CH 7

The imperial funeral etiquette stipulates that the mourning period for the death of a partner is one year.

A person who has lost their partner during that period must attach a ribbon on their nameplate and must wear mourning clothes.

Also, remarriage is forbidden during this period.

For reference, it is impossible for visitors from outside to visit for a month after the funeral. This is the reason why my older brother and Viscount Baden tried so hard to create a place to talk to me at the funeral.

Anyway, such restrictions kept my feet tied to the Dieren mansion even after the funeral.

But it was also the last day yesterday. Today is exactly one month and one day after the funeral.

The door to the Dieren capital’s mansion was finally opened.

…No, it has to be open.

“…What is all that queue?”

There was a problem as soon as visitation was allowed.

I’ve been standing on the balcony on the second floor since early in the morning and looking down. The maid behind me and the old butler also looked very flustered.

I asked again, barely managing to catch my breath.

“Since when has it been like that? No, how many more than that?”

The butler who answered my question was also tongue-tied.

“I don’t know exactly, but according to the maids who rose early, they were waiting like that even before dawn.”

“You mean those countless people?”

“Yes, madam. Moreover, it seems that the line is still increasing.”

“Ho.”

Eventually, a sigh that I tried to swallow came out.

‘…How should I accept this situation?’

I only looked toward the front doors of the mansion with a feeling of absurdity.

“Hey, don’t push. You know what’s in here!”

“What is it? Would it be more valuable than the one sent by our master?”

“Don’t take your eyes off the cart! If even one item is lost, your neck won’t suffice!”

“Hey, don’t cut in line there! Now that you’ve arrived, you have to go back and stand there—people with poor public decency.”

“Oho, how dare you make such a loud noise!”

“You are the one who sees the inscription on this cart clearly and says such a thing! You’ll have to pay your respects!”

The queue, which began in front of the gate of the Dieren mansion, was long enough to fill a wide street and see no end.

The brilliant carts loaded with something, the people who brought it, and the clumsy knights who guarded the carts.

Recognizing the inscriptions on each cart, I quickly noticed the intentions of those visitors. It was…

“All of them are waiting to propose to the madam. They are all marriage proposal gifts.”

“…”

“Madam, please give me instructions.”

My bones ache.

Come to think of it, the social etiquette of the empire forbids a woman who has lost her partner from remarrying for a year, but that doesn’t mean dating is forbidden.

In other words, there is no problem if you date as much as you want during the ban on remarriage and get married on the day the restrictions are lifted.

It’s going to be a bit of gossip, but…

“Madam, it is polite to receive the gifts for now, regardless of whether you accept the proposal or not, since it was sent with great care from a noble family.”

While I was suffering from a headache for a while, the butler gave advice. That’s when I came to my senses.

“…I know, but I’m sure that Viscount Baden is going to send a teacher today, so it’s difficult.”

There was no definite appointment made. However, it was clear that his greed would not withstand even a day’s delay.

‘Moreover, Sir Yuzef said he would come as soon as the doors to the mansion opened.’

Somehow I seem to trust his words very much, but not necessarily. It’s just that Sir Yuzef’s prophecy(?) has never been wrong, so I’m just preparing for the future with high possibilities.

Really.

“If you do, you don’t have to receive the marriage proposals personally. It can’t be helped if they came without making an appointment in advance.”

“That’s true, too.”

Anyway, you can’t chase those people away.

“Then I will leave this to the butler. Please let them know that I have a schedule and cannot receive the marriage proposals in person.”

“Then we will classify the marriage proposal gifts separately so that you can check them all at once later. Do you have any other instructions?”

“Ah, let me know when a guest with a different purpose arrives. Don’t take them in right away, but let them wait a little.”

“I understand, madam.”

After giving instructions, I turned around and said to the butler and the maid.

“Please work hard today. It must be because the door of the mansion opened after a long time. In return, have it said that this month’s wages will be doubled.”

“I will tell the servants.”

But I didn’t know at the time.

That the real full-fledged marriage proposal hell was just starting now.

“Then open the doors to the mansion.”

“Brother Kar!”

Kardiel stopped walking at the boy’s call and turned his head.

A petite boy with his bright platinum hair like his own, but trimmed short, approached Kardiel with quick steps. A soft smile filled the eleven-year-old brother’s big amber eyes.

Kardiel suddenly envied his brother.

Although he inherited the same platinum blonde hair, he resembled his demonic father, while the youngest resembled his mother. It’s not just the appearance including the eyes. This is especially true of character.

Himself who became cynical while being wary of everything in the world. On the other hand, the youngest had a very rich expression and had a sweeter personality than anyone else. It was to the extent where he was even called ‘Angel Young Master’ among the servants of the mansion.

In a close example, even though his father, whom he hated so much, died, the child cried bitterly, saying, ‘Death hurts anyone.’ Kardiel, to be honest, was convinced that he would never understand his innocent, good-natured youngest brother until he died.

Well, regardless of understanding, the fact that he was a younger brother to protect remains unchanged.

“Chelsian, your stepmother must have told you not to run around in the hallway.”

“R-right!”

Chelsian quickly stopped and covered his mouth with both hands. Although it was very cute and lovely, Kardiel did not bother to smile.

“Y-you have to keep this a secret from Mother.”

“If I keep it a secret, you’ll run in the hallway again. It’s better to get scolded properly once to break the habit.”

“I won’t do that next time. Give me a break just once, Brother.”

“It’s no use pampering like that.”

“Hnng.”

In response to Kardiel’s reaction, where not even a single needle went in, Chelsian quickly created a tearful expression on his little face. Even so, it didn’t work on Kardiel at all.

“Your business.”

“Right!”

Chelsian, who had briefly puffed out his cheeks at his cold big brother’s reaction, brought up the main subject as if he had suddenly remembered it.

“A lot of people have come to our home since this morning!”

“…”

“I asked the nanny why they came, and it’s just like Brother said last time. They came to propose to Mother!”

Kardiel’s forehead creased a great deal. It was Kardiel who had been displeased with the matter for a while.

Although it was already expected, and what was scheduled to happen.

‘I didn’t know it would be this annoying.’

He knew that he had to keep his emotions calm at times like these. But why isn’t it working out the way he wanted it to?

Unquestionably, he is still immature. Kardiel realized his shortcomings today as well.

“Wh-what to do? Mother… what if she really marries someone else?”

“It won’t happen.”

Kardiel suddenly cut off his words.

However, despite his firm answer, Kardiel was not sure either.

‘Stepmother didn’t say that she had no intention of remarrying that day either.’

It was at the funeral.

At that time, Kardiel asked Lizelotte a question. Do you have any thoughts of remarrying?

Lizelotte, however, gave a wholly different answer.

〈I have never thought of anyone but you, Kar, being the next duke.〉

Of course, Kardiel was worried about that. This was because there were countless people, that cannot even be counted on all hands, who would take advantage of this opportunity that Dieren had virtually become an empty house.

Right now, not only Viscount Baden, but also the parents’ side of his stepmother, as well as numerous noble families, and even the imperial family.

When asked if there was greed for the dukedom, strictly speaking there was not. But Kardiel knew that for the sake of the future, at least if he wanted safety, he must inherit the title of duke.

For that reason, it was true that he was relieved inside after hearing Lizelotte’s confident words at the time.

The problem was that his question felt childish because his heart was beating.

His stepmother, who gave so much for Dieren and himself, was finally freed from his demonic father…

‘Is it right to stop someone who wants to remarry in order to find new happiness?’

It took a whole month to find the answer to that question. Thanks to this, Kardiel was now firmly determined in his attitude.

Kardiel was convinced.

‘Whoever it is, there is no one who thinks of Stepmother as much as me and my younger siblings.’