I quietly placed the half ring into my pocket, watching Marjongong grin like a child. It was a far cry from the calm and dignified smile I usually saw from him, and it filled me with a sense of pride.

If I had known he would be this happy, I would have given it to him much sooner. From now on, I’ll give gifts without holding back.

'...Is this the right thing to do?'

However, seeing him so happy with the half ring on his finger, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. It felt like watching a poor husband, who couldn’t afford to buy a couple ring, pretending to be happy for his wife, who was trying to cheer him up.

Well, if he’s happy, then that’s what matters. After all, it’s just a temporary ring, so there’s no need to get too hung up on it.

“It's my treasure for life...”

Marjongong murmured in a dazed voice, and I quickly shook my head. That ugly thing is not a lifelong ring.

“That won’t do. There has to be a proper place for a wedding ring.”

Right. My goal is to fill the fingers of the brides with proper wedding rings, not these half ones.

Honestly, given the current situation, I wouldn’t be surprised if the wedding rings end up being half too, but even then, it would be weird to actually split a wedding ring. When the time comes, I’ll do my best to talk him out of it.

“Wedding ring…”

Luckily, the mention of marriage had the intended effect. Life returned to his dull eyes, and they began to sparkle.

“Hey, Agah?”

“Hmm?”

As I quietly tucked the half-ring into my pocket, I watched Marjongong grinning widely like a child. His usual calm, dignified smile was gone, replaced by a genuinely childlike laugh, and I felt a sense of pride well up inside me.

If I had known he’d be this happy, I should have given it to him much earlier. From now on, I’ll give gifts generously.

'...Is this really right?'

But seeing him so happy with the half-ring on, I felt a subtle guilt. It was as if I were watching a poor husband, unable to afford a couple's ring, trying to cheer up his wife who was pretending to be happy for him.

Well, if it makes him happy, then that’s what matters. After all, it’s just a temporary ring, so I shouldn't worry too much about it.

“...My treasure for life...”

Marjongong murmured in a dreamy voice, and I quickly shook my head. That hideous thing is not a lifetime ring.

“That won’t do. There needs to be a proper place for a wedding ring.”

Right. My goal is to fill the fingers of the brides with a proper wedding ring, not these half ones.

Honestly, given how things look right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if the wedding ring turned out to be half too, but even then, splitting a wedding ring would be a bit too strange. When the time comes, I’ll do my best to talk him out of it.

“Wedding ring…”

Fortunately, the mention of marriage had the desired effect. Life began to flicker back into his dull eyes.

“Hey, Agah?”

“Hm?”

Marjongong, who had been absentmindedly fiddling with the ring, hesitated before speaking up.

“Marriage… when do you think it’ll be?”

He asked shyly, but with his eyes shining, and I couldn’t help but smile.

Since I had already accepted his confession and even mentioned marriage, Marjongong was probably imagining a glorious wedding, complete with tiny quarter-elves playing in the garden.

I understand. He was the one who gave me the ring first, and unlike my selfish self who hurt him, Princess Margretta had no issues. Naturally, it makes sense for Princess Margretta to be his first wife.

'So, then, what about me?'

The issue I had been desperately avoiding and trying not to think about crept into my mind.

The unspoken rule was that the second wife could never be of higher rank than the first wife.

As the wedding drew near, I finally remembered this unwritten rule. If Princess Margretta became the first wife, then technically, all noblewomen in the empire could become Agah’s wives, as there is no noblewoman higher in rank than a princess.

But I’m not a princess. As a duchess, I am of higher rank than a princess.

'If only I were a princess…'

Then I wouldn’t be below Princess Margretta, but I wouldn’t be above her either. I would have enough qualifications to be the second wife.

I missed my father even more than usual. If he were still alive... I could have realized my love and even shown him my cute grandchildren.

For the first time, the name “Duke” felt heavy. In all my hundred years of life, I had never felt this way before, and now, Agah would be taking my firsts once again.

But this first... it didn’t have to happen...

'...But he did say it was a wedding ring.'

I shook off my gloomy thoughts and tried to think positively.

Yes, Agah definitely said it was a wedding ring. Even if I couldn’t officially become his wife, even if we couldn’t have a proper wedding, he said he would still think of me as his wife.

Becoming a concubine is a sad thing, but it’s blocked by the wall of tradition...

“Although it’ll take some time because I’m second, you have to understand. We can’t have the wedding at the same time, right?”

...?

There was an uncomfortable feeling in Agah's words. It sounded as though he was saying he would marry me.

That’s strange. Unless I became his first wife, marrying him was impossible. Yet, hadn’t Agah already mentioned that I would be the second?

“Marry me, you mean?”

“Yeah.”

I was stunned by the gaze that looked at me as though I were supposed to understand.

'Ah.'

And then it dawned on me. Agah doesn’t know about the tradition.

Well, he’s only just over twenty, and he became an official right after turning adult. He might not have much knowledge about marriage.

“Agah. That’s not possible. A second wife can’t outrank the first, right?”

I spoke in the gentlest voice I could muster. Explaining why I couldn’t be his wife was painful, but I didn’t want Agah to misunderstand.

“I understand.”

“Eh, huh?”

His answer only deepened my confusion.

He knows...?

“Are you thinking of breaking the tradition? That won’t do. If you do, the Barenti family won’t stay quiet.”

As the worst-case scenario flashed through my mind, I hurriedly stopped Agah.

If he knew about the tradition and still insisted on marrying me, it meant he was intending to disregard it. That would not be acceptable. No matter how much I loved Agah, such actions would threaten the authority of the first wife and the Barenti family—especially Ironblood Duke—would be enraged.

There was no way Ironblood Duke, who was supposed to be Agah’s strongest supporter, would let him do something like that. If I just gave up my selfishness, everyone could be happy.

“You’re caught up in the tradition too?”

But instead of agreeing with me, Agah asked, puzzled.

“Isn’t that just a family standard?”

I was left speechless.

“I thought people within the duke’s family were considered equal?”

Well, they are considered equal. But it’s hard to see a duke and a princess as equals.

“There have been cases where both the first and second wives were countesses.”

That’s true. It’s actually quite common. But if the second wife were a countess, and not a duchess, it would have been impossible.

...Or is it really impossible?

'There’s no precedent, though.'

I quickly reviewed Agah's words in my mind.

There have been cases where daughters of noble families of equal rank served as wives simultaneously. So, if Princess Margretta and I are both of the same family, regardless of titles, we could be seen as equal.

To refute this argument, a titled person and a mere noblewoman would have to share a husband, but there has never been such a case. Why would a titled person become one of many wives?

“…Isn’t that right?”

“No, you're right. Agah is correct.”

I answered firmly to Agah’s cautious follow-up.

Honestly, it’s a stretch. It's too much of a convenient interpretation.

But it’s still something I can argue for. It’s not breaking the tradition, it’s just interpreting it differently.

'As expected of Agah.'

He’s a trailblazer who’s found a path no one else has. And he’s my partner who found a way for me to be his official wife.

I couldn’t help but love Agah even more.

The butler who managed Kal’s mansion led the way down the hallway.

With every step, I couldn’t suppress my racing heart. The butler’s guidance wasn’t just for guests; it was a process of showing the mansion to the future mistress, particularly the first wife.

‘Impressive.’

I thought as I followed the butler. Since last summer, I’d felt the staff here were truly exceptional.

Honestly, I had liked it since I first stepped into the mansion. Even though they could have been caught off guard by the situation with only the guest present and no Kal, the butler had welcomed me perfectly.

As we passed the front gate, the staff welcomed us grandly. The butler, especially, bowed politely at the front, greeting me as if I were more than a guest.

There was no fault in the courteousness, and although I was told I could relax, the butler smiled lightly as he saw my ring.

“Although I have many shortcomings, my eyes and ears are not blind.”

How could I refuse such a remark? As expected, the staff hand-picked by Kal were exceptional.

“I’m a bit nervous, having to serve the future ladies.”

He even added a considerate word, considering Luise and Irina, who might feel left out.

He truly had good manners. Kal trusted him to manage the mansion.

“If the place you stayed before was uncomfortable, would you like me to show you there again?”

“Of course.”

With that, the butler happily led me to the room, where I unpacked, and not long after, there was a knock.

When I called them in, the butler entered and bowed his head.

“If you don’t mind, I would like to show you around the mansion’s facilities.”

I nodded without hesitation. There was no need to explain all the facilities to a guest.

“Only the treasure vault remains.”

“Really? I’m looking forward to it.”

I replied softly as the butler’s words pulled me from my thoughts.

We had already gone around the mansion, and only the final place remained. It was a very large mansion, but Kal’s occupied space wasn’t that extensive, so we quickly completed the tour.

“Unfortunately, it’s not quite up to the Barenti Duke’s vault.”

“Heh. The Barenti vault has been around for 300 years, but this one was built by Kal in just a few years, right?”

I smiled at the pride in the butler’s voice.

This was not Krasious’ vault, but Kal’s personal mansion vault. If he was comparing it to the Barenti vault, then it wasn’t just an ordinary vault.

And as I thought, the butler opened the vault’s door with a deep smile.

‘Wow.’

Upon seeing Kal’s vault, I could understand the butler’s pride.

There were weapons that Kal would love, jewels of many colors, luxurious clothing and fabrics, and various other treasures.

While not abundant in quantity, the variety was remarkable. And the quality of each item was undeniably high. It was small but substantial.

“The spoils from the great hunting wars, imperial gifts, and various rewards have all piled up to create this vault.”

The process of filling the vault was also impressive. Only treasures earned through skill.

“Impressive.”

“Though, the owner doesn’t care much about it.”

The butler added with a sigh, and I smiled faintly.

That was true. Kal was so frugal, he only wore a ceremonial uniform from the Inspection Department.

‘With so many great clothes here.’

There were so many robes piled up on one side. I could wear any of them without any issue.

‘Huh?’

Then, deep inside the vault, I noticed something strange.

Usually, the most cherished items in a vault are of great sentimental value, such as heirlooms or keepsakes.

‘What is this?’

But the items before me seemed so ordinary.

The display cases were clean and luxurious, but the items were swords, staffs, spears, scriptures, two crossed swords, daggers, and bows.

An odd assortment of items. They didn’t seem like luxury goods. If they looked more like artifacts, I might think Kal had a hobby of collecting antiques, but...

“These are the things the master treasures most.”

I stared at the objects, and the butler quietly spoke. I wondered if they were misplaced, but apparently, these were indeed Kal’s treasured items.

...Why?

“It’s best to hear about them from the master himself. That would make it even more meaningful.”

Sensing my thoughts, the butler smiled slightly and added,

“Oh, and the same goes for this.”

I turned my gaze toward where the butler pointed, and there, a very peculiar item was carelessly left in the corner.

A large sword and a scythe. The combination was just as confusing, and my head started to spin.

“…The management seems a bit sloppy?”

“Those were left as they were by the master.”

This only made me more confused.