“I am looking for an ideal partner. A person who has the necessary qualities to be the queen of a country.”
“Are you saying that’s me?”
Franz nodded his head.
“You are wise, yet kind and good. You have all the qualities of an ideal queen.”
“You can’t embroider, you’re not beautiful, and you’re someone who spends the day reading books.”
All the aristocratic women of Kretz are taught virtues that they learn from childhood. These include obeying her husband, knowing how to manage an estate or castle, and having knowledge in embroidery, dancing, and music.
She couldn’t embroider because she wasn’t good with her hands, and since she wasn’t interested in parties, she couldn’t be that good at dancing either. She can manage a manor or a castle, but that was all she could do. She loves books, but she is more interested in political issues and practical fields such as irrigation and civil engineering than poetry or literature.
She was often said to be calm, but that did not mean she was obedient. She was, in fact, the least among her siblings to listen to the Duke.
“On the other hand, your insight is truly excellent. There are many beauties in the world, but wise ones are rare.”
Even so, she’s not the most wise one around. Gerania swallowed her words as they reached the top of her throat.
“I’m not looking for a beautiful doll,” he said. He had no intention of hiding anything from her. “Since this is the case, I don’t think it’s such a bad proposal after all, being the Queen of the next King, I mean.”
It was only then that Gerania realized that Franz was serious about marrying her. However, she was left with an important issue, and it was if it can really function as a ‘marriage’.
“If we are a couple, it will be a loveless marriage, are you sure you’re okay with that?”
He was well aware of the abundance of arranged marriages among the nobility. Even Gerania’s parents married for political reasons. He didn’t like it nonetheless. A gloomy shadow could be seen on his aloof-looking face.
“That is exactly what I want to ask. How about you?”
“Yes?”
“But being my wife means we have to have a successor.”
It was an unexpected topic. Gerania thought blankly. That’s right, what will it be like when she gets married? Everything was embarrassing, perhaps because she had never thought that she would ever get married.
“For your information, I have no intention of having a child with anyone. It’s pretty boring and time-consuming anyway.”
His low voice sounded like a growl.
It was expected. King Frederick’s amorous ways were famous enough to say that no one in the kingdom was unaware of the king’s ‘errands’ with women.
And this man in front of her was the third prince, the son of Agnes Rivera, the former queen who had already died.
She also knew that the former queen had suffered a lot because of her husband’s cheating. Even her best friend had slept with her husband.
The king even took her as his new queen less than a year after the death of Queen Agnes. She was the current queen, Aireen.
Due to her connection with his mother, she even ran into the prince several times as a child. Even then, he admired her beauty, but couldn’t play with her or anything like that.
“To see a successor from me…. What do you mean?”
“That’s right. Although it is already expected according to marriage vows.”
With every word that came out of his mouth, irritation towards his father, King Frederick, oozed out. She had no intention of offending Franz, so Gerania answered quietly.
“I wonder if His Highness is overestimating me. I’m the kind of person who does troublesome things.”
She was politely turning down his offer. Although Franz seemed unwilling to back down.
“Do you want anything?”
“I am satisfied with the present.”
Later, when she gets her share of her parent’s property, she will build a school to teach children who want to study. So if she had a dream, that was it.
“Why are you making this offer to me?”
Franz was silent at Gerania’s question. After a while, he sighed slowly.
“It’s a gut feeling.”
“…Yes?”
Unlike Gerania, who was lost with words, Franz was calm.
“The moment I met you, I wanted to be this person.”
“…….”
“I tend to trust my senses quite a bit. And according to myself, there will be no one more qualified than you.”
How the hell are you so sure of that?
Unlike Gerania, who seemed to go crazy with frustration, Franz’s attitude was extremely relaxed. Glancing down at the teacup, he spoke.
“Princess Gerania.”
“Please speak.”
“The last time we met, you talked about fairytales. Do you remember?”
“Ah, the story of The Cat Princess.”
She read that story today, so she remembered it right away.
“What you said about the ending was interesting. Did they really get married?”
Remembering what she had said to him at the time, Gerania made a puzzled face.
“Of course, it’s true that the servant saved the princess. But whether the princess loves her servant is a different story. In the story, the princess’s position is not revealed at all. Above all, the marriage was promised by the king, not by the princess.”
“Then, what would you do?”
“Uh… . If it were me, I’d probably repay that attendant a lot, right? Because he brought me back to my original form. But if I don’t love him, I don’t think I’ll marry him.”
“Even if it would be against the king’s order?”
“Ah, if that sounded disrespectful… “
“No.”
Although she was blunt, she wasn’t really angry, so Gerania asked cautiously.
“Wouldn’t you be angry?”
“…I’ll pretend I didn’t hear.”
“If he’s so grateful, shouldn’t the king marry that servant or something?”
Franz, who was drinking tea, sighed as if he had heard something funny. His face bursted into a laugh, and it was the most comfortable face Gerania had ever seen him have.
‘… He said he would pretend he didn’t hear.’
The sight of Gerania slightly raising her cheeks as if she was feeling unfair reminded Franz of a squirrel. His mouth twitched for a moment, but he managed to keep his expression skillfully as always.
“There is nothing wrong with wanting to lead a good life. However, it will become difficult if something happens in the environment around you. If necessary, you need someone who can go against the will of your own family.”
“… Are you aware that you’re being very noisy right now?”
Aren’t you being too casual in saying you’re going to destroy my peaceful life?
She also didn’t expect him to be so blunt in saying there might be a confrontation within the duchy.
Seeing the light fade from Gerania’s face, Franz wiped her forehead. Her golden hair tumbled under his hand.
“The Duke of Vichen is definitely a good man, but there are times when nobles move for their own power rather than the state.”
The voice that mentioned the undeniable truth was extremely heavy. Every human being has to put his or her rights first.
“I am not asking you to do it without a price. I’ll do anything I can for you. Love may be difficult, but I have no intention of having any other woman beside you.”
Gerania, who had been listening with an expressionless face, spoke quietly.
“Prince, I am not a person who has illusions about love. I know that this is an arranged marriage. And, as I said before, I am a person who has no expectations.”
“I know.”
Franz stared at the woman sitting in front of him. She’s a small woman with a soft smile. At first glance, she seems plain and innocent, but her strong and stubborn gaze reminded her of her father, the Duke of Vichen.
No, maybe she’s more than that.
“If you accept this marriage, in the name of the royal family, I will definitely grant you anything you wish for later. Anything I can do.”
Gerania’s eyes widened at this remark. Her green eyes, mingled with the light of the sunset, sparkled like jewels. Franz, who was staring at her eyes as if possessed, carefully said each letter.
“There are annoying and difficult aspects of power, but if you have it, you can achieve a lot. I know you care about people’s livelihood, so I will always take your advice into consideration.”
Gerania’s head rolled tight like a thread pulling on her. Gerania was obviously not greedy, but she had one dream she wanted to achieve. The face of the little girl she said she wanted to be like herself flickered in her eyes.
It is impossible with the power of one person, but possible with the power of the royal family.
Gerania asked the question again to Franz, who was calmly waiting for her answer.
“Really, will you grant me one wish?”
“Of course.”
“Whatever?”
“No matter what.”
The firm eyes that seemed to never break gave her a sense of trust. Gerania’s lips, which had been firmly pressed, opened slowly, drawing out her words.
If she can achieve anything she wants…
“… First, write the contract.”
Damn, it’s worth trying once.
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