PMLYP 17

Please Let Marriage Be Your Payment!, 

Chapter 17 —

When Lenard arrived at Blair’s mansion, he was immediately led to the sitting room.

“I can’t believe I’m back here,” he thought.

And it had only been a day since he left.

He chuckled quietly at himself, thinking how silly he must have looked yesterday, leaving thinking he would never return. Then he took a sip of the coffee in front of him.

The coffee, imported and made popular in the Con-Ile-Tem Union by Blair, was still a luxury only nobles could enjoy.

Lenard had never even been to a coffee house in the capital, so the drink felt very strange. Yet, the coffee, kindly prepared with milk and sugar by the head maid, surprisingly suited his taste.

“I think Jenny would like this too,” he thought.

Maybe he could take her to a coffee house later when he had time.

The fact that he now had time to think about such things eased Lenard’s tension.

As he breathed in the soft aroma of the coffee, there was a knock on the door, and Ireneah finally entered the room.

“Sorry I’m late. Have you been waiting long?”

“No… I just arrived. The coffee hasn’t even cooled yet,” Lenard replied, slightly dazed. Ireneah appeared fully dressed and elegant from head to toe, much more than he expected.

“If you have other plans, I can come back later,” he asked without thinking.

“No, I cleared my whole day. I didn’t know when you’d arrive,” she said, smiling brightly. Lenard felt his ears turn red and looked down, unaware that she had woken early to dress up nicely just to look good for him.

“I’m not in a rush, but my mind is. Can we start with the important matters first?”

“Yes. That’s why you came,” she smiled.

Thanking him for understanding, Ireneah called Damon, who had been waiting outside.

As if he had been informed, he immediately placed the Raise Messer on the table between them. Then he put down a small accessory box with two rings and stepped back.

“Sir Lenard, you want your sword back, don’t you?” Ireneah leaned on the table with her arms crossed, smiling confidently, like someone holding an important hostage.

“To do that, you have to wear this ring on your left ring finger. The one with a gem the same color as my eyes.”

Only then did Lenard notice the gem. The two rings, each with a blue and an orange stone like their eyes, were a matching pair.

If they wore the rings, it would officially make them engaged.

“Can I ask something?”

“Yes, ask anything,” she said, her bright smile full of expectation. Lenard stared at her.

“She’s really a strange woman,” he thought.

He wanted to ask her so many things—did she know about his deal with the 2nd prince, why she bid 500 million, why she showed him such special attention among so many men.

Instead, he bundled all his questions into one.

“When did you start knowing me?”

Ireneah answered as if she had prepared it.

“I’ve known you for a long time. Someone who earned the honor of Anuf only appears once in about a hundred years.”

About 380 years ago, shortly after the empire was founded, a knight named Anuf appeared in society like a comet, winning both the spring lance tournament and the autumn hunting competition.

The emperor at that time praised him and gave him medals. From then on, when a new noble debuted and won both competitions in a year, they were said to have “earned the honor of Anuf.”

“I was busy and couldn’t participate in society, but I always heard about your achievements. So I always wanted to meet you,” Ireneah said.

“You heard about my achievements?” Lenard raised an eyebrow.

It made sense. With his background, people only mocked him no matter what he did.

“You even knocked down Mathias Yeongsik with one punch for challenging you to a duel without reason, right?”

“Oh, that.” Lenard sighed.

Three years ago, Lloyd, who graduated top of his class at the military academy, believed he was the best swordsman. He bragged he would earn Anuf’s honor but lost both competitions. Frustrated, he threw a glove and got knocked out with one punch, becoming a laughingstock.

Since then, Lloyd had been chasing Lenard around, trying to annoy him. Half the reason Lenard left society for a year was because of Lloyd.

Eventually, it got so annoying that he even thought about killing him.

“So you hate him too, don’t you? You didn’t know? Last year, Mathias Yeongsik proposed to me.”

“What… He proposed to you?”

“Yes. Not formally through Count Mathias, but he came into the lounge during a break and just said it.”

A chill ran through the smile at the corner of Ireneah’s mouth.

“He said he’d help me focus on society. He’d take over your business completely,” Ireneah continued.

“Just the business? He actually wanted me to be the marchioness while giving him the title,” she said.

Lenard couldn’t believe his ears.

“Is that even possible? You can’t inherit a spouse’s title,” he said.

“Yes, after marriage. But before marriage, it’s allowed under empire law. You can pass your title to your spouse before you become husband or wife,” she explained.

Lenard quietly understood. That was the only way to inherit a title. That was why he was here.

“If you wear this ring, Mathias Yeongsik will be jealous. Interested?”

“Sure, but I can’t marry just to see him angry.”

“And also—”

“Marquis Blair,” Lenard cut her off. A brief worry flashed across Ireneah’s face.

Why was she acting so gentle when she had so many ways to pressure him? Lenard was curious.

“What if I don’t need the sword and just take the money and leave?”

“Don’t need it? It’s the Elpius family heirloom,” she said.

“Yes, it’s the Elpius family’s. Not mine,” he said firmly. “I inherited the title under unavoidable circumstances, but it isn’t mine. When Jennys Elpius, the rightful heir, becomes an adult, I will return the title and go back to being a mercenary.”

He carefully watched Ireneah’s surprised face as he continued.

“Even so, you still want me as a husband?”

Lenard’s heart beat with uncertain excitement. He expected disappointment. But Ireneah’s face didn’t cool. It brightened like a blooming flower.

“So after returning your title to your sister, you’ll be Lenard Blair, right?”

“……Yes?”

“When is your sister’s birthday? Will you return the title on that day or a few days later?”

“No, Marquis,” he said.

“Oh, worried you can’t do mercenary work? It’s fine. Only pathetic people with pride stop their spouse from working outside. But it’s better to avoid really dangerous work.”

Lenard was stunned. He didn’t know how to respond. Ireneah just kept smiling brightly.

“This isn’t something to laugh about. If you marry someone like me, everywhere you go, people will mock you for marrying a lowly mercenary.”

“Who would dare? Haven’t you read today’s newspaper? Anyone badmouthing my husband will get a lesson from me,” she said playfully but seriously.

“And one more thing—being insulted for your background means there’s nothing else to criticize. So if anyone complains, just think, ‘I’m just too good, they’re picking unnecessary fights.’”

“Marquis,” Ireneah put her finger to her lips, signaling she didn’t want to hear more. She looked at Lenard, her eyes softening.

“As I said before, I’ve known you for a long time and marked you as my future husband. Do you know why I waited to make this proposal?”

“Why?”

“I wanted to say it confidently, like I do now. If anyone mocks you, you come to me. I’ll make them regret it, no matter what it takes.”

Her eyes and voice were full of confidence. For the first time, Lenard felt his heart race at someone promising to protect him.