The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Decided to Divorce

6

Brillie had begun to feel a reluctant compassion for Alter.

He was younger than her, but still, he was a scion of the Ducal family.

Despite being of the bloodline that had long guarded the northern border, he was belittling himself for being frail.

If only he had shown a bit of boldness, wouldn’t she have thought him to have some backbone?

‘I didn’t want to get married, not to bring him down.’

Of course, Brillie had relied only on rumors before meeting Alter.

If one were to scrutinize, in the end, only the title of the youngest son of the Northern Duke would remain.

But having met him in person, she couldn’t bring herself to be cruel.

‘And to treat him carelessly… he seems too fragile.’

Brillie had sensed something instinctive from the very first impression of Alter.

She couldn’t express it precisely, but a faint emotion was welling up from her heart.

It was like seeing a child shivering from loneliness, only making her hesitation grow.

‘I’m not planning to marry anyway, but maybe it’s okay to… look after him a little.’

As Alter had said, there wasn’t a complete absence of a chance for annulment.

Her father sought to gain much through a marriage of convenience.

That is, if a candidate with superior conditions than the Northern Duke appeared, the policy of marriage for convenience would naturally change.

‘If anyone is to be greater than the Northern Duke, it would have to be royalty…’

Brillie stopped thinking from that point on.

The youngest son of the Grand Duke’s family was burdensome enough, but royalty would be even more troublesome.

Above all, he did not want to accept it blindly, as he had many complaints about his father’s methods.

‘Maybe I should bring someone decent from somewhere…’

“I’m sorry to say, but you shouldn’t have dreams. I don’t want to die before achieving them.”

“You say that without even trying?”

“Why do you think I haven’t tried?”

“That’s…”

Brillie was buried in silence, overwhelmed with embarrassment.

He knew the rumors about Alter, but he had never heard the explanation directly from the person involved.

If all efforts are in vain, wouldn’t one naturally want to give up?

“Protecting my own life is overwhelming enough. Wherever I go, I have to think about not getting hurt or collapsing. Should I still try everything even then?”

Alter had no choice but to put sincerity into these words.

After the original owner of the body died, he had to take their place.

The reason for the death was not clear, but it was meaningless in the current situation.

With such a physical condition, it wouldn’t be strange to die at any moment.

“…”

“I don’t think what your fiancé said is wrong. But reality is different. What may be right for your fiancé, is wrong for me. I don’t want to lose my life while denying what is wrong.”

Brillie quietly listened to Alter’s protest.

It seemed that he had been too assertive with his principles from their first meeting.

He had never considered that what was possible for him might be impossible for someone else.

Perhaps Alter was aware of this disparity and mentioned breaking off the engagement first.

“Well… I apologize. I think I was a bit careless.”

“I didn’t say it to receive an apology. Just… please reconsider our marriage. I must contribute to the family, but I don’t want to be disgraced.”

After two attempts, Alter was finally able to end the conversation.

Brillie had suddenly questioned his attitude, but soon accepted it.

Moreover, this aspect felt like it was in line with the protagonist’s character, so it wasn’t unpleasant.

‘I guess this counts as being persuasive.’

Of course, even if he only accommodated the Duke of Ilenat, the annulment would go smoothly.

However, since Brillie was at the center of the arranged marriage, he couldn’t be completely excluded.

Above all, she would become entangled with the male leads, inevitably influencing them in various ways.

‘Should I start meeting each of the male leads now?’

She needed to imprint her presence in the minds of the male protagonists.

She had to be seen as unworthy of competition, someone who could be easily pushed aside at any moment.

Already there were five of them; inserting herself would bring no benefit.

‘Right now, can I meet with the Knight Commander and the butler?’

The Knight Commander was Brillié’s direct superior, so contact wouldn’t be difficult.

As for the butler, she could naturally encounter him just by being around.

Especially since the butler could approach her under the pretext of work.

‘I’ll recognize the names immediately. Maybe I should wait.’

***

Hillize Lenia held a modest interest in the fiancé of the duke’s second daughter.

If there was a special reason, it was because of her friendship with Brillié Ilenat, the duke’s second daughter.

She had known Brillié since childhood, but now their relationship had solidified into that of a noble lady and her butler.

‘I did want to know what kind of man he is…’

As the duke’s butler, Hillize could freely roam the mansion.

Moreover, she was recognized by the butler and maids for her work capabilities, and she was not lacking in sociability.

Thus, even when Hillize occasionally took independent action, it was met with composure.

‘Considering he’s only 18, he’s not very manly.’

Hillize had a clear understanding of the psychology of noble ladies.

Noble ladies often preferred men who were sophisticated yet strong.

And if they possessed supreme authority and vast wealth, they would inevitably attract attention.

‘If he’s the youngest son, inheriting a title would be difficult…’

Of course, there are rare cases where the youngest son inherits a title.

However, in the Radiant Grand Duchy, the eldest son had firmly secured his position, and the second daughter was making a name for herself on the battlefield.

With such a structure in place, the youngest son could hardly aspire to the grand ducal title.

‘They might share some wealth with him, but it won’t be much.’

The Radiant Grand Duchy had been entrusted by the Emperor of the Agnes Empire with the governance and protection of the northern territories.

Therefore, they had to periodically confront demons and barbarian tribes, but they monopolized the specialty products found only in the northern territories.

This allowed them to secure a considerable amount of funds, but the assets distributed were reduced due to the management of the northern forces and supplies.

“Is lineage all that remains?”

Of course, inheriting the bloodline of a Grand Duke’s family could be considered quite special.

The title of Grand Duke is esteemed as the highest among all ranks, not granted lightly even by the Emperor himself.

It essentially meant owning a part of the empire’s territory, along with the right to operate numerous castles and a large military force.

“The Northern Grand Duke does have quite the influential connections.”

Even if one were a Duke of Ilenath, they could not ignore a political marriage with a Grand Duke’s family.

Isolated in the northern territories, they wielded power incomparable to other nobles.

In fact, the Northern Grand Duke was the lord and ruler of the northern lands.

“But to marry Brillié… something is lacking.”

Hillise moved on, unable to dispel her doubts.

Surely a suitable match for a political marriage, yet far removed from the Duke of Ilenath’s disposition.

Perhaps the Duke of Ilenath regarded even a marriage alliance with a Grand Duke’s family as merely a step in the process.

“I think I need to observe a bit more.”

Hillise had been watching the youngest son of the Grand Duke’s family ever since he arrived at the mansion.

Considering her own status, she couldn’t blatantly surveil him.

She merely glanced over as if passing by naturally and only heard related matters from other butlers and maids.

“Is he in the garden now?”

If one only stays in the mansion, it’s quite possible to find out their whereabouts.

Moreover, as the fiancé of the Duke’s second daughter, butlers and maids must attend to him.

Amidst this, the fact that he was frail had been confirmed, necessitating careful management to prevent any sudden collapses.

“The diet has been adjusted for the fiancé… and special teas and medicines have been prepared.”

Hillise began to think of a suitable excuse as she entered the garden.

One cannot approach the fiancé of the Duke’s second daughter without reason.

Even if loitering nearby, one must have a plausible condition.

“Garden maintenance isn’t my responsibility. Perhaps I came to fetch something, or there’s someone I need to find…”

Hillise found herself locking eyes with the very person she wished to observe.

His blue-grey eyes were engulfed in a somber mood, yet their color remained undiminished.

Just by appearance, one could instantly sense his fragility.

“Hillise, there’s an urgent matter, could you take my place for a moment?”

A maid, who had been following the fiancé, approached Hillise and spoke.

Hillise immediately nodded and showed a gentle smile.

“You can come slowly.”

“Thank you. I’ll be right back.”

The maid vanished at once, and Hillise bowed politely.

The fiancé accepted the change with composure and started walking again.

‘Was I a bit lucky today?’

Hillise swallowed the silence and moved slowly.

As a butler, one must not inconvenience those they serve.

Especially since this noble has many risks, one must always be cautious.

‘If he’s even smaller than me…’

“What’s your name?”

“Hillise Lenia.”

“How long have you been a butler?”

“About 10 years now.”

“Since you were young?”

“Yes. I’ve lived as a butler ever since I was young.”

Alter glanced at Hillise cautiously while surveying the garden’s interior.

As expected, the male lead approached her first.

Of course, being a duke’s butler, he couldn’t harm her.

“…It must have been hard.”

“What work in this world isn’t hard? I’m quite used to it now, so it’s not so tough anymore.”

“If you’ve been here for 10 years, you must know everything, right?”

“How could I possibly know everything? I’m just a butler.”

“But you would know this. I don’t suit my fiancée.”

“…”

From noble mtl dot come

Alter deliberately mentioned his thoughts about Brillié.

To soften Hillise’s competitive spirit, he had to express his intention not to marry Brillié.

Once she’s convinced that he’s merely a formal partner, she’ll just leave him be.

“Even if it’s a marriage arranged by the family, it’s only an engagement for now. If we break it off, that’s the end of it.”

“…”

“There must be someone more suitable for my fiancé. How could someone as young and fragile as me ever marry?”

Hillise quietly listened to these words, yet felt a strange sense of rejection.

Still, as a scion of the Grand Ducal family, as Brillié’s betrothed, one must display an unshakable presence.

But Alter Radiant was merely pouring out lamentations, having laid himself low.

“… Brillié would not take kindly to those words.”

“Even if she doesn’t, what can I do? Reality won’t change because of it.”

“It is unbecoming for a scion of the Grand Ducal family to speak of reality. Brillié values effort over talent.”

“It’s not a problem that can be solved by effort. Nothing can be changed.”

“Yet, you are still Brillié’s betrothed, Lord Alter. How can you think to abandon your heart?”

“…?”

Alter realized the flow of the conversation had taken a peculiar turn.

As expected, Hillise should have offered no response or ended it with consolation.

But why was Hillise showing such a stern attitude towards him?

‘Why is this happening? I should disappear for the heroine to connect… Why tell me not to give up?’