I liked visiting the Valencia Duchy.
The most important reason for visiting the Duchy was, of course, to see Rebecca.
But there was another reason for visiting the Duchy besides seeing Rebecca.
It was because the dinner at the Valencia Duchy was absolutely fantastic.
It wasn’t that the chef at Count Zernias’ household was bad at cooking.
In fact, when I first had a meal at the Count’s household after being reincarnated here, I was surprised by how delicious it was.
Since the Count’s family didn’t exist in the original story, I hadn’t expected much in terms of food.
But the chef’s skills completely shattered my expectations.
However, even the Count Zernias’ household, with its excellent chef, couldn’t compare to the Valencia Duchy.
After I came to see Rebecca and happened to have dinner once.
From that day on, whenever I visited the Valencia Duchy, I always stayed for dinner.
“……Why do you insist on having dinner at our house?”
Rebecca always looked at me with disapproval during dinner.
“Why not? We’re going to be family soon anyway. What’s wrong with having dinner?”
“……Mother.”
Every time, the Duchess would take my side, allowing me to enjoy dinner comfortably.
“Young master… Do you no longer find my cooking tasty…?”
Because I always had dinner at the Duchy, Charles, the chef at the Count’s household, would sometimes complain.
Sorry, Charles.
But the chef at the Valencia Duchy is practically the best in the Empire.
Anyway, every time I came to see the Princess, I enjoyed a delightful dinner.
“……”
“Prince Albert, why aren’t you eating? Is the food not to your liking today?”
Today’s pleasant dinner seemed to have already vanished into thin air.
***
“You usually eat so well. Is today’s meal not to your liking? Should I call the chef……?”
“No, it’s fine. I’m just feeling a bit off.”
I quickly waved my hands to stop the Duchess, who was about to call the chef.
It wasn’t that the dinner was bad, but my current situation was uncomfortable.
‘……I should’ve just left.’
Honestly, I hadn’t planned to stay for dinner today.
After being caught in that embarrassing situation by the Duchess earlier, who would want to stay for dinner?
But even though I didn’t want to stay, I had no choice.
“Prince? Why are you leaving so soon? Stay for dinner as usual.”
“I’m fine……”
“It’s not a mother-in-law’s role to send her son-in-law away without dinner. Stay and eat.”
The Duchess insisted I stay for dinner.
Even though we were only engaged, and I wasn’t officially her son-in-law yet.
Under the Duchess’ sharp gaze, which seemed to threaten bloodshed if I didn’t stay.
I had no choice but to remain at the Duchy.
‘……I think I know where Rebecca gets her personality from…’
I felt like I had uncovered the secret behind the Princess’ nasty temper.
***
I wasn’t the only one uncomfortable in this situation.
“……”
Rebecca, who usually enjoyed dinner, wasn’t eating properly either.
It seemed the Princess also wanted to escape this situation.
“……Thank you for the meal…”
Just as Rebecca, who hadn’t eaten much, tried to leave.
“Rebecca, you barely ate anything.”
“……”
Sit. Down.
The Duchess grabbed her by the ankle.
As the awkward dinner slowly dragged on.
“I heard some interesting news earlier.”
Finally, it came.
“I heard our daughter kissed her fiancé?”
“……”
Silence.
All Rebecca and I could do was remain silent.
It felt like we were defendants being interrogated in a courtroom.
“I couldn’t believe it, so I went to check…”
“……”
We both knew what came next.
Because we had both locked eyes with the Duchess.
We had frozen like statues for 20 seconds.
We could roughly guess what the Duchess would say next.
“Prince, were you kissing our daughter?”
***
Pfft.
I heard the sound of someone spitting water from the opposite chair.
They must have been drinking water to calm down, but when those words came out, they couldn’t hold it in.
“I was very surprised.”
But the Duchess didn’t seem to care that her daughter had spat out water.
Whether the position of Duchess had made her this way, or she was always like this.
There was no way to know, but one thing was certain.
Escaping this spiderweb of an interrogation wouldn’t be easy.
“I didn’t know our daughter and the Prince had already progressed to that point.”
***
Of course not. We’re not at that stage yet.
It was just a penalty from a chess game.
I wanted to say that, but…
It felt a bit embarrassing to admit that at 18, we were still playing penalty games, and the atmosphere the Duchess was creating was too intense.
“So, when are you two getting married?”
***
Pfft.
This time, I spat out water.
The Duchess didn’t seem to care, and I wondered if I had misheard.
“……Did you say… marriage?”
“Yes, marriage. Both Rebecca and the Prince are of age now, so it’s time to think about it, don’t you think?”
***
Pfft.
All I heard was the sound of someone spitting water from the opposite side.
“……Mother?”
The sudden mention of marriage seemed to have caught the Princess off guard too.
We were both still too young to be thinking about something as serious as marriage.
We hadn’t even had our coming-of-age ceremonies or debutante balls yet. Marriage was too soon.
But the Duchess didn’t seem to think so.
“Why the surprise? I married your father at 17.”
“……”
“At your age, I’d say it’s actually a bit late.”
The Duchess clearly didn’t share our concerns.
But if we didn’t object, it felt like she’d set a wedding date right then and there.
“Duchess, with all due respect… The Princess and I haven’t even had our coming-of-age ceremonies or debutante balls yet. Marriage seems a bit premature.”
Nod nod-
Rebecca seemed to agree, nodding vigorously from across the table.
***
“Is that so? Then once you’ve both had your debutante balls and coming-of-age ceremonies, we can proceed with the wedding right away.”
It seemed like a trap set by the Duchess.
She had anticipated my response and smoothly continued.
“The debutante balls can be held this spring… Since Prince Albert was born after Rebecca, we can hold the wedding right after his coming-of-age ceremony.”
“……”
***
‘……Was this all planned?’
My earlier ominous thought seemed to be true.
It felt like the Duchess had already set a wedding date.
“Neither of you has any objections, right?”
“……”
With that look on her face, how could we possibly object?
The words were on the tip of my tongue, but I didn’t have the courage to say them.
***
Honestly, I didn’t attach much meaning to marriage.
Whether it was because I’d never been married before, or because I was infatuated with Rebecca.
Ever since I realized I was engaged to Rebecca, I’d vaguely thought we’d get married someday.
‘But…’
What worried me was Rebecca’s thoughts.
We’d gotten a bit closer now, but when she first met me, she’d glared at me and asked why I was staring at her so rudely.
Not to mention, she’d made it clear with her whole body that she wanted to break off the engagement.
If the Princess still felt the same way, things were going to get very awkward.
I did like Rebecca, but I had no intention of forcing her into a marriage she didn’t want.
If Rebecca still wanted to break off the engagement.
I’d be a little sad, but I’d let her go.
I’d send her off, wishing her the happiest life possible.
***
Rebecca’s expression was unreadable after hearing the same conversation.
If her dissatisfaction with marrying me had been clear on her face, I could’ve given up sooner.
I could’ve distanced myself earlier.
But the Princess maintained her poker face at times like this.
***
As my mood grew gloomier.
“So, Prince Albert.”
“Yes?”
That’s when the Duchess dropped the bombshell.
“Stay overnight at the Valencia Duchy tonight.”
“……Excuse me?”
“Of course, in Rebecca’s room.”
“……Mother?”
Both the Princess and I stared at the Duchess in shock.
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