IBTHM Chapter 30

"What… do you mean by that, Baron?"

"I know it must sound absurd. But I truly cannot approve of this marriage. Please try to understand, Your Grace."

"No, I mean—what's the reason?"

When Hades asked urgently, the Baron hesitated before answering.

"You may not be aware, but the Esclife Barony has maintained white attribute bloodlines for generations. To honor the oracle of the First Saint Abella Esclife, we have an obligation to preserve white attribute blood…"

"I know that. But you weren't planning to make your daughter your heir anyway, were you?"

Hades's voice rose, somewhat agitated.

The Baron flinched at his words.

It was, of course, an inevitable concern when investigating the Esclife Barony.

Following the saint's 500-year-old oracle that she would be reborn through the Esclife bloodline, they had maintained white attribute purity with absolute rigor, ensuring no other attribute mixed in.

Aisha was Baron Esclife's only daughter.

Ordinarily, she should have inherited the title after the Baron, but she'd never received successor training.

The Baron had been preparing to pass the title to a male relative from a branch family instead.

Considering that track record, there was no reason whatsoever to oppose the marriage.

Hades hadn't expected the Baron to know he'd investigated such detailed family circumstances—the Baron looked flustered.

Seeing the Baron's face darken, Hades added quickly.

"If you're displeased that I investigated your personal circumstances, I apologize. However, once marriage with your daughter became a possibility, I couldn't avoid learning about your family situation. Please try to understand."

"...It's fine."

"Then tell me the exact reason you oppose this marriage. If something has offended you or doesn't meet your expectations, I'll find a solution…"

Hades looked as anxious as someone facing catastrophe if he didn't secure marriage approval.

The attendants witnessing their master and the Baron couldn't help but be astonished.

A union between the Ruvermonte Duchy and the Esclife Barony.

Frankly speaking, the two families' standing and influence were so vastly different it was embarrassing to mention them in the same breath.

They couldn't understand the Baron's lukewarm response when he should be clinging to this opportunity without letting go, but even more puzzling was Hades's attitude.

The head of House Ruvermonte could easily dismiss the pretentious Esclifies with a sneer—so why on earth?

Watching Hades worry himself into a cold sweat, the attendants became certain.

Though the relationship had begun with the Esclife young lady's passionate pursuit, now their master was the one desperately anxious over her!

"Our child is still immature—she seems to have come all the way to the north saying she wanted to see Your Grace. I apologize for the unintended trouble, but there's no need for Your Grace to accommodate such a foolish girl to this extent. I'll take her back immediately."

"No, Baron. I'm not trying to marry her because she's clinging to me and I have no choice."

Hades covered his eyes with one hand, took a deep breath, and said:

"I'm the one clinging."

At those words, the Baron and all the attendants gasped in shock.

The Baron was the first to recover his composure.

He maintained a firm attitude despite Hades's words.

"Even so… it cannot be, Your Grace. I absolutely cannot approve this marriage. I'm sorry."

Without stating any clear reason, the Baron remained steadfast throughout.

Hades's gaze on the Baron was peculiar.

Judging by the Baron's reaction, this didn't seem like a problem that would be easily resolved.

Hades took a step back.

"In any case, it's late. Let's discuss this with your daughter after dawn. I'll provide you a room to rest from your journey."

It was a gentle threat: I hear your objection, but don't think you're taking Aisha away right now.

The Baron, who'd been about to respond, had no choice but to nod.

Bang bang bang bang!

"No!"

Bang bang bang bang!

Woken unpleasantly at the crack of dawn by pounding sounds, I opened my eyes to find a familiar voice coming from beyond my door.

"Aisha! Aisha! Are you awake? If you're awake, can we talk? Aisha?"

"...Your Grace?"

I'd thought construction equipment was demolishing the house, but apparently it was just Hades knocking on my door.

My body was too heavy from just waking up to want to move.

But I also felt slightly self-conscious about meeting Hades without washing up after just waking.

My will, caught in a tug-of-war between laziness and manners, ultimately surrendered to worry for Hades, who was calling my name so desperately it might wear away to nothing.

No misunderstanding, please. It was simply that Hades seemed too urgent to indulge in the luxury of washing and preparing.

"Come in. I'm awake."

I roughly rubbed the sleep from my eyes and told him to enter—the door burst open like lightning.

Hades rushed to my bedside like a shot.

What on earth could be the matter?

Hades practically slid over and sat at eye level beside my bed, then floundered.

As he caught his breath, seemingly preparing what to say, I looked at his face and was shocked.

He looked absolutely terrible.

"Good heavens, Your Grace!"

"Aisha, so early yesterday morning…"

I sat up halfway in bed, my hand moving reflexively first.

When I touched the dark circles under his eyes, Hades froze.

"Why do you look so haggard?! Didn't you sleep?"

"Huh, haggard?"

Oh no. Hades repeated the question with a shocked expression.

For someone who lived for his own magnificence, pointing out haggard appearance was quite shocking.

I corrected myself.

"Ah, of course Your Grace is still handsome. No misunderstanding. I meant you look worryingly exhausted."

"Right. I didn't misunderstand."

Despite his words, he seemed bothered.

Hades stroked his gaunt cheeks a few times, then spoke urgently again.

"The messenger I sent to Esclife early yesterday morning arrived."

"Oh, did he?"

What's the big deal about that?

"But the Baron came too."

"What? Father did? I thought he'd just stamp the marriage document and send it back."

It was unexpected, but not shocking enough to warrant this reaction.

Wondering if he might look as haggard as Hades (though probably not), I headed casually toward the vanity with its mirror—Hades trailed after me.

"Well, if he came, he came. Why are you so agitated? Don't tell me Father brought a hundred cows as dowry? That would be our family's entire fortune…"

"He said he can't approve the marriage."

"What?!"

I'd been examining my just-woken face when I whirled around at Hades in shock.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what I said."

"Why?"

"Something about how the Esclife family has maintained white attribute bloodlines for generations, so he can't marry his only daughter to someone with no white attribute…"

"Huh? What kind of nonsense is that?"

"...That's what he said, but it really is nonsense. The Baron is planning to make your younger maternal uncle, Lord Lifner, his heir anyway."

Hades added with a confused expression.

I was shocked first by hearing Father opposed the marriage, then got goosebumps being shocked a second time that Hades knew even the succession circumstances of a country baron's family down to the last detail.

Seeing me shiver, Hades looked puzzled.

"What?"

"H-how did you know that?"

"Well, shouldn't I have basic information about the family I'm marrying into?"

"W-well, yes, but…"

The information network of a ducal house—truly frightening.

Hades was right, though.

Because the Esclife Barony maintained white attribute as tradition, I, as first in succession by principle, was fated to marry someone with the same white attribute to smoothly continue the line.

It would be different if I could present Father with a grandchild bearing a white core jewel, but white attribute—the most recessive of the six—was a bust when combined with any other attribute.

There's a reason white attribute imperials can be counted on one hand.

What if combined with fire attribute, considered the most dominant?

No need to even look.

It's a random thought, but if I bore Hades's child, clearly a carbon copy of him from head to toe would pop out with a bright red core jewel somewhere on their body.

With such superior genetics, the baby might be able to breathe fire from birth.

My thoughts wandered uselessly, but anyway—originally, I was fated not to freely choose my own husband.

Anyone hearing this would be appalled that such primitive traditions still existed, but since it had been that way for hundreds of years, I'd just accepted it.

Ah, of course, I'd accepted it because it ultimately didn't concern me.

Even before I'd opened my eyes in this body, Aisha had been a person with no connection to the Esclife family succession.

The reason was her health.

In this world with virtually no medical advancement, where the only treatment was baptism from white attribute temple priests, many with weak constitutions died young.

Therefore, even those with succession rights were often excluded from heir discussions early on to ensure the family's survival—the weak ones.

That was me: Aisha Esclife.