CH 16

“That’s…”

Blue eyes trembling with shock were nailed to the knot ornament.

“That child made a knot ornament?”

“I heard she made it, did you not receive one yet?”

“…yes.”

This. Apparently, this knot he received was the first knot the girl made.

The first knot was usually given to the closest guardian, such as a father.

Even the Great Feudal Lord could not have preducted that the special knot would be intercepted.

He had no intention of teasing the young man up to this point. Besides, the old man felt embarrassed because Cedric seemed to have been genuinely hurt.

“Uh…don’t be too heartbroken, Marquis Turin, this is probably something she made for practice. Perhaps because I’m trying to give her a gift and she felt burdened to receive it, she improvised with her wit, right? Maquis Turin?”

Not right. It’s hopeless. Cedric was completely depressed.

‘Well…it’s pitiful but I can’t give him this no matter what.’

The Great Feudal Lord glanced at him and slipped the knot back into his pocket.

***

On the way home of the Great Feudal Lord of Hemenlinna.

The smirk disappeared, but traces of a soft expression remained in the Great Feudal Lord’s wrinkles.

This was the first expression seen since the death of the late Grand Empress, his daughter.

At first, the aide was so surprised that he was dumbfounded, but soon, he was just delighted with the good mood of the master he’d served for 40 years.

“Looks like you really liked that young lady.”

He didn’t say anything long, but the answer itself was pleasant.

The seasoned aide waited a bit without further questioning. Then the master’s mouth opened.

“I said I’d give her a gift, but she gave me a gift in return. She was very shy and cute.”

“Oh, did that small and delicate-looking lady do such a bold thing?”

“Yeah, and that’s not all. Cedric became a human again. Thanks to that, it was a lot of fun.”

The Great Feudal Lord chuckled cheerfully.

“That child seems to be acting as the youngest’s spouse very well, more than I thought. We’ll have to wait and see.”

At the same time, the Great Feudal Lord took out an indigo knot from his pocket and fiddled with it.

In fact, there’s a reason the old man didn’t give up the knot despite Cedric’s gloomy face.

“I thought about it. I should give this to my youngest grandson. I’m eighty now, old enough not to wield a sword.”

Satisfied with his idea, the Great Feudal Lord smiled heartily.

Even the 40-year-old aide kept up with the pretense.

“Without knowing it was a gift from his fiancee?”

“Of course.”

The giggling sound of laughter was insidious.

“It just so happened that he’s going to be called out to the battlefield again soon, so it turned out well.”

“Speaking of which. Instead of giving it directly, why don’t you just secretly attach it to His Highness’ sword belt? That would be more fun.”

When the aide, who had been considerably affected by serving a master with a twisted sense of humor for 40 years, proposed, the Great Feudal Lord Hemenlinna said, “That’s true” and slapped his knee.

“Do it as soon as possible.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll do as you command. Whether he likes it or not.”

The two of them looked at each other then smiled slyly and happily.

It was because there’s nothing more interesting than the love story of young people for those who were in the twilight of their lives.

***

A few days later.

“Your Highness, may I enter?”

There was no reply. After waiting for a while, he opened the door and went it.

It was a stately room that would normally be used as a study. However, sitting on the other side of the desk facing the door was a young man younger than expected.

A handsome face leaning against the back of a chair. A few strands of bright platinum hair were scattered over his white forehead.

At a cursory glance, one would think he might be a young man, but upon closer inspection, there were traces of undergrowth left on his cheeks and lower lip. In any case, it was a fair face that made it possible to know he was a beauty even without opening one’s eyes.

“I heard that you were a bit harsh today. I should have warned you before, sir.”

The young man slowly opened his eyes as he answered in a voice that sounded like it was being scratched.

The exposed eyes were a bright and delicate purple color like jewels.

“My brother isn’t stupid enough to kill cute little Matteo.”

Ivan Isaac prided himself on being a faithful servant, but sometimes he couldn’t stand such a crushing momentum.

‘So what if he has a beautiful face? What’s inside is a species that transcends race, gender, and age.’

However, due to the sin of being a loyal servant, he only inwardly clicked his tongue and gave good advice.

“So, did you threaten to send an eight-year-old who has stopped eating and drinking back to his second uncle if he continues to starve?”

Damian shrugged.

“I wasn’t being serious.”

“Do you think it’s a good thing that you’re not serious?”

There’s also a degree to saying nonsense. Talking to an eight-year-old about his second uncle, who had recently killed his father, was a bit harsh. Ivan honestly thought that being stabbed in his sleep would be better.

“It’s their fault for telling me to look after the kid in the first place.”

“Ah, who knew you would cause such a major accident!”

“Sir Ivan Isaac.”

Damian’s beautiful face didn’t have a particular expression, but…

‘Oops…’

Ivan realized. He crossed a line.

“I guess there’s a lot of people around me who are in danger of their lives today.”

“I made a mistake.”

While answering like that, Ivan looked at his eyes.

‘The timing of getting annoyed is a bit earlier than usual.’

“…how long have you slept, Your Highness?”

“Don’t ask.”

Ivan noticed.

‘You haven’t slept!’

The porcelain-clean face didn’t look like that at all. Damian waved his hand as if chasing away a fly.

“Leave Matteo’s business there. Or did you pay attention without my knowledge?”

The Grand Duke, who was snuggled in his swivel chair and dangerously wiggling his feet, muttered angrily.

“If he wants to live, he will live, and if he wants to die cleanly because everything is dirty, leave him alone. I think it’d be better if I quickly get rid of him.”

‘How can you tell that to your own blood…’ This time, he managed to mumble inwardly, but couldn’t hide his wrinkled expression. Fortunately, the Grand Duke didn’t catch on.

“So the business is over?”

“No.”

Still sullen, Ivan held out something.

“Please accept this. They said the belt repair was finished, so I took it.”

“Hm.”

An unfamiliar feeling passed through the Grand Duke’s hand as he took the object he had been casually using.

“…Ivan, what is this?”

It was suffocating, but Ivan calmly answered without showing any expression.

“Don’t you know when seeing it? It’s an ornamental knot.”

“I don’t rememver ever putting anything like this on my own.”

“I put it on. The Great Feudal Lord told me to hang it there.”

Damian wordlessly entangled his fingers in the knot’s stamens. Ivan was nervous, afraid that the master with a bad personality would tear it away, but…

“Well, that’s fine. What’s that thing on your side?”

“Ah, yes. This.”

Ivan, who was delighted with the change of topic, hurriedly submitted the documents he had brought.

“This is Your Highness’ marriage certificate.”

Marriage certificate.

Remarriage was quite common in the Empire, as there were often all-out wars between lords. If desired, it could have been your first marriage on paper through the annulment of the previous marriage, so it’s not considered a remarriage.

The condition was that it should be within three years from the exchange of the marriage certificate.

Within three years, the bride and groom, or anyone who belonged to either family could claim the annulment of the marriage.

The reason why this nonesense law was enacted was for two reasons.

First, to easily betray the other clan during a war.

Since the marriage was nullified, so was their alliance. That’s why it’s very reasonable that they strike the other in the back. Then they could make a claim like this while hitting their goal…

Second, to break someone’s marriage alliance when it goes against their interests.

There was only one way to prevent such a thing from happening.

Meeting three years before marriage and exchanging marriage certificates.

Of course, in this case, there’s a fatal disadvantage that the party cannot request an annulment when necessary.

Most imperial nobles didn’t feel the need to exchange certificates three years prior.

Imperial marriages weren’t sacred. Most people wanted the convenience of marrying when they wanted and divorcing when they wanted.

There were only two cases where they met three years prior and exchanged certificates.

First, when they love each other so madly that they didn’t want to be separated even in death.

Second, when the marriage was based on a blood oath that cannot be broken no matter what.

Damian and Lilian’s marriage was, of course, the latter.

In fact, the purpose of the Great Feudal Lord’s visit to Turin was not to meet Lilian, but to exchange this certificate.

Damian absent-mindedly looked at the certificate.

A simple document with only a simple statement stating that both parties agreed to the marriage in mutual fidelity, a date, a signature, and a seal.

“This is how you become married, at least unofficially. Congratulations.”

It was a congratulatory greeting that didn’t have any emotions in it. The Grand Duke muttered.

“Lilian Mariestad Islar?”