Chapter 427: The Battle for Dmitry (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 427: The Battle for Dmitry (3)
Immediately following the international conference, while the Hector Kingdom was frantically dealing with the aftermath of the war, Dmitry dispatched an envoy.
"I shall now convey the will of His Majesty, the Emperor of Dmitry," the envoy announced. "'The Hector Kingdom held out to the very end against the Valhalla Empire in this war, playing a monumental role in leading the Continental War to victory. Had it not been for Hector's relentless struggle, the Southern Front would have been breached, and the Continental War would have taken an entirely different course. I, the Emperor of Dmitry, recognize Hector's contributions. Therefore, Dmitry shall shoulder the burden of the reconstruction costs incurred by the war.'"
It was a sweet rain during a long drought.
There was no such thing as a perfect victory in war. Regardless of winning or losing, the aftermath of the battlefield was always devastating. For Hector, a kingdom that had barely managed to restore its internal systems, recovering from the war's extensive damage was a monumental hurdle. Their people cried out in pain, and their lands had been reduced to ash and rubble. It was often said that war set human progress back by decades, and indeed, resolving all these issues would require an immense amount of time.
Roman Dmitry was well aware of this reality.
Thus, the moment the situation on the continent was brought under control, he sent an envoy to express his intentions and look after Hector's circumstances.
"Dmitry's support is not a one-time gesture. We will continue to back Hector until it regains true stability, and we will also provide the necessary manpower to aid in the reconstruction. Through this war, Dmitry and Hector have proven that we look in the same direction as we move forward. To ensure that our two nations form a cooperative relationship that guides each other into the future, Dmitry will never forget Hector's devotion."
With those final words, the envoy withdrew.
Left alone with the kingdom's leadership, King Hector reacted with unbridled joy.
"...We truly made the right choice. There is absolutely no reason for Dmitry to shoulder the costs of our war damages, yet they are committing their full strength to Hector's recovery. My son, your choice was correct. Dmitry is not an empire that forgets the devotion of those who fought for them."
Deep emotions welled up within the King.
For the past few years, Hector had endured an era of immense suffering. Its people had starved due to Alexander's conspiracies, and they had suffered daily nightmares under the crushing pressure of predators like Kronos and Valhalla. But Roman Dmitry had put an end to all those tragedies. Receiving a message that paved a clear path forward, King Hector wanted to let his tears flow, holding back only because they were still in a formal setting.
Hector's future was bright.
Knowing they could finally live like a proper nation, the leaders of Hector smiled with genuine sincerity.
However, Edwin Hector was different.
With a complex expression, he stared intently at the scene of jubilation.
Just what kind of existence is Roman Dmitry?
He truly could not understand the man.
Dmitry surely had plenty of its own burdens to bear moving forward, yet Roman had willingly offered to share Hector's load. In truth, their fight against the Valhalla Empire could not be called a pure display of loyalty to Dmitry. Hector had merely struggled desperately to survive, yet Roman Dmitry had framed their desperation in such a noble light.
Roman Dmitry was an absolute anomaly.
Born as the heir to a mere barony, he had brought down empires, and at the international conference, he had uttered the absurd declaration that he would invade the Demon Realm. Even though everyone knew it sounded impossible, people still aligned themselves with his will. It wasn't because they were mathematically certain of Roman Dmitry's victory, but because they believed in the impossible track record he had shown them thus far.
Just look at this situation.
Dmitry refused to let Hector collapse. Roman had willingly extended his hand, asking them to be companions in the brilliant future Dmitry was hurtling toward.
Edwin bit his lip. Emotions surged violently within his chest.
During all this time... it had been so, so incredibly difficult. Born as the heir to a crumbling kingdom, Edwin Hector had been forced to face the harsh cruelty of reality from a very young age. He could never afford to act like a child. But now, for the first time in his life, someone had appeared to fully shoulder Hector's tremendous burden. For today, at least, he wanted to be honest with his feelings.
That day, Edwin Hector spent his hours in idle relaxation.
He did absolutely nothing, letting the time pass without thinking about the future in the slightest. Yet, he could confidently say he had never experienced a more peaceful day. It was a leisure he hadn't felt in years. Having completely recharged himself both physically and mentally, Edwin Hector resumed his duties, only to receive sudden news shortly after.
"Your Highness! We have obtained information that the Empress Dowager of Dmitry is searching for a marriage partner for Rodwell Dmitry. Matchmakers from various countries have already begun making their moves to secure him."
At that moment, Edwin Hector halted all his work.
Rodwell Dmitry.
Establishing an in-law relationship with the Dmitry Imperial Family was an immense opportunity that Hector absolutely could not afford to miss.
* * *
However, this endeavor hit a snag right from the start.
Though he wanted to pursue a marriage with Rodwell Dmitry, the glaring problem was that Hector had no suitable candidate.
The leadership advised him, "...Your Highness. We understand your intentions, but with matchmakers from all over the continent already on the move, a daughter from an ordinary noble family will never win over Rodwell Dmitry. We should give up on this. If we present a mediocre candidate, it will only make the Hector Kingdom look foolish."
"I agree."
A consensus was quickly reached. Everyone was pessimistic, but Edwin Hector thought differently.
"The world is changing. And at the center of it all, the Dmitry Empire will lead the world. What did you all think when you heard the words of Dmitry's envoy earlier?"
"I felt grateful. Dmitry did not forget Hector's devotion."
"Exactly. That is the caliber of His Majesty, the Emperor of Dmitry. Dmitry never forgets the efforts and devotion of those who follow them. And this is not a simple matter to overlook. Kronos and Valhalla—the reason they ruthlessly oppressed other nations despite holding immense power was because they knew those nations would become threats if given even a little breathing room. Even if we look in the same direction, our different nationalities make us outsiders. Maintaining supreme power is never easy, yet the Emperor of Dmitry chose to support Hector as if such petty concerns were trivial."
His caliber was on an entirely different level.
Roman Dmitry did not care in the slightest about the potential problems that might arise as other nations grew in strength.
"In fact, my thoughts are no different from His Majesty's. No matter how much other nations grow, as long as the Emperor of Dmitry stands firm, they can never encroach upon Dmitry's domain. The same goes for Rodwell Dmitry. Allowing Rodwell Dmitry to leave for Arcadia means the Emperor does not mind his own bloodline building their own power base. So, let me ask you. If we form an alliance through marriage with Dmitry, what kind of impact do you think it will have on Hector's future?"
"...It would be an immense benefit."
"But we have no one to present from Hector, do we?"
The conclusion remained the same.
While they agreed with Edwin Hector's grand vision, there was no woman in the Hector royal family suitable to be put forward as a marriage candidate.
Therefore, a shift in perspective was needed.
Edwin Hector said, "A political marriage is a battle of justification. If a suitable candidate does not exist, we simply have to create the ideal figure the other party desires."
* * *
Back in the present.
As all eyes focused on the phrase "collateral branch," Edwin Hector continued speaking, his expression completely unperturbed.
"In truth, until recently, Catherine herself did not know she belonged to a collateral branch of the Hector family. We discovered her existence by chance, and seeing how she maintained her integrity despite her difficult circumstances, we formally welcomed her into our family."
It was a bald-faced lie.
To find someone who met the criteria among Hector's collateral branches, Hector's intelligence department had worked frantically. Thanks to their desperate efforts, they had found Catherine Hector in just a single day. Though her connection through her maternal side was so distant that calling her a blood relative was a massive stretch, the moment Edwin Hector saw her, he was certain.
If it was Catherine, she could capture Rodwell Dmitry's heart.
"I will not dwell on Catherine's appearance. Quite apart from how beautiful she is, she is a girl who lived in a harsh environment, taking care of her father all by herself. She did not hesitate to work two or three jobs a day if necessary, and she is strong enough to easily handle physically demanding labor. I understand that Lord Rodwell Dmitry will soon depart for Arcadia. People call it a land of opportunity, but I believe starting anew in a land covered in snow for ages will not be easy. Catherine is a girl who will stand firmly by Lord Rodwell Dmitry's side to ensure he faces no difficulties in that harsh frontier."
No one present believed that they had met Catherine by chance.
However, what mattered now was not the reason they had accepted a collateral member into the royal family, but what kind of person Catherine Hector truly was.
Catherine is a lovely girl. Though we searched for her intentionally, she is a bright and brilliantly shining child, worthy of being accepted as a member of the Hector family even if this marriage falls through. That is precisely why Rihanna Dmitry's heart will have no choice but to waver.
For this marriage to succeed, it was necessary to focus entirely on Rihanna Dmitry's core objective.
The reason she was rushing this marriage, even going so far as to summon matchmakers from all over, stemmed from deep maternal worry for her son.
Think about it.
He had to start a new life in an unforgiving land. Could Rihanna Dmitry feel at ease if a woman raised as a fragile greenhouse flower stood by his side? Rodwell Dmitry had lost his eyes in the war, and after this recent conflict ended, he had been so severely injured that he hovered between life and death for a time. If she wanted such a son to be safe, she would naturally desire a wise and strong woman who could stand by him in any environment.
Catherine Hector fit that description perfectly.
Her lovely appearance was merely one of the traits that made her shine; she was a girl whose inner strength and work ethic shone brightly enough on their own.
"In truth, I am merely acting as a bridge; I cannot force this marriage upon Catherine. But from what I have seen of her, and what I know of Lord Rodwell Dmitry, I believe they possess more than enough charm to be drawn to each other. I came here today in the hope that the two of them might meet and build a wonderful future together."
At that moment, the matchmakers were absolutely certain.
Out of everyone present in this room...
As evidenced by the sparkling light in Rihanna Dmitry's eyes, Edwin Hector was the only one who had successfully appealed to her true desires.
* * *
The gathering finally drew to a close.
Even after Edwin Hector's pitch, the matchmakers continued to introduce charming women one after another, but Rihanna Dmitry's heart had already leaned completely toward Catherine Hector. She was a highly resilient girl. Rihanna firmly believed that no matter what problems arose in the harsh environment of Arcadia, Rodwell would be able to overcome them if he had someone like her by his side.
It reminded her of her own past, when she had overcome all kinds of adversity alongside Romero Dmitry, back when he had been nothing more than a commoner.
There was no reason to delay any longer.
Rihanna Dmitry immediately went to find Rodwell.
Tap.
She set a stack of papers down. "These are the women I have shortlisted. They are all so beautiful, and each has her own unique charm. Take a careful look, and if there is anyone who catches your eye, please let me know."
"...Mother."
"Rodwell. I do not wish to force a marriage upon you either. But in the midst of everything that has happened, my beloved son lost his eyes, and this last time, your very life was in danger. Do you know how desperately I prayed to God while you lay unconscious in your sickbed? If you wish to live the life you want in the future, please, at least accept your mother's sincere wish."
She, too, found this situation uncomfortable.
With the precedent of Roman Dmitry, whose own arranged marriage had fallen through, she wanted to avoid interfering in her children's marriages as much as possible. But all mothers were the same. As her heart burned with anxiety watching Rodwell, she felt she could never be at peace unless he had a wise woman by his side.
Her son would be leaving soon.
For his new life in Arcadia, she hoped that someone who cared for him as much as she did would be there to support him.
A heavy silence descended.
Rodwell Dmitry looked down at the list with a complex gaze.
He understood his mother's heart. She was putting in this much effort because she truly worried for him. In truth, if he hadn't already harbored other thoughts, he might have simply followed her wishes. But he had a reason why he could not. Though he wanted to avoid revealing it if possible, he could no longer hide the truth if he was to persuade his resolute mother.
He swallowed his words several times.
After hesitating for a long moment, Rodwell spoke with great difficulty.
"...Mother. Actually, there is a woman I already have in mind."
"Is that true?"
She was genuinely startled. She had always thought Rodwell was as stoic as stone, completely uninterested in women. That was why, out of pure frustration, she had taken matters into her own hands. She had never expected such an answer.
But then, a sudden sense of foreboding washed over her.
Seeing Rodwell unable to continue speaking, Rihanna asked cautiously, "So... can you tell me who she is?"
Both mother and son knew the unspoken truth.
In this situation, there was only one name her son would struggle so hard to mention.
As if finally making up his mind, Rodwell looked straight into his mother's eyes and spoke.
"It is Flora Lawrence. And my brother already knows how I feel about her."
Indeed, this was a matter that required a very long explanation.
The starting point was the war with the Kronos Empire.
They had to go back to that pivotal moment when Rodwell Dmitry had risked his life.