Chương 93: Chapter 92 – The Matrilocal Fiancé-to-Be

It took me a few seconds to process the question. This was the first time I had ever been proposed to. And by someone I was speaking with for the very first time.

"…Huh? I don't think I catch your drift, Lady Rushia." Rushia replied very calmly.

"You didn't mishear, and my intention is exactly as stated. I am proposing that you become my matrilocal fiancé. Of course, this is strictly on paper; we won't actually be getting married."

"Why should I do that?"

"You are currently at odds with your own family and in dire need of a powerful faction to back you up. Becoming a son-in-law of the Matthew family will give you a rock-solid foundation. I will provide you with the necessary protection and step up whenever you need support. In return, you will act as my nominal fiancé until the official Heroes are chosen."

"And what happens after that?"

"This engagement will be dissolved if I become a Hero. Conversely, if I fail to become a Hero... we will renegotiate the terms of our agreement." At first glance, it wasn't a bad offer at all—it just came completely out of the blue. No scenario running through my head beforehand had accounted for something like this.

"Why me, though? I'm only sixteen years old, which makes me younger than you." In Averula, seventeen is considered the legal age of adulthood. It is also the age at which marriage is officially recognized by the Church. Rushia countered: "Your age is precisely one of the reasons. I need a nominal fiancé, not an actual husband. Since you are still underage, no one will be able to force us into a wedding."

Rushia took a sip of her tea and continued to explain in a serene tone, as though discussing the weather rather than her own marriage:"My fiancé can't just be anyone. He needs to come from a prestigious house, and there must be a believable connection between us so that our interactions don't raise suspicions. You belong to the Griffin family and, in theory, should have even inherited their title. Your status now isn't high, but it's certainly not low either.

On top of that, we attend the same academy, so we can tell the public that we grew acquainted during our studies." To understand this, one had to look at Rushia Matthew's current family dynamics. She was the daughter of the current head of the house and the younger sister of the future head. In terms of family hierarchy, Andrew actually had to call Rushia his biological aunt. The laws of Averula did not permit daughters to inherit noble titles.

However, in certain houses where there was no noble title to pass down, the position of family head could still go to a woman—provided that upon marriage, her husband agreed to take her surname and live as a matrilocal son-in-law. The Matthew family, however, possessed a Ducal title that required succession, so the head of the house had always been male.

Therefore, Rushia's chances of becoming the family head were absolute zero, meaning she logically shouldn't be in any rush to find a husband willing to marry into her family. In fact, back during my first isekai run, Rushia's father would pass away within the next few months. Her older brother then smoothly inherited the title. Unless this had absolutely nothing to do with fighting for succession, and was driven by an entirely different motive.

"Why do you need an engagement right at this moment?" Without a change in her expression, Rushia replied:"My father's health is already very frail. I want him to see that I have found a fiancé to my liking." I chuckled. That was a blatant lie. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

"Lady Rushia, being noticed by you is truly an honor. But I will not step into a partnership without knowing my partner's true intent as well as the risks that come with it." Rushia's eyebrows knitted slightly upon hearing my words. She picked up another piece of pastry. Without me realizing it, she had already polished off half of the sweets sitting on the table. Is she using sweets to psych herself up?

"I want to become a Hero," Rushia finally confessed.

"Does that have anything to do with getting married?"

"I found out that my older brother is secretly arranging a marriage for me with someone else. If my father happens to pass away in the near future, I will be forced to marry the man my brother has chosen. That will hinder my path to becoming a Hero, and I refuse to let it happen." That arranged marriage must be with Prince Bryce Cassandra.

Whether intentionally or otherwise, the future head of the Matthew house seemed to be aiming to kill two birds with one stone: elevate a member of his own family to future Queen while simultaneously removing a potent rival who threatened his son's path to becoming a Hero. Putting it that way, Rushia's goals and mine actually aligned perfectly. Rushia was the most capable candidate to replace Andrew in the Hero party.

Having her cooperate with me this much earlier than anticipated brought only benefits and no downsides. Furthermore, becoming the fiancé of the Matthew family's young lady genuinely offered me an immense amount of leverage. Rushia was the daughter Duke Lenim Matthew had in his twilight years, and he doted on her profoundly. Although she wouldn't inherit the title, as long as Lenim drew breath, Rushia's standing within the family remained incredibly high. Andrew still had to bow his head whenever he greeted her.

Meanwhile, my current position was highly awkward. I had practically made an enemy out of the Griffin family and had yet to find a reliable backing. My relationships with the current Hero Candidates were also rather ambiguous, making them inconvenient to flaunt publicly. I was also severely lacking in funds and alternative connections. Rushia had made her stance on becoming a Hero clear, and the role of fiancé was a perfect position from which to help her kick Andrew out. A fake engagement, huh...

Seeing me lost in thought, Rushia probed:"Are you still worried about losing face, after all?" I understood what she was getting at. Averula still maintained a certain degree of gender disparity. While it wasn't as extreme as some ancient patriarchal cultures in Asia, the society here was still fundamentally patrilineal. For a man, especially one from a renowned house, to abandon his surname and marry into his wife's family was still widely considered a shameful disgrace.

I laughed: "Compared to saving face, I care more about saving my life. Will your family try to assassinate me to stop this engagement from happening?"

"I will provide you with the necessary protection, but yes, there are still risks involved. In return, you will also reap major benefits. As soon as my father gives his consent, we will formally get engaged and make a public announcement. You will officially receive the protection of the Matthew family against outside forces. I will provide bodyguards, funds, and even housing if you require it."

"And what do I need to do in return?"

"Coordinate with me during ceremonies and family gatherings. At the academy... there is no need to act overly intimate, but a certain level of interaction is expected. You may disclose to those close to you that this relationship is a sham, provided you ensure they won't leak it to the outside." I nodded; all of this fell within my expectations.

"May I state my conditions?"

"Yes, please do."

"First, I want it clearly established that this engagement is strictly nominal. I expect us to respect this boundary and refrain from interfering in each other's private relationships. However, the covenant must still be honored. If you happen to find someone you truly love in the near future, I have no issue with you dating them in secret, but I expect my position to remain secured until the agreed deadline." At this youthful age where hormones run rampant, anything could happen.

Rather than forbidding a young maiden's heart from fluttering—which was an impossible task anyway—it was far better to draw clear boundaries right from the start. Rushia replied with utter nonchalance:"I am quite certain that won't happen to me, so you have nothing to worry about. I expect the same from you." I nodded and continued: "Second, I want to be involved in the plans to help you become a Hero." Hearing this, Rushia knit her brows: "What do you mean by that?"

"You can view me as an assistant and discuss your strategies with me. I have a few issues with your nephew and wouldn't be pleased if he secures a spot as a Hero, so I want to help you as much as possible."

"You have an issue with Andrew? I've never heard of this."

"You can't possibly know everything in the world, can you?" Rushia pondered in silence for a brief moment, then spoke:"If you prove yourself to be useful, I will consider it. Is there anything else?"

"That's all for now. Well then, here's to a successful partnership?" Out of habit, I reached out for a handshake, only to remember that Averula didn't share this custom. Rushia stared at my hand with a look of pure confusion. Pulling my hand back now would feel a bit awkward, so I explained:"This is a handshake, a gesture used by merchants to signify cooperation. If you feel uncomfortable..." Rushia slowly extended her hand and clasped mine.

"Very well, here's to a successful partnership."