Chapter 151 Can't Let Go
"We should have formally made Anne the Duke of Virlet long ago, but who knew Anne would run off to the eastern battlefield. This matter has been dragging on until now. Since she's in the capital this time, we might as well hold the ceremony for her."
He thought for a moment, then added, "Then I'll arrange a suitable husband for Anne, and she can return to the Virlet estate to prepare for the wedding."
Friedel was just about to sit back down on the sofa when he instinctively straightened up again at these words.
Rolf looked at Friedel with disdain. "Why are you so shocked? At Anne's age, having a husband is perfectly normal, isn't it?"
"Besides, managing the entire family by herself and being responsible for the legion—how could she handle it all? If she had a husband by her side to help, she might have it much easier."
Friedel couldn't help but say angrily, "The family management isn't all dumped on Anne alone. There are plenty of people helping her, and we can just find a reliable steward later. As for the Ivy Knights, the Kivara family has been managing them all along. Although Anne is the commander, that family won't just wash their hands of it. Anne only needs to handle major matters, mainly going to the battlefield."
"But speaking of that, we've already signed a short-term peace treaty with the Viller Empire, and next we're preparing to sign a friendship treaty with Zotfort. For a long time to come, the Soth Empire won't be involved in any wars. Anne won't be that busy at all!"
"Well, I can't just give her nothing as a reward. She's already a duke—I can't promote her any higher."
"I don't care anyway!" Friedel said through gritted teeth. "As king, you should be concerned with affairs of state, not messing around with other people's marriages. If I hear you're arranging some random marriage for Anne, I'll...!"
Rolf wasn't angry at his brother's words. He narrowed his eyes. "You'll what? Tear down my desk again to burn as firewood, or take my cup to feed the cat?"
Friedel snorted coldly. "I'll charge right over and snap your quill in half, then drag you to the training grounds for a duel!"
Rolf's face darkened. This brat Friedel actually wanted to fight him!
"If anyone else dared threaten the king like this, do you know what would happen to them?"
Friedel lifted his chin with an "I'm not listening" attitude, which really annoyed Rolf. He waved his hand. "Go on, get out. If you're not sleeping, I still need to rest. Besides, this has nothing to do with you, and I wasn't planning to force a marriage on Anne anyway... Don't look at me like I'm your enemy. Whose brother are you anyway!"
"Yours, of course." Friedel walked to the door somewhat smugly. "I knew you couldn't win against me."
Rolf rolled his eyes speechlessly. "Acting so proud, but whenever I ask who you want to marry, you go mute. If you're so capable, go show off in front of the girl you like!"
Friedel's steps halted, and his voice became flustered. "I don't like anyone! Any—anyway... just don't go arranging husbands for people, and don't try to push women on me either. I'm leaving!"
Hearing Friedel's panicked footsteps, Rolf sighed.
Conor, who had been waiting outside the door, entered the room and put away the royal decree Rolf had written. When dawn came, this decree would be sent to the Lance family. As for the Titan family...
Conor looked thoughtfully at Rolf. "Candy is now part of the Titan family as Holden's wife, but Holden does have quite a bit of military merit, so we can't punish him for that."
Rolf glanced at him. "He's the commander of the Dawn Knight Order. I've already stripped him of his military merits from the eastern battlefield, sending him home with nothing to show for it."
Small families like that rely on the rewards from military merit to get by. Who knows what kind of scene it'll be when they find out Holden and Candy have no military merit or rewards at all.
This time Rolf didn't need to save face for Holden—he even hoped to see Holden and the Titan family behind him embarrassed.
Conor had served Rolf for many years and could guess his punishment. Though he thought it was too lenient, he couldn't question the king's decision.
"Since we're talking about military merit rewards, what kind of reward does Your Majesty plan to give Miss Anne?"
Rolf glanced at Conor. "Just now when I wanted to introduce someone to Anne, Friedel immediately came to stop me. That kid has had a crush on Anne for years but never had the courage to confess. Finally, when he came to his senses, he went to Lady Sophia asking her to marry Anne to him, but then Anne turned around and married Holden."
"I really don't know what Lady Sophia was thinking back then. How could he be worthy?" Rolf curled his lip. "My first order after becoming king was to send Holden to the southern battlefield on the wedding day. Did he think he could get Anne that easily? "
"And no one would question the king's command... I originally thought that if Holden really had the ability to achieve merit on the battlefield and bring glory back to Anne, I'd persuade Friedel to let it go. After all, Anne would have married a decent man, but who could have imagined...!"
Rolf said through gritted teeth, "That bastard Holden actually dared to have the Dawn Knight Order members submit a joint petition, using his and Candy's military merit to exchange for my approval of their marriage. Damn it, that's threatening the king! Fortunately, Anne had the guts to ask me directly to help her divorce. Even if Mother hadn't said anything, I would have made sure Anne lived well after the divorce."
"It's just that Friedel—he's good in every way except that mouth of his is harder than his sword. If only he'd charge up to Anne himself and tell her how he feels, I could have arranged their marriage long ago!"
Conor could see what was going on now. He carefully spoke up, "The person Your Majesty wanted to introduce to Miss Anne was Prince Friedel?"
"Hmph, who else but him—stubborn as they come, and I have to figure out his marriage for him!"
Conor shook his head helplessly. "You're his elder brother—it's natural to worry about your younger brother."
"How about this..."
Conor whispered in Rolf's ear, and his eyes immediately lit up. "Let's do it!"
Early the next morning, Anne had just woken up when a maid came to report that the queen wanted to see her.
Anne was a bit confused. Although she had known Rolf for a long time, she had never met this queen. Why would she suddenly ask to see her?
Since the queen had summoned her, Anne couldn't refuse. She explained to Queen Mother Smith's head maid, then went to meet the queen in the dress prepared for her.
While the maids helped her dress, Anne asked about the queen's temperament and felt relieved to hear she was gentle and easy-going.