CHAPTER 36
Gathering vassals for a meeting just because a daughter fell for a man.
If commoners saw this, they would laugh and ask what kind of idiotic stunt this was, but they were dead serious.
The people gathered here were capable and deeply loyal retainers who had dedicated themselves to the Dukedom for many years.
Yet, none of them took this matter lightly, and they all wore tense expressions.
Because...
"As you all already know, this isn't just a matter for our family; the future of the Empire is at stake."
Because of Ceres alone, the entire Empire could easily be shaken.
"Ceres Whiperion. As you all know, he is the most noble man in this Empire."
Allois was displeased with Ceres, but she acknowledged what needed to be acknowledged.
He was from the Whiperion family, one of the top three families in the entire Empire.
He possessed a beauty that was renowned not just in the Empire, but worldwide.
And recently, he had been going around healing people, earning him the title of 'Saint'.
'There are families with similar authority to ours, but they all only have daughters. There is one existence who is a man and holds a higher status, but he falls short in other aspects.'
Viol had a younger brother, but he couldn't compare to the universally acknowledged greatest beauty in the Empire.
In practice, Ceres was the most noble son in the Empire!
The marriage of such an existence would undoubtedly have a nationwide impact.
"Everyone, think about it for a moment. What will happen to the woman who marries Ceres Whiperion?"
When Allois asked her vassals, they replied in serious tones.
"She would be the lucky one to claim the Empire's greatest beauty."
"She would instantly build her reputation and become a celebrity known by everyone in the Empire."
"And practically speaking, she would become the true successor of the Whiperions. Usually, when a man inherits a title, he leaves the practical affairs to his spouse."
"A population of 1.5 million. 5,000 private soldiers. 200 knights. She would possess all of this and become an existence capable of exerting influence over the entire Empire."
Even if Ceres's partner were merely a low-ranking provincial noble, she would instantly become a powerhouse within the Empire.
However...
"What if that partner is my daughter, Alios?"
What if his spouse was the heir to a Dukedom, a Sword Master, and a woman with the reputation of a Hero?
"...It would be the birth of a major power that is hard to even imagine."
"The Whiperions are second only to us, the Gravius family. Even a fool could tell that joining forces through marriage would create the strongest faction in the Empire."
"Frankly, it's far too much power."
Even as they discussed the benefits Alios could gain from marrying Ceres, their expressions were grim.
Because with so many benefits came just as many drawbacks.
'If we aren't careful, our side will be swallowed up by the Whiperions.'
Usually, when two factions merge, the larger one takes the initiative, but this time was different.
'If you're going to fall in love, you should at least take the lead. But you've turned into a fool who gives everything to Ceres!'
Just look at Alios's state, painting a portrait of Ceres in her room right now!
If they were to marry, it was obvious she would give everything to Ceres and hand over the entire family on a silver platter.
Furthermore, the checks from those around them were also a problem.
Would others just sit back and watch two mighty high-ranking noble families merge?
"I'm worried about how the Imperial Family will react."
"Because it could easily threaten the Imperial Family."
The vassals spoke gravely.
The Whiperions, with a population of 1.5 million, and the Gravius family, with double that, merging into one.
It was something the Imperial Family would have every reason to be wary of.
And...
"I heard Her Majesty the Emperor is also interested in Young Master Ceres?"
It was truly hard to believe, but the fact that Viol also had feelings for Ceres made it an even bigger problem.
"Honestly, I still can't believe it. To think Her Majesty would show interest in a man."
"Well, it's not like their statuses are mismatched..."
"A man from a highly distinguished family and the greatest beauty in the Empire becoming the Emperor's consort. Looking strictly at the conditions, it's actually quite ideal."
But for Viol, who had an especially foul temper even among past emperors, to act like this, everyone was bewildered.
They wanted to deny it, but there were too many witnesses, and there was even one in this very family.
'Alios even fought Her Majesty over Ceres!'
A daughter and her liege fighting over a man at a party in front of everyone!
It was an international disgrace. They were still controlling the information, but it was only a matter of time before it spread.
'Other countries will laugh at us. Of all places, for our Gravius family to be caught up in such gossip.'
The Gravius family had been the head of the Emperor's faction, serving the Emperor for generations.
On the other hand, Ceres was the heir of the Whiperions, who traditionally acted as the head of the aristocratic faction.
It was even more absurd that a liege and her top vassal from the same faction were fighting over someone who was originally a political rival.

Was she serious? Or was it just another one of her strange whims like usual?
Looking at Viol's past behavior, it felt like she couldn't possibly be seriously in love, but...
'If by some chance she does take Ceres as her consort and he becomes the master of the Imperial Palace, the power dynamics of the Empire will completely change!'
So, if she had her way, she would have wanted to prevent not only Alios but also Viol from meeting Ceres.
That was exactly why she had invited him to the Dukedom.
"Now then. What should we do about this walking bomb, Ceres? Tell me a way to make this man give up on my daughter of his own accord."
Before making a move on the Emperor's side, let's deal with the closer issue: my daughter.
But telling the deranged Alios to give up would fall on deaf ears.
Instead, they had to say something to Ceres, the source of the problem, so the vassals put their heads together.
"We must make it clear that he is not welcome here. We must ensure he doesn't even dare dream of becoming the master of the Gravius household."
"How about making him stay with us for a few days and constantly putting pressure on him?"
"We must also show him the difference in our standing. That even the Whiperions are beneath us when compared to the Gravius family."
"While we're at it, we should also show Lady Alios our stance so..."
As everyone was throwing out ideas, Allois suddenly checked the time.
"...He should be arriving soon. Everyone, get ready. Prepare to put the pressure on Ceres Whiperion when he arrives."
After spending a long time plotting, she checked the time, calculated his arrival, and put the plan into action.
First.
Armed knights right in front of the family mansion. She lined up the family's elite knights.
They were exuding a terrifying aura, all according to Allois's instructions.
Greeting a visiting guest with armed knights. Normally, it was an incredibly disrespectful act that should never be done.
'But because it's so disrespectful, it will convey our intention that you are not welcome here all the more clearly.'
Intending to dominate him from their very first meeting, Allois frowned at the thought of Ceres.
'Ceres Whiperion! You're in a position where you can choose anyone, so you should have just picked some foreign royalty or someone you liked. What on earth were you thinking, wagging your tail at partners who are too much for you to handle?'
Allois believed that Ceres had done something first to charm both Alios and Viol.
'If only one of them fell for him, you could call it a coincidence. But if two of the most powerful people in the Empire fell for him hard enough to forget their dignity, he definitely did something.'
In Allois's mind, Ceres was someone who used his looks to play women to his fancy.
'Hmph, I even doubt if those looks are truly the best in the Empire. He might be pretty, but the rumors are probably just exaggerated.'
She hadn't believed the rumors about him being the greatest beauty in the Empire in the first place.
'He's that Ares's son, after all. Let alone the greatest beauty in the Empire, he probably isn't even fit to be a proper consort. It'd be a relief if he doesn't end up killing his partner. That's why they spread those weird rumors, to package him as the best possible groom.'
She suspected that the Count Whiperion family had intentionally spread them.
'People are creatures easily swayed by words. Even with the same appearance, they perceive it differently depending on the rumors. He probably has above-average looks, and with the rumors calling him the best in the Empire attached, everyone just convinced themselves it was true when they saw him in person.'
So now.
I will personally strip away that pathetic illusion!
...Just as she made that vow, the carriage sent from the Whiperions arrived.
However.
"What's this?"
"This definitely doesn't feel like a welcoming atmosphere."
"Did we come to the wrong place?"
Something was wrong. The reactions of the knights who seemed to have come as Ceres's escorts were far too calm.
Even though the Dukedom's boasted elite knights were unleashing their aura at full power, they weren't particularly surprised.
"They have no manners. Even though our liege has arrived."
The moment the silver-haired knight among them stepped forward in annoyance.
All of the Dukedom's knights were pushed back by that single person's aura.
"?!"

"What in the...!"
The knights, suppressed by the aura radiating from the silver-haired knight, were astonished.
Allois was even more shocked.
'A Sword Master?!'
The overwhelming aura reminded her of her daughter, so she instantly realized what level the opponent had reached.
'This makes no sense! Since when did the Count Whiperion family possess a Sword Master? I've never heard any information about this!'
She was dumbfounded by the impossible occurrence of the guest she meant to intimidate bringing along a strategic weapon.
But an even more absurd and shocking event occurred the next moment.
"Lord Ceres, please take my hand."

The silver-haired knight, who had instantly repelled the momentum of the opposing knights, reached out her hand toward the carriage.
Soon, the Sword Master—someone whom not even the monarch of a nation could treat carelessly—dropped to one knee.
Like a servant, she politely took his hand and escorted the person inside the carriage out.
The moment she confirmed that figure...

Allois finally realized why her daughter kept drawing portraits and wailing over them,
and admitted that Ceres was truly the greatest beauty in the Empire.
Thud.

Her hand instantly lost its strength, and the object she was holding fell to the ground.