Chapter 237
The price paid for madness was brutal. There was the 2nd Manager, who kept laughing at my face without stopping, and the 3rd Manager, who insisted on showing off some tumbles through the communication line to cheer me up.
“—Executive Manager. Don’t be too embarrassed. It happens to the best of us.”
“Uhh… Thanks…”
“Hehe, all in good fun!”
Then there was the 1st Manager patting my back, reassuring me not to worry.
Honestly, I was most afraid when the 1st Manager, with that gentle face, offered comfort. Can a person really change so drastically? Was I crying on the street while spilling madness at that moment?
Anyway, after the mental assault from the Manager Trio and the ordinary inquiries from the sane officials, the most powerful blow hit me.
‘Damn it.’
I closed my eyes as soon as I checked the message from the Judicial Minister.
It was as if he had been waiting for this moment. The text didn’t contain much. Surprisingly, there were no sneers or backhanded remarks.
[ Aousen Mental Health Clinic – Right Side of Tripile Street, 2nd Floor. For further information, contact the Director of Medical Relief. ]
He simply sent the address of a mental hospital.
‘Damn…’
That message hurt my heart more than any provocation could.
It was winter.
Even when a person goes mad, time flows on. While I was in a daze, trying to grab the mental threads I’d let slip, time kept moving past me.
It felt like it was flowing even faster with the graduation ceremony right around the corner.
“I’m glad I could see a healthy Carl before the semester ends.”
“I’m deeply sorry…”
I couldn’t lift my head at Marghetta’s words, as she poked my arm with a smile.
I could only imagine how much she had worried. She must have been concerned about how long my madness would last.
“I think a joint wedding ceremony could be fine,” came her voice, almost humming.
I quickly shook my head. What a horrific idea.
“Absolutely not. The star of the wedding should only be one person, yes?”
“Is that so? If Carl says that, I suppose I have no choice.”
Seeing her giggle as she got the answer she wanted made me awkwardly smile back.
This ordeal must have hurt Marghetta as well, almost sharing the spotlight on what should be a once-in-a-lifetime wedding.
Realizing this, I noticed she would test me like this often since she knew I had come to my senses. It felt as if repressed grievances were bursting out as complaints.
“I’m sorry, Mar.”
As I gently gathered her into my embrace, she leaned into me willingly.
“The wedding will be grand. That day will be solely for Mar.”
“Really?”
“Of course. And if Mar is okay with it, we could hold it once at the capital, once in the Wulken Principality, and once at Tailglehen…”
At that, Marghetta slapped my back.
“That’s too much! How many wedding celebrations do you plan to have?”
When our eyes met, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. It wasn’t long before Marghetta joined in too.
Three times seemed quite excessive anyway. Instead, let’s make it three celebrations that feel like one. After all, when else would I get to spend all this saved-up money? When it comes to funding, it’d be fine to do it thirty times instead of just three.
“First, we should get engaged.”
Cutting off the wedding chatter to talk about engagement felt a bit strange, but sadly, engagement should come first. It’s a bit awkward to get married when Marghetta is still a student.
Actually, getting engaged wasn’t the priority—I should probably be ready to grovel before the Iron Duke first.
“Don’t worry. My father sees you as a son-in-law.”
“Haha, that’s a relief to hear.”
Even so, Marghetta’s encouragement lightened my heart a bit.
Yeah, if I kneel in front of the duke for just three or four days, he’d probably let it slide. If I don’t want to keep Marghetta unmarried for the rest of her life, he’ll eventually grant me permission.
‘If things don’t go well, at worst, a few bones might get broken.’
That’s what I decided.
*
My brother has regained his sanity.
“Oppa. Are you really okay now?”
“The more you ask, the more it hurts my heart…”
Luise floated around my brother with a cheerful expression, as if there was a reward for her worries that wouldn’t leave her face.
I felt the same way.
‘What a relief.’
A smile crept onto my face, filled with a mix of relief and happiness.
I had already anticipated the worst. What if my brother’s condition extended to graduation and he remained in a state that couldn’t be cured by the New Year’s Ball? If that happened, I had planned to forcefully stay in my family’s mansion in the capital, no matter what.
But instead of the worst, it turned out for the best. My brother succeeded in recovering before the graduation ceremony.
‘Thanks, Erich.’
I thought of Erich, who would be playing foot volleyball with the other members.
Family is indeed the most powerful source of support during tough times. Though my brother and Erich didn’t seem too close, it was Erich who stepped up when it mattered most.
This is the strength of family. A connection that I can’t surpass now.
‘Someday…’
I swallowed hard unconsciously. For now, I couldn’t surpass my brother and family—
“Cough, cough!”
“Irina?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Just, uh, momentarily felt like my throat was blocked.”
In the natural flow of thoughts, I hurriedly coughed to cover it up. Too hasty. The lady hasn’t even gotten married yet, and I’m imagining things too soon.
‘…I haven’t heard the answer yet.’
Maybe that was the price; as I reached the unpleasant stream of consciousness, I felt a bit sad.
Regrettably, I still hadn’t received an answer regarding my confession to my brother. Of course he had said I could take my time to respond, but it’s only natural to want a quick acceptance, right?
Yet, there’s still hope.
“I remembered, the bride count is five, so we should opt for a large venue.”
It was when the lady mentioned that my brother’s heart was broken, she’d said that.
Five. She definitely said five. The lady, the Duke-to-be, then me and Luise made four. Adding the official who made a confession after us makes five.
“For now, it seems like Carl isn’t planning to push Luise and Irina aside.”
Embarrassed but honestly elated, I felt a thrill at those words despite having my brother in a painful situation.
After that, I immediately fell into self-loathing, but the thought wouldn’t leave my mind.
‘Five.’
My brother said there would be five brides. If that wasn’t said out of pain or a slip of the tongue, but rather a genuine thought that perhaps there were already five—
‘Then I’ll just have to wait.’
I just need to wait until my brother tells me. Until he organizes his thoughts and gives me the answer when he’s comfortable.
Sure, it seems like there are quite a few people who might outpace me, but thinking that the likelihood of a good answer coming back is higher gave me the courage to wait.
“Okay then.”
And while I was mentally gathering myself, my brother suddenly reached out with his teacup.
“Oh, Oppa?”
“When it’s cold, you ought to drink something warm often.”
With a slight smile, he said it, and I blankly nodded.
He must be doing this because I mentioned my throat was blocked earlier. Just a casual remark, but he noticed and now…
“Thank you.”
I smiled back as I accepted the teacup. He truly is a wonderful brother when he’s in good spirits.
This anxiety is a lousy cold. Why should my brother suffer from it?
“This is the tea leaves you brought, isn’t it? I should be thanking you.”
At those words, my smile widened even more.
*
I glanced slightly to the side. There was Luise, still smiling as she poured tea into my cup.
I turned my gaze back ahead. I saw Irina sipping tea.
‘Delay this any longer, and it’ll be troublesome.’
Watching the two at ease, my heart felt uneasy. The year is coming to an end. Plus, with the Academy, graduation is practically the last day of the year.
Once graduation is over, the students disperse. We won’t see each other again until the opening ceremony next March.
‘Then the answer will come in March.’
Terrible. If that’s the case, the two of them will have confessed and waited nearly half a year for an answer. If I were in their shoes, I’d want to cry.
But should I give them an answer before graduation?
‘That’d be too hasty.’
No matter how sudden the confession may be, the feelings behind them aren’t light. Therefore, I should take my time crafting a proper response.
…Especially since I’ve already said some crazy things about joint weddings and all.
‘Then again, if I take my time, it’s still March.’
It’s maddening. Either way, there are issues on both sides.
‘Maybe a denial would be easier?’
For a moment, that thought crossed my mind. If so, I wouldn’t be worrying like this.
Frustrated, I ran a hand through my hair. If I were to deny the confessions of both those girls, then it’s better to give a quick answer, however rushed it may be.
Rejecting someone’s genuine confession while trying to craft the most considerate response is essentially asking for a slap in the face. I’d have to accept being slapped right there.
But my heart isn’t on rejecting either of them.
‘Was there a hidden truth in my madness?’
Thinking that way was bittersweet, but surprisingly, I was able to confirm my feelings after going mad.
Unconsciously, I thought of five brides. There was the Duke-to-be, Luise, Irina, and the 1st Manager—I was thinking of all of them as brides.
Was I sorry for the denial? No.
‘I was happy.’
It wasn’t a connection made by the original owner of this body, but one I had built after possessing it. That bond brought me joy as it acknowledged me and professed love.
I was happy to have received love. I was thrilled that they would become my family. That’s why I didn’t want to deny it.
However, that doesn’t mean I’d marry simply because of their confessions. I can assure you that much. It’s good because I’ve built a relationship with them even before receiving those confessions.
Though I haven’t known Luise and Irina for even a year, it’s a deep connection by my standards. I’ve hardly interacted with anyone outside work—not privately, at least. Especially if they were of the opposite gender.
‘An easy guy.’
Suddenly, that thought crossed my mind. Regardless of my own standards and judgments, isn’t it how it looks from a third party’s perspective? “Just confess, and he’ll accept you” sounds a bit cliché, doesn’t it?
Is this… right?
‘…It’s probably right.’
But my contemplation was short-lived. What do I care what others think? I’ll proceed as I see fit.
An easy guy who would grow his harem. Perhaps this could be a reaction against the restraint I felt with Hecate. Maybe even if I had married Hecate, I might have invited other brides.
“Well, spring break is just around the corner.”
Of course, that’s just a baseless assumption. The crucial point is my choice right now.
“If it’s okay, shall we hang out this summer vacation like before?”
With my heart clear, I threw that statement into the air. The eyes of Luise and Irina widened at those words.
To avoid rushing an answer and dodging the March response, this is the way to go. By spending time together during the break, I’ll have ample opportunity to collect my thoughts.
“I-I’m okay, but I wonder how the others will feel…”
Luise, who had fallen silent for a moment, awkwardly spoke up. Honestly, I didn’t care how the others felt, but given that I already mentioned spending the summer vacation together, I couldn’t scuttle out of it now.
“Everyone will probably be happy. It was the same in the summer.”
Besides, looking at how they behave lately, I doubt taking them around to different places would be tiring for them.
Since we’re going to be in the Academy anyway, it’s more convenient to revisit places we’ve already experienced in the capital.
After finishing the foot volleyball, I asked the five of them about the winter schedule. If there’s nothing planned, let’s not wander to strange places like before and just go on a club trip instead.
To that, Rutis answered on behalf of the group.
“Oh, we’re planning to return to our homeland this time.”
?
What? Is that some kind of auditory hallucination?
‘Return to the homeland?’
Did they even know that word…?
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