I Had No Complaints About This Marriage - Chapter 4

Above all, his charm lay in that decadent beauty of his.

The continent was not without its fair share of handsome men, yet Herman Telloien’s brand of decadence was in a class of its own. At times, his sensual allure was so unrealistically excessive that he resembled a succubus carved by the finest artist.

That striking appearance, combined with a sociable charm that could enchant anyone in an instant, impeccable manners, and the ability to revive anything he touched without relying on his family’s influence—along with a flexibility uncommon among nobles and the decisiveness to act boldly when needed—

These were the sources that multiplied his appeal tenfold.

“What a shame. If only the Duke would change his mind…”

“Exactly my thoughts.”

With the Duke standing firm, the lower-ranking noble ladies who had hoped to marry Herman could only chew their fingers in frustration. The Telloien family’s retainers were equally troubled, but the Duke’s stubbornness remained unshaken.

As a result, the search for Herman’s fiancée dragged on endlessly—until he was nearly thirty.

‘Those were the days.’

At first, Herman didn’t realize it was misfortune. If anything, he considered it the greatest luck.

While others were shackled by marital obligations and struggled to uphold their family legacies, Herman roamed high society like an untethered spirit.

The Telloien family’s prodigal son—who neither held back those who came nor stopped those who left—enchanted countless noble ladies with his sculpted looks and near-perfect physique. In his spare time, he dabbled in ventures that only multiplied his wealth. To Herman, the freedom to live unbound, untethered to anyone or anything, was the most precious value of all.

But golden days never last forever.

Not long ago. The Duke of Telloien abruptly summoned Herman – who had been away expanding his business ventures – and spoke with chilling composure.

“It’s time you married, Herman.”

“……”

“How long do you intend to keep gallivanting about? You bear the duty and responsibility to continue our lineage.”

Up to that point, Herman had expected this.

It was surprising that the Duke still insisted on his marriage, and moreover, that he intended to pass the family legacy to him rather than his ever-dutiful younger brother who lived to obey their father’s every word.

Yet if the Duke had made his decision, then reality had arrived. The dream was over. The time had come to compromise, to surrender a portion of that most precious value – his freedom.

But the next words struck Herman like a physical blow to his arrogant head.

“Prepare to marry Princess Cloe. Her bloodline is worthy of ours.”

The moment those words fell, Herman fired back sharply.

“…Have you lost your mind?”

“How dare you speak to your father this way!”

“By Cloe, you mean that Cloe of Bezel, correct?”

“What other Cloe from a family worthy of ours could there be?”

“Indeed. You’re referring to that Princess Cloe Bezel who just turned six years old?”

Herman’s carefully maintained pleasant expression darkened at the suggestion of marrying what was essentially a newborn child.

For a man whose lovers had predominantly been older women – a self-proclaimed connoisseur of mature partners – the prospect of engagement to a child not even old enough for academy was beyond shocking.

“There’s a twenty-year age gap between us. Our youngest sister Hena is exactly eight, is she not?”

The proposed bride was barely older than his own baby sister. The Duke instead raised his eyebrows and rebuked sharply.

“Political marriages have always been this way!”

“Everyone knows that’s not how it works anymore.”

“Since when do noble families consider anything beyond profit and status in marriage?”

“I see you’ve completely forgotten about the anti-child marriage decree.”

The notion that political marriages disregarded age belonged to a century past.