Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Heinrich's Wedding (2)
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Although there had been some trouble before the wedding, the ceremony itself proceeded smoothly.
King Charles III of Leon, who had been in poor health lately, was unable to attend, but given his advanced age, everyone understood and let it pass. With Crown Prince Franz attending in his place, it could be said that the event matched the dignity of a royal marriage, especially since Leon Kingdom's First Princess—who was also the Crown Princess—had come.
"With this, I declare the sacred union of Heinrich Alexander Nordran von Valkan and Rachel Sinclair de Leonhardt."
As the Grand Inquisitor finished his declaration of marriage, a shower of applause erupted from the guests.
The two made their way toward the palace gates amid the applause, beaming radiant smiles for all to see. But between Heinrich and Rachel, a venomous exchange was underway.
"You. I know you're scheming something with our father... but you should abandon any thoughts of using Leon for your own ends. I won't stand by idly."
"Hah... How long has it been since you got married, and you're already running your impudent mouth like this? I don't know what a wench like you thinks you can do, but go ahead—do your worst. I hear you've made a name for yourself in Leon with your accounting policies... Don't get cocky with that level of skill. This is the Valkan Empire."
Rachel had studied from the very books Heinrich had written and had referenced the accounting policies he had devised and tested when helping her older sister manage the kingdom. She knew full well how exceptional his abilities were, so for a moment, she was at a loss for words.
But Rachel didn't back down. She kept provoking him. She needed to figure out why he had taken her—a woman he showed no interest in—and what price the king had received for handing her over.
She had subtly probed Crown Prince Franz in a private meeting before the ceremony, but even he seemed clueless. So Rachel pressed on, digging at Heinrich.
"You'd better forget any ideas about laying a hand on me just because we're married. I have no intention of giving my body to a worm like you. Touching the executioner on your wedding day, no less."
"Hmph! Do you think I'd be interested in a body lugging around trash like those fatty lumps on your chest? Not only is your head empty, but your delusions are impressive too. If you'd inherited even half your sister's looks, I might have given you some attention."
"...You perverted lolicon bastard."
"I'll take that as a compliment. How could sharing His Majesty's tastes be an insult? Hahaha! This is the dignity of one who will become emperor. Hahahaha!"
Even as they waved to the imperial citizens atop the city gates who cheered and congratulated them, Rachel and Heinrich hurled insults at each other.
'This bastard... He's plotting to shove aside the crown prince and become emperor himself. I don't know what the scheme is, but it's definitely tied to our kingdom.'
But Rachel's provocations had no effect on Heinrich. Unable to extract any more information, she had no choice but to head to the wedding banquet.
Once the greetings to the guests who approached at the banquet hall were finished, Heinrich vanished somewhere with his entourage.
Fiona was off discussing post-marriage trade matters with Crown Prince Franz, leaving Rachel alone. She sat at the bride's table, drowning her frustration and loneliness in glass after glass of wine.
"Sis~ Congratulations! Your wedding dress is so pretty~ I can't wait to try one on myself."
At least Eliza's approach, clinging to her and acting all cute, eased Rachel's heart a little.
"Hee hee hee. You'll be wearing one soon enough. But why did you say you're staying in the empire? I heard you're learning directly from the captain of the Imperial Guard Knights... Did he make you swear absolute loyalty to the empire as his disciple or something?"
Rachel asked quietly, and Eliza shook her head vigorously.
"No way. How could I go back to the kingdom when I've finally gotten together with the guy I've been crushing on since I was little? Hehe."
"W-Wait, really? Who is it? Don't tell me... him..."
Rachel recalled the person mentioned in the letters Eliza had sent her as a child.
"Yeah! That's right. Valkan's Third Prince Yuno is my lover. He helped me tremendously in reaching master level... And we've promised to marry in three years. Hehehe."
Seeing her little sister—who had once left the palace in tears to come to the empire—looking so blissfully happy now made Rachel's own situation feel all the more stark, bringing tears to her eyes.
"At least you're doing well. I'm glad you can be happy..."
"Aww~ You can be happy too, sis. Th-Though Second Prince Heinrich does have a bit of a bad reputation..."
Rachel let out an involuntary sigh at Eliza's consolation.
"Sigh~ If only it were just rumors, I'd count my blessings. He's definitely up to something."
"...Well, he's your husband now. If you guide him right, things might turn out okay."
"No. Something happened between him and our father, His Majesty the King. But he refuses to share the meeting records with us... Ugh, it's so frustrating. Ever since you left, Father's condition has gotten worse—he's not cooperating with Sis anymore and is even checking her moves. And those sweet-tongued sycophants... there are so many of them."
"...You sisters have been through a lot."
"What can we do? If Father's lost his mind, we have to keep ours."
Rachel sighed and glanced around. Her eyes landed on Yuno—Eliza's lover—surrounded by beauties like Yuria, Diane, Isabella, and Marie.
"Speaking of which, the Third Prince is so handsome—you'd better keep a close eye on him. He's already got a crowd fawning over him. Go on, hurry back."
"Eh~ They're all family over there anyway, no need to worry, sis. Hehe."
'Actually, they're all my rivals. Can't help it with Mother-in-law, but I need to watch out for Sis and Marie.'
After hearing Rachel's words, Eliza said her goodbyes with a promise to meet again later and returned to Yuno's table.
As she walked toward the table, she spotted Isabella and Marie plastered to Yuno's arms, rubbing their ample breasts against him. It reminded her of the promise she'd made with Isabella and Marie in their childhood.
That made her steel her resolve once more to keep them away from Yuno.
'Isabella-sis, Marie. Sorry, but I don't remember that childhood promise. I was too young... Hehehe.'
Smirking wickedly to herself, Eliza grabbed Yuno's arm just as he was about to down the wine Diane had poured for him.
"Yuno~ You seem pretty drunk. I'm feeling a bit dizzy too... Your Majesty the Empress Dowager~ Could Yuno and I take a short walk alone?"
"Princess Eliza? I'm just pouring my little brother a drink—what is this...?"
"Let them go, Diane. Yuno? Take a stroll with Eliza. It's late at night—a young lady shouldn't wander alone; it could be dangerous."
As Diane bristled, Yuria intervened.
The moment Yuria spoke, Eliza winked at her gratefully and slipped away with Yuno. Isabella and Marie jumped up, shouting at Yuria.
"Mom! What danger could there be in the palace gardens? We wander around alone all the time!!"
"Exactly! With security this tight, and both of them masters—what danger?!"
"Ugh~ You girls have no tact. A young man and woman want some alone time for a date—what's the big deal?"
"This won't do. Marie! Let's follow them!"
"Yeah, sis! Great idea!"
"You... you girls!!"
Yuria tried to stop Isabella and Marie as they dashed after Yuno, but they ignored her and vanished into the rear garden where Yuno and Eliza had gone.
"Ugh~ What am I going to do with them? Diane, you handle your little sisters..."
"Hehehehe. Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, if you just gave Yuno to me... I'd make sure none of them so much as touches a hair on his head. I'd treasure him..."
"Diane!! You too?!"
"Eek~ Yuno's heading to his territory soon, so I won't see him... Let me at least savor his scent a bit beforehand! Oh, right! Why don't you go with Yuno, Your Majesty? I'll come too!! I need a vacation!"
"...If Franz permits it, so will I."
"Franz-oppa would never allow that!! I'll hide in his luggage, so just turn a blind eye~ Pleeease?"
"Don't talk nonsense... If you disappeared, the entire alchemy association in Adria Castle would shut down."
Watching Isabella, Marie, and now even Diane cling desperately to Yuno gave Yuria a headache.
Of course, she acknowledged that her son was overflowing with charm, but it was getting excessive. She was happy for him yet at a loss for how to handle it.
Yuria admitted to her own incestuous relationship with her son, but that didn't mean she could let her daughters Isabella and Marie hook up with their little brother Yuno—or allow her stepdaughter Diane, whom she treated like a real daughter and who followed her devotedly, to pair off with her other son Yuno.
'Sigh... If I announce his marriage to Eliza, those girls really won't sit still...'
Fortunately, all council meeting details were top secret, so even the princesses didn't know Yuno and Eliza were lovers.
For now, Yuria could keep things under control, but romance had a way of revealing itself, and when they learned Eliza was joining Yuno on his trip to the territory, her daughters would undoubtedly cause a fuss. Her mind grew ever more tangled.