<Chapter 7>
The Empire’s funeral etiquette dictates that when one’s spouse dies, a mourning period of one year must be observed.
During that time, the bereaved must hang a black ribbon on their nameplate and wear mourning clothes at all times.
Remarriage is also strictly forbidden within that period.
Additionally, for one month after the funeral, no visitors are allowed at all.
That was why my brother and Viscount Baden had been so desperate to create an opportunity to speak with me during the funeral.
In any case, those restrictions kept me bound to the Daieren estate even after the funeral ended.
But that ended yesterday.
Today marks exactly one month and one day since the funeral.
At last, the gates of the Daieren capital residence were opened.
…Well, they were supposed to be.
“…What is that procession?”
The moment visits were allowed again, a problem arose.
I stood on the second-floor balcony early in the morning, looking down.
Behind me, both the maid and the old butler wore deeply flustered expressions.
After steadying the sigh that barely escaped me, I asked again,
“Since when has that been going on? No, more importantly… how many people are there?”
Even the butler clicked his tongue before answering.
“I cannot say for certain, but according to the maids who woke early, they have been waiting there since before dawn.”
“All of them?”
“Yes, my lady. And it seems the line is still growing.”
“Ha…”
The sigh I had tried to suppress finally slipped out.
‘…How am I supposed to even process this situation?’
With a dumbfounded expression, I stared only at the estate’s front gate.
“Hey, don’t push! Do you even know what’s loaded here?!”
“What do you mean what? You think it’s more valuable than what our master sent?”
“Don’t take your eyes off the cart! If even one item goes missing, your heads won’t be enough to pay for it!”
“Hey! No cutting in line! If you just got here, get to the back! Have some common decency!”
“How dare you raise your voice here!”
“You should take a good look at the crest on this carriage before speaking! You might end up in serious trouble!”
The dark procession that began at the Daieren estate gates stretched so far it filled the wide streets, with no end in sight.
Luxurious carriages piled high with goods, the people who brought them, and the burly knights guarding them—
Recognizing the crests engraved on each carriage, I quickly realized their purpose.
“They are all here to propose to you, my lady. Those are all proposal gifts.”
“……”
“My lady, please give your orders.”
My head started to ache.
Come to think of it, while the Empire’s social etiquette forbids remarriage for a year after losing one’s spouse, it does not forbid romance.
In other words, one could freely date during that time and marry the moment the restriction is lifted without any issue.
Though it might invite some gossip…
“My lady, since these gifts were sent with care by noble families, it is considered proper etiquette to accept them regardless of whether you accept their proposals.”
The butler offered advice while I was briefly lost in a headache. I came back to my senses.
“…I know, but Viscount Baden is supposed to send a tutor today. It will already be a busy day—this is troublesome.”
There was no formal arrangement, but his greed was such that he would not tolerate even a single day’s delay.
‘Besides, Sir Yujeff said he would come as soon as the gates opened.’
It wasn’t that I trusted him completely.
It was simply that his “predictions” had never been wrong, so I prepared for the possibility.
That’s all.
“Then you need not meet them personally. Since they came without prior appointments, it cannot be helped.”
“That’s true.”
In any case, I couldn’t just turn them away.
“Then I’ll leave this to you. Inform them that I have prior engagements and cannot receive proposals personally.”
“Understood. I will have the gifts sorted separately so you may review them all at once later. Do you have any other instructions?”
“Yes. If guests with different purposes arrive, inform me. Don’t let them in immediately—have them wait.”
“Understood, my lady.”
After giving my orders, I turned to the butler and maid.
“Please work hard today. It’s only because the estate has opened after so long. Tell the staff their wages will be doubled this month.”
“I will relay your message.”
But at that time, I did not know.
The true proposal hell was only just beginning.
“Then open the gates.”
* * *
“Big brotheeer!”
At the boy’s call, Cardiel stopped walking and turned his head.
A small boy with neatly trimmed platinum-blond hair—identical to his—came running toward him with quick steps.
His eleven-year-old younger brother’s large amber eyes sparkled with a radiant smile.
For a moment, Cardiel felt envious.
Though they shared the same platinum hair, he himself resembled their devil-like father, while the youngest resembled their mother.
Not just in appearance, but in personality as well.
Cardiel had grown into someone cynical, always wary of the world.
In contrast, his youngest brother was expressive and kinder than anyone—so much so that the servants called him the “angel young master.”
For example, even though their father—whom they all hated—had finally died, the boy had sobbed, saying, “Death is sad no matter who it is.”
To be honest, Cardiel was certain he would never understand such a naive and kind-hearted sibling.
Though whether he understood him or not didn’t matter—he was still someone Cardiel had to protect.
“Cersion, didn’t Mother tell you not to run in the hallways?”
“O-oh, right!”
Cersion immediately stopped and covered his mouth with both hands.
It was an adorable sight, but Cardiel didn’t bother smiling.
“Y-you have to keep this a secret from Mother.”
“If I keep it a secret, you’ll just run again. If you want to fix the habit, it’s better you get scolded properly.”
“I won’t do it again. Just this once, please, hyung.”
“No amount of whining will help.”
“Ugh…”
At Cardiel’s unwavering response, tears quickly welled up on the boy’s small face.
Not that it had any effect on Cardiel.
“Your business.”
“Oh, right!”
After puffing his cheeks for a moment at his cold older brother, Cersion quickly got to the point.
“Since morning, a lot of people came to the house!”
“……”
“I secretly asked my nanny—just like you said before! They’re aaaall here to propose to Mother!”
Cardiel’s brow furrowed deeply. The matter had already been bothering him for some time.
It was expected—something that had been bound to happen.
‘But I didn’t think it would irritate me this much.’
He knew he should stay calm in times like this.
But why was it so difficult?
He was still immature—that much was certain.
Once again today, Cardiel realized his own shortcomings.
“W-what should we do? What if Mother… really marries someone else?”
“That won’t happen.”
Cardiel cut him off firmly.
But despite his decisive tone, even he wasn’t completely certain.
‘Stepmother never said she had no intention of remarrying.’
It was something that happened at the funeral.
Back then, Cardiel had asked Liselotte whether she intended to remarry.
But her answer had been completely different.
〈I have never once imagined anyone other than you, Cardiel, becoming the next duke.〉
Of course, that had been something Cardiel was worried about.
Because with Daieren essentially left vacant, countless people were aiming for the ducal title and territory.
Starting with Viscount Baden and collateral relatives, to his stepmother’s family, numerous noble houses—even the imperial family.
If asked whether he desired the ducal title, the answer was not exactly.
But for the sake of the future—for safety—he knew he had to inherit it.
That was why he had felt relieved hearing her firm words at the time.
The problem was that his heart had softened, making his doubts feel childish.
His stepmother had finally been freed from that devil-like father…
‘Is it right to stop someone who wants to find new happiness through remarriage?’
It took him an entire month to find an answer to that question.
And now, Cardiel had firmly decided his stance.
He was certain:
‘No matter who it is, no one will care for her as much as my siblings and I do.
