In truth, the Marquis had reservations about marrying off his daughter to the imperial family.

The imperial palace is a lonely place.

Even if her husband loves her dearly, it means she must survive alone amidst the fierce power struggles and countless schemes carried out knowingly and unknowingly within.

He loved his precious only daughter too much to push her into such a place.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I wish for my daughter not to be lonely.”

At first, when the Emperor broached the topic of marriage, he refused for this very reason.

Hoping his daughter would not be lonely.

He simply wanted her to marry into a large family, or an ordinary household, where she could experience the happiness he couldn’t give her, living each day in a bustling home.

His resolve to never give his daughter to the imperial family began to waver when he realized she had given her heart to an unworthy man.

By then, most people who should know already knew, and rumors had spread far and wide.

People around him were just keeping quiet out of consideration for him.

When he learned of this, he got angry at his daughter for the first time.

Saying he hadn’t raised her so preciously just for her to meet such a man.

Of course, his daughter, wrapped up in the beautiful packaging of love, would not listen to such words.

Amelia, who had lived her whole life as a sweet and obedient daughter without ever rebelling, shouted back at him for the first time that day.

Asking what he knew to speak to her that way.

The shock was immense, but the worry was no less.

From that day, the Marquis began to consider the imperial family’s marriage proposal.

Lloyd Alois was an arrogant good-for-nothing.

Rather than watching such an unworthy man cling to his precious daughter, it seemed far better to send her to the Crown Prince, who was at least a proper person, even if she might be a bit lonely.

Moreover, having heard from the Emperor that his son was head over heels for Amelia, he thought she might be less lonely than he imagined.

As his heart was gradually leaning towards the Crown Prince, something happened that confirmed his decision.

Leoprick Reinhart came to see him in secret.

“I know the Marquis does not approve of me.”

Sending a note beforehand asking that no one in the family know, he arrived around the time everyone had gone to bed and began with those words.

So, the Marquis thought he had come to persuade him.

To accept him even if he didn’t approve.

However, his next words completely overturned expectations.

“I know there is another whom the young lady holds dear. I know my request is selfish, and that I dare not sway the hearts of the Marquis and the young lady.”

…Had he not come to persuade?

The Marquis doubted his ears and softened his hardened heart a little.

If he had only come to tout how great a match he was, he would have sent him away immediately, but judging by how he started the conversation, that did not seem to be his intention.

If nothing else, he appreciated his mindset of not daring to sway their hearts.

Thus, he added a few more points to the Crown Prince whom he already considered decent.

In fact, his opposition to joining with the imperial family was due to the unique environment of the imperial court, not because of the Crown Prince.

“So, what is it you wish to say?”

But he spoke rather gruffly on purpose, not wanting to accept too readily lest his daughter be taken lightly.

Leoprick smiled faintly at his attitude, as if he understood.

“It’s nothing much, I just wanted to express my feelings.”

I don’t expect this to move the Marquis’ heart.

The story that began that way truly was nothing special.

Leoprick told the Marquis how dearly he thought of Amelia, how long he had held her in his heart.

How much that feeling had grown over time, and what he wished to do for her.

It was just a disorganized outpouring of his thoughts and feelings, but the Marquis felt his heart being swayed by those simple words.

At the same time, he once again felt that Leoprick Reinhart was born to be an emperor.

He clearly already knew that such words were most effective in moving people’s hearts.

“I hoped it might help the Marquis’ decision a little. After all, in your eyes, you would only see me as the Crown Prince.”

“That can’t be helped. We haven’t had many chances to meet privately.”

“I know you tried not to meet me often, Marquis.”

Leoprick grinned mischievously, hitting the nail on the head.

It was revealed that he had been living without ever thinking this man would become his son-in-law.

The Marquis awkwardly cleared his throat and averted his gaze.

There seemed to be no need to deny it outright.

Leoprick laughed softly at the Marquis’ reaction.

“It’s alright. I only thought of Amelia too, without considering the thoughts of you, her only family.”

I only thought her choice was what mattered.

The Marquis felt his heart move a bit more at Leoprick’s added words.

Currently in noble society, daughters were merely possessions of their parents.

Of course, sons also made sacrifices for political marriages and their families, but unlike sons who could do whatever they wanted even after marriage, including keeping mistresses and having affairs.

Daughters were expected to keep their mouths shut, endure, and be obedient to their parents and husbands as the highest virtue.

So no matter how precious he considered his daughter, there were men all over the empire who would not value her so.

But Leoprick was different.

He said he hadn’t considered her father because he was so focused on Amelia’s choice.

He said he spoke of his feelings not to impress the father who held the decision, but because he was worried about a father who simply loved his daughter.

Who could oppose the marriage after hearing such words?

The Marquis made a difficult but reassuring decision on the spot.

“Then from now on, I hope you’ll consider me as well.”

There were still mountains of worries and many things to be concerned about, but.

“We’ll be meeting as family from now on, after all.”

Nevertheless, he would trust him.

And before long, he realized his decision had been completely wrong.

The vitality began to disappear from Amelia’s face after she entered the palace.

She could be tired, or simply busy, but the important thing was that his precious daughter’s face had darkened to a pitiful degree.

What was that man doing who had spoken as if his heart was deeper and wider than the sea!

The father, worried only about whether she was eating and sleeping properly, was consumed with anxiety.

He had passionately confessed that Amelia was his one and only from the moment he became aware of love until now.

But now he was nowhere to be seen, and it seemed Amelia was always bustling about alone.

Seeing his daughter going about as if she were the only one working in this vast imperial palace, he felt very uneasy.

What on earth was the Crown Prince doing?

It was around that time, as he watched his daughter struggling in various ways, that he began to think about the Empress.

When he learned that Amelia woke up earlier and went to bed later than anyone else in the palace.

And when reports came that her relationship with the Crown Prince was cold.

He decided that even if Amelia had to suffer a bit, he would find a suitable young lady to become Empress.

As power gradually shifted to the second wife, Amelia would naturally be forgotten.

Then he would have the chance to take his daughter back into his arms.

Even if it meant divorcing Amelia from the Crown Prince who would become Emperor.

He was determined to make it happen.

He was in the process of carefully selecting potential Empresses.

When Adela Gilloyt, whom he favored most, fell from grace, and Arianna Valois, his second choice, went missing, things slowed down even more.

Partly because there were limits to what he could do alone, but also because there was no one suitable enough to make him want to serve as the next Empress.

Then, he received word that Amelia had collapsed.

And not just anywhere, but inside the imperial palace.

And only after several days had passed.

He was furious.

If their love was so deep and tender, why couldn’t he notice even one such thing properly?

How much must she have been driven to collapse in the middle of the night like that?

If it was supposed to be a love like no other, if he was going to protect her to the end, he should have protected her properly and loved her properly.

The Marquis held back, listening to his butler insist it would be rude to visit in the middle of the night, then rushed to the imperial palace as soon as day broke.

He intended to hold the Crown Prince responsible for this and take Amelia back.

In his daughter’s bedroom he rushed to, he met the Crown Prince looking more haggard than expected.

“I apologize for my appearance, Marquis. I simply couldn’t leave Amelia’s side…”

From what he heard from Betty before entering, he too had barely slept or eaten while Amelia was unconscious.

He hadn’t moved a step from this room since she collapsed.

Or more precisely, he hadn’t moved an inch from her bedside.

During the brief moment Leoprick’s aide entered the room to announce the Marquis’ visit and left, Betty carefully told him not to be too angry.

Of course, that didn’t soothe the Marquis’ heart.

But just as he was starting to feel a bit sorry for him.

“…You told me you would cherish Amelia. You promised to value her that much.”

He found himself saying those words before he realized it.

He was grateful that he cared for his daughter enough to forgo food and sleep, but that was a completely different matter from whether Amelia was in a safe place.

So he spoke the words he had prepared.

“But seeing my daughter’s state now, it’s hard to say she has been cherished by Your Highness.”

“…It’s because of my inadequacy, Marquis.”

Leoprick didn’t say much else.

He only gave a self-deprecating reply.

But more than feeling sorry for him, the health and safety of his daughter came first.

“Since Your Highness has broken your promise, I’m afraid I can no longer leave my daughter here.”

“Marquis. What do you mean…”

“This is a divorce paper, Your Highness. I want my daughter to live more safely and peacefully.”

So he took out what he had brought and laid it before him.

Though he most detested fathers controlling their daughters’ lives and choices, this time was different.

He had to protect his daughter.

He tried hard to keep his gaze steady while easily reading the surprised and hurt expression on the Crown Prince’s face.

After a moment of silence.

“Don’t do this, Father.”

A weak and thoroughly dejected voice of his daughter was heard.