"Yes. That's right."
How did you know?
Well, the information was too poor and limited to be called a background investigation.
Agatha explained, pushing the teacup towards him.
“There are some things I can’t stand when I get married. I can't marry someone who falls into that category, so I do a little research every time something like this happens. Did you feel uncomfortable?”
"No. If you put it that way, I have also researched the Young Lady, so I think the same is true for both of us.”
"Yes?"
Agatha tilted her head for a moment and agreed.
That's when she put in an escort offer.
“It is a natural skill for a noble to find out what the other person is like before forming a deep relationship.”
He answered, lifting his teacup.
Agatha believes he left for the battlefield when he was ten years old.
Even after ten years had passed and he returned to the capital, he still seemed adept at thinking like an aristocrat.
Agatha smiled without realizing it.
"That's right. I'm glad you understand. Oh, is the Marquis also busy with that problem? I heard that Marquis Aratus is receiving a lot of letters of introduction from ladies of marriageable age these days.”
Agatha was so distressed upon hearing that news that she wasted several days of short sleep.
She certainly knew from the moment she met him that offers of arranged marriage were pouring in.
Agatha didn't know why she was even more concerned about it now.
Does he have someone in mind right now?
“I had no intention of getting married, but my thoughts have indeed changed due to the events that have occurred in the past few days.”
It was when Agatha was thinking about what would happen to the Aratus family with the letter of introduction.
“Young lady.”
"Yes."
“Will you marry me?”
“...?”
Agatha, unable to follow the conversation for a moment, blinked. Then she came to her senses belatedly.
“Marriage? Me and the Marquis?”
"Yes. In fact, when I thought about getting married, Young Lady was the one who best suited the conditions. However, I stopped thinking that there was no chance of the Young Lady marrying me.”
Enoch's eyes briefly fell on the list of Agatha's seventh marriage partners set aside.
“If you have me in mind, I would like to tell you that you are welcome. I hope you will feel free to consider marrying me, Young Lady.”
“...”
Agatha almost opened her mouth but calmed down.
Although it was not an emotionally entangled marriage, Agatha would have been very welcome if she could continue her relationship with him even through an arranged marriage.
It was her first time. Feeling a rational attraction to someone.
But isn't it welcome that the other person doesn't enjoy gambling, his relationship with women isn't complicated, and there's no violence?
Even Enoch wanted her.
Agatha calmly put down the teacup and said with a smile like a picture.
“I like it. Will you be my seventh husband?”
This time it was Enoch's turn to be embarrassed. After pausing for a moment, he calmly put down the teacup.
“Is it okay for you to answer so quickly?”
“Do you see this?”
“...?”
Agatha pulled up the list and stamped his name at the top.
[Marquis Enoch Aratus]
“Being first in line here means you’re the best husband I can think of.”
What is the lineage, what is the property, what is the status in the court, what is the current situation of the family, etc.
The conditions that ordinary nobles would consider were not for Agatha to consider.
She don’t know about Enoch, who had just returned to the capital, but Agatha’s marriage was special.
Even though she had to deal with the Emperor, she had full authority over the marriage.
The conditions she considered usually focused on whether he had bad hand habits, whether he was cheating, or whether he had an insidious intention to kill her.
“Do you enjoy gambling?”
"No."
“Do you have a hidden woman?”
"Doesn't exist."
“If I have a child, will you kill me?”
“...”
For a moment, the man's eyes darkened coldly, but Agatha's pretty eyes rounded.
It might seem like a joke, but she had actually met a husband like that.
“Unfortunately, my fourth ex-husband was like that.”
“...”
“It’s a thing of the past now.”
Agatha, having regained her composure, quietly lifted her teacup. Her heart, which had been excited with joy, sank a little as soon as she remembered her fourth ex-husband.
Although she felt much better when she saw Enoch's face again.
He looked embarrassed for a moment but then opened his silent lips.
“Is there anything you want from me other than the conditions you just mentioned?”
It was an unexpected question.
Agatha had never been this honest before, but usually, when he asked her to marry him, she was quick to accept.
“Do you want to listen?”
“I will try. Because that’s what Young Lady wants.”
“...”
It was a somewhat unfamiliar word. Agatha covered her expression with her teacup and added her wish.
“I want you to protect me from my relatives.”
“It is a natural duty as a husband. And...”
“Instead of living in my husband’s mansion or castle, I want to buy a separate home for the newlyweds and go out and live there. Other than that, is it just that I hope you respect your wife’s rights?”
“...Is this the end?”
What more could there be?
Although she was swayed by the Emperor from a young age due to marriage issues, Agatha was the only heiress of Nobilis, one of the leading ducal families on the continent.
Her lineage was already perfect, her wealth was more than enough, and her power was so strong that she could break the will of the Supreme Emperor, making him sad to be the third child in the empire.
Agatha was able to achieve everything she wanted.
Except for one thing: marriage.
“I think that’s enough.”
Agatha did not consciously ask for love.
There is nothing more ridiculous than discussing emotions in an arranged marriage.
“...I don’t know what kind of married life you’ve had so far.”
"Yes?"
"No. It's nothing."
Agatha, who couldn't hear what was said quietly, tilted her head, but Enoch just shook his head.
It was time for Agatha to put aside the list she was still holding.
“Lady Nobilis.”
"Yes."
Enoch slowly stretched out his hand and continued speaking.
“There is only one thing I wish for you, my Lady. Not interacting with my relatives. I believe that the Lady is in a good position to grant this request and will not be tempted by any temptation. Is that correct?"
“When it comes to family matters, no one is as neat as me. That’s a wise decision.”
For a moment, it seemed like he was smiling faintly.
How should she express that moment when his indifferent face changes and his lips curve slightly?
“I promise.”
“...”
“So, will you marry me, Lady Agatha?”
Feeling her heart pounding, Agatha held his hand.
Enoch was clearly suffering from the problems of his relatives, just like her, but Agatha was grateful for that fact, although she felt a little sorry for him.
Otherwise, this man would never have proposed to her.
“...Willingly. Let’s live well, Marquis.”
It was her first choice to put her emotions into marriage, and her seventh marriage.
The man who lightly kissed Agatha's left ring finger thought for a moment and said.
“First of all, since there are only a few days left until the execution date, we must first obtain His Majesty’s permission.”
"Yes. But before that, I need some time to sort things out. Um, about a few days?”
The negotiations with the Mainukor Empire themselves will take place after the wedding.
Before that, details such as the value of Pahlavi Island, which would be used as a trade base with the Eastern Continent in the Nobilis Territory, and the expansion of sea routes, ports, and cities, had to be organized in advance.
Or the Emperor could have subtly tried to add more fork.
“Is this related to the reason His Majesty put pressure on the Lady to get married?”
"Yes. Have you ever heard of it? Your Majesty is interested in new trade with the Eastern Continent. Instead of rejecting your proposed marriage, I will offer you another island as a base.”
Although it was high-level information, the story was secretly circulating in the palace due to the combination of the Emperor's recent actions and the direction of the investigation conducted by Agatha's vassals.
Isn't Agatha Nobilis' marriage related to trade with the East Continent?
It wasn't wrong. If Agatha had not found another alternative, the Emperor would have pushed for her marriage to a nobleman whose territory would be used as a base.
“It’s my island, so I can give you at least one district. Would you like to hand over some of your rights as a dowry?”
“...You say scary things so casually. What if I really covet it?”
“I’m telling you that because I can give you that much. By the way, please give me the proposal you brought.”
For a moment, the puzzled gray gaze turned in this direction.
Now that things have changed, it seems like he was planning on collecting this debt.
Marriage was marriage, and life was the price of life. Agatha had no intention of using her marriage as an excuse to let go of the repayment she owed.
“Are you telling the Lady who will become my wife to pay for her life?”
“It may be true after marriage, but this happened before marriage, right? I think this is a great opportunity because I can find out exactly what Aratus needs right now.”
“Being first in line here means you’re the best husband I can think of.”
What is the lineage, what is the property, what is the status in the court, what is the current situation of the family, etc.
The conditions that ordinary nobles would consider were not for Agatha to consider.
She don’t know about Enoch, who had just returned to the capital, but Agatha’s marriage was special.
Even though she had to deal with the Emperor, she had full authority over the marriage.
The conditions she considered usually focused on whether he had bad hand habits, whether he was cheating, or whether he had an insidious intention to kill her.
“Do you enjoy gambling?”
"No."
“Do you have a hidden woman?”
"Doesn't exist."
“If I have a child, will you kill me?”
“...”
For a moment, the man's eyes darkened coldly, but Agatha's pretty eyes rounded.
It might seem like a joke, but she had actually met a husband like that.
“Unfortunately, my fourth ex-husband was like that.”
“...”
“It’s a thing of the past now.”
Agatha, having regained her composure, quietly lifted her teacup. Her heart, which had been excited with joy, sank a little as soon as she remembered her fourth ex-husband.
Although she felt much better when she saw Enoch's face again.
He looked embarrassed for a moment but then opened his silent lips.
“Is there anything you want from me other than the conditions you just mentioned?”
It was an unexpected question.
Agatha had never been this honest before, but usually, when he asked her to marry him, she was quick to accept.
“Do you want to listen?”
“I will try. Because that’s what Young Lady wants.”
“...”
It was a somewhat unfamiliar word. Agatha covered her expression with her teacup and added her wish.
“I want you to protect me from my relatives.”
“It is a natural duty as a husband. And...”
“Instead of living in my husband’s mansion or castle, I want to buy a separate home for the newlyweds and go out and live there. Other than that, is it just that I hope you respect your wife’s rights?”
“...Is this the end?”
What more could there be?
Although she was swayed by the Emperor from a young age due to marriage issues, Agatha was the only heiress of Nobilis, one of the leading ducal families on the continent.
Her lineage was already perfect, her wealth was more than enough, and her power was so strong that she could break the will of the Supreme Emperor, making him sad to be the third child in the empire.
Agatha was able to achieve everything she wanted.
Except for one thing: marriage.
“I think that’s enough.”
Agatha did not consciously ask for love.
There is nothing more ridiculous than discussing emotions in an arranged marriage.
“...I don’t know what kind of married life you’ve had so far.”
"Yes?"
"No. It's nothing."
Agatha, who couldn't hear what was said quietly, tilted her head, but Enoch just shook his head.
It was time for Agatha to put aside the list she was still holding.
“Lady Nobilis.”
"Yes."
Enoch slowly stretched out his hand and continued speaking.
“There is only one thing I wish for you, my Lady. Not interacting with my relatives. I believe that the Lady is in a good position to grant this request and will not be tempted by any temptation. Is that correct?"
“When it comes to family matters, no one is as neat as me. That’s a wise decision.”
For a moment, it seemed like he was smiling faintly.
How should she express that moment when his indifferent face changes and his lips curve slightly?
“I promise.”
“...”
“So, will you marry me, Lady Agatha?”
Feeling her heart pounding, Agatha held his hand.
Enoch was clearly suffering from the problems of his relatives, just like her, but Agatha was grateful for that fact, although she felt a little sorry for him.
Otherwise, this man would never have proposed to her.
“...Willingly. Let’s live well, Marquis.”
It was her first choice to put her emotions into marriage, and her seventh marriage.
The man who lightly kissed Agatha's left ring finger thought for a moment and said.
“First of all, since there are only a few days left until the execution date, we must first obtain His Majesty’s permission.”
"Yes. But before that, I need some time to sort things out. Um, about a few days?”
The negotiations with the Mainukor Empire themselves will take place after the wedding.
Before that, details such as the value of Pahlavi Island, which would be used as a trade base with the Eastern Continent in the Nobilis Territory, and the expansion of sea routes, ports, and cities, had to be organized in advance.
Or the Emperor could have subtly tried to add more fork.
“Is this related to the reason His Majesty put pressure on the Lady to get married?”
"Yes. Have you ever heard of it? Your Majesty is interested in new trade with the Eastern Continent. Instead of rejecting your proposed marriage, I will offer you another island as a base.”
Although it was high-level information, the story was secretly circulating in the palace due to the combination of the Emperor's recent actions and the direction of the investigation conducted by Agatha's vassals.
Isn't Agatha Nobilis' marriage related to trade with the East Continent?
It wasn't wrong. If Agatha had not found another alternative, the Emperor would have pushed for her marriage to a nobleman whose territory would be used as a base.
“It’s my island, so I can give you at least one district. Would you like to hand over some of your rights as a dowry?”
“...You say scary things so casually. What if I really covet it?”
“I’m telling you that because I can give you that much. By the way, please give me the proposal you brought.”
For a moment, the puzzled gray gaze turned in this direction.
Now that things have changed, it seems like he was planning on collecting this debt.
Marriage was marriage, and life was the price of life. Agatha had no intention of using her marriage as an excuse to let go of the repayment she owed.
“Are you telling the Lady who will become my wife to pay for her life?”
“It may be true after marriage, but this happened before marriage, right? I think this is a great opportunity because I can find out exactly what Aratus needs right now.”
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