The Match

Franche Descartes stood in front of Eden's office. She took a deep breath and let it out.

"Phew."

As she exhaled, her racing heart, which had felt like it was about to burst, finally settled.

Okay.

With a resolute look in her eyes, as if she had made a grim determination, she ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠knocked on the door.

"Young Duke. It's Franche."

Click.

She opened the door without even waiting for an answer.

Eden, who was responsible for managing various affairs of the duchy, merely glanced at Franche and said nothing.

"I have chosen my marriage partner, so I came to inform you."

Hearing Franche's words, Eden finally raised his head to look at her.

"Which family?"

"The Freiden Marquisate."

"...The Freiden Marquisate."

Clack. Eden set down the fountain pen in his hand and moved over to the sofa.

"Sit."

"Yes."

For the first time in Franche's twenty years of life, the two of them sat face-to-face. Yet, neither of their faces betrayed even a hint of emotion.

"Your reason for choosing the Freiden Marquisate?"

"I believed it would benefit the family."

At the mention of the family, Eden's eyebrow twitched.

"...The nobles on that list are merely families that won't tarnish the Decartes name. They are not of any actual help to us."

It was the truth. The Freiden Marquisate was well-managed and wealthy. They possessed a decent reputation and held a fair amount of influence among the nobility. Even so, they fell infinitely short compared to the Decartes Ducal family, the empire's greatest founding contributor.

Eden tapped the armrest of the sofa with his finger as he continued.

"Keep this in mind, Franche. No one in the Decartes family expects anything from you, nor do we want anything. Your only duty is to leave this house."

Cruel words, hard to believe they were spoken to family. If it had been the young Franche of the past, she would have been deeply hurt. But now, she was so used to it that she felt no emotional change whatsoever.

"I understand."

"Then I will arrange the meeting immediately."

"When will the date be?"

"It won't take long. A week at most."

With Eden's decision, the meeting was set. There was no turning back now. Franche felt a wave of anxiety wash over her, wondering if Jin's plan would really go smoothly.

Eden checked the list on the long table. He squinted, scanned it briefly, and spoke.

"It would be better to summon them to the duchy. I will handle the arrangements, so wait. You may leave."

Franche stood up carefully.

"Then I shall take my leave."

Eden didn't even nod. He paid her no attention at all, quietly looking back down at the list.

"..."

She quietly left the office.

Only now did anxiety truly begin to catch up with her. She had trusted Jin and accepted his plan as she always did, but...

If this goes wrong, things could get incredibly messy.

Under Eden's supervision, she was supposed to meet her suitor, spit venom at him, and if that didn't work, slap him to humiliate him. Thinking about it carefully, she realized it was an incredibly reckless plan.

If what Franche did reached Eden's ears, it wouldn't end quietly.

But the wheels are already in motion...

Franche's expression grew troubled. Still, it would be best to meet Jin and discuss it. He would surely have another solution.

I sat quietly at the table, waiting for Franche. I wondered how her conversation with Eden went.

Just then, the door opened and Franche walked in. Her steps were hurried and heavy. Her face was filled with anxiety.

"Did something happen?"

"Jin. I've been thinking, and I think we need to revise the plan."

"Was there ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a problem?"

Franche sat down across from me and took a deep breath.

"The plan we made? I think it's too reckless. The Young Duke is the one arranging this marriage. If we end it like that, the aftermath will be a disaster."

Hmm. She had a point. Franche had asked for it herself, and Eden had personally arranged the marriage. If the process and the disastrous result reached his ears, he would think Franche had insulted him.

We also had to consider the backlash from the Freiden Marquisate. Since the Decartes family initiated the marriage, if the lady acted like that, they would take it as a direct insult to Freiden.

Well, that was the worst-case scenario. I had already thought of a backup plan.

After a brief moment of thought, I spoke to Franche.

"I have already prepared a method with that in mind."

"What is it?"

"We shift the blame to the other party."

Franche narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. "Shift the blame to them?"

"Yes. We turn it into a mutual conflict where both sides insult each other."

Franche pursed her lips and tapped her finger on the table, lost in thought. Was she running a simulation in her head again?

"...No matter how much I think about it, I can't see how. How do we get him to insult me first?"

"By gently poking at his weakness. Ah, but if you do it too blatantly, the blame will shift back to us, so you must be careful."

Franche still looked confused, tilting her head. She was definitely simulating it.

"Asil Freiden's greatest insecurity is his lack of martial prowess. He can't even defeat a common soldier. Even though he is skilled in administrative affairs needed to manage the territory, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Freiden is strictly a family of knights."

Franche stroked her chin. "...So, you're saying I should gently needle him about his swordsmanship?"

I gave a faint smile and nodded. "Exactly. Let me give you an example. To start the conversation, you can mention that your ideal type is a man who is skilled with the sword."

Franche nodded, listening intently.

"This will be the first trigger for Asil Freiden."

Franche narrowed her eyes and stared at me.

"...Sorry to derail the conversation, but where did you get that information? I could understand if it were about other nobles, but that doesn't seem like something you would know."

...Sharp question. I should just make up a plausible excuse here.

"In the past, when there was a diplomatic exchange between the Barenberg Kingdom and the Fedelian Empire, I saw him there. As a prince, I obtained information and characteristics of the participants."

Should be enough. It feels like my lying skills are leveling up ever since I came to this world.

"I suppose that makes sense. You were the First Prince of the kingdom, after all."

Fortunately, she bought it.

"Anyway, returning to the plan. You must steer the entire conversation toward swordsmanship. In the process, Asil Freiden's mood will continuously sour."

Franche fell into thought, likely imagining the scene. Looking at her, I continued.

"At that point, you bring me up. Mention that you have a personal guard who is exceptionally skilled with the sword, and that you'd love to see the two of them spar."

Listening to me, Franche seemed to realize something.

"I see the picture now. Asil Freiden won't want to look pathetic, so he'll avoid sparring with you. And you want me to use that as an excuse to needle him again?"

I smiled and nodded. Franche continued.

"Then I can say something like, 'I thought the Freidens were a family of knights, but perhaps you lack confidence in your swordsmanship?'"

Yes, exactly! A bright smile spread across my face without me realizing it.

"If that happens, Asil Freiden, who has been getting needled from the start, will eventually explode, and the conversation will turn heated. This is the crucial part."

Indeed. Once you succeed in making Asil Freiden explode, the key is to escalate it into an outright argument.

I said, "That's when you deliver the decisive blow. Say, 'I heard everyone in the Freiden family is excellent with the sword, but it seems you cannot use one, Young Master Freiden. How tragic.'"

Franche nodded in realization. "That would definitely make him blow his top."

"Yes. Asil Freiden despises being pitied more than anything."

"In short, we're specifically choosing to do only the things he hates?"

"Exactly."

Target Asil Freiden's self-esteem, compare him to his brothers, and offer cheap pity. Given his personality, he will absolutely pick a fight.

"At that point, you can unleash the venomous words we practiced. The marriage will fall through under the pretense that you two are simply incompatible, and Young Duke Eden will have no choice but to accept it. What can he do if the other party rejects the match?"

This would also smoothly spread Franche's infamous reputation. Asil Freiden had a wide social circle, so he would undoubtedly go around badmouthing Franche to everyone.

"Right. Now that the plan is revised, and since the water is already spilt, we have to make it work somehow."

"Yes. If your goal is clear, you must experience overcoming obstacles. You need to learn how to handle them."

I needed to foster Franche's various abilities. So that she could stand on her own when I eventually disappeared.

Franche spoke. "With you here, I'm not too worried. You'll stay by my side forever, won't you?"

I only offered a faint smile and didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠answer. Giving a firm promise here would be nothing but deceiving her.

Ultimately, I would have to leave her side one day. Every time I felt something while being with her, my synchronization deepened. As a result, I would begin to be consumed by Jin Barenberg's personality.

In the end, the existence known as Kim Gongryak—me—would vanish from this world.

...And fear is fear, after all.

"Phew. I'm glad I got that off my chest. My anxiety is completely gone."

"I am glad."

"It's all thanks to you. Everything has started going well since you arrived."

Unaware of my inner turmoil, Franche smiled brightly. If I disappeared, would you be sad? Would you despair? Probably both. I had already become a major pillar in her life.

Even so, I hoped she wouldn't be too sad or fall into despair. I hoped she would quickly fill my empty space.

At that moment.

Oh, no.

Another headache was coming.

A sharp sting!

A pain like a chisel splitting my skull. I pressed my hand against my forehead.

And then, a voice echoed.

It wasn't my voice, but the real Jin Barenberg's.

Sigh, I tried to be careful, but already...

Feeling calmer and more detached than usual, it was clear that Jin's personality was seeping in.

As I continued to hold my head and furrow my brow, Franche asked. Her voice was filled with deep concern.

"Is your head hurting again? Is there really something wrong with you?"

"It is nothing serious. It has always been like this."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

Franche stared at me with eyes full of worry.

"Keep this in mind, Franche. No one in the Decartes family expects anything from you, nor do we want anything. Your only duty is to leave this house."

"I am fine. It is just a frequent headache."

"I don't need to worry, right?"

"Yes. It is no different from a common cough."

I offered a gentle smile to reassure her. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief, her worry fading.

"Don't get sick."

Just then.

"My Lady. It's Helena. May I enter?"

"Come in."

The door opened, and Helena entered.

"What is it?"

"The Duke is summoning you."

...The Duke, who had never once sought out Franche until now, was personally summoning her?