Chapter 448
A leisurely and harmonious breakfast is the perfect way to kick-start the day. Usually, meals are just about shoving soup or bread into your mouth, but thanks to the vacation—a pinnacle of human history—I was able to enjoy some real relaxation.
I’m happy. There’s no need to gulp down soup straight from the bowl or bolt out the door with a mouthful of bread. Like a civilized person, I can sip my soup leisurely and seriously choose a dressing for my salad. How wonderfully ordinary yet blissful.
‘This is nice.’
I nodded while putting a small piece of steak into my mouth. The chef’s skill was always good, but lately, it felt like it had reached new heights.
Maybe my taste buds are on the verge of a complete revival.
“Hurrrr!”
While I was enjoying my meal, suddenly, Mar let out a tiny sound that could only be described as a groan.
Of course, by “groan,” I mean a small noise—nothing more than a little louder than the sounds the servants made while setting the table.
Unfortunately, everyone present was well-mannered nobles. In our dining etiquette, silence is golden, so Mar’s voice shattered the quiet like a bomb.
“…Are you okay?”
To make matters worse, everyone knew the reason behind her little sigh. Trixie, red-eared from embarrassment, rushed to check on Mar.
Kind yet cruel. Wouldn’t it have been better to just pretend we don’t notice?
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”
Mar, hands trembling while gripping her fork, managed a strained smile. But the glistening eyes that looked ready to spill tears told an entirely different story—she didn’t look “fine” at all.
That triggered a mix of embarrassment and guilt in me. Should I have toned it down a bit? It felt like I was publicly shaming a pure-hearted bride.
“Well, I’m glad to hear that.”
Thankfully, Trixy seemed to realize that dragging out this conversation would send Mar running for the hills, so she hurriedly cleared her throat to change the topic.
Still, her red ears were going to betray her awkwardness, glancing at me for support.
‘Should’ve kept it together.’
I nearly sighed aloud. That subtle gaze wasn’t just guilt for putting Mar in an embarrassing situation; it was also fear and excitement over the fact that in about six months, I might end up in a similarly awkward situation.
‘Six months, huh.’
With Trixy’s and other lovers’ eyes now trained on me, I quietly sipped my drink.
Frequent weddings are a bit harsh on the guests, so we decided to hold celebrations every six months. At first, I felt bad about making our lovers wait, but looking back, it seems like the best choice.
At least with a six-month gap, I only have to bear witness to this public execution once, rather than every month or two.
Whether this will actually be the last remains to be seen, but I’m sticking to that thought for now.
After breakfast, tea time went by without a hitch. Mar, who had been struggling with embarrassment, had managed to calm her emotions, leaving no room for chaos to bloom.
Again, I felt an indescribable sense of happiness. Instead of returning to work after breakfast, we enjoyed tea time instead. What an exquisite luxury this is!—
‘What now.’
Just then, my communication device buzzed softly in my pocket. Someone had sent a message.
Normally, I’d frown and pull out the device, expecting news of a crisis. But these days, I check it casually. It’s probably just congratulatory messages for my honeymoon anyway; no work-related texts should be coming in now.
‘The Emperor?’
The instant I saw who had sent the message, I jerked into a stiff position, but then quickly relaxed.
Don’t panic. Right now, I’m basking in the shield of my newlywed status. No matter how powerful the Emperor is, he can’t just pull me back from my honeymoon. In a Confucian state, even ministers who have lost a parent are treated with delicacy.
So I read the message from the Emperor casually:
[ The Holy Kingdom’s Office of Canonization would like to meet with you and Lady Tailglehen regarding faith. ]
‘What the hell.’
Rage surged to my throat. It seemed like a request for my time, but it was basically an order wrapped in a kind tone. If I were alone, I might have thrown the device across the room.
‘What is this even.’
My hands trembled involuntarily. I blinked rapidly to check if I was hallucinating or if my eyes were playing tricks on me.
But no, nothing changed. Time after time, the message read exactly what I thought. The Holy Kingdom wants to meet with us because of the miracle that happened at our wedding.
What the hell, am I dreaming? If I am, where does this ridiculousness even start?
“Oppa? Is something wrong?”
Meanwhile, while I was staring at my device, Rizie, who was sipping her tea calmly, suddenly scrunched her face as if sensing my tension, leaning in to peek at my screen.
With Rizie, and now the gazes of the other lovers on me, I rushed to wipe my facial expression clean. I had to remind myself that no matter how crazy the Emperor’s bombshell was, showing displeasure in front of family wasn’t how a proper husband should act.
Time for self-reflection. It seems I still have a lot to learn as a newly minted husband.
“Oh, just got a message with some unusual content, and it surprised me. Was it that obvious?”
I forced a smile and opened my mouth, trying to sound as natural as possible, like nothing’s wrong and that I wasn’t fuming inside.
“An unusual message, indeed?”
Apparently, Rizie didn’t think I was pulling off the act well.
This is weird. I usually manage my facial expressions just fine, but it seems it doesn’t work with Rizie.
“Actually, it’s really unusual.”
After a brief pause to contemplate, I decided to just come clean. Something like hiding matters between lovers heading toward becoming a family should be avoided anyway. Haven’t I already promised that countless times?
And since it’s not just about me but also involves Mar, I couldn’t hide it even if I tried.
“So, um… something big happened at the wedding, right? Because of that, two figures from the Holy Kingdom are coming to visit us.”
“Figures?”
Mar was the one who responded first. The topic had shifted to the wedding, so it’s only natural she would step up.
“Yeah. They said two figures from the Offices of Canonization and the Office for Saints are heading over right now.”
At those words, a look of tension spread across Mar’s face. The Office of Canonization is responsible for overseeing the Ascension Ceremony, one of the Dawn Sect’s major events, and the Office for Saints naturally deals with canonization. How can anyone not be on edge knowing someone from such core departments is coming due to us?
Even though Mar is the daughter of a duke, the significance of such individuals from the Holy Kingdom shouldn’t be taken lightly. This is a world where deities exist, so their authority is unquestionable.
‘What do I do?’
I pondered. How do I tell Mar that, “Two important figures in the canonization process want to see us because of what happened during our wedding”?
Moreover, the message from the Emperor stated that they wanted to discuss faith with us. It’s hard to believe a leading figure could actually be interested in our understanding of faith. There’s likely another reason for wanting to meet us, and that reason is probably related to the saint issue.
While I don’t expect Mar and I to actually become saints, just being considered candidates carries immense honor and authority. If, by some miraculous chance, we do become saints, it’s a whole other level.
So that’s the problem. If this were just the Emperor calling me in for work, I could ignore him without a second thought, but there’s no way I can brush this aside because everyone knows it’s a prestigious event. Plus, if I turned down a request from the Holy Kingdom’s officials who traveled all this way to see us, it could sour relations.
“…And about the official from the Office for Saints—”
After much hesitation, I finally opened my mouth.
This is unavoidable and can’t be hidden anymore, so I’m just going to have to say it…
*
I stood idly at the harbor, watching a fleet of ships grow closer. There were about ten vessels, each displaying the symbol of the Holy Kingdom, and they loomed grandly on the horizon.
‘They’re huge.’
It sounds plain, but there’s no other way to describe it. Each massive ship is already imposing on its own, and there’s ten of these giants clustered together. What other thought could possibly cross my mind but how large and splendid they are?
Moreover, considering who’s aboard that fleet, the word “large” suits the occasion well. Two major figures whose stature demands respect are onboard, after all.
‘What am I doing here?’
I felt out of place. It was like wearing an ill-fitting suit that pulled and tugged uncomfortably.
But there was no way around it. I was here on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor. As his only brother and the Marquis of the Empire, it was my duty to comply with the Emperor’s command.
“The minister of foreign affairs should normally handle the arrival of these officials, but he’s still in Ainter. Thus, there’s no suitable official left to greet them.”
That was just one of the many things weighing on my mind.
“So, Ainter. You’ll be the one to welcome them. If the Emperor’s brother greets them, they’ll be satisfied, and the practical tasks will be handled by the foreign ministry people accompanying you.”
I recalled the calm tone of His Majesty as he assigned me this unexpected task.
It was certainly a surprising command, but it was also a sign of trust and qualification bestowed upon me. Therefore, I must act in accordance with that expectation.
“Your Grace.”
As I determined to accept that responsibility, a foreign ministry official cautiously approached me. If I remember correctly, he was a departmental head responsible for handling matters with the Holy Kingdom.
“I think it’s time to prepare.”
“Yes, let’s get to it.”
I nodded to the head and began moving. The fleet of the Holy Kingdom had docked, so it was time to get ready and properly welcome our esteemed guests.
‘…Esteemed guests.’
A slight tension washed over me. While officials from my kingdom are treated far below the foreign ministers, those from the Holy Kingdom are seen on par with their ministers, given their significant religious authority.
It’s only natural that my thoughts drifted to the Minister of the Information Department as I imagined the figures aboard those ships.
‘It’d be a real pain if they’re like that Minister.’
If only I could hope for them to be moderately kind and forgiving.
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