Ch.73Marriage Proposal

    The concept of marriage emerged as human society advanced, serving to maintain social order. It naturally developed as humans formed societies, particularly based on the absolute law that “humans cannot survive alone.”

    In primitive societies where promiscuous sexual behavior was common, the concepts of private property and inheritance eventually emerged over time. This naturally created the need to distinguish between children and their fathers, but how many ways were there to make such distinctions back then?

    Even in this medieval era, paternity tests like blood type or DNA testing are impossible without magic, which is a product of the wealthy. Thus, the institution of marriage naturally formed in this world.

    Furthermore, in ancient societies and even in the modern society of my previous life, marriage—when stripped of all social perceptions and viewed purely as a biological structure—is merely a supplementary system for reproduction.

    The economically dominant partner supports their mate and offspring, while the other typically manages household resources and cares for the children.

    In this process, definite economic support is promised to the offspring, and both parties satisfy their instinctive desire to pass on their genes by guaranteeing legitimate children to each other.

    Among these tendencies, political marriages—a form of marriage that has existed since ancient times—are political contracts that exploit the characteristic of two individuals leaving common descendants as a “family.”

    Naturally, privileged classes with considerable wealth, such as nobles, were the most typical subjects of such arranged marriages.

    Especially in families with solid power, wealth, or military strength, arranged marriages were not just common—it was rather rare for someone to marry for love instead.

    Even among ordinary commoners or the middle class, marriages arranged through matchmaking were quite widespread, so that says it all.

    Particularly common was the “marriage alliance,” where alliances between nations or governing territories were formed based on marriages between leaders.

    Of course, such marriage alliances rarely resulted in the actual unification of two territories. Rather, it was quite common for the territories to separate again as children inherited them separately over generations.

    Considering that family relationships are not easily severed, there were cases where relations improved compared to before.

    In creative works from my previous life, arranged marriages among the upper class were often portrayed as something evil, but in reality, marriage was established on much colder logic.

    Since arranged marriages involved the interests of both parties, one couldn’t openly break them off just because of a bad first impression. Such thoughtless foolishness would only give the other side justification for open conflict, essentially handing them a declaration of war.

    Therefore, in arranged marriages, one had to live with a certain degree of consideration for their partner. Surprisingly, many arranged marriages resulted in harmonious relationships.

    The most common scenario was when affection developed later as couples lived together in mutual consideration due to their public relationship as spouses. But even beyond this, arranged marriages produced various outcomes.

    Some formed relationships based on mutual respect and dependence as inevitable life partners rather than passionate lovers. Since people’s lives, while similar in broad strokes, are never exactly the same, some ended up in truly unhappy marriages. And then there were cases where the parties simply couldn’t stand each other.

    The latter situation was particularly fatal, so even in arranged marriages, it was quite common for couples to live separately and enjoy their lives independently.

    Of course, many kept concubines or lovers when they showed little interest in their spouses as romantic partners. Or rather, in the wild Frankish Kingdom, many formed relationships disguised as “romance” even when they were romantically involved.

    Even on Earth, throughout the pre-modern era including the Middle Ages, it was natural for those in power to keep concubines or lovers, and the vast majority of those in arranged marriages had sufficient wealth or power to do so.

    Social gatherings typically represented by salons, parties represented by balls, and the inevitable adultery that accompanied such occasions.

    Even if one or both parties had illegitimate children before or after marriage, most pretended not to know. Furthermore, since monogamy wasn’t strictly enforced in this society, some people practiced polygamy.

    Although the pantheon strongly recommended monogamy as the ideal family structure, in this world with flexibility in strange places, couples could form relationships that seemed impossible elsewhere.

    And in a world where such tendencies existed… honestly, I didn’t particularly hold negative views about arranged marriages.

    Since I was born as a territorial noble in this era, a love marriage through romance was nearly impossible. Even my father’s so-called love marriage had strategic elements to it, didn’t it?

    Therefore, I was somewhat prepared for the possibility that I too would become the subject of an arranged marriage in due time. However, no matter how prepared I was, getting married right now would be too soon.

    I’m fifteen years old this year, and while that would make me a middle or high school student by Earth standards, fifteen is generally the cutoff age for being recognized as an adult in the Western Continent.

    But even as an adult, fifteen is personally a very young age, and above all, I don’t particularly want to focus on finding a marriage partner right now.

    “…Father, how many of the marriage proposals we’ve received are worth considering?”

    “Well, we’ve received over 30, but realistically speaking, there aren’t even three that would meet your definition of ‘worthwhile.'”

    “I suppose that makes sense….”

    Thirty might seem like a lot, but it’s not an incomprehensible number.

    There would be families applying for marriage proposals just to test the waters with the title of “emerging grand noble of eastern Frankish Kingdom,” so in the end, there are only three worth considering.

    “…I don’t like any of the three.”

    Honestly, even these three supposedly worth considering weren’t appealing marriage prospects to me.

    The second daughter of a prestigious count family nearby. The third daughter of a promising court noble marquis family. And the eldest daughter and heir of an adjacent baron family.

    Marriage with the count’s second daughter would likely elevate our family’s standing in noble society, while the marquis’s third daughter would be the best way to instantly create connections with central politics.

    The baron family option ranks lowest in terms of family status among the three, but they’ve made the bold proposal of not just a marriage alliance but a merger of our two territories.

    While these are certainly the best marriage prospects to consider at this stage… I was also well aware of the risks they posed.

    What influenced my decision most was that I absolutely didn’t believe my own value would end here.

    To be frank, I had already reached intermediate rank as a warrior at age 13, just five years after beginning my activities. So by around age 20, about seven years from now, I could seriously aim for advanced rank.

    Given the overwhelming power and influence that advanced rank warriors wield, making them akin to living strategic weapons, it would be foolish to hastily agree to a marriage proposal based on short-sighted thinking.

    …Additionally, though I didn’t mention it, concerns about my bloodline remained a source of anxiety.

    No matter how human my body might be, my soul was something bizarrely patched together. Without certainty about what exactly my children would be, I couldn’t help but hesitate about marriage.

    In the worst case, my child might be born with a demon’s soul, couldn’t they?

    “…That’s all. Father, please reconsider.”

    So I spoke sincerely to my father, trying somehow to postpone these marriage talks, but….

    “Actually, I never really intended to pursue them. I just wanted to check your thoughts on the matter.”

    “…What?”

    I had responded seriously, thinking he was approaching this as formally as he would official business, but hearing him say this made my blood boil.

    “Father, do you enjoy teasing your son?”

    “Of course, teasing others is always thrilling.”

    “…Sigh, then take responsibility for it.”

    “Responsibility? What do you mean?”

    “Oh, it’s nothing major. Just a small favor. When I went into the storehouse before, I saw a unicorn horn there?”

    “…So you want me to give it to you?”

    “Yes, please. For the sake of my wounded heart, at least.”

    Father’s gruffness was merely a result of his shyness.

    Considering his naturally playful personality, there was a high chance he would actually grant my request….

    “Very well, I’ll tell them. You can have it.”

    And indeed, as expected, Father readily promised to give me the unicorn horn.


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