Chapter 169 Friedel's Hesitation
Now rumors about Candy are spreading everywhere, saying she's a slut who'll spread her legs for any man. Candy was terrified - if she just admitted to it, maybe these disgusting men in front of her would want to do something to her too.
"I've been sent to find someone from the Lance family. Do you know where the people who used to live here went?"
The few men who were asked exchanged glances. Though they found this woman a bit odd, they didn't think much of it.
"Don't know the details, just heard they sold the house and land and went somewhere far away. Maybe hiding in the mountains or countryside."
"Makes sense. After having such a shameful daughter, who'd have the nerve to keep living here?"
"I heard that because of that girl, what's her name, Candy, right? They even lost their hereditary baron title. Really tragic. And the house and land were sold at rock-bottom prices."
"Anyway, that's how it is. The family left by carriage in the middle of the night, didn't even dare show their faces during the day. Probably too embarrassed."
Candy dug her nails into her palm, nearly breaking the skin before she managed to control her emotions and keep them from showing in front of these people. She nodded with apparent calm, "Okay, I understand."
In truth, her chest ached terribly. Every breath felt like gasping on a knife's edge.
So this was what it felt like to be abandoned by family. Candy had thought that no matter what, her parents would be her last refuge. She never imagined they'd leave so decisively, departing overnight without even sending word to her.
Abandoned by both husband and parents - the Soth Empire was so vast, yet Candy didn't know where she could possibly go.
Unlike Candy's despair, Friedel had been in an extremely irritable mood lately. This feeling persisted even after he returned to his territory, where he refused all invitations and requests for audience.
Earlier in the capital, his royal brother wanted to arrange a marriage for Anne, demanding she find a suitable husband within three months. It looked like he was forcing Anne to marry.
In fact, Friedel knew that Rolf's move was meant to push him to confess his feelings to Anne and propose, to prevent Anne from marrying someone else without his knowledge, like she had before.
Friedel had told Rolf long ago that he liked Anne, and with Rolf's blessing, had personally gone to see Lady Sophia, hoping she would marry Anne to him in the future.
Back then, Friedel was about to take command of the Lion Knights on the eastern front. Countless noble ladies across the empire wanted to marry him, but he only had eyes for Anne. He planned to win the eastern campaign, then use that victory as his proposal gift to the Virlet family.
Yet less than a year later, Friedel heard news of Anne's marriage.
Anne's husband was Holden from the Titan family, a guy who wasn't particularly famous before marrying Anne. It happened right when Rolf took the throne, and he immediately issued a royal decree setting the southern expedition's departure date for the same day as Anne and Holden's wedding. The ceremony hadn't even finished when Holden had to leave the hall and head to the southern battlefield.
Friedel had always regretted not having the courage to go to Anne himself and confess his feelings, allowing Anne to easily accept someone else's proposal.
Fortunately, things took a turn.
Holden went to the southern battlefield, got involved with Candy, and insisted on bringing Candy home as his wife. This angered Anne so much that she went straight to the capital and obtained a royal decree to legally divorce Holden. Friedel felt sorry for the three years Anne had wasted and the grievances she'd suffered, while also feeling a secret hope stirring within him.
Friedel knew he shouldn't feel glad, because the hurt Anne suffered was real. But it also meant he had a chance to get close to Anne. If Anne was willing, Friedel would trade everything he had for her agreement.
On the eastern battlefield, no one knew how fast and frantically his heart beat when he saw Anne walk into the command tent.
But Friedel understood even more clearly that Anne had no plans to remarry now.
No matter how much Anne now despised the Titan family and Holden, she had genuinely had feelings for him when she agreed to marry him. A failed marriage could easily make someone resistant to the next relationship.
If possible, Anne would probably prefer to focus her energy on managing her territory, or continue improving her swordsmanship and gaining knowledge from books. His Majesty the King was asking her to enter another marriage - how unwilling Anne must be.
Anne was no longer just a duke's daughter—she was the duke, responsible for her territory and restoring the Virlet name.Not only that, Anne was also the commander of the Ivy Knights. If the Soth Empire needed her, Anne would definitely be the first to step forward and volunteer - this was not only the Virlet family's responsibility, but also Anne's wish.
Friedel loved seeing Anne smile, and he loved seeing Anne's eyes shine as she worked hard on the battlefield. If this was Anne's wish, he was willing to always support her from behind.
But when Friedel expressed this idea to Rolf, Rolf criticized Friedel's naivety. "My dear brother, as a man and a noble prince, neither I nor your mother will accept you never marrying. So would you be willing to marry a lady other than Anne? Of course not, right?"
"I certainly understand that Anne doesn't want to remarry now, but as the Duke of Virlet, she bears very heavy responsibilities. And I've agreed that her future husband can inherit the duke's title. Therefore, many men will definitely want to present themselves to her and win Anne's heart. Do you think I'll agree to let some man from who knows where marry Anne and gain the duke's title for nothing?"
"No, of course I won't agree. Whether it's someone else seizing the Virlet family's future, or Anne being manipulated by her husband into making irrational decisions - as king, I don't want to see either of these things happen."
Rolf stared at Friedel, his tone cold. "Now Anne is a duke and the commander of the Ivy Knights. She cannot be beyond my control, to prevent hidden dangers in the Soth Empire. That's why I want Anne to marry, and she must marry you."