HFMD - Chapter 1 < I Will Get Married >




Count Florette opened his mouth with difficulty.

“Get married.”

"Yes."

“Yeah, of course, it’s annoying, but... What?!"

He, who had a heavy heart with the thought of persuading his daughter, was so startled that he jumped up in his seat. However, his daughter, who had made him look so admirable, only blinked her eyes with a puzzled look on her face.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Ah, ah, no. Sylvia... Are you really saying that you will marry the Duke of Belfort? You said that it’s a hassle to even breathe on this empty day?”

“Baby, where does it hurt? I’m not forcing it, so it’s okay to be honest and say you don’t like it.”

Count Florette stuttered in disbelief. The Countess who was sitting next to her asked her if she was sick. Sylvia looked at the two people in turn with unusual embarrassment.

'...Did I act so helpless?'

Of course, she's been stuck in bed every day for the past 22 years, she didn't take the debutante because it was too difficult, and she spent three-quarters of her day sleeping...

That said, she doesn't think she was such a bad daughter that abe just said she didn't know what her parents were suggesting.

'Hmm.'

Sylvia decided to stop reminiscing because she felt like if she kept looking back, she would become even more trash than she is now. Meanwhile, the Count muttered quickly, not wanting to send his daughter to a faraway place.

“Although this person was introduced by His Majesty, there’s nothing you can’t refuse if you really don’t feel like it. After all, it is better to bring in a son-in-law than to marry her off to such a dangerous place... ”

"Honey."

The Count made a face like an aggrieved puppy, but he quietly kept his mouth shut at the glance of his wife. Sylvia, seeing this, smiled slightly, speaking in a soft voice as if she was greeting the Count and his wife.

“I will marry the Duke of Belfort. So just calm down.”

At my confirmation, the Countess couldn't help but let out a trembling voice.

“Ah, my daughter is finally..."

“Don’t cry, honey.”

“You are the one crying...”

The Countess sighed and patted the Count, who often shed tears when discussing family matters. It was a scene that could have been seen as a deliberate plan by some, but there was a good reason why they did it. 

Sylvia Florette. Count Florette's only daughter was weak from birth. Since her natural energy was weak, Count Florette and his wife felt sorry for Sylvia and tried to grant her daughter's every request. The prestige and wealth of the Count Florette family were not very great, but they were also not lacking. Whether it's a dress or jewelry. They tried to get her daughter anything she wanted. 

However, Sylvia was not like any other daughter of an aristocratic family.

-Please change the bed to the best one. Other than that it's okay.

She often skipped eating because it was too bothersome, so she stayed in bed most of the day.

- Anyway, because of my body, I can't even go to most parties and have to come back. I don't think there's any reason to hold a debutante.


She didn't even take her debutante and stayed confined to the mansion for 22 years. It is true that she was born with a weak body, but it was more likely that the person named Sylvia Florette was born with a very helpless nature. The Count and Countess tried to give Sylvia the will to live again, but she remained steadfast.

- If we die like this, who will take care of that child...? 


- Honey! Why do you say such ominous things?

-But it's true. We can't take care of that child forever without dying
.

The Count and his wife were deeply troubled. If they died, it was obvious that Sylvia would change her name because she was so annoying that she would not even eat properly. 

So they wanted to somehow create a family for her that she could rely on. Desperate to keep their daughter as close to them as possible, the Countess and her husband searched for single noblemen near the capital, but it was not easy. If one's appearance was satisfactory, there was a problem with one's personality, and if one's personality was good, one's family was in trouble. Aristocratic men who were decent or well-to-do were already married and had families. 

While the couple was wrapping their heads around each other, the King sent a letter.

<They say the Duke of Belfort is also looking for a bride.>

The King's intervention was surprising, and the Count and his wife were taken aback when they heard the name of a completely unexpected person. The Belfort territory was located at the edge of the kingdom and bordered the land of the demons. In that respect alone, it did not meet the conditions the Count and his wife wanted. 

However, the Duke of Belfort was nothing short of the kingdom's best groom. First of all, the previous Duke and his wife had excellent personalities, and the current Duke also had a high reputation for faithfully performing the role of shield for the kingdom. In addition, the family name and appearance are also extremely great! 

As it happened to be the King's suggestion, they proposed to Sylvia that she marry the Duke, with the feeling that they had no choice but to save their money. But she never thought her daughter, who said she even found it bothersome to breathe, would accept marriage so easily!

'Now I can die with my eyes closed!'

'We did it!'

'Honey!'


Meanwhile, the Count and his wife are immersed in emotion, forgetting the sorrow of 22 years. Sylvia withdrew the smile she had put on her face and returned to her calm face. She thought as she lifted the teacup to her mouth.

'The Duchy of Belfort is a place where monsters often appear.'

The Duchy of Belfort, located in the northern part of the kingdom, ruled by the Duke of Belfort, is the closest to the demon land 'Celvetia'. It is a land where the Duke of Belfort, who is considered the strongest knight since the founding of the country, is the lord, so it is said to be safe for a border. A place so close to death that it would be natural for an ordinary person to feel uncomfortable. But that's why Sylvia was more than happy to accept Count Florette's offer.

'It's been very difficult to get a chance to die, but this is an unexpected windfall.'

Because Sylvia Florette, no, ‘Alyssa’ cannot commit suicide. If it's a land where monsters frequently appear, wouldn't there be a greater chance of dying in an unexpected accident? 

As Sylvia thought about this, with Countess Florette in front of her, she calmly took another sip of her tea.

 ***

The Duchy of Belfort is located in the northernmost part of the kingdom. The place, which was usually filled with tension or sadness due to confrontations with monsters, was in a festive mood for the first time in a while.

“The lord is finally getting married!”

“My lord, you are getting married!”

“My Lord, marry me.”

"Stop!"

When people made such a fuss that they even added notes to their words and turned them into songs, Randall ended up pointing his forehead and scolding them. However, people were busy slapping Randall on the back because they knew that his yelling was no different from a cat occasionally barking at them.

“Oops! We have been living together since the lord started walking around in diapers, so even so, we can’t raise our voices like this to the young lady who will be your new bride!”

"That's right! How scary it is when the lord crumples his face! She’ll run away right away!”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

The members of the Belfort Knights, who were routinely treated harshly by Randall, agreed most strongly. Of course, as soon as Randelall glared at him, he immediately averted his gaze. Randall, who saw that scene, let out a sigh as if he was in pain.

'Not long ago, he stopped me from getting married, telling me to step on him and pour dirt in my eyes.'

Randall Belfort. The Duke of Belfort, the only heir to the throne other than the Crown Prince, and the master of the North. His marriage was actually not entirely of his own will.

Shouldn’t the Duke find a wife before it’s too late?

-... Yes?

- I heard that Count Florette and his wife are looking for a marriage partner for their daughter. The Count Florette would be equivalent to a Duke. They're a very historic family.


Coercion disguised as advice. The King's words were nothing more and nothing less. His close associates, who knew that the King was too restrictive of the Duke of Belfort, immediately protested.

Just looking at it, the King is afraid that my lord will expand his power through marriage, so you're trying to tie him up with the capital's nobles in advance!

- You're right! Say, ‘I’ll live alone for the rest of my life, picking on demons, so shut your stinky chin and get out of here right now, King!’ We are ready for war!

- For the eternal celibacy of my lord!

- For my lord!

- Be quiet, you crazy people...

The commotion died down only after Randall made a stand among his overly loyal subordinates. Of course, his subordinates did not mean what they said. The Duchy of Belfort was adjacent to the demon land 'Celvetia', so it was a place where all efforts had to be made to block the demons that flocked in every day. In addition to the cold weather, it is impossible to maintain a normal life with only your own food supply because of the monsters that set fire to the fields and run away if you are a little careless. 

Therefore, the Duchy of Belfort was highly dependent on food support from the royal family and local nobles. In this situation, if the royal family completely turns its back on the ducal family, the Duchy of Belfort will be the first to disappear from the map.

There is no need to go against your will, even when your life is not at stake.

Randall thought so, and by letting go of his little romance about a romantic marriage, the safety of the territory was guaranteed. The lord said he would do it for the sake of the territory, but he couldn't just lie down and object. The subjects knew that it had already come to this, and they pledged with all their hearts that they would wish this to be a good marriage. Of course, it was very wrong to say that it was a weird celebration song.

“I know very well that you have no respect for your lord. In particular, the discipline of the Knights of Belfort is at a level that is anything but lax. When we return, we will add early morning training.”

"No!"

At Randall's words, the Belfort Knights screamed and fell to the ground. Even when they put their heads at Randall's feet and begged him to 'step on my head and take out your anger', Randall ignored them. At that time, a man with a stern look behind him opened his mouth with an expression of arrogance.

“Respected lord. I'm very, very, very tired from spending the whole night remodeling a moving magic circle because of someone. Can’t we just leave?”

Auston, a wizard belonging to the Duke of Belfort, laughed viciously, the corners of his mouth quivering. Randall saw Auston's eyes flashing with madness, belatedly cleared his throat, and turned around. Spotless white robes and cloaks fluttered gracefully along with the movement.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go, take your wife!”

Auston clicked his tongue and prepared a movement spell. The knights who had been flirting the whole time also straightened their posture and adjusted their appearance. Randall's face slowly sank as he turned his back on the people. His face, which had lost its expression, was so scary that even if you looked at it as a wild beast, you wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

'It would be nice if we could get along, but that doesn't mean we can completely let go of boundaries.'

The King will continue to test Belfort's loyalty in the future. There was no rule that his wife-to-be would not be the King's henchman.

'...I hope I don't have to kill my wife.'

Randall took a step toward the magic circle, hoping not to get any blood on his wedding dress. 

***

So, the Duke of Belfort and his party had just arrived at the capital through Auston's magic circle. Sylvia also managed to arrive at the royal castle, comforting the Count and his wife who were in tears in front of the carriage.

Sylvia Florette is getting married!

- What?

- But the opponent is the Duke of Belfort!

- What?!

People were shocked twice, once by the fact that Sylvia Florette, who had been shrouded in mystery, was revealed, and once by the fact that it was because of her marriage to the Duke of Belfort. Those invited to the wedding must have already rushed to the ceremony site, as the front of the royal castle was filled with empty carriages, so much so that it was difficult to even find a place to step. 

Count and Countess Florette's faces were clouded with worry as they got off their carriage and escorted Sylvia to the wedding hall. Eventually, Count Florette stopped at the corner of the road leading to the ceremony site and spoke in a serious voice.

“Sylvia.”

"Yes."

“If the Duke of Belfort or his relatives treat you poorly, come back without looking back. Let us somehow outlive you. Do you understand?”

"Yes, baby. If you have to, you can at least tip over the table. No, you won't be able to do it with your arm strength. This...

The Countess who was standing next to him quickly added, but then bit her lip as if she was embarrassed. Sylvia gave a half-hearted smile of her own, slyly looking away from their tearful faces with their concern for her own.

"Yes. Do not worry."

If she's unlucky, she might live a long time. Much longer than the Count and Countess Florette. That is, if she is still unlucky in this 100th life.

Sylvia did not hold the Count's hand, but turned the corner alone, holding only the bouquet in both hands. And...

“... !”

Her eyes met directly with wide, light green eyes. Sylvia smiled picturesquely at her husband-to-be, who froze in surprise a few steps in front of her.

“Nice to meet you, Duke Belfort.”

“...”

“This is Sylvia Florette Belfort.”

Randall couldn't take his eyes off Sylvia, who was smiling sweetly as she said that.

'...What?'

Not because of her appearance, but because of her agitated mind that was so intense that it took his breath away for a moment.



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