Chapter : 04
The moment she drank the potion, Charlotte no longer feared the death that had already been destined.
What she feared was that even after sacrificing her life, she might fail to save Alfonso.
One year. Somehow, within one year, Alfonso must become happy.
Because making Alfonso happy was Charlotte’s wish, the spell would not be completed until the moment he truly felt happiness.
In truth, the current Alfonso had every reason not to be happy.
He carried far too many burdens.
The name of the emperor’s cousin. And the Eduard family.
If someone were asked to name the most famous figure in the capital at present, without hesitation they would name Duke Eduard.
He was the kind of renowned figure everyone wanted to become connected with at least once.
It was not merely because of the noble name Eduard.
His reputation came from the countless victory reports he had delivered over nearly ten years.
A war hero, they called him.
The young and capable Duke Eduard.
Wherever he went on the battlefield, he always returned with news of victory. Because of the wars he had won, imperial authority had strengthened beyond measure.
And the fact that Alfonso showed loyalty to Benoit only made the emperor’s power even stronger.
To the point that he dared to take away Noha’s trade rights.
When part of the southern maritime trade rights had been seized by the imperial family, Dominic had not slept properly for three days and nights.
—It’s all because of that damned Eduard. If that bastard didn’t exist, the emperor wouldn’t be acting so arrogantly!
Charlotte could still vividly remember him grinding his teeth as he shouted those words.
And after cursing him like that, now he wants to become in-laws with him.
How shameless.
Charlotte gave a bitter smile as she recalled yesterday’s dinner.
In the past she had cursed Eduard alongside Dominic, but now the greed of Noha only seemed ridiculous and disgusting.
Her fingertips slowly tapped against the window frame as she looked down at the magnolia leaves rotting on the ground.
Father has probably already sent the proposal to Alfonso.
Since he had brought up marriage during the family dinner yesterday, the proposal must have already been sent.
Even this morning, before leaving the house, Dominic had repeatedly warned Charlotte.
“Your role is important, Charlotte. You understand that, don’t you? Do not disappoint me.”
Do not disappoint me.
In Dominic’s words, that was no different from saying that the means did not matter as long as the goal was achieved.
After all, Charlotte’s half-siblings who had failed to accomplish their goals after hearing those same words from Dominic had all been stripped of the Noha name and driven out.
If it were up to her, she would never let Alfonso become entangled with Noha in the slightest.
But since things had come to this…
I’ll pretend on the surface to follow the family’s orders.
And beneath the surface, she would help Alfonso find happiness.
She had absolutely no intention of marrying Alfonso again under the command of her family like before.
In the past she had obeyed Dominic’s orders absolutely, but now the greed of Noha only appeared laughable and revolting.
More than anything, Charlotte could never forgive the family because their greed had made Alfonso miserable and ultimately led to his death.
Ah… but I suppose there’s one thing I should thank the family for.
Because of them, she had married Alfonso and learned what happiness was.
And she had also learned what was needed to make someone happy.
It was actually very simple.
Only one thing was required.
Love.
Charlotte’s gaze sank deeply as she recalled the moments when she had fallen in love with Alfonso.
—Charlotte, I trust your words. Regardless of whether I like you or not, you are not someone who speaks lies.
—As long as you are my wife, I will not tolerate anyone insulting you. It has nothing to do with my feelings. It is simply my duty and my right.
How her heart had trembled at those moments.
How fulfilled she had felt.
She had never forgotten that overwhelming sensation in her chest. If she had to give that moment a name, it would probably be happiness.
So how difficult could it be to make Alfonso happy?
Because I know the woman he loved.
Adeline Laberouse.
If she simply helped the two of them end up together, wouldn’t that solve everything?
Charlotte removed her hand from the window frame and walked toward the hallway, speaking as she did.
“Silvia, prepare the carriage.”
“Yes, miss. Where are you going?”
“To Count Olivier’s estate.”
Just like before, she planned to ruin Alfonso’s first marriage proposal.
But this time, it was to help his love succeed.
* * *
Meanwhile, inside a rattling carriage.
“Marriage~ marriage~. Alfonso oppa is going to marry into the Olivier count family~.”
At the carefree humming, Alfonso—who had been looking out the window—slowly closed his eyes.
Even without turning around, he could clearly imagine his cousin with the same silver hair as his own, wearing an excited expression.
“I told you to stop, Sophia. The marriage talks haven’t even properly begun.”
“Come on, oppa. Who would reject the great Eduard? Count Olivier was probably wiggling his butt in excitement three days ago already.”
“Do not speak of the empire’s most honorable knight that way.”
“I never said anything like that.”
“Count Olivier—”
“The empire’s most honorable knight is you, isn’t it? Alfonso Linus Eduard! The new war hero of this era with a victory rate of ninety percent!”
Kyaa!
Sophia clapped dramatically while joking around.
The imperial princess Sophia, the emperor’s younger sister—famous for her arrogance—yet who would ever imagine that she could be such a mischievous troublemaker?
But Sophia didn’t care in the slightest.
After all, it was Alfonso’s marriage they were talking about!
“You may not realize it, oppa, but Alfonso oppa is the capital’s number one bachelor right now. Even our emperor wasn’t considered the top bachelor before he ascended the throne. Do you realize how honorable that is?”
“There’s nothing honorable about it. And perhaps you’ve forgotten you said the same thing ten years ago.”
“That’s because you’ve always been the top bachelor.”
In other words, Benoit had never once been the number one bachelor in his life because he had always been overshadowed by Alfonso.
But what could anyone do about it?
Even compared to a young and promising emperor, people’s attention naturally gravitated toward his cousin, Duke Eduard.
To be honest, Sophia even felt a little disappointed that Alfonso had decided to marry only now.
“Honestly, when everyone told you to get married earlier you ignored them. What kind of wind suddenly blew through you to make you move the marriage talks so quickly? I thought you had no intention of marrying anytime soon.”
“…People’s hearts change. Stop nagging when it’s none of your business.”
“I’m just disappointed, that’s all.”
Before Alfonso had spent so many years on the battlefield, how many people had admired him?
If he had married back then, he could have chosen a bride from among much more prestigious and beautiful noble ladies.
“Of course, the Olivier family is respectable, but they’re nowhere near the level of Eduard. Ladies from prestigious houses like Guinevere or Orphen are already all married.”
Alfonso Linus Eduard—the emperor’s cousin and Duke Eduard—now seeking a bride from a family far below his status.
How could that not be frustrating?
And that wasn’t even the worst of it.
“And now that you’re finally looking for a bride, even Noha dares to forget their place and send a proposal—”
“…Enough. Sophia. That’s enough.”
The moment the name Noha was mentioned, Alfonso narrowed his eyes slightly, clearly showing his displeasure.
Just remembering yesterday’s commotion was already giving him a headache.
—Noha must have lost their minds, Your Grace! How dare they behave so shamelessly? Sending a proposal to you! Have they forgotten how eager they always were to oppose you?
—This is clearly an insult to the Eduard name. If we simply reject them, they’ll attempt retaliation! We should cut them down before they even try such insolence!
As expected of knights, they had all come wearing swords and behaved as if they were ready to tear Noha apart on the spot. It had taken considerable effort to calm them down.
“I have already politely refused Noha’s proposal, saying that another family approached us first and we must respect the order.”
When Alfonso explained that there would be no problem as long as this current marriage arrangement proceeded smoothly, Sophia’s tightly furrowed brow finally relaxed.
“…If you say so, oppa. So, have you met the Olivier count’s daughter yet?”
“Not yet. I plan to meet her today. They said they would arrange an opportunity during the luncheon at the count’s estate we are attending.”
Laila Olivier.
The eldest daughter of Count Olivier, and the woman who might become Alfonso’s future wife.
“That’s good. It’s always so dull when I visit the duke’s residence. I’d like someone my age to talk to.”
“It will work out, so don’t worry.”
Alfonso quietly watched his cousin whining childishly about wanting a sister-in-law soon.
Then he slightly lifted the corner of his lips in a faint smile.
“As if anything unexpected would happen.”
