Chapter 73

A few days later, a shockwave ran through the Zattenheim household.

An unexpected and much higher-ranking noble had proposed marriage.

"Y-You, a marriage proposal...!"

Father and brother burst into the room in a panic, shaking the mansion, and Teresa, who had been quietly embroidering, nearly pricked her finger with the needle. She was about to comment that they should at least knock before entering, but the sight of her father's appearance, or rather his hairstyle, made her face contort in shock. His usually well-concealed thinning top was now in a state that made him look like a different person entirely.

As Teresa was at a loss for words, her brother Dean, noticing her reaction, looked at his father with a puzzled expression and gasped. He quickly whispered to their father, who then hurriedly and skillfully fixed his hair, before turning back to Teresa as if nothing had happened.

"……"

"…………"

An awkward silence fell, but regardless, what was concerning was her father's earlier statement. He had blurted out that she had a marriage proposal, and the fact that he was so flustered suggested that it was from someone particularly difficult to refuse.

Teresa knew all too well her current value. After the scandal, she was considered a "problem property," and a good match was out of the question. It seemed that she had received a proposal that was difficult to accept, and Teresa steeled herself for the worst.

"A marriage proposal for me, you say.

And who is the suitor? Someone with a particular situation? Or perhaps a second wife to a man with an heir?"

As she looked up at her father with the resolve of a noble daughter, he blinked in surprise and shook his head hastily.

"The suitor is none other than the young master of the Anthore family.

It seems he took a fancy to you at the ball the other day and sent an envoy to propose marriage."

"…!?"

What kind of joke is this?

That was the first thought that came to Teresa's mind.

"By the young master of the Anthore family, you mean Sir Zahar, correct?"

"Yes, the next head of the Knights, Sir Zahar, who is twenty-five years old."

Teresa was surprised to learn his age.

She had assumed he was in his thirties because of his mature and authoritative appearance.

In any case,

"Taken a fancy to me, you say..."

Teresa was bewildered by the stark contrast between this statement and the truth. It wasn't that he had taken a fancy to her, but that he had discovered her hidden quirk, which was the correct answer in this case.

While it was true that their encounter was involuntary for Sir Zahar, she had no intention of telling anyone about that secret. If he considered it a weakness, it would be better to correct him. As the heir of the Anthore family, he could choose from any number of marriage proposals. Teresa believed it was wrong to decide a life partner in this manner and calmly replied to her father.

"It seems there has been a misunderstanding. Perhaps it would be best to meet and talk things through."

"You're right."

From the side, Dean interjected with a carefree tone.

"Besides, Teresa isn't the type to be smitten at first sight.

Not that she's ugly or anything. She has a fine face and good features. If you look closely, you'll see she's quite beautiful."

"…Thank you."

"Just that, she's too serious. She lacks the delicate charm that makes one want to protect her, or the radiance that women often have. Most women would at least blush when told they've been taken a fancy to, not calmly point out a misunderstanding."

"That's what I like about Teresa."

Father interjected, scolding Dean.

"She has a strong spirit and the grace to laugh off minor difficulties. She would make an excellent noble wife."

"I agree.

But not many men would realize that on first meeting.

While I believe Teresa is sincere and kind, men are often swayed by appearances."

Recalling the time her brother had lectured her that men think with their lower halves and remembering her former fiancé, who had proven that point, Teresa frowned slightly.

"Changing the subject, what kind of person is Sir Zahar?

Brother, since you're from Anthore, do you know anything about him?"

"No, I don't know much. By the time I joined, he was already in a high position.

However, many knights admired him. He was tall, well-built, and his presence alone could make the air tense. He was diligent in his training and excelled in swordsmanship, archery, and horsemanship. He was a true successor to the Anthore name, a man among men."

"A man among men…"

Teresa felt a bit of sympathy for Sir Zahar, thinking that if he were idolized like that, he would never want his quirk of loving cute things to be known.

"By the way, why did you choose Anthore, Brother? Was there a reason?"

There are three royal knight orders in Ancheze, with the most popular being Reiat, the emperor's former order. The second most popular is the Lofman order, where Prince Yolm graduated.

Anthore, on the other hand, had supported the emperor's brother in a power struggle, and when the emperor became the crown prince, the then head of the order was replaced. The new head was the cousin of the previous head, who was Sir Zahar's grandfather.

Because of this, Anthore had not produced an emperor for five generations. If Prince Yolm were to ascend, it would be six generations without an emperor, which is why it was the least influential of the three orders.

"Reason for choosing? There wasn't one. I just followed in Father's footsteps because he was from Anthore."

"Is that all? It seems a bit too easy."

"Well…? I don't see a problem with that. Father chose the same way."

"Is that so?"

Teresa, surprised, looked at her father, who cleared his throat.

"I went to Anthore because a close cousin said he was going. It was a go-go atmosphere, and it was fun."

Truly, like father, like son, Teresa sighed softly.

"Still, I never thought a marriage proposal would come to our family," Father mused.

"The main reason is the difference in status, but I heard that the Anthore family wanted to connect with the royal family through the empress. The fact that the proposal came to us suggests that the other talks have fallen through."

"Through the empress, you say?"

Teresa, confused, furrowed her brow.

"Yes. Prince Yolm doesn't seem to have a good opinion of Anthore.

The emperor, considering the balance of the three orders, suggested sending the first prince to Anthore, but the prince has not given an answer.

So, the Anthore lord was trying to improve relations with the prince through the empress's circle."

"Why does the prince dislike Anthore so much?"

"There are various reasons, but the main one is that his younger brother, Prince Paresis, belonged to Anthore."

Teresa recalled that the tension between the prince and his younger brother was well-known.

Originally, being only a year apart, the two were often compared. The prince, who was stocky and gentle, was often contrasted with his younger brother, who was handsome and talented.

However, the stark difference in their positions prevented any real conflict. The prince built his reputation as the crown prince, while the younger brother indulged in the beauty of flowers, and time passed peacefully.

Until one day, Prince Paresis approached a lady the prince had secretly taken a fancy to. The lady, who had been invited to the palace several times and whose engagement was being arranged, was swept off her feet by the younger prince.

The prince, humiliated, was furious, and Paresis, realizing this, quickly distanced himself from the lady. For Paresis, it was just a bit of playful flirtation, and he had no affection for her. He found it bothersome to be taken seriously and had no intention of taking responsibility.

However, the prince, who felt that his beloved had been taken and then discarded, began to despise his younger brother. Since then, their estrangement became public, and Emperor Tarkas was deeply troubled by it.

"Because the prince so strongly dislikes Prince Paresis, the emperor, concerned about the future, arranged a marriage proposal with the daughter of Prime Minister Dillenmer.

Dillenmer, a pillar of Tarkas' reign for the past ten years, was trusted by other courtiers. It was hoped that he could mediate between the two."

Father sighed.

"Prime Minister Dillenmer took various actions on the emperor's behalf, but the prince has become increasingly stubborn. He, who once trusted Dillenmer, now seems distant. If things continue this way, Dillenmer might lose his position if the emperor were to be replaced."

"Surely not."

Dean frowned deeply.

"Prime Minister Dillenmer's contributions to the stability of Tarkas' reign are well-known. It's inconceivable to think of removing such a loyal minister from the core of the government."

"Perhaps I'm overthinking it."

Father shook his head.

"Prime Minister Dillenmer is indispensable to Ancheze. The prince must realize this."

Listening to their conversation, Teresa thought to herself, The people at the core of the government have a lot on their plates… It seems simple from the outside, but when power and interests are involved, it becomes a complex issue.

But more importantly, this was about her marriage proposal. She would likely have to decline such an mismatched proposal, but before doing so, she wanted to meet the suitor and understand why he proposed to her. More than that, she wanted to see him again.

She still remembered Sir Zahar's earnest words, "I will never tell," which were still fresh in her mind. Despite the betrayal she had experienced, she had believed those words.

Still, the idea of a large, stern man being fond of cute things was amusing. She recalled the large man who was so flustered but refused to let go of the kitten, and a series of small, colorful bubbles of laughter burst and disappeared in her heart.

If only he weren't from such a high-ranking family… Teresa smiled slightly, a bit wistfully.

The woman who becomes his wife will be very happy. She will be enveloped in his rugged but sincere love and will surely enjoy a peaceful and happy life.