Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 128: Talking About Fiancées
Caro and I discussed what had happened since our last meeting. I told her about the “Bald Mountain Incident” and everything that followed. Caro had apparently spent most of her time practising courtly lessons with Princess Chloe and listened to my stories with evident enjoyment.
“So you’ve been placed in charge of Mount Claire?”
“That’s right. It’s an ideal place for Mira to play, so the situation worked out rather well.”
“Kyu!”
Hearing Mount Claire’s name, Mira raised both forelegs in delight, apparently believing we were about to go there. They would be terribly disappointed upon learning otherwise. What should I do?
While I worried about Mira, Caro set down her cup and released a quiet breath.
“Julius, discussions have begun about Princess Chloe’s future fiancé.”
“I see. It feels early, but she’s a princess. There must be many political considerations.”
“You aren’t surprised.”
Caro’s eyes widened slightly. Alex and Princess Daniela were likely to marry, which made a match between Princess Chloe and me improbable. In any case, I didn’t think House Heine should become too closely bound to the royal family.
“This is still confidential, but it appears my brother and Princess Daniela will become engaged.”
“What?”
“That already gives House Heine a sufficiently strong connection to the Crown.”
Caro went still as she absorbed the news. Perhaps she hadn’t known that the possibility of Alex marrying her sister Hilda had ended.
“I didn’t know. My sister never said anything.”
“That’s understandable. She would hardly announce to her younger sister that the match had failed. Alex hasn’t told me directly either.”
Silence settled between us. We shouldn’t continue discussing Hilda.
Princess Chloe’s potential match might be someone from the Kingdom of Lund Al. Given the Lazar Empire’s actions, the Crown would want stronger ties with Lund Al, and a political marriage would be the most direct method.
“Princess Chloe dislikes the discussion,” Caro said. “She seemed troubled because she believes there’s nothing she can do.”
So that was how she felt. She had written nothing about it in her letters.
Princess Chloe surely knew that Alex and Princess Daniela were likely to become engaged and therefore understood her own political position. Probably. Even at ten years old, she was royalty and had received the appropriate education.
“It’s a political matter for the royal family. Outsiders can’t decide it. Royal marriages inevitably carry political weight.”
Even as I said it, I wondered why I was discussing such matters with another child. Caro was a marquis’s daughter and likely studied far more than ordinary children, but this still seemed rather much.
When I glanced at her, she gave a small nod. She didn’t like the answer but was trying to accept it. She was clever.
“Do you have a prospective fiancée, Julius?”
“Well… perhaps I do, and perhaps I don’t.”
“You do?”
Caro leaned forward with startling intensity.
Father had said nothing, but House Ambert seemed like the most suitable possibility. They were tolerant of magic pharmacology, Fabienne was kind and lovely, she understood my work, and—most importantly—I never felt exhausted in her company.
It would be better to discourage Caro’s expectations now than allow misunderstandings to grow. In that respect, news of a candidate for Princess Chloe was personally convenient.
If Princess Chloe somehow insisted on marrying me, the Crown might need to establish a new ducal house. The nobles of Spencer would certainly object.
“There’s nothing official, but I have reason to believe matters may be moving quietly.”
“I-I see.”
Caro’s expression tightened. The answer was clearly unexpected.
Of course, I was the only person currently moving anything quietly. I would have to influence Father eventually.
A connection with House Ambert wouldn’t be a bad arrangement for Father or House Heine. The Amberts lived within the Heine Margraviate. I could join their household without leaving the territory, and House Heine would gain another close connection without losing access to my work.
If I married Caro, would I need to establish a new house? Other nobles would certainly oppose any further increase in House Heine’s influence. We already attracted attention through horse racing, and Alex’s expected marriage to Princess Daniela would magnify it.
Joining House Mulan would create different problems. Father would never approve. The Mulan and Heine territories were far apart, preventing the easy sharing of potions and magic tools.
Most income from anything I developed would also flow to the Mulan Margraviate—no, the Mulan Marquisate—while House Heine received only a small benefit. Father would never accept that.
The conversation became awkward, so we finished the small tea party with harmless topics.
It may have been a shocking visit for Caro, but learning the situation now was better than allowing our relationship to become tangled later.
Hmm… I guess he is not clueless at least. This is probably for the best, although if I was him I would be gunning for adventure to collect resources… there is nothing good in the market after all.