Chapter 137
“As you confirmed in the letter, my daughter has accepted the marriage proposal.”
“Then, we should proceed with the contract immediately.”
“Before that, I have something to say, Your Highness.”
“Please speak.”
“I would like the formal ceremony to be promised for two years later.”
At the time, Lupeon hadn’t asked the Marquis Rohenbach for the reason. He wasn’t particularly curious and simply thought there must be circumstances behind it.
But thinking about it now, he realized it might have been a father’s desire to delay his daughter’s marriage even slightly.
Therefore, the marquis must have felt betrayed by Lupeon not keeping that promise.
If Elena hadn’t wanted to stay at the imperial palace, the marquis would have opposed his daughter residing there at all.
Understanding Marquis Rohenbach’s feelings, Lupeon bowed his head.
The marquis’s eyes filled with emotion at his sudden action.
“Your Majesty…”
“Elena is incredibly precious to me.”
“…”
As the marquis couldn’t close his mouth, Lupeon continued speaking with grave eyes.
“I hope you’ll accept someone as inadequate as me. So that Elena can be happy by my side.”
Marquis Rohenbach, who had been listening silently, touched his hand and showed a tender smile.
“I know that Elena can only be happy at Your Majesty’s side.”
“…”
Lost in thought for a moment, the marquis finally continued after his lips quivered.
“I am someone who hurt my family and failed to protect my home. So my permission likely holds little meaning.”
“Please don’t say that.”
Lupeon firmly shook his head, denying the marquis’s words.
Even as an observer, he could clearly see how much the marquis cherished and loved his children.
The marquis, wearing a faint smile, soon bowed respectfully to Lupeon.
“Nevertheless, may I make a humble request of Your Majesty?”
“Please speak freely.”
Marquis Rohenbach continued slowly, speaking now not as a loyal subject but as a father with a daughter.
“Dating and marriage are surely different. It’s never easy for two different people to become one.”
Just as every day can’t be joyful, there will be times when they disappoint each other over minor disagreements.
“However, with mutual trust, any challenge can be overcome.”
The marquis added that he hoped they would express their feelings for each other freely, based on that trust.
“Though I failed to do so, I believe Your Majesty will surely succeed.”
“…!”
As Lupeon’s blue eyes shone brightly, the marquis nodded with a kindly smile.
“As a father with a daughter, I beg you. Please make Elena happy.”
Having received permission for marriage, Lupeon answered more solemnly than ever.
“I promise. I’ll make her happier than anyone else in this world.”
At Lupeon’s heartfelt response, the marquis showed a satisfied smile across his face, seeming relieved.
* * *
At Marquis Rohenbach’s suggestion, Elena agreed to stay at the mansion until the wedding.
Since she would become empress after the ceremony, she decided to spend time with her family until then.
Moreover, it was imperial custom for the bride and groom to stay with their respective families until the wedding once the date was set.
Elena exchanged letters with Anasha, who remained in the Princess’s Palace, and fortunately the child seemed to be doing well.
From mastering newly learned etiquette to Vernon breaking a flower pot while playing together.
The letters were so densely packed with happenings at the palace that it felt like reading the child’s diary.
‘I’m glad Anasha seems to be adapting well to palace life too.’
Reading the young lady’s letter, Elena smiled softly as warmth filled her heart.
Then she naturally glanced outside.
She had noticed the servants moving about unusually busily for some time.
“I wonder if something’s happened?”
Just as she wondered this and approached the door to check.
“Sister, you need to come downstairs right away!”
When Lisette urgently knocked on the door, Elena tilted her head and opened it.
“What’s going on, Lisette?”
She raised an eyebrow as she looked at her brother’s slightly flustered face.
“It would be faster to go down and see for yourself.”
Worried that something bad might have happened, Elena hurriedly left her room with Lisette.
Soon after arriving downstairs, Elena’s eyes widened like saucers.
“What is all this…?”
The main hall of the marquis’s mansion was so full of items there was barely room to step.
Lisette, his eyes sparkling, pointed at them and said in an excited voice.
“Sister, these are all wedding gifts from Brother-in-law!”
“Lupeon sent all of this?”
As surprise and bewilderment spread across Elena’s face, the marquis in the main hall answered with an awkward smile.
“He did send a generous dowry, but we’ve received even more gifts.”
“…Yes, Father.”
At that moment, an attendant approached Elena, bowed respectfully, and handed her a document.
“His Majesty the Emperor asked this to be delivered to you personally, My Lady.”
She nodded slightly but suddenly doubted her eyes as she examined the document bearing the imperial seal.
Sensing something unusual in his sister’s stiffened expression, Lisette carefully asked.
“Sister, what is it?”
Elena swallowed hard before answering her brother, first confirming again with the attendant.
“Did His Majesty really bestow this?”
“Yes. He personally arranged each gift despite his busy schedule.”
‘Even so, to give me ownership of a diamond mine…’
The diamond mine was one of several mines that had been owned by the imperial family for generations.
Elena wore a troubled expression thinking of the man who had gifted her something so precious.
The Rohenbach father and son exchanged slightly surprised looks after checking the document.
Lisette let out a playful laugh and said to his father, half-joking and half-serious.
“Father, at this rate, Sister might become the empire’s wealthiest person.”
“Ho ho, indeed.”
The marquis, showing a cheerful smile, soon began giving instructions to the servants for organizing the gifts.
Taking advantage of this moment, Lisette approached Elena and whispered softly.
“Sister, I’ve prepared a gift too.”
“You have? What is it?”
“Well. You’ll find out soon. No need to be too grateful.”
Lisette raised the corner of his mouth and shrugged slightly.
* * *
Late at night, when darkness had fallen deeply, Elena, unable to sleep, sat by the window stroking her hair.
‘I wonder if Lupeon is still attending to state affairs.’
Unable to meet Lupeon since coming to the marquis’s mansion, she missed and longed to see her lover even more.
Though they communicated through communication orbs, she still wished the wedding day would come quickly.
Wedding preparations were being handled entirely by the imperial family, following Valdeon Empire’s customs.
Therefore, Elena had little to do except try on her wedding dress in advance.
Nevertheless, she was exhausted from checking each wedding gift and dealing with the palace’s chief designer who visited for dress fittings.
If only she could see Lupeon’s face now, all her fatigue would vanish.
With wedding preparations progressing smoothly, Elena had no proper excuse to visit the palace.
If not for the imperial custom requiring them to stay with their families until the wedding once the date was set, she would have visited the palace several times already.
“Hmm, still a whole week until the wedding.”
Just as she sighed softly, complaining that time seemed to move too slowly—
Tok—
‘Hmm?’
Hearing something hit the window, Elena tilted her head.
Tok—
At the sound coming again, she slightly furrowed her brow and stood up.
Thinking someone must be playing a prank, she threw the window wide open.
The moment she looked down to see who it was, her golden eyes began to tremble.
