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Chapter : 10 – The Oath
As if possessed, Cielie entered Leonard’s room and sat down, staring blankly at the teacup placed in front of her. At some point, the house had filled with people Leonard had brought from the Imperial Palace. She hadn’t noticed since she stayed on the first floor, but they were attendants who had followed him after work.
Leonard gestured toward the busy servants around them. Cielie kept watching them until they all politely bowed and left the room. Only then did she look at Leonard.
Her ears were still red, and she couldn’t meet his eyes properly.
“I chose only those who can keep their mouths shut, so don’t worry.”
“Ah… yes.”
Leonard seemed to think she was quiet because she was worried about rumors spreading. Cielie didn’t bother correcting him. As the Emperor’s younger brother, Leonard was the kind of man every noble lady wanted to marry.
He was the Emperor’s most trusted sibling and a famous knight on the front lines. Every time he went to the border, news of victory followed. Anyone in the Lind Empire was proud of him. A genius of strategy, ruler of the battlefield—that was what people called Leonard Franz Lind.
“Sign here.”
Cielie lowered her gaze to the document pushed in front of her. It was a marriage oath with Leonard’s signature already on it. It had the same format as the one Sanchez had sent before, but the name of the partner made it feel completely different.
‘Marriage…’
She knew this oath didn’t hold any special meaning. She was only doing it because of Sanchez’s threats. But why did her heart feel so uneasy?
She silently stared at the document, her fingers playing with its edge.
“Do you not want to do it?”
“It’s not that… it just feels strange.”
“Do you have someone you like?”
At his question, Cielie lifted her head. Her blue eyes met his. Suddenly, her mouth felt dry, and she wet her lips.
“No.”
“……”
After hearing her answer, Leonard’s gaze turned cold.
‘W-why is he like that?’
She had simply answered honestly, but his mood seemed to drop instantly. Cielie carefully watched him. After a moment of silence, his eyes grew sharper.
“Good. Since you don’t, there’s no need to hesitate.”
He was right. This marriage was something she needed more than him. With it, she could escape from Sanchez, who was after her inheritance.
Marriage wouldn’t solve everything, but it would at least give her some protection over her inheritance.
The inheritance law of the Lind Empire was complicated. A family head’s private property could belong to the family or be passed to their direct child. In Cielie’s case, her father, the former duke, had left a will stating that his private property would go to her.
That will had been officially notarized by a famous law office in the empire, so Sanchez couldn’t just take it. At the funeral, a lawyer had read it aloud, and from that day on, Sanchez kept pressuring her to sign over the inheritance.
‘The problem is the money is in the Imperial Bank. To withdraw a large amount, you need the family seal… and my uncle has it.’
She had been locked up for some time but managed to escape the Arius estate. With Saha’s help, she came to the capital that same day. If she hadn’t been skilled with a bow, she might have been caught and killed by the people Sanchez sent after her.
Becoming a Royal Guard knight was the greatest stroke of luck in her life.
Cielie took a steady breath.
‘If I marry him, everything will be solved.’
Since Leonard was royalty, Sanchez wouldn’t be able to pressure her as easily.
She picked up the pen. Her hesitation disappeared. Without stopping, she signed the oath and handed it to Leonard.
“Is it done now?”
“Welcome, my wife.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
“Speak more comfortably.”
Leonard smiled, and his face showed a softness she had never seen before. His eyes curved gently as he smiled. Feeling a strange sense of familiarity, Cielie hesitated before speaking.
“Have we met before?”
She had wanted to ask this for a while. She carefully studied his face, but there was no change in his expression. A cold silence passed between them, and Leonard gave a small laugh.
“I thought you’d say that.”
“Commander—no, Leonard.”
“Cielie.”
He answered by calling her name.
“Think carefully. Though I don’t know if you’ll remember with that poor brain of yours.”
“P-poor brain?!”
“With that level, it’s clear your brain isn’t very good.”
“That’s not true! I’m the top of the knight order!”
“Then the whole knight order must be full of fools.”
Hearing his blunt tone, Cielie realized his mood wasn’t good and quietly closed her mouth.
‘It feels like I know him…’
But she couldn’t remember. Before escaping the Arius estate, she had an accident and lost some of her memories. Only Saha knew about this. She had never told anyone else.
‘He’ll tell me someday.’
Thinking simply, she decided not to ask further. Even if her memories didn’t return, she could tell the truth later when she remembered.
“I don’t plan to tell anyone.”
“Me neither.”
She had no intention of telling anyone either. At her answer, Leonard frowned again.
“You need to tell my brother. I’ve already ordered the servants to move your things, so you’ll stay in the room next to mine. The couple’s bedroom is still being prepared, so wait.”
“One room is enough for me…”
“Then, Cielie, what time will you leave tomorrow?”
“Why are you suddenly asking my opinion…?”
“Even if it’s just a marriage by oath, should I treat my wife like a subordinate? If you want that, I will.”
“No!”
At her strong answer, Leonard nodded.
“Then from today, I will treat you properly, my wife.”
“I-I will too.”
Cielie nodded quickly, though it was hard to adjust to his sudden change. If she didn’t do this, Sanchez would never back down.
‘He’s obsessed with the inheritance. He’ll try to find any fault.’
If Sanchez brought another marriage proposal, she planned to reveal her marriage with Leonard. Until then, it was easier to keep it secret. If people found out now, Saha would make a huge fuss.
With her mind made up, her eyes shone firmly.
“When there are no people around, you can act comfortably.”
“I don’t really want to.”
“Then do as you like.”
She didn’t want to force him. She was already grateful that he agreed to the marriage.
“But you still have to do your work.”
“My wife says so, so I have no choice. I’ll remember that.”
It gave her goosebumps. Her direct superior speaking politely to her felt strange.
“Ugh…”
She rubbed her arms awkwardly, unable to respond. Just then, there was a knock.
“Your Grace, it is Head Butler Jenner.”
“The head butler? Why is he here?”
“Isn’t it obvious? The person I married is here, so of course he came to attend.”
“Royalty…”
“And to be exact, he’s the head butler of my palace.”
Leonard, though a Grand Duke, still had his own palace inside the Imperial Palace. As the Emperor’s beloved younger brother and with no heir yet, he was the only one with the right to inherit the throne.
‘Did I really marry someone this important?!’
She panicked inside, but it was too late to turn back.
“Come in.”
The person who entered was someone she recognized. She had seen Jenner several times while guarding the palace. He was a strict man who followed palace etiquette perfectly and didn’t seem to like Cielie’s free nature.
Even now, he greeted Leonard politely but ignored Cielie.
“I greet Your Grace.”
“Greet my wife as well.”
At Leonard’s words, Jenner finally bowed properly.
“I greet Her Grace, the Grand Duchess.”
Cielie hurriedly bowed back.
“H-hello.”
“You must not do that, Your Grace.”
“Excuse me?”
“You must not show such politeness to those beneath you.”
Leonard waved his hand with a smile.
“She doesn’t know palace etiquette yet. Teach her well.”
“I understand.”
As Jenner bowed again, his sharp gaze made the hairs on the back of Cielie’s neck stand up. His fierce expression made cold sweat run down her back. She felt like running away.
‘S-scary.’
Facing monsters felt easier than this. She wasn’t used to dealing with older people.
“I will be in charge of teaching Your Grace proper etiquette.”
“P-please take care of me…”
Her polite speech slipped out naturally, but seeing his sharp eyes, she quickly corrected herself.
She looked at Leonard for help, but he only watched them with a smile, as if he didn’t notice—or pretended not to.
‘Did I really make the right choice getting married?’
