Chapter 29: No Marriage

“How long I’ve waited!”

Dorothy’s sniffling soon escalated into a full-blown wail. The people nearby began to glance at Dien with suspicious looks, causing his flustered movements to become even more exaggerated.

“I’m sorry, Lady Dorothy…”

Dien looked at Dorothy, who was crying thick, heavy tears, and apologized with all his heart. Although he didn’t fully understand her feelings, he could tell from her tears that she had truly been waiting for him for a long time.

‘Is this what a celebrity feels like when looking at a superfan?’

A sheepish Dien comforted Dorothy once again.

“No, it’s okay now. Since I know who you are.”

Dorothy spoke while wiping her tears with her sleeve. She was trying her best to compose herself. Dien watched her quietly as she did so.

“Th-then… please give me a hug.”

“What?”

“Hmph… like this!”

The moment Dien was startled by her request, Dorothy dove into his arms. His eyes darted around, finding no place to rest. Dien swallowed hard and froze in place.

And just like that.

The true identity of the street musician began to spread beyond the concert hall and throughout the Royal Capital.

***

The morning sun rose, and Oren headed out to the Royal Castle, feeling the morning breeze against his body. Lately, Oren felt a change in his repetitive daily routine. He didn’t quite like the shifted atmosphere within his household.

“I heard he left the castle late yesterday too?”

“Yes, Baron. They say Young Master Dien handles as much work as the senior aides.”

“Hmm… The Chancellor is being too much! Giving so much work to a child!”

“That is not the case, Baron. From what I hear, the Young Master takes the initiative in everything. He has grown to be quite admirable, just like you, Baron.”

“No! Dien is still too young!”

Aide Vance flinched at Oren’s scolding. Oren no longer found Vance’s words of praise for Dien pleasant.

Ever since Dien began his succession training, Oren had started hearing countless compliments about Dien from his close colleagues at the Royal Castle. From his first day, he had uncovered corruption within the merchant guilds and subsequently earned the recognition of Chancellor Persian. Naturally, many officials held him in high regard. Who else could receive such praise during their succession training? Moreover, because the praise often came from the aides, it was considered even more valuable.

‘Excessive attention is not good…’

Oren whispered to himself.

At first, Oren couldn’t hide his happiness at the compliments regarding Dien. What parent wouldn’t be pleased to hear their son being praised? However, as the compliments continued to pour in, Oren felt an inexplicable sense of loneliness.

“Dien is late every day now.”

Dien was now leaving the castle later than he was. Whenever Oren used to return home after work, Dien was always the first to run out and hug him. But ever since that sight disappeared, the lingering loneliness was beyond words.

“The house is so quiet lately…”

“Hahaha, is that so?”

“I barely see Dien anymore…”

They say most parents realize their child has grown up when the house becomes quiet. It is the feeling that the house has gone silent because the child no longer seeks the parent out.

It was the same for Oren. The young Dien left for work earlier than he did and returned later. In the past, they would end the day by chatting together after returning to the mansion, but now that Dien was late, Oren often finished his day alone in silence.

This was why Oren couldn’t simply be happy about the praise Dien received. While he was proud to see Dien doing well on his own, away from his father’s hand, he also felt a sense of sadness.

***

Oren was in his office, reviewing his schedule.

“Hmm.”

As he had grown accustomed to the work, a week’s schedule no longer felt like a burden.

And then.

The office door opened, and Persian entered.

“Baron Oren, are you very busy?”

“Not at all, Chancellor. Please, come in.”

Oren saw Persian’s face and stood up from his seat to greet him.

“What brings you here?”

Persian took a seat in the reception area. Oren naturally brought out two cups of black tea and sat across from him.

“I just stopped by. It isn’t as if we only see each other for work!”

Lately, Persian had been acting quite friendly toward Oren. Oren responded with a kind smile.

“It seems you’ve been visiting my office quite frequently these days, Chancellor. Is it just my imagination?”

“Hahaha, does it feel that way?”

“Very much so, hahaha.”

It was already a well-known fact among the palace staff that Dien had become Persian’s right-hand man. Oren felt a slight twinge of jealousy toward Persian, who saw Dien more often than he did.

“I say this every time, but Baron Oren, you have a truly wonderful son! By the way, did you know that the street musician who has the capital buzzing is actually Dien?”

“No, I only found out recently after hearing it from a servant.”

“Amazing… Not only is he talented in administration, but he even has a gift for music!”

The praise for Dien was endless. However, Oren felt a bitter sensation even amidst Persian’s compliments.

The fact that Dien was the famous street musician—he hadn’t heard it from Dien himself, but through a servant. In the past, the boy had no secrets from him…

Also, while living with Dien, Oren had never seen him handle an instrument. If it had been before, Dien would have babbled about his affairs first, and Oren would have known about it before anyone else.

The fact that he had overcome the Devil’s Curse and started outdoor activities was a joyful thing, but a sense of loss he couldn’t name was unavoidable.

“Baron Oren. So, about that…”

Watching Oren’s expression, Persian hesitantly began to speak. He kept pursing his lips. Seeing his behavior, Oren leaned in toward him.

“Yes, please speak, Chancellor.”

“Hmm… As you know, Dien will soon be an adult, a fine man… Well, if we were to decide on a partner for the boy in advance, it would save a lot of trouble later… And the boy wouldn’t have to waste his emotions on unnecessary things…”

Persian continued while stealing glances at Oren. Oren had been listening intently to Persian’s cautious words. Soon, his face turned bright red.

“Chancellor! What on earth are you talking about!”

Oren understood what Persian was implying and jumped out of his seat with a shout.

“No, wait… let me finish…”

“Chancellor! I have no intention of choosing a partner for Dien yet! Please do not speak of such things!”

Persian recoiled, startled by Oren’s unexpectedly sharp reaction.

Even though Dien was young, it was quite common to decide on a fiancé at that age, so he couldn’t understand why Oren was so worked up.

“W-well, yes… He is still young…”

Oren’s eyes blazed. Startled by that momentum, Persian stood up in a daze.

“Ahem. I have some work to do…”

“Yes, Chancellor. Then…”

Persian didn’t even get to play the card of suggesting his daughter, Dorothy, as Dien’s fiancée.

‘Why is he so sensitive about Dien’s engagement?’

Thinking it over, Persian shook his head in confusion as he returned to his own office.

In fact, aides Vance and Denver had already noticed this side of Oren. They always had to walk on eggshells whenever they mentioned Dien in front of him.

“Dien is still too young for that…”

After Persian left the office, Oren fell into deep thought. To think that Dien, whom he thought would stay by his side forever, was already at the age to get engaged.

Since his wife, Kanae Portran, had passed away first, Oren felt that Dien was all he had left. He didn’t want to lose Dien from his life as well.

Oren thought about Dien’s marriage for a moment, then immediately clenched both fists and shook his head.

Oren began his daily tasks in that agitated state. He thought his anger would subside quickly after Persian left, but the officials who visited and brought up Dien’s name kept him in a foul mood.

“Baron Oren! I heard Dien is that famous street musician. Wow, that’s truly impressive…”

“You’re too kind.”

“Well, my third child is the same age as Dien…”

“He is still a child.”

“Right…”

A close official from the Ministry of Finance visited after Persian, but he retreated at Oren’s cold rejection.

“Baron Oren! I heard Dien is the famous street musician. Did you know?”

“Yes.”

“So, about that, one of my nieces…”

“What are you saying to a child!”

“I’m sorry…?”

The Viscount of the Royal Household Inspection Team also retreated, his mouth hanging open at Oren’s firm words.

“Baron Oren! About Dien being the street musician—”

“Marriage is absolutely out of the question!”

“Ah… I see!”

A Baron from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an old academy classmate, was also rejected flatly.

In this manner, Oren repeated the same words countless times throughout the day.

“He’s still a child.”

“Don’t do that.”

“He’s still lacking.”

“No marriage.”

People had to turn away, feeling indifferent toward Oren’s reaction.

Eventually, the unusually long day passed, and Oren left the Royal Castle to head for the House of Portran.

“It looks like Dien left the castle early today!”

Oren saw that the lights in Persian’s office were off and left the castle with a satisfied smile. Today, they would have a quiet dinner together for the first time in a while. He felt better at the thought of finally having a day like they used to.

“Hurry up, please. Dien might be waiting for me.”

“Understood, Baron!”

For the first time in a while, Oren said the words he used to tell the coachman often.

“Dien is waiting, so let’s go quickly.”

Reading his thoughts, the coachman began to drive the carriage unusually fast.

***

“Father, you’re home?”

“Yes. Was everything alright today?”

“Yes. Let’s eat!”

Dien greeted him with a bright smile and took Oren’s coat. Oren couldn’t hide his smile at Dien, who was welcoming him for the first time in a while.

“Has it been very hard lately?”

Oren said as he patted Dien’s cheek. It was his frequent expression of affection.

“I’m fine. Let’s eat, Father.”

Oren and Dien sat at the dining table. Before Oren even picked up his spoon, he looked at Dien with a pained expression.

“If it’s too difficult, you must tell me. I hate seeing you struggle. If you want, I can personally ask Headmaster Hasman to reduce your academy workload.”

“No, Father! I’m the one who applied for those lectures because I wanted to!”

Dien showed a steadfast side again today. It would be okay to show a weak side in front of his father… Oren gave a subtle smile at Dien’s courageous demeanor.

“Dien… I have no intention of forcing you to be a Secretary if you don’t want to. Your happiness is always my priority.”

Dien was surprised by Oren’s sudden words. It was a mindset on a completely different level from the overbearing parents at the academy. Since Oren took great pride in being an administrative official, Dien never imagined he would say something like that.

Perhaps it was because his father’s sincerity reached him, but Dien looked at Oren with a smile at those warm words.

“Thank you, Father. But I think the life of an administrative official suits me.”

“Is that so? Well, then that’s a relief…”

“Um… I have a swordsmanship lesson, so I’ll be heading out first.”

“Already?”

Dien finished his meal before Oren. In the past, he would have lingered and acted cute in front of him even after the meal was over.

Oren couldn’t hide his disappointed expression as he watched Dien quietly leave his seat.

“Right… It’s good to see you working so hard.”

Speaking words that contradicted his true feelings, Oren picked up his spoon and muttered to himself.