Betrothed to My Sister's Ex

Of course, the entire dutchman ducal family was stunned.

Not only that, but the party venue was thrown into an uproar.

"W-why on earth? The Crown Prince of Dilz, the next king, why would he propose to my daughter⁉"

Even her real father was saying this, and young Lionel gave a small laugh.

"Why are you so surprised? The princess is beautiful. I have never seen a woman with such lovely eyes."

"Her eyes— ah, well, but still..."

"For someone as young as I to propose is presumptuous, I know... but I could not simply stand by and watch a delicate flower wither against a wall in the shade."

"W-w-wha—"

"Ah, ah, ahh...!"

The daughter's face turned bright red.

Being called delicate, for the very first time in her life—something even her own parents had never said to her—the princess felt her head grow hot from the words of a boy not even half her age.

He kissed her hand and said the same words once more.

"Please marry me."

There was still not the slightest hint of hesitation in him.

—In other words, it was mutual love at first sight, a fateful love, and there was no need for logic or reason.—

Telling themselves this, the parent and child accepted the boy's proposal.

Of course, given their ages, they could not be formally married yet. They were eager to arrange an engagement first, and were about to send a letter to the king of Dilz.

But Lionel stopped them.

"My father is a difficult man, and he only considers his children's marriages as a tool for strengthening the kingdom. He will likely try to push me toward an engagement with a princess from a stronger country. At worst, the princess and Lord Cornelis could be placed in danger..."

"Danger!?"

"So please leave it to me for a while. I will surely persuade my father."

"Persuade him? But how?"

The duke's question was reasonable.

This was not merely a matter of the princess being ugly. As Lionel himself had said, it was only natural that the king would be the one to choose the bride of the Crown Prince—the daughter who would become the future queen of Dilz.

If his daughter had not been so ugly, if she had not been so desperate for a husband, the duke himself would also have carefully examined any prospective son-in-law. And in that sense, the Crown Prince of Dilz was not a good match. Originally, the duke had hoped for an heir to his own domain—an man who would marry into the family. But if the other party was the Crown Prince, then his daughter would be the one leaving to marry. It would mean no children remaining in the dutchman household.

Still, there was no helping it. It was far better than letting his daughter remain unmarried for life.

At that point, the duke became a kind father.

Even if it meant ending the ducal family in his generation, he wanted his daughter to be happy.

The duke knelt before the boy who would be his son-in-law.

"I want to make this match happen somehow. What must I do? I will do anything if it will persuade his majesty the king."

The boy smiled.

"—Then... if you would develop Ildanaf Island, at the southernmost edge of your territory."

"Ildanaf Island? That place is an uninhabited island. It's nothing but rocky mountains—there's nothing there..."

"There are mines, aren't there? If my estimate is correct, there should surely be gold, silver, and precious stones buried there. If you dig them up, Ildanaf Territory will become the greatest precious-metals producing region in Oracle. If that happens, my stubborn father will surely welcome the princess."

At those words, the duke could not help but frown.

"T-that means... this proposal wasn't because you fell in love with my daughter, but because you wanted the resources of my territory...?"

The duke asked hesitantly, and the boy blinked in surprise.

His face made it clear that he honestly had no idea what the duke was talking about. Seeing that, the duke felt ashamed of himself.

What was he doing, saying such things to a child of only ten years old?

This boy had only suggested it as a way to win his father's approval. The shrewd king of Dilz might very well approve the marriage for money, just as the duke suspected. But Lionel's feelings were pure and innocent, and he was desperately wracking his brain for his daughter's sake—so thought the duke.