36.
[… proposing marriage…]
Only one phrase caught Ercella’s eye. Harsen was proposing marriage to her. Still finding it unbelievable even after seeing it with her own eyes, Ercella touched the dry ink with her fingers.
Did he write it himself? The calligraphy was so fine that she couldn’t believe Harsen wrote it himself. Although it was too short and impolite for a proposal, it suited the man very well.
“Do you like it?” Her father asked Ercella. Ercella glanced at the Marquis. The Marquis grinned while glancing at the one-line proposal, looking pleased about something.
Ercella could instinctively tell that her father liked Bernhardt more than Damonshire. Harsen would become one of two dukes in Grania. There couldn’t have been a better match.
“Ella, did you know about this?”
Ercella shook her head. She really didn’t even think about this possibility. She felt strange. He did not show up for Ercella’s coming-of-age party until the end, and there were a lot of rumors about his meeting with Princess Hermia that day so people assumed that he would marry her. Ercella didn’t think any different. Yet, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Harsen sent a proposal to Ercella.
[… proposing marriage…]
For some reason, I can’t take my eyes off these two words and can only keep looking at them. How odd…Why did he propose to me?
She had no idea; the more she thought, the more puzzled she became. Even though it seemed unlikely, the proposal had only the name of the man, Harsen— not of Duke Bernhardt— as if it were his own will and not the family’s.
When it comes to sending proposal letters, the family head usually sends them. This is because there is no expression of support for the marriage greater than having the name of the household head on the letter.
If the two parties were lovers, they would later exchange letters with each other separately. So this letter felt very strange not bound by formality or such.
Of course, since the family seal was stamped on it, Duke Bernhardt was likely to be involved in the proposal.
Ercella’s eyes once again swept across the black ink. His image appeared on top of the words like an illusion. She remembered the time she danced with him.
His eyes looking down at her were still, his hands were cold without any warmth, and his face never seemed to smile. Sometimes, however, when the man smiled, he would immediately return to his expressionless face, and whenever Ercella would pull away from him, he would hold her closer.
Recalling each scene made Ercella feel even weirder. It was as if someone was tickling her insides with a brush.
“It’s the best family you can marry into.”
Ercella quickly came to her senses at the Marquis’s words. The best family. In an instant, her best changed.
Bernhardt was a better option for her than Damonshire who was from an opposing political line, and even if we compared both families disregarding their political relationship, the answer would be the same.
With Bethel Bin being the favored prince, the prestige of Damonshire had skyrocketed. However, the king’s favor was nothing compared to the immense military prowess established by Bernhardt.
The Marquis looked at Ercella and asked softly, “Will you accept it?”
Ercella was unable to answer. It wasn’t because she hesitated, but because she was stunned. If Ercella agrees, the wedding will take place at once. Then she’ll welcome him as her husband.
If Ercella accepts, they’ll become a couple. The fact made her feel a vague emotion.
‘Me, getting married… To that man?’
Emotions weaved with all kinds of colors caused a stir inside her. It suddenly hit Ercella, who was like an unprepared passerby, making her feel embarrassed.
Naturally, she envisioned herself with Harsen. Then, like flowers blooming in spring, unknown things began blooming in her heart.
Ercella couldn’t understand her excitement. She exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself down. After a few moments, the trembling subsided to a certain extent and she said her next words carefully, “Yes. I want to marry him.”
After all, he was Ercella’s best choice.
* * *
A month hadn’t even passed before the Marquis sent a reply. The scene from this morning caused quite a stir and it had been a long time since their surroundings were so noisy.
Eyes glowing like jewels, Lesha exclaimed, “Wow, Milady! There are enough jewels to fit a cart!”
Everyone in the room, not just Lesha, was excited. Ercella also looked at the things in front of her in surprise.
In the morning, dozens of carriages entered the marquisate, and those believed to be servants of Bernhardt brought those “gifts” over one by one in front of her. Among them, a man with a stern impression greeted her politely.
“Greetings, Young Lady Visaride. I am Baron Wendelman Contar, a vassal of Bernhardt. These are gifts from the Bernhardts to celebrate the union between the two families, so I hope you enjoy these small presents.”
“Oh… yes.”
Ercella responded hesitantly as she glanced at the “small” gifts which had filled the room in an instant.
“Small” gifts you say? I doubt that…
He even sent a vassal, not a servant. And a baron at that! Baron Wendelman’s face did not look displeased in the slightest as this trifling errand could’ve hurt his pride.
However, his tone was a little proud since he knew those certainly weren’t “small” gifts.
Each carriage was loaded with goods worth more than a small estate.
Rare jewels were the most basic item gifted. There were various rare articles from Conrad, Rentua, Lenatres and Ludelsia and even silk from the East.
It was too much to be called a gift. No family did this unless it was marriage to the king. In a word, it was excessive.
Ercella looked at the baron. He stood in his place as if anticipating her appreciation. Surprised, Ercella tripped over the words she was trying to utter with her mouth agape, “I l-like them… please tell him that.”
Ercella had no choice but to stutter out an answer because of the eager, expectant look in the baron’s eyes.
However, the baron seemed somewhat dissatisfied with Ercella’s response. He expected more praise, but Ercella was too embarrassed to do so.
Fortunately, the baron kept his manners and merely said, “I’m glad you do.”
As soon as the baron left, the room began to be filled with commotion.
“Madam, look at this! This is the famous Yon Dynasty silk from the East! It’s so soft!”
“Did he say this is coral-colored topaz?!”
“I heard earlier that this was found only in Conrad. I don’t think you can find it in Grania. Oh, my God! They’re so beautiful, Milady!”
The servants caused a ruckus chattering about the gifts in front of them. The Marquess, Eirene, and Caron who were also there may be surprised, but they didn’t speak a word for a while. The first of the three to speak was the Marquess.
“Ella, what’s all this?”
The Marquess’s eyes were bigger than usual, apparently because she couldn’t believe it even after seeing it in person. Ercella tried to come up with an explanation.
Looking surprised, Eirene, who had now married Caron and became Lady Visaride, marveled at those gifts.
“… Heavens! Isn’t this Edelian’s necklace?”
Edelian’s necklace. It was a necklace King Reinhardt of Grania gifted to his beloved queen, Edelian. Ercella looked into the box in Eirene’s hand. Colorless and transparent diamonds were embedded in a chain, and in the middle, a light pink diamond was masterfully cut into the shape of a rosebud.
It was beyond beautiful. Even though Ercella had never seen it before, she recognized Queen Edelian’s necklace because she knew of its features. After Queen Edelian’s death, the whereabouts of her belongings were unknown, so she didn’t expect them to be at Bernhardt.
“Oh my!” Eirene let out an endless sigh. It was the one and only necklace in the world made by Reinhardt for Edelian. So Eirene’s reaction was not excessive.
Caron, who had been watching, also commented albeit less excitedly, “Bernhardt seems pretty sincere.”
Eirene gave him a meaningful look. Understanding the message in her eyes, Caron shrugged, “My apologies, Wife.”
Caron looked as if he had been awfully wronged by her mock glare, so Eirene ended up laughing helplessly. In fact, the gifts sent to the Gladiam family to show their sincerity were impeccably perfect, so no one could blame Caron.
Eirene joked that if she stayed any longer, she would become jealous and dragged Caron away with her.
As he left, Caron said, “I don’t like him already.” And yet, his expression didn’t look so bad. The couple disappeared and the Marquess said, “I’m… still amazed. Even your father, who hardly gets surprised, was astonished to hear about the gifts.”
“Me too, Mother.” Ercella looked around as she answered. In no time, the room was so full of precious things that it could be considered a storage room.
Why is that family going to such lengths?
Ercella couldn’t guess the reason. She unconsciously fiddled with the loop brooch in the box. The Marquess watched carefully and asked gently, “Do you like it?”
“… I don’t know.”
Ercella found it difficult to answer readily. To be honest, it would be a lie to say I don’t like it. Who would mind being treated like this by the family they’re marrying into?
Although she found it burdensome, she was also clearly happy. It was certainly good for Ercella if the other person turned out like this, not bad.
Whatever the truth is, the public will think that they are lovers, and she will be able to solidify her position at the Duke’s house.
She was just worried that she couldn’t figure out why the man was trying so hard. Maybe he wants something big from my family? If not that, then…
Suddenly, she heard the Marquess exclaim, “Oh my!”
The Marquess, who had opened a wooden box, covered her mouth in surprise. A sweet and cool scent emanated from it. The Marquess looked like an excited young girl and took out what was in the wooden chest, clasping it to her chest.
“Mother, those flowers..?”
White-colored flowers filled the chest. The delicate petals that looked like they’d be blown away by the slightest breath fluttered in the Marquess’s arms.
Ercella looked confused, “I’ve never seen these flowers before. Do you know what they are?”
The Marquess looked nostalgic gazing at the flowers in her arms, “That’s understandable since these flowers are only found in Ludelsia.”
Only then did Ercella understand the longing on her mother’s face. The Ludelsian Royal family rarely married out, so her mother was the only princess to be wed off to Grania.
She must miss her family a lot since she has no blood relatives here, and it’d be difficult for her to return to her homeland after she married here.
“How did he know about this? They even look well-kept. They would’ve withered long ago before reaching Grania, but they’re still fresh. How amazing!”
As if the snow was spread before her eyes, the white flower exuded fresh vitality just as the Marquess said.
Ercella tapped the petals with her index finger. The petals shook and a sweet scent spread again. All of a sudden, her mother whispered in a soft voice, “He didn’t look like it, but Bernhardt seems to be a very sweet person.”
“What do you mean?”
Seeing Ercella tilting her head, the Marquess laughed meaningfully, “Eurypitè1.”
“…….”
“It’s like sending a love letter to a cherished lover.”
Ercella, who was stroking a flower petal, stopped moving. She looked at the Marquess. As if it were true, the Marquess smiled warmly at Ercella.
Ercella looked down at the flowers in her mother’s arms again.
A love letter? Isn’t it a confession given to someone you love? No way!
However, according to Mother, that was the meaning of this flower. Harsen’s confession to Ercella. It can’t be that, but I can’t think otherwise.
Unfamiliar feelings rippled in her chest. Her heart felt as if tickled by a gentle wind.
Why did he send these flowers? The meaningful gift made her question. Ercella found herself to be acting oddly, constantly expecting something from him.
The Marquess gave Ercella the bouquet of flowers in her arms. Ercella carefully clutched them to her chest.
The strong fragrance touched the tip of her nose. As she kept smelling them, she felt her cheeks start to heat up. Seeing Ercella like that, the Marquess smiled affectionately, “Do you like this?”
She began to feel embarrassed by Marquess’s question. Her blue eyes avoided the Marquess’s gaze. Burying her face in a bouquet, the girl answered shyly, “… Yes.”
The girl with rosy cheeks would’ve looked lovely to anyone who saw her as she hid herself.
* * *
This is a very long flashback and I’m not feeling Ercella’s stupidity. Get ready for more sighs and wall punches.
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Footnotes
- It’s pronounced Ay-yoo-ri-pee-tey. But who cares really?
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