55. Proposal
55. Proposal
"You need to listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you."
It was a dark space.
A room where sunlight barely entered, relying only on candlelight to barely secure visibility.
In a setting that seemed to have been meticulously secured for privacy, I saw Lucia with the most serious expression I had ever seen.
"What is it? Lucia."
Honestly, I was nervous. Because she had never shown this side of herself before.
"Today the Imperial Palace prepared an official letter of apology to the Wiesent family."
A letter of apology. In my opinion, it was a matter that could have been quietly overlooked. I didn't want to unnecessarily create conflict with the Imperial family in the current political climate. But I knew public opinion was unfavorable. Wherever I went, there were rumors about what the Imperial family was doing.
"And this is the compensation proposal."
Lucia held out a piece of paper in front of me. I wondered what content could provoke such a reaction. Because Lucia had also been insisting that the Imperial family should provide compensation quickly.
".... This is."
After checking the contents written inside, I was at a loss for words. I read it again, but the contents didn't change at all. Seeing me like this, Lucia said firmly,
"Yes. It says, 'How about marrying your younger sister Mary Wiesent to my orabeoni, the 1st Imperial Prince Yuri Cratia?'"
Compensate through marriage. I found it absurd how that could be considered compensation, but when I recalled that the other party was the Imperial family, I somehow understood.
'Because forming a connection with the Imperial family is the greatest honor for a house.'
Especially, Mary is a precious younger sister to me, but in the eyes of others, she was an illegitimate child. For such an illegitimate child to marry the 1st Imperial Prince would be a great honor for the house, not to mention for Mary's life.
"Lucia. May I speak my honest feelings?"
"Yes. Please go ahead."
But why.
"As for me, I am extremely displeased."
I know I shouldn't say such things in front of royalty, but I could only find this content unpleasant.
"My father would have ended it as well if they had just offered a formal apology."
Treating Mary as a mediation tool between houses.
"No matter how I look at it, this marriage seems like nothing more than putting a leash on us."
There is no sign of respect at all. Presenting it without even a consultation process felt like they were looking down on our house.
"Above all, Mary could become the Young Master at any time. I cannot tolerate treating a child who could become the Young Master of Wiesent in this way."
Even though we are not bound by blood, that child is my only sister. In this era, it might not be strange to use children as tools for the house, but I could never accept it.
"So I beg you. Please stop His Majesty directly. Before this is officially proposed and announced. If it is announced, the relationship between the Imperial family and Wiesent will become uncontrollable. Because we will resolutely refuse."
Lucia curled the corners of her lips and fell into thought.
'What if this were the first time I met you?'
If they had no prior acquaintance, she would probably have found Allen pitiable. Because he was saying things like how he found the Imperial family's proposal unpleasant. But at the same time, she must have liked this man's aggressive attitude.
'Because I like that spirit that doesn't cower even before the Imperial family.'
Lucia sighed inwardly. It was a relief. She, too, had thought this compensation was absurd, just like Allen.
'Trying to drive a wedge between Wiesent and me.'
It was a truly pathetic attempt, but if Allen were to welcome it, she would be the one in trouble. In that sense, she sincerely hoped that Allen would not be happy upon hearing the news. And now, as you can see, Allen was very indignant. Of course, the reason for his indignation seemed more about his sister not being respected than the house being ignored.
Lucia suddenly became curious. About Mary Wiesent. In the process of investigating Allen, she had naturally investigated her as well. It was Aniel. A woman with monstrous skills and innate talent from a young age.
'Originally, she would have sat in the position of Young Master by her skill.'
Oddly, she showed no greed for the position of Young Master and yielded it to Allen. What was the reason? She knew the two had a good sibling relationship, but the woman Mary that Lucia investigated...
"You seem to have a good relationship with your sister?"
Lucia asked directly. Whether their relationship was good.
"Mary has been attached to me since childhood."
"She's an illegitimate child. Didn't you dislike her?"
"How could I dislike her? Above all, this era values skill over status, so if anything, Mary is greater than me."
He doesn't let status constrain him. Indeed, the Allen she had observed would be like that.
'If a legitimate child cherishes an illegitimate child, their bond could be exceptional.'
But for some reason, Allen's answer was not satisfactory.
"Are you really just siblings?"
"... Lucia?"
It was suspicious. Was it really just a normal sibling relationship? Maybe there was another intention hidden. For example, instead of the position of successor, the position of lady of the house...
'Why is she like that?'
Allen couldn't understand Lucia's reaction. What was she thinking to ask such a question? What could there be between Mary and himself? Without any adolescence, they were just family who cherished him. But the other party looked somehow anxious.
'Lucia is probably confused by this situation too.'
Yes, confused. To soothe her who looked anxious, Allen took her hand.
"Yes, we are just ordinary siblings."
As a friend, without any special meaning. Her hand was cold, without any warmth.
"..... Really, if you act like this, I might believe this world is a novel."
"Lucia?"
Just as he was flustered and tried to pull his hand away, it was already firmly gripped. Allen carefully called Lucia's name.
"Allen. Actually, that's not the only news."
Though she wanted to knock him down right here, she smacked her lips and whispered into Allen's ear.
"Actually, it applies to me as well. The marriage story. And the partner is Albert Robiesh."
The moment he heard that, Allen's expression instantly hardened.
"Imperial Princess...?"
His mind stopped, and Allen unconsciously called Lucia Imperial Princess again. So, they were going to make a marriage contract between cousins? Just as he was about to stand up and say she must be crazy, Lucia couldn't hold back any longer and pressed her pink lips to Allen's cheek.
"Calm down. It hasn't been decided yet."
"Uh, uh."
Frozen solid, Allen slumped back down. On the other hand, Lucia giggled as she watched this Allen. She found him really cute for reacting like this to just a little thing.
"In that sense, Allen. I have a request for you."
"A, a request...?"
"You remember the wish ticket, right? This time it's your turn to grant my wish, so you absolutely cannot refuse."
So I don't even have the right to refuse? Allen swallowed. Crafty. She was a very crafty gumiho. He felt like if he stayed like this, she would eat his entire liver. Sirens rang in his head and he thought he should run away somehow, but his legs stayed still. Moreover, his eyes were fixed on her and didn't move at all. He stared at her as if he had even forgotten how to blink, waiting.
"Please marry me. Allen."
And the moment I heard that news, I opened my mouth wide and shouted,
"Wh, Imperial Princess?!!!!"
Marriage.
"Ha. Seems like it's already come."
On the other hand, Lucia stared at the wall and sighed.
"You want to die, don't you?"
Before I could even ask why she was suddenly proposing, a cracking sound, jjuhjeojeok, was heard. I turned my head, and there stood Aniel, looking extremely displeased.
"If you have a last will, leave it right now."
When I examined Aniel's expression as she uttered the grim words 'last will,' it didn't feel like a joke at all.
"F, first, calm down, Aniel. Lucia might have misspoken."
Yes, she must have misspoken. She must have. She has to have misspoken. With that thought, I stared at Lucia. But Lucia, as if mocking Allen's thoughts, said again,
"No? I clearly said it. I asked Allen to marry me."
She asked to marry me. A charismatic beauty like this. Allen swallowed. What was he supposed to do?
More than that, on the broken wall, Aniel was not alone.
"Imper, Imperial Princess? I, I must have misheard, right?"
"Oh my, do you want to receive the Goddess's curse, Lucia?"
Iris, who had followed, and Lily, who appeared from somewhere, were also present. I wanted to escape this situation, but I couldn't because Lucia was holding me tightly.
[Lucia Cratia : Affection 37]
"So, what's your answer?"