706 – Lion and Wolf – 3

It may be a new thing to say, but nobles are social animals who make a living through social relations.

Of course, if you plan to live in peace and quiet in the countryside, you don’t have to show your face in social circles, but if you are a nobleman above a certain level, you will become the center of social circles even if you don’t want to. To that extent, nobility and society are inseparable even if one tries to separate them.

Therefore, when a high-ranking noble sends a congratulatory message, the imperial social circle becomes agitated. The alpha and omega of social activities are congratulations and condolences, and how active you are in these congratulations and condolences determines your intimacy with that noble and that family.

‘If it’s a royal family’s congratulatory message, it’s worse than that.’

And Ainter’s wedding is the first royal wedding since the marriage of the current emperor and empress. It was also the wedding of the emperor’s only younger brother, who was not a close relative of the emperor’s fifth or sixth cousins. It’s no wonder the nobles’ eyes roll.

To put it bluntly, even if Ainter’s mother had been married in the days when her hair was in danger, it would have been quite a grand wedding to save the face of the imperial family, but today’s Ainter is not an imperial family with thin hair in name only. She is a member of the imperial family in name and reality who must be respected by all nobles.

Thanks to this, the Marquis of Barandiga, where Ainter’s wedding was scheduled to take place, became a gathering place for many high-ranking nobles. Although he was the best territory keeper in the North, his territory, which was only on the outskirts of the empire as a whole, became the center of the empire’s social world.

“There are so many people who will bless Lady Shati’s wedding. Congratulations, Your Excellency the Marquis.”

The Marquis of Barandiga stands tall to welcome the guests gathered at the Marquis of Barandiga. When I approached the Marquis and shook his hand, the Marquis Barandiga held my hand with a face brighter than the sun.

“It’s embarrassing because it’s an undeserved blessing for my daughter.”

“Haha, it’s too much. I can’t agree that the daughter is not enough, but how can the word ‘too much’ be used when a wedding is being congratulated?”

The Marquis Barandiga’s expression brightened at my words.

It’s dazzling. Today, I will call you Marquis Light, Light, Light, not Marquis of Barandiga.

“By the way. It was difficult to give the congratulatory money on the same day, so I sent it in advance. Did it arrive properly?”

“Of course. It was a gift that could only be described as undeserved, so I don’t know how to thank the Count.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

Barandi sighed in relief at the Marquis’ words.

Surprisingly, Erich’s wisdom helped me. Following Erich’s advice, I collected not only the special products of the County of Tilglehen but also the special products from the wives’ estates and presented them as gifts, and the Marquis was not satisfied. Since special products from as many as seven territories were gathered, the quality and quantity were by no means ordinary.

‘I wanted to send Khagan’s weapons as well.’

I held back because if I sent that, the Marquis Barandiga would have a hard time.

If you think positively, it’s a weapon used by a hero, but most people in the empire will see it as ‘the item of a traitor who threatened the empire.’ It has already been revealed that Marquis Barandiga’s ancestors are from the Udesr clan, and if he obtains Khagan’s weapon, he may hear the sound of a second reversal. That’s not a gift, it’s big candy.

Ultimately, it felt awkward to give as a wedding gift a weapon that was not just a well-made sword, but was actually used to cut up people. It seems like something is cursing the couple’s future.

“Ah, Your Excellency the Marquis.”

“Yes, Count. You speak.”

I quietly whispered in the ear of the Marquis, who opened his mouth with a calm face.

“The eel of Baron Atini is a favorite food of even His Excellency the Golden Duke.”

“Oh…”

The Marquis Barandiga’s eyes glowed intensely at my kind advice.

The Marquis, who has only one child, Shati, has an eel that even golden balls like to eat? You will probably see your grandchildren toddling around before your eyes.

“We are truly grateful for the Count’s gracious gift.”

“Nothing much to say. It’s all for the empire.”

If Ainter gives birth to healthy children, the stability of the imperial family becomes solid, and if the number of children who carry on Shati’s bloodline increases, the dignity of the marquis increases.

The best ending where the imperial family is stable and the marquis is happy. There is nothing better for the empire than this. There will be no loyalist who cares about the empire as much as me.

‘Have at least three children.’

My mother gave birth to three children, so if Shati tries hard, she will be able to give birth to that many. Three is also appropriate for peace of mind at home.

One is dangerous, two is not affectionate, and four or more is an excessive number for one person to have.

Ainter’s wedding was held at the Temple of the Eternal Blue Sky.

I wondered if it would be okay to hold the royal wedding in the stronghold of the nomadic religion, but considering the bride’s lineage and location of her, it was not entirely impossible. Moreover, the imperial family’s control over the north will increase if it shows off its respect for nomadic beliefs and culture.

‘We are not pagans who cannot coexist anyway.’

The Faith of Constantine and the Faith of the Eternal Blue Sky are pagan religions recognized by the Church of Dawn. If it is a faith that is respected rather than oppressed by the church, it can be usefully utilized even by empires that have concluded friendly relations with the Dawn Church. There is no way the Dawn Church would express regret over the imperial family’s pro-pagan actions.

If something like that were to happen, wouldn’t it just be like the leadership of the Church of Dawn collectively suffering from dementia? Fortunately, the Church of Dawn is an organization with intelligence commensurate with its size.

“The bride was the daughter who had been burning her father’s stomach for over 10 years. She was the daughter who declared that she had no intention of marrying anyone unless it was a perfect man, a man she recognized, a man with civility and goodness. Thank you. The father thought that he would be with his daughter for the rest of her life, and that the marquess was destined to be passed on to his collateral.”

Meanwhile, the Marquis of Barandiga, who officiated as a priest of the faith in the eternal blue sky, shook Shati’s mentality by bringing up TMI.

Because her father’s words were full of sincerity and sadness, cackling sounds were heard throughout her temple. She is an immature daughter who wants a perfect groom. Some nobles must have already experienced this.

‘You seem angry.’

Anyway, Shati’s hands began to tremble as the Marquis officiated. She was clearly shaking, although you wouldn’t notice it unless you looked closely.

I understand. How humiliating it would be for the immature dark history to be revealed in a gathering of all high-ranking officials, including the imperial family. If she had been an ordinary princess rather than a warrior from the plains, she might have burst into tears out of shame.

Still, since we created a pleasant atmosphere at the wedding at the cost of dark history, I hope that you will not clenched your fist while looking at the marquis’ solar plexus. I still want to see the Marquis for a long time.

“However, perhaps thanks to the blessings of the gods, surprisingly, the husband of my daughter’s dreams existed in this empire. A truly perfect man ended up walking the same path as my daughter.”

Barandi, who said that, did not smile brightly as she greeted the guests, but she smiled faintly, a mixture of joy and sadness as a father.

“As a marquis of the empire, a priest of faith, and the father of a daughter, it is an honor to be able to bless the marriage of two lovers.”

At those words, Shati’s fist loosened her.

Even I, who was sitting in the guest room, was touched by the Marquis’ expression.

‘It’s a shame it ends like this.’

Perhaps that’s why a little, very small regret arose in my heart.

In fact, it was the wedding of the royal family, and it was also the wedding of the only marquess of the North, so I planned to celebrate it extravagantly. I seriously thought about using jizz like at Erich’s wedding.

“Minister. I’m telling you this just in case, but during Ainter’s wedding, just stay still. Don’t do anything.”

However, the emperor took the initiative to block this possibility. You’re already getting attention because you’re a royal family member, so don’t make more noise.

What can you do when the emperor directly stops you? A subject must obey obediently.

‘It’s a shame…’

I can’t help but feel sad when I think of the jiz that will be scratching its stomach in its nest by now.

There is no better picture than when the divine water of the eternal blue sky blesses the daughter of a priest.

***

Now that he has become a formal father-in-law, he received the blessing of the Marquis Barandiga and kissed Shati while receiving applause from all the guests gathered here.

A marriage that takes place after a year-long engagement period. Although it may have started out as an arranged marriage, it is now a marriage where people open their hearts to each other.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t happy. He faithfully performed his first duty as a member of the royal family, and as a human Ainter, this is his first family.

‘Until now, there have been no people to call family.’

His father His His His, His Majesty Sang Sang, was not a person who showed affection towards his family his. His half-brother, His Majesty the Emperor, has shown tremendous mercy by keeping me alive.

Her mother, who became Empress Dowager in name only, paid no attention to me. Her half-brother, the 2nd Prince … Is not worth mentioning. In that situation, my family, my side, was formed. Even if the marriage begins out of obligation, you can’t help but feel your heart pounding.

Even more so if that duty has changed into love and affection over time.

“Shati.”

Since they officially became husband and wife, they abandoned the word ‘Young lady’. There is nothing more rude than calling your wife ‘young lady’.

“Let’s be together for the rest of our lives.”

“Yes. We’ll be together until we die.”

Shati’s smile deepened at my words.

My expression is probably no different from Shati’s. It will definitely happen.

“But Marquis—”

“Now you have to say Ainter.”

“Ah, Ainter. Are you ready for what I said before?”

Shati blushed for a moment at her firm correction, but she quickly calmed down and continued speaking.

“No.”

She confidently responded to Shati. She said she wasn’t ready yet for what Shati said.

“Yes?”

Perhaps because it was such a confident answer, Shati’s eyes turned round.

“I thought of a better way. I put it off for a while.”

She quickly opened her mouth before Shati’s embarrassment turned into her disappointment.

It is a request that Shati had shown interest in even before her marriage. Of course she was going to make her preparations, but she held off as she thought of ways to please Shati better.

“The highest authority is in the same place, so I don’t think I need to rush to get it.”

“Ah.”

A part of her heart warmed at the sight of Shati exclaiming as if she was convinced.

I believed that if it were Shati, she would understand my reservations.

***

Ainter and Shati, who were pondering something, approached.

“Could you please split this ring for me?”

Then she handed me a ring and asked me for a favor. I want this ring to be made into a half/ji.

“…Of course I have to do it.”

With a bitter feeling, I broke the ring that Ainter gave me.

The seeds I sowed ended up blooming into huge flowers.