Marriage Proposal of the National Treasure Young Master - Chapter 2: A Proposal and Confusion

“Why…”

Teril, who had been working as a maid in maid’s clothing, froze as the beautiful young man standing before her directed a refreshing smile at her.

Iralion snapped his fingers to magically restore the broken cup, then directed his beautiful blue eyes straight at Teril.

“I came to see you.”

At the bouquet of bright red ranunculus offered to her, Teril’s eyes, hidden beneath her bangs, widened.

“…!”

Smiling beautifully before the confused Teril, Iralion spoke her name in a voice so sweetly low and husky that it could make any young lady collapse instantly.

“Lady Teril.”

Then he knelt down and, without caring about the eyes around them, looked up at Teril, exposing his beautiful face without reserve as he whispered.

“Would you grant me the honor of becoming your husband?”

It was the moment when the nation’s treasure-class young master Iralion Svarov proposed to an eccentric young lady who looked like nothing more than a lowly working maid.

◇

“What on earth is the meaning of this?!”

Sofia was screaming while tearing at her hair in front of her father. Her glossy golden hair, which had been carefully arranged, was now in shambles.

“Why wasn’t I the one who received a proposal, but that woman?!”

Her beautifully adorned appearance had completely crumbled, and an ugly expression of rage appeared on her face.

After that sudden proposal scene, Iralion, concerned for the frozen and immobilized Teril, apologized for his sudden visit and proposal, asked her to take her time considering her response, and left with polite bows until the end.

The remaining members of the Kurzhett family were in complete uproar.

Teril, who was treated as less than a maid within the house. The daughter they had oppressed as a servant for years had received a proposal from the hero everyone admired.

At such an unprecedented situation, Count Kurzhett’s jaw remained agape for quite some time.

“Dear, you’re not seriously thinking of marrying that girl to Lord Iralion, are you? You plan to expose our family’s shame?! You saw it too, didn’t you—those creepy eyes! You want to bring out a daughter with such lowly blood mixed in?!”

To his wife shrieking beside their daughter, the count contemplated with a sour expression.

“Certainly, letting that brat have her way is unpleasant. But think about it. We could form a connection with the Marquis Svarov house. Do you think such a defective brat could ever sell for such a high price? I can’t hide my surprise at Lord Iralion’s tastes, but… it’s not a bad deal.”

“Dear!”

“Father!”

At the count’s enthusiasm, the countess and daughter screamed.

“That Iralion Svarov would become my son-in-law, you know? Politics, business, high society, the knights, even the Magic Tower. It’s a chance to control everything as we wish. We can’t let this opportunity slip by.”

“But…! Then I’ll marry Lord Iralion! That would obviously be better!”

To the screaming Sofia, Count Kurzhett directed a stern gaze.

“Lord Iralion showed not the slightest interest in you, did he? His tastes are quite peculiar. You’re not suitable.”

At her father’s decisive words, Sofia trembled with anger and frustration.

“How mortifying! That crazy good-for-nothing will become Lord Iralion’s wife?! Such a thing should never be allowed! I absolutely, absolutely won’t permit it!”

The count ignored Sofia’s screaming, far from ladylike, while the countess tearfully embraced her.

◇

Meanwhile, Teril sat dazedly in her own room—though calling it an attic room would be more accurate than bedroom—her body trembling as she looked down at the bouquet clutched in her hands.

“Where did I go wrong? I thought I had been doing well…”

The bright red ranunculus bouquet Iralion had given her seemed to hint that he knew everything about her past actions, filling Teril with an indescribable fear.

“No. That can’t be. There’s no way he could have found out about me. He doesn’t know anything.”

Teril tried to convince herself and attempted to put the bouquet outside her room… but couldn’t let go, eventually pulling it back into her arms.

Her fingertips gently stroking the soft petals clearly showed affection.

“Lala…”

In the dim attic with only a blanket and a single candle, the sweet fragrance of ranunculus filled the air, seeming to choke Teril’s chest.

◇

Meanwhile, Iralion was having tea with his friend at the royal palace where he had been summoned.

“Iralion. Did you really propose to that Teril Kurzhett?”

To Crown Prince Viktor, who looked at him with disbelieving eyes, Iralion nodded confidently while holding his cup.

“Yes. Though I haven’t received an answer yet.”

“You really go all out… Just when I told you about Teril Kurzhett, you flew out of here, and not even three days later, you propose. I’ve always thought you were beyond normal standards, and I thought I’d gotten used to your superhuman nature. But this time I’m shocked in a different way.”

To the crown prince’s sarcasm, Iralion directed an innocent, beaming smile.

“Thanks to you, Viktor, I was able to find her. I’m truly grateful.”

Viktor, rendered speechless by that smile, could only sigh as his venom was neutralized.

“In exchange, I’ll probably be resented by every young lady in the kingdom. Of all people, I recommended Teril Kurzhett as a bride candidate for the great Iralion Svarov.”

“What are you saying? Resented? That’s preposterous. For me, there’s nothing but gratitude. I’m so elated right now that I’d swear lifelong loyalty to you on my heart.”

Now that he mentioned it, today’s Iralion was indeed sparkling more brilliantly than usual. His skin and hair were shinier than ever. Seeing his friend in such unprecedented high spirits, Viktor shuddered, realizing he wasn’t joking.

“…Are you serious about that? Was recommending Lady Teril really that important to you?”

Smiling sweetly, Iralion set down his cup, crossed his long legs, and nodded while exposing his beauty so stunning that even Viktor, a man and his close friend, blushed.

“Yes. I don’t know anyone more adorable than her.”

At the words that came from the beautiful national treasure’s well-shaped lips, Viktor doubted his ears.

“…Adorable? Did you say adorable? We’re talking about that Teril Kurzhett, right? The eccentric young lady who doesn’t even show her face in high society, rumored to be mentally unstable…”

Viktor stopped speaking there. He had to stop. Because sharp killing intent had appeared in Iralion’s usually extremely gentle eyes.

There was no way Viktor, who was merely a crown prince, could defeat Iralion—the youngest swordmaster, captain of the Royal Knights, prime minister candidate, hero, and special advisor mage.

The moment that killing intent was directed at him, Viktor trembled as he easily imagined himself being beheaded.

“Viktor. Even if it’s you, if you insult her, I’ll consider you my enemy.”

This made Viktor jump up involuntarily.

“W-what’s gotten into you, Iralion…! For you to say such things to me, this must be serious!”

For the pure and honest, always serious and polite Iralion Svarov to threaten the crown prince—this had never happened once in their long relationship.

Even when young Viktor had been jealous of Iralion’s talents and been mean to him, when he’d been annoyed by Iralion’s popularity and made unreasonable complaints, when his inferiority complex had exploded and he’d harassed him—Iralion had always accepted it with a gentle smile.

Gradually, Viktor had realized how foolish it was to be stubborn toward Iralion, and they’d become inseparable friends for several years. The twisted prince Viktor had been influenced by Iralion to work hard at his studies and training, becoming a fine crown prince.

(The fact that he’d reformed the problem prince was another reason the king valued Iralion, though Viktor didn’t know this.)

Even Viktor, who prided himself on sharing joys and sorrows with him as a friend, was seeing Iralion angry for the first time.

Before the stunned Viktor, Iralion looked down awkwardly.

“She’s my first love. After wanting to see her for so long and finally meeting her, it’s natural that I’d be ecstatic and lose sight of my surroundings.”

The noble knight. The beautiful hero. The young master praised as a national treasure. The man who had shown no romantic interest even when surrounded by the most beautiful young ladies. Seeing him bashfully speak of love like any ordinary boy was truly strange.

“First love?! Are you… really the Iralion Svarov I know?”

At Viktor’s hoarse voice, Iralion scratched his cheek embarrassedly.

“You’re always saying there’s no one more foolish than a man in love.”

“Even so…”

That was indeed one of Viktor’s catchphrases, but Viktor had often said it to Iralion precisely because he thought it would never apply to this friend.

“It seems I’ve truly become that fool.”

Iralion, sighing with flushed cheeks, was radiantly beautiful.

Viktor still couldn’t believe his eyes, but thinking that his friend who had devoted himself to the country for so long was now being tossed about by love as an ordinary man made him want to cheer him on.

“I understand. I’ll fully support your feelings as your friend in this matter.”

Sensing that Viktor was being sincere, Iralion smiled with relief.

“Thank you, Viktor. It was worth spending fifteen years constantly thinking of her.”

Viktor, who had been reaching for his tea, nearly dropped his cup.

“Fifteen years?! Don’t tell me, the reason you’ve been avoiding marriage all this time was…!”

To the shocked Viktor, Iralion nodded bashfully.

“W-with your abilities, couldn’t you have found her much sooner? Why didn’t you do anything until now?”

To his friend’s voice cracking with surprise, Iralion answered with nostalgic eyes.

“Because she told me not to look for her.”

“…Huh?”

Taking his cup again, Iralion drank the cold tea while remembering the day he first met Teril as a child, feeling warmth in his chest.

‘You should do everything—become both a civil official and a knight. Research magic too, and since you’re at it, why not be prime minister, knight captain, and head of the Magic Tower all at once?’

‘You will definitely accomplish what you want to do.’

If he hadn’t met her that day, the current Iralion wouldn’t exist.

Everything Iralion had achieved was what she had given him.

“I didn’t ignore her wish. I didn’t look for her—you simply told me about her. Right?”

At the mischievous glint in the national treasure’s blue eyes, Viktor could only look up at the heavens in complete exasperation.