CH 6

Changing his hair colour wasn’t going to solve the problem, so Marienne decided to take the next step.

What was the biggest difference between them, why the attentive Vileon couldn’t win her love, and the low growling northerner could break Odette’s heart.

Marienne’s analysis was as follows.

‘His behaviour seems to be Odette’s cup of tea!’

It’s a taste she wouldn’t understand even if she died and woke up. But Marienne Didi is not the main character of <The Marriage Alliance.> The novel’s protagonist is Odette Rose, the fourth Princess of the Empire.

The normally aloof northerner has no patience for the future Duchess of Blackwood being insulted by others. At her fiancé’s request for a quick peck on the lips in front of everyone, he gives in and deeply kisses her. I think that kind of guy is Odette’s taste, but what can I do?

“Lord Byers, this task will be harder than dyeing your hair, but if you’re going to win someone’s heart, you might as well do it to their taste.”

Marienne unfolded the paper in her hand in front of Vileon.

“Leaving the place without looking back, speaking coldly while staying close… What’s all this?”

“It’s the way to communicate with the Fourth Princess.”

Vileon’s expression grew strange.

“Does Her Highness really like this kind of behavior?”

“Without a doubt.”

Marienne had spent two long hours compiling the list, and the words on the paper were a testament to her labour.

No matter how many times she had read the novel, her attention had always been drawn to Vileon. It was a struggle to put Vileon aside for a moment and recall the words of the northerner.

Still, Marienne did it. Marienne of determination. She did it, she did it, she did it.

“But it seems like the behavior of a very violent person.”

Vileon, who had been reading the list in silence, spoke up.

“Grab them by the wrist and spin them around, because you can’t just call out to them to stop?”

“Yes. The point is to pull her down while she’s still flailing.”

“So you use force to subdue them.”

Vileon said dryly.

“There are still men who do this… The problem with them is that they think it’s romantic, even though they’re using violence, and it’s okay because they’re doing it because they love you.”

He shook his head silently. He tore his eyes away from the list and looked at Marienne.

“You know, Aide Didi. If we do this in our house, it will be a big problem.”

Vileon suddenly smiled bitterly.

“I know it’s not a very romantic topic to talk about my parents, but I can’t help it, even if it’s Her Highness who’s visiting and not me. If you tug on anyone’s wrist at Byers’ Manor, you’ll have to skip dinner, because it’s bad manners.”

This was new information again. Marienne’s heart swelled in her chest. She wanted to shout it out loud to the people who, like her, loved Vileon the most.

His character! His manners! They didn’t come naturally. He must have had a good upbringing. The Counts of Byers, however liberal they may have been, were very particular about their son’s education.

‘Odette, how important this is.’

Marienne wanted to cling to the hem of Odette’s dress again.

‘People usually say to marry a man who has lost their parents, for fear of meeting the wrong in-laws, but that’s also up to the man. A northerner is the worst possible option for a man without parents.’

The toxic in-laws, the siblings who turn you inside out, the husband who says it’s none of your business. They usually come in sets.

Cain Blackwood, who doesn’t have a single blood relation…

‘He does the work of five people by himself!’

The ultimate character breaker. Sleep forever in the blizzard north. Don’t come this way, we’re okay. Marienne cast her curse in the direction she assumed to be north.

“You’re off on a tangent again.”

“…Yes?”

“Did you know that when you’re distracted, your facial expression changes to match.”

“Me?”

I didn’t know. Marienne was convinced that she had a poker face. Of course, there’s no proof. Marienne suddenly felt uneasy, wondering what she was doing.

As usual, she cursed at the black-haired northerner. Had she made too much of a face then?

What was she thinking, she thought again. Right. When she heard what was going on in Vileon’s household, she felt a surge of emotion. If only she’d looked moderately pleased. If only she hadn’t smiled so sinisterly.

“I’m only saying this now that the past investigations are over, but I can think of few people as unsuited for spying just like Aide Didi.”

“You say that with such conviction, it makes me feel a little self-conscious.”

“Well, you can’t hide your feelings.”

I was about to reply, when my eyes locked with Vileon’s. His smile is so soft, as if to say, ‘You’re not wrong.’ That’s cheating, Lord Chancellor.

“Besides, you can’t lie.”

“I can, if I have to.”

“Really?”

Vileon put his arms on the desk and crossed his fingers like an interviewer.

“Then name three ways in which the Duke of Blackwood is better than me.”

The moment she heard the question, Marienne realised why people said Vileon had a good head: it was the devil’s question. Even at her best, this was too much.

“No problem.”

Marienne Didi, living up to her word. If she can’t lie when she needs to, why does he make such a big deal out of nothing?

Anyway, the words were out of my mouth, so I had to try.

But no was no. No matter how much she racked her brains, Marienne couldn’t come up with a single redeeming quality of the broken Blackwood bastard. Not just any quality, but a quality that made him better than Vileon.

A minute passed, like a decade. Marienne finally broke down and appealed to her superiors.

“Can’t you cut it down a bit? Three is too many!”

As he waited for an answer, he burst out laughing.

“You’re really struggling.”

“Because it’s hard.”

“Honestly, I don’t know why you’re having a hard time, it’s not a hard question at all, it can be answered with objective facts.”

Marienne blinked wordlessly. Objective facts? What was that?

“Wealth, for example.”

Vileon gave her an example.

“He’s is also a master of arms.”

“…”

“He has a higher rank than I do.”

Marienne shuddered at the list of advantages. I guess that means it works for most people. That’s what makes Cain a stronger male lead candidate than Vileon.

“I don’t see how that’s particularly… outstanding.”

Marienne interjected.

“From my perspective, Count Byers is also a wealthy person. One of the best warriors? He might be a talent from the country’s perspective, but as a partner in love, he is the worst. As a marriage partner, it’s the same, because he’s off fighting wars and not by your side. A man who leaves his place empty at important moments… What’s the point?”

She said she couldn’t even be bothered to mention the dukedom. Who would live in that cold northern land if they didn’t give him a ducal title, she added. “He deserves it,” she muttered to herself, and Vileon gave her a strange look. It was the first time a dukedom with one of the largest estates of any noble in existence had been disparaged as a ‘thing.’

“Anyway, in my eyes, Lord Byers is overwhelming!”

“Overwhelming.”

Vileon smiled thinly.

“If only Her Highness would think well of me half as you do, Aide Didi.”

The lack of hope in his voice made Marienne squirm, and every glimpse of loneliness beyond his smile made her look away in vain.

A man who was content just to be around the one he loved. A man who was usually the shade in which Odette rested, but was happy to be her shadow when she shone. A partner who, when Odette is in danger, will not run into enemy territory wielding a greatsword, but will keep her out of harm’s way in the first place.

Vileon Byers is such a man. Dedicated, gentle, and dependable. He’s also competent enough to serve as Lord Chancellor at a young age.

Marienne wants to help Vileon’s love life come true at all costs, and Odette would do well to fall in love with him. Because with him, there would be no more sleepless nights of frustration as there had been with the northerner.

“Let’s start with the wall.”

Marienne balled her fists. She was so determined to get this done, her voice was unnaturally strong.

“It’ll be awkward if you do it alone, so I’ll be your practice opponent, uh, I’ll be standing here, and Lord Byers will drive me into the wall. You can push me while talking, or you can just stare at me without talking.”

Her deep sky-blue eyes sparkled with determination.

“The important thing is the intimidation.”

“Hmm.”

“Of course, she’s going to ask why you’re doing this and try to get away, and that’s when you put your hand on the wall and talk.”

This was the secret weapon Marienne had come up with. Originally, she had planned to have Vileon play the Northerner’s dialogue. Instead, she just made it sound more natural, Vileon-style.

“You’re finally looking at me properly.”

“…Really?”

Vileon asked back.

“Do you really want me to talk to you in that… way?”

Vileon smiles, even when he’s telling a sad story. Then his brow furrows. The thought of having to speak in a language he’d never used in his life was overwhelming. Besides, the northerner’s dialogue is pretty bad, and his original dialogue was even worse.

‘Ugh, if it were me, I’d curse.’

Marienne grumbled to herself. But the answer always came, loud and clear.

“Yes, you should.”

And with that, she cast an all-purpose spell that set Vileon in motion. Something that the Fourth Princess would surely like. At the sound of Marienne’s assurance, Vileon slowly rose from his seat.

He let out a small sigh before taking a step. Hesitation still lingered on his handsome face. If a passerby had seen him, they would have said he was hesitating because of his dignity. The dignity of being Chancellor of an empire. An old-fashioned man who values his dignity as a superior. But that’s only something said by those who don’t know Vileon.

Marienne sensed the opposite.

‘There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for Odette.’

Vileon may seem calm on the outside, but he’s more desperate than anyone else. So much so that the mere mention of her support for his love is enough to make his walls crumble around Marienne.

“Okay. Yeah, like that.”

Vileon seems to have chosen to approach without speaking. He glared at Marienne, closing the distance between them. He had never acted like this before, but perhaps he knew instinctively that this was no time for laughter, and the usual smile was nowhere to be seen.

He gave off a vibe that was enough to send the other man stumbling backwards, if not as much as the lively northerner. This is what happens when a man who always smiles withholds his laughter. Marien said to herself.

“When you get this close… Yes, that’s right. I have to move back to avoid colliding. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

“…”

“Am I being too presumptuous? I also have a similar reaction to Her Highness the Princess…”

Before she could finish her sentence, her back was against the wall. Marienne was suddenly aware of the size difference between her and Vileon.