The imperial funeral etiquette stipulates a mourning period of 1 year when a spouse dies.

During that period, the person who lost their spouse must hang a black ribbon on their nameplate and wear mourning clothes.

Remarriage is also prohibited during this period.

For reference, it is not possible for visitors from outside to come for a full month after the funeral.

That is why my brother and Baron Baden tried so hard to create an opportunity to talk with me at the funeral.

Anyway, such restrictions kept my feet tied to the Daiern mansion even after the funeral.

But yesterday was the last day of that.

Today is exactly one month and one day since the funeral ended.

The doors of the Daiern capital mansion have finally opened.

… No, they should have opened, that is.

“… What is that procession?”

As soon as visits were allowed, a problem arose.

I am standing on the second floor balcony early in the morning, looking down.

The maid and old butler behind me also looked very perplexed.

Suppressing a sigh that was barely escaping, I asked again.

“How long have they been like that? No, more importantly, how many people are there?”

The butler who answered my question also clicked his tongue.

“I’m not sure exactly, but according to the maids who woke up early, they were waiting like that before dawn.”

“You mean all those countless people?”

“Yes, madam. Moreover, the line seems to be still growing.”

“Huh.”

In the end, the sigh I tried to swallow burst out.

‘… How on earth should I take this situation.’

I stared at the entrance of the mansion with a dumbfounded feeling.

“Hey, don’t push! Do you know what’s loaded here?”

“What do you mean what? As if it could be more precious than what our master sent?”

“Don’t take your eyes off the cart! If even one item goes missing, your heads won’t be enough!”

“Hey, don’t cut in line over there! If you just arrived, you should go to the back of the line. People with no public manners.”

“How dare you raise your voice here!”

“Look carefully at the crest engraved on this cart before you speak! You might end up paying respects if you’re not careful!”

The black procession that started in front of the gate of the Daiern mansion filled the wide street and stretched so long that the end was not in sight.

Magnificent carts loaded with something, people who brought the carts, and even burly knights guarding the carts.

Recognizing the crests engraved on each cart, I quickly guessed the intentions of those visitors. Namely…

“They are all waiting to propose marriage to you, madam. Those are all proposal gifts.”

“…”

“Madam, please give us instructions.”

My head started to ache.

Come to think of it, although imperial social etiquette prohibits remarriage for a woman who has lost her spouse for 1 year, it does not prohibit dating.

In other words, if you date freely during the remarriage ban period and get married on the day the restriction is lifted, there would be no problem.

There might be some gossip, but…

“Madam, since noble families have sent them with care, it would be courteous to accept the gifts first, regardless of whether you accept the proposal or not.”

The butler advised while I was suffering from a headache. I finally came to my senses.

“… I know, but today Baron Baden is supposed to send a tutor, so it will be troublesome.”

We didn’t make a clear appointment. But his greed would obviously not be able to bear even a day’s delay.

‘Moreover, Lord Joseph also said he would visit as soon as the mansion doors opened.’

Somehow it seems I trust his words quite a bit, but that’s not exactly the case.

It’s just that Lord Joseph’s predictions(?) have never been wrong, so I’m just preparing for the future with high probability.

Really.

“Then you don’t have to receive the proposal letters directly. They came without making an appointment in advance, so it can’t be helped.”

“That’s true.”

Anyway, we can’t just chase those people away.

“Then I’ll leave this matter to the butler. Let them know that I have a schedule and can’t receive the proposal letters directly.”

“In that case, I will classify the proposal gifts separately so that you can check them all at once later. Are there any other instructions?”

“Ah, if guests with other purposes arrive, let me know. Don’t bring them in right away, have them wait a little.”

“Understood, madam.”

After giving instructions, I turned to the butler and maid and said.

“Everyone, please work hard today. It’s probably because the mansion doors have opened after a long time. Instead, tell them that this month’s wages will be doubled.”

“I will convey that to the servants.”

But at that time, I didn’t know.

That the real proposal hell was about to begin.

“Then open the doors of the mansion.”

“Brother Kar!”

Kardiel stopped walking and turned his head at the boy’s call.

A small boy with the same bright platinum blonde hair trimmed short approached Kardiel with quick steps.

A bright smile bloomed in the large pumpkin-colored eyes of his 11-year-old younger brother.

Kardiel suddenly felt envious of his brother.

Although they inherited the same platinum blonde hair, while he took after that devilish father, the youngest took after their mother.

It’s not just the appearance, including the eyes. Especially the personality.

Himself, who had become wary of everything in the world and developed a cynical personality.

In contrast, the youngest had a very expressive face and the kindest nature of anyone. He was even called ‘Angel Young Master’ among the mansion servants.

For example, he was a child who cried loudly saying ‘Death is painful no matter who it is’ even though the father he hated so much had finally died.

To be honest, Kardiel was certain that he would never be able to understand this naive and overly kind youngest brother until he died.

Well, regardless of understanding, the fact that he was a brother he had to protect remained unchanged.

“Chersion, didn’t the new mother tell you not to run in the hallway?”

“Th-That’s right!”

Chersion quickly stopped walking and covered his mouth with both hands.

That appearance was very cute and lovable, but Kardiel deliberately didn’t smile.

“Th-This has to be a secret from mother.”

“If it’s a secret, you’ll run in the hallway again. It’s better to get scolded properly once to correct your habits.”

“I won’t do it again next time. Just let it go this once, brother.”

“It’s no use whining like that.”

“Hee-ing.”

At Kardiel’s response that left no room for negotiation, Chersion quickly made a tearful expression all over his small face.

But that didn’t work on Kardiel at all.

“Your business.”

“Oh right!”

Chersion, who had puffed up his cheeks for a moment at his cold older brother’s reaction, brought up the main point as if he suddenly remembered at those words.

“Since morning, so many people have come to the house!”

“…”

“I asked Nanny Molly, and it’s just like you said before, brother. They’re people coming to propose to Mother!”

Kardiel’s brow furrowed greatly. He had already been quite displeased about that issue for a while.

Although it was something he had expected and was scheduled to happen.

‘I didn’t know I would be this irritated.’

He knew that at times like this, he should calmly sort out his emotions. But why wasn’t it going as he intended?

He was certainly still immature.

Kardiel realizes his own inadequacies like this again today.

“Wh-What should we do? If Mother… really marries someone else?”

“That won’t happen.”

Kardiel cut off those words firmly.

However, despite answering decisively, Kardiel himself wasn’t certain.

‘The new mother didn’t say she had no intention of remarrying that day either.’

It was at the funeral.

At that time, Kardiel asked Lieselotte. If she had thoughts of remarrying.

Lieselotte, however, gave a completely different answer.