episode_0006

Silence filled the study, and my parents wore serious expressions.

Every element proved that what I had just heard was no joke.

‘Why?’

Previously, I readily accepted the idea of an engagement with Luna.

It was good for me and good for the family.

Surely it was a choice that everyone would be satisfied with.

However, in response, my mother suggested I reconsider.

And that was no different from expressing refusal.

I simply couldn’t understand that thought.

Even if they didn’t know about my feelings for Luna, weren’t my parents the ones who knew better than anyone else about the unfavorable situation of the family?

That’s why I had to persuade my parents even more.

Because an engagement is not something I can decide on my own.

Because I want to be united with Luna amidst everyone’s blessings.

And even to revive the struggling family.

So, I asked.

“Why…?”

“First, calm down.”

I tried to maintain composure, but my voice became a little strained.

It was an inevitable situation.

It was the moment of making the most important choice in my life.

But it was clear that getting excited wouldn’t help with persuasion, so I took a sip of tea, calming my emotions a bit, and continued speaking.

“Mother, please tell me the reason.”

“Well… I see. To be honest, it’s an embarrassing story, but…”

My mother extended her words with a bitter expression.

It wasn’t difficult to infer that the story she was about to tell wouldn’t be pleasant.

As if trying to soothe such feelings, my mother sipped her tea.

Then, carefully placing the teacup down, she said,

“…Our family has been struggling. Your father is of common birth, and I, too, am of common birth, so we haven’t managed the estate very well. We’ve barely managed to keep it going with the help of some people, but now it’s becoming increasingly difficult.”

The family is declining.

It was a story I already knew.

For a year, I had been helping Luna with estate affairs, so I had seen and heard things during that time.

Of course, the situation at that time wasn’t so bad.

With the help of Duke Iris, I somehow managed to return to normal.

So, my engagement with Luna must be fulfilled, no matter what.

For whatever reason.

“It’s said that you and Duke Iris had a connection. There was a child on both sides. But as you know, your behavior wasn’t good.”

The fact that I was a wastrel wasn’t only known within our family.

I’ve misbehaved and drank in gatherings of nobles more than once.

I was quite infamous. In a bad way.

As I recalled the past, I couldn’t bear to look at my parents, so I quietly lowered my gaze.

“That’s why. Second sister Yeong-ae can’t speak. Even though you’re a wastrel, you say it’s okay.”

Ah…

Now I understand.

My marriage to Luna was a form of tying the burdens of two families together.

Just a stepping stone for the two dukes.

But now that I’ve pulled myself together and ceased to be a burden, from my parents’ perspective, they are reluctant to engage a mute and a wastrel.

I had tried to get my act together and live earnestly, but it seemed to backfire.

It was so absurd that I almost burst into laughter.

“Of course, your mother believed in you. She thought you would change when you got married and had a family to take care of. She didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”

Unfortunately, contrary to such parental expectations, even after getting married, I lived the same way.

Until Luna saved my life, I remained a wastrel.

My unintentional betrayal of my parents made me hang my head even lower.

At this rate, I might end up touching the ground.

“Anyway, that’s how it is. If you’ve pulled yourself together, there’s no need to engage a mute person, right? Of course, it’ll take some time, but there’s a better way. Oh, by the way, the eldest one is quite pretty. If it’s her…”

I fully understood my parents’ thoughts.

They reached that conclusion because they love me.

I’m deeply grateful for their feelings, but I can’t accept it.

I’ll say it again, I have no intention of marrying anyone other than Luna.

I met my parents with my head held high.

Having heard their story, it was now my turn to express my feelings.

“Mother, I would like the engagement to proceed as planned.”

“Albert, as I mentioned earlier, if it’s a matter concerning the family, it’s okay. It won’t collapse immediately.”

“That’s not it. It’s just something I want to do.”

Mother tilted her head.

At the same time, she seemed to show a facial expression of not understanding.

Father, with his arms crossed, made a hmm sound and cleared his throat.

His furrowed brow revealed his deep concern.

A brief silence followed in that state.

Due to the quiet surroundings, the pounding of the heart and the sound of swallowing were particularly loud.

Anxiety began to engulf my mind, and hundreds of words to persuade my parents came to mind.

Even though it was my marriage, the decision-making power still belonged to my father, the head of the family.

If my father continued to refuse, then in this lifetime, I wouldn’t even be able to get engaged to Luna, let alone marry her.

Of course, I would somehow persuade him, but I knew the process wouldn’t be smooth.

Finally, the silence was broken, and a voice was heard.

“Do as you wish.”

It was Father.

With a smile, he said, “If that’s what you want, go ahead.”

Mother also smiled and nodded.

The anxiety that had filled my heart, and the words to persuade my parents that had filled my mind, disappeared, replaced by gratitude.

I bowed my head again, filled with that emotion.

“Thank you so much.”

It must have been a difficult decision.

For the only son’s wife to be speechless would be like having a mute heir to the family in the future.

So my parents put my choice before the family.

I was so grateful for that.

“Albert, I don’t know why you made that choice. However, I respect it. After all, it’s your marriage.”

“Thank you, Father.”

“Just remember, choices come with responsibilities. Even if the day comes when you regret today’s choice, there’s no turning back. Will that be okay?”

Of course, it may take quite a long time to become happy again like that day.

5 years, 10 years.

No, maybe even longer than that.

But one thing is for sure.

I will make her happy no matter what.

Even if it takes several years.

Even if it costs my life in the end.

So, there was only one answer I could give.

“It’s okay. Isn’t this what I wished for?”

“Alright, then. Let’s invite those people and discuss it right away.”

It was just as my father said.

We can only find out the details by gathering both families and talking.

The engagement will also be decided there.

But the result was already obvious.

There will be no opposition from the Earl of Iris, and the engagement will be confirmed as it is.

After all, we were once engaged.

Of course, this is a story known only to me.

For Luna, it will be a story to slowly understand in the future.

This time, the story will be a little happier than the last.

Because I will make it so.

“Oh, Albert.”

“Yes?”

“Take this.”

Suddenly, my father got up and threw something from the corner of the study at me.

“A sword…?”

What my father threw was a sword.

It was quite old, but a sword exuding elegance.

As I received it and looked at it intently, I raised my head.

My father had a more serious expression than ever before.

Even more so than when discussing my engagement.

“You haven’t forgotten that you wanted to learn the sword, have you?”

“Yes, I remember.”

“Good. Let’s start from tomorrow.”

In fact, even in my past life, I learned the sword.

That too, my father’s swordsmanship.

More precisely, I learned it from my father’s disciple, the knight commander.

Perhaps he would be surprised?

Thinking that way, I was somewhat looking forward to learning swordsmanship from my father.

But that expectation was soon shattered.

“Ugh, ugh….”

“Never forget that your life is always at stake when holding a sword.”

My father holding the sword was much more severe than I expected.

To the point where it made me wonder how the knight commander endured it.

No wonder every time stories about my father came up, I flinched. It all made sense now.

“Hold on.”

The world spins…

I wonder how many days I’ve been getting beaten by my father every day like that.

“A reply has come.”

One week later.

Finally, I was able to meet Luna.