I Want To Hear It From Her

To understand the significance of noble marriages, it's essential to grasp the hierarchy within nobility. Whether in an empire or kingdom, there are eight noble ranks, each holding varying levels of influence and power.

From the lowest to the highest, the noble titles are Baronet, Baron, Viscount, Count, Marquis, Duke, Arch-Duke, and Royalty. Most of these titles are hereditary, except for Baronet, which is a life peerage. The lower rank nobles include Baronet and Baron, the middle rank nobles are Viscount, Count, and Marquis, while the higher rank nobles comprise Duke, Arch-Duke, and Royalty.

The Royalty rank includes Princes and Kings, and in an empire, there is also the title of Emperor. If someone doesn't ascend to the position of King or Emperor, their title is often lowered to Arch-Duke as compensation.

Marriages between nobles carry immense political significance, symbolizing alliances between powerful families. These unions can make them more power, merge wealth, and create new dynasties. One notable example is the royal family of the Sardinia Empire. In ancient times, they were known as the Liones royal clan, descendants of the Divine Beast, Blazing Lion. However, fifty thousand years ago, they merged with the Volrass family, descendants of the Divine Beast, Mountain Eagle, creating a new dynasty—the Volffin royal clan. This union unlocked a new bloodline connected to the Volcanic Griffin, further strengthening the royal family's power.

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William was sitting in his chair, positioned at the head long table in a large room. The table was long enough to seat dozens of nobles and yet only William was sitting there. His thoughts were racing as he tried to make sense of the news he had just received. George, his loyal guard, stood quietly on his left, watching the prince with concern. Marquis Matthew, one of his grandfather's most trusted subordinates, stood by the window, his expression thoughtful as he sipped his tea.

"My sister would never marry just like that," William finally said, breaking the silence. "She's always been focused on getting stronger, on her ambitions. Marriage was never part of her plans."

Marquis Matthew turned and nodded, walking toward the table and setting his cup down on it. "I agree, Your Highness. Everyone knows that the Arch-Duke wanted his son to marry the princess. He even discussed it with the King on multiple occasions, and the King seemed supportive of the idea. This sudden marriage, especially with someone from outside of the kingdom nobility, doesn't make sense."

William's brow furrowed as he turned to face the Marquis. " Elise has always been different. She's not someone who would give up her goals for something as trivial as a marriage alliance."

Matthew sighed, understanding the prince's frustration. "The Lefia Kingdom is built on strong alliances, and marriage is one of the most powerful tools to secure those. The Arch-Duke Delmeriv Damian's family has been closely tied to the royal family for generations. Even the current Queen is his younger sister. This connection has always been a cornerstone of the kingdom's stability".

William's mind raced as he considered the implications. His sister, Elise, was the eldest of their father's children, born to the first concubine, a daughter of Duke Vincent Hyden, one of the three powerful Dukes in the kingdom. At thirty-five, she was renowned not just for her beauty, but for her formidable power as an early-stage Martial King. She had attended the prestigious Madoken Magic Academy at eighteen and had graduated as one of the most talented students of her time.

Her accomplishments were nothing short of legendary. When she was twenty-five, the King had granted her rule over Rhine City, a strategic port city on the east coast of the capital island. Under her leadership, the city had thrived, expanding its economy from fishing and winemaking to include lucrative industries like sea salt and coral trade.

She had fortified the city, building walls that towered forty meters high, and had earned the respect and admiration of her people. She was known throughout the kingdom as the "Steel Princess" for her unyielding strength and leadership.

In contrast, William's older brother, Conrad, was a skilled politician and an effective ruler in his own right. He had been granted a border city on the mainland, a strategic location near the Ailonia Kingdom. Against all odds, Conrad had transformed the town into a bustling city and had even built a new military legion to protect the kingdom's borders. However, his magical talent was lacking, and despite his accomplishments, he was a bit under Elise in terms of power.

AN: [In the map, you will see that the Lefia kingdom rules over a little land at the west of the Ailonia kingdom. Go see the map in my discord and you will get it].

William had always felt the weight of comparison to his older siblings. While he had a natural talent for magic, it was his sister's drive and ambition that had set her apart. Her thirst She wanted to be the first Female ruler of the Lefia Kingdom. She had long been seen as a potential successor to their father, not just because of her birthright but because of her power and leadership.

"A woman like Elise," William said, his voice tinged with frustration, "who thirsts for the throne, wouldn't just marry someone on a whim. She's always had her eyes set on something bigger."

Marquis Matthew leaned forward, his eyes serious. "Duke Sung shares your concerns, Your Highness. That's why he sent me to bring you back. He wanted you to know about your sister's engagement and to see if you could find out the reason behind it."

William's thoughts raced as he tried to find any possible reason behind her decision. He knew his sister well—better than most. There was only one reason he could think of that would make her abandon her ambitions and everything she had worked for.

"She fell in love with him," William finally said, the words tasting bitter in his mouth.

George, who had been silent until now, looked up, his expression one of surprise. "Your Highness...are you sure?"

William shook his head in frustration. "Not really and even if she really did fall in love...No, I won't believe it. I need to hear it from her. I won't accept this until she tells me herself."

Marquis Matthew watched the young prince, his expression softening with a touch of pity. He understood that the prince was still inexperienced and so he still can't grasp the reason behind all of this. "Your Highness, sometimes, love makes people do things that defy logic. It makes them see the world differently, prioritize different things. She might have found something—or someone—more important than the throne."

William clenched his fists, the reality of the situation beginning to sink in. "I need to talk to her. I have to understand why she's doing this. I won't believe it until I hear it from her."

Matthew nodded, recalling Duke Sung's words before they left the capital. The Duke had expressed similar sentiments, understanding that love often made people act irrationally, driven by emotions rather than reason. It was clear to him that Elise had found something that outweighed even her desire for power.

-------------------------------------------

In another room, just like the second prince were discussing the current situation, Eldric, Lora, Edvard, Aiden, and Saya sat around a large, ornate table discussing the same matter. Lora, seated closest to her grandfather, leaned forward, her brows furrowed in concern. "Elder brother wouldn't marry just like that out of the blue," she insisted, her voice tinged with disbelief. "There must be something wrong. Isn't that right, Grandpa? Edvard?"

Edvard, lounging in his chair with a half-empty glass of whiskey in hand, shrugged lazily. "Why are you asking me, little girl? It's not like I'm a member of the royal family or something. I just live in a room in Eldric's courtyard," he replied, taking a sip of his drink with a dismissive wave.

Lora shot him an irritated glare. "You live in the palace just like me. You must know that brother isn't the type to fall in love so easily."

Edvard, clearly uninterested in the topic, leaned back and smirked. "I don't care if he falls in love or not. I just drink my rum and beer. That's enough for me."

Lora's eyes narrowed in frustration. "Why you...! Is getting drunk all you think about, you big idiot drunkard?"

Saya, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally intervened, her tone gentle trying to stop Lora from yelling at Edvard anymore. "Come on you two. you need to stop this and focus on the matter at hand."

Lora huffed but nodded, though she couldn't resist a final jab. "But this guy is an idiot who doesn't do anything useful."

Edvard grinned, unbothered. "At least I'm not a pampered princess."

Lora opened her mouth to retort, but Eldric raised a hand, cutting her off. "Enough. Let's try to figure out what's really going on here."

Aiden, who stood by the large window, staring out at the garden below decided to finally speak. He turned and stared at Eldric, "Old man Eldric," Aiden began, his tone more serious than usual, "what do you think of all this? Do you think this marriage could be connected to the kidnapping? Could the Black Market Alliance be involved somehow?"

Eldric looked at Aiden for a moment before speaking, choosing his words carefully. "I can't say for certain," he began, his voice steady, though laced with unease. "But I do find the timing suspicious. The Black Market Alliance has been more active than usual, and this sudden marriage... it doesn't sit well with me. It's possible that there are forces at play here that we don't fully understand yet."

Lora, her earlier frustration fading into worry, looked to her grandfather with wide eyes. "Grandpa, do you really think this could all be connected? Is brother in danger?"

Eldric sighed, "I don't know, Lora. But what I do know is that we'll get answers when we reach the capital. Something has been brewing for months now, and I fear we're only seeing the tip of the iceberg."

Aiden sat back on the chair and leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest as he considered Eldric's words. "So, we're heading into a situation where we don't know all the players, or even the game being played," he mused. "Now, this is interesting. We'll need to be on our guard."

Saya, who had been quietly contemplating the conversation, spoke up again, her voice soft but resolute. "No matter what's happening, we'll face it together. We'll find out the truth and protect those we care about."

Edvard, who had been uncharacteristically silent during Eldric's assessment, finally set down his drink and nodded, his usual flippant attitude replaced with a rare moment of seriousness. "Whatever's going on, we'll handle it. But we'd better be ready for anything."

Eldric returned his gaze to the window, his eyes narrowing as he stared out at the distant horizon. "When we reach the capital, we'll get the answers we need," he said quietly, more to himself than to the others. "But until then, we must be vigilant. There's more at stake here than any of us realize."

The gravity of his words hung in the air, a reminder that the road ahead would not be an easy one.