Lucas, who had received replies from the Imperial Palace and the Papal Palace, was now only waiting for Duke Astel’s response.

“Are you really not going to open it?”

Cedric asked curiously several times, but he always shook his head.

“How many times do I have to tell you that I’m going to open them all at once when the parties are present?”

Of course, Lucas had some degree of trust.

Although he didn’t know about the Emperor, the Empress had always understood him without saying a word, so there was a high probability that she would have lent a hand in this matter. As for the Papal Palace, he had incurred a few debts while wandering, so they would have also taken his side.

“Your Highness, I don’t know about the rest, but there’s no guarantee that Duke Astel will cooperate.”

“Yes. He’s an unpredictable one.”

Lucas nodded.

“But thanks to that, we were able to avoid a big mistake.”

If he had been an ordinary duke from the beginning, things couldn’t have gotten this far.

Isn’t it more normal to not miss the opportunity to become the future Empress and forcefully push for marriage, starting misfortune?

“If Duke Astel had ambition and forcefully arranged our marriage… I wouldn’t have even had a chance to realize if my feelings for her were pure.”

Lucas was born into a status where it was difficult to marry solely for love. That’s why he didn’t want to give up this opportunity even more.

“And my heart has already been decided.”

If he couldn’t take the woman he had solely desired from the time he was a boy to the present as his wife, could he love anyone else?

“I don’t care even if Duke Astel opposes it.”

A confident smile hung on Lucas’s lips. Regardless of what Serena thought, his plan had almost reached completion.

“Because this was the intention from the beginning.”

The moment he first saw Serena, his fate was sealed. Although at that moment, he didn’t know what Serena, who was imprinted on him, meant, as time passed, everything became clear.

“Sir Cedric.”

While Lucas was lost in thought, an attendant called for Cedric at the door.

“A letter has arrived from Duke Astel.”

At those words, Lucas also turned his head. Finally, all three cards were in place.

“Your Highness.”

The sealed note clearly had the Astel ducal seal stamped on it. Lucas took the letters from the Imperial Palace and the Papal Palace together and rose from his seat.

“Go and tell the young lady. The answer that will decide our marriage has come.”

Lucas’s spirited appearance already anticipated victory.

[This is the timeline separator]

Serena greeted the Crown Prince with a determined expression like a knight who had received a duel request.

“Greetings to Your Highness.”

She reluctantly paid her respects to Lucas, but her expression remained cold.

“I heard you brought the answer?”

“Yes. Aren’t you happy?”

Serena raised the corners of her mouth.

“Of course, I’m happy.”

“Were you also waiting for our marriage like me?”

Even at Lucas’s mischievous question, Serena didn’t lower the corners of her mouth.

“Yes, I’ve been waiting. For the day to reveal that Your Highness’s belated claim of engagement is nonsensical.”

Engagement to the Crown Prince was not the fate she had chosen. However, as Lucas’s unexpected actions continued for 6 years, a completely new life opened up for Serena.

“Do you still believe in customary law?”

“It’s a fact recognized by the Papal Palace as well.”

Every year, Serena sent letters to the Papal Palace and the Imperial Palace, pitifully claiming that the engagement had not been properly fulfilled and that she was destined to live single.

It was the only way for a noble lady of this era to have her single life acknowledged, and it actually worked well.

“Everyone, leave.”

Lucas said as he placed the three letters on the table. And soon, when only the two of them were left, his jet-black eyes gazed at Serena.

“Would you like to open them with your own hands? It will be easier for you to accept that way.”

“It won’t change anything.”

It had only been a few months since she sent the last letter. It meant that soon, his pride and beliefs would crumble.

“I hope Your Highness will also accept the results well.”

“Of course.”

Lucas gave a leisurely smile.

“I’ll accept whatever the outcome.”

“Then the result is as good as decided.”

“Yes. Will you accept it too?”

Serena laughed, looking at Lucas who still hadn’t realized the reality.

“Of course.”

Even if Lucas had undergone rigorous training for the past 6 years and had become such a strong man as a result, it didn’t change the ways of the world.

Although she had a sleepless night, Serena had concluded that she couldn’t change her life because of the small feelings she had now.

“Then, check it with your own hands.”

Lucas, with his hands behind his back, wore a relaxed smile. Serena nodded at his words and first reached for the letter stamped with the Imperial Palace’s seal.

While she was opening the letter, Lucas walked around the table and stood close behind Serena.

“Your Highness.”

Serena abruptly stopped her hand and pointed out his suspicious approach, but Lucas stood there brazenly and calmly.

“I need to see it together, don’t I?”

“You can see everything from that height even without standing this close.”

It was bad at times that he had grown much taller than her.

“Just in case, I want to see it accurately.”

However, his brazenness showed no signs of backing down. Serena had to endure this uncomfortable proximity because she was curious about the letter’s content right away. Once the results were out, this proximity would end forever anyway.

“It’s the Empress’s handwriting.”

Lucas’s voice rang out subtly before she even fully unfolded the letter.

“Please don’t interrupt.”

At those words, Lucas just shrugged his shoulders. Serena, without losing confidence, fully unfolded the letter and began to read the contents.

[… Therefore, the Imperial Palace prioritizes fulfilling the promise and orders the marriage of the two.]

Slowly, Serena’s eyes blinked.

“I see. They ordered the marriage.”

If it hadn’t been for Lucas’s delighted voice, she would have stood there like that for a long time.

“But… but…”

Wasn’t it just a matter of regret from the Imperial Palace until recently? But now they’re talking about fulfilling a promise? Moreover, ordering a marriage after 6 years was forced.

“Did Your Highness pull some strings?”

Serena glared at Lucas standing behind her.

“What? I’ve been here with you the whole time.”

Lucas’s visit to the Astel estate was planned. He had to see this result together with Serena.

“It’s only natural for Her Majesty the Empress to take the side of His Highness the Crown Prince. But there are still two left.”

Serena’s hand hastily opened the letter from the Papal Palace. Wasn’t it the Papal Palace that had pitied Serena’s situation of becoming a widow without being one and consoled her to endure it?

[The Papal Palace, in the name of God, is pleased that the engagement sworn by faith will be fulfilled and argues that the sacred marriage should be entered into as soon as possible.]

They say when something is too absurd, you can’t say anything, and that was exactly the case now. Although she had never seriously believed in God, she never expected to be betrayed like this, as if the back of the hand was being turned.

“Wait, wait a moment.”

Serena hastily grabbed the remaining letter and moved away from Lucas.

“Why? You said you would accept the results just a moment ago… Don’t tell me, you changed your mind in that time?”

“There’s a problem with this. The Imperial Palace and the Papal Palace clearly acknowledged that I would remain single!”

“That was a mistake.”

Lucas gave a bright smile.

“It seems everyone has now realized that mistake.”

Serena shook her head vigorously. She couldn’t be fooled easily like this.

“There’s still my father’s opinion, which is the most important.”

“I thought the young lady liked things fair and square?”

That was true. However, one cannot always uphold one’s beliefs.

“If my father opposes it, I can’t follow through either.”

“… Well, okay.”

Lucas unexpectedly nodded readily.

“Anyway, no matter who in the world opposes it, my feelings won’t change.”

The unpleasant words were still the same. Serena quickly opened Duke Astel’s letter to stop that mouth. And with just one line of text, she closed her eyes.

“Oh, a clear answer.”

Lucas’s voice rang out annoyingly.

“Follow the rest of the decisions. Indeed, a wise answer.”

Serena was naive.

The Imperial Palace was naturally on the side of their son, Lucas, and it was only natural for the Papal Palace to wish for the engagement they had presided over to be fulfilled.

And Duke Astel was a person who would agree to anything as long as it didn’t interfere with his wandering life.

“You clearly said you would accept it too, so what are your thoughts now?”

At Lucas’s low voice, Serena barely opened her eyes again. She was upset, but it was difficult to hide her bewilderment right away. She hadn’t expected that not a single person would be on her side.

“This is wrong.”

“No, you checked it yourself.”

Serena shook her head and looked straight up at him.

“Even if the whole world says it’s right, it’s wrong for Your Highness to try to marry me now.”

Lucas looked at her with his eyebrows tilted.

“Why are you so sure?”

For the past 6 years, the woman he had never forgotten for a single day was staring straight at him.

“When we held our engagement ceremony, I already acknowledged that I was inexperienced and immature. After that, I left you alone with the thought of becoming strong on my own, and I will compensate for that in the future.”

There was no trace of the earlier smile in Lucas’s jet-black eyes. It was the same for Serena.

“You’re making an even bigger mistake than our engagement.”

“Are you still resenting my indifference?”

“No. I’m not talking about the past.”

Doubt settled in Lucas’s eyes. If their past wasn’t the problem, why was Serena so resolute?

“I don’t want to marry you, Your Highness. Is there a greater mistake than forcibly pushing for marriage with a woman who doesn’t want it?”

Serena’s words had been the same from the beginning.

“There’s no greater mistake than missing out on this marriage.”

It was the same for Lucas.

“Even if you don’t want it now, I wanted to keep you by my side. Because I want you that much more… to fill that.”

The fiancé Serena had abandoned was desiring her with an appearance that had become so strong that she couldn’t push him away anymore.

It was an irresistible force.