This Time, I Became the Fiance of a Duke’s Daughter. But She is Rumored to have Bad Personality, and Ten Years Older – Chapter 387

“By the way, this is a change of subject, but do you have a lover, or any women you’re close to?”

Laurentz was momentarily stunned, unable to grasp the meaning of his father’s words. They had been discussing something very important just moments ago, and he couldn’t understand why his father was suddenly interested in his romantic life. He also found it a bit awkward and unpleasant that his father’s face was slightly red, avoiding eye contact, as if he were embarrassed or shy to have such a conversation with his son.

“N-no, I have friends, but no one I’m particularly close to… Is there a reason you ask?”

“Just as your friend Jared did, you’ve received marriage proposals.”

“…There’s no way.”

Why would he receive proposals? It was understandable. He was just an ordinary student. He didn’t have a betrothal to a Ducal family, nor was he a special scholarship student at the Academy. He was just a common human – or at least, that’s how Laurentz saw himself.

“Why is that?”

“That’s because, of course, you’ve been recommended as a Court Mage Candidate.”

Hearing this, Laurentz understood. Though he himself felt it was sudden and hadn’t fully registered the reality, to others, being named as a Court Mage Candidate already indicated a promising future. Even if he were to reject future offers, it was more than enough to secure a marriage.

“…I see. So this must be how Jared felt.”

He recalled that the feelings he had towards Jared when Jared became a Court Mage Candidate might have been the same as what people now felt towards him.

“In Jared’s case, the timing was unfortunate. It came right after his engagement talks with Olivier. Many doubted his abilities. However, he silenced those doubts with numerous achievements.”

Laurentz was well aware of this. Especially after the incident with Barnabas Kaif, the Court Mage Candidate, Jared’s abilities and any suspicions of him using connections were completely dispelled.

“Those connected to Magic, and those not, likely see the position of Court Mage as highly advantageous. No, that’s not right, it is indeed advantageous. They are among the twelve top figures in the country, and they are even granted aristocratic titles. Any family would want to forge a connection, even if it meant offering their daughters.”

In reality, Laurentz was a promising candidate for a future spouse. As the eldest son of a Count Family and recommended as a Court Mage, nobles and even influential merchant families would likely desire a connection. Furthermore, the fact that he didn’t have a specific fiancée was a significant factor. Even his friend, who had a fiancée and whose fiancée rejected being a consort, still received a barrage of marriage proposals. It was no wonder that Laurentz, free of such complications, was receiving offers left and right.

The marriage proposals ranged from his schoolmates whom Laurentz knew, to women who were past their prime. In some terrible cases, the offers even included young girls not yet adolescents or women who had been divorced and returned to their families. Some proposals completely disregarded the compatibility of the individuals or whether the daughters themselves were interested, leaving Kendrick to grapple with the situation unbeknownst to his son.

“I’m only sixteen. I can’t even imagine getting married before I’m an adult.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but if you don’t at least have a fiancée like Jared, the marriage proposals won’t stop. There are those who will try to get close to you for their own gain, and those who might try to get close to those near you for their own benefit.”

“That might be true, but it still feels too soon.”

“As your father, I certainly feel it might be too soon, but as a man, if you become a Court Mage, you’ll be able to support a family, so it’s not necessarily too early.”

As Kendrick said, if he accepted the position of Court Mage, it would be akin to securing a job. He would receive a stable income. He could support a wife, and even have children with plenty to spare. Even without receiving an aristocratic title as a Court Mage, Laurentz was the heir to the Herring family. So, marriage was not an issue.

Certainly, there were valid arguments that it was too soon for an underage individual. For a son living under his parents’ care as a student, it was not something that could be easily accepted, no matter how bright his future seemed. Moreover, Laurentz still felt like it was a dream to even be recommended as a Court Mage, and he hadn’t truly accepted it yet. To be spoken of in terms of marriage prospects based on his future, his mind simply couldn’t keep up.

“I know you’re probably confused, but just like with the Court Mage matter, please consider the marriage proposals as well. I’ll bring you the details of the candidates later.”

“I-I understand. I’ll try my best.”

He didn’t want an unwanted marriage. He also didn’t want a bride who was forced into it. He supposed he would have to choose a life partner eventually, but he felt strongly that now was not the time. Laurentz’s mind drifted to his close friend.

Back when their relationship wasn’t yet at the stage of calling each other close friends, he had suspected that Olivier’s influence played a role in Jared becoming a Court Mage Candidate, which led to an argument. One of their friends had believed rumors surrounding Olivier and said something to Jared, which truly angered him.

It was through that incident that they became close, and now Laurentz even met with Olivier. From Laurentz’s perspective, the two of them seemed deeply in love. The bond between his best friend and his fiancée was so profound that Laurentz could almost mistake it as if they had been in love since childhood.

–Can I, too, truly love someone like Jared and Olivier do?

If he were to marry, Laurentz wished to be with a woman he could love with all his heart.