Chapter 45 - Don’t Make Such Baseless Threats (1/2)

Chapter 45 – Don’t Make Such Baseless Threats

“….”

Xavier could guess where this was heading, and he inadvertently bit his lip. It was a long-forgotten habit.

“Don’t you think you should welcome a wife?” Henry continued.

“I haven’t thought about it yet,” Xavier replied as formally as possible. “I will try if you wish.”

“It seems like there’s a young lady that you’re close with these days,” Henry observed.

“…”

No matter who heard it, he was clearly speaking about Maristella.  An involuntary shiver went through Xavier’s body.

“Do you have any inclination to take in a wife?” Henry said again.

Xavier didn’t bother to give the excuse, “It’s a personal matter.” The selection of the Crown Prince’s wife was by no means a personal matter, but a national one that had to take place under the Emperor’s careful eye. But Xavier didn’t want to follow that custom. If his father weren’t the Emperor, it would be a meaningless charade.

“We’re not at that stage yet, Your Majesty. We only have brief conversations—” Xavier began.

“Either way, you need to get married soon and have an heir. You know you have no brothers, don’t you?”

“…I know.”

He didn’t have other brothers, and his now-deceased mother had only given birth to one son. It wasn’t like he wanted that, though.

After a momentary pause, he opened his mouth to speak. “I’m not yet ready, anyway.”

He was not yet confident of himself. He carried Imperial blood in his veins, and while a child might assert that they were an independent entity, it was impossible for them not to take after their parents at all.

What if he followed in the footsteps of the Imperial Family? Good god. That would be a terrible thing. His flesh shivered at the thought of his family. Bravely and recklessly, he brought things into a standstill.

“You will be thirty soon. What if I die before that?” Henry pressed.

“…”

The Emperor won’t die early, Xavier thought to himself. “That’s nonsense,” he said a moment later.

“You don’t know the future. I still want to see my daughter-in-law before I die.” Henry stroked his chin once more. “I won’t believe it until I see her with my own eyes.”

“I won’t keep you waiting for long,” Xavier said slowly.

The next words were surprising. “The truth is, I have someone in mind,” Henry revealed.

“…”

So, would it turn out like this after all?

“Who is it?” Xavier asked, his expression darkening.

“You’ve heard of the name before.” Henry spoke to his son with a strangely delighted voice. “Lady Trakos.”

Odeletta. The same young woman that Maristella suggested that Xavier meet. Xavier laughed inwardly.

“Is there a reason why you chose her?” he asked.

“She comes from a good family, and has an admirable character that I’ve always wanted. If you are planning to put off marriage selection, then choose Lady Trakos instead.”

So that was it. Xavier was taken aback by the abrupt pressure into a taking partner, and he couldn’t help but speak up.

“Why are you in such a hurry, Your Majesty? Or is it the other nobles who are—”

“Not at all. I just had that thought yesterday,” the Emperor interrupted. “Before I die, I want to see you married, and I want to see my grandchildren. That is why I feel an urgency.”

“Do you have any health problems?”

“No. But just in case,” Henry said cryptically.

Xavier lifted his head and looked at his father’s face for the first time. Normally, one wasn’t allowed to stare directly at the Emperor. That was a rule that even Xavier strictly abided by, if only to put some distance between him and his father.

“I don’t want to rush into marriage, Your Majesty. If I do that, it may ruin everything.”

“Will you still be willing to marry anyway? Or perhaps you’ll marry that young woman you’ve been getting closer with these days.”

“I don’t want to rush into this either way,” Xavier said, then swallowed dryly. “Even if it’s a political marriage, we still need time to get to know each other. If I make a mistake, I might make my wife as unhappy as my dead mother.”

“What?”

“My mother lived her life in unhappiness. Due to a certain imperial father.”

“How dare you say that!” Henry roared. His face twisted in savage anger, but Xavier’s cool expression remained unchanged. Henry’s face was purple as if he were about to explode on his son, but he forced his anger to abate.

“Very well. So what the hell do you want now?” he said some time later, his voice steady.

“…”

“You don’t want to marry the young lady you have an inclination towards, and you don’t even want to consider a political proposal with your father’s chosen partner. As the crown prince of this country, aren’t you being excessively complacent?”

“Your Majesty.”

“You are next in line for the throne of the Yonas Empire, and you have an obligation to continue the line of succession. Are you going to enjoy the benefits of being a crown prince while ignoring the responsibilities?”

“It won’t take long, Your Majesty. But just not this fast,” Xavier tried to reassure.