Chapter 564
If a man and a woman are lying in the same bed, waking up to morning chirping is pretty much the norm.
“Good morning, Your Highness.”
Of course, I never expected that chirping to come from the Gold Duke instead of a neighborhood sparrow. A personal wake-up call from the Duke himself? Talk about overkill!
“Did you enjoy yourself yesterday?”
“Thanks to Your Highness’s consideration, it couldn’t have been better.”
“Glad to hear it. That’s what renting the beach was for, after all.”
Seeing the satisfied nod of the Gold Duke, I quietly slipped out of bed. I had to be careful; Rin was still sound asleep and I might wake her with our conversation. Plus, if I wasn’t careful with my angle, Rin’s figure might be caught on the communication device.
“I’m at a loss on how to repay Your Highness for your generosity.”
“Don’t make it sound like a burden. This isn’t a favor; it’s a proper payment.”
His Gold Duke-like response made me smile without realizing it. Renting the beach was a payback for the benefits I gained from my wedding, not simply an act of goodwill.
It might sound a bit sensitive, but that’s just how meticulous this noble is about transactions. Pretending it’s a favor would mean I might feel obligated to repay him, which would only double his own obligation.
‘You’re really in a position to talk such nonsense.’
It’s fascinating to behold. He’s the Duke and a heavyweight in the Empire’s economy, so he could easily get away with taking the little things without a second thought. In fact, many people are often eager to offer him something just for the chance at his attention.
Yet, the Gold Duke pays back even for the smallest things, refusing to just give or take without a clear exchange. Maybe his “gold” isn’t just about money but rather a reflection of his integrity?
However, his sensitivity about transactions was also a double-edged sword. If he suffers a slight loss, he goes above and beyond to make sure it’s returned tenfold.
‘Loss…’
I glanced at Rin, who was still on the bed. When the Executive Manager of the Information Department, a.k.a. the Third Section Manager, mistakenly targeted the Yoris family, if it hadn’t been for my quick intervention, the Information Department would have been in serious trouble.
But that mishap led to my connection with Rin. They say life is unpredictable, and the old saying couldn’t be more right.
“Oops, I just meant to discuss business but got caught up in small talk.”
“Speak freely, Your Highness.”
I turned my gaze back to the communication device at the Gold Duke’s words.
If the Duke was contacting me directly this early, there had to be a reason. Knowing that I was here with my fiancée, it shouldn’t be an unreasonable request, but it wasn’t exactly simple either—
“Renting the beach was just for yesterday. If you want to play again today, you’ll have to share it with other tourists.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll remember that.”
“Good. Then, take care. Let’s meet again at the wedding.”
And with that, our communication ended.
…
‘So, that was the checkout reminder.’
Waking up to a morning call followed by a checkout notice from the Duke? That’s just too generous.
Since we had a blast making waves in the sea, Rin’s expression was bright as the midsummer sun.
Truly fortunate! We avoided the disaster of having the new bride look gloomy during the wedding. If the current head of the Information Department was to show any signs of depression, it would appear as if she were sold off to some powerful fate. We’re in a proper love marriage, after all.
“If you have six wives, that’s no longer romance but a political marriage,” he mused.
The emperor’s casual jab made my blood boil for a moment.
I admit our love did start off a bit oddly, but it blossomed without outside pressure, purely from our will. To dare call it political marriage would be unforgivable, even for the emperor.
“Isn’t Your Highness already at twelve?”
It’s rather frustrating, considering there are others with twice as many wives, yet I’m singled out.
“Well, the Duke is a Duke, isn’t he? Does anyone think a Duke increases his wives for political reasons?”
As he said that, the emperor stared intently at me and quietly muttered.
“If the Executive Manager were a Duke, the entire continent would accept that romance.”
“No matter how powerful he is, a Duke who supports the empire can’t compare.”
I quickly tucked my tail between my legs under the emperor’s piercing gaze.
Both the emperor and I knew that I had no chance of becoming a Duke, nor did Titi, my family. The reason the emperor teased me like that was precisely because he knew it was impossible. If there was even a 1% chance, he would have prepared quietly.
Yet even though I understood it, an instinctive fear gripped me.
‘Dammit.’
How sad is it that I’ve been pushed around by the emperor to the point where this slightly unnerves me? It’s like a kid who flinches at the mere thought of “If you don’t listen, the T-Rex is coming for you!”
“By the way, Executive Manager, didn’t you say the wedding would take place in your fiancée’s hometown?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s scheduled to be held in the Count Valenti’s territory.”
I did my best to gather my thoughts and responded to the emperor’s question.
Mar was the one who ended up getting married in the capital, but Tricky and Rizie had theirs in the fiancée’s territory. Since we’re building a tradition here, it’s better for Rin to have a smooth wedding in Valenti. I plan to have mine with Erich in the Viscount Iones’ territory.
“Executive Manager, I’m just asking out of curiosity, and please don’t misinterpret this.”
“Is it because of the last wedding venue?”
At my words, the emperor paused for a moment before silently nodding.
Certainly, unlike all the other noble wives, Pina is still an ordinary knight and an orphan from a hometown that was recently destroyed. With no place to call a bride’s territory, I can understand why he is curious about where the wedding with Pina will take place.
‘Such a thoughtful guy.’
I glanced at the emperor with mixed emotions. He can be brutal when teasing, but when it concerns family, he’s mindful and moral.
“The place where I first met my sixth wife was in the North, so I’m considering the Count Wiridia’s territory.”
“Wiridia? Not Tailglehen?”
“I plan to save that for my little brother.”
With that, the emperor, who had been looking awkwardly, broke into a grin.
“A kind-hearted older brother you are. Baron Hardiner will be thrilled.”
As he said that, the emperor reached into his robes and pulled something out to hand to me.
“This is a gift for the older brother who can delegate to his younger sibling.”
‘You bastard.’
It was the emperor’s seal once again.
Not another damn seal.
“Ah, it’s not for you, Executive Manager. This is for your sixth wife.”
The lingering trauma began to subside with those words.
“She’s now a deputy-level official in Penelia. It wouldn’t make sense for such a high-ranking official to still be just a knight, with her accomplishments. A barony should be an easy gift to give.”
“…I’m not worthy, but why would Your Majesty give this to me…”
“Wouldn’t she be happier receiving it from her husband than the emperor she rarely meets?”
I watched the emperor shrug his shoulders and then focused on the seal.
In the past, I had received seals from the marquess of the Eshillon family and the duke of Rhein Stadt for my father-in-law. Receiving a seal from someone else often came with annoying baggage, creating an odd jinx.
That jinx was finally broken. I was about to receive a seal that I could genuinely rejoice in.
“The territory is close to Count Wiridia’s, so managing it should be easy.”
The location was just right, making me even happier.
*
The Lord’s Mansion was experiencing increasing busyness, and the communication device was shining non-stop.
“You’ll soon have an excellent son-in-law, congratulations!”
“I’ve met Lady Irina a few times, but each time I was impressed by her intelligence.”
“Ha ha, the future of the Yoris family looks even brighter!”
From close friends I often meet to work partners and even mere acquaintances. Calls came pouring in from everywhere.
It was all a bit surreal. While I’ve been receiving such treatment as a high-ranking noble and a mid-level figure within the Gold Duke’s faction, this felt more like the treatment reserved for key decision-makers.
‘I’ve entered that fence.’
I set down the communication device on the table and turned my gaze outside the window. Even now, numerous carriages were passing through the castle’s main entrance.
Yes, just from my daughter’s wedding, our family’s status has soared several levels. Thanks to having a real power player in the Empire as our son-in-law, families connected to him would also soon forge ties with our Yoris household.
‘Valenti, Katoban, Salon.’
Once I thought of the dukes related to my son-in-law, I couldn’t help but chuckle. To think I’m tied to two dukes and the grandfather of another duke—it’s absurd to think this is the kind of blood relations one person can bear. Even the Marcilio family, ranking first or second among marquises, would seem ordinary in comparison.
And now, our Yoris family was entwined with those families. It was only natural for my standing to rapidly change.
‘I’m just sitting here while the world moves at lightning speed.’
It felt bittersweet. As a businessman who deals with money, while it may be impossible to move faster than the world, at least I should follow closely behind to seize golden opportunities.
But what about me now? It feels like my position is changing because the world has changed, rather than my own actions.
Of course, it’s not something I hate. My precious daughter meeting the man she loves, and that man turning out to be unparalleled in the Empire? Our long-established family can now aim even higher. There’s no one in their right mind who would dislike such a situation.
‘If it were the other way around, disaster would follow.’
However, just as the world rapidly changes and my status expands, it could just as quickly bring me trouble. If this newfound power isn’t something I attained myself, someone else taking it back wouldn’t be unexpected.
‘…I can’t simply back down.’
So, I need to keep my wits about me. Even if my position was gained by fortune, I must protect it with my skills. To avoid becoming the ‘father who gained glory by selling his daughter,’ I need to fend off any such rumors.
That’s only natural for a father wanting what’s best for his daughter.
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