Marriage Proposal of the National Treasure Young Master - Chapter 0: Prologue – A Friend's Melancholy

“Iralion!”

Viktor, the crown prince of the Cuyer Kingdom, immediately rushed over upon spotting his close friend who had come to the royal palace.

“Your Highness.”

Glossy black hair that swayed smoothly, refreshing blue eyes. A beautiful face that captivated all who saw it, and a well-proportioned physique.

Iralion Svarov, the beautiful young master praised as a national treasure, bowed gracefully upon seeing the approaching crown prince.

“Come now, don’t be so formal. Call me by name as you always do.”

The crown prince waved his hand while catching his breath. Iralion blinked once, softened the heavy atmosphere that had surrounded him, and turned to face his friend anew.

“Viktor. What’s wrong? You seem so flustered.”

When Iralion asked, the crown prince grabbed his friend’s hand with an anxious expression.

“I need to discuss something important with you. Could you spare me some time before Father finds us?”

“Of course. I understand.”

Seeing his friend’s unusually serious demeanor, Iralion immediately nodded, and the two headed to the crown prince’s office.

“The truth is… Father is trying to arrange a marriage between you and Anastasia.”

“His Majesty wants to arrange a marriage between me and the princess?”

“Yes. He seems determined to see you two married no matter what. Father is quite fond of you, you know. This topic has come up before and been postponed, but this time it doesn’t seem like it can be stopped. He absolutely wants you as his son-in-law.”

“That is… troublesome.”

“Truly troublesome…”

The two looked at each other and sighed simultaneously.

“But the princess has a lover she cares deeply for.”

“Exactly. Ever since hearing about this arrangement, Anastasia has been despondent. She hasn’t been eating properly either. It’s pitiful to watch.”

“Perhaps His Majesty doesn’t know about the princess’s lover?”

“Well, no. But even if we told him, he wouldn’t listen. Father is absolutely determined to welcome you into the family. If he learned about this, he would use any means necessary to separate them.”

“…While a marriage alliance with the royal family would be tremendously honorable and grateful for both myself personally and my family, considering the princess’s feelings, I could never accept such an arrangement.”

“Iralion…!”

His friend was thinking of his sister over his own interests. The crown prince was deeply moved and called out his name.

“Hmm. I know… In that case, what if I married someone else before His Majesty makes the formal proposal?”

“What! You, who have been avoiding marriage all this time?”

“Princess Anastasia is like a sister to me as well. I don’t want to see her become unhappy. Besides, everyone around me has been nagging about marriage lately… it’s probably about time. I should be grateful to the princess for giving me the push to finally take this step.”

Viktor was deeply touched by his friend’s reassuring smile.

“You truly are the finest friend anyone could have. Anastasia would definitely be happier marrying you, though.”

“Please don’t say that. The princess’s lover, Eric, is a wonderful man. He will undoubtedly make the princess happy.”

Iralion smiled with a dazzlingly beautiful and gentle expression as he reasoned with Viktor.

He praised others, showed consideration, and never displayed arrogance. Seeing Iralion’s straightforward and sincere eyes, Viktor felt genuine gratitude toward his friend.

However, precisely because of this, he couldn’t bear to let his friend shoulder everything alone.

This man deserved happiness above all else.

“So then, what are your preferences? Is there a young lady you fancy? If not, what kind of lady would you desire? I want to help ensure that you, who have done so much for my sister, can find happiness.”

At his friend the crown prince’s words, Iralion blushed and hesitantly opened his mouth with embarrassment.

“Well then… perhaps a lady with fluffy, cotton candy-like pale milk tea-colored hair, and fantastical eyes like those that herald the dawn. A face that suits smiling with adorable freckles, who boasts that she can talk to animals… I wonder if such a lady exists?”

“Huh?”

Iralion was a perfect, handsome hero and a national treasure-level supremely capable beautiful man who drove women throughout the country into the hell of unrequited love. Faced with his handsome friend’s peculiar, unusual, and strangely specific taste in women, the crown prince quietly averted his gaze.

“…As I thought, no such lady exists. I apologize for the unreasonable request. Please don’t mind it. I’ll choose a lady who benefits the country, the family, and our mutual interests, and marry her.”

Seeing his friend’s lonely smile, the crown prince held his head in his hands.

“Wait a moment… there’s one person I can think of who matches your description.”

And so, with a heavy heart, Viktor spoke the name of a certain young lady.