When the guard entered the mansion, Rosalie hurriedly approached him.
“What happened? Did you find her?”
The guard shook his head, looking troubled.
As Rosalie stumbled over the shock, Ethan tried to support her.
“This is all because of Brother!”
Rosalie pushed away Ethan’s comforting hand; her expression had turned fierce. Tears welled up in her big eyes.
“You should know when to stop; keep some boundaries! How could you beat her until she chose to run away?!”
“D*mn it, I hadn’t even properly started! What was I supposed to do when she suddenly freaked out and ran away? You are the one who should control your temper a bit!”
“What? Are you trying to blame someone else for this?! It’s because you went overboard and scared her away! You crazy punk!”
“Enough, you two.” Martha walked down the corridor and intervened in the argument with a deep, authoritative voice.
“Continue the search. The girl is weak, and she must be disoriented; she couldn’t have gone far. Check the nearby orphanages thoroughly.”
“Yes, understood.” The guard saluted politely and left the mansion.
Rosalie ran to Martha and hugged her like a child.
“If my marriage is ruined because of Isabella, I’ll kill her. I will definitely kill that brat.”
Rosalie gritted her teeth, tears streaming down her face.
Ethan crossed his arms, bored, at the start of another of his little sister’s tantrums.
“Don’t worry, Rosalie. Nothing like that will happen. No matter what happens, I will ensure that your marriage remains untarnished. You have nothing to worry about.” Martha tried to soothe her child.
“What are you staring at? Get lost!” Rosalie shouted at Ethan, reaching out as if to grab his collar.
Martha restrained Rosalie, and Ethan glared at her.
“Are you trying to kill me first, Rosalie?”
“If that’s what you wish, I’ll gladly oblige.”
“What?”
“What exactly does Brother do for the family? Do you go to battle to stand your ground or manage the territory? I, on the other hand, will elevate the name of the White family by marrying the Grand Duke, even my engagement with His Grace is enough to put us in the social circle. But what do you do? Do you do anything of value aside from going hunting with poor nobles?”
Ethan stepped confidently towards Rosalie, jabbing his index finger at her. His lips trembled, holding back his rage with all his might.
“Rosalie White, watch your words. I have hunted with the second prince, His Grace Jenos, and even the Crown Prince. Be careful with what you say.”
“Ha! Being invited once or twice is nothing! Don’t you know it’s all because of goodwill? Careful? Me? You should be the one being careful, brother. When I become the Grand Duchess, I’ll have you pushed to the most dangerous border!”
“Is that so? But if I kill you before the wedding, you won’t become the Grand Duchess, will you?”
“I told you to stop.” Martha sighed, pulling Rosalie closer and creating distance between her and Ethan.
“Isabella’s escape doesn’t affect us. There’s no need for meaningless arguments between ourselves. Let’s not waste our breath, my children.”
Martha, accustomed to mediating between the two, patted Rosalie’s back reassuringly.
“Don’t worry, my dear. And how can you say such things to your elder brother?”
“I’m sorry, Mother. It’s just…”
“No need for excuses. And Ethan, you too. When your little sister is upset, you should try to comfort her with a good heart. Don’t you think?”
“I apologize, Mother.”
“Now, shall we reconcile?”
Martha spoke soothingly to Rosalie and pushed her towards her brother.
The two reached out to each other, holding hands. At that moment, warm glances were exchanged, and they looked at each other with affection.
“Brother, I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. My lovely baby sister.”
Martha looked at her children with a satisfied expression as the siblings embraced each other.
━━━━ ∙ʚ(✧)ɞ∙ ━━━━
“This family is insane,” Bella remarked.
She looked as if she hadn’t quite recovered from the shock of the word “marriage,” but she spoke nonetheless.
“The members of the White family are people beyond common sense. You can’t understand them if you’re in your right mind.”
“So, you won’t marry me because you’re afraid of taking Rosalie’s place?”
“No. It’s not that.”
Bella frowned and shook her head. She couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity to stab them in the back.
“Then what is it?”
“His Grace mentioned that, after marrying me, you plan to become the emperor with the help of the witch’s power…”
“Exactly. If you refuse, I’ll send you back to the White family immediately.”
It was practically telling her to go and die.
Refusal was never an option in the first place. She had anticipated that, although it did make her cringe.
“Then please promise me you will protect me. Promise me that, even if my usefulness comes to an end, you won’t send me back to the White family or kill me. Promise me that you will provide a way for me to live happily forever by sending me abroad.”
“Do I seem like the kind of reckless and inefficient person who would just kill someone because they became useless?”
To think that the reason for not killing someone was because of efficiency.
Bella was gradually getting to know Duke Jenos, and it was a bad side.
“How long do you think I have to look at His Grace to judge whether it’s inefficient or not?”
After speaking, Bella covered her mouth, realizing that her original personality was emerging, perhaps due to the duke’s words.
“It’s okay. I told you to act like yourself.”
“….”
“Are you okay?”
“What if I make a mistake in front of others? Wait… are you saying it’s okay for me to say whatever because you’re planning to keep me confined to the mansion?”
“No. Our marriage will be announced publicly, and we’ll have to move together to the battlefront, so of course, you’ll need to engage in external activities.”
“But you’re saying I don’t have to worry about my speech, even though I’m marrying into the royal family?”
“A timid attitude while wielding the power of a witch can be a hindrance, so it’s better to avoid it; but once outside the mansion, you can act as you like.”
“Excuse me?”
‘No, what is this absurd and irresponsible attitude?’
“What if my acting fails?”
“If your mad dancing in front of a corpse is revealed, annoying enemies will appear, people will start questioning why I married you, and eventually, if it’s revealed that you’re a witch, we’ll die.” Jenos calmly stated this.
Bella thought that there would be no one else who could match Jenos in telling such a story in such a calm and indifferent manner.
“Throughout your life, you’ve prayed to be able to get rid of the White family during meals. Miraculously, your wish came true, and you gained power. If it’s for revenge, shouldn’t you do your best?”
“…Yes. You’re right. I will do whatever it takes to get revenge against them.”
“But why is your expression so dark? Is there something on your mind?”
Bella glanced at Jenos and swallowed dry. He truly had an impressive sense of perception.
“I have one thing I want to ask.”
“What is it?”
“That story about how a witch cannot stop slaughter until they’ve murdered a thousand people. Does that mean I’ll end up killing people I don’t even want to kill?”
“Oh, that.” Jenos shrugged casually. “It’s all a lie.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s a lie spread by the palace. About 90% of what’s known about witches is a lie.”
“What are you…”
“It’s time to visit the palace.”
Jenos stood up, pointing to Bella’s plate, which was still full of food.
“Leave after you have finished all your food. See you in the evening.”
Jenos left the dining room before Bella could even say goodbye.
She slumped onto the table, placing her cheek on the back of her hand.
She absentmindedly pinched the back of her hand.
A sharp pain shot through.
━━━━ ∙ʚ(✧)ɞ∙ ━━━━
“Jenos!”
Spike stood up from his large golden chair, adorned with a big ruby, smiling broadly.
He had a strangely similar face to Jenos. Although slightly shorter than Jenos, he had a sturdy and robust body, like a solid block.
His dark black hair and brown eyes were identical to Jenos’.
The White family continued to uphold the tradition of maintaining the same color of hair because the royal family still had the same tradition.
Even though it was his office, Spike had a sword at his waist and emitted a faint scent that only Jenos could detect.
As if gilding the entire palace wasn’t enough after the coronation, he even gilded his chair. Spike’s display of extravagance irritated Jenos once again.
“Your Imperial Majesty.”
Obviously, Jenos expressed respect and affection for the emperor.
“National affairs kept you busy, huh? You’re only meeting your brother now. It’s been a while since you arrived in the capital.”
“Now that the battles are over, I am nothing more than a civilian; it’s only natural to align with Your Majesty’s schedule.”
“Haha, you’re cute.”
Spike lightly tapped Jenos’ cheek and laughed, then guided him to the central sofa.
As Jenos followed him, a sense of shame settled below his chest.
“I heard you went to meet your fiancée yesterday.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Well, how was it seeing her after a long time? You must be excited as the marriage announcement is approaching, huh? Ah, youth is truly wonderful.”
Spike laughed heartily. Jenos appeared uneasy.
“Actually, today, I have something to discuss with Your Majesty about my engagement.”
“Is there any problem?”
“I can no longer marry Lady Rosalie White.”
Jenos didn’t try to be subtle. Immediately, Spike’s expression contorted significantly.
The White family were the perfect in-laws. As a barony, they were not a threat, and there was no significant obstacle to marrying into the royal family.
Moreover, they are wealthy and have no great ambitions in politics.
So why the change of heart in this youngster, who had always been modest and obedient throughout his life?
Spike observed Jenos closely as if trying to decipher the reason behind his actions.
“I know that this engagement didn’t start with love. Yet, wouldn’t accepting the sacred and honorable duty of a marriage that benefits the royal family be seen as virtuous?”
Spike placed a hand on Jenos’ thigh with a benevolent expression. He looked down at his brother’s thick palm, then lifted his gaze to meet Spike’s eyes.
Two eyes with the same hue locked onto each other.
“Your Majesty, you’re aware that the White family has a younger daughter?”
“Youngest daughter? Ah, now that you mention it, I remember you saying it’s one son and two daughters. But what about it?”
“I have developed feelings for her.”
Spike, speechless for a moment, looked at his brother. But Jenos stared back at the emperor as if ready to face anything.
“I want to marry that person. Fortunately, I haven’t announced my engagement to Rosalie yet. With Your Majesty’s grace, I would like to marry Isabella instead of Rosalie.”
Spike remained silent for a moment, then burst into laughter, clapping his hands.
“Who would have thought my brother was such a romantic!”
He shook his head in amazement, laughing heartily.
“It’s the same White family, so there shouldn’t be any problem. Besides, it would be hard for them to object. Well, even though she’s an adopted daughter, she’s still a White, right?”
Spike seemed unaware of the fact that Isabella was the abused, ugly duckling of the White family. To him, it was just another marriage within the White lineage. Whether he chose the first or second daughter, it was fine with him.
Moreover, Spike was secretly worried that Jenos might resist having his marriage partner picked for him. But to ask for permission to marry someone he truly loved within the same family…
It was a great opportunity for him to feign favoring Jenos, and it was also excellent to reap the benefits of his in-laws.
“Have you informed the White family?”
“Isabella feels a great sense of guilt, so she hasn’t done it yet. In fact, it was a marriage I pushed, so I’m waiting for the right moment.”
“Haha. Really? Well, well. Who would have thought my brother had such a side? Not holding back in matters of love.”
“Then, can I consider that I have Your Majesty’s approval?”
Spike nodded his head as if there was no need to ask such a question and hugged Jenos with all his strength.
“Aye~ Of course. I approve of the marriage with Isabella White. Congratulations, my brother.”
Hi guys! Are you interested in advanced chapters?
I kinda feel bad fpr the Emperor. He seems innocent