In a Political Marriage, Isn’t It Normal to Treat Your Fiancée Well? - Chapter 10

“Beatrice. No need to hold back. Just tell me what you want to do about this engagement. Do you want it annulled? Or do you wish to continue the alliance between our families?”

In the salon of the Landolt Marquisate’s residence.

That’s where my sister was asking me about my future plans.

While our father is the head of the Marquis household, my sister married into the royal family and is now Her Majesty the Queen.

My sister speaks as if the decision lies with me, but is that really alright?

“Won’t the engagement be canceled?”

“Yes, the engagement with those twins will be annulled.”

I tilted my head, implying “Isn’t the outcome already decided?” when my sister continued.

“I’m telling you this since it will be made public eventually, but there are quite a few… no, rather many men who were seduced by that baron’s illegitimate child.”

My sister sighed and pressed her fingers to her forehead.

“We’ve confirmed instances of infidelity. There’s evidence too. But the problem is the sheer number. This is no longer just our family’s concern. From the royal family’s perspective, we must consider the power balance among nobles, so for this occasion only, we’re issuing a royally-led arranged marriage decree.”

“Power balance to that extent?”

“Yes. I’m almost impressed by how many relationships she managed to have. …Though some were probably just for fun. But this isn’t about whether it was serious or not. Really… it’s unbelievable.”

My sister shook her head, murmuring “How deplorable.”

Apparently, there was another reason behind the royal family’s intervention.

They must have deliberately decided to disclose the information to push through with a royally-led arranged marriage.

“Regardless of the reasons, all men who had relations with the baron’s illegitimate child will without exception be disinherited. This is already decided.”

“Is there something else?”

“I can’t tell you that. It concerns the royal family.”

My sister said this and closed her mouth.

She probably meant I shouldn’t ask any further.

“So, what will you do?”

“…If canceling the engagement with the ducal house won’t harm the Landolt Marquisate, then I’d prefer annulment. …But in that case, what about my marriage prospects?”

“I told you, didn’t I? The royal family is taking charge on a large scale.”

“Yes.”

“That means there will be that many engagement revisions. You should expect about half of the upper nobility to have their engagements reconsidered. So, finding you a match won’t be a problem. In fact, in your case, both marrying out and taking in a husband are possibilities. You’ll have plenty of suitors.”

“Haa…”

I was left speechless by the sheer scale of it all.

What is the royal family thinking?

And my sister seems to be enjoying this quite a bit.

“You’ll never have to see them again after this. Do you want to meet them one last time? It’s the dungeon, but they’re in separate cells, though as a consideration for them being twins, they’re together.”

It wasn’t even the noble prison anymore. The royal family shows no mercy.

I didn’t want any further involvement, but perhaps just this once.

When I nodded, my sister smiled brightly.