Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Final Preparations
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The wedding day drew steadily closer.
I began allocating part of each day to wedding preparations.
Just like when Yelena had given me etiquette lessons to receive Count Kreuz before.
Of course, there were more important matters than the wedding, so I couldn't devote too much time to it.
'Still, I should do my best within what I can manage.'
Even if it was just a marriage of convenience.
After the wedding day passed, there would be plenty of talk going around...
So at the very least, I wanted that one moment to be prepared perfectly.
"......"
But thinking that way made it feel like I was really marrying Yelena.
No, we were getting married, but what should I call it?
"......Tsk."
I wasn't sure. Even about my own feelings.
I was just doing my utmost in what I could manage, as always.
Ah, right. Yelena, my partner in this, was taking the preparations seriously too, so that must have influenced my thinking.
I couldn't half-ass it when she was putting in real effort.
And on the surface, it made sense for me to take the lead anyway.
"The order after the greetings is..."
There were things a groom couldn't learn from the Kreuz Lady or Yelena.
So I got help from Alf and Kind.
Alf handled Winterguard family and noble etiquette, while Kind covered wedding and husbandly protocols.
Honestly, Kind was unexpected.
"My lord, you can't lag behind the bride there."
I'd thought he was just a wastrel Swordmaster, but he was sharp on etiquette too.
Thanks to them, I prepared without major issues.
A few days later, after etiquette training wrapped up, Kind brought something up.
"My lord, the Valtan Barony and several families are moving their knight orders."
"Have they caught on to our plan?"
"Probably not. They're mobilizing for monster subjugation. But they won't drop their guard completely."
In the original story, the Northern Grand Duchy rebellion was mentioned only briefly.
Because it broke out after Yelena left—six months after my possession point.
'The original didn't even have Count Kreuz showing up.'
And winter's nature made it hard for rebels to move large numbers easily.
So they waited for thaw, firmer preparations, and the moment Cassius went mad from losing Yelena.
They likely factored in Kind's defection too.
'Of course, the rebellion failed in the original.'
But the backlash cost Cassius and Winterguard heavy losses, shaking the Grand Duchy itself.
That greatly influenced the downfall after the ending.
So as long as they didn't realize I was sane now, they wouldn't make a bold move at this wedding.
'They visited when Yelena was alone last time too—probably just scouting this wedding.'
Still, I didn't assume we could cleanly eliminate just the rebel families.
Even if unaware now, they might act on the day.
Worst case, they could wait near direct territories and rush knights and troops if something happened.
If so...
Blood would flow aplenty.
The key was cutting out the rot with minimal bloodshed.
Too many knight orders and army losses would jeopardize the whole Grand Duchy's security.
So surrender had to be urged if possible.
"Kind. If we induce each family to bring escorts via Count Kreuz... can we win?"
"......You're thinking of taking them all at once."
"Yes."
"Sounds good. But it might drag the fight out."
"I'll endure that. If needed, I'll evacuate Yelena and the mansion staff right away."
"Then... I'll follow. What choice do I have!"
Kind suddenly looked exasperated.
"More than that, my lord—what's that supposed to mean? 'Can we win?' I'm a Swordmaster, you know."
"Even Swordmasters don't always win multi-man battles."
Assuming we called in each knight order's leader and top army commanders, even Kind couldn't handle them all alone.
"There are the kids too, Count Kreuz will join, and above all, you'll fight alongside us, right?"
"I planned to leave it all to you and handle the family heads."
"......For real?"
Kind stared at me in disbelief.
Of course, I was joking. Truth be told, most family heads lacked physical prowess.
It might be cleaner to take out the strong ones first, then the rest.
"Anyway, steel yourself."
"My lord."
"What?"
"Since our duel, I've been steeled. You should steel yourself, my lord."
"......Ha, got it."
"The bride loses faith if the groom's too tense."
Hahaha!
Kind vanished with booming laughter.
He could be baffling sometimes... but I was glad he stayed on our side.
After parting with Kind, I met privately with the Kreuz Lady who'd come to the mansion.
I'd kept it secret from Yelena on purpose.
"Your Grace, what did you summon me for?"
"That day, I have a separate task for you."
"What is it?"
"After the wedding, escort Yelena to safety. Her maid Lucia and two Storm Knights will go with her."
"......Pardon?"
"I told Count Kreuz, but the battle might escalate. Protecting Yelena too would make it tough. If I signal that day, take her to Alice Fortress."
Alice Fortress lay south of the mansion.
A first checkpoint against imperial invasion if the Grand Duchy fell... but that wasn't the point.
"......Understood."
Thankfully, the Kreuz Lady accepted without protest.
"And if we lose the battle."
Her eyes widened.
"That won't happen...! You'll win, Your Grace!"
"We can't ignore the possibility. Listen quietly."
My request wasn't limited to this wedding.
If something happened before Yelena left the North, I'd say the same.
"If we lose, head straight to the capital. Follow the instructions in this letter."
I handed her a sealed letter.
She took it carefully.
"May I... ask what's in it?"
"Ways to launder identity, erase the past, start anew."
Some tied to Winterguard assets without showing it—hidden funds contact methods.
I gave it to her, not Yelena, for a reason.
She and Count Kreuz truly showed no betrayal toward me or Winterguard.
I'd had Kind tail them at first, just in case.
Nothing suspicious emerged; they even helped with things I hadn't mentioned.
Above all, the Kreuz Lady was... practically Yelena's only friend now.
Not one-sided—Yelena felt it, and so did she.
She was perfect for it.
Loyal to Cassius Winterguard and close to Yelena, she'd surely honor this.
"......If that happens, I'll stake my life to obey."
And Natasha Kreuz answered, meeting my expectations.
After she left, I sat alone in the room, lost in thought.
Then I examined the gold-embroidered letter that had appeared on my desk hours earlier.
A letter placed without Swordmaster Kind or I noticing.
None other than a personal missive from the Emperor.
'Probably the Imperial Knights or Mage Association Chairman.'
No one less skilled could slip it onto the desk undetected by two powerhouses.
I opened it slowly.
A golden eagle spreading radiant wings—Estia Imperial Family seal.
After a long winter, does spring come at last? The eagle's eyes shall not all turn northward.
"......"
Poetic, but the meaning was clear.
'Permission granted.'
Not mere approval—they'd briefly lift all surveillance on the North.
No further details meant no need for an invitation either.
Perfect.
"......Now all preparations are complete."
And so the wedding day approached, until the eve arrived.