11 - Valentina's Paradise
Valentina forced a bitter smile and changed the subject.
“I have a duty to rebuild the declining Regio Florida and restore its former glory. Everything else in my life is secondary.”
Due to the incompetence of the weak previous Grand Dukes and Duchesses, Regio Florida, once a powerful nation in the center of the continent, had already lost much territory and become the weakest of the seven electorates. Naturally, Valentina’s marriage partner had to be a great lord who could be a source of strength for her, someone who could dominate, lead, and rule over other men, and whom she could trust completely.
Edeled nodded.
“That’s right. Actually, it’s ridiculous for heirs to territories to marry for love. Among the nobles of the central continent, the saying ‘Marriages are for lands, love is for lovers’ is common sense, isn’t it?”
“I didn’t expect to hear such immoral words from a nobleman from the conservative North. I suppose you’ve only heard the nickname Ice Princess, and not the rumor that I despise such human trash.”
“…Aha.”
“Affection between men and women outside the bounds of marriage is dirty and disgusting. How is it different from a beast panting and circling around trying to mate? I find it unpleasant, so let’s end this conversation here.”
Despite her radical and firm retort, Edeled did not back down.
“Then how did you two end up getting married?”
Oh, really….
Who said that the men of Terra Petronia were rough, ignorant, taciturn, and inarticulate?
He used precise common language in a very sophisticated and sharp manner, and his choice of words was extremely meticulous and calculated. Even now, he was deliberately choosing only provocative words. ‘How did you end up getting married?’ It was as if they had gotten into trouble while playing with fire and had a forced marriage, creating an atmosphere where she had to make excuses.
She turned her body. It felt like something in her head was paralyzed, as if she had drunk too much wine. Was she having heatstroke? Valentina walked forward slowly. The afternoon sunlight of Regio Florida was as intense as an arrow. Behind her, an even more intense gaze was fixed on her.
Was it possible that time had stopped until now…?
Rustle, rustle, rustle. The sound of dirt and sand being stepped on. She could vividly picture Edeled following her. He was persistently waiting for an answer. What should she say? The sunlight was fiercely tearing at her skin.
“You asked how I ended up marrying your uncle.”
As if possessed, the first words popped out. The sound of footsteps following her stopped. Valentina spoke without turning around.
“…Six years ago, a Wandering Knight visited Grand Florida Castle.”1-4. Secret Marriage
“Dominella Valentina, I greet the noble lady of the land of flowers.”
Sir Edgar was a handsome and dashing young man with reddish-blond hair and mysterious blue-gray eyes, a twenty-year-old Wandering Knight who had been knighted only a few years prior. When he was called the ‘Knight of the Sun,’ it was easy to see why.
He was a Wandering Knight, but he was already famous. It was thanks to his good family background, his generous and manly personality, and his outstanding martial prowess in jousting. There were also widespread rumors that he made women’s hearts ache wherever he went with his strikingly gorgeous appearance and charming demeanor.
Of course, being popular with ladies did not mean he could find a good marriage partner. He had a good family, but he was literally penniless.
The younger sons of nobles who did not inherit land usually entered the priesthood, lived under their older brother’s roof as hearth sons without marrying, or wandered around as Wandering Knights to make a living. The life of a Wandering Knight was extremely difficult, requiring them to participate in dangerous jousting matches or search for a lord who would accept them. If they were lucky, they would receive a small territory or a few collection rights in lieu of a salary. Seducing and marrying an heiress or widow who had inherited even a small plot of land was akin to a windfall. Of course, in the face of a windfall, it didn’t matter if the bride was a widow who had been widowed five times or an old woman over sixty.
Wandering Knights bravely set out on the path of adventure, dreaming of such an amazing reversal in their fortunes, but most of them saw their dreams and ambitions become shabby with the passage of time.
That was the case when Edgar arrived in Florida. His clothes were shabby, and the edges of the flag with the rose emblem were tattered. His horse was scrawny, William, his servant, had scabs on his face, and there were holes in his shoes.
It was Grand Duchess Giulietta, Valentina’s mother and regent, who extended a hand to such an Edgar.
“Sir Edgar, anyone’s mind and body are bound to be exhausted if they live as a Wandering Knight for too long. How about it? If you offer me your hands and take the Allegiance Oath, I can give you some collection rights to take care of yourself.”
After separating from her husband, Duke Giovanni, she collected young wandering knights as if she were collecting them. It was under the pretext of protecting the castle and the people, but everyone knew about the scandalous rumors of the fortunate widow Grand Duchess and the young knights.
However, Edgar, who could not spend the winter on the streets, stayed at Grand Florida Castle, and in the following spring, instead of taking the Allegiance Oath to the Grand Duchess, he brilliantly outwitted the lecherous and greedy Grand Duchess by offering Domnei (Oath of Devotion) to Valentina.
Valentina had been considered the best bride in the continent since she was young. To put it bluntly, she was a ‘windfall bride.’ If one became her husband, one would simultaneously obtain the most beautiful wife in the continent and Regio Florida, a key point in the central continent. In addition, the lewd rumors about the ‘Florida Grand Ducal Family’s boudoir education’ that were secretly circulating among high-ranking nobles and the imperial family fueled fantasies. Many knights came to her, praising her beauty, swearing allegiance, and confessing their love.
And Valentina was disgusted by such men who flirted or probed.
“Dominella, you are more beautiful than any lady I have ever seen.”
So when Sir Edgar and she met alone, when he plucked a flower and offered it to her with praise, instead of being moved, she lowered her eyes and sighed quietly.
“Are you, Gongzi, going to tire me with stale compliments as well?”
The man, noticing her disappointment, smiled instead.
“It is not only your appearance that I praise as beautiful. It is the noble dream you hold in your heart for your country and people that makes you shine.”
“From whom did you hear that?”
“Hear it from whom? Those who harbor the same dream in their hearts cannot fail to recognize each other.”
At the unexpected answer, Valentina dropped her cold expression.
What she dreamed of was the reconstruction and revival of the declining Regio Florida.
But he was not in a position to revive Terra Nebulosa. His brother, Duke Edwin, was alive in Nebulosa, and there was also a young boy who was the heir. Even that heir was her fiancé. His words carried the scent of treason. Valentina asked cautiously.
“Those are dangerous words. What do you want to say to me?”
“What more explanation is needed? Beautiful ruler who dreams of Florida’s brilliant golden age, if you choose me, Edgar, I will dedicate my entire life to making your dream come true.”
His answer, though it lacked the word love, was no different from a proposal. But Valentina was the Grand Duchess of Florida and was engaged. She could not accept the absurd proposal of a penniless Wandering Knight.
“Sir Edgar. Do you not know what relationship my nephew and I have?”
“Oh dear, do you not know that your fiancé has a ‘fatal disqualification for inheritance of the title’?”
Valentina’s eyes widened. It was the first she had heard of it. He trailed off in a pitiful voice.
“I don’t want to tell a lady from another country about my family’s shame, but that reason could cause big problems for the inheritance of the territory in the future. Apart from the fact that I sincerely love my nephew….”
He, too, was cautious, avoiding directly mentioning the reason. Valentina cut off the conversation appropriately.
“Matchmakers have come from several electorates besides your nephew. I do not want inappropriate rumors to spread with someone who is not involved.”
“Terra Technica? Terra Gallia? Are there really any men in those families who are suitable for you?”
Now he sat on the windowsill and began to smile softly.
“If I were not a Wandering Knight but the master of Terra Nebulosa, you would never even consider marrying the foolish younger brother of the cunning raccoon François or the margrave who was divorced for being a homosexual.”
Valentina glared at him coldly.
“It is despicable to slander those who are not present.”
“If it is to despise the filth that a noble lady would ask, I would gladly become despicable.”
He replied with a charming smile, but with a sincere voice.
Valentina could see a little why noble ladies fell for him.
The engagement with Duke Edeled was broken off a couple of months later. Valentina was very happy about the news of the broken engagement. And she was relieved again when she heard the ‘secret rumor’ that led to the broken engagement from Pepe.
Sir Edgar was right. She almost married a bastard who was not even qualified to inherit.
After that, Valentina ran into Sir Edgar more often.
“Valentina, if you order me to pluck the stars from the sky, I will cast a net in the night sky for a thousand years, and if you tell me to dry up the sea, I will be reborn ten thousand times and scoop out the seawater.”
He spoke of indomitable will instead of specific methods. She didn’t like it.
“Anyone with a mouth can say they will pluck the stars from the night sky, but it would be embarrassing for me to make having a mouth a condition for marriage.”
His face hardened like stone. Valentina was even more surprised that he was discouraged. Did he even expect the Grand Duchess of Florida to accept the proposal of a penniless Wandering Knight?
Suddenly, Valentina realized that he had never uttered cheap words of love until the end. She liked that one thing.
“Sir Edgar, as you said, I will dedicate my life to the reconstruction and strengthening of the declining Florida. That path will naturally be a thorny and bloody quagmire, so I cannot marry someone who is not capable of accompanying me on that path.”
Instead of backing down, Edgar stepped closer to her.
“Whether or not one is capable can only be known if given the opportunity. Surely you do not think that this Edgar is not capable? If you give me the opportunity, I will cut down anything that blocks your path, support you if you fall, and make sure your dream comes true.”
Edgar knelt before her and swore.
“Edgar, a knight of Terra Nebulosa, swears to dedicate everything I have to your dream.”
