"Grandfather."

Although she was of noble status, she had no hesitation in calling Karl 'Grandfather.' Karl was a commoner, but it didn't matter. Karl, who was listening, naturally met her gaze. Valia asked.

"What is a woman's happiness? Is it meeting a good person and getting married well?"

"Happiness is happiness. What's this about a woman's happiness? Meeting a good person and living well is something both women and men wish for equally."

"I see."

"If you're going to wish for happiness, wish for something more specific. Not such an old-fashioned wish."

"Will it come true if I wish for it?"

"In my case, it did."

"What did you wish for, Grandfather?"

"Nothing grand enough to tell others."

"Really? I'm wishing for something grand. Can I tell you, Grandfather?"

"What is it?"

"I hope your arm doesn't rot away."

"Hey! That's a scary thing to say!"

Valia burst into laughter. Yet, a part of her heart ached. Perhaps it was because she knew this simple but peaceful life would be shattered in about a year. Valia had truly been at death's door. Although she had some savings, the staggering medical and nursing expenses would leave little behind. It wasn't just her who would suffer; Karl would also struggle.

'A letter.'

Replying to this letter, stamped with the imperial seal, was the best option for now. The heavier the burden of life's worries, the quicker the answer should come, they said. Valia made her decision in the short time it took to finish her stew. To be precise, she made her decision after hearing one word from Karl.

"Grandfather is leaving tomorrow."

"Ah... it's already that time."

It was something she had grown accustomed to over the past five years. Karl never stayed home for long. Yes, Karl was leaving. So, it would be okay for her to take a different path for once.

"Grandfather."

"Why are you calling me?"

Valia almost said, "I'm planning to leave too," but she closed her mouth.

'I don't even know where I'm going.'

If things went as they did in the past, she would go to the Gel Empire, but if not, she had no idea where she would end up. Until the actual Marchioness of Gart entered Gel, the selection of this mysterious princess had no clear destination.

"No."

"What is it? You start talking and then stop."

Valia smiled and changed the subject.

"When will you come back if you leave tomorrow?"

"This time, I'll be gone for a while. But don't worry, it won't be more than a year. I'll write to you."

"Alright. Take care."

"Sure. When I return, it will be the perfect season to make cream stew."

Valia nodded. By the time he returned, she would no longer be in this house. Soon, the meal was over. As she listened to Karl washing the dishes, Valia dipped her pen in ink. She wrote a reply to the letter about the princess selection.

The next day.

People from the kingdom came.

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It was an excellent castle. A mansion boasting a scale second only to the imperial palace in the Gel Empire. Its antique exterior and expansive backyard were truly impressive. The owner of this vast mansion was a single person: Marquis Shuden Gart. The high priest sitting across from him spoke.

"Your Excellency, are you still angry?"

"I'm not angry; I'm just dumbfounded."

The marquis replied briefly. In the reception room of the Gart Marquisate, the marquis, sitting in the master's seat, sighed and ran his hand through his hair. His gesture caused his reddish-blonde hair to scatter smoothly. He was such a handsome man that even other men found it hard to look away, but unfortunately, he seemed very displeased.

"Your Excellency."

However, the high priest, who had personally come to the marquis's mansion, looked unfazed.

"There have been few such clear oracles in long history. Please understand with your boundless generosity."

To hell with the oracle. Contrary to his expressionless face, the marquis muttered irreverently to himself.

The high priest had received the oracle not long ago. In fact, oracles were not that rare. But this oracle was undoubtedly special. Had there ever been a time when the usually abstract messages were this clear, like paint mixed with water? No, never.

Priests usually worked day and night to interpret even the most abstract oracles. There was no way the high priest would hesitate with such a clear voice of God. He immediately requested an audience with the emperor of the Gel Empire. It was even a private audience. In the secret reception room, with everyone else dismissed and only a deaf servant remaining, the high priest said one word to the emperor.

[We must find a bride for Marquis Gart.]

Marquis Gart was unmarried. He was a highly sought-after groom, so arranging a marriage wasn't difficult. However, the method proposed by the priests was quite peculiar. They offered to cover all the costs, and the royal family only needed to make an announcement. The marquis suspected that they might have secretly offered even greater rewards to fulfill the will of the gods. In fact, he had already received several precious relics, enough to easily purchase a castle in the capital.

[Marquis, please yield this time.]

[Your Excellency, it is the word of God. Please cooperate just this once.]

Moreover, the emperor and the high priest were incredibly persistent. Thinking about it made the marquis frown. An oracle, indeed. The marquis did not believe in gods. In fact, he trusted no one. How could he trust others when he couldn't even trust himself?

Nevertheless, it was a done deal. There were times when he felt a surge of something akin to murderous intent towards the high priest who visited him almost daily, but he never acted on it. After all, the high priest hadn't done anything wrong other than being a nuisance. Eventually, the marquis accepted the temple's proposal, but only after setting countless beneficial conditions for himself. After all, it was the temple that was desperate, not him.

"Your Excellency, two days ago, we sent out the recruitment letters for the princess selection to the chosen kingdom."

The marquis was aware. The entire empire, not just the social circles, was abuzz with the news. If he weren't the one involved, he might have found it interesting too. But not now. He only found the situation bizarre.

"High Priest, let's speak frankly."

The marquis, who had been leaning back, straightened up slightly. He wasn't just a handsome man. The red pupils nestled between eyelashes the same color as his hair were incredibly attractive. There was a reason why countless women wished to wrap their legs around the marquis' strong thighs. Those red pupils held a seductive decadence that evoked thoughts of passionate love.

"Do you think any woman would apply for such a mysterious selection of a princess?"

"You never know. Someone with deep faith and a noble heart, willing to devote their life to God, might appear."

"If such a person exists, it would be even stranger for me to show up as her husband."

"You are charming, so there's no need to worry."

The marquis lifted one corner of his mouth.

"I'm not every woman's ideal type. Perhaps most of them, though."

It might sound incredibly arrogant, but he was one of the few men who could say such things with confidence. No, not just one of the few—perhaps the only man. Even the high priest, who was far removed from worldly matters, had to admit it. Above all, he was the sole master of the Galt Marquisate of the Gel Empire.

"Why have you come to my mansion today, High Priest? There couldn't possibly be any applicants for such a dubious princess recruitment yet."

The High Priest put down his teacup. This young and handsome marquis was different from other nobles. If he wanted to engage in small talk, he would do so in social circles. If he wanted to go hunting together, he would meet at the hunting grounds. He was a man with clear boundaries. No matter how brazen a noble was, they couldn't stand up to the marquis's piercing red eyes. Only someone like the High Priest, who had distanced himself from the secular world and undergone years of training, could maintain a smile.

"Your Excellency."

It wouldn't do if the young lady got scared and ran away. The message had arrived at the temple just last night. The High Priest smiled faintly.

"We have a volunteer."

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Valia was soaking in hot water. It wasn't the old wooden tub she used at home. The marble-carved bathtub was filled with lukewarm water, and there were maids attending to her bath. They were palace maids. The maids skillfully added bath salts. The sweet floral scent, like honey, quickly spread.

'It smells so good...'

Although there were no flower petals floating luxuriously, having someone attend to her bath was enough of a luxury for Valia. She let her body relax in the rippling water and fell into thought. There were countless things to think about, but one question came to mind first.

'How did the news spread so quickly in the social circles before?'

The palace servant who came to see Valia was dressed plainly. The servant asked a few simple questions, recorded something, and then left, saying they would return later. Judging by their words, it seemed it would take a few days. Feeling at ease, Valia went to the market for the first time in a while and bought a sandwich filled with cheese and lemonade. It was a reward for herself for making a big decision. She was very frugal with her spending on food and clothing.

She sipped her lemonade as she returned home. Just as she was about to place her hand on the doorknob...

[I've been waiting.]

Valia nearly had a heart attack because the servant appeared without a sound and spoke to her. She calmed her racing heart and looked at him. The servant she had seen just a few hours ago spoke in a low voice.

[I will come to escort you again tonight, so please be ready by then.]

Valia nodded in a daze. Her heart was still pounding. The servant bowed much more politely than before and left. Valia stood frozen in place for a while even after the servant left. It took her a bit more time to come to her senses.

'Wait, tonight?'