WMT | Chapter 18

Theodore left his adjutant reeling and stepped out into the corridor. Being a sensible person, he was well aware of the proper procedures for marriage.

Isn’t it only natural to properly propose to your partner and receive their consent? So, in the most traditional way, he prepared flowers and a ring, then went to meet Wiss.

As usual, Wiss was in his palace.

Theodore learned from a palace attendant that Wiss was having a meal in his bedroom. The attendant’s eyes widened at the sight of the bouquet, and soon their cheeks turned red.

“Shall I inform His Grace that you have arrived?”

“No need. I’d like to meet him directly.”

Leaving the starry-eyed attendant behind, Theodore headed to the bedroom. He buried his nose in the bouquet, almost intoxicated by the scent.

He was excited. He had been feeling this way lately. It was as if he were drunk, and nothing in reality could make him feel troubled.

His brother wanted him dead. That was a painful thing. Even if he thought it was inevitable that someone he cherished didn’t cherish him back, it still hurt.

But Wiss protected him. Wiss said he would continue to protect him. Such a fragile person.

Thinking about it made him smile.

It was when Theodore climbed the stairs.

“……Is the kingdom-saving going well?”

He stopped in his tracks. Wiss and his guard were in the bedroom together.

As a knight, Theodore was used to mingling with soldiers regardless of status, but it was strange for someone as noble as Wiss to be so close with his guard. Especially in a private space like a bedroom.

Should he ask what their relationship was?

Theodore’s thoughts were interrupted by the following words.

“……Your Highness’s execution of the plan was excellent. I must say, it seems like you’ve won him over……”

“I know.”

Wiss replied.

‘He made a plan and won him over.’

It was clear who they were talking about.

“……”

Theodore retraced his steps back the way he came. When he came to his senses, he found himself in the room he used as a bedroom.

He didn’t know how he had returned. He recalled the conversation he had overheard.

He knew that Wiss had proposed to him for the sake of the country.

‘Of course…… he did.’

When Wiss had asked to meet him, his demeanor wasn’t like someone inviting him for a cup of tea.

If King Jeremiah hadn’t constantly talked about ‘how beautiful Wissmia is,’ Theodore wouldn’t have thought of marriage when he saw him.

At that time, Wiss was more like a negotiator who had come for business.

What he proposed was indeed marriage.

It was only natural that Wiss didn’t love him. But when those words came out of his mouth, Theodore couldn’t stand there any longer.

He was so drawn to Wiss that he believed Wiss would feel the same way about him.

Or rather, he hoped so.

Theodore sat on the bed, staring at his clasped hands, thinking until the room grew dark and the outside began to brighten.

If Theodore were to refuse this marriage.

Wiss would choose someone else to save the kingdom.

‘Can I let another man be used by him?’

No, could he bear to see Wiss say ‘I love you’ to another man?

To see those amber eyes, which seemed to cast a spell, gaze at another man.

Theodore continued to ponder.

And he came to a conclusion.

‘No.’

It was impossible.

“Your Grace. Are you awake? You said you’d hear the report yesterday, but you didn’t come to the office……. Your Highness?”

Jessen entered. He frowned upon finding Theodore.

“Did you not sleep? Is something wrong? Perhaps, news from the capital……”

“No.”

Theodore rubbed his chin. He realized that his appearance was not perfect at the moment.

“Bring me some water to wash up. Prepare new clothes.”

“Yes, of course. Is there anything else you need?”

“Leave.”

“Are you really alright, Your Highness?”

Theodore waved his hand to dismiss Jessen.

That loyal adjutant wasn’t like that from the beginning.

Theodore’s teenage years were princely in many ways. Everyone who approached him tried to use him.

Theodore made them his people. That was what Theodore was good at.

The wash water arrived.

Theodore washed his face and looked in the mirror, tidying his hair that had become disheveled from staying up all night. He changed into new clothes and picked up the bouquet he had thrown on the nightstand.

The sudden early morning visit caused a stir in Wiss’s palace.

“A visit at this hour is a bit……. His Highness also needs time to prepare.”

“I see.”

The palace attendant seemed relieved by Theodore’s calm response. But their face turned pale at his next words.

“I’ll wait. His Highness is a frail person, so there’s no need to wake him. It’s better if he sleeps a bit more.”

“What? But how do we know when he will wake up……”

The answer came from beyond the door.

“I’m awake. Let him in. If it’s alright with you that I’m in my pajamas.”

It was a hoarse voice.

Theodore didn’t hesitate and went inside. And he paused for a moment.

Beyond the canopy, Wiss looked dazed, not fully awake. He was in his pajamas, with his knees drawn up to his chest, leaving the skin below his knees exposed.

His calves leading to his ankles were slender, and so were his feet. His toes were particularly small, and they were slightly curled with tension.

Was he nervous?

For some reason, Theodore felt like he had seen something he shouldn’t have, so he turned his head. And his gaze was captured by Wiss, who was blinking at him.

With just that small action, the sleepiness seemed to leave Wiss’s face. With a coldly rational expression, Wiss stared at Theodore.

He was beautiful.

“I didn’t want to disturb your sleep.”

“If that were the case, you should have come in the afternoon.”

Wiss frowned.

It was a remark referring to how nobles usually woke up late in the afternoon.

“Yes. I wanted to wait until then.”

Theodore handed the bouquet to Wiss, who was leaning against the bed. He was delighted to see Wiss’s eyes widen.

He was adorable.

From the first time he saw him, it was hard to take his eyes off Wiss. As if someone were forcing him to.

‘It can’t be helped.’

Theodore knelt down. And he asked again.

“……Do you really love me?”

If Wiss said no, Theodore was prepared to let him go.

Wiss blinked. His amber eyes, which seemed to emit their own light, stared at Theodore.

“Yes.”

Theodore gave a bitter smile.

“I feel the same. We love each other.”

Wiss seemed a bit reluctant.

“Did you come at this early hour just to confirm that?”

“It’s the most important thing to me.”

‘Though it may not be to you.’

Without revealing his true feelings, Theodore took out a ring from his pocket. When he extended his hand to Wiss, he still looked puzzled as he offered his hand.

“Will you swear to spend all your days and nights with me for as long as life permits?”

It was a proposal.

Without waiting for an answer, Theodore slipped the ring onto Wiss’s finger. It fit perfectly.

Wiss’s response came afterward.

“……Yes.”

It was a bewildered answer, as if someone had pushed him.

The one who pushed him was probably Theodore.

“I feel the same. I swear. I will make you happy for the rest of your life.”

He smiled and pulled Wiss’s hand towards him. As he kissed the finger with the ring, he felt a sharp, aching sensation in one part of his chest.

It wasn’t an important matter.

What was important was that Wiss would be the owner of this ring until he entered the coffin.

No, even after that.

In Palatine, divorce among royalty is not permitted.

Whether Wiss knew that or not was uncertain.

── .✦

“Why aren’t you getting married?”

King Wiss of Summer asked his adjutant, Theo. It was the day after Wiss’s fifth wedding.

“……Why are you here at this hour?”

“I came to the training ground to practice. What other reason could there be?”

Wiss kicked up the sword that had fallen to the ground. Using the center of gravity, he pressed it with his foot, and the sword soared into the air. Wiss caught the sword and handed it to Theo.

It was Theo’s sword to begin with. As soon as Wiss entered the training ground, Theo had thrown the sword he was holding to the ground.

It was because of the laws of the royal palace.

When Wiss ascended the throne, the nobles unanimously requested that knights be prohibited from carrying swords in the presence of the king.

As a result, it was a rule that swords could not be carried in the main palace where Wiss resided.

Theo awkwardly received his sword.

“With your diligence in training even at this early hour, your title is duke, and you have the reputation of being the kingdom’s best swordsman. There’s no way you haven’t received marriage proposals.”

“Are you upset because you’ve been married five times yourself?”

“There’s a bit of that.”

Wiss withdrew the arm that had been poking Theo’s side. When Wiss plopped down on the ground, Theo gave a wry smile and sat down beside him.

“The ground is cold.”

Wiss spoke up.

“Think about it. If I die……”

“By then, I would already be dead, so there’s nothing to think about.”

“Are you confident you won’t leave my side for a moment? Why are you so confident?”

“I am confident. Shall I swear?”

Wiss scoffed.

“You didn’t even show up at the wedding yesterday, and now you’re talking big.”

“If you’ve gotten married, you should be with your queen……. Would it be right for me to be by your side?”

“It’s just a formal marriage anyway.”

Wiss spoke indifferently, leaning his head on Theo’s shoulder. Theo relaxed his body to make it easier for him to lean.

“You should get married and have descendants so I can be at ease. I wonder if Jeremiah will come to his senses and live properly.”

Theo gave a wry smile.

“Thank you for trusting my unborn descendants……. But I want to marry someone I love.”

“What, you have someone you love? Who is it? The person who captured you.”

Wiss was excited and lifted his head. As Theo grew older, he became more reserved, rarely talking about himself.

“Then why haven’t you gotten married? Is the bride’s family opposed? There’s nothing to worry about. Even if she’s a princess, they’d welcome you.”

“Because she’s already married.”

“Oh dear.”

Wiss clicked his tongue. Then he grinned.

“Too bad. Missing the chance to have you as a husband.”

“Haha.”

Theo also ended up laughing.