Chapter 23
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: A Sham Marriage Proposal
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What?
"Will you marry me?"
The moment I heard her words, I couldn't help repeating them to myself.
What was she asking me to do right now? Yelena Astria, of all people?
It was so utterly absurd that it took my brain a long moment to process the situation.
In the middle of a street in Frostford, Yelena suddenly proposing marriage?
I found myself deeply pondering whether such a sentence even made sense.
But.
"......"
Yelena's expression was dead serious.
Was it the cold wind, or the embarrassment of saying those words?
Her cheeks were flushed red.
"......What do you mean by that?"
I forced the emotions out of my voice as best I could and asked her.
Yelena met my gaze with earnest eyes.
"Exactly what I said. Let's get married."
"Is 'marriage' perhaps a double entendre in the southwest or something......?"
For example, meaning 'buy me a gift' or whatever.
"What are you talking about, Your Highness?"
But she stared at me with what felt like genuine contempt, so I couldn't finish the sentence.
"......Suddenly, what is this about? Yelena Astria. Why you and I?"
I briefly imagined marrying her in my mind.
But no matter how I looked at it, the outcome made my head ache.
'......What about the 3rd Prince?'
If the 3rd Prince, who fell for Yelena at first sight, got serious, he could end up with a fate even more miserable than in the original story.
This wasn't an overreaction.
The 3rd Prince had the ability to reduce Northern Grand Duke Cassius Winterguard to that state.
It wasn't just about crushing him with imperial power—that wouldn't count as his skill.
How had the 3rd Prince pried Yelena away from Cassius, who was nearly the strongest even within Until the Ice Flower Melts?
How had he confidently held his place by her side against versatile sub-male leads like 8th Grade Mage Nailus, Swordmaster sub-lead, frontier counts, and more?
How had he ascended to the throne despite his ambiguous position as the 3rd Prince?
'He...... isn't someone Cassius's martial prowess or the grand duchy army can block.'
That was when my thoughts on her marriage proposal began turning increasingly negative.
"Your Highness."
Suddenly, two hands cupped my face.
Her hands, chilled by the northern weather, snapped me back to reality in an instant.
"......What are you doing?"
Looking down, I saw Yelena on tiptoes, her white breath visible as she gazed up at me.
Her blue eyes, peeking through her lightly fluttering golden hair...... were utterly enchanting.
"What do you think? You seemed unable to focus on my official contract offer."
"What do you...... Wait, contract offer?"
"Yes. Did you really think I meant actual marriage?"
What?
"What I meant was a sham marriage. It could benefit both you and me."
"......This doesn't seem like something to discuss here."
It sounded like quite an important matter, so I took Yelena into a nearby teahouse.
She shivered violently the moment we stepped inside, probably from the freezing cold outside.
Taking advantage of her sitting down, I approached the teahouse owner and lowered my hood, revealing my face.
"C-Cassius, Your Highness......!"
No commoner could fail to recognize the grand duke's face.
The owner's complexion paled instantly, his body beginning to tremble.
"I'd like you not to accept any more customers until I leave. Prepare some tea, then step out yourself for a bit."
"Y-Yes, understood......! Anything you say......!"
"No need for change—use it all."
With those words, I handed over a pouch of money. The owner stared at me in bewilderment.
He must have thought the mad grand duke was squatting without paying.
Then he peeked inside the pouch and jumped in surprise.
It was a generous amount for renting out the whole teahouse, so his attitude shifted naturally.
"I'll prepare it right away."
A moment later, Yelena sipped the freshly brewed tea and let out a small sigh.
"Haa...... So warm......"
Yelena Astria looked remarkably relaxed for someone who'd just dropped a bombshell on me.
Recalling how she'd joked around during etiquette lessons...... this felt different.
Like someone who'd realized something profound.
"So, what exactly are you trying to say?"
Slurp.
"I was thinking a sham marriage might be convenient for both of us for the time being. Of course, it must sound ridiculous coming from a viscount's daughter who was sold off......"
"No, I don't think of you that way."
"......Ugh. That's the problem......"
"......? More importantly, convenient how?"
"Ahem! Let me use Count Kreuz's question from yesterday as an example. He clearly asked if we were getting married, right?"
"......He did."
"Won't other families ask the same? And the imperial family?"
"......!"
I instantly grasped what she meant.
"What you're saying is, it could resolve all those annoying questions at once."
"Yes. Especially the imperial family......"
"They might pressure even harder than other houses."
As the grand duchy ruler over much of the empire's northern lands, imperial scrutiny was inevitable.
Especially with the mission to protect the empire from the monsters of the Anantasasha Mountains—they saw the Winterguard lineage as essential.
Otherwise, it would become their responsibility.
'Come to think of it, letters from the palace arrive regularly.'
And these questions weren't one-offs.
Almost daily or weekly, vassal families would bombard with inquiries and pressure...... Marrying quickly might actually be a solution.
"......I admit that point. But is marriage necessary for that? An engagement should suffice."
"No, an engagement won't be enough."
Yelena took a breath before continuing.
"My family has no power. You paid off our debts, but that's it. I'm just a useless southwest girl in the grand duchy. To safely maintain this facade against those eyeing you and the grand duchy up north, it has to be marriage, not engagement."
An engagement is, at best, a promise.
With noble pride involved, most lead to marriage unbroken.
But they could still be broken.
And it wasn't just between fiancés.
Powerful forces like the imperial family, frontier counts, or ducal houses could force a split.
Especially since the Astria family had virtually no power, as she said.
"You're considering your own safety too."
"Exactly. And it ties into the etiquette you're dreading......"
"......Etiquette?"
"From the moment of engagement, fiancés shuttle between families for etiquette and knowledge tests. There are extra procedures like engagement ceremonies and rings. So......"
"Hmm."
It doubled the boring, pedantic processes.
"And...... if you'll entrust it to me, I'd like to continue managing the Winterguard estate."
"......"
Even in the original, she showed talent in management and family finances.
That wisdom later allowed a viscount's daughter to astutely handle imperial budgets as empress.
And she'd already helped out so far...... No doubt about her abilities.
"Of course, no worries about embezzlement or power abuse. My family's nearly ruined anyway—replace me if needed."
"Embezzlement...... Like at the restaurant?"
"Eek! Why bring that up now......!"
"Don't worry, I don't think that. I trust your abilities, so it should be fine to entrust it."
"Then......"
"But, are you really okay with this?"
Listening to her, I found myself convinced.
As expected of the heroine.
Her persuasion skills were no joke. She'd somewhat corrected my negative views on her and the 3rd Prince.
For the future 3rd Prince issue...... We could add a clause to our sham marriage: just have her report well on grand duchy matters, like a team evaluation.
He was described as listening well to her anyway.
But the problem was her reputation.
"......You bought me anyway."
"Ah."
Right. The fact that she'd been sold to the mad grand duke lingered.
In a way...... marrying might actually improve her reputation.
"In that case, it seems fine to me. Let me ask once more: are you really......"
"Your Highness."
"......Understood. Then...... yes. We have one more stop anyway—perfect place to do it."
"Pardon? Do what?"
"Follow me."
I led the bewildered Yelena to a nearby jeweler.
This was one of the tourist spots Lucia had noted—its antique interior was impressive.
I repeated the same process with the jeweler as at the teahouse.
Astonishment. Fear. Bewilderment. Reversal. Surprise. Loyalty.
I brushed aside the finest rings the trembling owner offered and pointed to one in the corner display.
Amid flashy jewels, it emitted a uniquely subtle, clear glow.
'That suits her.'
Might as well buy the one that fit Yelena best.
Pocketing it, I took her to the next district.
"By the way, they say the aurora's visible tonight."
"Aurora......?"
"Yeah. Think of it as a massive, brilliant curtain embroidered with stars across the sky."
"I've never seen one......"
By the final stop, the sun had set.
Frostford gradually darkened, and I had her mount the black horse before exiting the city.
I headed to the spot with the finest view of the grand duchy landscape.
"Your Highness......?"
"Even if it's a sham, even if it's rushed, some things must be done properly."
Blue auroras began emerging from the growing darkness.
"Wow......"
Probably her first time. Yelena was entranced by the fantastical sight.
I called her name.
"Yelena Astria."
"Yes? ......Hic."
Realizing I'd dropped to one knee, she stepped back.
Her eyes wide, hand over her mouth. To her, I spoke the prepared words.
Holding out the ring adorned with blue sapphire and diamonds.
"......Yelena Astria."
"......"
"Will you marry me?"
"Hic."
Startled into hiccups.
But soon she glanced around. The aurora-draped vista, Frostford's lights in the dark, the Winterguard estate's glow softly spread across the grand duchy's heart.
The ring I offered, something she'd never imagined this morning.
"......Yes, Your Highness."
She accepted it.
Thus, the first step of our sham marriage was complete.
From now on, Yelena and I were comrades in the same boat.
I fully recognized that fact......
'......Hoo.'
Yet her beauty and acceptance of my proposal were enough to make my heart race.