IGMDSML 26

 Chapter 26

“Your Highness, I… as I mentioned before, I want to marry someone I love. So I cannot accept your proposal.”

This was what Maricel had said during the outing, as a rejection of his confession.

Morgan put down his pen during work and, looking troubled, splashed water on his face roughly.

Since that outing, this had become a recurring phenomenon.

Leaning back in his chair, Morgan closed his eyes.

In his mind, it was hard to understand why Maricel had refused.

Even if she had no interest in him, he assumed she would at least want the Grand Duchess position. Just like all the women in the Empire.

So he had been confident—but that confidence was utterly shattered.

She truly had no interest in the Grand Duchess position. She truly had no interest in him.

Sigh… this is maddening.

The fact that she treated his confession as a proposal, and that she wanted to marry someone she loved—none of it made sense to him.

“Your Highness, by rejecting your proposal, am I at risk of any disadvantage? For example, being dismissed from my position as governess…”

That, too, irritated him. How did she see him? Did she think he was such a fool that he couldn’t distinguish between duty and personal matters?

He never imagined being rejected. Everyone wanted to become the Grand Duchess. Why was she the only one refusing?

A noblewoman wanting to marry for love…?

Morgan had never met anyone in the Herman Empire with such a view of marriage.

Everyone sought wealth, fame, and power.

Even if a couple loved each other, arranged marriages always came first. Some would keep a lover on the side afterward.

There were rare cases where couples genuinely fell in love after arranged marriages, or married young acquaintances from close families.

His own parents had fallen in love after an arranged marriage.

But even the deepest love could not prevent noble families from breaking engagements if another match came along.

Yet she refused. She would gain wealth, fame, power, and even a handsome husband by marrying him.

Just because of his appearance alone, countless women would want to marry him.

Morgan still could not get over the shock of that day.

He leaned back in his chair and splashed water on his face again and again.

“Ah, damn it. You’re so restless. Focus on your work. You’re making me restless too. If you can’t concentrate, go run a few laps in the courtyard.”

Morgan repeatedly leaned back and forth in his chair, sighing heavily and splashing water on his face, until Rino could no longer hold back.

“….”

When there was still no reaction, Rino hit the core.

“What happened on that outing?”

Morgan flinched in surprise.

Rino immediately seized the opportunity.

“Wait a minute. You didn’t… do something wrong to Maricel, did you?”

‘Wrong?’

Morgan wondered if his confession had been a mistake.

“Tell me, and I’ll help if I can.”
“You idiot.”

Morgan brushed off Rino’s words, but still thought about it.

Rino was popular with women in a different way.

Married women often said to him,
“I wish my husband knew even half as much about women as Rino does.”

Rino would smile and joke in response.

Morgan had seen these awkward scenes often.

So he thought maybe Rino could give him advice about his dilemma.

Morgan glanced at Rino, and Rino met his gaze as if waiting for this moment.

Rino had been observing Morgan’s strange behavior for some time, and today it looked like the symptoms had reached their peak.

Judging by Morgan’s recent impatience, it seemed highly likely he had made a reckless confession to Maricel.

A man who had never been rejected, and had always been the one to reject others, surely only considered his own perspective.

It was obvious.

Maricel was different from other noblewomen in the Empire, but he probably approached her with the same logic.

Rino clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Despite being competent in everything else, he was a disaster at love.

Rino felt sorry for him as a friend but also amused.

He had wanted to enjoy the situation a little longer, but seeing his friend so lost and despairing, he could no longer ignore him.

“Wait a minute. Did you really tell Maricel ‘be my woman’?”

Morgan flinched—not just a small flinch, but full-on surprise.

‘Yep. Judging by his expression, that’s exactly what he did. Tsk.’

“Idiot. You were arrogant because you had everything. Did you think every woman in the world would want you, just because you’re the heir of the Grand Duchy?”
“Shut up. No one has ever said no to me before.”
“You were wrong. She was right there in front of you. The woman you forced into a corner with your selfishness. Maricel. She kept telling you she wasn’t interested, but you ignored her. Wrong?”

Rino carefully pressed every point, striking Morgan at the core.

“What do you mean Maricel was cornered? Why was she cornered?”

Rino sighed deeply.

“No wonder you got rejected. Tell me the whole story. Then maybe we can come up with a plan.”

Morgan eyed Rino warily.

Was he just teasing, or did he really have a plan?

Morgan had no time to think. He could not give up on Maricel, so he told Rino everything in desperation.

Rino struggled not to laugh while listening.

At some points, he had to pinch his own thigh to stop himself from laughing out loud.

‘Wow… he’s really fallen deep.’

“What will you do if Maricel keeps saying no?”
“What do you mean, what will I do? That won’t happen.”

Rino was amazed at Morgan’s confidence, even after being thoroughly rejected.

“What confidence is that?”
“If there’s even one flaw, she would say no. Maricel, at least, is interested in my body. The problem is I confessed too soon.”

“…?”

For the first time in his life, Rino heard such foolish reasoning from a friend. He couldn’t help laughing.

“Not her face, but her body? You’re insane. That’s why you’re failing.”

Morgan glared sharply at Rino.

“What, so if Maricel wants only the body, you’d give her that?”
“Yes.”

A straightforward answer. From the heir of the Grand Duchy.

Rino could not even laugh now.

“Listen, Morgan. You reckless fool. Learning late doesn’t mean you can steal all night. If you push yourself onto Maricel like that, she’ll be completely turned off and run away, governess or not.”
“Maricel won’t run away. I’m not worried about anything else. She loves being a governess. She really likes Fleur. So she won’t run.”

Rino was exasperated. They say love makes fools of everyone, but he never imagined his friend would be like this.

“You crazy fool. So you’re just going to push and tell her you like her?”
“I said I shouldn’t. That’s why I’m asking for a plan.”

Morgan was impatient and irritated.

“Listen. First, make sure Maricel is comfortable.”
“And then?”
“Don’t do anything she dislikes.”
“What does she dislike?”

Rino wanted to smack him. Even in love, could one be this stupid?

“Haah… my old friend Morgan. I’ll tell you just this once. Listen carefully.”
“Speak calmly. I’m still the heir.”

Rino’s temples throbbed as he spoke.

“Fine. Then should I not tell you at all? I wouldn’t mind.”

Morgan cleared his throat, feeling slightly humbled.

“What do you think Maricel finds most uncomfortable right now?”
“Me confessing again?”
“Not completely stupid. Friend, never confess rashly again.”

Morgan replied reluctantly.

“Got it. And then?”
“And then, whatever Maricel asks of you, do it without complaining. Build trust. Slowly put in the effort.”

Rino scolded Morgan for making the situation worse by confessing too soon.

He advised Morgan to approach more carefully, more delicately.

Listen to married couples’ experiences, read books about romance.

Morgan’s heart was anxious. If he rushed again, Maricel might truly get scared and run or hide.

He had already failed once with a reckless confession. Once was enough.