Chapter 6
It was the brooch that Curtis had reluctantly pinned on her collar in the afternoon.
This is the token I received from Brigadier General Burke when he proposed to me.
Quickly, a servant took it and presented it to the king. Chloe would never forget the kings expression as he examined the brooch with Burke’s crest.
He looked like I had smacked him across the forehead with the brooch.
Chloe, finishing her recollection, smiled brightly.
Thank you for lending it to me, Your Excellency.
…Im glad it was useful,Curtis said after a brief silence, reaching out to take the brooch. Chloe, still smiling, pulled her hand back, keeping the brooch out of his reach. As a competent superior, Curtis immediately understood her intention, and his expression soured.
Second Lieutenant…
Yes, sir?
First, thank you….
Curtis trailed off, lowering his gaze and roughly rubbing his face.
Please, sit down.
Yes, sir.
With the precise and swift movements of a soldier, Chloe sat on the sofa, still holding the brooch. Curtis’s mouth twitched slightly.
It was past midnight, and Chloe could guess what her superior wanted to discuss in this situation, alone in the office with his female aide. But she wasnt going to wait for him to start.
Excuse me, but was todays situation orchestrated by you, Your Excellency?
Curtis rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache. The answer was obvious.
…Roughly speaking, yes. I apologize.
No, I understand.
Curtis stopped rubbing his forehead and looked at her. His violet eyes gleamed with a mix of emotions. Chloe shrugged.
After spending three hours in that situation, I realized I was indeed a suitable partner for you, Your Excellency.
The reason Curtis, disliked by the king, had quickly named Chloe as his fiancée wasnt complicated.
The current king and Curtis had different mothers. Curtis’s mother was Mildred, the second queen that the previous Ivannes king had married after being widowed.
The former king hadnt intended to remarry. But life rarely goes as planned. He fell in love at first sight with Princess Mildred of Glintland, a small maritime kingdom, and proposed to her.
Unfortunately, love wasnt mutual. However, the princess was practical.
You love me? Then marry me. But in return, protect our country.
In exchange for becoming queen, she demanded that Ivannes support Glintlands defense. Strengthening another country’s military, especially one that could be invaded at any time, was a difficult condition to fulfill.
However, the unique geographical features of both countries made this arrangement possible.
Ivannes had only one coast, the Prado Coast. The Prado Coast, where a dragon was said to be sleeping, was considered sacred and had fast currents, making it impossible to invade by sea. Therefore, even if Glintland, surrounded entirely by water, strengthened its navy, it wouldnt pose a significant threat to Ivannes.
And there was another condition.
I dont want my child to die in a conflict. Ensure that my child can hold titles in both countries.
Queen Mildred demanded dual titles for her child. This would allow her child to live as a Glintland citizen if needed, even forfeiting Ivanness succession rights.
The former king readily accepted all these demands. And when Curtis was born, he was granted the surname Burke and received titles from both Ivannes and Glintland as promised when he turned three.
The issue was that Curtis wasnt just extremely handsome; he was also an exceptionally intelligent and talented prince.
The former king adored Curtis, to the point where it threatened the first princes, now the current kings, sense of security about his succession rights.
The first prince went beyond feeling uneasy around Curtis; he actively sought to undermine him. This was so well-known that people felt pity for Curtis. There were many suspicions surrounding Queen Mildred’s death. After the former king died, Queen Mildred soon followed, dying in a fire at a foreign villa.
The Ivannes royal family expressed regret and quickly distanced themselves from the incident, calling it an unfortunate accident unrelated to the royal family. However, rumors circulated that the current king might have had a hand in the queens death.
Soon after his ascension, the king began pressuring Curtis. Ultimately, Curtis adhered to the nearly obsolete duty of a second son by joining the military.
However, he did not renounce his title in Ivannes.
To the king, this was intolerable, as Curtis retaining the title of Duke Burke meant he still held nominal succession rights. Moreover, Curtiss victories in several major battles had earned him immense popularity among the people.
Naturally, the kings longstanding inferiority complex toward Curtis only deepened. This arranged marriage scheme was clearly a plan to quickly remove Curtis from the country before Crown Prince Frederick ascended the throne.
Chloe, however, couldnt understand Curtiss stance.
“If you dislike the marriage, why not just renounce your title and nationality and go to Glintland? After all, the king is pushing this marriage because he sees you as a threat.”
She was essentially asking why Curtis, who wouldnt be mistreated even if he changed his nationality, insisted on staying in Ivannes, going so far as to use her in a fake engagement to avoid the marriage.
Curtis laughed softly at her question, but unlike the smiles Chloe had seen before, this one was self-deprecating.
“It’s not that simple, Ambroise. Abandoning my title and moving to Glintland would be admitting defeat. It’s more than just titles and land; it’s about who I am and what I stand for.”
He paused, looking thoughtful.
“And, quite frankly, there are people here who depend on me, who believe in what I can do for Ivannes. If I leave, I let them down.”
Chloe nodded slowly, beginning to understand. “So, its about more than just power and position. Its about responsibility.”
Curtis nodded. “Exactly. And now, unfortunately, that includes this ridiculous engagement charade. But I promise, I’ll make it worth your while. You did exceptionally well today.”
Chloe sighed. “I hope so, Your Excellency. I hope so.”
“Do you know what title I hold in Glintland?”
“You’re the Marquess of Soleria.”
Chloe answered without much thought, but then realized the implications and context of that title. Curtis noticed her realization and smiled wryly.
“Figured it out?”
“Mostly, but please explain.”
“A good soldier doesnt jump to conclusions. Very well.”
Curtis praised her lightly before speaking in a measured, nuanced tone.
“First off, the coastline is too long. I would have too much to handle.”
Soleria had the longest coastline in Glintland. It was also a place plagued by pirates for decades, as it housed Glintlands major ports.
The Marquess of Soleria was responsible for the entire coastline. If Curtis took on that title, he would inevitably face constant battles with pirates. His comment about having too much work stemmed from this responsibility.
However, being his aide, already accustomed to excessive overtime, Chloe felt an urge to hit Curtis over the head with the brooch in her hand. Unaware of her thoughts, Curtis continued.
“I would be treated poorly in Glintland.”
Chloe furrowed her brow slightly, not understanding.
“Forgive me for saying so, Your Excellency, but you’re not exactly treated well in Ivannes either…”
Curtis narrowed his eyes. Uh-oh. Chloe realized too late that she might have overstepped. But she thought, ‘Its true, though.’
Curtis was the one who had led Ivannes through wars with three kingdoms and secured truces. Yet the king didnt honor him as a hero; instead, he relegated him to the Royal Guard.
“Are you saying I’d be in for a rough time in Glintland?”
“And isnt it the same in Ivannes?”
‘Wouldn’t Glintland, where the king isn’t constantly trying to undermine you, be better?’
Most people would think so. But Curtis had a surprising answer.
“You’re not wrong. But if I won’t be rewarded either way, it’s better to stay in Ivannes.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t fight wars alone.”
Ah. Chloe fell silent at his unexpected answer.
“And Glintland is a weak country. It’s poor. If I become the Marquess of Soleria, Id have to pour all my resources into their military and get nothing in return.”
Wars are fundamentally about resources. Whether fighting another country or pirates, winning through force requires money. But Glintland isnt wealthy. The Solerian ports, despite their significance, receive little protection due to Glintland’s financial struggles.
The king of Glintland blamed the invasions for the depleted treasury, claiming he couldnt afford to support the ports. Worse, he told the port cities to manage on their own until they could enrich the national treasury enough to provide additional support. It was absurd.
Even if Curtis became the Marquess of Soleria, Glintland would expect him to fund the military out of his own pocket, effectively pouring water into a bottomless pit.
In contrast, Ivannes, despite its issues, did not cut off support during wars.
‘Thats because the king gained a lot from the wars with the three kingdoms.’
If Curtis had to fight on meager resources, it was better to be a neglected hero in Ivannes with some support than a solitary figure in Glintland with none.
“I made these calculations when I was eighteen.”
“I see.”
Thus, Curtis joined the Ivannes military but did not renounce his title of Duke Burke.
However, Glintland, which was practically his maternal home, also didnt give up on him.
The current king of Glintland was Curtis’s uncle. He shared Queen Mildreds rational and cunning nature, though he was often seen as more underhanded.
While Queen Mildred was alive, Glintlands defense budget had been cut by 90% thanks to Ivannes’s support. After her death, it was restored by the same amount.
When Curtis was born, he was just the third prince of wealthy Ivannes. But the king of Glintland saw the future potential. Granting Curtis the title of Marquess of Soleria was a strategic move.
Currently, Curtis, as a citizen of Ivannes and Duke Burke, wasnt obliged to fulfill the duties of the Marquess of Soleria. This title required him to become a naturalized citizen of Glintland, which he hadnt done.
However, if Curtis married a direct member of Glintlands royal family, he would automatically gain Glintland citizenship and be bound by the duties of the Marquess of Soleria.
Desperate for defense funds, the king of Glintland focused on this. He adopted an unmarried collateral royal family member, created the title “Duke of Glintland,”and sent a marriage proposal to Curtis. The proposal, in essence, was as follows:
Naturally, the king of Ivannes welcomed this offer. Furthermore,
“The king sweetened the deal with irresistible terms.”
