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Chapter : 11 – Why Is This So Hard?
After that day, Cielie didn’t want to go home even after work. Because of Jenner, who kept following her around talking about etiquette, she felt like she was getting a headache. Seeing her pale face, Leonard tapped the desk lightly with his pen. The sound snapped her out of her daze.
“Cielie.”
“Yes.”
Her tired eyes turned toward him, and Leonard quietly looked away. He knew how strict Jenner was. After thinking for a moment about what to say, he finally spoke.
“You look tired.”
‘You know that, and you still brought him?’
Cielie swallowed those words and forced a smile. Seeing her awkward expression, Leonard felt a bit guilty and avoided her gaze.
“It’s hard.”
She couldn’t deny it. It really was hard. She was even reducing her sleep to quickly learn palace etiquette. She had said many times that she wouldn’t need it, but since she was now named the Grand Duchess, she had to learn it in case the Emperor called for her. She couldn’t argue against that logic.
“Jenner is like that.”
“I’m glad you know.”
“But if you learn from him, no one will be able to find fault with you.”
“Leonard.”
At her sudden call, he lifted his head. Their eyes met in the air.
“You know our marriage is a contract marriage, right?”
“…Of course.”
“Then why do I need to learn palace etiquette?”
“After marrying me, were you planning not to greet my brother? If you want to fool everyone, you must start with the people closest to you.”
“……”
Cielie couldn’t say no. The closest people to her were her fellow knights, but she didn’t plan to tell them, so she didn’t think she needed to hide anything from them.
“You have to do it properly. Otherwise, we might both be arrested for disrespecting the Emperor.”
“Disrespecting the Emperor?! I would never—”
“If it’s discovered that our marriage is just a contract, that itself becomes the crime.”
Cielie’s face turned pale instantly. She bit her lip tightly. Everything Leonard said was true. She suddenly felt grateful that he had torn up the contract earlier. If that had been discovered, they really could have been charged.
“There are many people targeting me, Cielie. I can’t give them any reason.”
“I understand.”
“So please endure it a little.”
His eyes, filled with gentleness, looked at her. Cielie couldn’t look away. Sometimes his gaze felt like he was looking at something he missed. It gave her a strange sense of familiarity—like someone from her past.
‘Those eyes… I’ve seen them before.’
She tried to remember everyone she had known, but she couldn’t recall anyone with the same eyes.
As she kept staring at him silently, Leonard felt awkward and stood up.
“You look tired, so go home early today.”
“If I go, will you stop working?”
“I’ll finish everything and then go. Don’t wait for me.”
Leonard looked at the pile of documents like a mountain and picked up the top one, starting his work without even glancing at her.
“Should I really go?”
“You were still here?”
“Then I’ll leave first.”
“Go straight home. Don’t go anywhere else.”
“I understand!”
Cielie replied playfully and left the office without looking back. Leonard watched her leave with a faint smile, then stood up himself. He looked out the window at her leaving the building, and once she disappeared, he put on his jacket.
After getting ready, he picked up the marriage oath and headed to the Emperor’s palace. He had told Cielie it was already taken care of, but it hadn’t actually been submitted yet.
The reason was his older brother, the Emperor of the empire—Edgar Kenis Lind—who had refused to accept it.
Today, Leonard was determined to submit it.
“Your Highness.”
“Where is His Majesty?”
Leonard asked the head attendant of the Emperor’s palace. The man avoided answering, his eyes shifting around.
“Did he run away again?”
“That is disrespectful! How could His Majesty run away—”
“Why else? He doesn’t want to accept my marriage.”
“That cannot be!”
The attendant waved his hands nervously. Before Leonard arrived, Edgar had warned him.
‘If my brother ends up disliking me because of what you say, I won’t let it go.’
The attendant was terrified and stepped in front of Leonard.
“His Majesty loves you very much.”
“That’s enough.”
“Your Highness! You can’t just leave!”
“I won’t come to this office again. Tell His Majesty that.”
“Your Highness! Please!”
Leonard turned to leave. Just then, loud footsteps approached from afar.
“Stop right there!”
Edgar’s voice echoed, but Leonard kept walking.
“By the Emperor’s order, stop!”
“Do you want me to treat you as the Emperor?”
Leonard turned around, his eyes cold as he looked at Edgar.
“Are you rebelling against me because of a woman?”
“Brother.”
Leonard sighed and shook his head.
“You know better than anyone that it’s not like that.”
“If it’s not rebellion, then what is this?! I don’t approve of this marriage!”
“You are the one who told me to marry.”
“I told you to marry the princess of the Sadar Empire! If you do, they’ll give you the empire! So why that—”
“That what?”
Leonard’s expression changed. His calm attitude disappeared, replaced by a fierce aura. Even Edgar flinched but stood his ground.
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, please calm down—!”
The glass window in the hallway shattered with a loud crash. Wind rushed in, scattering glass pieces. Leonard used his aura to push them away.
Water-like energy spread, knocking the glass to the ground. Nearby servants screamed and ran away.
“Brother.”
“I cannot accept this! You married a woman who didn’t even come to greet me!”
“I have already signed the oath. She is my Grand Duchess.”
“Marry the princess of the Sadar Empire!”
“No one can force my marriage.”
“No one? I am your brother!”
“I am enduring this because you are my brother.”
Leonard closed his mouth firmly. He released all his aura and stood still with his eyes closed, as if daring him.
Seeing this, Edgar also withdrew his aura. His heavy breathing echoed in the hallway. The head attendant quickly sent everyone away.
“Are you really going to go against me?”
“I have never gone against you.”
“If not, then what is this?”
“If I truly opposed you, I would have come here with an army.”
“Leonard Franz Lind!”
Edgar shouted, his fists trembling, eyes full of anger. The attendant stepped back in fear, seeing such anger for the first time.
Edgar had always been gentle and cared deeply for Leonard. When they were young, Leonard had been sent away to the Arius territory, where Sanchez mistreated him. Edgar had always felt guilty and tried to give Leonard anything he wanted.
He had even spent a whole year trying to find him the perfect match.
But he never expected Leonard to suddenly bring a marriage oath for another woman.
“Brother, if you continue like this, I will submit the document to the temple.”
“The temple?!”
If the oath was submitted to the temple, it couldn’t be undone. Only couples who promised eternal love submitted their vows there.
“You’re saying you’ll enter a marriage bound by divine power, unable to divorce?”
“If you keep opposing me, I have no other choice.”
“Leonard!”
“Well, if you accept the oath, there’s no need to go that far.”
Leonard spoke calmly, almost persuading him.
‘Fine… I’ll let the marriage happen, and deal with it later.’
For royalty and nobles, divorce wasn’t a big issue.
If Edgar had known about Cielie’s situation, he would never have approved it. But Leonard had kept all information hidden.
Edgar stormed into his office, and the attendant quickly followed.
Taking out the imperial seal, Edgar spoke.
“Let me at least see the name of that woman.”
