Chapter 23. Udangtangtang Proposal preparation
2022.11.01.
‘Aidan is strange.’
It wasn’t intuitive this time. Aidan really got weird.
It wasn’t like Aidan, even though he wasn’t like that, and he suddenly met a lot of people.
Perhaps because of that, there were reports of seeing Aidan here and there.
‘Does he care about what I said?’
From that point on, the feeling was strange, so the possibility was the highest.
I felt uncomfortable thinking that Aidan might be overdoing it because of me.
And one day, Aidan suddenly declared a vacation.
“I will go on vacation.”
“vacation…?”
Aidan is on vacation?
The word “vacation” came out of Aidan’s mouth.
Aidan had never personally taken a vacation. The few times it happened was usually just the process of planning to confront Veron a few years ago.
Rather, even after the escort time was over, he tried to stay by his side.
So it was my routine to force them back…
Aidan nodded.
“yes. about a week.”
“A week or so? To go to the Grand Duchy of Aserad?”
“…I can’t tell you.”
I was deeply shocked by Aidan’s attitude of hesitating and evading an answer.
Because there were no secrets between us.
We talked and discussed everything together. no matter how trivial it is.
I’m sure Aidan will have his personal time as I wished, but why am I feeling sad?
‘no. Because Aidan also has Aidan’s private life.’
If Aidan decided to change, of course you had to trust him.
Of course, if Aidan didn’t want to talk about it, that was inevitable.
“Be careful, Aidan.”
Then Aidan silently raised my hand and kissed my lips.
For some reason, my heart was beating.
***
The morning of the first day without Aidan.
“your majesty. Time to cough.”
When I opened my eyes at the gentle voice, I saw the nanny’s face. Of course, I thought that Aidan would wake me up, so I was a little embarrassed as soon as I woke up.
Seeing me like that, the nanny smiled lightly.
“Aren’t you lonely because the Grand Duke is absent?”
“Yeah…”
I replied weakly, and the nurse smiled and handed me a lock of my hair.
“Because you will be back soon. Be sure to eat breakfast today.”
“okay. Oh right. The chef said he would make something delicious today!”
I shouted excitedly, and the nanny helped me up.
“Then you should hurry up and get ready and go down to the dining room.”
“huh.”
After I finished preparing, I went to the restaurant and ate the chef’s special breakfast.
Then today, the chef was thrilled and had tears in his eyes.
Returning to my office, I looked over the meeting papers and waited for the time for the government meeting.
When the time came and I left the office, Enrique, who was waiting, greeted me politely.
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor.”
As usual, I quickly asked for forgiveness from the handsome Enrique, dressed in a uniform.
“Thank you for responding to the time adjustment like this when it’s not even Enrique’s mission time.”
While Aidan was gone, he was able to recruit other talents from the Knights Temporarily, but it was inconvenient to accompany a stranger, so he called Enrique.
Despite my sudden request, Enrique readily accepted my request.
“It is my pleasure.”
Seeing Enrique’s pretty smile made me feel uneasy for some reason.
He wondered if someone would bully Enrique.
“I heard that Enrique speaks very nicely…. If someone bothers you later, tell me. I will beat you.”
“Your Majesty’s words alone are reassuring.”
“I’m not joking, I’m serious.”
After having a small talk with Enrique, we headed to the conference hall.
Once again, the usual routine began.
However, Aidan was absent.
***
President of Ermano.
The vacant seats were filled, and soon all the council nobles were seated.
“Your Majesty is here.”
When Mabel entered with a leisurely gait along with the notice of the attendant, all the nobles who were sitting stood up and bowed.
“Meet Your Majesty the Emperor!”
“Nice to meet you. Everyone please have a seat.”
“I am embarrassed.”
The parliamentary nobles sat down. Mabel turned over the first page of the document and loudly declared the opening of the government meeting.
“Now, let’s quickly end the meeting today.”
After Esteban overturned the meeting, the meeting time was drastically shortened to less than two hours.
Today, we had a rather tricky discussion, so we filled up two hours, but it was still within acceptable range.
“It was the last item on the agenda.”
Mabel, who covered the papers, smiled brightly and encouraged her servants.
“Good job everyone.”
As I was about to end the meeting, a servant suddenly raised his hand.
“god. There is something I would like to express to His Majesty the Emperor for the eternal glory of the great empire, Ermano.”
“Something?”
“Since ancient times, His Majesty the emperors were engaged before the coming-of-age ceremony, and getting married right after reaching adulthood was the order of the day. All of this is to solidify the succession through national marriage.”
It’s a lot of words, but in the end, the point is…
“So you have to get married.”
It was meant to be married.
I know that it is often talked about between vassals and nobles, but this was the first time I’ve ever asked directly.
Other servants who had the same thoughts also added their opinions.
“Your Majesty has not been officially engaged, but the Archduke of Aserad is present. Why are you not holding a national wedding?”
“The gods as well as the people are looking forward to the national marriage of His Majesty and the Grand Duke.”
“God thinks the same, Your Majesty.”
Listening to the opinions of those in favor of national marriage, Mabel put on a puzzled expression.
However, he did not respond to the opinions of his servants.
Then Duke Donovan had a different opinion.
“Isn’t there any reason to rush the national marriage?”
“But Lord Donovan—”
“Do you think His Majesty does not have enough power to establish a successor and secure it?”
The servant waved his hand in bewilderment at the words of Duke Donovan, who took what he had just said.
“I don’t mean that.”
While he was perplexed, the Marquis of Gardenia helped out.
“Does His Majesty need to worry about the succession already? When the right time comes, you will take care of it. Just like you always have.”
As the Duke of Donovan and the Marquis of Gardenia opposed it, the courtiers’ arguments in favor of a national marriage soon faded.
Emily studied Mabel’s expression as she listened to both sides’ thoughts.
‘I’m not saying what they said was wrong.’
Emily, in fact, wondered why Mabel never married.
***
After the State Council meeting, Emily and I had tea time.
“I saved you because Lois really wanted the old book?”
“Wasn’t that book difficult to find?”
“Still, I’m Duke Javier, so it’s not difficult. Anyway, I opened the box containing the old books and Lois was so moved that she cried.”
“Lois…. He seems to cry every day?”
“There are a lot of tears.”
Lois and Emily’s love affair was also cruising safely. I was delighted to hear their love story.
Suddenly, Emily put down her teacup and stared at me.
“By the way, Mabel.”
“huh?”
“You mentioned marriage at the meeting earlier.”
“huh.”
“Is Mabel not married?”
I hesitated for a moment at the unanswered question.
“Marriage is, well…”
It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about marriage at all.
I was also an emperor, and I thought that I had to hold a national wedding according to the wishes of my subjects and people.
However, I wasn’t sure if the marriage could have a ‘happy end’.
‘Like the parents of the previous life ended up facing catastrophe.’
Also, didn’t Dad and Duke Donovan get divorced?
I couldn’t help but be afraid of having a marriage that might end.
Of course, not all marriages end in misery. A representative example of that is right next to me.
Mom loved Dad until the end, and Dad still loves Mom.
Emily asked cautiously if she had become serious from worrying.
“Do you have any problems with Grand Duke Aserad?”
“no. No problem.”
Actually, I did have a problem.
Now I have the title of Grand Duke, which Aidan didn’t want to be with me, but in the end it was all for nothing.
There was no need to marry the god Aidan, which is the institutional custom of humans.
‘If I wanted to get married again, wouldn’t Aidan have told me earlier?’
Nothing to do right now!
I quickly forgot about the topic of marriage.
***
Determined to propose, Aidan immediately ran into difficulties.
‘How do I propose?’
Asking for marriage is a proposal, but I vaguely guessed that it wasn’t that simple.
Aidan went to the library and read books related to marriage. However, in the old-fashioned books, there was only the process of marriage, and the marriage proposal was not described in detail.
It was something a book couldn’t solve. So someone’s experience was desperately needed.
But there was nowhere else to seek opinions.
…because I had no friends.
So Aidan wore a face-covering hood to hide his conspicuous appearance and wandered the streets overhearing people’s conversations.
“I heard the son of the blacksmith across the street is getting married this time?”
Aidan, who was sitting in the corner of the bar, did not miss those words.
‘The son of the smithy across the street.’
Aidan stormed into the blacksmith’s shop and immediately looked for his son. The complexion of the blacksmith’s son, who was overwhelmed by the man who came out of nowhere, turned pale.
“Hee!”
“you.”
“I don’t have money…”
“Proposal.”
“yes?”
“How did you do?”
“yes…?”
At the sudden question, the blacksmith’s son put on a dazed expression.
How did you propose to marry him when he suddenly came in?
However, he was overwhelmed by Aidan’s momentum and had no choice but to drink.
“Proposal is the most important thing first…”
Aidan listened to the young man with a serious face.
That’s how Aidan’s preparations for marriage proposal began.
***
First day of vacation.
The first thing Aidan went to was Casey’s lab.
“What should I do if you suddenly come in like this, Master?”
Casey complained, but Aidan didn’t care.
“I have something to ask you.”
“This is Casey’s lab, which is always happy to welcome guests. What are you looking for?”
Casey, who immediately changed his attitude, smiled capitalism.
“I have something to make.”
“yes. Is it a magic tool?”
“okay.”
Aidan passed the work order to Casey. Casey, who checked the contents, showed an interesting reaction.
“It must be fun.”
“I will bring the main ingredients in a week, so make the molds according to the instructions by then. So that I can complete it right away when I return.”
Casey opened her eyes wide.
“A week? No, it is impossible to make any magic tool in a week!”
“It’s an advance payment.”
Casey’s expression suddenly changed as he accepted the pouch Aidan handed him. It was because I was able to guess the amount just by weight.
“I will work day and night to create it. Just leave it to me.”
“Don’t be late.”
“Yep yep!”
Aidan nodded and left the lab like the wind.
Time was running out.
***
Tomorrow is the day Aidan finally returns.
What on earth did he leave for, so he hasn’t contacted me until now?
After going to bed, I tossed and turned over the date.
‘I hope tomorrow comes soon.’
Then the sheep sleeping at my feet opened her eyes and scolded me.
[Don’t toss and turn, you stupid Mabel. It’s interfering with your sleep…]
“Sorry.”
After apologizing to the sensitive sheep, I quickly closed my eyes and went to sleep.
Fortunately, I was able to fall asleep quickly.
.
.
.
“Mmm.”
Awakened by the sunlight beating down from my window, I hesitated to rub my eyes as usual.
“…huh?”
In a daze, he looked down at his hand.
‘Is it a dream…?’
Something I couldn’t see was stuck in my finger.
Sparkling and pretty…
with a red jewel in the middle and small pink diamonds adorning the periphery…
“A ring?”
