IBTHM Chapter 31

Fortunately, there was someone to replace the heir position.

Mother's second younger brother—my younger maternal uncle, in other words.

'This father just wants you to live happily. Do everything you want to do. Marry whoever you want to marry…'

My soft-hearted father, who teared up every time he saw my weak constitution, always said that like a habit.

Do everything you want.

Father seemed somewhat apologetic about not giving me the heir position, but I understood, and I didn't want that position anyway.

In such a cramped territory, being called lord was embarrassing, and it was stuck at the southern edge of the continent to boot.

If I tried introducing myself, people would invariably ask whether it was Esclife or Excalibur family—that's how nonexistent our fame was. What desire could I have for leading such a house?

I could enjoy a sufficiently comfortable wealthy life with the single perfect advantage of knowing everything about this world, and that was enough.

So the conclusion was:

"Father isn't someone who would oppose my marriage. Even if I brought home a random beggar saying I'd make him my husband, Father would tell me to go ahead. Didn't Your Grace misunderstand something?"

In other words, there wasn't a speck of reason for Father, who'd traveled across the continent to arrive at dawn, to oppose my marriage.

That was also why I'd been able to quickly decide on this unplanned marriage to Hades by myself.

There was no way my family would object or gossip anyway.

"No. The Baron seems somehow dissatisfied with our marriage. He wouldn't tell me the exact reason, but considering he made that excuse to me even knowing you don't need to continue the white attribute line…"

"There's no reason whatsoever for Father to be dissatisfied. I know that well. If I had to guess…"

"Guess?"

Hades's eyes lit up as if he'd uproot and eliminate whatever the reason was from its very source.

"Maybe because the disparity is too severe? Even if I'm a lovingly raised daughter, it's a bit embarrassing to present me to House Ruvermonte…"

"That doesn't matter!"

At Hades shouting without a moment's hesitation, I felt slightly dazed and said:

"Thank you for saying that."

I felt like the poor lover of a chaebol heir who'd proposed magnificently with "just bring yourself."

While I thought lightly that he must have misunderstood something, unlike me, Hades still looked worried, repeatedly rubbing his brow.

"But the Baron's reaction doesn't seem to be for that reason. There's definitely a reason this marriage bothers him. Definitely."

"Mm, I can just ask him myself. But Your Grace, coming to my room at dawn with a face that clearly didn't sleep properly… was it because you were worried we wouldn't be able to marry?"

I asked in genuine amazement.

For me, if this marriage fell through, I'd regret losing the chance for legal Abel appreciation forever, but Hades shouldn't feel quite that strongly.

After all, he was the head of the empire's foremost ducal house.

Just because my father rejected him once, this anxious fretting seemed completely out of character.

Curious about Hades's true feelings, I met his gaze directly and examined his expression—he blinked several times, then floundered.

"What, worried enough not to sleep? No way. I was just a bit flustered by an unexpected situation…"

"Mm, anyway, don't worry. I'll talk with Father. Where is he now? Fath— Eek!"

They say to strike while the iron is hot—I was about to find Father, whom I hadn't seen in a month, and ask what was going on when I casually glanced toward the door and got a shock.

There stood Abel, holding a glass of milk.

That was what Ann brought me every morning for my daily "healthy glass" routine.

She must have tried bringing it today too, somehow encountered Abel, and had him deliver it instead.

How much of our conversation had Abel heard?

I couldn't know exactly, but judging by his quite shocked expression, he seemed to have realized something was wrong.

"U-u-uh… Young Master."

"Y-y-young lady…"

Abel's crimson eyes shook, unable to find their bearings.

A true pupil earthquake.

Soon moisture welled up in those large eyes.

Looking to the side, Hades wore a dismayed expression too.

This careless man.

I smacked Hades's shoulder once—hard enough to hurt—then scolded in a whisper:

"Close the door when we're talking!"

Leaving behind Hades flustered and rubbing his struck shoulder, I hurried toward Abel.

"Young Master."

The tears welling in Abel's eyes finally fell.

"D-d-did the B-Baron oppose the m-marriage?"

"No, no."

"No."

The flustered Hades and I denied it immediately, but the perceptive Abel, thinking something had gone wrong, couldn't calm down easily.

When I took the milk glass that looked too heavy for him to hold, Abel used his freed hands to wipe away the tears streaming down.

Watching those small, chubby hands repeatedly wiping his eyes was heartbreaking.

"I-it's definitely because of me."

"No!"

"No!"

"B-but… Father hasn't been able to marry until now…"

"No, Young Master! That's His Grace's problem, not yours!"

"...I'm what?"

"Oh, stop it!"

I scolded Hades for butting in tactlessly—he pouted in displeasure.

"Young Master, there's nothing to worry about. His Grace misunderstood something. I'll go ask Father and come back, so don't cry. Okay?"

When I wiped the tears from Abel's cheeks, he felt even more pitiful and burrowed into my arms, starting to cry in earnest.

Knowing how much Abel had looked forward to getting a mother, I felt sorry for him.

At the same time, I was slightly angry at Father for showing up without notice and telling Hades incomprehensible things.

I needed to find out what was going on immediately.

"Your Grace, where is Father now?"

"In the guest room. Shall I come with you?"

"No. I'll go alone first. Your Grace, please comfort the Young Master."

At my words, Hades nodded and scooped up the crying Abel.

The two identical faces stuck together looking at me with worried eyes—somehow I felt like a breadwinner leaving behind a bear-like husband and rabbit-like child to be thrown into harsh society.

I didn't know what was wrong, but I would resolve the misunderstanding with Father and absolutely secure marriage approval.

Just as I was about to leave the room with determined eyes, I heard someone's urgent footsteps through the slightly open door.

The face that poked in was Ann's.

"Oh, Miss! Oh my, His Grace and the Young Master are here too?"

"What is it, Ann?"

"The Baron wants to see you urgently right now…"

Before Ann's words finished, Father's familiar face popped out from behind her.

Father's face, seen after so long, looked as urgent as Ann's.

"Aisha!"

Father, who'd called out and entered abruptly, spotted Hades and Abel behind me and froze.

While he was flustered, Abel climbed down from Hades's arms and scurried to stand beside me.

Then, rubbing his reddened eyes, he bowed deeply to Father.

"H-hello, Baron Esclife. It's my first time meeting you. My name is Abel Ruvermonte."

Abel probably thought he needed to make a good impression on Father for this marriage to happen.

That such a young child would think this way felt utterly pitiful—I lost my words and gazed at Abel silently.

Father soon returned the bow, saying:

"It's my first time meeting you, Young Master. I'm Benjamin Esclife. My daughter has caused much trouble."

"T-trouble? Not at all, Baron. Since Young Lady Esclife came to the north, I've been truly happy every single day. I-I wish the young lady could stay here forever. Please don't say such things."

Abel pleaded as if about to cry again—Father seemed as speechless as I'd been.

Looking flustered, Father seemed to have come to tell me marriage was impossible, as he'd told Hades…

I'd been considering whether to send Hades and Abel out before talking, but just asked then and there:

"Father. I heard from His Grace. You oppose our marriage. His Grace must have misunderstood something, right? Father wouldn't do that."

"W-well, um, Aisha…"

"If it's true, please tell me the reason. Though honestly, whatever the reason, I have no intention of giving up this marriage!"

At my firm answer, the room's atmosphere turned cold as ice water.

The one who broke the silence was Hades's flustered cough from behind.

"Ahem! Ahem! Hmm!"

Father opened and closed his mouth, then finally spoke with difficulty:

"Aisha, you should reconsider. Perhaps because you're still young, you don't seem to understand what kind of place House Ruvermonte is. It's not somewhere you can handle."

"Baron! Are you truly worried about that? Even when I say I'll handle everything so the young lady won't have to worry or feel burdened?"

Hades interjected with an agitated face.

"Your Grace, someday Your Grace will regret accepting my child as a member of the ducal house. Ruvermonte and Esclife don't suit each other. I thought Your Grace would understand this fact best of all…"

"Father!"

I cut off Father's words with a shout.

"Why are you saying this now? You always told me to marry whoever I wanted! That whoever I brought home wouldn't be too good for me! That even His Imperial Majesty the Emperor wouldn't be good enough for your cute, smart, pretty daughter!"

"N-no? Aisha! When did I…"

Though it had been said jokingly, it was nevertheless a statement that insulted the imperial family—Father looked extremely flustered, glancing at Hades.

I still didn't understand Father.

If I became the Ruvermonte Duchess, Father should be welcoming it with both hands raised.

The Esclife Barony would instantly become the focus of noble society.

From ugly duckling to swan, as it were…

Unable to see into Father's heart, I felt frustrated—my gaze unconsciously turned to Abel beside me.

Abel, clutching my skirt tightly, pouted his lips while his teary eyes sparkled. His face trying to hold back tears looked even more pitiful.

How many times had this pathetic fangirl already made her precious bias cry?!

Meanwhile, Hades had cleared away even his vassals, efficiently removing anything that might obstruct our marriage.

Yet suddenly Father was acting like this?

I gripped Abel's hand tightly and looked at Father, saying:

"I absolutely must go through with this marriage!"

"Aisha!"

"I was trying not to throw a tantrum like a disobedient, immature daughter! But if you won't approve the marriage, I might just go ahead and die!"

"Y-Young Lady!"

"No, Aisha…"

The flustered Abel and Father floundered.

Father, looking slightly dizzy at my firm attitude, staggered and asked:

"C-can't you understand your father's confused heart? You said you were going to the north to visit, so I thought fine… but not even a month later, sending marriage documents to the territory…"

"My feelings aren't one month old!"

I looked at Abel, still staring up at me, and retorted resolutely.

"They're feelings I've been nurturing for years! I can't live without this person! If you won't approve the marriage, I really will die!"

As I shouted seriously, silence descended on the room again.

What broke the stillness was Hades's flustered coughing from behind.

"Ahem! Hmm! Cough!"