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Chapter 04 …
Since drinking the potion, the death that had been destined from that moment onward no longer frightened her.
What she feared was only that, even after sacrificing her life, she might still fail to save Alfonso.
“One year. Within one year, I must somehow make Alfonso happy.”
Because Alfonso’s happiness was Charlotte’s wish, the ritual would not be completed until he truly felt happiness.
In truth, the current Alfonso was not in a position where happiness was likely.
He carried too many burdens.
“The title of the Emperor’s cousin. And the House of Eduard.”
If one were asked to name the most famous name in the capital, without exception, people would say the Duke of Eduard.
He was a celebrity whom everyone desired to be connected with at least once.
Not only because of the noble name of Eduard.
His fame was built on the countless victories he had achieved over nearly ten years.
“A war hero, they called him.”
The young and talented Duke of Eduard.
Wherever he went to battle, he always returned with news of victory, and thanks to the wars he had successfully concluded, imperial authority had become unshakably solid.
Moreover, Alfonso’s loyalty to Benoit further strengthened the Emperor’s power.
“So much so that he was able to take away part of Noha’s trade rights.”
When the southern maritime trade rights were partially taken by the Imperial Family, Dominic had not slept properly for three days and nights.
—“This is all because of that damned Eduard! If not for him, the Emperor wouldn’t be able to act so arrogantly!”
He had shouted this while grinding his teeth, and the memory was still vivid.
“And yet, after cursing him like that, they still wanted to form an alliance through marriage when they needed him.”
How shameless.
Charlotte, recalling last night’s banquet, let out a crooked smile.
In the past, she too had followed Dominic in cursing Eduard, but now Noha’s greed only seemed absurd and disgusting.
Her fingertips slowly tapped the window frame as she looked at the rotting magnolia petals fallen below.
“Father probably already sent the marriage proposal to Alfonso.”
Since the topic of marriage had been raised at the family dinner yesterday, the proposal had likely already been sent.
This morning as well, before leaving, Dominic had repeatedly reminded Charlotte.
“Your role is important, Charlotte. You understand, don’t you? Do not disappoint me.”
“Do not disappoint me.”
That essentially meant use any means necessary.
After hearing those words from Dominic, her half-siblings who failed their tasks had all been stripped of the Noha name and expelled.
If it were up to her feelings, she would not let Alfonso and Noha become involved at all.
But things had already come to this.
There was no helping it.
“On the surface, I will act as if I am obeying the family’s orders.”
But behind the scenes, she would help Alfonso become happy.
She had no intention of marrying Alfonso as she once had under the family’s command.
In the past, she had obeyed Dominic absolutely, but now Noha’s greed only felt laughable and disgusting.
Above all, the fact that Noha’s greed had made Alfonso unhappy—and ultimately led to his death—was something Charlotte could never forgive.
“Ah, still, there is one thing I’m grateful for about my family.”
Because of them, she had ended up marrying Alfonso, and she had learned what happiness was.
And also what was needed to make someone else happy.
It was very simple.
Only one thing was needed.
“Love.”
Charlotte’s gaze deepened as she recalled the moments when she fell in love with Alfonso.
—“Charlotte, I trust your words. Regardless of my dislike for you, you do not speak lies.”
—“As long as you are my wife, I will not ignore any insult directed at you. It is my duty and right, unrelated to my feelings.”
How her heart had trembled at that moment.
How full she had felt.
She had never forgotten that overwhelming sensation. If she were to name it, it would surely be happiness.
So how difficult could it be to make Alfonso happy?
“I know who the woman he loved was.”
Adeline Laverus.
If she simply made Alfonso and her work out…
Charlotte removed her hand from the window frame and walked toward the corridor.
“Silvia, prepare the carriage.”
“Yes, young lady. Where are you going?”
“The Olivier Count’s estate.”
Just as she had done in the past, she intended to stop Alfonso’s first marriage proposal.
But this time, it was to fulfill his love.
Meanwhile, inside a rocking carriage.
“Marriage~ marriage~. To think my brother Alfonso is going to marry into the Olivier Count family~.”
At the off-key humming, Alfonso—who had been looking out the window—slowly closed his eyelids.
He didn’t even need to turn around to know that his cousin, who looked exactly like him with silver hair, was wearing an excited expression.
“Stop it, Sophia. The engagement hasn’t even been properly arranged.”
“Come on, brother. Who would reject the Empire’s finest catch? The Count of Olivier must already be so excited he’s been twitching his behind for three days!”
“Do not speak of the Empire’s most honorable knight like that.”
“I didn’t say anything like that.”
“The Count of Olivier—”
“The Empire’s most honorable knight is you, right? Alfonso Linus Eduard! The new war hero with a ninety percent victory rate!”
“Haah!”
Sophia clapped loudly, teasingly.
Who would believe that the imperial princess, known for her arrogance as the Emperor’s younger sister, was such a playful girl?
But Sophia didn’t care.
After all, this was Alfonso’s marriage proposal.
“You might not know this, but you’re the most eligible bachelor in the capital. Even His Majesty wasn’t this popular before ascending the throne. Isn’t that impressive?”
“There’s nothing impressive about it, and you’ve been saying that for ten years.”
“Well, you’ve always been the top bachelor.”
In other words, Benoit had never once been the top marriage prospect because of Alfonso.
But what could be done?
Even compared to the Emperor himself, people’s attention naturally gravitated more toward Duke Eduard.
Frankly speaking, Sophia even found it disappointing that Alfonso was only now considering marriage.
“You ignored it for so long, and now suddenly you’re rushing into it? I thought you had no plans to marry for a while.”
“…People change. Stop scolding me for something that isn’t your concern.”
“I’m just disappointed.”
How many people had once adored Alfonso before he went to the battlefield?
If he had married back then, he could have chosen from far more prestigious and beautiful noble ladies.
“Of course, the Olivier Count family is respectable, but they still fall far short of Eduard. Ladies from noble families like Guinevere or Orphen are already all married.”
As the Emperor’s cousin and Duke Eduard, it was frustrating to see him choose a lesser match.
And that wasn’t even the worst part.
“And now that he’s finally looking for a marriage partner, some Noha dares—”
“Enough. Sophia. That’s enough.”
At the mention of Noha, Alfonso frowned slightly, revealing clear displeasure.
Just thinking about yesterday’s chaos gave him a headache.
—“Noha has lost its mind, Your Grace! How could they be so shameless? Sending you a marriage proposal after everything?”
—“This is clearly an insult to House Eduard! If you reject it outright, they will retaliate! We must cut them off before they become bold!”
His knights, each wearing swords as if ready to cut Noha down immediately, had been difficult to calm.
“I have already politely declined Noha’s proposal, stating that there was a prior engagement. There is nothing to worry about.”
Only after Alfonso explained did Sophia’s tightly furrowed brows relax.
“…If you say so. So, have you met the Olivier Count’s daughter yet?”
“Not yet. I am scheduled to meet her today. They arranged a luncheon at the Count’s estate.”
Laila Olivier.
The eldest daughter of the Olivier Count family—and his prospective bride.
“I hope it goes well. The Duke’s mansion is always so dull. It would be nice to have someone my age to talk to.”
“It will go well. Don’t worry.”
Alfonso looked at his cousin, who was eagerly hoping for a sister-in-law, and faintly curled his lips into a smile.
“Nothing could possibly go wrong.”
