Chapter 13
Curtis Sean Berg is getting married to a deputy officer he met in the royal guard!
People had very different opinions about it. Some thought it was shocking because she came from a poor family and used to be a low-ranking navy officer. Her family only held a minor noble title.
Some praised the marriage as humble and fitting for a war hero, while some nobles publicly said, “Has the Grand Duke gone mad?”
However, most powerful nobles who knew Curtis’s influence in the Kingdom of Ibanes kept quiet. The common people were curious and excited that a deputy officer from a low-ranking noble family would marry such a famous person. Everywhere people talked only about Curtis Sean Berg’s upcoming marriage.
Reporters flooded to the Royal Guard headquarters. Newspapers ranging from royal publications to daily papers and gossip tabloids wanted to cover the story. The royal family surprisingly didn’t stop the reporters. It was as if they were saying, “Go ahead and write whatever you want.”
But Chloe Ambroise didn’t come to work, so there wasn’t much to find. Reporters tried to talk to other guards, but they got nothing. Most guards were still shocked.
One tabloid did manage to catch a few squad leaders talking while stunned:
“Even if the prince married twice, it wouldn’t be as shocking as this…” “Our Chloe is marrying the Duke? Isn’t that workplace harassment?”
That tabloid got shut down for royal defamation.
Reporters then tried to find nobles who were at the announcement event. Finally, one anonymous noble who had been in the room during the Duke’s marriage announcement agreed to an interview.
The headline was: “Honey!”
The noble shared all the playful and daring affection Chloe had shown toward the Duke. They also said the King had been upset for not being told earlier but ended up blessing the marriage.
Rumors also spread that Chloe was pregnant with an illegitimate child and that’s why the wedding was so sudden. But that rumor died quickly thanks to one royal guard’s leak of Chloe’s overtime schedule:
“Even a baby already there would’ve been lost with that schedule.”
Some joked they were always together at night because of work, but even that rumor faded. After all, royal guards were from top noble families.
Another quiet rumor suggested Chloe might be a masochist. “Who could love a boss who works for them like that unless they were crazy?”
The Royal Guard’s official reply was:
“We proudly serve the peace of Ibanes day and night, and we consider it an honor.”
People began to pity the Royal Guards.
***
Of course, the King was furious.
“This is unbelievable!”
He slammed the newspaper to the floor. A servant quickly picked it up. The paper had Curtis Sean Berg’s interview:
“I’m not a king, so I don’t have to marry for money or power. I chose the life of a soldier to keep the one I love beside me.”
Curtis also said the wedding would be held next week.
“What does he think the royal wedding is, some joke?!”
Royal weddings are extremely formal. Even a king can’t plan one so fast. Yet the interview said Prince Frederick, Curtis’s close friend, was helping with the wedding.
The King yelled, “Ban the Duke from the palace for one week!”
Usually, royal family members marry inside the palace. The King clearly wanted to block Curtis’s sudden wedding announcement.
But even that didn’t calm him down.
“My own son is shaming me like this! What am I supposed to do?”
“Your Majesty, I seem to have caused trouble for the Kingdom of Ibanes,” said a beautiful woman sitting before him.
She had light brown hair braided neatly, and a face so perfect it was hard to look away. Her grace showed she wasn’t an ordinary noble. She was Isabelle la Glintrande, Duchess of Glintrande, who had come from afar to marry Curtis.
The King had planned to show Curtis a portrait of Isabelle at a diplomatic ball and introduce them. The ball was actually a matchmaking event. But on the day of the ball, Curtis announced he was marrying his deputy officer. The ball ended in confusion, and Isabelle had to leave with nothing.
“I’m truly sorry. I only meant to welcome you kindly, but it turned into this awkward situation.”
The King met her in person that morning to show he was upset with Curtis and to smooth things over.
“No need to apologize. I actually got some rest,” she answered kindly.
The King rubbed his forehead and said, “Please forgive us, Duchess. Even as king, not everything goes my way.”
Even though Isabelle could see right through the King’s fake regret, she couldn’t say anything rude. She simply smiled.
“I understand, Your Majesty. I suppose since the Prince supports the Duke’s chosen partner, the royal family thought it would look bad to oppose the marriage.”
“I don’t care about appearances! How dare a royal put personal feelings above national duty!”
Isabelle gave a bitter smile. It was ironic. The King cared so much about public image that he had tried to hide the Duke in the palace out of jealousy. He’d always been afraid Curtis would take the throne due to his talent and popularity.
Isabelle knew this well. So she gently comforted the King while subtly insulting the Duke.
“In the end, it might be good for the royal family. The people will admire Your Majesty more now that the Duke has made such a bold move.”
The King’s mouth twitched. It was true—he always felt threatened by Curtis’s success.
“And, well… this might not be polite to say…”
“Please, go ahead,” said the King.
Isabelle, hiding a smirk, covered her mouth with a fan and whispered,
“I heard the Duke’s fiancée may be noble, but hardly suited to marry someone in power.”
“…That’s true.”
“People often look down on someone when they come from a low background.”
Isabelle knew this too well. She lightly touched the King’s arm. The unexpected touch from such a beauty made him blush.
“I had hoped to give your brother a proper match with our noble house.”
The King had proposed the match to her country first, so she had to help him save face. That was how she could get what she wanted.
“What can I do? He’s already in love. I’ve never even met him before.”
“Love, huh? But how do we know it’s real?”
“Even if it is, I can’t force myself into their lives now.”
She meant Glintrande couldn’t. But she acted like a disappointed woman who had lost a love match. She wasn’t giving up, though.
She leaned in and whispered.
“Royalty must sacrifice personal desires for national duty. My embarrassment means nothing in the face of the greater good.”
While she pretended to comfort the King and talk badly about Curtis, she smiled sweetly.
“I truly wish the Duke a happy marriage.”
“Hmph. When he sees you, he’ll regret it forever.”
The King clearly couldn’t stop staring at her. He didn’t even notice how ridiculous he looked.
‘Maybe he’ll fall for me before the Duke does.’
But Isabelle quickly pushed that thought aside.
“Your Majesty is truly kind to say so.”
She kept saying things he wanted to hear. Soon, the King was smiling.
“Why don’t you stay in Ibanes a bit longer? The official diplomatic visit hasn’t even started. There are many fine young men besides that fool.”
It seemed the King liked her quite a bit now. That was good. Isabelle also didn’t plan to return home so soon. She replied with a calm smile,
“I would be honored.”
“If you need anything, just ask.”
“Thanks to Your Majesty, I’m already enjoying my stay.”
Time passed as they chatted. Finally, the King stood up happily and added one last ridiculous comment:
“The Duke’s fiancée doesn’t compare to you. Young people these days fall in love and break up just as fast…”
Was he really telling her to wait for a divorce and try to become the second wife?
Of course, Isabelle didn’t laugh out loud. She simply bowed politely.
“I should go. It was a pleasant meeting.”
The King left the room, clearly pleased.
Bang. The door shut.
Isabelle threw her fan across the room.
“Damn it!”
Her actions were nothing like her calm appearance.
