Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

I lay back on the bed, staring up at the grand relief carved into the ceiling.

This used to be the main bedroom. It was larger, more spacious, and more luxurious than any VIP guest room I knew. Every wall, pillar, and even the ceiling was filled with lavish decorations, making me truly understand the meaning of the word "absolute monarch."

Even as the lord of Granado Castle—the largest fortress in the Dirts Kingdom—and reputed to be the richest man in the country, I found it hard to settle down here. It wasn't so much nervousness as it was a feeling of exhaustion.

"The entire ceiling covered in patterns... it’s making my eyes go all blurry..."

I pressed my fingers to the corner of my eyes and groaned.

...Sure enough, it was I who wrote in the letter that I wanted the ceremony to follow as closely as possible to the tradition of Ipsandros. And I said money was no object.

But—grandpa, didn’t you go a bit overboard here!? I figured it’d be just a lavish Ips cuisine, fancy dresses, and maybe a top-notch mosque as the venue. But to think he rented out the entire Old Royal Palace! How much could that possibly cost!?

The luxury extended not just to this room but to the entire building, which apparently used to be the private residence of a former monarch. Even I was dizzy from it all. I wondered if Marie, who was used to austerity and frugality, had fainted by now.

Marie was currently staying in the detached palace, the former harem’s women’s quarters. I had caught a glimpse of the building on the way—it looked splendid and majestic as well.

...But I can't go inside, so I don’t really know.

That place was strictly no boys allowed. For the seven days leading up to the ceremony, the bride would be surrounded by female attendants, preparing for the big day. I didn't know exactly what she would be doing, but it sounded pretty busy.

In other words, the bride and groom would live apart until the ceremony day. Meaning I wouldn't be able to see Marie for the next seven days.

I buried my head in my hands and muttered.

"No way. I’m going to die."

I had already been feeling unwell since the day before, hardly even talking with Marie. The essential nutrient in my life—the Marie element—was running dangerously low. Seven more days... there's no way I can survive that!

I jumped up, threw on my cloak, and left the room.

The Old Royal Palace was enormous—big enough to fit an entire town—but the harem building was right next door. It was getting dark, so I could move about under cover of night.

"I have to find some way to see her... at least catch a glimpse of her face... or even just hear her voice through the door!"

"—Where do you think you’re going?"

Suddenly, a sharp voice and a clearing of the throat came from behind me.

Startled, I turned around to see my grandfather standing there. I tried to respond calmly.

"Nothing much. Just thought I’d explore the royal palace a bit."

"There’s no reason to go out after dark. Dinner’s almost ready. Do it in the morning."

"...Alright."

I reluctantly retreated. That quick reaction... he must have been watching me outside the door.

My grandfather was a former teacher and a strict man. Outsmarting him wouldn’t be easy. So, for now, I’d have to give up tonight. Switching to safer topics, I said:

"As expected of the Old Royal Palace, it’s really impressive."

"Yes. Normally, these days would be spent at each spouse’s family home. But since the bride has no relatives in this country, I thought it best to have her stay here in the finest room, which also doubles as the venue."

Kemal said this as casually as if deciding the dinner menu. I half-closed my eyes.

"To think of renting out the Old Royal Palace... that’s amazing. Or rather, how did you even manage to get it? Money alone can’t do that."

"No, no. There’s no big events at this time, so it’s not easy to find renters. Besides, the director in charge of the facilities is an old student of mine. I managed to get a bit of a discount."

"I’m impressed, Grandpa. Your connections and preparations are admirable."