37-49

EP.49 Heinrich’s Wedding (2)  

Heinrich’s Wedding (2) 

Although there was some trouble before the wedding, the ceremony itself proceeded smoothly. 

Lately, Karl III’s health had been poor and he did not attend, but as he was quite elderly, everyone understood. With the Crown Prince attending in his stead, and the First Princess and Crown Princess of Leon present, the status of the royal marriage was properly matched. 

“With this, I declare the marriage of Heinrich Alexander Nodran von Balkan and Rachel Sinclair de Leonhart.” 

As the chief justice finished the marriage declaration, the guests erupted in applause. 

While the two smiled brightly as they headed toward the palace’s main gate, a fierce conversation was taking place between Heinrich and Rachel. 

“You. I know you’re plotting something with my father… but you’d better give up any plans to use our Leon. I won’t stand by and let it happen.” 

“Hmph… For a woman to be running her mouth so soon after getting married… I don’t know what you think you can do, but go ahead and try. I hear you’re known for your accounting policies in Leon, but don’t get cocky here in the Balkan Empire.” 

Rachel herself had studied from books written by Heinrich and had managed the kingdom alongside her sister using the accounting policies he pioneered, so she knew how capable he was and was at a loss for words for a moment. 

But Rachel didn’t back down and kept provoking Heinrich. She needed to find out why he married her without any interest and what her father got in return for selling her off. 

Before the wedding, she’d tried to probe the Crown Prince, but he seemed unaware, so Rachel kept pressing Heinrich. 

“Don’t even think about laying a hand on me just because we’re married. I have no intention of letting a worm like you touch me. Bringing a concubine to our wedding night, really?” 

“Hah! Do you think I’d be interested in a body with such useless lumps of fat on your chest? Not only are you stupid, but you’re also delusional. If you were half as much like your sister, I might have cared.” 

“…What a perverted lolicon bastard.” 

“I’ll take that as a compliment. Sharing the Emperor’s tastes is hardly an insult, is it? Hahaha, this is the dignity of a future emperor. Hahaha.” 

Even as they stood on the gate, waving to the citizens congratulating them, Rachel and Heinrich continued to hurl barbs at each other. 

‘This guy… he’s planning to surpass the Crown Prince and become emperor. Whatever plot he’s hatching, it’s definitely tied to our kingdom.’ 

But Rachel’s provocations had no effect on Heinrich, and she failed to glean any more information before having to attend the reception. 

After greeting the guests at the banquet, Heinrich disappeared somewhere with his entourage. 

Fiona was also talking with the Crown Prince about trade following the royal marriage, so Rachel, left alone, had to sit at the bride’s table, drinking wine to soothe her frustration and loneliness. 

“Sis~ Congratulations. Your wedding dress is so pretty~ I want to wear a wedding dress soon too.” 

Still, Eliza came over, clinging to Rachel and acting cute, which cheered her up a little. 

“Hehe, you’ll get to wear one soon. But why did you decide to stay in the Empire? I heard you trained directly under the commander of the Imperial Guard… Did you have to swear loyalty to the Empire as a disciple or something?” 

Rachel asked quietly, and Eliza shook her head. 

“No. I finally got together with my childhood crush how could I go back to the kingdom? Hehehe.” 

“R-really? Who is it? Don’t tell me… that…” 

Rachel recalled the name she’d seen in letters Eliza sent as a child and asked. 

“Yep! That’s right. The Third Prince of Balkan, Yuno, is my lover. He helped me so much in becoming a Master… and we promised to marry in three years. Hehehe.” 

Seeing her little sister, who had once left the palace in tears, now so happy, Rachel felt tears prick her own eyes in contrast. 

“I’m glad, at least you get to be happy…” 

“Why~ You’ll be happy too, sis. W-well, Second Prince’s reputation isn’t great, but…” 

At Eliza’s comfort, Rachel sighed. 

“Sigh… If it’s just a bad reputation, I should consider myself lucky. He’s definitely up to something.” 

“…Well, he’s your husband now. Maybe you can help him change.” 

“No. Something happened with our father, the king. But he never lets us see the meeting records… Sigh, it’s frustrating. Since you left, Father’s gotten even worse, not only refusing to cooperate but actively working against me. And the number of sycophants with honeyed tongues is out of control…” 

“…You sisters must have had it tough.” 

“Well, what can we do? If Father’s lost it, we have to keep our heads.” 

Rachel sighed and glanced around. She saw Yuno, her sister’s lover, surrounded by beauties Yuria, Diane, Isabella, and Marie. 

“But the Third Prince is so handsome, you’d better keep an eye on him. He’s already surrounded by women go on, get over there.” 

“Mmm~ They’re all family, so it’s fine… No need to worry, sis. Hehe.” 

‘Actually, they’re all rivals. I can’t help Mother, but I’ll have to watch out for the sisters and Marie.’ 

After saying goodbye to Rachel, Eliza returned to Yuno’s table. 

As she walked over, she saw Isabella and Marie pressing their large breasts against Yuno’s arms, and it reminded her of a childhood promise with them. 

That’s why she resolved once again to keep Isabella and Marie from getting close to Yuno. 

‘Sorry, Isabella, Marie. I just don’t remember that childhood promise. I was so young, after all… hehehe.’ 

With a sly smile, Eliza grabbed Yuno’s arm just as Diane was about to pour him wine. 

“Yuno~ You look pretty drunk. I’m feeling a little dizzy too… Your Majesty the Empress, may I take Yuno for a walk, just the two of us?” 

“Princess Eliza? I’m pouring my brother a drink, and you ” 

“Go ahead. Yuno, take a walk with Eliza. It’s late, and it could be dangerous for a girl to go out alone.” 

As Diane started to protest, Yuria stopped her. 

As soon as Yuria finished speaking, Eliza winked at her and left with Yuno, while Isabella and Marie immediately jumped up and shouted at Yuria. 

“Mom! What’s dangerous about the palace garden? We walk there alone all the time!” 

“Yeah! With all this security, and both of them are Masters what danger?” 

“Oh, you girls are so clueless. Let the young couple have a date, will you…” 

“That’s it. Marie! Let’s follow them!” 

“Yeah! Good idea, sis!” 

“Girls!!” 

Yuria tried to stop Isabella and Marie from chasing after Yuno and Eliza, but they ignored her and disappeared into the garden. 

“Sigh… What am I going to do with them? Diane, can’t you do something about your sisters…” 

“Hehehe, Your Majesty. If you just give Yuno to me, I’ll make sure none of them can even touch him…” 

“Diane!! You too?” 

“But soon Yuno will go to his fief and I won’t see him… Before that, I just want a little of his scent… Oh, right! Your Majesty, you’re going with Yuno, right? I want to go too! I need a vacation!” 

“…If Prinz allows it, I’ll allow it.” 

“There’s no way Prince Prinz will allow that!! I’ll just hide in the luggage please just pretend you don’t notice, okay?” 

“What nonsense… If you disappear, the whole alchemy association in Adria will shut down.” 

Seeing even Diane clinging to Yuno after Isabella and Marie, Yuria’s head began to ache. 

Of course, she admitted her son was attractive, but it was getting to be too much, and she felt both happy and at a loss. 

Yuria herself was in an incestuous relationship with her son, but she couldn’t bring herself to pair her daughters Isabella and Marie, or her stepdaughter Diane, with their half-brother Yuno. 

‘Sigh… If I announce that Eliza is marrying him, they really won’t stand for it…’ 

Fortunately, all state council matters were top secret, so the princesses didn’t know Yuno and Eliza were lovers. 

So for now, Yuria could keep things under control, but since these were matters of the heart, she didn’t know when they’d catch on. And if they found out Eliza was going to the fief with Yuno, there would surely be chaos, so her mind remained troubled.