Emperor’s Alternate - Chapter 80

“Your engagement ceremony is next week, so be aware and make the necessary preparations.”

When his father said those words, Lecan was only eight years old. He was being told to become engaged to Winter, who had just turned one after passing her first full year of life.

“Isn’t Winter… still a baby?”

“She’s your betrothed regardless. From before she was even born, Lady Winter’s fate was to be your partner. Now that your mother’s health has recovered somewhat, this is the best time. Just follow the decision of the adults.”

“……”

Since he had grown up hearing that his bride had already been chosen, Lecan didn’t feel much resistance to the idea.

‘I see. Winter is my bride, after all.’

In keeping with the dignity of both houses, the engagement ceremony was extravagant and grand. The news that the ducal house of Rotea would marry into Lecan’s family sent shockwaves through the capital. Some even claimed it would be a union more influential than a royal wedding.

An enormous crowd was in attendance. From elders and relatives of both families to practically every noble with a name worth mentioning. Even the Pope came in person, and members of the imperial family were seated among the guests.

Lecan frowned slightly as he fiddled awkwardly with his engagement attire.

‘My bride… will never be able to remember this moment.’

Come to think of it, it was simply because he had been born first. If Lecan had been born seven years after Winter instead, they would still have had a political marriage. Age didn’t matter.

Winter, barely able to walk on her own, entered seated in a pram guided by a lady-in-waiting. Dressed adorably in a white engagement gown, she beamed brightly, capturing the attention of the crowd. Everyone whispered about how cute the young lady was.

‘Well, maybe it doesn’t matter if she can’t remember it.’

Even if Winter had no memory of their engagement in the future, Lecan would remember it vividly enough for both of them. He quietly vowed that, when the time came, their wedding would be even more grand, so dazzling that it would etch itself into her memory.

After many formalities, the Pope finally stood before them. Lecan faced Winter, gazing up at the high priest. Behind them, the hall was filled with onlookers.

As part of the customary procedure, the Pope first turned to Winter and asked:

“Winter Rotea, do you swear to love only your betrothed for the rest of your life?”

The lady-in-waiting knelt to meet Winter’s eyes and whispered something softly. Though it resembled baby babble more than speech, the tiny and adorable “Mm.” that followed was unmistakably audible.

Winter, of course, had no idea what kind of vow she was agreeing to.

But since it was just a baby’s response, the Pope let it pass without concern and turned toward Lecan.

“Lecan Felicette, do you swear to love only your betrothed for the rest of your life?”

What is love, Lecan wondered.

He was only eight years old.

He didn’t truly know, but watching his future in-laws had taught him more than he expected. He had always assumed all married couples were like his parents — distant, formal, and almost cold. But the Grand Duke and Duchess of Rotea were different. They looked close, like they truly liked each other.

Even though theirs was also a political marriage.

That gave Lecan hope. Maybe, one day, he and Winter could live like that, too.

Besides, Father’s relentless education had left its mark.

“Yes. I swear it.”

“With this, in the name of the divine, I solemnly declare these two bound in betrothal.”

Lecan’s father had always told him: “You have a betrothed. Be careful in your words and actions. Don’t be kind or helpful to other girls too easily. Always show your betrothed the utmost care.”

He was raised with this belief — that, no matter how other boys behaved towards girls, he must remain unwavering in his devotion to Winter. His loyalty, his actions, everything, was to be focused solely on her.

When the Pope spoke of the vow, the weight of it settled on Lecan’s young shoulders. “This vow shall remain eternal, unless one of you dies, and if you do not honor it, you will be excommunicated from the Church.”

The force of those words wasn’t lost on him, despite his age. As the ceremony concluded, thunderous applause echoed from the crowd. It was all too much for someone so young to fully understand, but he could feel the weight of the promise that had just been made.

Winter, startled by the loud noise, began to cry. The lady-in-waiting quickly moved to comfort her.

“Don’t cry, princess. It’s a happy day.”

‘…Maybe she just wants me to read to her again.’

As he watched the scene unfold, he made a silent vow to himself. He would be there for Winter, as his father had instructed him, with the same level of devotion and loyalty that he had always been taught to uphold.

Knowing nothing of who Winter was or what kind of person she would grow up to be, he decided to accept her for whoever she became.

Lecan’s life had already been marked out for him. There would be no other woman, no other love, but Winter. This had been decided before his birth, a fate that neither he nor anyone could change. Normally, Lecan would have found defying a preordained destiny intriguing, but this time, it was different.

He had grown up accepting the engagement as an unquestionable truth, so it only made sense that, just as he was bound to Winter, she, too, would only ever have him as her partner. It seemed only fair.

Approaching Winter, who was still sniffling, he knelt down in front of her. The lady-in-waiting, sensing the moment, instinctively took a step back. The moment their eyes met, Winter stopped crying, her small face gazing at him with curiosity.

“I’ll read the rest of the book later.”

“U-ung…” she mumbled, her voice soft and uncertain, like the murmur of a content child.

Lecan, trying to appear as dignified as possible — after all, he was her future husband — gave her a small smile. But to his surprise, Winter let out a giggle instead of a frown.

‘How adorable.’

Without thinking, he extended his finger to her, and to his amusement, Winter grabbed it with both of her tiny hands and held on tightly, unwilling to let go. For a brief moment, Lecan felt the pull of something far beyond duty — a simple, genuine connection that made him smile in spite of himself.

This was his future, his role, and perhaps, his first true experience with something deeper than mere obligation.