Princess Shu

Chapter 3.1 – I’ve Been Waiting For You

“Grandpa,” she said.

Although Valia was of noble status in name only, she had no qualms about calling Carl “grandpa.” Carl was a commoner, but that didn’t matter to her. Carl turned his head towards Valia as she spoke.

“What is a woman’s happiness? Is it to meet a good person and marry well?” she asked him.

“What do you mean by a woman’s happiness? Happiness is happiness. Meeting a good person and living a good life is what both men and women want,” Carl answered.

“I see.”

“If you’re going to wish for happiness, wish for something more concrete. Not something old-fashioned like that.”

“Will it come true if I wish for it?” Valia wondered.

 

“In my case, it did.”

“Grandpa, what did you wish for?”

“It’s not something grand enough to tell others,” Carl answered bluntly.

“Really? I’m going to make a grand wish, so can I tell you, Grandpa?”

“What’s your wish?”

“I hope grandpa’s arm doesn’t rot,” Valia said.

“Damn! Don’t say such a scary thing!” Carl exclaimed.

Valia giggled. But at the same time, a corner of her heart sank. Perhaps it was because she knew that this simple but peaceful life would break apart in a year or so. Valia would truly be sick to the point of death. Even though she had the money she had diligently saved, after spending it on the expensive treatment and nursing costs, there wouldn’t be much left. And she was not the only one who would struggle. It would be hard on Carl too.

‘The letter.’

Replying to the letter that bore the Imperial Seal was her best path for now. The heavier one’s life circumstances were, the faster one came to an answer. Valia settled on her decision during the short time she polished off her stew. To be exact, she had made her decision after what Carl had said.

 

“I will have to leave tomorrow,” Carl announced in the middle of the meal.

‘Oh…Is it already time?”

It was a familiar occurrence for Valia in the past five years. Carl never stayed home for long. That’s right, Carl was leaving too. So it would be alright for her to take a different path once or twice.

“Grandpa,” Valia said.

“Why are you calling me?” Carl answered.

Valia tried to say, ‘I plan to leave too,’ but she soon shut her mouth.

‘I don’t even know where to go.’

If things happened as they did before, she would go to the Ghel Empire, but if not, she didn’t know where else to turn. In fact, up until when the wife of Marquis Garth arrived at Ghel, the outcome of the mysterious princess selection was unknown.

“Nothing,” Valia muttered.

“What? Why’re you suddenly not talking, silly?” Carl asked.

Valia grinned and changed the topic. “After you leave tomorrow, when are you going to come back?”

“I’m going to stay a little longer this time. It won’t be over a year, so don’t worry. I’ll write to you,” he reassured.

“Got it. Please be careful.”

“Alright. When I come back, it will be the perfect season to eat some cream stew.”

Valia nodded. By the time Carl returned, Valia would no longer be here in this house.

It wasn’t long before the meal was over. As she heard Carl washing the dishes, Valia dipped the tip of her pen into an inkwell. She wrote her reply to the Princess Selection.

It was the next day.

People from the kingdom came.

***

It was a magnificent old castle. Even in the Ghel Empire, it was a mansion that boasted a size second only to the Imperial Palace. The historical facade and the vast garden was an impressive sight. There could only be one owner to such a huge mansion.

Marquis Schuden Garth.

The Great Priest, who was sitting facing him, opened his mouth to speak.

“Your Excellency, are you still angry?”

“I’m not angry, I’m just dumbfounded,” the Marquis answered shortly.

They were in the reception room of the Marquis Garth Family. As the Marquis sat in the master’s seat, he held back a sigh and swept back his hair. His fingertips raked through his reddish-blonde hair. He was a man so handsome that one could hardly take their eyes from him, even other men, but at this moment he looked very uncomfortable.

“Your Excellency,” the Great Priest repeated. He had walked in on his own two feet to the Marquis’ mansion, but he seemed to be indifferent. “In the entire history, there have only been a few times that oracles as clear as this could be received. Please understand that it’s a generosity as wide as the rivers and seas.”

The Marquis’ face remained expressionless, but inwardly he muttered blasphemy.

It was not long ago that the Great Priest received the oracle. In fact, oracles were not that rare. This time, however, the contents of this oracle were extraordinary. Was there ever such a clear message, when oracles were usually as abstract as the shape of water stained with paint? No, never. The priests usually went about day and night trying to interpret these abstract oracles. The Great Priest could not afford to dawdle around upon receiving a clear and resolute will from God.

The Great Priest immediately requested for an audience with the Emperor of the Ghel Empire. He even had a private audience. The meeting took place in a secret reception room, clear of any people save for the deaf servants, and the Great Priest said only one sentence to the Emperor.

[We must look for Marquis Garth’s bride.]

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Marquis Garth was unmarried—but no matter, as he was a highly eligible bachelor and it would not be difficult to arrange a wedding.

The Great Priest suggested a strange and complicated method. All the expenses would be paid by the temple, and the Imperial Court simply needed to make the announcement. The Marquis speculated that those who did everything to uphold God’s will would give more than that. In fact, several precious sacred relics had already been offered. It was to a point where a castle in the capital could have been easily bought.

[Make the Marquis yield this time.]

[Your Excellency, these are the words of God. Please cooperate just this once.]

The Emperor and Great Priest remained extremely persistent. A wrinkle formed between Marquis Garth’s eyes as he recalled that time. What kind of oracle was it? The Marquis did not believe in God—no, he didn’t believe in anyone in the first place. He couldn’t even trust himself, so how could he trust others?