This Marriage Will Surely Succeed

Chapter 210

At the forefront of the procession, an enormous four-horse carriage flaunted its grandeur alongside robust white horses, while the wagons trailing behind were busily loaded with large clothing trunks by an unending stream of maids.

But that wasn’t all.

Though Iona had explicitly instructed only a few close aides to prepare for the trip, an unexpectedly large number of attendants had shown up, fully packed and ready to leave.

As Iona counted the number of people wearing tall boots, she had reached about thirty before giving up on the meaningless calculation.

It was clear that the discreet journey she had initially planned was no longer feasible.

Turning to Leroy, who stood beside her, Iona asked,

“Did the Duke know about this?”

“About what?”

“That the head maid was preparing for this trip as if her life depended on it.”

“Of course, I knew,” Leroy replied, his tone nonchalant.

Apparently, the head maid had devised her plans contrary to Iona’s intentions and sought Leroy’s approval, confident he would grant it.

Leroy gazed at the bustling crowd without much surprise.

“No matter how much of a work-related purpose this trip has, it’s still technically our first getaway together since becoming husband and wife. It would be a shame not to make it special.”

Before Iona could voice her dissent with phrases like “Still...” or “But...,” Leroy added something that left her unable to argue.@@@@

“And besides, this way, no one will suspect our true purpose.”

Iona made a face of reluctant acceptance.

Leroy wasn’t wrong.

If the Empress learned they went straight to the Bilfaud territory right after Viscount Ida’s death, she might grow suspicious of the coincidental choice of location.

It might actually be better to make a loud display of having a different purpose altogether.

Considering that Leroy usually stayed in the southeast while Iona lived in the capital, choosing the northern region as their honeymoon destination wasn’t particularly unusual.

‘The problem is, moving this noisily makes it easier for the Crown Prince to track us.’

To anyone watching, the procession screamed, “Make way for someone important!” The spectacle made it inevitable that rumors would spread.

They had planned to head to Bilfaud territory and lie low, avoiding Richard’s notice, but now they were leaving a trail too obvious to ignore.

As Iona mulled over how to persuade Leroy, Fin emerged from the crowd.

Iona instinctively scrutinized his attire, and fortunately, it was far from travel-ready.

Having dismissed her first suspicion, Iona voiced her next concern.

“Is there an urgent document I need to see before we leave? Or has another issue come up?”

At her rapid-fire questions, Fin uncharacteristically looked flustered. Adjusting his glasses slightly, he replied,

“No, I only heard you’re about to depart and came to see you off.”

Fin didn’t try to excuse himself by saying he should have said something or that he hadn’t had the chance. Instead, he simply gave an awkward smile.

The reason he couldn’t refuse Iona’s suggestion was simple—Fin believed she was drawing a clear boundary between them in her own way.

It hadn’t been long since Fin became fully aware of his feelings.

When he had followed her to the Duke’s territory, he had convinced himself that his emotions were mere admiration.

But as he spent more time near her, observing her naturally alongside her husband, and hearing others praise the couple for their harmonious relationship, something shifted within him.

Before he knew it, he found himself unconsciously avoiding the sight of their affectionate interactions.

Fin had to admit that his feelings for Iona were not just admiration but also romantic yearning.

However, he also knew it was a love that could never be fulfilled.

Fin harbored a modest wish—to stay by Iona’s side and assist her in achieving what she desired.

He convinced himself that as long as he kept his feelings well-hidden, it was a harmless indulgence. If they remained secret, they would hold no meaning, and something so inconsequential couldn’t possibly be a sin...

Yet, when Iona brought up marriage, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse outright.

It felt as though she had sensed his true feelings and was indirectly drawing a line to reject them.

And yet, Iona merely looked at him with a puzzled expression, clearly not understanding his reaction.

Perhaps it wasn’t Iona who had picked up on his true feelings, but someone else entirely.

It was Leroy, who had been watching the two of them, who smoothly intervened in the conversation, his tone gentle yet commanding.

“How could anyone easily refuse a matchmaking proposal suggested by their superior? Even if it doesn’t feel right, there’s that sense of obligation to at least show up and be polite. Isn’t that how it usually goes?”

He seemed to empathize with Fin’s dilemma, but the words he added next had a different tone entirely.

Leroy gave Fin a faint, knowing smile and said,

“Still, since Jonas put so much effort into arranging it, why not spend a bit more time with her? Who knows? Even if you don’t plan on marrying now, you might find yourself meeting someone special at an unexpected moment.”

“......”

“That’s what happened to me, after all.”

As Leroy spoke, he naturally wrapped his arm around Iona’s waist and pulled her closer.

He kissed her cheek without hesitation, a display of affection fitting for a couple about to embark on their honeymoon.

They looked every bit the loving newlyweds, their intimacy so effortless it left no room for doubt.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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