Chapter 173 I Am Your Best Choice
"There are countless eyes watching you right now, but since you're a duke, people need to think carefully about how to pursue you."
Anne laughed. "So is Lord Friedel here to ask around for someone too?"
Friedel looked at Anne seriously. "Can't I be doing this for myself?"
"What?"
"I mean, Anne." Friedel stared into Anne's eyes and spoke earnestly, "I like you. I want to marry you. Will you accept me?"
Anne stepped back instinctively, heart trembling at Friedel's serious expression. After hesitating, she spoke softly, "Lord Friedel, we only spent some time together on the eastern battlefield... Even though we saw each other at the military camp when we were kids, we never really talked, let alone developed feelings. At most, we're just comrades in arms..."
She thought it over, "I don't like this kind of joke, especially about something that's bothering me right now."
Friedel knew Anne had no romantic feelings for him. After all, he'd hidden his feelings too well before. Unless someone was close to him, they'd never guess that Friedel had been secretly in love with Anne for so many years.
Anne didn't know about his feelings and hadn't spent much time with him, so it was natural for her not to believe him.
Though it stung a bit, Friedel understood that his direct marriage proposal to Anne did seem strange. So he smiled helplessly, "That's my fault, but Anne, I'm serious about wanting to marry you."
"You..."
Anne couldn't find the words. She felt her heart beating too fast, as if it was about to burst out of her chest. "Why? Is this His Majesty's idea?"
Anne couldn't think of any other reason.
Friedel shook his head - he couldn't let Anne think he was marrying her just to follow orders. "You know I've been old enough to marry for a while now, but when I was on the eastern battlefield, my brother couldn't arrange meetings with those ladies. Now that we've returned victorious, my brother brought it up again, saying my mother also hopes I'll get married soon."
"I've looked at the portraits the painters sent - those noble ladies and princesses from other countries, I don't want to marry any of them."
Anne sighed understandingly, "But as a prince, His Majesty won't let you stay unmarried forever."
"Yes, so when I heard my brother told you to find a husband within three months, I thought I fit your needs perfectly."
Friedel gazed at Anne's beautiful face. "First, I'm a prince. You don't need to worry about giving me your duke title. We each have our own territories and affairs, so there's no risk of conflict."
"Second, I'm the commander of the Lion Knights and you're the commander of the Ivy Knights. We both guard the Soth Empire. We can communicate about military matters and work together better. If any problems come up in the future, cooperation between our two sides would be easier."
Anne nodded - Friedel was right, and he was indeed her best option.
"Most importantly, if you look for a husband yourself within three months, you might not find anyone better than me. Though that sounds like bragging, I believe it's true."
"We already know each other and have fought together on the battlefield. We understand each other's character. Getting together under these circumstances is much better than being forced to accept someone else's arranged marriage, and it solves both our problems."
"That does sound reasonable." Anne nodded calmly. "But it doesn't have to be me, does it? And you have more choices. You might meet someone more suitable in the future, while I... honestly, Lord Friedel, it would be more believable if you just told me His Majesty's final arrangement for my husband is you."
"But it's probably not." Anne smiled helplessly. "His Majesty wants me to find a suitable husband within three months, but most people don't have the courage to propose to a duke. So the purpose is clear - His Majesty already has someone in mind for me to marry. As for who, it should be someone with similar status and position who's loyal to His Majesty."
Friedel raised an eyebrow. "I meet all those criteria. Why couldn't it be me?"
"I thought that at first, but Lord Friedel, you're His Majesty's own brother. He definitely wouldn't tie your marriage to political interests. Besides, there are plenty of people who could match me. His Majesty doesn't need to sacrifice his own brother's happiness."
Anne's hands clenched unconsciously, an inexplicable bitterness in her heart. "Lord Friedel, even if I agreed, His Majesty definitely wouldn't."
Friedel hadn't expected Anne to think this way. In Anne's eyes, the king's sudden command was just a way to control her, and the tool used didn't need to be particularly perfect - as if His Majesty sat high above, not really caring about her at all.
But that wasn't true.
Friedel sighed inwardly. He didn't know how to explain his brother's character to Anne.
His brother, like him, had known Anne from early on and was close friends with Duke Skoda despite their age difference. With that kind of relationship, unless it seriously affected the country's unity and stability, his brother would never sacrifice Anne's happiness for his goals.
"My brother will agree."
Friedel felt his throat go dry. He picked up the tea Anne had poured and took a sip. "My brother has always looked after you. He's said that in his heart, you're like his sister."
A flicker of doubt crossed Anne's eyes. "What kind of person forces their sister to get married?"
"Maybe he's just worried about you struggling alone, or running into another guy like Holden who changes his mind. At least he does care about you and hopes someone can share your burden, while ensuring the family's title and honor don't fall into the wrong hands."
"Also, you said he's worried about someone manipulating you from behind - that's true, but my brother has no ill intentions. He's never thought about moving against the Virlet family, and he doesn't doubt the family's loyalty. You don't need to worry."
Friedel held the teacup handle, his gaze sincere. "In the end, he just hopes you can marry someone worthy of your trust. To keep you from being hurt by others again, he decided to arrange your marriage."
"That's why I say I'm suitable - my brother will definitely trust me, and with my abilities, I can handle most problems together with you. My brother can't deny that anyone is better than me, can he?"
Anne understood what Friedel meant, and her resolve began to waver.