NTWBR 06

Chapter 06

“What do you mean, Your Highness?”

“I’m asking how many of these you think I need to make my own.”

“Your Highness.”

“I’ve been studying the noble registry over the past few days, but I don’t know all the nobles of the empire.”

“You even looked at the noble registry?”

Ernst gave a wry smile at her words.

Ernst’s reaction to Irene’s bitter smile seemed to suggest he regretted asking.

But Irene didn’t mind at all.

It was true that the current Irene knew little about noble society.

“As you know, I was someone who only stayed at court. So the only nobles I know are the noble ladies who frequent the palace. That’s why I need your advice right now.”

That was it.

Until she turned sixteen, Irene had only ever been at court.

Moreover, even her experience attending tea parties was minimal.

Although she was born the First Princess and given the title Madame Pailin, the reality was that she had less social experience than the Second Princess, her younger sister Arturia.

Even with the memories of her previous life.

As such, she intended to accept all advice that seemed helpful from this point forward.

And she was also curious about which nobles Ernst thought would be useful.

“The other nobles aren’t important. If you can win over your uncle, the Duke of Welbrun, that will be enough.”

“Really? What about the other nobles?”

“Leaving a good impression will help in the future, but……”

“You’re trailing off. Say it.”

“At minimum, Marquis Atherton, the Minister of Finance, Margrave Rance, Margrave Rut, and Sir Ulrich, the commander of the Falcon Knights. These four should suffice, Your Highness.”

“And besides those four?”

“I will tell you about the others later, Your Highness.”

“I see. Understood.”

Irene ended her conversation with Ernst and went to take her seat.

Since the seat was placed on a high platform, the people in the ballroom were clearly visible.

‘Something feels off… What else happened on this day in my past life?’

She hadn’t shown it to Ernst, but she felt uneasy.

However, the nobles approaching Irene were endless.

Irene remained on edge throughout her greetings with them.

These were people who practically lived for their pride.

So she had to at least pretend to know their names and titles.

With Ernst’s help, Irene’s mood was far from pleasant as she greeted the nobles.

After a group of nobles withdrew and she had a moment alone, Irene recalled one memory from her previous life.

It was today. And in the middle of the banquet.

She remembered the proclamation of her imperial marriage to Crown Prince Franz Mestia.

“Oh no!”

“Your Highness?”

“Ah… Nothing.”

“Would you like something to drink?”

“No.”

She didn’t even feel like eating or drinking anything.

Irene felt she had to prevent the imperial marriage with Crown Prince Franz Mestia, which she herself had declared she would become Emperor.

When a thought comes, it’s time to act.

Just as she was about to move toward where the Emperor, who hadn’t appeared yet, and several high ministers were likely to be—

“His Grace, the Duke of Welbrun, Caleton le Welbrun, arrives!”

It was the herald’s announcement.

The appearance of the Duke of Welbrun, who had never shown his face at any gathering, whether social or otherwise, caused a stir among the people.

Hearing the murmur of the crowd, Irene watched the appearance of her uncle, the Duke of Welbrun.

Caleton le Welbrun, the youngest Sword Master on the continent and one of the ten Sword Masters.

His appearance made Irene abandon her plan to go to where Pern V and the ministers were.

What mattered now was welcoming her uncle, the Duke of Welbrun.

As a member of the imperial family.

“You have arrived, Duke of Welbrun.”

“…Madame Pailin. It is an honor to meet you.”

After exchanging the formal greetings, Irene had nothing more to say and looked at the Duke of Welbrun.

Looking at the Duke of Welbrun, the first feeling that came to her was one of regret.

She wondered why this man, who could dominate any gathering by his mere presence, had never tried to meet her even once in her previous life.

“Should I call you… Uncle, Your Grace?”

“Whatever you prefer, Madame Pailin.”

“Then please call me comfortably as well, Your Grace.”

“I shall, Madame.”

Another short conversation ended.

Irene was flustered, unsure how to continue the conversation.

Although they shared blood, the fact that she had to be with someone so unfamiliar was also burdensome.

As Irene was racking her brain for a long moment—

A man who appeared to be one of the Duke of Welbrun’s subordinates entered and whispered something in the Duke’s ear.

The Duke of Welbrun’s gaze then turned toward Irene, and he leaned his body in her direction.

“I hear your marriage partner is being decided, Madame.”

“Yes…?”

“Did you know?”

“…I had my suspicions, Your Grace.”

“Well then, will you go and decide it yourself? Or will you follow what is decided, like the ordinary noble ladies?”

“…Your Grace. What is your intention in saying this?”

“I just want to see what my niece is made of.”

“……”

Looking at the smiling face of the Duke of Welbrun, she felt absurd.

To test her courage?

She wondered what that was supposed to mean.

But in any case, she felt that the Duke had no reason to lie to her.

‘If what the Duke says is true, I must act now!’

“Do you know where it is, Your Grace?”

“Are you truly going to decide, Niece?”

“…Since I spoke the words myself, I intend to make the decision myself.”

“Let’s go, Madame Pailin.”

The Duke of Welbrun rose and extended his hand to Irene.

Seeing the Duke’s actions, Irene began to feel certain.

At the very least, she was certain that the House of Welbrun would not become her enemy.

As Irene took the Duke’s hand and stood up, he led the way toward Pern V’s study.

Arriving at the study before they knew it, the two looked at the attendant standing before the door.

The attendant’s expression clearly showed he was wondering whether to announce their arrival.

“Announce us.”

“Ah, but I was told to let no one in……”

“Do you have two necks?”

The Sword Master’s aura faintly emanated from the Duke of Welbrun’s body.

The attendant, who knew nothing of martial arts, opened the study door with trembling hands.

Irene entered through the open door, followed by the Duke of Welbrun.

As these two appeared in the study, there was Pern V, Crown Prince Franz Mestia, Chancellor Marshal, and Marquis Atherton, the Minister of Finance.

“There you are, Your Majesty.”

“Madame Pailin, what brings you here?”

“The banquet is about to start, and you hadn’t arrived, so I came to escort you, Your Majesty.”

“Is that so? Duke, I wasn’t asking you. Madame Pailin?”

“I merely met him on the way, Your Majesty.”

“Is that so?”

Pern V’s questioning voice was filled with wariness.

His eyes too were not those of a father looking at his daughter, but of a ruler looking at a political opponent.

Irene lightly ignored Pern V’s gaze and approached him.

“I heard my marriage is being discussed.”

“……”

“Is that not true, Your Majesty?”

“…And if it is, what will you do?”

“My marriage. I will decide it myself, Your Majesty.”

“That goes against protocol, Madame Pailin.”

“Why do you say that, Chancellor? It is I who will marry, and I who will have to carry on that marriage for life. So why is my opinion not even heard before a decision is made? I cannot accept that.”

“Madame.”

“Father—no, Your Majesty. I am the same as I was a week ago. I will decide my own marriage.”

It was Irene’s second declaration.

She wasn’t declaring celibacy.

Even if she had to marry Crown Prince Franz as in her previous life, she wanted to make the decision herself.

No, to be honest, she wanted to decide to marry someone other than Crown Prince Franz.

“Madame, the discussions are already concluded.”

Chancellor Marshal’s voice filled the room.

Then, from behind Irene, an aura laced with a faint killing intent was felt.

“Oh, is that so?”

“Your Grace, the Duke of Welbrun.”

“Look here, Chancellor.”

The Duke of Welbrun looked at Chancellor Marshal and released his aura.

Though it was a faintly released aura, the civilian Chancellor Marshal began to tremble.

“I am the one who oversees the empire’s military affairs and also a member of the imperial family. You decided the princess’s marriage without me present?”

“Th-the Duke of Welbrun……”

“No, this isn’t something to take up with the Chancellor. Your Majesty. Did you make this decision without my knowledge?”

“D-Duke.”

“I’m glad I came after hearing my subordinate’s report.”

The Duke of Welbrun sat down beside Chancellor Marshal.

Then he glanced at Irene.

Irene couldn’t help but realize this was a test from the Duke.

“Your wise and enlightened Majesty. Irene de Istana, daughter of Istana, begs of you. Please allow me to decide my own marriage.”

“Why? Your marriage has already been decided.”

“How can you say my marriage has been decided when I, the party concerned, wasn’t present, nor was the Duke of Welbrun, a member of the imperial family and the one who oversees the empire’s military affairs?”

“Madame, it’s already been decided, so let’s return to the ballroom. If you go and wait there……”

“I no longer wish to hear the Chancellor’s words.”

Irene cut off Chancellor Marshal’s words sharply.

The Duke of Welbrun’s eyes, watching such an Irene, began to fill with curiosity.

Especially since his niece was showing a side completely different from the rumors he had heard.

Irene didn’t have the spare attention to notice that the Duke of Welbrun’s gaze toward her was changing.

Right now, all of Irene’s nerves were focused on making the discussion of her marriage start over from the beginning.

She believed it was wrong to decide a marriage without the party concerned.

“Madame Pailin.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“It is customary for a child’s marriage to follow the father’s decision.”

“But I will decide my own marriage, at least.”

“Are you defying me now?”

“Defying? As I told you before, I’m simply saying I will decide my own marriage, Your Majesty.”

“Irene!”

Pern V’s angry shout followed.

Irene faced Pern V’s rage head-on without wavering.

‘Even if I end up marrying that good-for-nothing again, I will be the one to decide it. I will!’

She glanced at Crown Prince Franz on one side.

Crown Prince Franz was still in a relaxed posture, watching Irene with interest.

The only difference was his eyes, which were slightly different from a week ago.

Irene was somewhat relieved that Pern V hadn’t yet noticed this change.

“This is my marriage. It’s about deciding who I will spend my life with. I don’t understand why I shouldn’t be allowed to decide, Your Majesty.”

“It’s an imperial marriage, Madame Pailin.”

“Yes, I know. But surely my opinion can at least be heard?”

“Since it’s an imperial marriage, why should your opinion be heard? That’s nonsense!”

It was Pern V’s sudden question.

Irene hadn’t expected to be asked this.

So Irene simply looked at Pern V without saying anything.

Then the Duke of Welbrun, who had been leisurely sipping his tea, set down his teacup.

“She says she wants to choose her own husband… isn’t that right, Niece?”

“Yes.”

“Then let her choose.”