Chapter 63
Caesar wasn’t one to get nervous easily, but even he couldn’t help breaking a sweat under the scrutiny of a father evaluating his daughter’s suitor.
“…You may lack a bit of refinement, but your appearance is tolerable. I heard you spent many years as a mercenary. Your body’s still in usable condition, I presume? No serious injuries or lingering issues?”
“Yes, that’s correct, sir. There are no particular issues.”
The Duke clicked his tongue in displeasure as he looked at Caesar, who stood stiffly at attention.
“I wondered what sort of man it would be when Beatrice accepted a proposal for the first time…”
The rush of victory and euphoria that had been more thrilling than any battle lasted only a moment.
“You’re not thinking of taking my daughter simply on the strength of that body of yours, are you? Tell me your reason for wanting to marry her. I hear you’ve only met three times.”
What followed was a rigorous examination. Caesar had to wring out every ounce of eloquence he possessed to explain the advantages Beatrice would gain from the marriage, and to convey his resolve to devote his life to making her happy.
The Duke didn’t seem particularly fond of him, but grudgingly stamped his seal of approval.
“My permission is given only because Beatrice is adamant. But don’t forget—if I see even a hint of unhappiness in her, I can take her back at once. Oh, and today’s meeting. Keep it between us. Isn’t this the sort of conversation a father-in-law and son-in-law sometimes have in private?”
Even with the life-threatening warning, Caesar could understand. If he had a daughter like Beatrice, and some dark, rough man came claiming to be her suitor…
‘…I wouldn’t want to let him live either.’
In that sense, his prospective father-in-law’s reaction was relatively merciful.
After barely clearing the mountain that was the Duke, Caesar next faced the obstacle of the Crown Prince. Though, he was more of a noisy crow than a genuine hindrance.
“A sudden marriage proposal—no less, to Beatrice. You could’ve at least given me a heads-up before sending the letter, don’t you think? It all seems a bit rushed… Not that I object to you, Margrave. If Beatrice and the Duke agreed, I’m sure they had their reasons… Still, it’s almost like you stole her.”
The prince’s nagging, like that of an older brother whose little sister had been taken, was grating. But fortunately, he ended with a blessing.
As the Empire’s crown prince, he always maintained basic decorum, but ever since learning that Caesar had discussed marriage with Beatrice, he looked to Caesar more like a cunning fox than a nobleman.
Aside from such petty noise, the wedding proceeded far more smoothly than Caesar had expected.
Above all, it was thanks to the bride herself, Beatrice, who was so proactive. All Caesar could do was pinch his cheek each morning to make sure it wasn’t all a dream.
***
It was strange. Clearly, this wasn’t a dream, yet days of dreamlike happiness continued without end.
Not long after their grand wedding, the two headed to the Valentin fiefdom. Although the social season had not yet ended, the Emperor had commanded that the lord’s absence not be prolonged.
The journey with his new bride was both joyous and extremely nerve-racking. For Caesar, it was his first time protecting and cherishing someone more precious than his own life, and it demanded more mental fortitude than he expected.
What if she got scraped by wild grass? What if she couldn’t sleep in unfamiliar lodgings? He was constantly on edge.
He was also deeply concerned about how Beatrice might feel, having left the peaceful capital behind to follow him to a rural estate.
What if she already wanted to return? The anxiety would hit him several times a day. His old comrades, now his subordinates, looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.
Even after finally arriving at the estate, the anxiety didn’t subside. He’d only thought about securing Beatrice to his side through marriage, and hadn’t planned at all for life afterward.
What if she said the estate was too remote, the castle too rundown, and wanted to return to her family?
Though some repairs had been made, Valentin Castle still looked like a barn compared to the Estern duchy in the capital. Caesar couldn’t help but worry.
But just as she had generously accepted him—a man with nothing to offer—as her husband, Beatrice spoke only kind words about the Valentin estate.
“It’s not just that it meets my expectations. I absolutely love it. I’m looking forward to life here so much, I can hardly bear the wait.”
“Are you excited too? I hope you feel the same way.”
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