A Forced Vacation
I'd been forced into taking a vacation. "Hmm... I understand your opinions well, but... hmm... I also understand Daniela's opinion..." My thoughts ground to a halt. Normally, this would be the point where they'd back down. But neither the ministers nor Daniela showed any sign of relenting.
Of course, Daniela and I were basically engaged, so I'd always expected we'd hold a wedding ceremony someday. But this suddenly?
"It's too late for that, Your Grace! We truly can't put this off any longer."
"I've heard your opinions."
"Then shall we set a date as soon as possible? May the ministers handle the arrangements?"
Hexon spoke, and silence fell for a moment. No matter how deeply I pondered, no suitable response came to mind.
"Are you perhaps saying you have no intention of marrying the Grand Duchess now...?"
"No, no! That's not it at all."
"Forgive my impertinence."
It was pressure. I wondered if this was how the Crown Prince felt. I resolved not to push so hard next time. Though seeing that obnoxious face of his would probably make me forget all about it in an instant.
Daniela turned at Hexon's words. Her gaze slowly lowered as she knelt before me. The moment Daniela dropped to her knees, the ministers followed suit.
"Your Grace. Are you postponing our marriage?"
"No, that's not it, Daniela. But just..."
"It's time now, Your Grace."
"Has the moment ripened? Already?"
Haah... I let out a sigh without thinking.
It wasn't because I disliked Daniela, or due to any political issues with her becoming Grand Duchess. Honestly, the Bart family could never meddle in the North anyway—I'd never even worried about that once. And Daniela? She's beautiful. What more needs to be said? Her personality's great too, even if she occasionally comes on strong.
"With someone new joining the Wintergard family, how could I not worry?"
"You've seen me, haven't you? You've spent days with me, nights with me."
"T-That's true."
"Do you know me well now?"
"I can't say for certain, but I know you to some extent."
"Trust me."
Daniela is strong. She'd gone through that incident at the academy with the Crown Prince, lost the marriage that had been set for her entire life, and yet here she was. Adapting to life in the North, winning over the Northern Grand Duke—it wasn't easy. I knew that. Daniela is strong.
"Can you become a Wintergard?"
"I already am Daniela von Wintergard."
"Right. That's true."
I nodded. My chin itched, so I kept scratching it. I rose from my seat and helped Daniela to her feet.
Maybe it was the weight of the Wintergard name, the family legacy, that made me resist bringing in an outsider. Growing up watching family die, and die again, and keep dying—it might have left a trauma.
"Wintergard, Daniela von Wintergard."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Looking forward to it."
"Me too, Your Grace. Looking forward to it."
I took Daniela's hand and led her back to her seat. She settled lightly into the chair. There was no putting this off. This was the Northern Grand Duke's failing.
"Hexon."
"Yes, Your Grace!"
"Proceed as you suggest."
"Y-Your Grace!"
The ministers all snapped their heads up. Their eyes sparkled. Even Alfredo dropped his axe to the floor, his eyes gleaming with excitement. I'd thought I was used to looking down at people from Winter's Hall. But seeing them this thrilled? That was a first today.
"Now I must discard my mother's and father's names."
"D-Do you mean...?"
"Normally, we'd hold a formal wedding first, then discard them, but..."
My father's name, Ardorno. My mother's, Iphera. Placing those names between Wintergard was simple proof that we weren't yet one household. But there comes a moment when they're shed: upon marriage, when a wife and children enter the picture. It was a Wintergard tradition.
"From now on, I'll use only Theodore von Wintergard."
"A-Are you serious?"
"Once we're married, I'd have to drop them anyway. Might as well do it early."
Cheers-like exclamations rippled through the room. Winter's Hall felt bright as a spring chamber. I hadn't realized a wedding announcement would make people this happy.
"Th-Then we'll proceed with the preparations at once!"
"Do that. But don't neglect our current duties."
"As you command!"
Whew, now I could finally escape Winter's Hall. Just as Daniela and I were about to step out...
The ministers made one last proposal—or rather, it felt more like coercion.
"Your Grace! Why not take a short vacation and rest elsewhere?"
"Don't I still have much to do?"
"No, Your Grace! We ministers can handle it all!"
"Even so, there are decisions only I can make. I can't just leave so easily."
"Worry not, Your Grace."
Hexon was pushing hard to force me on vacation. The other ministers too. Bildo even advised that this was the perfect chance to rest.
Thinking about it, I hadn't taken a proper break since becoming Grand Duke. Almost never, really.
"But with the North's urgent matters, where's the time to rest?"
"Your Grace, trust your ministers just this once. We'll handle everything!"
"Hmm, even so..."
It wasn't that I didn't trust them. Hexon, Bildo, even House de Wintergard. The new bureaucrats were exceptionally capable—I'd already noticed how things had changed from the days when I'd micromanage every detail.
But still, didn't they need someone with final authority...?
"Do it, Your Grace."
"Daniela?"
"If you take a vacation, I must join you on one too."
The ministers murmured at Daniela's words. It was basically meant for my ears. You can't say no, can you? Your wife wants a break! More pressure.
Alfredo had sidled up beside us, offering advice.
"I think you should, Your Grace."
"But we need a decision-maker..."
"There are times ministers need authority figures, and times when it's easier without one."
"Tch! If I say no, they'll all kneel and make a fuss again."
This was blatant arm-twisting! Sheer force!
I returned to my office. They meant business. Normally, it'd be piled high with documents, but now? Not a single sheet in sight. Had someone handled it all for me?
"Ah..."
"Hexon, Bildo, and the entire Interior and Foreign Ministries have already processed everything."
"How? Without my approval?"
"Hexon set aside only the truly vital matters, and nothing's come in yet."
"Alfredo! If they'd been working this hard from the start—"
"You're the unusual one, Your Grace."
True enough. Even a real power holder is only human. I didn't know southern policies or operations, but compared to past Northern Grand Dukes, I was doing far more.
"Well, a vacation sounds nice."
"Your Grace, if you tell us the destination, we'll prepare in advance."
"Hmm. I've never been anywhere."
"How about the northeast, once famous as Wintergard direct territory?"
"The northeast?"
Not a bad choice. It was quite a distance from here, but as former Wintergard land, the Wintergard image was still strong there. The most developed city in the northeast was even called Von Wintergard. Noble Wintergard.
"I haven't been to the northeast much since the Wintergard Rebellion."
"It'll have no impact."
"Not exactly a place with fond memories."
"Still, wouldn't a visit be worthwhile? Your predecessor's tomb is there too."
"Hmm... Sure, the northeast it is."
Ah, had I decided without asking Daniela? I looked at her.
"Oh, what do you think, Daniela?"
"Anywhere's fine with me, Your Grace."
"It's far from here, but it's Wintergard ancestral land."
"Then is your hometown there too...?"
"Me? Well..."
It's complicated. Truth be told, I'd never met my mother. My father died when I was young, so I barely saw him. And because of the Wintergard Rebellion, he spent nearly all his time on the battlefield.
I'd hardly seen his face.
"Alfredo? Am I from the northeast?"
"It's... a bit complicated, Your Grace. This lowly Alfredo can't speak on it."
"It's fine. Go ahead."
"Honestly, even I..."
"Yeah, I figured."
"If you're heading northeast, Your Grace, we'll prepare immediately."
"Let's rest a bit first, then depart when ready."
Time to rest. I'd just returned from the south—too soon for another trip. I flopped onto the bed. Haah—
"Come here."
But... some things still needed doing...