“…Concerned about that very point, I wanted to hold the wedding as quickly as possible without others noticing.”

“While skipping all courtesy and procedures.”

“Still, I tried to follow formal procedures as much as possible by personally going to the Grand Duchy to bring these documents…”

“To have moved your precious self in person, how should I express this emotion…”

“I will rectify it. Anyway, to quickly hold the wedding so there’s no stain on Valentine’s pure honor…”

“It seems the entire empire has already noticed.”

Reynard hesitated at the Viscount’s sharp words.

“…What do you mean…”

“You’re deceiving me while making a grand entrance here for all of Eldon to see, Marquis.”

It was a pointed remark about today’s visit, with carriages and wagons emblazoned with the family crest, and servants wearing clothes clearly marked as belonging to the Dennox Grand Duke’s family.

“I mean the carriages full of gifts still arriving. Isn’t that essentially reserving the front page of the empire’s daily newspaper tomorrow?”

“……”

“Moreover, not content with just the Grand Duke’s formal letter, you brought documents with His Majesty the Emperor’s seal as a recommender. If this isn’t pushing in rudely on a grand scale, without even considering you might be refused, what is it?”

“……”

“You’ve deliberately created a situation where refusal is impossible. How should I respond to this?”

Reynard was at a loss for words. It was exactly as Viscount Wiche had seen through.

Victory. 

And creating a situation that absolutely cannot fail.

This was Reynard’s way of living life, just as when he fought enemies on the battlefield. Even if it harmed someone, completely crushed the other side without mercy, or hurt someone’s feelings. For him, only ‘victory’ was always important.

‘Oops.’

It was because he had overlooked that Viscount Wiche, contrary to his expectations, was not a person to be pressured by power, and that he had eyes that could keenly see through all of this.

‘If I had known he would be this displeased, should I have chosen another method….’

Reynard regretted a little as he mulled over the Viscount’s displeased face and their conversation so far. His downfall was moving too unilaterally for a single purpose without considering the other party’s position.

But even if he could turn back time, he would make the same choice.

That’s how pressed for time Reynard was now.

The instinct of an extremely dominant alpha was shouting every moment.

Every cell of his instinct was telling him to bring his pregnant omega to his side as soon as possible. It felt like his brain was screaming every day.

So even if he could turn back time, he had no mind to proceed more leisurely. He probably would have acted the same way even knowing everything.

It would be correct to say that he couldn’t wait any longer, even if it was somewhat forceful.

“I apologize again for being rude, but…”

“Yes. You have been excessively rude.”

“…I won’t cowardly hide that I wanted to hurry the wedding even by a day.”

“You’re already overflowing with cowardice…?”

The Viscount’s eyes read: You are a cowardly bandit who took my innocent son and got him pregnant before marriage.

‘You are already the king of cowardice.’

His face was hurling insults.

“……”

Every time he said something, it was encountered, and before he could finish speaking, it was encountered again…. Feeling verbally beaten by the Viscount, Reynard’s voice came out suppressed as he spoke.

Suddenly, he desperately wanted to see Valentine, who would blush shyly and smile at whatever he said. Reynard secretly wiped away the sweat flowing down his neck while inwardly trying to swallow the dissonance of this family again.

He had been inwardly at ease before the visit.

Valentine, who seemed like a painting of purity and naivety. So he had expected that the family would also be close to small animals like his cute omega who resembled rabbits and squirrels. But that expectation completely withered as he saw Viscount Wiche’s sharp gaze and fierce way with words.

Rather, Reynard didn’t know at all that it was because such people had raised their only omega son, wrapping around him, that Valentine could grow up so innocently.

His urgent heart and hasty progress in various ways had thus completed this first meeting in bitter cold.

The tea on the table was already cold, untouched by anyone. Just like the chilly air in this office.

And because of the frozen air and ferocity, unable to go out through the door, the aged butler Clemens standing behind, drenched in cold sweat, was unnecessarily hit by a spark of that anger.

“Clemens!”

A loud voice burst from the mouth of Viscount Wiche, his face full of anger.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Go outside and call for Lawyer Norman. As quickly as possible.”

“Understood.”

The experienced butler left the office, simultaneously showing off his skill of calmly answering an angry master and the skill of walking out faster than anyone else without making a sound.

While Lawyer Norman arrived at the office with the butler in less than 10 minutes, the room with only the two of them was filled with silence and the Viscount’s anger in the air.

Lawyer Norman determined that the Grand Duke’s marriage proposal and the Emperor’s recommendation letter that Reynard had brought were formal documents with no legal issues. Viscount Wiche elegantly signed his consent on the document with a fountain pen and opened his mouth towards Reynard.

“In that you brought such coercive documents with grand advertising!”

Here was a steam engine.

“That a mere Viscount’s family like ours would refuse! I know you didn’t even think of that, but.”

The Viscount, emphasizing ‘mere’, pointed out the pressure of power that the marriage proposal had brought until the end.

It was as if he had crumbled under the pressure of the Grand Duke and Emperor, when he hadn’t yielded to the pressure from Empress Beatrice and the Hedderfield Duke’s family.

“The biggest reason I signed my consent is not because of external pressure. I want to say it’s solely because of Valentine!”

The Viscount was explicitly making the point to the proposer that the reason he was accepting this marriage proposal was not due to external oppression, but because of his beloved son’s pregnancy.

Reynard nodded at the Viscount’s words and stared intently at his signature.

‘Finally…!’

Although it was words left with plenty of warnings, the signature of consent was on the document anyway.

Reynard confirmed that the Viscount’s permission and legal procedures were being carried out. Finally, with a smile of victory on his face, he opened his mouth.

“I will keep it in mind.”

Moreover, his hand was already extended to receive back the signed marriage proposal.

Once the document was in his hands, wedding preparations would begin. No, in fact, they were already rapidly progressing under the surface. And the document would be submitted directly to the imperial family on the wedding day along with the marriage vow signed by the Archbishop. That’s how the legal procedures were expected to be finalized.

It would prove to everyone in the world that their marriage was the most tightly bound marriage alliance, guaranteed by the Emperor. At the same time, the entire empire would be a witness to ensure that the marital relationship could never be broken.

‘The legal procedures, intertwined double and triple, will be perfectly completed.’

The heads of both families, of course, the Archbishop who officiated, and the Emperor who recommended. Such a marriage certificate entangled with so many big figures would prove that it was legally the most solid marriage.

In fact, in the Heston Empire, divorce was not possible without the consent of the officiating bishop and the recommending witness.

“I promise to be an excellent alliance both internally and externally.”

It was a promise made knowing that everyone wants to share power through marriage ties with the Grand Duke’s family. But the Viscount openly snorted.

He had never thought of gaining benefit from his son’s marriage in the first place. He had only hoped for him to live happily. But a bandit had provoked him while kidnapping his son. So to the Viscount, it only looked like Reynard was saying, ‘If I take him, it’s to your benefit, right?’

So the Viscount couldn’t help but be exasperated and angry.

“Ha!”

It was such a strong snort that foreign matter might have flown from his nose into the teacup. Ignoring Reynard raising one eyebrow at this, the Viscount continued speaking.

“However!”

“…?”

“I won’t return this document to you right away.”

“Pardon?”

“Although I signed it, succumbing to dirty external pressure…!”

The Viscount was so full of anger that he didn’t even realize he had referred to the Emperor and Grand Duke’s signatures as ‘dirty external pressure’. Well, for the Viscount, the only beings he shouldn’t swear at usually were only the Holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the clergy. Perhaps he was already feeling comfortable with Reynard like family. To the extent of openly criticizing the Emperor, the master of the empire.

“I absolutely cannot allow this marriage without Valentine’s permission, the person concerned.”

The office was now filled with the Viscount’s angry pheromones.

“I understand you haven’t yet received consent for the proposal from my son.”

That was exactly right.

Valentine had fainted before accepting the proposal, and so Reynard hadn’t received any answer. And yesterday’s Valentine, who had fainted, confessed everything in detail after returning home. About receiving the proposal and the fact that he hadn’t given any answer yet. He truly was a transparent son, both front and back.

Knowing all this, the Viscount declared firmly.

“Get Valentine’s consent.”

“Consent…”

“Then I will return this to you.”

After saying that, Viscount Wiche stood up like lightning and shouted to the butler.