Please Marry My Son (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9

A few days ago, when Eric went to tell his parents he intended to become engaged to Alicia, he only realized his mistake when he saw his father about to hand over the ducal ring.

Since it was a contractual engagement, the ducal ring felt burdensome, but it seemed necessary to at least go through the motions—so he was curious about Alicia’s opinion.

“The ring?”

“Oh, it’s fine if you don’t want it. We haven’t officially held the engagement ceremony yet, after all.”

“……”

Though they hadn’t formally held an engagement ceremony, word of their betrothal would surely spread, and it would seem odd not to have a ring.

Alicia fiddled with her bare fourth finger and finally spoke.

“If we’re going to do it, we might as well do it properly. Let’s get the ring.”

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“Where is this?”

“It’s a place primarily used by the Imperial Family and ducal households. It’s quite historic—rumor has it that it’s been around since the founding of the Empire.”

“Wow, that’s impressive.”

“There won’t be any other customers besides us today, so feel free to choose at your ease.”

“Oh, all right.”

Thinking that the Duke’s shopping standards were indeed on another level, she followed Eric inside.

“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”

“Thank you for your assistance.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss.”

“Hello.”

“We’ve prepared some options in advance based on what we heard. If you could tell us what style you prefer, we can narrow it down and make a few recommendations.”

“Hmm… I like something simple—nothing too fussy, just comfortable to wear daily.”

“Excuse me?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected answer, the shop manager found herself reflexively repeating the question.

Most customers usually mentioned their favorite gemstones or current fashion trends.

But, true to her professional demeanor, she quickly regained her composure and slipped on white gloves.

“Then I’ll show you a few options. Please wait just a moment.”

She hurried back and forth, arranging rings atop the glass display case.

Meanwhile, Alicia began looking around the shop.

She’d never been particularly interested in jewelry, so she browsed absentmindedly until her gaze paused on something.

‘A butterfly?’

It was an ornament shaped like a butterfly, its wings densely inlaid with various blue-hued gemstones.

The entire piece shimmered with an enigmatic blue glow—clearly not something recently made.

“What is it?”

“Oh, this.”

“A butterfly?”

“It looks incredibly old, doesn’t it? I guess the rumor about this place dating back to the Empire’s founding really is true.”

Hearing their conversation, the manager approached.

“Shall I show it to you?”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Just take a look, if you’d like.”

She took the butterfly ornament from the display and handed it to Alicia.

Reluctantly accepting it, Alicia watched as it sparkled in the sunlight—and then one butterfly wing suddenly fell off.

“Oh—!”

Flustered, Alicia quickly placed it back on the display case and looked up at the manager.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t think it would break so easily—”

“It’s quite all right, Miss. It’s very old, and the design isn’t in line with current trends anyway—we’d have had to repair it regardless. I apologize for causing you any distress.”

“Are you sure it’s fine? At least let me cover the repair cost—”

“Oh, no need at all. It’s already so worn—frankly, it’s surprising it lasted this long. Shall we look at rings now instead?”

Smiling, the manager guided Eric and Alicia to the other side of the shop.

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“I’ll take this one. What do you think?”

“Are you certain this is the one you want?”

“Yes, I like this one.”

It was a simple band with no gemstones attached.

Eric actually preferred this style himself, but he’d heard women usually liked something sparkling—small, perhaps, but often with at least one large stone—so he was puzzled.

“What about you, Eric? Won’t it be uncomfortable when you grip your sword?”

“This should be fine. And even if it weren’t, it’s not like you can take it off once you’re engaged, right?”

“That’s true. You’re right.”

Smiling faintly, Eric’s words made Alicia nod in agreement. She turned her gaze back to the ring and stared at it intently.

“?”

“It’s just two small circles, yet it feels more binding than a signature.”

“Oh.”

“Oh my, Miss—you’ll have to sign your marriage vows someday. That’ll feel less like binding and more like being shackled!”

When both of them looked at her at once, the shop manager cleared her throat and handed them the neatly wrapped ring box.

“Marriage isn’t always like that. There are plenty of good things too.”

She added the explanation with an awkward smile, prompting Eric and Alicia to smile sheepishly as they accepted the ring box.

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“Captain. Is it true?”

The moment Alan burst into Eric’s office after arriving for work that morning—

“What is?”

“You’re getting engaged, they say?”

“…Yeah.”

“To whom?”

“The daughter of Earl Lancaster.”

“Oh, is she pretty?”

“……”

He couldn’t understand why Alan cared. Whether she was pretty or not had nothing to do with him.

Just then, the door opened again, and the rest of his subordinates poured in.

“Captain, is it true you’re engaged?”

“Not yet. Soon, though.”

“Who is she?”

“The daughter of the Lancaster earldom.”

“Is she pretty?”

“……”

Men really were all the same. Why were they so curious about that?

Still, faced with their eager, sparkling eyes demanding an answer, Eric frowned but paused to think.

‘If they’re asking if she’s pretty… what was the feeling again?’

It wasn’t the same as calling a flower or a gemstone pretty. She gave off a different kind of impression.

“If I had to put it into words…”

“Yes? Yes?”

“She seemed radiant.”

“Whoaaaa!”

To be honest, they hadn’t expected Eric to actually answer.

They’d assumed he’d either scowl and tell them to get out, or ignore them entirely as usual.

Yet here he was, calmly giving such a reply—it would be less shocking if a mage or demon suddenly appeared after ten years of absence.

Realizing this, they immediately launched into an animated discussion right in front of Eric.

“Radiant as in glowing? Like she literally has a halo?”

“He’s gone. Totally smitten.”

“Guess so. Wow, to see the Captain like this—living long really does let you see everything.”

“So does this mean we won’t have to pull overtime anymore?”

‘You idiots—I can hear everything.’

It was awkward to interrupt their chatter, and their sly, grinning glances in his direction only made him more uncomfortable.

‘I thought getting engaged would let me live quietly—why does it feel even more troublesome now?’

Sighing, Eric began gathering the documents he needed for his upcoming report at the Imperial Palace.

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“Is what I heard true?”

“What are you referring to?”

On his way to the meeting room in the Imperial Palace—where he was to report to the Emperor about the upcoming joint knights’ training—Eric ran into William.

Given the vastness of the palace, it was unlikely to be a coincidence; William must have been waiting. Eric deliberately asked in a curt tone as William approached, grinning broadly.

“You’re getting engaged to the daughter of the Lancaster earldom.”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Is she pretty?”

“……”

When Eric simply stayed silent, William chuckled.

“Come on, something that important—you should tell me yourself! It’s hurtful otherwise.”

“You can blame my parents for telling everyone before I did.”

“Ah, I see. So when’s the engagement ceremony?”

“My father is overseas. We’ll hold it once he returns.”

“Ohhh, your father, huh?”

Seeing William’s teasing smirk, Eric knew this wouldn’t end until he’d been properly ribbed. Frowning, he ran a hand through his hair.

That’s when William noticed the ring.

“Oh! Ohh, the ring!”

William grabbed Eric’s arm to inspect it, and Eric yanked it back, annoyed.

“You succeeded! Of course—the number one bachelor of Britannia.”

“?”

“They say her nickname is ‘The Lofty Swan.’ That’s the Lancaster earl’s daughter.”

“Is that so?”

“You didn’t know? She’s famously aloof—so unapproachable that she’s known as the ‘Iron-Walled Lady.’”

“I didn’t know.”

“How did you even meet her without knowing that?”

“…It just sort of happened.”

“Well, they do say the right man always finds a way. ‘It just happened’? Everyone else was scrambling just to say a word to her!”

“It wasn’t easy.”

He remembered clearly how she’d firmly rejected him—twice.

“Pfft.”

He suddenly burst out laughing.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“A swan? Hah!”

It really was a fitting nickname.

Alicia appeared as elegant and dignified as a swan gliding gracefully on water—but beneath the surface, she was tirelessly working hard as the family’s pillar.

And yet, no one—including himself—had noticed that until now.

“Heh.”

“What? Are you so happy just thinking about her you could die?”

William stared at Eric, who was leaning against the wall, shoulders shaking with silent laughter, utterly bewildered.

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It was the meeting where Eric, as Captain of the First Knights, and Lord Edinburgh reported to the Emperor about the joint training.

“Well done. Ensure everything proceeds without incident.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, by the way, Earl Russell.”

“Yes?”

“Care for a cup of tea?”

“Oh—yes.”

The Emperor rose from his seat, gestured for William to follow, and walked ahead.

Behind him, Eric followed with a puzzled expression, while William shrugged as if equally clueless.

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“You’ve become engaged to the daughter of the Lancaster earldom, haven’t you?”

“…Yes.”

“So you’ve finally gone through with it. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Seeing Eric’s sour expression—clearly wondering how the Emperor knew—the Emperor chuckled in amusement.

“The Duke of Gloucester came by and already bragged about it. Haven’t seen the Duke that excited in a long time.”

“My apologies.”

Watching Eric bow his head in embarrassment, the Emperor laughed heartily again.

“Meanwhile, our princes are still like this.”

“Ugh.”

Eric shot William a reproachful glance as William snickered beside the Emperor, then smoothly shifted his gaze toward William.

“You’ll be doing it soon enough, won’t you?”

“Hahaha! Now that it’s not your problem anymore, you’re relaxed.”

“Indeed, Earl Russell. I’ll be watching closely how you manage married life—so set a good example.”

“Well then, if we’re to get William married, we’ll have to keep an eye on you first. I’ll be watching too.”

“……”

Overwhelmed by the Emperor and William’s double assault, Eric finally fell silent.

“Well, since it’s all in the past, I might as well mention—I once considered her for Harry’s bride.”

Surprised by the unexpected remark, both Eric and William turned to stare at the Emperor.

“Harry will be quite disappointed.”

At those words, Eric glanced at William, who gave a small shake of his head to indicate he was hearing this for the first time too.

Unbothered by their reactions, the Emperor nodded as if reaching a conclusion.

“But I suppose only someone like you or the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester could handle her.”

“?”

Something in the Emperor’s words nagged at him, but the Emperor merely continued smiling to himself, clearly amused.

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“Hey. Eric.”

He stopped in his tracks and turned at William’s call.

“Don’t worry about what Father said. It’s all settled anyway.”

“I know.”

“Come to think of it, I recently overheard Harry talking with Her Majesty the Empress. At the time, I wondered why he was discussing women so much—but I suppose that was about her.”

“I see.”

Truthfully, Eric had little interaction with Prince Harry, partly because of William.

But Harry always looked gloomy—hardly the kind of person with a pleasant disposition—and his mother, the Empress, had a strong personality that made her difficult to get along with. Eric didn’t think he’d be a good match for Alicia.

“What? I was worried you’d just given in and gotten engaged because you were worn out—but you’re serious about this?”

“Huh?”

“Still, Harry is a prince. You can’t openly show that you want to kill him—that’d be trouble.”

“When did I ever do that?”

“Your expression totally said so.”

“That’s impossible.”

He’d only briefly thought Prince Harry wouldn’t suit Alicia—that was all.

At Eric’s firm denial, William reluctantly nodded.

“Alright, fine. So what are you doing now?”

“I’m heading to the ducal residence—to pick up my fiancée.”

“Whoa.”

Leaving William flabbergasted behind him, Eric walked on.

While he was at the ducal residence, he planned to speak with his father, the Duke of Gloucester, about Prince Harry.