Dark Fantasy Normalized

7 – Arranged Marriage

Clunk. And then thud.

Someone dared to enter the office of the head of the Vendel family without knocking and suddenly sat across from him.

To top it off, they even tilted the chair back arrogantly.

Hey. One of the strongest drinks in the house.

It was as if they were about to say that.

“…”

A deep sigh escaped from the head of the Vendel family.

That was all the punishment for the rudeness.

“`

“I heard you returned about half a month ago, but this is the first time you’re showing your face, Roera.”

The head of the Vendel family, Idor Vendel, immediately stopped what he was doing to greet his daughter.

“I’m not exactly the face you’ve been dying to see, am I?”

Fidgeting with her hands, Roera replied while inspecting her nails.

One might wonder if this was the proper attitude for a noble lady addressing the head of her family, but Idor could only smile bitterly.

Her father was that kind of man.

When dealing with his prickly youngest daughter, he became endlessly soft and pathetic, such a-

And if that youngest daughter was raising the family’s name in the world, even more so.

“I’ve been hearing a lot about you lately. So, how is it? Does the work there suit you?”

Roera’s answer was very abstract.

Raising her eyebrows and shrugging her shoulders.

“…I see. I’m glad it seems to be going well.”

Silence flowed.

Until the father’s will to have a harmonious conversation with his daughter after a long time was broken.

“Can I ask you a favor?”

“A favor? From your father? That’s rare.”

Idor tried to recall the last time his daughter had asked him for a favor.

He couldn’t even remember how long ago it was.

“This time, the marriage between our family member and the Dintal side. Let me handle it.”

“…Is that your request?”

Idor’s face turned ghostly pale.

The Roera he knew was a child who could never be imagined getting married to someone.

Roera, who was pathologically uncomfortable with the social norms and standards demanded of her.

She had started to drift away from the family long ago. The family members had no choice but to practically let her go.

They only hoped she wouldn’t go astray and would continue to raise the family’s name with her sword as she was doing now.

But what is this?

Showing interest in family matters?

And in the significant affair of an arranged marriage?

“It’s not such a difficult request, is it? It’s better for both sides.”

Roera pressed Idor like a seasoned mercenary negotiating with a merchant.

“Honestly, does it make sense? Marrying that rascal Rishir to Diltan’s second daughter. Even if he’s a live-in son-in-law, that’s too much. No doubt they’ll use it as an excuse to meddle, nitpick, and exert influence.”

“Hmm…”

Loera’s point was something Idor was also aware of.

Of course. As the head of the family, he oversaw all major and minor affairs.

Sending Rishir as a live-in son-in-law to the Diltan family was undoubtedly a risky move.

Nevertheless, the reason Idor willingly accepted their arranged marriage was simple.

“Even considering that, there’s more to gain.”

Vendel was not some insignificant family from the outskirts.

There were limits to what could be wielded under the guise of legitimacy.

Diltan would surely demand various rights for taking in a b*stard as a live-in son-in-law.

Vendel would have to comply to some extent.

But if they crossed the line? Or showed signs of doing so?

Then the story would change.

The legitimacy would shift to Vendel, and Vendel had enough power to exercise that legitimacy.

“It’s a complicated matter.”

Politics is always like that.

However, there was one way to simplify this complicated matter.

As Loera suggested, marrying her to Diltan.

Loera was the legitimate heir of Vendel.

The weight of her bloodline couldn’t be compared to that of a b*stard, and it was heavier than Diltan’s legitimate line.

If Loera became Diltan’s daughter-in-law, Vendel could exert influence over Diltan in various ways.

And above all-

It was Loera’s matter.

The expectation of marriage, the clean decision to do it for the family.

For Loera to marry in the name of the family.

It was a shame to send someone like Loera to Diltan, but asking for more would be greedy at this point.

As the head of Vendel, it was an irresistible story.

But Idor was also a father to his daughter.

At the very least, he needed to know why his daughter was suddenly acting like a different person.

“You have no interest in family affairs. Am I wrong, Loera?”

Roe didn’t particularly affirm or deny.

She just shrugged her shoulders once.

“I’m curious why you’re suddenly interested in this arranged marriage.”

“It’s nothing special. I happened to see the young master of that house, and he was my type.”

Her voice was extremely dry for someone who claimed to have fallen in love at first sight, but Isidor didn’t notice.

“Hmm…”

A man being her type.

It’s a simple reason.

But it’s also the most important motivation in a relationship between a man and a woman.

“I don’t really know, but I heard rumors among the young ladies. Seeing you say that, their judgment must be right. By the way, I never imagined you’d be interested in a man.”

“Then what? Should I be interested in a woman?”

“That’s not what I meant, but- well, it doesn’t matter. As you said, it’s the time for you to be interested in men.”

“…So. Is the conversation over?”

“But you see.”

Only then did Isidor reveal the backstory of this arranged marriage.

“In fact, this marriage was strongly desired by the young lady of the Diltan family.”

Roe frowned and tilted her head.

A face that couldn’t understand at all.

It was a part where Roe’s logic could be applied as it was.

Rishir is handsome. Just in terms of appearance, he wouldn’t lose to the famous young master of the Dintal family.

But he is an illegitimate child.

Among the nobles who value bloodline above all, it’s an element that can never be taken lightly.

“…Why?”

“I don’t know the reason, but it seems she has a personal interest in Rishir.”

“Huh.”

Roe snorted as if she was dumbfounded.

“Strange young lady. What does she know about that guy?”

“?”

“Well. Anyway. I’ll ask again, is the conversation over?”

“…”

Idore nodded after a moment of contemplation.

“I will positively probe this matter with Diltan.”

“Good. It was a fruitful conversation.”

Roe, having heard the desired answer, left the room with a satisfied expression.

*

“Phew…”

Roe, having parted ways with her father, went straight outside to get some air.

The feeling of suffocation that was driving her crazy had slightly improved.

Yes. Slightly.

“Marriage…”

Until recently, she had no interest in marriage.

In fact, she still doesn’t.

She still has no interest in marriage.

The so-called handsome guy from the Diltan family is no different.

He must be an annoying nobleman.

And he lives up to his looks?

“Damn.”

A life of mingling with other noble families and catering to their whims.

Just imagining it made her feel suffocated.

She was satisfied with her current life.

She wasn’t bound by family or status. She didn’t care about others’ opinions.

If possible, she wanted to continue living this life.

But she chose marriage.

It wasn’t anyone’s coercion. It was purely her choice.

Regretful? Yes, she regretted it.

In her heart, she wanted to overturn it immediately.

But she didn’t.

“…This is right.”

She didn’t want to let her father control her life any longer.

She wanted him to find his own life.

And the only one who can help with that is himself.

He knows.

That guy has never asked for such a favor.

Maybe, he doesn’t even hope for it.

Therefore, all of this is just self-satisfaction.

“…”

A struggle to atone for the mistake of that day.

Maybe, a shallow hope that his efforts will be recognized and change his mind.

Suddenly, he thought.

Wouldn’t it be better to just honestly apologize?

“…Ugh~”

Loera grimaced and scratched her arm. She said it gave her goosebumps.

It’s a meaningless act from the start.

Because they’ve already come too far.

He remembers the young Lysir tearing up his letter with an emotionless face.

In the past, he used to think about that scene from time to time.

How can I get him to accept my apology?

How can I be forgiven?

He pondered countless times but couldn’t find an answer.

A single apology. If that could have solved everything, they wouldn’t have come this far in the first place.

‘Come to think of it, that guy. What is he doing these days? He’s always wandering outside.’

Suddenly, he became curious.

Lysir, that guy.

How would he react if he knew I sacrificed myself for him in my own way?

Would he be surprised and say he sees me differently?

No way.

He would probably ignore it, saying it’s none of his business.

Or maybe he’d be angry, saying I took away his chance to impress Father.

“Damn it-“

Thinking about it, it was a very plausible possibility.

Roera recalled the image of Lisir misunderstanding her intentions and blaming her.

That picture seemed like it could be drawn effortlessly.

“…”

But something was strange.

It wasn’t coming out well.

-…After all, the only one who worries about me is Roera.

Instead, the conversation she had with Lisir before arriving here came to mind.

The strangely changed appearance of Lisir in recent times.

I know it’s nonsense.

It must have been said with a sarcastic intention.

“You know… there’s only me…”

Even so, Roera couldn’t help but smile.

*

“So, Master. I might be getting married.”

The next morning.

I reunited with my master behind the usual library.

The topic that came up immediately was the arranged marriage I suddenly heard about yesterday.

“Lisir is getting married?”

Nonsense.

I can’t believe it.

My master muttered with a shocked face.