“A fox-like child…!”

Dmitri’s hand, clutching the imperial proposal as if trying to extract it, trembled. He had never expected the Emperor to force a proposal onto Leia in this manner.

The Emperor, at the age of twenty-eight, should not have been considered unusual for marriage, even if he had children. However, he had delayed marriage day by day.

Numerous officials had advised the Emperor to accept a Empress and solidify the succession, but he often ignored their counsel.

“Suddenly a proposal like this.”

If the proposal received today had been from another family, he would have torn it up without hesitation. However, rejecting the Emperor’s proposal, even from the Bellarus family, was not an easy task.

Moreover, the proposal he received today was almost like an announcement. Such a rude marriage proposal was unprecedented since the founding of the Croatea Empire.

“Daring to underestimate my granddaughter?”

Typically, proposals sent by the Emperor were agreed upon by both parties. Therefore, Akkia couldn’t easily refuse, even if the proposal was from the Bellarus family.

Moreover, there was no clear solution in his mind on how to handle this situation.

In deep thought, Dmitri, who had been silent, spoke.

“Hey, don’t worry. I’ll take care of this proposal.”

Leia had been silent since sitting in the reception room. She was also puzzled by this situation.

‘What is that man thinking?’

She had only seen him a few times, a man she barely knew. He surely didn’t propose to her because he liked her.

Perhaps the Emperor needed the support of the Bellarus Duke’s family, or maybe Akkia couldn’t gain power from the Bellarus Duke’s family.

It could be either of the two, or both.

Leia was contemplating the situation seriously when Edward, who had been observing everything, spoke cautiously.

“How about doing it like this?”

“Do you have any good ideas?”

Dmitri’s eyes sparkled as if he had found a savior.

“It’s difficult to refuse the Emperor’s proposal, as you know. Unless he withdraws it from that side. However, there was a case where a Countess who received a proposal from Emperor Alexander V rejected it.”

“What was the reason?”

Leia asked anxiously.

“She had another unknown fiancé.”

“Another fiancé?”

As soon as she heard that, the face of a person came to her mind, but she quickly shook her head.

‘The Duke won’t do such a thing.’

To find a fiancé at this point. Leia said with a troubled expression.

“But can we quickly find another fiancé at this point…?”

Especially, to avoid marriage with the Emperor, she had to be engaged to an unknown man. That was also equally daunting.

However, Edward’s words were unexpected.

“I will be the fiancé.”

He replied with a serious expression. Without waiting for either Dmitri or Leia to respond, Edward continued nonchalantly.

“There was a marriage proposal going on between our families, as you know. Our father and the late Lady wanted to connect us. Although it didn’t happen at that time due to various circumstances, I think it’s not a bad idea to fulfill the unfulfilled promise now.” Leia was once again surprised to learn that there was such a promise in the previous generation.

And more than that.

‘Originally, do nobles consider promises that their ancestors couldn’t keep so important that they want their descendants to keep them? Or…’

Leia’s eyes wavered as she looked at Edward. However, he was looking at her with a determined gaze.
“However, Lord Edward, you don’t need to go to such lengths because of me. No matter how important promises with ancestors are, deciding crucial matters in life spontaneously like this is…”

“No, actually, I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I don’t think it would be bad to become a couple with you.”

‘What is this? It sounds like a confession but not quite.’

It was unlike Edward’s usual self.

Leia didn’t know what to do with the proactive attitude of a man who pursued her even though Dmitri was present. Moreover,

“Haha! Indeed, it’s the bloodline of the Alencia family! When a man needs to push forward like a man, he should. I agree. As long as I have a grandson-in-law like Edward, there’s nothing to regret!”

The Bellarus Duke laughed heartily, praising Edward.

“Well, that’s… I…”

Leia was stumbling over her words unusually.

Bang!

The firmly closed door suddenly opened. Through it, Inyoung, a familiar figure, came in confidently.

“Who is marrying whom?”

“…Duke?”

Akkia was standing there with a distorted face.

Akkia stepped off the carriage with determined steps.

“I sent a marriage proposal to the Bellarus family.”

The laughter of the Emperor, who was mocking him, lingered in his ears like a curse. Illei clearly knew that the Emperor considered Leia special.

That’s why he must have sent such an absurd proposal.

‘Damn child.’

Whether he knew it or not, he had been grumbling endlessly as he approached the Bellarus Duke’s mansion.