How Did It Come to This
What does this mean?
Why would Brother Chris be adopted into a Grand Duke’s family?
And I’m supposed to inherit Westland?
“Wait a moment. Why would it come to this? I’m absolutely against this marriage.”
This is no joke.
Not only Brother Gerald, but even Brother Chris leaving Westland…
Does the royal family dislike Westland?
No, maybe it’s because I’ve stood out too much, and they want to take these two capable men away to weaken our power.
“Is it because I’ve stood out too much?” I asked, on the verge of tears.
“I can’t exactly say it isn’t, but the royal family has their own problems too.”
“Father, let me speak.”
“Very well.”
The Crown Prince’s fiancée has finally been decided and is scheduled to marry next year, so there’s still no heir.
Under these circumstances, it would be difficult for Princess Rinaluna to marry down.
From the royal family’s perspective, they need her to remain part of the royal household at least until the Crown Prince has an heir, and preferably another child as well.
But they don’t want her to remain a royal forever; this is just a temporary measure.
They also want to nip any potential succession disputes in the bud, so she is given the title of Grand Duchess.
Anyone holding a Grand Duke title cannot marry Westland’s heir.
“That doesn’t mean Brother Chris should become a son-in-law adoption…”
“It’s a little different.”
Brother Chris will be adopted into Grand Duke Sandria’s family, the king’s brother’s house.
He’ll inherit the Sandria duchy and become Duke of Sandria.
The next generation of the Grand Duke family will be Dukes, not Grand Dukes.
Princess Rinaluna will establish another Grand Ducal family, holding both the title of Grand Duchess and Sandria Duchess.
Once the royal family is secure, she will give up the Grand Duchess title, keeping only the duchess title.
“There was a princess in the Grand Duke family, right?”
That princess will not inherit the Grand Duke family; she’s been arranged to marry the second prince of the Rodan Kingdom.
“Why is that?”
She got along with the second prince who accompanied her for the royal match, and the engagement proceeded smoothly.
The Crown Prince’s fiancée was chosen from a duke’s daughter related to the Soleil Empire’s royal bloodline.
In other words, strengthening ties with the Soleil Empire was prioritized.
But the princess of Rodan Kingdom came all the way here, and they couldn’t risk straining relations with Rodan. The engagement couldn’t be refused, and the two are genuinely in love.
“Why does Brother Chris have to be the one to suffer because of royal family issues?”
“It’s not suffering. The royal family also took me into consideration, which is why they made this complicated proposal.”
I understand that it’s not technically a son-in-law adoption, but…
“I can’t accept this.”
“Hardt, what you’ll receive as a domain is the old Bright Marquisate and part of the old Atten County.”
The Atten County that caused the downfall of Young Lady Diana’s mother’s family and the Bright Marquisate?
Why must I inherit such troublesome lands?
The old Bright Marquisate was damaged in disasters and never properly restored. The Bright family was in dire straits.
“Could it be that they want Brother Chris to develop it using dragon scales?”
All the more reason to oppose this engagement.
It feels like we’re being used by the royal family.
“They offered dragon scales as the marriage dowry, but I refused. I don’t want the royal family meddling.”
“Then all the more…”
“They want to protect you, Hardt, but they also want to protect the princess.”
Brother Chris looked extremely serious.
“You know our family curse, don’t you?”
I nodded.
Those who entered political marriages died young.
All our ancestors who married for politics met early deaths due to accidents or illness.
“I don’t want to die young either. But as your brother, I want to protect you, Hardt. And as a man, I want to protect Princess Rinaluna. It’s my selfish wish.”
Even so, I couldn’t nod in agreement.
“Brother, the royal family’s proposal… wasn’t it for a son-in-law adoption into a Grand Duke family?”
I was talking alone with Gerald in my room.
Hardt had gone back to his room early, clearly unable to process everything.
He was trying desperately not to cry.
He’s probably crying in his room right now.
“Why?”
“It was your idea, wasn’t it?”
“Why do you think that?”
“If it had been a son-in-law adoption, all accomplishments would be credited to the princess. But if you inherit and become Duke, the accomplishments are yours.”
“My little brother is perceptive.”
At first, the plan was for the princess to become Grand Duchess and the son-in-law, receiving half of the Grand Duke lands and old Bright Marquisate.
By reversing it—having Brother Chris adopted into the Grand Duke family, the royal family stabilized, the princess giving up the Grand Duchess title, and the lands being only the old Bright Marquisate—part of the old Atten County was added.
“Knowing Brother Gerald, he must have calculated the odds before making the change.”
“Not entirely certain, though.”
“I think Hardt understands in his head. That it’s better for him to inherit Westland.”
“Being the youngest, he’s been spoiled. That’s why he can’t easily say yes.”
What do you think about this chapter?
