Chapter 15
‘Here we go again.’
There was something that unnerved him more than them circling back to the topic of marriage, though. His brother had no business uttering such a remark considering that he was the main culprit of marrying for love in this situation. The engagement between Ellis and Serendia had not been a political union. Rather, Crown Prince Ellis had fallen in love with Serendia and courted her. The late Emperor, the romantic of the century, had immediately approved the engagement. Agares was rendered speechless by Ellis’ detached words.
‘Speak for yourself.’
“Oh, are you saying you don’t love Her Majesty the Empress, Brother?”
“That’s not it,” Ellis answered straight away without even batting an eyelid.
At that moment, he looked happy. It was obvious that he was thinking of the Empress. Taking into account the duration of the engagement, they had been together for more than ten years now. Even so, they were still deeply in love.
The Emperor was young, beautiful, and the most powerful man in the empire. Additionally, he was one of the few people in the empire who maintained his fidelity. He loved one woman and one woman only, even after marriage, and that trait seemed to serve as a bonus to his image. In fact, while Agares was the most popular bachelor in the land, the most beloved man was the Emperor. Although his unchanging affection for his wife made him odd in the eyes of the other noblemen, the support he received from the noblewomen and the rest of his subjects was great.
“Do you like her that much?”
“Of course.”
“How does your love not change?”
“It deepens. That’s love.”
A frown marred Agares’ graceful face. ‘You married for love and I have to marry for convenience?’
“If I must marry, then I also want to marry someone I love.”
He had grown up watching the late Emperor, who had loved the previous Empress so much he was willing to take out his heart for her. Even now he saw how the current reigning Emperor and his Empress clung to each other like a pair of lovebirds. Agares’ heart might have grown cold to the thought of dedicating himself to any one woman, but sometimes he wanted to know what it really felt like to be truly, happily married.
Ellis’ eyes widened at Agares’ words. He laughed and took a sip of his tea.
“The word ‘love’ actually coming out of your mouth is hilarious.”
“Why? You don’t think I can love?”
“On the contrary.”
“On the contrary?”
“I don’t think you’ll be able to know what love is.”
“What a horrible thing to say to your own brother.”
“I’m not slandering you. I think it’s pretty accurate.”
“It sounds like a curse to me.”
“Then, let me ask you. Have you ever loved anyone?”
Love, huh? It was a word that he was used to hearing, yet it felt unfamiliar. He had always heard the term spoken by women and had never thought to process it with his heart rather than his brain.
Women always asked him, “Do you love me, Your Highness?”
In response, Agares only ever smiled sweetly and replied, “Only for this moment.”
Of course, he never meant it. Agares briefly pondered his brother’s question.
“Mother?”
If he had to pick, she did deserve to be called the only woman Agares was weak against. Ellis sighed.
“You punk…not familial love.”
“Then, Brother, you?” he replied again without thinking twice.
“Am I not your family?” Ellis asked, dumbfounded. “Leave us out. Think of someone who isn’t related to you by blood.”
Agares was perplexed by his question. Someone he loved? No matter how much he racked his brain, he found it impossible to think of someone.
“Erm, I don’t think I have,” Agares concluded about his situation.
‘That’s right. I’ve never felt that thing called love.’
Ellis clicked his tongue, “See?”
“So because of that, you’re telling me to enter into a marriage of convenience?”
“If you think it’s not fair, bring someone you love to me, then. Anyone will do.”
“Anyone?”
“Yes, anyone. It doesn’t matter if she’s a beggar on the streets or an orphan. Just bring a woman. I’ll throw you a grand wedding right then and there. I’ll make it even more glamorous than my own coronation and wedding.”