Ch#122
Chapter 122Never thought I'd see the day our leader's eyes dripped with honey like that.
Even Nathan, who'd spent the longest time with him, had never seen Laslo bare his true feelings so openly. It was so raw it felt a bit embarrassing, making him avert his eyes for no reason.
Conversely, it meant that the ever-poker-faced Laslo had unconsciously revealed his inner self—that Edel had become such a significant presence and weakness to him.
*Can't let the enemy snatch my weakness.*
He stepped out of the temple and whistled a signal known only to the mercenaries hidden nearby.
A rustling sound echoed through the garden around the temple, and one by one, people emerged from the shadows as if materializing.
"We're heading back. Everyone, to your positions."
At Nathan's curt order, the men swiftly returned to stand by the four carriages prepared behind the temple. One was for Edel and Laslo, one headed to the Celestine mansion, and the remaining two to the Criserus mansion.
The mercenaries lining the carriages had eyes sharp as if ready to draw swords at any moment.
And shortly after, Laslo emerged from the temple holding Edel's hand, followed by the wedding guests.
"They might target Linia. Protect her thoroughly. Preemptive strikes authorized in emergencies."
"Brother, don't worry. It'll be fine. Take good care of my new sister-in-law."
Laslo worried more about Linia, who would travel separately, but she sniffled with a red nose and replied bravely.
"Barbara. I'll contact you soon."
"I'll pray to Lord Para at home until it's all resolved. Everything will go well, so don't worry too much, Edel."
Barbara hugged Edel tightly before limping into her carriage.
And soon, the three carriages began to move. It was time for today's main event.
.
"Damn it! That bastard!"
Despite the frantic jolting in the speeding carriage as the driver whipped the horses, Dustin kept grinding his teeth in curses.
The bolt-from-the-blue message delivered by the errand boy who had shown up at the crack of dawn was simply unbelievable.
"Count Laslo Criserus and Miss Edel are currently holding a private wedding ceremony. If this continues, Miss Edel will soon become Countess Edel Criserus!"
What nonsense was this?
"It must be that Laslo bastard's doing, but has that wench Edel gone mad too, daring to marry without her father's permission?"
He couldn't forgive it.
And he believed he could nullify Edel's marriage since he, as her father, hadn't consented. In the empire, 'stolen marriages' without parental approval were often ruled invalid.
"Dear, calm down. We've sent someone to the Winblair Marquis too. He'll surely handle it somehow."
"Right, you're correct. No matter how favored by the emperor, Laslo's just a greenhorn. If the Winblair Marquis steps in, he'll be humiliated and back down!"
Dustin agreed with Rudmila, but his furrowed brow refused to relax.
He simply couldn't calm down, an ominous foreboding gnawing at him.
His instincts told him he was at a disadvantage, but he pushed deeper thought aside and urged the horses only toward the palace.
Upon arriving at the palace, people from the Winblair Marquis's side working there rushed over.
"You've arrived, Count Canian!"
"Ah, Viscount Arlmonte! Baron Romero!"
There were a few whose names he didn't know yet.
"The Winblair Marquis has been informed. We've heard the situation, so hurry and request an audience first!"
"If we protest alongside you, His Majesty will grant the audience."
Emboldened by their offers of support, Dustin hurried onward.
*Yes, let's drag Edel out on this chance. Laslo struck first, so he has no excuse!*
He immediately requested an audience from the emperor's reception officer.
Expecting Dimarcus to refuse with some excuse, the permission came surprisingly swiftly.
"His Majesty is currently speaking with Count and Countess Criserus, but he has also granted Count Canian's audience. Please enter."
Upon hearing Laslo and Edel were inside, Dustin glared fiercely and strode into the audience chamber, his supporters trailing behind, stiffening his neck even more.
"Dustin of House Canian pays respects to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
"Come in. You've brought quite the entourage."
Dimarcus showed no particular surprise.
But what first caught Dustin's eye was Edel, sitting demurely beside Laslo, staring straight at him.
She showed no sign of surprise or fluster. Rather, her face seemed as if she'd been waiting.
"Your Majesty! I've rushed here in a frenzy since morning over utterly incomprehensible news!"
"What news?"
"They say the Laslo Criserus sitting before Your Majesty and my daughter Edel held a wedding without my permission! Is this true?"
Dimarcus shrugged and readily admitted it.
"They reported it to me right after the ceremony this morning. I just had an official update the noble registry moments ago."
At the words that it was already in the noble registry, Dustin bellowed.
"Your Majesty! Where is there such a law? Parents alive and well, yet marrying without notice? This is invalid!"
"Invalid?"
"Yes! It's clearly without effect—convention holds marriages without parental consent as null!"
"Hm, that differs greatly from my view."
Dimarcus sipped his tea from the side table and spoke indifferently.
.
"You cannot yet claim parental rights. Until Miss Edel's pardon is finalized, the agreement you made with me takes precedence."
Laslo, beside Dimarcus, waved a document and recited the final clause in a dry voice.
"Dustin Canian and the entire Canian family deny all charges against House Canian in this matter and renounce all rights and responsibilities toward Edel Lancaster. September 28th, 338, Dustin Canian."
It was the document Dustin had signed to barely save his house through an information deal.
"Many ears listening, so I omitted the front part, Count."
Dustin's face flushed at Laslo's addition.
The 'front part' detailed the information Dustin had provided and the compensation amount.
"In any case, the one permitted to approve Miss Edel's marriage now is her guardian, Dowager Marchioness Barbara Celestine, who not only consented but attended. No issue with the marriage."
As Dimarcus concluded, Dustin shouted.
"Th-this is absurd! Using a customary phrase from a political deal to sever heavenly bonds?"
"Customary phrase? What, then—you're saying it was mere verbiage to escape? Daring to deceive the emperor?"
"N-no, that's not what I meant...!"
Dustin hoped his followers would chime in, but upon learning he'd discarded Edel first, they exchanged awkward glances in silence.
Then Rudmila, clutching her skirt tightly, yelled at Edel.
"Edel! This mother hasn't gone a single day without missing you. I've redecorated your room waiting for your return upon hearing of the pardon. Please come back to the family bosom. Yes?"
The Edel she knew would sigh softly and bow her head with 'Yes, Mother' no matter the harsh words.
What Rudmila overlooked was that nearly three years had passed since that compliant daughter existed, and too much had happened to Edel in the interim.
Instead of sighing and bowing, Edel stared at the woman who had been her mother and replied clearly.
"When Count Canian visited to coax me back, he spat that someone with nowhere in the world to lean on was insolent and struck me. Had he not, I might have believed those words a bit."
Rudmila flinched in shock at Edel's cold tone, unheard before. And the next words chilled her further.
"And we're not 'real' family anyway."
"Wh-what do you mean, Edel?"
"I'll just say I've learned everything."
Dustin and Rudmila wanted to ask what 'everything' meant, but with too many guilty secrets, they couldn't press. The gazes from their followers behind grew increasingly uncomfortable.
"To reiterate, Count and Countess Criserus's marriage has no legal flaws, nor can you reverse it. If that's all for today's audience, best return now."
As Dimarcus issued what was tantamount to dismissal, Dustin ground his teeth but had no choice but to withdraw.
Yet he couldn't accept Edel's marriage just like that. She was essential to attach to the Winblair Marquisate.
"This is tyranny! Stealing parental rights by force!"
Once out of the palace, he vented his grievances. Whether true or not, persistent claims often turned into truth.
He resolved to attend all upcoming parties and events, more aggressively denouncing Dimarcus and Laslo—to draw Isaac's attention if nothing else.
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