Chapter 321 - [Side Story] A Typical Political Marriage (1) (1/2)
As usual, one could find Derek brushing up on his sword fighting in the training hall. He practiced constantly to keep his vow to protect Empress Elena. He would never let anything as dangerous as Paveluc happen again, and if it did, he would take care of it with his own hands.
Hwiig hwiig.
Derek’s sword cut fiercely through the air, when one of his knights approached him.
“The commander is waiting for you outside.”
At those words, Derek’s swordplay halted. It had to. The one that he called commander was his father, Alphord.
“…What brings him here?”
“I don’t know. I told him that you were training. What will you do?”
Alphord was the commander of the Fourth Order of the Imperial Knights, and Derek was a leader of a group within it. No matter that they belonged to the same Order; there were not many occasions when the commander and a group leader interacted in the same space. Derek and Alphord did not run into each other unless it was a special occasion, and they both accepted this as normal. It was the first time Alphord visited Derek since the latter joined the Fourth Order.
‘What brings him here all of a sudden?’
What’s more, Alphord did not directly come into the hall to see Derek. Given that a message was given through a subordinate, Alphord likely wanted a private visit. The suddenness of it was a mystery from Derek’s point-of-view, but he would soon find out what it was anyway. He lowered the sword in his hand and replied.
“I’ll be ready soon, so please bring him to my office.”
“Yes, sir.”
The knight bowed and quickly left to carry out the order. Meanwhile, Derek strode in another direction. He had to change his sweat-soaked clothes before meeting Alphord.
***
Derek arrived at his office with fresh clothes, and Alphord was already sitting and waiting for him. Derek spoke politely to the commander.
“What brings you here?”
Derek was just as straightforwardly blunt as his father.
“I’m here to talk about your marriage.”
“Marriage?”
“Yes. You need to get married soon. How long are you going to stay single?”
“I…”
Derek’s words caught in his throat. He knew something important might be brought up, but he didn’t expect it to be about this.
“It’s already quite late for you. Considering the rest of the family, you should start your own family soon. You are the oldest son, so don’t think about getting married later than Mirabelle.”
“…”
Derek hadn’t the heart to contradict his father. After Elena and Mirabelle found their partners, he vaguely considered that he had to get married as well. Elena was married and now the Empress of the Ruford Empire, and Mirabelle was currently dating Kuhn. Among them, Derek was the only one left.
“Are there any prospects?”
“Yes. The Morris family daughter is good.”
“If it’s the Morris family…”
“Before Her Majesty married, the Morris family previously proposed to her.”
Derek nodded. The family name was familiar to him.
“I’ve met them a few times, and the Morris family are suitable in-laws. Their daughter is old enough to marry, so please see her.”
The fact that Alphord, who rarely gave praise, complimented the Morris family meant that he was quite impressed with them. Derek wasn’t inclined to get married immediately, but he had no reason to refuse. Meanwhile, Elena and Mirabelle found their own respective loves before a family match.
Derek was different. He had never met a woman that thrilled his heart, nor did he have a hidden lover. Perhaps it was because of his responsibility to lead the family, but he thought of simply marrying the woman that Alphord chose. Now that time had come.
“…”
But as Derek hesitated to answer, Alphord, watching him, responded in a quiet voice.
“I already almost died once saving the Empress. And that was not the only time. I’ve risked my life several times when living as a knight. Derek, you are no different from me. Start a family before it’s too late.”
It was sincerely given advice, from one reticent knight to another.
“…I understand. I will meet the young lady of the Morris family according to your wishes.”
Meetings arranged by families were not always simple, but as long as there were no major problems, it was safe to say that the marriage would happen. Derek wasn’t worried about that anymore. He had already made up his mind, and he was determined to get married. Alphord looked satisfied at the resolution in Derek’s face.
“Yes, that is a good decision.”
“If you make an appointment…”
“There is already one. The date is tomorrow, and you can have lunch together.”
Derek couldn’t speak for a moment. He realized that Alphord would have pushed for the meeting, regardless of his answer. Derek let out an embarrassed chuckle. It didn’t matter anyway. It was something he had to live with as a noble.
Alphord, having accomplished his task, checked his pocket watch and stood up from his seat.
“The meeting place was already decided, so make sure you’re prepared and not late. I must go now.”
“You’re going already?”
“I promised to teach Prince Crow swordplay today.”
As gruff as Alphord was, he broke everyone’s expectations and completely doted on his grandson, to the point that he would die for Crow. Derek was already accustomed to this, and he replied with a nod.
“Very well. If you see Her Majesty, please give her my regards.”
“I will.”
After Alphord left the office, Derek sat down at his spacious desk. He already made a decision, but it didn’t completely register to him yet.
“Marriage…”
The word was still unfamiliar to him.
***
Derek donned a well-cut suit and waited for the appointed time as given to him by Alphord. A servant informed him that the Morris family carriage had arrived in front of the Imperial Knights residence where he stayed. He thought that the Morris’ would simply inform him where to go, and was surprised by the carriage. But that didn’t matter. The important thing now was to see the woman he would potentially marry.
Kkiig—
Derek was about to enter the presumably empty carriage, when he saw a maid sitting inside first. She was an impressive beauty with soft brown hair and large, clear eyes like a cat. When their eyes met, the maid bowed to him first and introduced herself.
“Hello. My name is Jeanne. Lady Morris has sent me in her stead.”
“Lady Morris?”
“Yes. The lady is so shy that she sent me to ask you questions instead.”
Derek’s expression stiffened a little. He wondered how shy Lady Morris must be to ask a maid to do this for her.
Jeanne seemed to notice his reaction, and responded.