Chapter: 706
To reiterate, nobles are social animals that thrive on connections and socializing.
Of course, if one intends to live peacefully and quietly in the provinces, it’s perfectly fine to avoid the social scene. However, if you happen to be a noble of a certain stature, you’ll find yourself thrown into the social spotlight whether you like it or not. Nobility and socializing are basically two sides of the same coin.
Thus, when there’s a high-ranking noble’s ceremony, the entire Imperial social scene buzzes with excitement. Social events are the alpha and omega of noble life, and how well one performs at these events determines how close they are with that noble family.
‘If it’s a royal event, it’s bound to be even crazier.’
Ainter’s wedding marks the first royal marriage since the current Emperor and Empress tied the knot. And let’s not kid ourselves—it’s not just some distant cousin’s wedding, either. This is the wedding of the Emperor’s only younger brother! It’s no wonder the nobility has their heads spinning.
Honestly, even if Ainter were still in the hot seat back then and had the wedding in a less favorable situation, I’m sure they would have planned an extravagant ceremony to maintain the royal dignity. But now that Ainter is a legitimate member of the royal family, one that everyone must pay their respects to, his wedding is bound to be a massive event.
This means that Barandi, where Ainter’s wedding is to be held, has turned into a gathering hub for high-ranking nobles. Though it’s just a territory on the outskirts of the Empire, it’s now the center of social activity!
“Looks like there are a lot of people here to bless Lady Shati’s wedding. Congratulations, Your Grace.”
Standing alone to greet guests arriving in Barandi, the Marquis looked positively radiant with a smile brighter than the sun as he shook my hand.
“I’m truly embarrassed by the overflowing blessings for my modest daughter.”
“Haha, embarrassed, you say? I can’t agree that your daughter is lacking in any way, and how can there be anything embarrassing about receiving congratulations for a wedding?”
Hearing my words made the Barandi Marquis beam even brighter.
What a sight! Today, he isn’t just the Barandi Marquis; he’s practically glowing with joy!
“By the way, I sent my wedding gift in advance since it would be awkward to present it on the day of the event. Did it arrive properly?”
“Of course! It would be fair to say that it was a quite generous gift, and I don’t even know how to thank you adequately.”
“I’m glad to hear you liked it.”
Internally, I sighed in relief.
Surprisingly enough, Erich’s advice came in handy! Following his suggestion, I gathered not only specialties from the Tailglehen Count’s territory but also from my friends’ lands, which seemed to satisfy the Marquis. I pulled together specialties from seven regions, so the quality and quantity were far from ordinary.
‘If only I could have sent along Kagan’s relics, too.’
But sending those would only make things complicated for the Barandi Marquis.
On one hand, they’re legendary items used by a hero, but on the other hand, to most, they’re just “stuff from the traitorous bastard that threatened the Empire.” With the Barandi Marquis’s ancestor being revealed as part of the Udeser clan, possessing Kagan’s relics could lead to him earning a new nickname as a “second traitor.” That wouldn’t be a gift; it would be a massive headache!
And it felt a bit cringe-worthy to gift an actual weapon that had seen combat as a wedding present. Isn’t that just tempting fate for the couple’s future?
“Ah, Your Grace.”
“Yes, Count. What is it?”
I leaned closer, whispering softly into the Marquis’s ear.
“Eel from the Aitini Baronage is a dish enjoyed by His Grace the Gold Duke as well.”
“Oh…”
At my friendly suggestion, the Marquis’s eyes sparked with enthusiasm.
He’s got only one child, Shati, and to have a dish enjoyed by the Gold Duke ready for his table? It must conjure visions of his grandchild waddling around!
“Thank you sincerely for your generous gift, Count.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s all for the Empire, after all.”
If Ainter bears healthy children, the stability of the Imperial family is secured, and if those children are of Shati’s lineage, the Marquis’s prestige will soar high!
A stable Imperial family and a happy Marquis family—a perfect outcome for the Empire. I’m probably the only loyal subject worrying about the Empire’s wellbeing.
‘At least three children, okay?’
My mother raised three, so Shati should be able to manage that much if she puts in the effort. Three children would provide a suitable home environment.
One is precarious, two can feel neglected, and four? Well, that’s just a lot to handle for one person!
Ainter’s wedding took place in the Hall of the Eternal Blue Sky.
You wouldn’t think it odd to host a royal wedding at the heart of nomadic faith, especially considering the bride’s heritage and position. Besides, showing respect for nomadic traditions and cultures strengthens the royal influence over the North.
‘After all, they’re not exactly a religion that’s impossible to coexist with.’
The faith of the Eternal Blue Sky and that of Konstantina have ties to the Dawn Sect, which recognizes these beliefs. If it’s a faith respected rather than oppressed by the Dawn Sect, even the Empire with its favorable relations can make use of it. The Dawn Sect would never express regret toward the royal family’s friendly moves!
If anything like that were to happen, it would seem that the leaders of the Dawn Sect collectively lost their sanity! Thankfully, the Dawn Sect has the intelligence to match its size.
“The bride was a daughter who tormented her father for over a decade. She declared she wouldn’t marry unless it was a perfect man, someone of good character, and skillful. I honestly believed this father would spend his entire life with his daughter, and the title would pass to the collateral line.”
The Barandi Marquis, who officiated as a priest of the Eternal Blue Sky faith, shared unnecessary details and shook up Shati’s mental state.
His heartfelt words carried sorrow and sincerity, causing soft chuckles to ripple through the crowd. A daughter wanting the flawless husband; many nobles must’ve gone through similar situations already.
‘Seems like she’s not too happy about my little exposé.’
Anyhow, Shati’s hand began to tremble slightly during the Marquis’s officiating. You’d need to look closely to catch it, but it was definitely there.
I wholeheartedly understand; how embarrassing it must be to have all her dark history showcased in front of the Empire’s nobility! A normal lady might’ve been reduced to tears right there.
Still, if that embarrassing moment could liven up the atmosphere of the wedding, I hope she’s not crushing the Marquis’s ribs in retaliation. I still want to see the Marquis around for a while!
“Yet the gods must’ve smiled upon us, for remarkably, the man my daughter dreamed of exists in this very Empire. A truly perfect man now walks the same path as my daughter.”
As he made that declaration, the happy smile on the Barandi Marquis was tinged with bittersweetness—joy intertwined with sadness—and he radiated a profound warmth that emanated from a true father’s heart.
“It’s an honor to bless the union of these two lovers as the Marquis of the Empire, a priest of faith, and a father.”
At those words, Shati finally relaxed her clenched fist.
Even I, seated amongst the guests, felt my heart swell at the Marquis’s expression. Not that I could even guess the feelings coursing through Shati.
‘It’d be a shame to wrap it up like this.’
Perhaps that’s why a tiny bit of regret surfaced within me.
This is a royal wedding, and the wedding of the only Marquis from the North; I had planned to throw quite the celebration. I even seriously considered dragging in some pizazz similar to Erich’s wedding celebrations.
“Minister, I just wanted to say—during Ainter’s wedding, just keep calm and stay seated. Don’t do anything.”
But then the Emperor stepped in and shut down the idea completely. Given the royal significance of the event, we shouldn’t make things noisier than they already are.
If the Emperor himself warns you off, what am I supposed to do? As a mere subject, I can only accept it.
‘What a bummer…’
Thinking about Jiz scratching his belly back in the nest breaks my heart.
How perfect would it have been to witness a priest of the Eternal Blue Sky bless the daughter of a high-ranking official!
*
Now officially a father-in-law, the Barandi Marquis shared his blessing, sealed with a kiss to Shati, amidst the applause of all guests in attendance.
After a long engagement period, this wedding, which may have started as a political arrangement, was now a heartfelt union with both parties opening their hearts to one another.
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t thrilled. I was fulfilling my duty as a noble while gaining a family member in the form of Ainter.
‘Up until now, I had no one I could really call family.’
My father, His Majesty the Emperor, was never one to show emotional attachment. My half-brother, the Emperor himself, was already doing me a huge favor by letting me stay alive.
My mother, who’s nothing but a figurehead as the Empress, never cared about me. The second prince isn’t even worth mentioning. With all that said, I finally gained a family and an ally. Even if this marriage began with duty, it inevitably made my heart race.
Especially if that duty had blossomed into love and affection over time.
“Shati.”
Now that we were officially a couple, using “Lady” feels like a ridiculous formality.
“Let’s be together for life.”
“Yes. Together until our last breath.”
My words brought a wider smile to Shati’s face.
And I’m pretty sure my expression mirrored hers.
“By the way, Marquis—”
“Now you have to call me Ainter.”
“Ah, Ainter. Did you prepare what we talked about?”
Shati blushed slightly due to the firm correction but quickly regained composure.
“No, I haven’t.”
In response to Shati’s anxious gaze, I answered confidently, admitting I hadn’t prepared what she requested.
“What?”
Maybe my assertiveness shocked her because her eyes widened in surprise.
“I thought of an even better way, so I put it on hold for just a moment.”
I quickly interjected before her disappointment transformed into confusion.
This was the request she’d shown interest in even before the wedding. I naturally intended to get it ready, but a better way to make Shati happy came to mind, so I decided to wait.
“Given that the highest authority is present, I thought it’d be wiser to delay it just a bit.”
“Oh.”
Seeing her thoughtful reaction brought warmth to my heart.
I knew Shati would understand my hesitation.
*
After some murmuring, Ainter and Shati approached.
“Could you split this ring for us?”
They handed me a single ring, asking if I could separate it into two.
“…Of course, that’s what I’m here for.”
With a bittersweet smile, I took the ring and began to split it apart.
The seeds I had sown had blossomed into an enormous flower.
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