Side Story 1.4

Nearly a fortnight of waking up to Jeras’s screams as my alarm clock had left me with a new habit: my eyes now opened on their own in the early morning. 

I absently thought to myself as Hilda helped me change my clothes, ‘It should be time for the screams to start now.’

But even after my hair was completely brushed, I still heard no screams. What was this? The daily screams not being there was even more unsettling.

‘Could it be that my dad, angered by something Jeras blurted out, has beaten him to a pulp…?’

All sorts of brutal scenes flashed through my mind. In front of my dad, Jeras was the definite underdog.

I grabbed Hilda and ran straight to the training grounds.

“Dad, no! Don’t hit Jeras too hard…”

“Eloe, your dad is truly, truly disappointed. My heart is breaking and tears of blood are flowing from my eyes. To look for Jeras before me… How could you do such a thing!”

“Did you sleep well, my lady?”

I froze in the doorway, caught in the act of flinging it open. The training grounds, where I had expected a bloodbath, were peaceful. My dad and Jeras were standing face to face.

“Cough, Eloe!”

“Ah, Dad! You’re suffocating me. Why are you suddenly doing this? I wasn’t looking for Jeras first. Of course, I saw you first. Please don’t cry, okay? Did you sleep well?”

“Really? Is it really true? You saw your dad first, before that dark husk?”

“Of course, of course. Dad, stop. Stop!”

I thought he was just being dramatic, but my dad was actually shedding tears. Surprised, I used my sleeve to wipe them away.

Jeras had a sullen expression and his mouth was tightly shut. Don’t add any useless comments. You’ll die. I shot him that look.

“I didn’t expect you to visit the estate today. You’ve prepared yourself, I assume.”

“Of course. I’ve prepared both my resolve and my resilience.”

My dad, who had quickly recovered his composure, gripped a wooden sword. As always, Jeras took a defensive stance with his bare hands.

Watching Jeras get beaten up was satisfying at first, but later, I started to feel sorry for him and stopped watching. I was about to leave again today.

“Take up a sword, Your Highness.”

“No. I will do this with my bare hands.”

“Take it.”

Why is he acting like this? I was deeply suspicious of my dad.

After all, on the first day, he told Jeras to take up a sword, and when he actually did, my dad had screamed at him for hitting an old man.

Jeras seemed to be thinking the same thing as me and didn’t move.

“Are you not going to take it? Then I’ll assume you’re giving up on marrying my daughter.”

“No, no, I’m not. Grand Duke. I’ve got it. See here?”

“If Your Highness can subdue me with that sword, I will follow Eloe’s will. However, if you cannot, the engagement with Eloe will be called off.”

“…Are you serious, Grand Duke?”

“Of course. A true man doesn’t go back on his word. So do it properly. I won’t go easy on you either.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the two wooden swords clashed. Jeras had blocked my dad’s charging attack.

Kwaaaang! It was just two wooden swords hitting each other, not real swords, but it made a terrifying sound and a gust of wind. I moved to a corner of the training grounds so as not to be in the way.

“Do you not want to marry Eloe!”

“I do!”

“Then what is this pathetic attack! Is this all the affection you have for my daughter!”

“If I put out as much power as I love Eloe, the capital would be destroyed!”

The two of them swung their swords while exchanging a bizarre conversation instead of battle cries. Two people were fighting, but why was I the one feeling so embarrassed?

‘This is so mortifying…’

My face was burning, ready to melt away. Just as I was about to flee, a different kind of impact sound rattled the training grounds.

Paang! I didn’t know what they had done, but the floor shook as if there had been an earthquake. A thick cloud of smoke billowed up.

I clung to the wall and held on, and when the smoke cleared, I could see the two of them again.

“Dad!”

“Grand Duke, are you okay?”

Jeras helped my dad, who was sitting on the floor. I also ran towards my dad.

“What happened? Are you hurt?”

“No. I just fell because I was pushed back by his power. I’m not what I used to be.”

“You should get a checkup just in case.”

“What checkup for a spar! It’s embarrassing; don’t make a fuss. And Jeras, you won this match.”

His abandoned wooden sword lay on the ground. Dad’s face was full of reluctant displeasure as he acknowledged defeat.

“Does that mean…”

“Be quiet. Eloe, my angel. Do you like this brazen, arrogant, and ridiculously strong fellow? Are you okay with spending the rest of your life with this man?”

My dad and Jeras both looked at me at the same time. As a father, the Grand Duke was asking for my consent to the engagement.

I had dreamed of this moment every day. This moment when Jeras would be recognized by my dad and our relationship would take a step forward. But why was it so hard to answer now that the moment was here?

Accepting Jeras’s engagement also meant leaving my dad’s, my family’s, embrace.

I would have to leave my family who loved me unconditionally and held me warmly, and live as Eloered Borrestian, not Eloered Shu Le Kilmaria.

I would no longer be the spoiled, beloved daughter of the Grand Duke’s house. If Jeras becomes Emperor, I will become Empress.

Could I handle that heavy responsibility? I didn’t know. But… but.

“…Yes, Dad. I like Jeras.”

I like Jeras. I want to spend the future with him. I’m scared and afraid, but this feeling is so big that it overwhelms everything else.

“Sigh… I understand. If my daughter has made this decision, this father must follow.”

“Father-in-law! Thank you! I will do well! I will live a happy life so that the lady never regrets it.”

As if he had been waiting for this, Jeras shouted loudly and hugged my dad and me at the same time. My dad acted like he was in a panic, telling him to get off, but he didn’t say anything about not calling him “Father-in-law.”

That made me incredibly happy and joyful.

“I knew it would end up like this.”

A cold and blunt voice was heard. A gentle but firm hand came between Jeras and me, separating us. A neat pink head of hair filled my vision.

“Brother?”

“Sion, what brings you here?”

“Didn’t you say you would handle things properly, Father? I accepted the tasks you dumped on me without a word of complaint. And yet, you’ve given your permission for the engagement.”

Ice dripped from Sion’s voice. My dad’s gaze dropped slightly to avoid Sion’s eyes.

Ah, so that was it. It was a lie that there was no work in the duchy; he had dumped it all on Sion and come here.

Poor Sion. His face had gotten so thin from being overworked. His skin was rough, too.

I wanted to get a closer look at his handsome face and reached out my hand, but Sion turned his head sharply to glare at Jeras.

“This is Father’s unilateral decision. I have not yet approved of Your Highness.”

“Now, is it your turn to challenge me, Sion?”

Jeras’s expression was one of disbelief. He had just managed to defeat my dad, and now Sion appeared, claiming it was a unilateral decision, so it was understandable that he would get upset.

Regardless, Sion showed hostility towards Jeras.

“I am not as soft as my father. I will never back do—”

“Brother! Hey, Jeras! What if you hurt my brother!”

“He won’t get hurt, he won’t get hurt.”

Before Sion could even finish his sentence, Jeras grabbed him by the collar and slammed him to the floor. Sion groaned, as if in pain.

Ugh, that guy! Why did he have to slam my precious brother to the ground! If my brother gets hurt, is he going to take responsibility?

I helped Sion up and glared at Jeras. Jeras looked down at Sion and smiled refreshingly.

“Let’s get along from now on, brother-in-law.”

And so, Jeras’s tearful struggle to get permission to marry was coming to an end.