Chapter 792

Count Granvelle proposes a marriage arrangement between Allen and Cecil.

*(I ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????don't understand what he's saying. Why does Thomas's marriage lead to a discussion about me? From the looks of it, no one objects.)*

The ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Countess, Thomas, and Sebastian seem to have already heard from the Count, as they all look at Allen with smiling, joyful expressions. Zenoff, having grasped the situation, sits back down and calmly sips his tea.

"Um... ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????The conversation has moved too fast, and I don't quite understand. I have no experience with noble matters, you see..."

He ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????wasn't sure if Thomas's engagement to Princess Laylana was a factor that would lead to arranging a marriage for Cecil. Pleading ignorance due to his lack of noble knowledge, he decided to ask for details about the reason for this proposal.

*(Hm? ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????He seems hesitant about something.)*

When ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????Allen asked for the reason behind the marriage proposal with Cecil, the Count fell silent for a moment, perhaps choosing his words. But then, as if steeling himself, he began to explain.

"Ah, I see. You're not a noble... If Thomas's marriage to the Princess proceeds, it means he can no longer inherit the Granvelle family."

*(With Mikhail gone and Thomas marrying into the royal family... Thomas was originally training for his noble duties as an official in the royal castle to inherit the Granvelle family.)*

The Count's detailed explanation seemed to follow a logical progression.

"So, the Granvelle family will be inherited by Cecil in the future, is that it?"

The Granvelle family had three siblings. While it was a feudal society with a culture of the eldest son inheriting, in the Ratash Kingdom, there was nothing wrong with a daughter inheriting. In fact, Princess Laylana was considered the most likely candidate to become the next Queen. Because of this, the achievement of Thomas Granvelle, who was poised to gain the position of Prince Consort, seemed significant.

"Exactly. Because of this situation, we must consider a marriage arrangement for Cecil."

"Haha, that is troublesome."

"Thomas! This is no laughing matter!!"

"S-sorry!?"

The Count's angry shout was directed at Thomas, whose marriage to Princess Laylana was settled. Allen thought it had been a while since he'd seen Thomas scolded by the Count.

"Um, so... the Granvelle family, a great noble Count household, has reached the point of marrying into the royal family. Does that mean many nobles would want to marry into the Count family? Something like that?"

"It seems you understand. Thomas's marriage to the royal family means that marrying Cecil signifies inheriting the Granvelle family. There was even a favorable proposal from the eldest son of a Marquis family in a neighboring country. Proposals from both within and outside the kingdom flooded in."

The Count increased the resolution of Allen's understanding. Since Thomas's relationship with Princess Laylana became known domestically and internationally, it also became widely known that the Granvelle daughter, Cecil, needed a marriage partner.

*(It's strange. Though it's odd to say myself, Cecil is popular in this feudal society. Well, I suppose it's a world where marriage proposals proceed without photos or social interaction. That's just how it is.)*

Allen thought that if he said the words that just popped into his head to Cecil herself, an Iron Claw would likely come flying his way.

"Was there a problem with the marriage proposals?"

"Not exactly. Moreover, the royal family knew that arranging a marriage for Cecil would be a favorable match for the kingdom. His Majesty the King himself began promoting the proposals. The royal family-led efforts to arrange a marriage for Cecil spread even to neighboring countries..."

"And an extraordinary number of marriage proposals poured in, correct?"

*(Well, successfully arranging a marriage would be a achievement for the royal family, and it would fully draw the Granvelle family into the royal fold. Many neighboring countries would want to foster good relations too. Cecil was a three-for-one deal.)*

The landlocked Ratash Kingdom was surrounded by foreign nations. King Inbuel, having only Princess Laylana as a child and unable to provide a bride himself, seemed to seize this opportunity to push for Cecil's marriage proposals.

But after explaining this far, the Count fell silent, perhaps still choosing his words. Thomas, knowing the situation in the royal castle, spoke on his behalf, sensing it was difficult for his father.

*(What is it, what is it? Something dangerous? This happened recently while I had withdrawn my summoned beasts from the royal castle.)*

"Father refused all the King's proposed matches, causing a huge uproar in the royal castle."

"Eh? Refused?"

"Because of that, His Majesty summoned all the royalty and nobles to the audience chamber..."

Thomas explained that the Count's refusal of the royal family-led "Cecil marriage proposals" led to him being summoned to the audience chamber and forced to explain his true intentions before the assembled nobles. Ignoring other agenda items for the audience, the King called forth nobles and ministers, spending hours interrogating the kneeling Count.

"I heard that day the royal castle was in an uproar, as if the King's anger might blow it away... 'Do you slight the royal family!!?' 'What noble refuses the eldest son of the Molmol royal Dukedom!!?' 'This won't end until you give a reason!!'"

For the royal family, arranging marriages for noble houses was an important way to demonstrate their power. Conversely, refusing such an arrangement was a clear act of rebellion, a complete denial of the royal family, and this would be known both domestically and internationally.

*(Spreading marriage proposals to foreign nations is probably limited to cases involving royal princesses or someone like Cecil this time. And he refused them all without reason?)*

Allen tried to imagine the scene in the audience chamber and the extent of the King's fury.

"S-such a thing happened... My apologies, Count. Could you please tell me the reason? It seems I am involved somehow."

Allen had withdrawn the summoned beasts he had placed in the Ratash royal capital to focus on the divine trials and the battle against the Demon King's Army. Zenoff, also unaware of the situation, was speechless alongside Allen.

After Thomas finished explaining the events in the audience chamber, the Count, who had been silently listening, was asked for the reason. He turned to Allen and slowly spoke.

"Allen. I never believe I reached this position solely by my own power. I have never once forgotten the debt I owe for your efforts since your time as a servant."

"W-well, yes. Thank you for your gratitude."

"You are a responsible man. I know you have suppressed your feelings for Cecil for the sake of fighting the Demon King. I assume the plan was to discuss everything after achieving victory in tomorrow's battle?"

"Huh? Feelings?"

A foolish sound escaped Allen, but the Count's words didn't stop.

"But, as Cecil's father, I wished you had told me of those feelings... I had to protect the Granvelle family, and I also had to protect Thomas's marriage."

The Count bowed his head, his shoulders trembling.

"Eh? Mr. Thomas? Wait, I don't understand!?"

"His Majesty the King said that a marriage with Princess Laylana would be impossible with the Granvelle family acting like this."

The audience仪式 that began in the afternoon continued until sunset, with the King relentlessly questioning the Count. Of course, with the Count maintaining his silence, angry shouts also rang out from the ministers and nobles. Denying the royal family meant denying the nobles who served under them. At that moment, the Count had no allies.

As the anger in the audience chamber reached its peak, King Inbuel delivered an ultimatum to the Count.

*'Enough! I cannot give my daughter to such a family! Be prepared for the dissolution of your house!!'*

Faced with the Count who refused all proposals without reason, voices rose among the royalty and nobles, saying he was untrustworthy and the marriage between Princess Laylana and Thomas should be canceled, with the King indicating his agreement.

To protect the Granvelle family, the Count finally stated his reason for refusing the marriage proposals for Cecil in the audience chamber.

*(What is it? The reason for refusal. It's about me, right?)*

"Allen, I am sorry. I told His Majesty that you had given Cecil the 'Tears of Maclis'..."

"Eh? Maclis? Ah, the one I received from Princess Carmin in Cleview..."

"I told him that because of your relationship with Allen, I wished to decline the proposals. He eventually understood. 'Why didn't you say so sooner!' he said, and he's still quite angry, even now. But, Allen. You too have been suppressing your personal feelings until victory over the Demon King's Army. To protect the Granvelle family, I ended up spreading the story without your consent. I am sorry."

As Allen tried to recall, the Count pressed on, speaking quickly as if to wash away his own guilt. It seemed he felt he hadn't acted with noble integrity, and towards Allen, who had elevated the family to a Count's status, he felt this even more strongly.

"Allen, for royalty and nobles, who says what and when regarding marriage proposals is crucial. I had heard from Cecil how happily she received the Tears of Maclis, but since you hadn't said anything yourself, it's something that should never have been discussed in public."

Seeing Allen dumbfounded, Thomas added an explanation. Following the Count, he continued explaining to Allen, and after a time lag, Allen finally burst out.

"Pfft!?"

He couldn't help but laugh at the Count's words about what he had declared in the audience chamber.

"I cannot welcome some noble from elsewhere into the Granvelle family. His Majesty also said, 'Allen, is it...?' and understood. So, please rest assured that no unwanted proposals will come. His Majesty explicitly stated that he would refuse any marriage proposal, no matter how favorable, from any country."

It seemed the ministers and nobles were also silenced and convinced merely by the mention of the "Tears of Maclis."

*(Not just in the Ratash Kingdom, but even in neighboring countries, no marriage proposals will ever come for Cecil? Because of me? Even if I defeat the Demon King, Cecil is going to kill me.)*

"But, I think this is for the best. Cecil boasts about the Tears of Maclis every time we meet at the mansion or the royal castle. If the Princess started saying 'I want the Tears of Maclis too' because of this... sorry, but Allen, just one... Hey, aren't we friends?"

Allen was frozen solid, and Thomas's further words didn't register. Right now, Thomas's lovestruck stories about himself and Princess Laylana didn't matter at all. He desperately used his intellect, exceeding ten thousand, to search for a survival route.

*(It's no use. I can't hide this. I'm finished...)*

Allen giving the Sacred Pearl of Maclis to Cecil had resulted in the refusal of all marriage proposals for Cecil from royalty and nobles.

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