Chapter 437: Me Before Others (1)

During this New Year’s Ball period, it was impossible to stay cooped up in one place like a house spirit or hide in a corner. While that was entirely possible as Carl Krasius, Head of the Prosecutors’ Office, it’s something to avoid as the faction leader of the County of Tailglehen.

The great lords of the North have gathered under me, seeking connections with mainland nobles, presence in central politics, and standing in social circles. In this situation, how can the faction leader be sluggish? It’s clear as day that the Northern Faction would explode in a blaze of glory.

Fortunately, I had quite a few nobles to introduce to my faction members.

“We’ve been feeling incomplete with one marquis position vacant, but now the order seems right.”

“I’m unworthy of the excessive honor bestowed by His Majesty the Retired Emperor. I humbly request your guidance.”

“Haha, don’t worry. I’m not so heartless as to be cold to my son-in-law’s friend.”

Just take my fifth father-in-law, Viscount Iones, who was warmly greeting Marquis Barandiga. He’s one of the nobles I can introduce without any issues. It’s not strange for a faction member to form a friendly relationship with the faction leader’s father-in-law.

Even my fifth father-in-law seemed eager to befriend the newly minted marquis. I’m not sure of the details, but it seems there’s a subtle faction struggle even among the viscounts. Though, it would be stranger if nobles of viscount rank just laughed and joked around.

This should be enough for this year.

Anyway, I watched my father(s)-in-law getting acquainted with the faction members from a step back.

The Iron-Blooded Duke, leader of the Eastern Faction and currently the only border manager; Viscount Iones, competing for 1st or 2nd place among the empire’s thirteen viscounts; Count Flanbell, a key figure in the Golden Duke’s faction; and Baron Naird, who’s been receiving glamorous attention since becoming my father-in-law.

Yes, this should be enough for now. Building connections should be done gradually; if you suddenly increase them, you’ll just get confused about who’s who. It’s much better to remain strangers in that case.

“What are you doing alone?”

“Ah, Father-in-law.”

While I was absentmindedly watching this scene of socializing, my first father-in-law approached and spoke to me.

“Dumping your subordinates on your fathers-in-law and resting alone, you’ve already learned how to use others, I see.”

“I’d hate to interfere and overshadow your dignity, Father-in-law.”

“Your silver tongue is as sharp as ever.”

My father-in-law snorted softly at my subtle flattery, but fortunately, he didn’t seem upset.

As expected, he’s become much more gentle since becoming family (soon-to-be). Well, there’s a world of difference between the bastard who rejected his precious youngest daughter and the thief who took her away. He might dislike both, but the latter is probably more of a love-hate relationship.

“Anyway, you’ve got your work cut out for you. This year’s New Year’s Ball will end with you just playing matchmaker left and right.”

I just smiled awkwardly at his following words. The matchmaking my father-in-law just mentioned includes introducing faction members to fathers-in-law, but it’s also about Ainter and Shati.

After the New Year’s address, Ainter immediately approached the Northern Faction and exchanged brief greetings with the faction members. He even had an unusually long conversation with Shati, as if he’d already been tipped off by the Emperor.

Of course, it was only relatively long, just exchanging greetings, and the expressions of the two potential marriage partners were utterly ordinary—but the sharp-eyed nobles would have long since noticed that those two would be strategically matched as a couple.

They can’t not know.

Honestly, this isn’t even a matter of being sharp-eyed or not. Marquis Barandiga is the only one among the Northern Faction members who brought his daughter, and the royal who just received a viscount title spoke to Marquis Barandiga’s daughter. If you have even a speck of noble intelligence, you should immediately grasp the situation.

That’s why my father-in-law offered me a sort of consolation. If a faction member becomes the partner in a strategic marriage with a royal, the faction leader most likely acted as the matchmaker.

“My job is done. From now on, we must leave it to heaven.”

“Is that so? That’s a relief.”

My father-in-law, who had been nodding calmly, finally spoke gruffly.

“Then focus on your own marriage now. Don’t go meddling elsewhere.”

“…Of course. Naturally, I should.”

I was momentarily taken aback by his bluntness, but quickly regained my composure.

I had repeatedly told my father-in-law that I would marry Mar after her graduation. So for a soon-to-be son-in-law on the brink of marriage to be wasting time on other matters instead of preparing for the wedding with his daughter, it’s not strange for my father-in-law to be burning with impatience.

I wonder how far it’s progressed.

And at that admonishment that wasn’t quite an admonishment, I quietly racked my brains. The truth is, I’m not directly preparing for the wedding. I was at the academy until recently, so how could I prepare?

Instead, Mother was putting all her effort into the preparations.

— It’s only natural for the lady of the house to prepare for welcoming the family’s first daughter-in-law. Don’t worry and leave it to me.

At some point in the hazy past, I readily entrusted the wedding preparations to Mother at her bold declaration. There’s nothing particularly strange about the lady of the house handling family celebrations.

If there’s any variable, it would be the involvement of the Barenti family, but Mar’s mother also left this wedding to the Krasius family. I heard she’d bear half the cost of preparations after everything is done—honestly, I suspect she might slip in the full amount, not just half. It doesn’t seem likely that a ducal family would strictly go Dutch on their daughter’s wedding expenses.

It must be almost finished.

After briefly pondering, I quickly came to a conclusion. Mother is the one who has handled all family matters big and small in place of Father, who’s a member of the Imperial Diet. Wedding preparations that she’s tackling with enthusiasm must have smoothly entered the final stages.

Besides, wasn’t her expression bright when I visited the territory recently? If there were any hitches in the preparations, she would have shown a gloomy expression or told me about it long ago.

Mother’s smooth wedding preparations hit a red alert.

“Your Majesty. I beg your pardon, but this humble servant must not have opened his ears properly out of fear for Your Majesty’s dignity.”

On the last day of the New Year’s Ball, I heard something strange while dining with the Emperor after being summoned.

So I instinctively denied it. That what I heard was wrong, or that the Emperor was joking. With that thread of hope, I barely managed to open my mouth.

“Oh my, I should have waited until after the meal to mention this. I’ve unnecessarily burdened the Minister.”

I silently glanced at the hand holding my knife while looking at the Emperor, who was smiling faintly.

No, calm down. If I throw this, there’s no going back.

“I heard the Minister will soon be married too. How about holding it at St. Paronas Cathedral? For a celebration of both the Krasius and Barenti families, that level seems appropriate.”

But my hand trembled at the relentless follow-up. That level is appropriate?

It’s not.

It’s way beyond appropriate, you bastard.

I was at a loss for words at this unexpected venue suggestion. St. Paronas Cathedral is the cathedral of the Ausen Archdiocese. It’s the foremost cathedral among all in the empire, with a correspondingly immense history and authority. It’s so significant that even the Emperor held his abdication ceremony there.

Of course, St. Paronas Cathedral is where the abdication ceremony was held, but it’s not ‘only’ for abdication ceremonies. If you dig through history, you’ll find precedents for using it for other reasons.

And one of those precedents was when Emperor Eimankar bestowed duke titles on the five meritorious subjects who made great contributions to the founding of the empire.

Is he really insane?

To hold a wedding ceremony in the same place where emperors and dukes are born. It’s beyond an honor for a subject; it’s almost terrifying.

“From now on, show off your power and display your ambition.”

Suddenly, I recalled what the Invincible Duke had said.

Could it be that the Invincible Duke already knew? Was it a warning to prepare myself because the Emperor would do something crazy?

You could have been a bit more specific.

For the first time, I felt a small resentment towards the Invincible Duke.

If he had told me in advance, I could have prepared…

After the New Year’s Ball ended, Carl returned to the mansion and lay on the bed, embracing me.

It was a warm embrace, but also awkward. Carl’s expression, glimpsed briefly, looked quite complex, and there was none of the usual smile or kiss that typically accompanied his hugs.

Something must have happened. He had seemed somewhat down since dining with His Majesty the Emperor; clearly, something occurred then.

What could it be?

But no matter how much I thought about it, nothing came to mind. His Majesty, who trusts Carl, wouldn’t have said anything unpleasant to him, and even if he had, he wouldn’t have done so at the dinner table.

…Surely not.

Then I remembered the delegation scheduled to head to the Kingdom of Armein soon. What if His Majesty trusted Carl so much that he included him in the delegation? What if Carl had to leave for another country soon?

As that thought occurred to me, my hands, which were hugging Carl back, tightened.

No.

That absolutely cannot happen. We’ve finally reached the point where I can marry Carl, and now the groom, Carl, might be absent? On a diplomatic mission that might not even guarantee his return before spring, even if he left today?

I bit my lip hard at the overwhelming sadness. I desperately hope it’s not true, but once the doubt crept in, my mind kept leaning that way.

“Um, Carl.”

“Hmm?”

So I gathered my courage and spoke. I hoped Carl would alleviate my anxiety. I prayed it wasn’t about Carl leaving right before our wedding.

“Did… did something happen?”

However, I couldn’t completely shake off my nervousness and ended up stumbling over my words.

“…Well…”

It was embarrassing, but I couldn’t show it when I saw Carl letting out a small sigh. What does embarrassment matter now, when the wedding I’ve waited years for might be postponed?

“It’s about our wedding.”

When the word ‘wedding’ came out of Carl’s mouth, my heart started racing.

No way, right? It can’t be. It won’t be postponed.

Please.

For a moment, my vision blurred. Tears had welled up without me realizing—

“It looks like we’ll have to hold it at St. Paronas Cathedral.”

“…Pardon?”

“His Majesty recommended holding the wedding at the cathedral. If we hold it there, all sorts of talk will arise, and I’m worried it might put too much pressure on Mar.”

Hearing those words, I blinked blankly.

So, it’s not about postponing the wedding… just a matter of changing the venue?

“M-Mar?”

Feeling a surge of resentment, I lightly pinched Carl’s back.

I don’t care where it is…

The venue doesn’t matter at all. As long as I can marry Carl, I’d happily do it even in an ordinary commoner’s house.

Moreover, St. Paronas Cathedral is where the Emperor personally crowned the first Empress after founding the empire. It’s the best place symbolizing eternal and noble love.

He must have thought about it purely politically.

Carl probably doesn’t know about these romantic elements and only thought about the precedents of coronations and duke creations. It’s obvious, considering Carl’s personality.

“So it is burdensome, right? I can still tell His Majesty—“

“We must do it there. I don’t want anywhere else.”

“…Okay.”

I firmly cut off Carl’s oblivious words.

Until now, I didn’t care where it was held, but given this situation, I’d feel cheated if it weren’t at the cathedral.