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Chapter 7
“Even though he’s my son, he’s really hopeless.”
“I think the same, my lady.”
James held Anne’s hand and escorted her. As the former Baron and Baroness of Mare arrived, the Grand Ducal House received them with proper courtesy.
They were called the former Baron and Baroness, but in truth, James only held the title for about a month before passing it to his son.
“It must be because we spoiled our only son too much.”
James nodded at Anne’s whisper.
“I will beat him properly.”
“Do it where no one can see. He’s a businessman—people might notice.”
“As you wish.”
They spoke elegantly, but their words were about beating their son. To others, they looked like a refined couple having a calm conversation.
Edward, who saw his parents from afar, smiled awkwardly. After being scolded by them yesterday, he seemed to know exactly what they were talking about.
Seeing that their son wasn’t approaching, Anne whispered,
“Go greet the Grand Duke.”
“He’s over there.”
James tightened his arm around hers.
“I never thought we would become in-laws with the Grand Duke. And only for one year.”
James had met many high nobles before, but he had only seen Grand Duke Mars a few times.
Anne smiled softly.
“It’s thanks to our troublesome son. Relax, James.”
Mars recognized them immediately.
The man with neat silver hair and kind black eyes—Edward’s father.
The woman with calm blue eyes and neatly styled black hair—Edward’s mother.
“Welcome, Lord Mare. Lady Mare.”
“It is an honor, Your Grace.”
Their greeting was perfect.
“Forgive me for receiving you while seated.”
“Please don’t worry about it.”
James glanced at Butler Fides.
Anne nudged him, but it was too late.
“If you need anything, ask Butler Fides.”
“Thank you, but we—”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
James smiled and whispered to Fides. Soon, servants brought a chair like Mars’s.
Anne sighed softly.
“James, I’m fine.”
“I’m not.”
He seated Anne first, then sat beside her.
“She has been ill for a long time. Her body is weak.”
“I should have been more considerate.”
Mars immediately ordered Fides to prepare rooms and assign servants.
“Take care of your health while you stay here.”
“That would be good.”
Anne kept poking James, but it didn’t help.
“…I apologize for the trouble.”
“It is no trouble.”
Mars smiled faintly.
“It reminds me of the past… I should be the one thanking you.”
Everyone in the empire knew he had lost his wife.
They stayed silent, letting him remember.
Then they saw their son.
And soon, they saw Diana beside him.
A beautiful woman shining like gold.
They smiled warmly.
“My son feels like an enemy, but strangely… the Lady feels like a daughter.”
Mars laughed.
“An enemy, you say?”
“I was worried he might have been rude.”
“He was not.”
Actually, he was. But Mars didn’t dislike it.
“Baron Mare is a fine young man.”
“And the Lady is a wonderful young woman.”
“They suit each other well, don’t they?”
Anne gave up on James’s excitement.
Mars smiled.
“Yes… they suit each other very well.”
Even though it was a contract marriage, the Mare couple acted naturally.
“Your Grace, shall we make a bet?”
“…A bet?”
Mars was curious.
Anne smiled.
“Whether Edward de Mare and Diana de Kailum will fall in love… or not.”
“…Even if they divorce?”
“Can divorce truly separate love?”
Mars thought for a moment.
“I will bet that they will not fall in love.”
“Then we will bet that they will.”
It was not a normal bet for parents at a wedding. But they all knew this was a contract marriage.
“If we lose, we will give you the ‘Golden Lion with a Laurel Crown.’”
Mars raised his eyebrows.
It was a famous sculpture worth a fortune.
“Then if I lose… I will give you the Vespera territory.”
“…A territory?”
“If I lose, it means we become a true family.”
James and Anne nodded.
A bet of art and land.
“Why did you choose ‘they will not fall in love’?”
Mars answered calmly.
“Diana is very rational… like my late wife.”
He continued,
“Dietrich is emotional. Diana is rational. That is why she is fit to be the next Grand Duke.”
Then he looked at them.
“Baron Mare is excellent. But he is not suited to stand beside a Grand Duke.”
James asked,
“Because you need a son-in-law who will stay?”
“Yes. A man who holds the wealth of the empire… can he truly become a shadow for someone else?”
Anne nodded.
Then she smiled.
“That child… would choose to become a shadow.”
Mars looked at her.
“You seem very confident.”
“Because I have seen it before.”
“…Ah.”
Mars noticed the way James looked at Anne.
It was full of love.
“…Let us see who knows their child better.”
“I look forward to it.”
Edward and Diana approached them.
Diana greeted politely.
“I apologize for greeting you late. I am Diana de Kailum.”
“Nice to meet you. I am James de Mare, and this is my wife, Anne.”
“It is an honor. Please call me Diana.”
“Of course, Diana.”
Edward glanced at his parents, but couldn’t take his eyes off Diana.
She looked like a perfect bride.
“…Isn’t she truly beautiful?”
Everyone looked at Diana.
Her ears turned red.
“…I still have preparations to do. I will take my leave.”
“Diana, I’ll come with you!”
Edward followed her quickly.
Mars laughed loudly.
James and Anne laughed as well.
“You have a cheerful son.”
“And you have a lovely daughter.”
As they exchanged warm words, James thought:
“Perhaps… the outcome of this bet is already decided.”
