The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Decided to Divorce

3

Brillié clenched her fist unconsciously, showing a fierce reaction.

The marriage was never desired in the first place, and it was a match her father had unilaterally pushed for.

Above all, she was currently on a knight’s mission and couldn’t afford to engage in such needless acts.

“You know it’s impossible.”

“What’s impossible? If I decide to do it, then it will be done.”

“Are you planning to fight with Duke Ilenat?”

“Fight? What for? Just lie down and refuse.”

“I don’t think that will be enough.”

“Then keep doing it until it works.”

“…You’re going to lie down in front of everyone?”

“Oh, come on. That’s just a figure of speech, you think I’d really do that?”

Brillié crossed her legs naturally, displaying a look of displeasure.

She had many grievances against her father, but she couldn’t confront him openly.

Duke Ilenat, like her own father, always got what he wanted.

She suspected there must be a fitting reason he sought to tie the knot with the Grand Duke’s family.

“So, what? You’re planning to run away from home?”

“How embarrassing, what kind of running away is that? And what excuse would you give to the knights?”

“Just say I left because I didn’t want to marry and ask them to let me stay for a while.”

“Wow… Is there anything you can’t say? Aren’t you just throwing out ideas because it’s not your problem?”

“If you don’t want to marry, shouldn’t you try everything possible?”

“Sigh. If you do whatever you want, who’s going to take responsibility?”

“If Brillié commands it, then it shall be.”

“How come you never change? It’s because of that responsibility that we’re in this situation.”

“Then just get married.”

“Hey! Marry that whining guy? No way!”

Brillié had been gathering rumors and information about her fiancé for some time.

The youngest son of the grand ducal family, a frail body, an inept noble, always a patient in need of care.

In the end, if one were to scrutinize, he only had the characteristic of being a noble of the grand ducal family.

“Uh… after your fiancée passed away first, to remarry…”

“Why remarry! Just don’t marry at all!”

“But you have to, don’t you.”

“How many times do I have to say no!”

“But you can’t not do it, can you?”

“Enough. It’s over if I break off the engagement.”

Brilliant answered decisively, his eyes contorting in frustration.

He had no intention of following his father’s wishes to the letter.

If his father continued to be stubborn, he would oppose him just as firmly.

‘I’ll consider marriage if someone catches my fancy, not with someone younger than me…’

***

Alter donned his winter clothes thickly and climbed into the carriage.

In the northern territories, where snowfields and ice rinks lay, one should not use a carriage.

However, for the youngest son of the grand ducal family to safely escape the northern territories, a secure mode of transportation was essential.

‘Certainly… I might freeze to death if I don’t do this.’

Alter barely felt the cold, but his body was already beginning to shiver.

An ordinary person might have endured somehow, but even that was too much for Alter’s body.

How on earth had Alter Radiant managed to preserve his life from this chill until now?

’18 years old, that’s quite a long time to survive.’

Perhaps the northern grand duke had wanted to send him out of the northern territories a bit sooner.

But a suitable marriage partner could not be found, and even the environment for living abroad was incomplete.

That’s why he had been kept from going outside, preserving his meager life.

‘Even if I break off the engagement, I probably won’t be able to return to the northern territories.’

Alter hadn’t received any particular explanation from his father, but he was inwardly certain.

Staying in the northern territories would only worsen his condition.

Besides, he couldn’t always be confined within the castle, burning wood for warmth.

Ultimately, to continue his life, he had to seek out a warm and tranquil region.

‘So… it means everything is ready.’

Alter quietly continued his contemplation inside the jolting carriage.

He saw through the Duke of Ilenath’s schemes, but his father was completely oblivious.

Yet his father was a seasoned commander and a noble who had inherited the title of Archduke.

He must have been somewhat prepared for the possibility of a broken engagement and the relocation of his child.

“Breaking off an engagement is more common than you think. It’s easier than getting a divorce, after all.”

An engagement is a promise of a future marriage, not an act that finalizes it.

Among the royalty and nobility, positions and conditions change frequently, so political marriages are inevitable.

Above all, once a marriage is consummated, it can only be dissolved after a complicated process.

“He’s aiming for the crown prince… So, all it takes is an opportunity?”

To hasten the breakup, one must fulfill the Duke of Ilenath’s goal.

That is, to marry the original protagonist, the second daughter of the Duke of Ilenath, to the crown prince.

Of course, if the two grow closer, it would be enough to induce a breakup.

“But the protagonist dislikes the crown prince. It can’t be helped.”

The protagonist fundamentally rejects being tied down or dependent on someone.

She believes only in her own strength and goals, advancing without hesitation.

Thus, the male leads are slowly ensnared by her momentum.

From noble mtl dot come

“It’s normal for a romance fantasy. But it has nothing to do with me.”

Alter chuckled at the memory of the past.

Even while reading the original work, he had closed the book several times.

It was too frustrating, being so focused on the female lead.

But in the end, he reached the conclusion, and now he was playing the role of a frail fiancé.

“Would none of this have happened if I hadn’t read it?”

Alter harbored a fleeting regret but shook it off.

Regretting now wouldn’t change reality.

If hardship must be accepted, then one must think only of overcoming it.

“Then… should I take the initiative to connect her with the crown prince?”

Alter pondered the original story’s content with a modest goal in mind.

Somehow, he had to make the crown prince take an interest in the protagonist.

Of course, the protagonist would avoid the crown prince, but the Duke of Ilenath would approach from a different perspective.

If that leads to the annulment of the engagement, then Alter could gracefully depart.

“If there’s a variable to consider, it would be the male lead, of course.”

While there is only one female lead, the male leads are numerous.

Moreover, as they continually vie for the female lead’s attention, no one’s journey can be smooth.

Perhaps even the unremarkable fiancés will not escape the male leads’ rivalry.

“I wish it would just pass quietly… but whether it will go as planned, I’m not sure.”

***

Dozens of knights were swinging their swords in the training grounds.

It was a routine training session, yet so monotonous that it required considerable patience.

However, to become stronger, one must meticulously master the basics, so no one voiced any complaints.

“Rodan, increase your cutting speed!”

“Yes!”

“Fordman, you’re leaning!”

“Ah, I’ll correct it!”

“… Next move!”

A man watched over them, raising his voice.

As the one responsible for the knight order, he personally oversaw the training of the members.

Of course, he could delegate to a subordinate knight, but as the commander, he could not neglect his troops.

“Lembert, put more strength in your arms!”

“Yes!”

“Hmm…”

Brilliere quietly entered the training grounds and observed the members’ training.

Being the vice-commander and a proven warrior, he was not required to participate.

Yet, to maintain the dignity of the vice-commander, he had to act alongside the commander.

“It seems we’re focusing too much on the basics…”

Brilliere stood naturally next to the commander, harboring doubts.

Occasionally, he could not comprehend the commander’s decisions, but he did not openly question them.

The commander was stronger than him, and his achievements far surpassed Brilliere’s own.

“That’s it for the morning training! Dismissed!”

“Yes!”

At the commander’s command, the members dispersed in an instant.

The Knight Commander finally turned around to face Brillié.

“What brings you here? You’re not here for basic training, I presume.”

“I… have something to discuss with you.”

“Let’s talk while walking.”

Setinos’ Knight Commander, Lang Custer, took the lead.

Lang Custer, as the eldest son of the Earl’s family, was destined to inherit the title.

Despite this, he had been running the knight order and directly intervening in accidents occurring within the capital.

“I think I need to return early today. I have an appointment.”

“May I ask what the appointment is about?”

“Ah… well…”

Brillié hesitated, inadvertently letting out a deep sigh.

Lang glanced at Brillié and then spoke again.

“It doesn’t seem to be good news.”

“My fiancé is coming. He should arrive today.”

“…Fiancé? Oh, you mean your fiancé.”

Lang narrowed his eyes as he realized late.

He knew faintly of Brillié’s fiancé.

A political marriage between the Grand Duke’s family and a Duke’s family, the news was bound to spread through social circles.

“As you may already know, he’s not a very good match. How did I ever get engaged to such a person…”

“You’re meeting your fiancé for the first time, aren’t you?”

“That… seems to be the case?”

“Don’t be swayed by rumors. One can’t help being frail, but that’s separate from the noble’s character.”

“It’s not just a matter of character, how can I marry such a person?”

“If it’s a decision made by the family, you must accept it. Not many nobles marry for love.”

“Love or not, I don’t want to get married! I haven’t even put down my sword yet!”

“Hmm… Do you wish to continue as a knight?”

“Of course. Do I have to giggle and flirt like the other ladies?”

“I can hardly imagine it. A knight as strong as you, acting demurely?”

Lang mused calmly as he walked into the barracks.

Brillié followed Lang and soon arrived at the Knight Commander’s office.

“It would be best to leave early today. Wouldn’t want to keep the fiancé waiting.”

“No, did you even listen to what I said? I don’t want to get married!”

“I understand how you feel, but… can we really go against the head of the family’s wishes?”

“Can’t you persuade him, Director? At least, the marriage should be postponed!”

“Me? That’s a difficult favor you’re asking.”

Lang was troubled but did not ignore the plea.

Brillie was an exceptionally skilled prosecutor and a talent needed by the knight order.

But if she were to suddenly get married, they would have no choice but to let her go.

“She’s the next Sword Saint, isn’t she? If the next Sword Saint insists on keeping her, who would dare object?”

“You make it sound like you want me to fight with Duke Ilenath.”

“When did I ever say that? I’m just asking you to persuade him.”

“If I assert my authority there, it will bruise Duke Ilenath’s pride. He might refuse to let you go even more.”

“But I can’t just stand by and do nothing, can I?”

“Hmm…”

Lang looked at Brillie, his resolve wavering slightly.

He couldn’t just let go of the vice-captain of the knights that they had worked so hard to secure.

Above all, her striking appearance lingered in his mind, leaving him with a sense of regret.

‘Is she aiming for an annulment? If so, it wouldn’t be bad for me either…’