Hoping for My Death - Chapter 1

Count Fleurette could barely open his mouth to speak.

“The marriage.”

“Okay.”

“Yes, I know you don’t…what!?”

Initially burdened by the thought of having to persuade his daughter, he rose up in shock.

On the contrary, the daughter who had shocked him to such an extent only blinked with a puzzled look.

“Is something wrong?”

“Oh, no, nothing. Sylvia, are you really agreeing to marry the Duke of Belfort? Aren’t you the one who always said even breathing was troublesome?”

“Dear, are you sick? We’re not forcing you, so you can be honest and say no.”

Count Fleurette stammered in disbelief.

And even the Countess who was sitting next to him had asked whether she was sick.

Sylvia also looked at the two with a puzzled look.

‘Was I too laid back?’

Of course, for the past 22 years, she has lived in bed every day and hasn’t even done a debutante. Not to mention she spends 3/4 of the day sleeping, but…

She didn’t think it was so bad that her parents would suggest a marriage to get rid of her.

‘Hm.’

If she continued to think about it, she thought they would appear more rubbish, so she decided to stop.

Unwilling to send his daughter away, the Count quickly muttered.

“It was His Majesty that brought it up, but if you really don’t want to, there’s nothing that can be done. I’d rather have a son-in-law marry into our family than marry you off to some dangerous place…”

“Honey.”

At his wife’s glance, the Count closed his mouth and his face became like that of an innocent puppy.

Sylvia smiled slightly when she saw the funny couple, and then with a soft voice,

“I’ll marry the Duke of Belfort. So please relax.”

At her reassurance, the Countess’ voice trembled, unable to overcome her emotion in the end.

“Ah, my daughter is finally…”

“Don’t cry, honey. Hiik.”

“You’re the one crying…”

The Countess sighed and patted the Count who would easily cry at the drop of a hat.

It was a scene that would have been considered silly if anyone saw it, but there was a reason for this.

Sylvia Fleurette.

Count Fleurette’s one and only daughter has been weak since birth.

Seeing her weak constitution, they were heartbroken. So to make up for it, they have tried to fulfill their daughter’s every wish.

Although Count Fleurette power and wealth weren’t enormous, it wasn’t lacking either.

Dress or jewelry. They tried to give their daughter whatever she wanted.

However, Sylvia wasn’t like most noblewomen.

– Please swap the bed for the best one. Other than that, I’m fine.

Most days she was in her bed, and she often skipped meals because even that was troublesome to her.

– In any case, I can’t attend parties because I’ll have to return before my foot even reaches the door. I don’t think there’s any reason to attend a debutante anyway.

She had shut herself inside the mansion for 22 years without even having done a debutante.

Although it’s true that her body is naturally weak, Sylvia Fleurette was a very laid back person by nature.

The couple gave Sylvia the benefit of the doubt and tried to get her to regain her motivation to live, but she was adamant.

– Who’s going to take care of her if we die?
– Honey! Why are you saying such an ominous thing!
– But it’s true. We can’t be there to take care of her forever.

The couple were deeply troubled.

If they die, it’s obvious that Sylvia will soon follow because she won’t properly take care of herself.

So somehow, they wanted to entrust her to another family before then.

With the desire to keep their daughter as close as possible so they can watch over her, the couple searched for single noblemen near the capital, but it wasn’t easy.

If they were satisfied with his appearance, then it would be a problem with his character, and if that was okay, then it was his boisterous family.

When they were looking for a nobleman that was smart and laid back.

And when they were racking their brains, there came a letter from the King.

[The Duke of Belfort is looking for a bride.]

They were surprised when the King intervened, but was even more shocked when the couple heard the name of the unexpected person.

The Belfort estate was located at the very edge of the kingdom, and not only that, it also bordered the land of demons.

In that regard, it didn’t meet the condition of the couple.

But the Duke of Belfort is the best groom in the kingdom.

For starters, the Duke’s parents and their characters were excellent. In addition, the Duke has an impressive reputation for fulfilling his role faithfully as the kingdom’s shield.

Besides his family, his appearance is also extremely good!

And since it just so happened that it was the King’s proposal, they asked Sylvia if she would marry the Duke with heavy hearts.

But they never would have thought that their daughter, who said even breathing was troublesome, would accept the marriage so easily!

‘Now I can die with my eyes closed!’

‘We did it!’

‘Honey!’

‘Dear!’

The couple, filled with emotions, seemed to have forgotten the 22 years of grief.

Sylvia, who had a false smile on her lips, returned to her calm demeanor.

She picked up a teacup and thought as she took a sip.

‘The Duchy of Belfort is a place where demons frequently appear.’

Located in the northern part of the kingdom and governed by the Duke of Belfort, the Duchy of Belfort is closest to Kelvetia, the land of demons.

The Duke of Belfort, considered the strongest knight in kingdom history, resided there to keep it safe.

Where death comes and goes, it is natural for people to feel uneasy.

However, that was exactly why Sylvia was rather pleased with the couple’s proposal.

‘It was really hard to find a chance to die. It’s my lucky break.’

Because Sylvia Fleurette, no, Alisa, can’t kill herself.

Since it’s a place where demons frequently appear, the possibility of dying unexpectedly will increase.

With such thoughts while looking at the couple, Sylvia calmly took another sip of the tea.

* * *

At the northernmost part of the kingdom, the Duchy of Belfort.

A place that was usually filled with tension or gloom due to the threats of the demons, had a festive atmosphere for the first time in a while.

“The Lord is finally getting married!”

“The Lord is getting married!”

“The Lord – married -”

“Stop!”

Seeing people suddenly making a fuss and some even singing, Randall rubbed his forehead.

However, the people who were reprimanded quickly slapped him on the back because they knew he was no different from a cat who hisses while wagging their tail.

“Haha! My Lord, we’ve been together since you were walking around in diapers, so even if you can treat us like this, you can’t raise your voice at your new bride!”

“That’s right! It’s scary when my Lord wrinkles his face! She’s going to run away immediately!”

“Right! Right!”

Some members of the Knights of Belfort who fought alongside Randall on a daily basis agreed vehemently.

And naturally, they avoided eye contact as soon as Randall glared at them.

Seeing the scene, Randall sighed, thinking that they were a hopeless bunch.

‘Not long ago they said they wouldn’t let me get married unless it was over their dead bodies.’

Randall Belfort.

The Duke of Belfort, the master of the North and the only other successor to the throne beside the Crown Prince.

And in fact, the marriage wasn’t fully his will.

– Don’t you think the Duke should find a wife before it’s too late?
– …What?
– It just so happens that Count Fleurette and his wife are looking to marry their daughter. I’m sure Count Fleurette will agree if it’s the Duke. It’s a family with an extremely deep lineage.

Coercion under the guise of a suggestion.

The King’s words were nothing more and nothing less than that.

It was the King’s usual excessive check on the Duke of Belfort, and the people close to the Duke who found out immediately protested.

– It looks like His Majesty is afraid our Lord will expand in power, so he’s trying to tie him down with a capital noble!
– That’s right! Our Lord will spend the rest of his life killing demons, so His Majesty can forget about it! We’re ready to go to war for you!
– An eternal bachelor life for our Lord!
– Hurrah!
– Quiet, you crazy people…

It wasn’t until Randall gave his excessively loyal men a stern look did the commotion die down.

Naturally, his men didn’t mean it from the bottom of their hearts.

As it borders Kelvetia, the Duchy of Belfort was a place where all-out efforts had to be made to stop the daily influx of demons.

Not only did the cold weather prevent them from growing enough food, but if the people here become complacent for even a second, there is the risk of demons setting their fields on fire.

Therefore, the Duchy of Belfort relied heavily on the royal family and local nobles for food.

In this situation, if the royal family completely turned their backs on the Duke, the Duchy of Belfort would be the first to disappear from the map.

– It’s not necessary to be against things that don’t interfere with my job.

Randall thought as such, that the safety of the estate was guaranteed as long as he gave up true love.

Because their Lord said he was doing it for the Duchy, they couldn’t protest any longer.

Since it had come to this, his vassals could only vow to wish him a good marriage with all their hearts.

But of course, their strange celebration song still got on his nerves.

“I see now that you guys have no respect for your Lord. Especially the Knights of Belfort, the discipline standard has slacked. When I get back in the morning, there will be additional training.”

“No!”

At Randall’s words, the Knights of Belfort shrieked and fell to the ground.

They pushed their heads under Randall’s feet and begged him to step on their heads to let off steam, but he ignored them.

Then, behind his back, a man with no notable features spoke with an arrogant look.

“My honorable Lord. I’ve been working all night to restore the teleportation magic array, and I’m very, very tired. Can we please leave now?”

The wizard affiliated with the Duchy of Belfort, Ostern, cackled wildly.

Randall coughed belatedly and turned away when he saw a glimpse of madness in Ostern’s eyes.

Following his steps, his spotless white robe and cloak fluttered gracefully.

“He’s leaving.”

“Yes.”

“Go and pick up the madam!”

Ostern bit his tongue to ready the teleportation magic.

The knights, who had been chatting nonchalantly, straightened their posture.

Randall, who had his back turned, gradually disappeared.

His face, which disappeared through the magic array, was so creepy that it was no different from that of a beast.

‘I hope we’ll get along well, but that doesn’t mean I can let my guard down completely.’

The King will never stop testing Belfort’s loyalty.

His wife could turn out to be the King’s informant.

‘…I hope I won’t have to kill her.’

Randall stepped out of the magic array, hoping that his wedding robe won’t become stained with blood.

* * *

Just as the party of the Duke of Belfort reached the capital through Ostern’s magic array.

Sylvia, who managed to reach the castle, soothed her parents as they stood in front of the carriage.

– Sylvia Fleurette is getting married!
– What?
– And it’s to the Duke of Belfort!
– What!?

Meanwhile, a commotion broke out twice over by the fact that Sylvia Fleurette, who is shrouded in mystery, will be here, and of her marriage to the Duke of Belfort.

So those who were invited to the wedding had arrived at the wedding hall a long time ago, and the castle’s entrance was so full of empty carriages that it was hard to find a place to walk.

Count Fleurette and his wife had worried looks on their faces as they got out of the carriage and walked Sylvia towards the wedding hall.

Eventually, at a corner to the wedding hall, the couple stopped and spoke in a serious tone.

“Sylvia.”

“Yes.”

“If the Duke of Belfort or his people mistreat you, don’t look back and come home. We’ll live longer than you somehow. Do you understand?”

“Yes, baby. Knock the table over if you have to since your arms alone won’t do. Also…”

The countess who stood next to him quickly added a few words and then immediately bit her lips as if she couldn’t bring herself to imagine the worse.

Sylvia turned away from their tearful and anxious faces, then smirked.

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

If she’s unlucky, she’ll be able to live a long life.

Much longer than the couple.

That is, if she was still unlucky in this 100th life.

“I’m going.”

Without holding the Count’s hand further, Sylvia turned the corner alone, holding only a bouquet in both hands.

And then…

“…!”

Her exceptionally large pale green eyes gazed to the front.

Sylvia gave a picturesque smile to her future husband a few steps ahead who was stiffened in place.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duke of Belfort.”

“…”

“I’m Sylvia Fleurette Belfort.”

Randall couldn’t take his eyes off Sylvia who had spoken such words with a smile.

‘…What?’

Not because of her appearance, but because for a moment he felt his heart stir violently to the point of it being suffocating.