2

As Kalik mounted his horse, Dawson checked the position of the saddle straps. From atop the horse, he could clearly see Marie moving with her personal maid, Natalie.

“When will you return?”

“In a fortnight.”

“This training is quite long. Please take care of yourself and stay healthy!”

“That’s why it’ll be peaceful.”

Honestly, it was a joke. A self-deprecating joke with a bit of truth. A joke only Kalik could make.

However, Lily laughed heartily and patted the horse’s neck on which Kalik was mounted. The horse staggered, losing its balance under her strength.

“Well, it’s true that it’s quieter when you’re away, Young Master!”

“Lily!”

“Oh… no, I didn’t mean you should be away… I was just saying that when you’re not here, it’s like this…”

Before her rambling, flustered by Dawson’s scolding, could go on any longer.

“What I mean is, I like it noisy, so I hope you come back soon…”

Kalik waved his hand at Lily, who looked sullen, indicating that it was okay.

“I’ll think about it.”

But in truth, it wasn’t okay at all.

***

“What kind of small-minded person is he?!”

Marie vented her anger, banging on the table. To think he retaliated immediately after a bit of criticism. She had been concerned that he was eating too salty all the time. It wasn’t an overstep deserving of such harsh words, was it?

“How can he call a woman grand!”

She was already self-conscious about gaining a bit of weight recently, so she was trying to be mindful. Opting for tea instead of a meal wasn’t because she disliked Kalik but because she had been eating only one meal a day since the day before yesterday. That’s how she managed to fit into a dress that had been too tight.

Anyway, although she wasn’t originally thin, the moment he responded with ‘grand,’ it became his fault for turning it into an emotional conflict.

Natalie, who had been quietly pouring tea, gently added a word.

“He didn’t say grand; he said your surface area had increased.”

Marie, who was about to reflect, realizing her mistake, soon realized that it was the same thing and shouted in anger.

“It’s the same thing!”

“No, it’s not the same, but you could say it’s similar. Miss, think about it, if he had said grand, you’d be more upset.”

“Oh… is that so…?”

It’s not wrong. Certainly, the word ‘grand’ would have been more hurtful than ‘expanded.’ In Marie’s mind, ‘grand’ seemed like a word fit for buildings, something huge, magnificent, and all that…

On the other hand, ‘expanded’ could be interpreted as just a bit fuller.

Of course, even if it’s not the same, Kalik’s remark was over the line. As long as the fact that she had gained weight remained unchanged.

“Do you always have to be so rational, even at times like this?”

“Would you prefer a bit more sentiment?”

“You should take my side! You’re from our family.”

“Understood. Shall I go and cut him down?”

“…I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Marie held back Natalie, who was about to leave with her sleeves rolled up. In her hand was a dagger she had drawn. She smiled as if she never intended to actually go and poured more tea.

This made it the fifth cup.

“But this time, you should give him some consideration.”

“Why… was my tone that bad?”

“Yes.”

Natalie’s words were cold. She judged everything impartially, regardless of the long-standing relationship of serving Marie Odillia since childhood. When Marie did something wrong or unreasonable, she spoke the truth, and when Marie was treated unfairly elsewhere, she would grab a club and get an apology.

Even after Marie married Kalik, this didn’t change. If Marie crossed the line, she’d stop her, and if Kalik crossed the line, she’d wield the stick for Marie…

“It’s fine to quarrel, but maintain your dignity.”

“Dignity, what dignity? We’ve seen everything between us. He won’t think of it that way either.”

“Even if he doesn’t, that’s their business. Don’t stoop to their level.”

“You know what? You’re too strict with me.”

“If I were really strict, I would have pointed this out first.”

With that, Natalie took the teapot from Marie’s hands. She was just about to pour her sixth cup.

“Shall I prepare a meal instead?”

“No, I’ll gain weight…”

“Drinking this much tea will make you gain weight too. Do you know why whales are so big? Because they drink water like this.”

“Are you saying I’m like a whale?”

“I’m helping you not become one.”

Natalie’s gaze landed on a peculiar spot. Marie hunched her shoulders to cover her chest.

Whenever she gained weight, it started with her chest, which was a constant source of stress. Even today, she had tried to wrap herself up to hide her growing chest, but it didn’t seem to be effective.

When she thought about it, she wondered if Kalik’s remark about the expanded area referred to her chest.

When their eyes met, Natalie shook her head. It meant that Marie’s assumption was an exaggeration.

“For now, why don’t you go inside and look at the gifts that arrived today?”

“Again? Forget it. Just set aside the consumables as you see fit. I’ll send the rest back.”

Marie winked as if to say it was the last time and poured more tea. However, Natalie, undeterred, took the cup away.

“We can’t do that. The Earl asked us to write down what you liked best and send it.”

“Please tell him to either send or not send, just pick one.”

“I think so too, but it seems he changes his mind daily.”

“Sigh… Father, really.”

Some weeks, gifts would arrive almost daily. Other weeks, not even a letter would come. It seemed the Earl himself wasn’t sure how to handle this marriage. At times, he would flaunt his wealth with all his might, afraid of being outdone, then think that if they were to divorce anyway, he’d have to take everything back and restrain himself. Still, while they were together, he wanted to make a statement, so he’d shower them with gifts, only to stop when reality hit.

“With what we’ve received so far, we can’t use it all…”

If they were consumables, she would diligently use them up, but permanent items like jewelry and accessories just piled up, serving no purpose. Moreover, understanding the sentiment behind the gifts, it was hard to refuse them.

The problem was that receiving them indiscriminately led to frequent clashes with Kalik, who believed in moderation and balance as a member of the upper class.

In his case, it was due to an excessive sense of responsibility and self-censorship, but even without that perfectionism, most people wouldn’t understand why so many accessories were necessary.

One neck, but over a dozen necklaces.

Two ears, but twenty pairs of earrings.

Two feet, but countless shoes.

“What else did he send?”

“Everything you’re thinking of right now.”

“Ah… what a headache…”

“In times like this, you should eat something. I’ll prepare a light snack that gives a good feeling of fullness.”

Slightly appeased by her words, Marie threatened several times, saying it wasn’t because of the snacks, and then headed to the annex where the gifts were piled up.

Three years ago, the marriage between Marie Odillia and Kalik Escael was agreed upon under half-threat, half-resignation. The beginning was an imperial decree from 10 years ago.

Emperor Bernhardt II presented two options.

Will you return your title?

Or will you form a bond through marriage?

Both families resisted, wondering why they had to do this, but after much deliberation, they chose marriage. Initially, with only two options, the answer was predetermined. Moreover, there was no reason to choose to relinquish the title when only one person from each family had to be sacrificed.

However, they overlooked one thing: the marriage mentioned by the Emperor applied only to direct descendants. It was to prevent collateral damage to unrelated branches.

Nevertheless, both families leisurely searched for suitable candidates, as there was no time limit.

Thus, time dragged on for 7 years.

Finally, the Emperor, angered, declared a date of two weeks. He announced that in two weeks, a wedding would be held in his name, and both families must present a bride and groom. He added that if either side refused, both would lose their titles.

Only then did the two families hurriedly search their lineages. It didn’t have to be someone of marriageable age, just a single direct descendant who was unmarried and could be used as a scapegoat without leaving any repercussions.

Unfortunately, there had been such a person 7 years ago, but not anymore. The other children of Albrecht and Peter had all married, leaving only…

In the end, Marie, unable to bear it any longer, raised her hand.

Escael had been set on Kalik from the beginning. There were no other unmarried direct descendants left. Fortunately, neither of them was engaged to anyone, and there were only marriage talks, so there was nothing to worry about.

Thus, the two were married while listening to the Emperor’s pleased congratulatory speech. For the peace of the Empire. This marriage was the way to end the conflict between Odillia and Escael.

This was the endpoint the Emperor reached after much deliberation, and it took 30 years to get here. In other words, the history of this conflict spanned 30 years.