Chapter 02…
When Kevin’s parents and close relatives had all gathered, the funeral for his older brother, Lucio, was held.
Since his brother, though the heir, had not yet inherited the title, the nobles in the royal capital did not attend. News of his death would spread after the ceremony.
Still, by holding a quiet service at their estate, away from visitors and distractions, Kevin was able to say goodbye to his brother in peace.
He felt sorry for his sister-in-law, but at the same time, Kevin was relieved that there were no cries of grief from her.
After all, he had spent far more years as Lucio’s brother than she had as his wife.
Lucio and his wife had been engaged for half a year and married for five months.
Their relationship had lasted barely a year. If Catherine had acted as though she were the one suffering the most, Kevin might have found his farewell to his brother strangely hollow.
That was how little Kevin knew Catherine.
To him, she was still a stranger.
And because of that, he found himself thinking it was better she wasn’t there — a thought that made him feel guilty toward his brother.
“Kevin will be the next head of the Carmine family, won’t he?”
His aunt asked the question.
His father replied,
“That’s right. Kevin, resign from your position as a knight and return home.”
“…Understood.”
He didn’t want to give up being a knight, but there was no helping it.
“Kevin is still unmarried, isn’t he? I can introduce him to a young lady who would suit him,” his aunt offered.
But again, his father answered,
“Kevin, you will marry Catherine.”
“What!?”
Why would he marry his brother’s widow?
“Catherine is carrying Lucio’s child. You will take Lucio’s place and become the child’s father.”
“But… Sister-in-law is still young. After giving birth, she might find someone else she wishes to marry.”
A child would surely get in the way of her remarriage.
Wouldn’t it be better to let her return to her family while keeping the child here?
“Would you take a mother away from her child? Catherine already knows. You just need to do as you’re told.”
She already knew?
Did that mean she had agreed to marry him? She had only just learned of Lucio’s death.
For their father to suggest such a thing before the funeral had even taken place — and for Catherine to accept it so readily — Kevin thought they both must be out of their minds.
He glanced at his mother.
Since hearing of his brother’s death, she had been in shock, barely responsive.
This was probably the first time she’d heard this conversation, yet she showed no reaction.
The Carmine earldom came from his mother’s bloodline; his father had married into the family.
His mother had left most of the management to his father, and his father had, in turn, entrusted much of it to Lucio.
Now, that responsibility would fall to Kevin.
That much was inevitable — but was it really acceptable, in this day and age, for a younger brother to marry his late brother’s wife?
He wondered, yet neither his grandparents nor his aunt voiced any objection to his father’s decision.
And so, it was settled:
Kevin would marry Catherine, who was carrying his brother’s child.
