Chapter 11
Episode 11.
Although there was a commotion around him, with everyone guessing what was happening, Enoch, somehow feeling like he knew, ran a hand through his hair.
It was obvious. They must have gathered the terms of the proposal and sent them over.
‘Even though her complexion wasn’t very good.’
That they sent so much in just half a day was further proof that they had overexerted themselves.
Enoch handed the damp towel to a servant and walked towards the main residence.
As expected, his brow furrowed slightly at the sight of over ten carriages outside the training grounds.
A man who appeared to be the representative among Nobilis’s retainers stepped forward and bowed.
“Greetings. I am Deni Cayler, First Executive Officer of Nobilis. Are you Marquis Aratus?”
Enoch nodded, confirming the retainers who had emerged in a rush behind him.
“It is good to meet you. Are you here to fulfill the terms of the proposal?”
“Yes. The young lady was so insistent that she could not leave a single debt before her marriage. Haha. I apologize if I have come too early?”
“No. You have arrived at precisely the right time.”
There was no need for a lengthy explanation; they would understand by seeing. Among the retainers who were watching nervously, the administrator, Conrad, quickly stepped forward.
After a brief greeting, Conrad gestured towards the carriages.
“You mentioned you were here to fulfill the proposal, is that perhaps…?”
“Yes. These are the 100,000 gold karats and trade documents you requested.”
100,000 gold karats was an amount equivalent to the annual budget of a considerable family.
To prepare that in just half a day!
The executive officer immediately approached the cargo carriages and showed them the sacks of gold coins filling them.
The excited retainers, under the butler’s direction, proceeded with the verification process. It was exactly 100,000 gold coins.
“Ah, you mentioned there would be a change in the interest rate. The young lady stated that she absolutely could not receive interest from her prospective fiancé. This is a letter from the young lady to Marquis Aratus.”
“……”
Enoch, who had been frowning slightly, reached out wordlessly for the letter presented by Deni Cayler, Nobilis’s First Executive Officer. As if he weren’t, all eyes were drawn to it.
On the letter, imbued with the scent of flowers, was a single purple statice, Agatha Nobilis’s symbol, sealed with Nobilis’s crest in wax.
Handing the proposal, now transformed into a contract, to the butler, Enoch lowered his gaze to the letter.
It was a neat yet somehow soft handwriting he had never seen before.
“To my beloved prospective fiancé.”
“……”
He paused for a moment, then slowly read on.
“You are not surprised, are you?
I thought it best to resolve such matters quickly, so I managed to catch the administrator who wasn’t going far.
How fortunate it is that I was able to complete the arrangements yesterday.
The conditions have been accepted as you stated, with only the interest portion removed.
Of course, there were some modifications, but as we discussed yesterday, we will soon be married, so omitting the interest should be acceptable, shouldn’t it?
The preparations finished earlier than expected, so I believe I will be able to receive permission for an audience with His Majesty within a few days.
I have made arrangements so that you may enter the Imperial Palace at any time, so please visit at your convenience.
Until then, I eagerly await the day we can meet again.
From your fiancée.
P.S. I heard the rumors circulating in the capital. I wonder if your relatives were also taken aback by the sudden news of the engagement?”
“……”
Unlike the two previous letters, which were formal and dictated, this was a surprisingly affectionate letter.
“Is this how one is with their fiancé?”
“Yes…?”
The retainers, who had been hovering nearby, desperately trying to steal a glance at the letter, perked up their ears.
Enoch casually tucked the letter into his coat and gazed at Deni Cayler, Nobilis’s executive officer.
“Let us go inside the mansion and discuss the trade matters.”
“Yes. I have been waiting, Marquis.”
At his words, Aratus’s retainers clamped their mouths shut. They had so many questions, but the matters concerning the proposal came first.
After the retainers from Nobilis, who had confirmed the proposal clauses made into a contract and other fulfillment details, departed.
Enoch entered his study, followed by the butler and Aratus’s retainers.
Enoch, searching for stationery on his desk, let out a long sigh.
“I just confirmed the fact that we are to be married and offered congratulations, so what else could you possibly be curious about?”
Seizing the opportunity, the retainers immediately became noisy, shouting questions like, “What happened?” “Is there anything to be exchanged as the price of the engagement?” “When are you planning to get married?” and so on.
He answered vaguely, letting their words flow in one ear and out the other, as Enoch dipped his quill pen into the inkwell.
His hand hesitated for a moment before finally writing the first sentence.
“To my beloved fiancée.”
The eyes of the retainers, who were bombarding him with questions while also paying attention to any potential letters, widened as if they would pop out.
“Your…!”
Thwack!
The butler and retainers’ fists landed in the side of Conrad, who had opened his mouth without thinking.
Enoch glanced briefly at the sputtering administrator and then issued a dismissal order.
“Does everyone here have nothing else to do?”
“No! We were just about to leave!”
Amidst the group that vanished in a panic.
The only one who survived, the butler, Ben, brought forward a new sheet of parchment.
“Master. How about using this parchment?”
“……”
It was a sheet of parchment with a refreshing scent, prepared by who knows when.
Enoch, who had been staring silently, pushed aside the first letter he had written and pulled the new parchment closer.
“To my beloved fiancée.
The gifts you so thoughtfully prepared have arrived safely at the Aratus household.
It must have been difficult to prepare in such a short time, and I worry about my prospective fiancée’s health.
Please let me know the date of the audience, and I will prepare accordingly.
From Enoch Aratus.
P.S. I am concerned that this may also be a surprising development for you. I will visit in the near future.”
He had tried to write in block letters for his handwriting. Having exchanged letters hastily on the battlefield for ten years, the habit of scribbling roughly remained even after returning to the capital.
“Does it look harsh?”
“No. It is the gentlest letter you have written recently.”
With the old butler’s testimony, Enoch sealed the letter and affixed his seal.
“Please convey this to Lady Nobilis.”
“Yes, Master.”
The butler, who respectfully accepted the letter, bowed his head once more and reported.
“Master. This may be presumptuous, but perhaps you might consider changing your form of address the next time you meet her? As you will be engaged soon, the distance in your address weighs on this old servant’s mind.”
“……I will consider it. What about the flowers?”
“They are scheduled to arrive today. I have summoned a skilled florist.”
Enoch added after a moment of thought.
“I should choose the types of flowers myself. Tell him when he arrives.”
“Yes, Master.”
The butler, Ben, left the study. The moment he closed the door and turned around, the retainers, whom he thought had left, were waiting for him.
“You haven’t left yet?”
“How could we leave? We… we saw that!”
Led by the administrator, Conrad, the retainers surrounded Ben.
Holding their breath so as not to be heard inside, they swallowed hard, looking at the letter in the butler’s hand.
Ben, who naturally tucked the letter into his coat, smiled.
“It seems this is not a mere political marriage.”
“As expected…!”
“That’s wonderful. Isn’t this your first proper romance since then?”
“Be quiet. Why bring that up on such a good day?”
All the retainers except Ben glared at the oblivious captain of the guard. One of the startled captains of the guard quickly shut his mouth.
“I apologize.”
“Enough.”
The retainers quickly surrounded the butler and whispered.
“If the young lady happens to visit, you must tell us, alright? You promised!”
Agatha had been in good spirits lately.
Although she had gained the marriage she desired, it came with an enormous workload, a deal with the Emperor still pending, and wedding preparations and negotiations with the Mainyucore Empire, among other tasks.
However, all of that became bearable the moment she took out a letter from her pocket.
“Enoch Aratus”
The stiff handwriting written at the bottom of the deep blue envelope made her smile every time she saw it.
“He must have pressed down hard.”
Indeed, glancing at the contents, one could see the handwriting that subtly trailed off at the end.
For some reason, that seemed strangely endearing.
Perhaps it was because there were traces of him trying to suppress his raw handwriting in places.
As Agatha was savoring the faint lingering scent and picking up her quill pen.
Knock-knock-*
“Come in.”
Her trusted maid entered and delivered welcome news.
“Young Lady. Marquis Aratus has arrived.”
“Oh?”
Agatha, who immediately instructed them to guide him to the reception room, checked her attire with the help of her maids.
Her golden hair, loosely draped over a fresh, water-colored dress, fluttered like a veil in the sunlight.
“Is this enough?”
“You are beautiful enough, Young Lady.”
She touched up her makeup and added slightly more elaborate jewelry.
She walked to the reception room, wearing shoes with a slight heel instead of low flats.
“Young Lady has arrived.”
The moment the reception room door opened.
Agatha was speechless at the sight before her and the fragrant scent of flowers.
Dressed in a splendid formal attire, with his unruly hair neatly swept back.
Enoch Aratus stood there holding a bouquet so large and abundant that it threatened to overflow his broad embrace.
