Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 37
Edwin’s patience, strained though it was to maintain even the facade of proper procedure, finally snapped.
‘I don’t have time for this kind of armchair theorizing.’
Edwin had been going out far more frequently of late.
With his working hours shrinking while his duties only multiplied, he had to work with ruthless efficiency to carve out time to see Lina.
He had no patience to listen to nobles whining away.
‘At least this is the last item on the agenda.’
Edwin swallowed his irritation with a sigh and gestured toward where the imperial faction nobles had gathered.
The Foreign Minister, catching the signal, smoothly interjected.
“Since all five candidates are excellent young men, perhaps we should simply wait to see if the parties themselves reach accord?”
Though each faction pushed their own choice, all the candidates for the Princess’s National Marriage had been selected by the imperial side.
Since he had no intention of backing any particular candidate outright, the message was to observe them for a time before committing.
It was also, effectively, an instruction to adjourn today’s session.
Those who grasped that the Foreign Minister was speaking on the Emperor’s behalf fell silent one by one.
‘The end is in sight. It’ll be tight, but I can make the timeline.’
In the quiet that descended over the conference hall, Edwin thought of the weekend he’d arranged to spend with Lina and smiled faintly.
It was the first smile visible since the grand council had convened.
Seeing his superior satisfied and smiling, the Foreign Minister drew courage from the moment and moved to close the proceedings.
“All items on the agenda have now been discussed, so…….”
At the Minister’s emphatic words, Earl Harkan made a small, disapproving sound in his throat, but soon fell silent again.
Like an actor who, so absorbed in his role, continued performing even after the curtain fell, only to recoil when he finally noticed the darkened stage.
The Foreign Minister, having paused briefly at that small noise, was about to deliver his formal declaration of adjournment.
One of the southern nobles, feigning ignorance of the Minister’s intent, opened his mouth.
“However.”
Meaningful glances flashed rapidly between them.
Where they had previously fought in factional divisions, now their eyes gleamed with conspiracy—north, south, east, west alike.
Edwin felt his neck tense as he wondered what scheming they were concocting now, just when they should be wrapping up.
If a new item were raised, he might end up trapped in his office working through the weekend.
His mood plummeted swiftly downward.
Incredibly, the southern noble, apparently oblivious to all hints, pressed on and spoke his piece.
“Surely the security and stability of the Empire itself is as important as a National Marriage with Bellot for continental peace?”
The eastern noble, who had been subtly opposing his southern counterpart until moments before, seized the opening as if waiting for it.
“Indeed, a house stands only when its foundation is firm, and for that one requires a wise mistress of the household.”
As if a signal flare had been fired, nobles from all quarters chimed in.
“In fact, Your Majesty is already overdue. You have long passed the customary age for imperial marriages.”
“Admittedly, the war made it unavoidable until now, but we cannot continue to leave the Empress Palace vacant…….”
And so, under the grave atmosphere they had constructed, the item they raised was ultimately Edwin’s marriage.
“Ha.”
Before he became Emperor, they had pretended ignorance, afraid of incurring the late Emperor’s displeasure through any association with him.
After he ascended, these same people avoided mentioning marriage entirely, lest he fall in battle and waste a marriage alliance card to no end.
‘So things have stabilized, then.’
Ironically, Edwin sensed from the nobles’ brazenness that war had ended and peace was truly taking root.
Perhaps they mistook his stunned silence for a milder reaction than expected.
Or perhaps they thought he was giving them latitude.
The nobles began speaking over one another.
“For the Emperor of the Regencia Empire to marry past the customary age, even during wartime—it is unthinkable.”
“Indeed. We have been remiss in our loyalty, hiding behind the war as an excuse.”
“The Empire has many renowned, virtuous Young Noble Ladies of distinction…….”
What had begun with unified purpose quickly devolved as each side raised their voice again.
Their fervor far exceeded anything they had shown when proposing candidates for the Princess of Bellot’s National Marriage.
‘So the Empress throne has them salivating.’
Royalty had always been coveted in the marriage market.
More so now, when Edwin was the sole remaining member of the imperial house—it was natural that nobles would fixate upon him with hungry eyes.
Edwin’s circumstances were exceptional; typically, imperial children were betrothed in youth and married upon reaching adulthood, giving the nobles a legitimate foundation for their claims.
‘Still, that’s beside the point.’
One must stretch one’s legs according to the space one has to lie in.
There had been a time when Edwin thought he would make a political marriage to some suitable noblewoman from a house of appropriate standing once the opportune moment came. Those days were behind him now.
Edwin, having no intention whatsoever of indulging the nobles’ ambitions, raised a hand to cut off the clamor.
“Enough.”
The voices diminished somewhat at his command, yet the nobles’ verbal sparring continued unabated.
As if they were testing him.
These dull, foolish nobles, so greedy and thick-skulled, had grown brave again.
It hadn’t been long since Duke Camelot was physically threatened in this very grand council chamber and dragged away with his corruption exposed. The lesson had worn off quickly.
Edwin laughed hollowly at their abysmal capacity for learning.
‘Even soldiers drafted from country estates, tilling soil, would grasp a command after a few repetitions.’
Perhaps the fancy title of “nobleman” made their necks stiff.
These people would cower when he showed anger, only to raise their heads defiantly again at the first opportunity—
like reeds bending in the wind and springing back to their original posture.
Edwin knew several methods for cutting down reeds that merely bent in submission before standing upright again, but he lacked the time to deal with these useless nobles with proper care right now.
He had already spent more time on this council than anticipated.
Edwin drew upon the reservoir of patience he had cultivated so sharply over the past month.
“I will handle my own marriage.”
It was patience scraped down to the bone.
Yet the piranhas would not release him with gentleness alone.
“Of course, choosing a companion for life requires Your Majesty’s wishes to be paramount. We merely suggest that sometimes effort is required to nurture such bonds.”
Earl Harkan, who had been standing back as if observing whether anyone would notice his earlier misstep, now opened his mouth—and the offensive intensified.
“The Earl is quite right.”
“One cannot predict where or how such connections will form.”
The nobles, knowing full well Edwin’s displeasure was complete, began recommending the Young Noble Ladies they championed, feigning ignorance.
“The Young Noble Lady of Cloneer House is quite spirited and…….”
“Rather than that, now that war has ended, perhaps a grand ball would be in order…….”
“They say the second princess of Schmitz is of an age with Your Majesty and quite beautiful…….”
These were the proposals of the northern, eastern, and southern factions in turn.
Even the eastern faction, which had scarcely any suitable candidate to put forth save the young daughters of lesser nobles like Marquis Ismail, pressed their case through sheer volume of words.
The western faction, having stoked the flames only to fade back, was instead deflating the opposition’s suggestions rather than pushing any particular candidate of its own.
As if simply stirring conflict and then withdrawing, systematically dismantling each competitor’s proposals.
“Surely a princess of Schmitz hardly merits consideration as Empress?”
“A better choice than Cloneer House, whose lineage barely spans fifty years.”
‘Enough.’
Edwin’s patience finally ran out completely.
“I told you to stop.”
The final warning arrived accompanied by the sound of a blade being drawn.
Shing.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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