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Chapter 10
“We’ve been in a relationship for a very long time.”
“Diana is very cautious, so we couldn’t reveal it in society.”
“Edward always wanted to make it public, but since I am older, I worried that my existence might become a flaw for him.”
“Diana worries too much. How could age ever be a flaw?”
“If we ever broke up, it would damage Edward’s name—and even the Mare Guild… so we met in secret.”
“I was upset that she worried about my reputation and my guild. Shouldn’t a man proudly stand before others with the woman he loves?”
“So Edward proposed to me. It was unexpected, so I hesitated…”
“I begged her to marry me. I said I couldn’t endure it anymore. Do you know how much it hurt me every time Diana’s name came up in society while I had a proper lover?”
“I even asked if it would burden him. I cannot take Edward’s surname because I must carry on my family line.”
“What does a surname matter? If I can become Diana’s husband, I would even rename the Mare Guild to the Kailum Guild.”
Diana and Edward were like actors performing a perfectly written script.
It almost felt like watching a pair of master con artists.
They didn’t even give Malus a chance to speak.
It almost seemed like they were telling him—
“Go and report exactly what you heard to the Emperor.”
Maybe it wasn’t just imagination.
Malus finally came back to his senses and tried to ask something.
“…I-I see. Since when have you been together…?”
“May I answer by saying ‘for a very long time’? I would like to keep that as a secret between Diana and me.”
“….”
Edward spoke so naturally that it left Malus speechless.
Malus looked at him with surprise.
Those gentle eyes—he knew them well.
Like many noble families in the empire, his family also traded with the Mare Guild.
As a marquis, he had met Edward privately before.
And even then, Edward used that same expression to gain the upper hand.
“…You two really suit each other.”
“Thank you.”
But Malus had not come just to offer blessings.
“His Majesty wished to attend personally, but he was too busy with state affairs and regrets not being able to come.”
In truth, Emperor Morbus had raged upon hearing of their marriage and then fallen ill.
Diana nodded lightly and said,
“I plan to greet him during the Founding Festival soon.”
“Hmm.”
Malus spoke again, showing clear dissatisfaction.
“Isn’t that too late? His Majesty was very disappointed that he couldn’t even send a gift to such an important wedding.”
Edward looked at Malus coldly.
This man was not even worth being considered an opponent.
He was nothing more than a messenger, repeating the Emperor’s words.
Still, because of his title, Edward had to deal with him.
“…Then it would be best to visit soon.”
Diana tightened her grip on Edward’s arm.
It meant—don’t step in.
“I will visit alone.”
“His Majesty wishes to meet the newlyweds together.”
“There is a long history between the imperial family and the Grand Ducal House. Shouldn’t I be the one to ease his disappointment?”
“A married couple is one body. How can you go alone?”
Diana did not want to meet the Emperor with Edward.
Dealing with such a narrow-minded man was exhausting.
It was easier alone.
At that moment, Malus’s son, Hydrus, interrupted.
“How can you refuse His Majesty’s grace?”
The words “grace” and “refuse” revealed exactly how Hydrus viewed the Emperor.
Edward looked at his young face.
A face that had never known hardship.
Diana’s expression stiffened.
Though both had yet to inherit their titles, their positions were different.
Diana was the daughter of a Grand Duke.
Hydrus was the son of a marquis.
Edward was a baron.
Edward looked at Hydrus for a moment, then smiled brightly.
“Ah, young master. It seems I haven’t received your congratulations yet.”
Hydrus almost snapped, but seeing Malus’s gaze, he forced himself to speak.
“Congratulations on your marriage.”
“Thank you. I’ve always wanted this wedding, so I hoped to receive many congratulations.”
Even seeing the contempt on Hydrus’s face, Edward remained calm.
He disliked people who relied only on their bloodline to act arrogant.
And—
He didn’t like how Hydrus dared to act rudely toward Diana.
“Thank you, young master.”
“…Anyway, you will have to meet His Majesty.”
“That is something my wife and I will decide.”
Diana said firmly.
Hydrus’s face turned red.
“It is His Majesty’s will.”
“That is His Majesty’s will—not yours, correct?”
As soon as she finished, Edward added gently but firmly,
“It is not His Majesty’s command either.”
“…Ha!”
“Hydrus.”
Even as Malus warned him, Hydrus kept muttering,
“…What a low-class wedding.”
Ignoring him, Diana spoke to Malus,
“I will decide after reviewing the situation and may accompany my husband.”
“…Hmm.”
“His Majesty is busy with state affairs. We should not take too much of his time.”
Malus nodded reluctantly.
There were many nobles of the Emperor’s faction.
In the end, they would meet the Emperor before the Founding Festival.
“…We’ve taken too much of the newlyweds’ time.”
“Not at all. Thank you for your congratulations.”
As they were about to leave, Edward spoke.
“Young master.”
“W-what is it?”
Hydrus almost spoke rudely but corrected himself under Diana’s gaze.
Edward pointed at his shoes.
“Those shoes are quite popular.”
“…Of course. They were made by the greatest craftsman in the empire!”
There was pride in his voice.
Pride in his background.
Edward nodded.
“Yes. Made by the finest craftsman, comfortable and beautifully designed.”
Then he looked in a certain direction.
“That craftsman is over there.”
“…What—”
“Our guild has worked exclusively with him for three generations. Mare always deals with the best.”
“…So what?”
Hydrus’s face turned red.
“So what? That’s disappointing. I thought you appreciated the value of a common craftsman. I was going to introduce you.”
“….”
“He is here as well.”
Hydrus’s face changed colors.
Malus quickly stepped in.
“Thank you, Baron. I will speak with him.”
“Thank you, Marquis.”
“Then enjoy your time.”
Diana pulled Edward away.
Behind them, Hydrus shouted angrily.
But Edward remained calm.
Diana glanced at him.
“Don’t make more enemies.”
“I understand.”
She looked at him again, uneasy.
Hydrus had deliberately avoided calling Edward “Baron.”
He hated acknowledging him as a noble.
Edward was like an outsider in noble society.
“…The Kailum family can afford enemies. But you cannot.”
“Diana?”
“I cannot take responsibility for your future.”
Diana spoke coldly.
But Edward smiled brightly.
“Then that means you’ll protect me for one year.”
“…You are my husband for one year.”
“That’s a very nice sentence to hear.”
“I’m not joking.”
“I know.”
Edward tightened his grip on her arm.
“That’s why I’m acting like this.”
Their eyes met.
They were thinking different things.
But neither spoke them.
“I expected something like this when we invited commoners and beastmen.”
“Then why?”
“Because I didn’t like how he acted arrogantly toward you.”
Edward smiled bitterly.
“…And… it was ridiculous that he insulted commoners while wearing shoes made by one.”
“….”
“I’m sorry for causing trouble. I was careless.”
“…Don’t apologize. You weren’t wrong.”
Edward looked at Diana.
She could have scolded him.
But she didn’t.
That meant she allowed him some freedom.
If she were cruel, she would have used his feelings to control him.
But she didn’t.
His affectionate gaze rested on her.
He knew exactly what kind of person she was.
A woman walking barefoot on a path of thorns.
He couldn’t stop her.
He couldn’t put shoes on her.
So—
The only thing he could do was walk beside her.
“I’m really worried about your future after one year.”
“Really?”
“…Not in the way you want. I mean as a person.”
Diana drew a clear line.
But Edward still smiled like a child.
Even her concern was enough to make him happy.
But he couldn’t keep smiling forever.
“Money will protect me.”
“Even power cannot fully protect a person.”
Diana was right.
Money and power were not absolute.
Edward looked at her.
“…That’s a relief. You have Uber by your side.”
Spirits could do what money and power could not.
“…I wonder.”
Diana looked at Mars in the distance.
He had survived because of his spirit.
But—
“Is being safe alone in this world truly a blessing?”
She knew her father’s loneliness better than anyone.
Edward also looked at Mars.
“I am not becoming Grand Duke to rule.”
Edward looked back at her.
“I am becoming Grand Duke to protect.”
Edward smiled brightly.
“That’s wonderful, Diana.”
And just like always—
He found another reason to love her
