Chapter 24 – I Will Marry You (2)

TL: Kay (kkrivulet)

Of course, the indifferent younger brother, who was inconsiderate of others, just casually ignored Gerpenus’s expression. Gerpenus frowned openly and tilted his head.

「…… What did my lovely brother just say to me?」

“I said I would marry Princess Neinstein.”

「Princess Neinstein? You’re going to marry that slave woman?」

Gerpenus gave a hollow laugh.

It was not a bad thing that his serious younger brother became interested in women. Even though he was a voracious brother, he needed to learn how to have fun.

But that was it.

He turned a blind eye to Princess Neinstein as he took it as an opportunity for his younger brother to enjoy a little bit of entertainment while facing a woman, not to say that.

“It’s a problem that needs to be solved someday anyway.”

「You’re the only one in the world who describes marriage as a problem.」

“I don’t care.”

「Of course, you don’t. But not me, brother.」

Gerpenus put down the teacup he was drinking. He was no longer smiling.

“I’ve fought for Your Majesty all my life. I think I can ask for this.”

「Of course, considering what you have done, it is not a waste to make any wishes. But there are always exceptions to anything.」

“This can be an exception.”

「No. No. It’s crazy for an imperial member to marry a mere slave.」

Even if the Neinstein Kingdom survived, it was not a worthy match.

Moreover, a woman who had lost everything, and became a slave, could not be accepted as the wife of the imperial family.

Especially if it was Cabellenus.

For Gerpenus, Cabellenus was more special than anyone else. He could not afford to see his younger brother voluntarily enter the mud pit.

[T/N: Gerpenus did not want to see Cabellenus ‘dirty/taint’ himself, this is why the author likens it to ‘enter(ing) the mud pit’]

“The slave status is only temporary.”

「You must know better than anyone else that it’s not that kind of problem.」

“I don’t care.”

「Are you serious?」

Gerpenus, who was staring at Cabellenus, groaned and touched his forehead.

He could not help notice his brother’s stubbornness, which he had seen since the moment he was born.

When Cabellenus had such a gaze, it meant that he would never yield.

If he was going to be like this, he should have told Cabellenus to kill Princess Neinstein instead of making such a bet.

Now, even if he regretted it now, it was already too late.

Gerpenus gave a long sigh as he pressed hard on his throbbing temples.

“This is the conclusion I came to after much consideration. If I had intended to reverse it, I wouldn’t have told you from the beginning.”

「Yes, you were such a kid. But no matter how much I think about it, this is not it. A lot of things will get tangled up, and you’ll get caught up in matters you didn’t need to go through.」

“I’ve already made up my mind.”

Gold and green.

The eyes of the two men, which differed in colour yet appeared strangely similar, collided in the air.

Cabellenus had already made up his mind, and Gerpenus had no intention of reversing his opposition.

「Woo……. Brother, you seem to be mistaken as this is the first time you’ve ever got involved with a woman.」

In the tense war of nerves, it was Gerpenus who opened his mouth first. He tried to regain his composure by sipping the remaining tea.

“It’s not an illusion.”

「No. That is an illusion. Even if it’s not, it has to be.」

“…….”

「You’re not a child. You’re a grown adult. So no matter what kind of woman you have fun with, I don’t think it’s my part to interfere. But marriage is different. Because marriage is also about successors.」

“You will see a successor from her.”

Cabellenus answered pragmatically. He did not intend to embrace any women apart from Alicia anyway.

Cabellenus was originally not interested in women at all. But after holding Alicia, he became more interested.

「That’s exactly the problem.」

Gerpenus eventually failed to finish his tea and placed the cup down.

It was impossible to stay calm.

For the young emperor, imagining his younger brother standing at the wedding hall with the unfamiliar Princess Neinstein in his arms was far more terrifying than dealing with documents piled up like a mountain or the ministers who did not know the language.

「According to the imperial custom, there is only one woman that a man can marry. If you have her as your wife, you will not be able to have a flawless successor no matter how hard you try. You’ll only get a poor successor born from a slave mother or an illegitimate successor born from a woman who isn’t your wife.」

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t consider it a flaw.”

「Yes, of course, you don’t.」

Gerpenus’s eyes distorted. He wanted to say it was just blood, but he knew better than anyone that he couldn’t.

“Your Majesty.”

「It is true that poor bloodline is a flaw. For nobles, bloodline is a good indication of the symbol of power passed down from generation to generation. Bloodline is something that impossible to fix despite any effort.」

“…….”

「I think you would know what I mean since you have watched me closer than anyone else.」

Even after a long time had passed since Gerpenus became the emperor, people still wanted Cabellenus to sit on the throne.

It did not matter if Cabellenus rejected the emperor’s seat, became the master of Schwarhan, or took all kinds of notorieties.

He was the son of a dancer who was offered as a tribute to the previous emperor.

The stigma had plagued Gerpenus all his life from the moment he was born.

「I wouldn’t blame you if you liked her and left her next to you. But, nothing more than that.」

Gerpenus said firmly.

“I didn’t ask Your Majesty for your opinion.”

「Even if you didn’t ask for my opinion, you’ll need my consent. Because all the nobles of the Empire can never marry without my approval. That’s why you called me.」

“Well, I have to talk about it at least once in order to get approval.”

「Do you think I’ll approve it?」

Gerpenus groaned sarcastically and shook his head.

“I’ve never failed to achieve my goals.”

Cabellenus smiled arrogantly.

「Good for you. I hope you take this opportunity to learn from failure.」

“You’re saying something that doesn’t suit Blanche.”

Once again, the eyes of the two men clashed fiercely.

「…….」

“…….”

「…… Who do you resemble to be so stubborn?」

“That’s what I want to say.”

「Ha…….」

Gerpenus frowned and looked at Cabellenus with narrowed eyes.

He had no intention of allowing the marriage to a slave, but it was difficult to provoke Cabellenus this way.

It was the nature of men that if they were instructed not to do something, they would become fiercer.

A softer solution was required.

「Alright. Then you should get married. You should do it if that’s what you want.」

“What are you up to?”

There was a hint of doubt on Cabellenus’s face.

Like Gerpenus, Cabellenus knew his brother well.

Gerpenus was not a man who retreated easily.

「It’s a shame you think I’m up to something.」

“Whenever Your Majesty makes that face, it always means you’re planning something.”

「But what can I do? If there is anything you want, even if it’s the dragon’s lair, I’ll have to enter. 」

“Stop beating around the bush and tell me right away.”

“Remember the bet we made back then? The bet of whether you would fall for Princess Neinstein or not. Let’s make one more bet as an extension to that.」

Gerpenus smiled slyly.

After all, Cabellenus only had a mere interest in Princess Neinstein.

Once the fleeting interest disappeared, the mere mention of marrying a slave would never come out of his mouth again.