NIYTR 17

Chapter 17

Will You Marry Me?

“……I see.”

“If you really feel so wronged and can’t accept it, then try recalling every moment when you were at your worst. Do you realize? You’re no different from the father you hated most.”

The Duke of Stern couldn’t offer any rebuttal and simply listened.

“I’ve always said this. There’s a cause for every consequence.”

“….”

“You’re the cause, the mistake, and the one responsible. Don’t give the flimsy excuse that you had no choice.

You could have done better. You just didn’t. It was your decision.”

The Marquis of Blossomweaver’s consort clapped, as if impressed.

“Hold on, I’d like to speak with Edelweiss alone.”

“And what would you do if you take her?”

“I won’t do anything! Don’t insult me like that!”

“You should’ve behaved so you wouldn’t be insulted.”

Still shielding Edelweiss protectively, the marquis consort stood firm.

“It’s alright. I have some things to pack and a few final words to say.”

Edelweiss took his hand to reassure him and gave him a look.

“Please come to my room.”

Once the two were alone in her room, the Duke of Stern entered and closed the door behind him.

“Edelweiss. Explain to me what happened.”

“I believe you already heard enough earlier.”

Letting out a deep sigh, the Duke of Stern turned to look at the picture frame on the table.

It was a portrait of him with his hand on Edelweiss’s shoulder.

She had commissioned the painting out of envy for the one in his office that featured him with Rosemary.

“You’ve never had a portrait drawn with me before, so it must feel unfamiliar, right? I asked the painter to make it.”

She used to wipe it daily so dust wouldn’t settle on it.

Without hesitation, Edelweiss pulled the portrait from the frame and crumpled it.

“What are you doing!”

“Shouldn’t fakes be discarded? Like with gemstones—you can’t tell a real one because fakes are crafted so elaborately.”

The only things she packed were the gifts the Marquis of Blossomweaver had given her and her mother’s diary.

“Edelweiss Oberlin Blossomweaver.”

“……”

“This is my final farewell to Duke Mateo Stern. I hope we never meet again. Please don’t come to my coming-of-age ceremony. Not that you were planning to.”

Click.

Just as the duke flinched and was about to speak, the butler burst in without knocking.

“Your Grace! There’s an emergency! Prince Damian is here!”

“…..What?”

“He’s brought a marriage proposal—for Lady Edelweiss—himself!”

Hearing the butler’s words, the Duke of Stern rushed out.

‘So soon? And he brought it personally?’

Edelweiss thought Damian truly was impossible to predict. It was somehow amusing that he hadn’t sent someone else but came himself.

When she came down alone, she saw Damian standing calmly.

Beside him, Rosemary was staring at him, dazed.

“Lady. I brought a marriage proposal.”

“Please refer to me as the Viscountess of Blossomweaver, not ‘Lady.’”

“Viscountess. I brought a marriage proposal.”

Damian didn’t even bother to ask why her title had changed. With complete indifference, he simply adjusted the title.

Edelweiss walked down and stood in front of him, taking in the proposal letter.

Edelweiss,

Like moonlight drifting over the sea, you have illuminated my darkened path.

I followed that light and reached you.

No darkness shall stop my steps toward you.

In your eyes is the season of verdant life.

That forest shall bloom forevermore, and I shall stand by its side.

Edelweiss, please marry me.

—Damian Rejenoel

‘He really must’ve hired a poet.’

It was filled with sweet, poetic flourishes—just as Edelweiss had requested.

“……!”

Rip—!

The Marquis of Blossomweaver snatched the letter from Edelweiss’s hand and tore it up.

Fine shreds of luxurious paper scattered in the air.

“You scoundrel, how dare you propose to my daughter?”

“Scoundrel? As always, Father-in-law commits without hesitation.”

“Don’t call me Father-in-law!”

Damian gave a faint smile, unfazed.

“I knew this might happen, so I brought more. I wrote plenty, so feel free to tear them.”

The Marquis of Blossomweaver rolled his eyes and clutched the back of his neck.

The Marchioness, already aware of the situation, only clicked her tongue and shook her head.

Duke Stern and Rosemary both looked dumbfounded.

‘I should’ve told Uncle in advance…’

Edelweiss grew worried that he might actually faint.

Damian took out a velvet-adorned jewelry case and opened it.

“These Mediart pearls—people risk their lives to retrieve even a single one from the deep sea.”

There were easily over a hundred of them. The pure white pearls shimmered like moonlight melted into them.

At the center was a green emerald, the same color as Edelweiss’s eyes.

‘Just the emerald alone could buy a townhouse in the capital.’

With those rare Mediart pearls added in, the value was beyond imagination. It was a necklace that couldn’t be easily acquired.

“It’s a wedding gift.”

She understood now why he gave it.

There was a long-standing tradition of giving jewelry that matched the bride’s eye color before the wedding—a sign of honor and sincerity.

Rosemary, staring longingly at the necklace, couldn’t hide the raging jealousy written all over her face.

Noticing it, Damian pressed forward.

He knelt on one knee and gently took Edelweiss’s hand.

“Even if storms block the way, no darkness will blur my compass toward you.”

“……”

“I will always sail to find you.”

“…….”

“Will you marry me?”

Rosemary glanced between the proposal letter and the kneeling Damian.

‘From the proposal alone, it sounds like Damian’s madly in love with me.’

Her violet eyes burned like firewood in a hearth, tangled with envy and resentment.

She would likely replay this moment in her mind all night, writhing in frustration.

She’d lose sleep at the Navy’s victory celebration just thinking about Damian.

Edelweiss pretended not to notice the Marquis nearly fainting as she placed her hand atop Damian’s.

“As the Lady of Oberlin, heir to the Marquisate of Blossomweaver—Edelweiss Oberlin Blossomweaver gladly accepts Prince Damian Rejenoel’s proposal.”

She deliberately didn’t mention Stern.

She emphasized Oberlin and Blossomweaver, making Duke Stern flinch and furrow his brow.

“As long as Your Highness’s compass points to me, I shall always remain in your sea.”

Damian kissed the back of her hand lightly, then rose with ease.

“Then I shall always protect that sea so you may stay safe within it.”

The cool, soft touch on her hand made Edelweiss’s face flush.

She understood he was keeping up appearances in front of others, but the words about keeping her safe struck a chord.

As the Navy’s Supreme Admiral, the promise to protect the sea where she’d reside carried a deep, symbolic weight.

“Edelweiss, I wish to invite you to Calliope Palace.”

“…Please board the carriage first, Your Highness. I’ll join you shortly.”

Sensing there was a purpose behind the invitation, Edelweiss nodded.

Once Damian exited, the Marquis narrowed his eyes.

“Edel, you little rascal. Do you get bored unless you shock us?”

“Not us, just you, Cesare. I already knew.”

“Violet… how could you hide something like this from me…?”

As the Marchioness answered dryly, he wiped away tears and spun on his heel.

“Edel, we’ll talk at home. Be prepared for a serious scolding.”

“Cesare, where are you going?”

“To warn that scoundrel, obviously!”

The Marchioness followed him out, trying not to look too concerned.

The once-crowded hall was now nearly empty, and Duke Stern staggered, grabbing the railing.

“Father! Are you alright?”

Rosemary quickly grabbed Duke Stern’s arm.

He kept licking his dry lips before finally speaking.

“Prince Damian has little chance of becoming the crown prince. Though he’s of direct royal lineage, his mother, Empress Anastasia, was deposed and only reinstated after her death—so his legitimacy isn’t exactly flawless.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“That’s not all. He’s spent his life commanding the navy, so he’s rough by nature. What if he goes to sea and dies? You’ll be left a widow.”

Whether it was concern or a curse, saying this to someone who had just accepted a proposal was absurd.

Edelweiss found it laughable and let a smirk curl at the corner of her lips.

“……Edelweiss. If I told you not to marry him, what would you do?”