Married into the enemy family - chapter 5

Her mood having improved, Jainar spoke in a voice laced with affected charm.

“Yes, the wedding is only a week away. It’s truly right around the corner.”

Ronin remained silent. Jainar—his adoptive mother—appeared in a good mood, but it wasn’t quite enough yet. Her eyes, as red as her hair, sparkled with clear malice.

“Do you know much about the man who will become your husband, Callion Leofric?”
“I do not know much.”
“Then I suppose I must be the one to tell you, as your mother.”

Jainar, who loved to talk, proceeded to share information about Callion Leofric. If one stripped away the malice, it was rather useful information.

“The rumor that the Leofric family is mad about war is famous. And Callion is rumored to be the maddest of them all. He’s so crazy about war that he spends more days on the battlefield than on his own estate. They say he even went off to subjugate monsters during the funeral of his father, the previous Duke Leofric. So isn’t he truly an Alpha who cannot live without seeing blood?”

Ronin slowly nodded his head.
Information to this extent was something all capital nobles knew, but Ronin, who had been raised like a greenhouse plant, did not.
Before manifesting, Ronin’s education had focused solely on the current Emperor, Charles.
What positions he favored, what traits in an Omega aroused him the most… things like that.
Now, instead of Charles, Ronin carefully memorized the information about Callion.

“Seduce Leofric by any means necessary. Make him hold you, make him love you, and bring back his weakness.”

That was what his father had said. Just as his adoptive mother mentioned, even if securing his love proved impossible, this knowledge would aid in uncovering the weakness of Callion Leofric.
When Ronin remained silent, Jainar’s mood soured once more. She brought up her main point in a decidedly sharper voice.

“If you had at least been an Omega, you could have relieved the Alpha’s vigor… but unfortunately, you’re a Beta, aren’t you?”
“……”
“So be careful. Lest you get eaten by the black wolf. Your dowry is quite expensive. You must earn your keep, shouldn’t you?”

Despite the words dripping with malice, Ronin submissively nodded his head. Just as he always did.

Callion turned his head to gaze at the pure white building.
The Temple stood elegantly, as it always did. Callion stared at it with a complex expression for a long while before finally turning his steps away.

‘So he really did manifest as a Beta.’

He had secretly investigated various things recently. It was to confirm whether the Alistair he was set to marry was truly a Beta.
Among those methods, the Temple was the most certain yet dangerous option.
All individuals had to have their secondary sex confirmed at the Temple. For those with power, it was merely a formality, but regardless, one could not obtain official authority without the Temple’s confirmation.
That was why Callion had taken the risk to visit the Temple.
And just moments ago, the Temple had once again confirmed the fact Callion already knew.

“Lord Ronin Alistair is definitively a Beta. The most devout priest examined him, and his secondary sex was established in the name of the most holy Archbishop.”

The Temple, claiming to be servants of God, had always maintained strict neutrality on secular matters. They wouldn’t start telling lies now to take someone’s side.
Lost in thought as he walked, Callion soon arrived at the central street. The citizens of the capital were energetically going about their lives.

“Buy some flowers! A fresh, abundant bouquet of flowers for just four pennies!”
“Glossy, grilled pork rinds just came out! Come have some high-protein, highly nutritious grilled pork rinds!”

Callion’s gaze swept over them. Wrinkled faces, sun-tanned forearms. Their appearances were neither as robust as Alphas nor as delicate as Omegas.

‘Someone like them came out of the Alistair family?’

It made no sense. He recalled it being quite an uproar when Ronin Alistair was born.

‘It was a big fuss because he was excessively beautiful. I don’t know what it means to be excessively beautiful, but still.’

He had also heard things from a reliable informant.

‘They say he was prepared to be the Emperor’s concubine… Of course, you don’t get the position of the Emperor’s concubine solely on looks, but Charles Ermengard is a greedy man. He always desires things beyond his station.’

If anyone had heard him, they would have reported him for insulting the Imperial family. But Callion remained lost in thought, without a single change in his expression.

Tap, tap-tap.

Callion’s fingers tapped against his scabbard. Baldwin, who had been observing him, realized it was about time he stepped in.

“Commander, we must get moving soon.”

Visiting the Temple today was already quite a strained schedule. They could not delay the subsequent itinerary any longer.
At Baldwin’s words, Callion snapped out of his reverie.

“Ah… Yes, we must go. To the Alistair mansion.”

Today, the day before the wedding, Callion Leofric was scheduled to visit the Alistair mansion.
It was a custom of the Empire for an Alpha to spend the night at the Omega’s house before their wedding.
Callion and Baldwin transferred carriages several times before heading to a villa in the capital.
There, after some time spent grooming, Callion transformed back from the Commander of a knight order into the Duke of Leofric.
Callion headed toward the Marquis Alistair’s estate in a carriage adorned with his family’s symbol, the black wolf.
Inside the carriage, tension swirled much like it did before heading out to the battlefield.
How long had the two traveled without exchanging a single word? Finally, the carriage came to a halt.
Just before the carriage door opened, Callion spoke.

“This is more dreadful than walking into a monster’s lair.”

Reading the omitted subject, Baldwin whispered.

“Your Grace.”
“I know. I’ll be careful with my words.”

At last, the carriage door opened with a creak. Marquis Alistair, who had been waiting in front, took a step forward.

“Your Grace, Duke Leofric. Welcome to the Marquis Alistair’s estate.”

The Marquis looked so youthful it was hard to believe he had a fully grown son.
It wasn’t just his physical appearance; the aura the Marquis exuded hadn’t aged a day. His blue eyes behind silver-rimmed glasses were like freshly honed blades.
From lips stretched into a smooth smile, words meant merely for the sake of saving face flowed out.

“Though we have known each other for a long time, I believe this is the first time you’ve been invited to our estate. I am truly sorry for the slight.”

At first listen, his tone was so natural it could be taken as sincere.
However, Callion knew him well. Well enough not to take his words at face value.
Richard Alistair, the biological father of Ronin Alistair and the current wielder of true power within the Alistair family.
He possessed a face that easily won favor, but his true nature was darker than any other Alistair’s.

‘They say he locked away the wife he had shared a bed with for years in a tower, and then married her relative. Even though his wife went mad from the shock.’

And then he went and got his new wife pregnant. The Alistairs’ lust for power made them abandon even the basic morality a human being ought to possess.
Suppressing the instinctive disgust rising within him, Callion smiled. Regardless, he too was a noble of the Empire. He had been harshly taught how to hide his true feelings since childhood.

“You flatter me. It is entirely due to my own shortcomings, so please do not trouble yourself over it, Marquis Alistair.”