Artiela Count’s mansion, reception room.
My uncle, the Duke of Balteir, and I sat facing each other.
The duke took a sip of tea from a white porcelain cup, then slowly set it down with a lazy gesture.
“We don’t have much time, so let’s get straight to the point.”
His low, oppressive voice cut through the room.
Wearing an outing dress for the first time in a while, I felt uncomfortable, barely resisting the urge to fidget as I looked at him.
I’ve seen him at the academy and at imperial events… but this is my first time speaking with him properly.
Now that I looked closely, he really did resemble Cassium.
It made the marriage proposal feel all the more real.
And yet, the person concerned wasn’t even here?
“O-Of course. You’ve already taken so much time just by coming here.”
My uncle tried his best to put on an intelligent expression.
“By the way, have the daisies in your estate all bloomed? I heard they’re at their finest this season.”
“They have. But that doesn’t seem relevant to the matter at hand.”
Just as their conversation started to feel stiff and heavy, the duke’s gaze turned to me.
I straightened my posture and met his eyes.
He simply stared at me in silence.
I had to suppress the urge to speak, but as he continued observing me without saying anything, the words I’d been holding back finally burst out.
“Why did you propose a marriage to the Artiela family?”
I heard a small gasp and glanced sideways—my uncle’s eyes were wide with alarm.
But once I started, I couldn’t stop.
The duke crossed his arms and tilted his chin slightly, as if telling me to continue.
“At no point do I intend to lower the name of Artiela, but from the perspective of a ducal house, you must have had many options.”
“Do you think so?”
“I doubt there’s anyone in the Empire who wouldn’t think so. Unless Your Grace is an exception.”
“I see… What else are you curious about?”
I hadn’t even received an answer to my first question yet, but I went ahead and asked another.
“I’d like to know—between your two sons, which one this proposal is for.”
“That is indeed an important question.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell me…”
The duke uncrossed his arms.
“What is your relationship with my Cassium like?”
He answered my question with one of his own.
“It’s extremely good.”
That answer didn’t come from me—but from my uncle.
“Is that so?”
No… it’s not good at all…
My uncle was about to answer again, but at the duke’s glance, he leaned toward me and whispered,
“Say it’s good. Quickly.”
“To be honest… it’s not very good.”
I had meant to think before speaking, but the truth slipped out.
The duke’s eyebrow twitched slightly, while my uncle’s shot up dramatically.
Still, I hadn’t lied.
If he was asking about my relationship with Cassium in response to my earlier question, perhaps he expected a positive answer.
We had known each other for years, after all.
But if that was the basis for this proposal, then staying silent would have been no different from lying.
“So your relationship is bad?”
“If you want an honest answer, yes.”
I couldn’t deny that I had just made the atmosphere awkward, but there was no taking it back now.
Carefully watching his expression, I continued,
“Which is why I don’t understand why you’re proposing this marriage to me. I doubt Cassium said he liked me either.”
“Marriage is not an individual matter—it is a matter between families. It is not something that can proceed based on personal preference.”
“You asked about my relationship with him. Weren’t you considering your son’s preferences?”
The duke shrugged.
Then he asked again,
“Are you certain your relationship is bad?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“…What?”
The duke stood up with a faint smile.
“I’ll await your reply to the proposal.”
His footsteps echoed as he left the reception room.
“I’ll see you out.”
“No need.”
My uncle hurried after him, but the duke dismissed him with a lazy wave and walked out calmly.
He said it’s good that we don’t get along… what does that even mean?
My uncle, who had been stopped from following further, clicked his tongue and turned back.
“So arrogant, just because he’s a duke. This is why being born with everything isn’t good. You should build yourself up. Rize, I’ll bring the reply letter now—sign it immediately.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Rize! Where are you going?!”
Ignoring my uncle’s shout, I quickly chased after the duke.
“Your Grace!”
At my call, he stopped and turned around.
“Have you already come to give your answer?”
“I have something I’d like to ask.”
He tilted his head, signaling me to continue.
Honestly, standing before someone of the Empire’s highest rank made me think I should be more careful—but I wasn’t capable of that.
So I went straight to the point.
“What did you mean earlier?”
“What do you mean?”
“When you said it was ‘good’—that it’s good my relationship with Sir Cassium is bad.”
“I would like my son to marry the person he hates the most.”
“…Why?”
“I believe that’s enough of an answer. I have no obligation to explain further.”
The duke smiled faintly and turned away again.
I stood there, dazed, watching his figure disappear around the corner.
“Rize! How rude can you be?”
My uncle, who had followed me, scolded me sharply.
“Enough of that—sign this document quickly—”
“I’ll think about it for one day.”
“What is there to think about?”
“It’s my marriage.”
My uncle let out a scoff.
“Even without your consent, if I choose to, this marriage can proceed.”
“….”
His tone turned threatening.
I didn’t like it, but it was true. That was the law.
Even without my signature, the process would just become more complicated—but with the head of the family’s approval, the marriage could still happen.
I stopped him as he turned to leave and took the proposal document from his hand.
“What do you think you’re doing—!”
“Didn’t you say Mars is applying to become an Imperial Knight? He needs a recommendation letter from a current knight.”
“I asked you to write one before and you refused—why bring it up now?”
“I’ll write it for you. If you give me the right to decide my answer to this proposal.”
Compared to what he had done, it was nothing—but that didn’t mean I couldn’t make threats too.
My uncle’s wrinkled expression brightened instantly as he started calculating.
“Fine. Deal.”
He answered readily.
He probably thought there was no way I’d refuse a ducal marriage.
I would think about it—but first, I needed some kind of safety measure.
“I’ll write the recommendation letter in three days.”
“Three days? Why delay it? What if the application period closes?”
“If I write it today, you’ll take the letter and then change your stance on the proposal.”
“H-How dare you think that of me!”
“And it won’t close that quickly. If it ends earlier than announced, imagine the backlash from the people of the Empire.”
My uncle pouted slightly, thinking it over again.
“Fine.”
He nodded reluctantly.
“Ugh… I’m drained.”
I trudged back to my room, almost like a half-dead zombie.
We hadn’t even talked that long, but it had completely exhausted me.
“Squeak!”
Before I even reached the door, it opened and the golden rabbit ran out.
Now it could even open doors—such a smart rabbit.
Seeing it somehow eased my fatigue.
“Golden bunny…”
I picked it up and rubbed my face into its fluffy fur. It stiffened for a moment before gently pushing me away.
Its golden eyes carefully examined me.
“Should we go out later when Bryce gets back? The meeting ended earlier than expected, so I think I’ll have time.”
“Squeak.”
Holding the rabbit, I went into the room.
Its soft paws patted my face.
Looking in the mirror… I really did look troubled.
“Hmm.”
I placed the rabbit on the bed and lay down beside it, turning to face it.
“Golden bunny, actually…”
“I’ve been told to get married.”
The rabbit’s round eyes widened, its ears perking straight up.
“…Squeak?”
It looked completely stunned, barely managing a small sound.
“Is it that shocking?”
I lightly tapped its nose.
Normally it would recoil, but now it just blinked at me without reacting.
“I hate arranged marriages.”
At my words, the rabbit clenched its tiny fist.
Is it getting angry with me?
Touched, I stroked its fluffy fur and continued,
“The other person is Cassium from the Balteir ducal family. You know, that guy from our knight order.”
The tension left the rabbit’s fist.
For some reason… it looked happier.
“I’d rather marry a monster than marry that guy.”
This time, the rabbit looked downcast.
“…?”
You really are impossible to read.
