Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

Two consecutive updates, this is the first chapter.

Before the statue of God, a pile of papers was held up, and the priest was kneeling.

Trembling and hesitantly, he said,

“Maid lady... d-do you find this satisfactory now...?”

“I do not find it satisfactory.”

Saying that, I tore the pile of papers to shreds.

The largest and oldest church in the kingdom had floors and walls darkened with age and grime. The white paper confetti stood out vividly. My attire—the usual maid uniform without the apron, now in black—looked as if it were covered in petals.

The priest let out a frightened cry and stepped back, his robe’s hem caught underfoot.

“What you’ve been presenting are merely the church’s manuals. What I’m asking is why the church refuses to hold the wedding between Cyrus Granado and Marie Shadelan.”

“I-It's not that the church is refusing!”

The priest shouted desperately.

“Exactly as the papers said before! Since before the war, the church has lost its power and cannot override the law. This is not about my personal right or wrong!”

“I understand that. In noble marriages, where family succession and titles are involved, it’s political activity rather than a simple celebration. The church is the venue, the priests are witnesses... merely the masters of ceremony.”

“That's right, so I am not at fault!”

I narrowed my eyes, leaned close to the priest who was still kneeling, and whispered as if to kiss him.

“Then, who is at fault?”

The priest averted his eyes. I didn’t wait for silence—I immediately straightened and nodded toward the statue of God displayed at the innermost part of the church behind him.

“Good for you, the church’s symbol has been beautifully restored. That was four years ago, right? When you got drunk and accidentally knocked it over and broke it.”

“...Ah, yes... well... at that time, the granado trading company helped us...”

“The restoration was a lost art in the kingdom. Craftsmen were specially summoned from Ips. It cost a lot of money. I helped out too, so I remember well. It was about two hundred thousand Yuiros—”

“I’m not an ungrateful worldly priest! I do feel sorry!”

“Master, you never made it a burden. You even said the improvement of the kingdom’s crafts was the duty of the count who ruled the Artisan District.”

At that, the priest’s face twitched even more uncomfortably.

A long silence followed—then he started speaking softly.

“I want Lord Cyrus Granado to be happy... even if it weren’t for the statue incident, I’ve always wished that.”

I quietly waited for him to continue.

“...When he was a child... cradled by Lady Ryuu-Ryuu and blessed alongside Duke Alfred, I prayed to God wholeheartedly for this child with brown skin and green eyes to find happiness in this kingdom.”

“You were also the one who gave him his name, master.”

“I only made the suggestion.”

Warmth permeated the priest’s voice.

I had heard this story from Lady Ryuu-Ryuu before.

Cyrus... before Ipsandros became a republic, was the name of a strong and kind hero who fought for the liberation of enslaved peoples. The duke liked the priest’s suggestion very much and adopted it. It was likely from then that the duke thought of making master the legitimate son and heir. Regardless of ethnicity or status, he wished for him to be a lord who helps and connects people.

It was a name filled with parental affection. Surely the priest who named him felt the same.

“...I watched over that child like a grandfather, delighted in his growth. I supported his young business when it started to take off and the trading company’s growth. When I heard he was granted the count title, I drank alone and danced in the chapel. In this kingdom with its strong kingdom supremacy ideology, I watched with relief as he, with foreign blood, gained power surpassing even the royal family—”

“The church’s power was wrested away by the royal family, after all.”

“Yes, exactly! To hell with the Dilz Royal Family!!”