Chapter 351 - Episode 343: Political Engagement
"...It's finally come."
Late November, Royal Year 221, Ducal Year 2. Noein muttered, the corner of his mouth twisting as he opened a piece of parchment.
The parchment was a personal letter from Oscar Rhodeberg III. It contained phrases such as "To the dear Grand Duke Arqvist," and expressions of joy regarding the prosperity of the Grand Duchy. Then, it mentioned that he understood Noein's son, Eleos Arqvist, would be turning five next year. Consequently, it touched upon the promise exchanged previously.
In short, it stated the intention to "hold an engagement announcement party for my daughter and your son."
Originally, the engagement between Noein's eldest son, Eleos, and Oscar's youngest child, Margarete, had been unofficially decided. Through Oscar's consideration, they had agreed to wait for the formal announcement until Eleos was around five years old, by which time he could understand engagement and marriage to some extent.
And next year, Eleos would turn five. It was not unnatural for such a letter to arrive at this timing.
However, the date for the engagement party written there was early April of next year. If the children of the monarchs of two nations were to be engaged, a considerable number of notable figures would likely gather for the party. The great nobles of the provinces would be forced to head toward the royal capital shortly after the end of winter.
"It seems His Majesty Oscar is in a hurry,"
said Noein's wife, Clara. The two of them were side by side in the mansion's dining room, peering at the personal letter spread across the table.
The reason they were spreading a personal letter in the dining room was that today was a family day off, and Noein had received this in the living room.
Since it was a personal letter from the king of a neighboring country, he couldn't exactly leave it unchecked, and upon opening it, the content seemed to be about Eleos's engagement, so he had moved to the dining room right next to the living room for the time being, leading to the present situation.
Eleos, perhaps taking after his parents, was intelligent for his age. He would understand if they were talking about him. Noein didn't feel like discussing the details of a political marriage in front of his young son.
Eleos himself was in the living room playing with his younger sister, Philia, while Matilda looked after the two of them.
"Indeed. Well, I can understand His Majesty Oscar's feelings, though,"
Noein answered Clara with a small sigh.
Even if it was the year Eleos turned five, Oscar's impatience was clearly visible in the decision to hold the engagement party so early after the end of winter. It was the impatience of wanting to establish the fact of the engagement publicly, rather than keeping it as a private agreement.
Behind that was the calculation that he wanted to further strengthen the bond while the connection between the Grand Duchy of Arqvist and the Kingdom of Rhodeberg was extremely strong.
Currently, the Kingdom of Rhodeberg stood in a position similar to a suzerain state to the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, but the future was unknown. Along with the full-scale start of trade, the Grand Duchy was strengthening its ties with the Kingdom of Lancel day by day, and in terms of ease of dealing, the Kingdom of Reuveland—whose national scale was closer and with whom it was easier to build an equal relationship—was superior.
That was exactly why he wanted to hurry and engage the Grand Duke's eldest son to his youngest princess. If that happened, they could maintain an extremely close relationship with the Grand Duchy at least until the next generation, and keep the key trade points tied to the side of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg.
"It's fine, but he's not even trying to hide it. Saying it's okay if the celebratory gifts aren't ready as long as we just come by the deadline. Or that if Eleos's clothes aren't ready in time, he'll lend him the princes' hand-me-downs."
An unofficial engagement could potentially be canceled, but the dissolution of a publicized engagement rarely happened unless something extreme occurred. If the party was held early in the spring, it would be Oscar's victory. Oscar's will to win while he could was conveyed through the letter.
"It was a decided matter, so of course we will be accepting this proposal... but we must tell Eleos as well."
"True. We'll handle the detailed discussions and the guidance for the party during the winter, but for now, let's tell him the simple facts."
Noein and Clara returned to the living room. On the sofa, Eleos had an illustrated encyclopedia open and was reading aloud to his baby sister, Philia, who sat beside him. Philia likely didn't understand the content of Eleos's speech, but she was gazing at the encyclopedia, which had many illustrations, with great interest.
Beside them, Matilda was watching over them to ensure Philia didn't fall off the sofa.
"Ah, Father, Mother, welcome back."
"We're back, Eleos."
"You're a good boy for playing with Philia."
Seeing his parents return after finishing their work talk, Eleos showed a happy face.
"Haa-ue. Hug. Hug."
Beside him, Philia stretched out both arms toward Clara, asking to be held. She was at an age where she still wanted to be held by her mother.
Clara picked up Philia and whispered softly into Matilda's ear. She was likely informing her of the contents of the letter.
Then, Noein sat across from Eleos with the table between them. Previously, there had been only one sofa in the living room, but now that the family had grown, there were two.
Matilda, who seemed to have finished hearing the circumstances from Clara, moved to Noein's side, and Clara sat next to Eleos while still holding Philia.
"Eleos, Father has something important to talk to you about."
"Yes, Father."
Told by Noein, Eleos placed the encyclopedia on the table and turned toward his father.
"Do you remember when His Majesty Oscar of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg visited with his family during last year's Founding Ceremony?"
"Oscar Heika... Margarete's father?"
"That's right, that's him."
So that's how he remembered him, Noein thought. He had heard that when the Rhodeberg royal party visited, Eleos had interacted quite friendly with Margarete, whom he was meeting for the first time, showing her the books he had and eating snacks together.
Remembering Oscar as the father of a girl he had become a bit friendly with was actually convenient. Rather, it was helpful that he remembered Margarete as the main point.
"Something was decided through a discussion between that His Majesty Oscar and me; Margarete and Eleos are to be engaged."
"Engaged?"
"It's a promise to marry."
"Does that mean me and Margarete are going to get married?"
"That's right. Though it will be after you both become adults."
Eleos looked blank, but it wasn't that he couldn't understand the meaning of the words; it was likely just that he hadn't fully processed it yet because it was sudden.
For example, Eleos understood that Noein and Clara were married and were husband and wife. He also saw the close couples who frequently entered and exited the mansion, such as Yuri and Mai, Pence and Rosetta, and Kimberly and Henrik. Eleos should vaguely understand that marriage means "a man and a woman becoming a family."
"Hmm..."
"Eleos, what do you think of Margarete?"
"I only played with her once, but Margarete is a good girl. She's kind and cute."
"Then, how about Margarete becoming Eleos's bride?"
"I'd be happy."
"That's good."
Noein felt genuine relief. Beside Eleos, Clara let out a sigh of relief. He could tell that Matilda, who was next to him, also relaxed her shoulders slightly.
It was still just a matter of children getting along, and when they met last time, Margarete—who was older and receiving royal education—likely adjusted herself to Eleos's level, but for now, at this stage, they were not on bad terms. It was a blessing that they hadn't stumbled at the start.
He understood that, given his position, he couldn't let the heir marry based on complete romantic freedom, and he had been telling Eleos that since the boy had become sensible, but Noein was still a parent. He wanted to avoid the act of forcing a marriage partner upon a child who hated it.
"And so, Eleos. A gathering will be held for everyone to celebrate the fact that you and Margarete will marry when you become adults. Next spring."
"A celebration for me and Margarete? Even though the marriage is when we're adults?"
"That's right. That's how we let everyone know that you two will marry in the future."
"Does everyone want to know that me and Margarete made a promise to marry? Why?"
"Hmm, how should I put this..."
Noein gave a wry smile, thinking it was only natural for him to find it questionable.
"Eleos, what will happen when you grow up?"
"I'll succeed Father, I'll become the next Grand Duke, and I'll rule the Arqvist Grand Duchy."
"That's right. You are a person who will become great. Everyone is curious about what kind of person the bride of such a person will be. Because your bride will hold Clara's current position... the Grand Duchess of the Grand Duchy."
For educational purposes, when explaining Eleos's position, Noein told him that he wasn't great by birth, but that he was "someone who will become great." He had decided to use that phrasing until the boy could truly understand his own position and responsibilities.
"And Margarete is the child of His Majesty Oscar, the greatest king in the Kingdom of Rhodeberg. Naturally, everyone is also curious about what kind of person Margarete will marry in the future. Since it's been decided that Eleos and Margarete, whom everyone is curious about, will marry, we gather to let many people know. Then, everyone can feel relieved."
"...? I see."
Eleos looked as if he understood and as if he didn't quite understand, but he crossed his arms and nodded. He was likely trying to imitate an adult.
It would be difficult to understand everything in one explanation. For now, it was enough if he understood that "Eleos and Margarete made a promise to marry, and they will celebrate that next spring." Thinking this, Noein smiled.
"So, when winter ends, we'll go to the royal capital of the Kingdom of Rhodeberg, Lichthagen. Usually, only I and Matilda go for work, but this time, the whole family will go."
"Lichthagen! I can go too!?"
At that, Eleos leaned forward with sparkling eyes, showing the most positive reaction of the day. Seeing this, Noein and the others let out small chuckles.
Whenever Noein went to Lichthagen, he always bought a large amount of souvenirs and told Eleos about the rare things he had seen and heard. Eleos had always been full of curiosity about Lichthagen, which was said to be many times larger than Noeina or Retovik.
Since he could finally go there, it was only natural for him to be excited. It was far more exciting than the complex talk of a "promise to marry Margarete."
"That's right. But remember, we're going because we have business. I suppose we'll have to practice greetings again for the party."
"I understand! I'll do my best!"
Regardless of the actual purpose, Noein and the others felt relieved that Eleos had become positive toward the engagement party.