In a Political Marriage, Isn’t It Normal to Treat Your Fiancée Well? - Chapter 25

Truthfully, I didn’t want my sister to marry that man.

However, our two families had many business collaborations and supported each other, so a marriage involving family interests was unavoidable.

When told that even if we canceled the engagement by blaming the ducal family, we couldn’t escape the bad reputation, I could only nod in agreement.

If it were just about that man, it might have been different.

But the malice that would undoubtedly be directed at my blameless sister.

Even if the engagement were broken off due to the man’s fault, it wasn’t hard to imagine that in the swarming, gossip-filled social circles, my sister would be labeled as “damaged goods.”

“For a man superior to the heir of a ducal house, only the royal family remains. Unfortunately, His Majesty has no children other than the Crown Prince. Even if we started looking for a fiancé now, he would be inferior to a ducal son. It would be difficult even for a marquis, no, even an earl.”

Faced with my father’s calm judgment despite his burning anger, I couldn’t say anything.

Frustratingly, that man would become a duke.

“If only the ducal house had a spare male heir, things might have been different…”

Such are the hardships of a class-based society.

Even such a man would become a duke.

We would have to bow our heads to him.

Even if we broke off the engagement in a fit of anger, no flaw would be attached to that man. He would only be whispered about in social circles for a short while. At worst, it would end with people saying, “Just youthful indiscretion.” Yes, it would quickly become past history. In contrast, my sister would be different. She might end up marrying below ducal rank and potentially spend her entire life feeling inferior in social circles.

The choice my father made for my sister was to continue the engagement. It was the only option—a political marriage.

Even so…

“Was it really alright, Father?”

“What do you mean?”

“About your nephews.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But the former duke and duchess, whom we went to the trouble of sending to the territories, are returning to the royal capital?”

One of the marriage contract terms.

Upon my sister’s marriage, they were to promptly transfer the title to their son and retire to their territories with his wife.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“But…”

“I anticipated that too.”

“Eh…?”

My father grinned.

“Knowing that former ducal couple, I figured they’d find some excuse to stay in the royal capital after a few years. That’s the kind of couple they are. Especially the former Duchess of Regenburg. I thought they’d return in less than three years, let alone several.”

“Then why include the retirement clause in the contract?”

“Obviously because I wanted them out of the headship position. Particularly, living under the same roof with a wife who prides herself on being a former princess would be nothing but a nightmare. If there were a troublesome mother-in-law around, potential heirs might not even be born.”

“Father…”

While astonished by my father’s personal reasons, I found myself agreeing.

Indeed, I nodded to myself.

She was an intensely strong woman in a different sense.

My sister had said, “She’s a very kind person,” but I couldn’t see it that way.

Father agreed with me.

He said things like, “The thought of living with that woman is terrifying. She’s the typical adult who ruins children. It’s a miracle her son turned out as well as he did.”

Well, certainly.

Because she’s a childish person.

It feels almost like a child raising a child.

There were nursemaids and tutors, but she rendered all their efforts worthless.

In a way, she’s an impressive person.

Father’s premonition proved correct when, a year later, the former duke and duchess returned together to their mansion in the royal capital.

Their reason: “To take care of our grandchildren.”

“Their real intention is probably to return to social circles,” my father sneered, and I agreed.

In fact, the former ducal couple did participate in social events.

However, even though she was their daughter-in-law, when they approached my sister—the king’s official mistress to greet her, the king called them “ill-mannered and shameless” and immediately banished them from court.

The former duchess tilted her head, asking, “Why? What’s wrong?”

How ignorant can one be?

And to think she once called herself royalty.

Where did her royal education go?

As my father said, “Even with good education, it’s meaningless if there are problems with one’s character.”

Absolutely right.

Then, for about ten years…

My sister continued to reign as the royal favorite. Until the day the king passed away.