891 – The Sorrow of a Crown Princess – 3

What is marriage? It is a great union of two people who have lived different lives and live one life. It is a mysterious and unique act of becoming one while being two, and becoming two while being one.

This is no different from the nobles, who are commonly called blue bloods. No, rather, they consider marriage as a more important act and strategic move than commoners because they are nobles. Commoners operate in family units rather than clans, but nobles operate in family units that are wider than families.

‘Marriage doesn’t simply mean the birth of a new family.’

A marriage of nobles signifies a close alliance between two families, a bond thicker and stronger than any friendly relationship.

Therefore, when the act of marriage takes place, the nobles of the two families establish a new relationship. No matter how high the title or authority of the other party, when the singular point of marriage is reached, the story changes.

For example, isn’t there a wise man who immediately treated Tricky like his niece-in-law as soon as she became his wife? To be honest, this is not a characteristic of marriage, but a characteristic of the wise man. However, even if the wise man were so special, he wouldn’t have been able to treat Tricky comfortably if he didn’t have the special characteristic of marriage.

The act of marriage is very important. It is not for nothing that people say that weddings, funerals, and ancestral rites are the main ceremonies for humans.

‘Pedi and the Crown Princess get married.’

Maybe that’s why. When the possibility that our Pedi and the Crown Princess might get married was mentioned, my head started spinning in a complicated way.

What if, what if the feelings the Crown Princess has for Pedi are romantic? What if those feelings continue into adulthood and Pedi becomes the Crown Princess’ husband?

Then, will the Crassius family and the Livnoman royal family continue? I will become not only the crown princess’s godfather but also her father-in-law? Even a national treasure – no, not a father-in-law, but a father-in-law, so I will call him something else, but in any case, I may end up with a huge share in the empire.

‘no.’

I broke out in a cold sweat. I simply cannot accept such a future.

He already holds a large number of titles that would be difficult to hold even if he only holds one, such as the youngest minister, the best swordsman on the continent, the living blessed and saint (Jin), one of the imperial counts, a member of the Knights of Rishijariune, and the godfather of the crown princess. In such a situation, if he also becomes the father-in-law of the next emperor, public opinion may seriously form that says, “Shouldn’t he be restrained?”

Of course, if the nobles step forward to check me, I am happy about it. If they step down from their public posts because of the check and become mere old men in the back room with only honors, I would welcome it.

‘That can’t be true.’

However, unfortunately, even if I become the Crown Princess’ father-in-law, the probability of me stepping down from my public position is close to zero. This is proven in real time by the Emperor’s father-in-law, Jeon Seung-gong.

The Duke, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Army, and the Emperor’s father-in-law are both holding public posts. There is already an ominous precedent that says, “Even if you become the Emperor’s elder brother, you cannot retire.” So, I, the likes of you, would not dare to break the precedent of the Grand Duke and seek retirement.

Regardless of whether he retires or not, if he becomes the Crown Princess’ father-in-law,

‘Become the emperor’s relatives.’

For a moment, I got goosebumps.

I’m that guy’s in-laws. We laugh and talk, shake hands, share kind words, and shed tears together at the weddings of our children.

“In-law. I am a daughter who is lacking, but please take good care of me.”

“I can feel safe marrying off the crown princess because my son was raised well by my brother-in-law. If he had been even a little bit less trustworthy, I would have mobilized the Special Forces Department to get rid of him.”

“I wonder if our son-in-law is like his father and has multiple wives. Polygamy is not illegal, but it would be a crime of high treason for the next emperor’s husband to have multiple wives.”

“My son-in-law…! I said I wanted my son-in-law to see many children, I never said I wanted him to see his wife often!”

“This is a duel, you black-haired beast! This is a duel with a fair title!”

‘ah.’

I unknowingly caught a glimpse of the future.

An emperor who shakes his fists with a smiling face. An emperor who speaks softly and throws knives. An emperor who is ready to awaken as a tyrant if things go awry even a little.

It’s really strange. All three of them are scenes I’ve never seen before, but they come to mind as if they were real.

“Father, are you okay?”

While I was sweating alone like that, I was able to regain my senses a little bit thanks to the empress’s worried question.

“As I just said, it could be just a mild emotion from childhood. You don’t have to worry so much.”

In fact, the Empress’s words are quite reasonable and justified. How heavy must the feelings of children who are not even 10 years old be?

At that age, it’s easy to say things like, “I want to marry dad!” and the object of love changes from moment to moment. Even if by chance the feelings toward Pedi are romantic, no one can guarantee how long those feelings will last.

“Ah, as requested by my lord, I will keep it a secret from Your Majesty. Your Majesty is truly a wise and merciful man, but when it comes to matters involving his children, he becomes a bit… unusual.”

“I am truly touched by Her Majesty the Empress’s consideration.”

He bowed his head deeply at the Empress’s assurance.

That’s enough for now. The Crown Princess’s emotions are not something that adults can control, but at least adults can control them so that they don’t reach the Emperor’s ears.

And if the Emperor is silent, I can preserve 90% of my mentality. I can’t say 100% in good conscience, but if the Emperor’s power doesn’t flow into personal revenge, I can endure it.

‘Fuck.’

I bit my lip without realizing it.

That damn emperor’s son. He has so much power that he’s annoying people. If he was the village head, I wouldn’t have had to worry about this.

I would be more than happy to be a village chief. The problem is that neither I nor the emperor are village chiefs, but rather imperial chiefs and imperial chiefs.

The door to the Crown Princess’s room, which had been tightly closed, opened before evening.

“I’m hungry…”

The Marquis’s servants started moving busily at the words of the Crown Princess, who timidly peeked her head through the crack in the door.

The Crown Princess, who was so angry that she forced herself to hold her first siege, is a wonderful thing. At the same time, it is shocking that she was so hungry that she would hold her siege. The fact that the noble Crown Princess had an empty stomach is a disaster for the empire.

“Charlotte.”

“Ugh…?”

Immediately after the Marquis entered emergency mode, the Empress gave a chocolate to the Crown Princess who had broken free of the siege.

“It’ll take some time to prepare. Just eat one before then.”

Although it was a gift of chocolates, the Crown Princess just stared blankly at the chocolates.

My heart sank. Was the crown princess rejecting chocolate of all things? Chocolate of all things dessert?

“The godfather prepared this for our Charlotte. Why not eat it for the sake of the godfather?”

“When?”

Still, when the Empress mentioned me, the Crown Princess, who had been looking back and forth between the chocolate and the Empress, carefully put the chocolate into her mouth.

I am touched. I am so relieved to consider the sincerity of this great man.

“Are you feeling better now?”

“yes?”

A question naturally arose in response to the Empress’s words.

Are you feeling better? Then, the Crown Princess who was in the siege was sick.

“Your Majesty! What is the matter with Your Majesty─”

“Shh.”

I reflexively shut my mouth.

“It’s not what the godfather is worried about. It’s just Charlotte’s little growing pains, so don’t worry.”

“Yes, is that so?”

A little growing pain. It was a minor expression, but I nodded obediently because I had a rough idea of ​​what it meant.

Our precious crown princess. I hope you can successfully overcome those growing pains. I hope our relationship will remain as godfather and goddaughter, or subject and monarch, forever. Any other relationship is a bit like that.

***

The chocolate my mom gave me. It tasted even better when I ate it when I was hungry.

I wanted to eat one more, but I held back. Mom said that I shouldn’t eat sweet potatoes before meals.

And if you eat a lot of chocolate, you won’t be mad at Pedi anymore. I’m still mad! Pedi, you idiot! Stupid little brother! You’re really idiot!

‘Don’t talk for a while!’

It’s impossible to not do it for the rest of my life… but I’m going to not do it for a little while! I won’t even look at that stupid Pedi until I get home!

Oh, but do I have to see Kran…? Kran isn’t bad… I just don’t like it when Pedi is stupid…

“Sister.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Pedi’s voice was heard.

Pedi appeared behind the bridge of the time.

“You can’t go back in. You have to eat now.”

“Ugh!”

I tried to go into the room to see Pedi, but my mom stopped me and I couldn’t go in.

I hate Pedi! I don’t want to see Pedi! Stupid Pedi, go play with Kran and leave me alone!

“I’m sorry, sis.”

But when I saw the flowers Pedi gave me, my eyes widened.

“Me. My older sister comes to our house often, so I didn’t think dolls were that important. Dad told me to give her important gifts.”

“Something important…?”

“Yeah. They say that giving something important to someone important is a gift.”

It’s strange. I really hated Pedi, no, I hated him a little bit, but the hateful thoughts disappeared.

“I’ll give you a doll when I get home. But I don’t have one right now, and my sister said she has a doll too, so I’ll give you another one!”

‘Do you have a doll?’

Pedi tilted his head at the words.

I have a doll? Are you talking about my family’s doll? Then I have a lot of dolls too!

“Aren’t the flowers pretty?”

“Uh, uh…”

“I picked all of these! Auntie Shaa-ti said that these flowers can only be found here!”

Pedi’s horse has bloomed again.

A flower that only exists here. A flower that Pedi picked to give to me.

‘lol…’

Then it’s better than a doll.

Pedi’s house has a lot of dolls that Kran has, but this flower is mine! It’s mine!

“Oh, I’ll take it! Even though you’re an idiot, I’ll take it because you’re my older sister!”

“thank you!”

Hehehe!

***

Whose son is he? He is so kind and smart. I wondered what he was doing while he was playing around in the garden with Shati, but I never thought he was preparing a gift for the crown princess.

‘It’s a flower.’

…

‘Flower, Ira.’

It was a heartwarming sight of two children who had been fighting for a while reconciling, but I had mixed feelings because it was a sight of a man giving flowers to a woman.

I have a feeling that someday that flower will become a necklace, a ring, or something else.

‘No, of course not.’

Please. It’s not that I hate Charlotte, but I don’t have the confidence to take the Crown Princess, the heir to the Emperor, as my daughter-in-law.

Please, the Emperor probably feels the same way.