"If marriage proposals have co for Arthur and — mmph—"
Arthur covered her mouth and smiled.
"Hello, we are Arthur and Serena Ankertna. We apologize for interrupting while you're busy. We'll be going now—"
Ignoring Serena's muffled protests and kicks, Arthur tried to drag her out of the study. Or rather, he would have if Arkana hadn't closed the door before they could leave.
With a slight flick of Arkana's hand, the door shut. Serena stomped hard on Arthur's foot, making him release her with a stifled cry.
Beramund chuckled and beckoned the children.
"Co here."
Arthur and Serena glanced around before crossing the study to stand before Beramund. He reached out and ruffled their hair vigorously, saying,
"At least knock before entering, just knock."
"But, it was urgent."
"Serena barged in, not ."
"Common sense dictates you should at least knock when you don't know what's happening inside, young lady."
At Arkana's words, Serena's cheeks reddened.
"I'm sorry."
"Very well."
Arkana nodded. Sigrid sighed and said,
"Well, since you two are here, we might as well talk. We were just discussing you."
At those words, Arthur and Serena looked at each other, then back at their mother. Unusually, Sigrid looked troubled. Beramund said quietly,
"That gentleman over there is from the Imperial family."
Surprised, they glanced back. The envoy smiled at them and bowed.
"I apologize for our rudeness."
Arthur apologized formally, and Serena hastily followed suit.
"Not at all. I'm glad to see the young master and miss looking so healthy. His Majesty will surely be pleased."
"Would you mind stepping out for a mont so we can talk?"
At Beramund's words, the envoy bowed and quickly left the study. Sigrid sighed deeply and said,
"To get to the point, His Majesty wishes to form a marriage alliance with our family."
Both Arthur and Serena were stunned by those words.
"That ans one of you two," Sigrid continued rcilessly, and Arthur reacted first.
"Marriage? With the Imperial family?"
"That's impossible!"
Serena shouted. Beramund said calmly,
"Before you say it's impossible, think about it for a mont."
"What happens if we refuse?"
At Arthur's question, Beramund smiled gently and stroked his son's face. It was a gesture one might use with a small child, but Arthur didn't mind. No, rather, if he felt reassured by his father's large hand, was he still too young?
"You don't need to worry about that. Just think about it."
"So I'd beco the Empress?"
Serena muttered. It didn't feel real at all. Lilia, one of the retainers, said in a cheerful voice,
"I'm sure Lady Serena would do well. Being Empress, it's a position every girl in this country dreams of, isn't it?"
"I—"
Serena started to say sothing but closed her mouth.
'Arthur can't.'
Arthur couldn't marry the Imperial Princess. That would tie the Ankertna family too closely to the Imperial family. Of course, the sa would be true if she married into the Imperial family, but Arthur's influence on the family would be greater. He was the heir to the family, after all.
"Seri."
Beramund gently lifted his daughter's chin.
"No one is forcing you. Understand?"
"...Yes."
Serena nodded. Sigrid rose from her seat, bent slightly to kiss Serena and Arthur's cheeks alternately, and said,
"We have no intention of sending you away. Honestly, I think marriage is too early."
"Usually at that age—"
"That's about other people."
Sigrid cut off her aide Alex's words. Beramund cleared his throat and said,
"Well, shall we all go up to the capital? Together."
"To the capital?"
Sigrid tilted her head at Beramund's words, and he nodded. After looking at her husband for a mont, Sigrid nodded.
"Alright. Then tell them to prepare. Arkana, you'll co too?"
"If we go, it'll be after a long ti."
Arkana answered with a smile.
Arthur and Serena were dazed by the sudden decision. Arkana said,
"Well then, young master and misses, you'd better go up and prepare. And inform your younger siblings of the news."
"Ah, yes."
"Understood."
Though sowhat suspicious, the two bowed and left the study. Once the children had left and their footsteps faded down the corridor, Sigrid slumped into her chair.
"What a shock, really."
"I guess this is why secret discussions don't work," Beramund sighed and said.
Arkana added, "They say speak of the devil and he shall appear."
Sigrid rested her chin on the large desk. This big, black desk at the head of the study was specially ordered and large enough for two people to sit side by side.
"I was surprised by the sudden marriage proposal from the Imperial family."
At Sigrid's words, Beramund shook his head and said,
"Fourteen is just the right age for marriage. Twelve is too."
"They marry that young?"
"No. Of course, there's usually a long engagent period."
"Then there's no need to decide so early, is there?"
"The earlier you decide, the better match you can secure."
At Beramund's words, Sigrid thought, 'It's the effect of first-mover advantage,' and after a mont of reflection, said,
"But why us specifically?"
"Hm?"
"We're just a frontier marquis. Not a duchy, not of Imperial blood—"
"You're joking, right?"
At Beramund's words, Sigrid straightened up, removing her chin from her hand.
"Is there sothing else— Ah, I see. Is it because of Arkana?"
As gazes turned to Arkana, the magician—now called Archmage—sighed and said,
"Well, that might be part of it."
But it surely wasn't just that.
From commoner to count, and then to marquis. Anyone could easily see that the Ankertna family was extraordinary just by looking at the speed of their social ascension.
"But then wouldn't they have contacted Lian too?"
"It probably ans the Ankertnas are easier to handle than Lian. For one, everyone knows about Marchioness Sigrid's loyalty."
"My loyalty and my children's marriage are completely different matters."
At Sigrid's words, Beramund smiled faintly and said,
"Most people don't think that way. They consider children as their parents' possessions, to be used as they see fit."
"......"
Sigrid's face darkened. Seizing the mont, Lilia raised her hand and said,
"Um, everyone? Are you really discussing this about the best marriage prospect in the Empire?"
The position of the future Emperor's wife.
Empress.
The pinnacle of the Imperial inner court.
A position noble ladies would do anything to obtain.
"No, they might not want to."
"That's right."
As the couple waved their hands saying, "No, no, that's not it," one after another, Lilia felt like fainting.
"We've never had a good experience with them," Arkana finally said coldly, with a chilling smile. Alex made a strange face and said,
"But they've formally sent an envoy with a marriage proposal, haven't they? You'll need a proper reason if you want to refuse."
"I was actually going to say we were sick."
Beramund rubbed his forehead. Sigrid continued, "But we've shown them how healthy we are." Beramund sat on the edge of the desk and said,
"So we'll have to go up there first. We need to talk to Serios too......"
"I want to talk to so people as well."
Sigrid said, and Beramund nodded. Both Baroness Daenum and Viscountess Illisaine would be good confidants.
Serena, who had been walking silently along the corridor for a while, stopped.
"Marriage?"
"Marriage."
"With the Imperial family?"
"With the Imperial family."
Arthur echoed, and Serena pulled at her hair, saying,
"It's impossible! , as Empress? Or does this an Arthur would beco Emperor?"
"No, that's not it."
"Hehehehehe. I've got a good idea. Hehehehehe."
"When you laugh like that, it's never a good idea."
"We'll both get married."
"What?"
"Both of us! I'll marry the Prince, and Arthur will marry the Princess."
"Uh— Is that a good idea?"
As Arthur frowned slightly, Serena continued with her eerie laugh,
"And then I'll kill my husband, so Arthur automatically becos Emperor— mmph—"
Arthur covered Serena's mouth and said,
"Do you really want to die for treason? I knew it wasn't a good idea. This is why you're not suitable, Serena Ankertna."
"What's not suitable?"
"You need to maintain inner peace, whether handling aura or anything else. You can't succeed if you're so emotionally volatile."
Serena was at a loss for words at that, closing her mouth before opening it again.
"But I'm only twelve."
At those words, Arthur chuckled. Serena glanced at her brother before looking straight ahead and starting to walk again.
"Arthur."
"Yeah?"
"If you don't want to get married, don't."
"You too."
"If the pressure gets too much, I can marry instead."
"Don't do that. You're the one who needs to inherit this place, rember?"
Ignoring his words, Serena continued,
"I wonder what the Imperial family is thinking. No matter how you look at it, I'm still a fledgling who hasn't even set foot in high society. Could it be that Princess Lucy has fallen for Arthur at first sight?"
"What do you an fallen for ? We've only seen each other's faces briefly from afar."
"Besides, isn't she much older? Isn't she about five years older than Arthur?"
"Age difference doesn't matter much. Sotis the man is much older."
"That's true, but......"
"What serious conversation are you two having?"
At the cheerful voice, Serena and Arthur's faces brightened. Erging from behind a pillar was Awen.
He was more renowned as a magician, but his swordsmanship was also considered 'decent.' Of course, that 'decent' was Sigrid's assessnt; most people rated it as 'quite good.'
Awen, who had gained the interesting nickna 'Mage-Swordsman,' was the Emperor's brother and had received the title of Duke, but he rarely appeared in high society. He was usually in his territory, at the tower, or at the Ankertna estate and mansion.
Having been around since Arthur and Serena were born, Awen was like an older sibling to them.
"Awen!"
Arthur smiled broadly and strode over, with Serena darting past him like lightning. Awen opened his arms to catch Serena as she leaped into them.
"Awen! When did you arrive!"
Serena laughed brightly, wrapping her arms around Awen's neck and leaning into him. Awen shook hands with Arthur with his other arm and ruffled his hair vigorously. Arthur smiled and leaned back. Awen said,
"Just now. What's going on? Rivans seed very tense."
"A guest ca from the Imperial family."
"From the Imperial family?"
Seeing Awen's questioning look, Serena and Arthur exchanged glances. Serena whispered in his ear,
"They want to form a marriage alliance with us."
At those words, Awen's face hardened. His arm holding Serena tightened. When Serena softly called "Awen?" he smiled gently.
"My brother is still the sa."
"Ah, right. His Majesty is Awen's brother, isn't he?"
Realizing this anew, Serena tilted her head and said,
"Then, if we get married, will we really beco family with Awen?"
At those words, Awen drooped his shoulders and said,
"I already thought we were family."
"Oh? That's right. We're already family with Awen!"
Serena emphasized and hugged Awen tightly again. Arthur said exasperatedly,
"You're not a child anymore, stop clinging to him. Awen's arm is going to fall off."
"It's fine, it's fine. Want a hug too, Arthur?"
"Awen~"
At Arthur's tone that seed to say 'Are you treating
like a child?', Awen just laughed and started walking while still holding Serena. Arthur quickly fell into step beside them and said,
"Weren't you going to greet Mother?"
"Hmm. I was, but if there's a guest from the Imperial family, I'd rather not run into them. And they probably don't want to see my face as an Imperial person right now."
"That doesn't matter."
At Serena's words, Awen laughed and said, "Well, that's true." Arthur asked,
"Why do you think the Imperial family wants to marry us, Awen?"
"Well, the biggest reason is probably magic."
"Magic? Why?"
As Serena tilted her head, Arthur said,
"Because of Arkana? But Awen, you're a magician too, aren't you? And you're His Majesty's brother."
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