He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 191

< Finding a Bride >

Having finished lunch with the King and Queen of Naples, Tae-oh immediately sought out Prince Pietro.

The prince was sitting in the park in front of the palace, enjoying the sunlight.

“Prince Pietro? You’re here? I’ve been looking for you for a while.”

“Why… were you looking for me?”

Tae-oh sat next to the prince, recounted the conversations he had with the King and Queen, and suggested they embark on a search together.

“You want us to find a partner together, someone you can spend your life with?”

“Yes. Wouldn’t you want to meet such a wife, Your Highness?”

Prince Pietro chuckled and replied.

“Hmph, Count. I may be young, but I pride myself on understanding women better than most. But love? Haha, does such a thing even exist?”

“Why do you say that?”

“It might sound harsh to compare love to a toy, but honestly, I think love isn’t much different. It’s a fleeting amusement.”

“……”

“When I was young, if I saw a wonderful toy that caught my eye, I thought if my parents bought it for me, I would cherish it and play with it forever. But it never works out that way, does it? You get tired of it after playing with it a few times.

And as time passes, you wonder why you were so desperate to have it.

I think love is the same. At first, your hearts are ablaze, and it feels like it will last forever, but as you keep seeing each other, the heat cools down, you get bored, you fight, and at some point, you lose all feelings.”

“Why do you think that happens?”

“Because love, like toys, is just an expression of a human desire to possess. Once that possessiveness is satisfied, as time passes, you get tired and bored.

But to act like there is such a thing as eternal love… it seems you know even less about the ways of the world than I do, Count.”

Tae-oh smiled and pointed to an elderly couple holding hands and strolling in the distance.

“Haha, it just so happens that there are perfect people passing by to illustrate my point. Your Highness, do you know those people?”

The prince looked at the elderly couple with a sullen face and nodded.

“Yes. It’s the Merode couple. I’ve known them since I was a child.”

“Then why do those people, who are well over sixty, look so affectionate?”

“…Well, everyone in Naples knows they are a loving couple.”

“I happened to have tea with them two years ago and overheard stories from their youth. They had a truly heartbreaking love when they were much younger than you are now, Your Highness.”

“Their story is very famous in our kingdom. I heard that the Merode Countess was a commoner from another country, so there was a lot of opposition at the time of their marriage.”

“Then, isn’t that different from what you said? Why would the Count, at his old age, still cherish a woman who should have been discarded because love has already cooled down? I’ve heard from others that they have lived their whole lives loving each other like that.”

“Well… maybe they’ve grown fond of each other. But can we consider being fond of someone as true love?”

“Yes. That is true love. Of course, unfortunately, most people don’t experience such love.

Falling in love at first sight and only looking at that person for the rest of your life is not as common as you think.”

“You can fall in love at first sight for a moment. But can that feeling really last?”

“Are you saying that even after seeing the Merode couple in front of you?

It seems that you only see the hot, initial infatuation that arises from external appearances as love, and you think that when it cools down, it’s not love anymore?

No. True love with someone is like aged wine; it develops a deeper aroma as time goes by. However, to have such love, you must be able to fall for each other’s values, like the Merode couple.”

“That’s difficult. Values of the heart…”

“People have a primary value in their hearts that makes them feel truly themselves.

For example, some people value ‘growth’ the most, so they only feel like themselves and are satisfied when they see themselves growing.

Others value ‘small gatherings’ the most, and they only feel like themselves and feel fulfilled when they communicate with people in such gatherings.

In the end, when people know what is most like them, and they meet someone who can support and complement that, they can have a happy married life full of love with satisfaction and contentment in their lives.

And when this primary value that they value and pursue the most is satisfied, even if other secondary values conflict and are not satisfied, they can generously understand and continue to feel true love and happiness.

Conversely, no matter how abundantly other values are filled, if their primary value is not satisfied and the other person does not understand it, their heart will always be uneasy and dissatisfied, love will disappear, and conflicts between them will only grow.”

“So, the Merode Count met such a wife?”

“Yes. Of course, they didn’t know that from the beginning. The person they fell in love with at first sight happened to have similar values or was someone who understood and supported those values.”

The prince, who had been lost in thought for a moment, shook his head.

“It sounds plausible, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. I don’t even know what my primary value is, so how can I consider the other person’s values and choose my destined partner?

Besides, the other person might actually hate those values but pretend to like them in order to get married.”

Tae-oh smiled at the prince’s question.

“That’s why I’m offering to help. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have a special ability to read and understand people’s minds. Thanks to that, I have been able to understand the tendencies and values of men and women and help them lead happy lives after marriage.

While running the marriage company, I only looked closely at the members, identified the values that made them most like themselves, and connected them with partners who matched those values, but in the end, the couples who were connected in that way are still loving each other and doing well.”

Tae-oh looked at the Merode couple and continued.

“Why wouldn’t those people have had conflicts? There must have been parts that didn’t match each other, and they must have fought because of it.

However, if they truly understand and support each other’s primary values, the remaining lower values, even if they conflict, will be generously understood and easily resolved, maintaining a stronger love without major conflicts.”

Tae-oh’s reputation as a matchmaker was famous even in the Kingdom of Naples.

However, the prince had been uninterested and had let it go in one ear and out the other, but after talking to him directly today, he felt a tempting feeling that such love might exist.

“Prince Pietro? Why don’t you travel with me and look around the surrounding countries to find a true partner?

If you can find such a lady, you will experience a completely different happy feeling from the women you have met and quickly tired of because you were only attracted to them externally.”

“……”

Prince Pietro had met many women, but he always felt empty.

He spoke as if he knew everything about love, but the unfulfilled loneliness and depression always tormented and angered his heart.

But as he listened to Count Sanderson’s story, he realized that the unknown dissatisfaction and lack may have been because he had not met a destined partner who could understand and support his values.

“There’s no need to worry so much. Just get rid of your prejudices and meet people as your heart moves you.

Then I will be able to judge well from the side whether it really suits your heart and whether you really match the other person.

How about it? Why don’t you travel around the surrounding countries with me and look for such a partner?”

The prince couldn’t help but be shaken by Tae-oh’s words, which seemed to see through his heart.

◈ A week later. Early February 1797, Kingdom of Sardinia, Italy.

Antonio Grimaldi, the Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Naples, decided to travel around the surrounding countries with Tae-oh and Prince Pietro to look for a bride.

To this end, he sent letters of visit to a total of six countries in advance, but at Tae-oh’s request, the mention of the prince’s attendance was omitted from the letters.

The first country to visit was the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Thanks to favorable winds and good weather, it did not take many days to travel by ship to the Kingdom of Sardinia.

The Kingdom of Sardinia, ruled by the House of Savoy, had a smaller population and economy than the Kingdom of Naples, but its military power was comparable to that of the Kingdom of Naples, and it was also in a very important geopolitical position.

Moreover, the two countries had in common that they were strongly opposed to and resisting the French Revolution and its expansionist policies.

At this time, the Kingdom of Naples, which had won valuable victories in battles against the mighty French Revolutionary Army, could not help but attract the attention of the leaders, including the King of Sardinia.

Tak- Tak-

The road from the ship to the Palace of the Kingdom of Sardinia by carriage.

About 30 minutes before arriving, Tae-oh carefully broached the subject with Count Grimaldi, the Minister of Interior.

“Count Grimaldi.”

“Yes, Lord Sanderson.”

“I am going to conceal the identity of the Prince and myself from now on. I would like to ask for your understanding in advance.”

Count Grimaldi tilted his head.

“Conceal your identity?”

“Since the purpose of this visit is to find a suitable spouse for the Prince, I think we should see the unadorned character of the potential brides.”

“I don’t quite understand what you mean?”

“It’s nothing complicated. The Prince and I will accompany you as servants or porters of your entourage, so please just pretend you don’t know us.”

“No, why such an act?”

“It is also to find the best spouse for the Prince in a short period, and it is necessary to observe the true nature of the country without revealing his princely status.

For that, you need to be able to move around freely, and I think it would be better to hide your identity for a while. That’s the judgment after discussing it with the Prince.

I would like to ask for your cooperation.”

“Well, if you have a good reason, I understand.”

Tae-oh and the Prince, who had explained the situation to the Minister of Interior, quickly changed into the clothes they had prepared in advance.

*

The waiting room of the Palace of the Kingdom of Sardinia in Turin.

The waiting room was abuzz with preparations to welcome the high-ranking official from the Kingdom of Naples.

Formally, it was a meeting with the King, but in reality, it was a mission to identify bride candidates, so the Kingdom was very 신경 쓰고 [concerned] in the atmosphere.

For that reason, the entrance to the waiting room was filled with various flowers and decorations that could not be seen in a general meeting, and the Royal Guard of the Kingdom was dressed up and standing, giving the same courteous treatment as if the King of the Kingdom of Naples had come.

This 모습 [scene], which was quite different from usual, seemed to prove that an alliance through marriage could exert a stronger force between countries than any agreement or treaty.

In addition, cooperation with the Kingdom of Naples recently gave 기대감 [expectation] that it could maintain a good relationship with the world’s strongest country, England, so it could not help but attract more attention.

If they had known that Pietro, the third son of the King of Naples, was directly attending here at this time, there would have been a riot in the Kingdom of Sardinia.

But no one recognized Tae-oh and the Prince, who were dressed as servants in Grimaldi’s, the Minister of Interior’s, entourage.

The adjutant of the Kingdom of Sardinia approached Grimaldi, the Minister of Interior, and said.

“Lord Grimaldi. You may proceed now.”

Count Grimaldi, who nodded, approached Prince Pietro, who was dressed as a servant, and said in a low voice.

“Your Highness, then I will go to meet the King first, and I will see you later.”

“Yes, do so.”

Count Grimaldi, who also 인사한 [greeted] Tae-oh, was guided by the adjutant of the Kingdom of Sardinia and entered the reception room.

And a little later.

The princesses of the Kingdom appeared in front of the reception room, leading the maids.

The four princesses were whispering something non-stop with anxious faces.

Looking at them checking their elaborate dresses and 경계하는 [wary of] each other, it seemed that the marriage issue with the Kingdom of Naples was a big topic among them.

“Tighten your waist more! You look too fat!”

“Yes! Princess!”

Next to them, the maids were 붙어 [attentive] to take care of the princesses’ clothes.

Tae-oh listened to their 말소리를 [voices], but it seemed to be Latin.

I studied Latin at an American university, so I could read it, but I couldn’t speak or understand the conversation.

Tae-oh quietly asked Prince Pietro.

“Isn’t the language they are using now Latin?”

The Prince nodded.

“Yes, it is. They are using Latin.”

In the Italian region before unification, various dialects existed in each kingdom or principality.

So, in the Kingdom of Sardinia, ordinary people used their own dialect, Sardinian.

However, the educated ruling class of the nobility or the European royal family used Latin to 은근히 뽐내곤 [subtly show off] their specialness.

Thanks to this, Prince Pietro, who could speak Latin, could understand what they were saying to some extent.

However, the Prince, who looked at the 모습 [appearance] of the princesses, did not pay much attention.

Even to Tae-oh, the princesses of the Kingdom of Sardinia were only 요란했을 [ostentatious] in their decorations, and the charm was not 크게 느껴지지 [greatly felt] in their faces or 말투 [manner of speaking].

The strongly 풍기는 [emanating] nervous and arrogant 감정 [feeling] was also 별로 [not good].

If you don’t feel the charm right away, the start of the relationship will be delayed.

The Prince, who did not have the 여유 [leeway] to find the charm while meeting over time, needed a lady who could fall in love at first sight.

At that time, a princess with 매서운 [sharp] eyes 기분나쁘게 흘겨보며 [glared unpleasantly] at Prince Pietro and 쑥덕였다 [whispered] to the other princesses.

“Isn’t that the 몸종 [servant] that the Minister of the Kingdom of Naples brought with him, who has been 힐끔거리고 [glancing] at us with a 음흉한 [lecherous] gaze from earlier?”

Then the other princesses, who were 신나게 떠들던 [excitedly chattering] next to her, all turned their heads and 훑어봤다 [scanned] the Prince and Tae-oh’s 위아래 [up and down].

“That’s right. He looks like a 촌스럽고 시커먼 [rustic and swarthy] donkey, just like a Naples 몸종 [servant], 호호 [giggle].”

“Donkey? 크크 [chuckle]- He really looks like a donkey?”

“Where? 깔깔 [cackle]··· He really looks like a donkey? But he’s a 사내답게 [manly] handsome donkey. 깔깔 [cackle].”

Then another princess 가리키며 [pointed at] Tae-oh with her chin.

“어라 [oh]? But the 멀대 [lanky one] next to that donkey doesn’t look like a Naples person? He looks decent and 점잖은 체하는 [pretentious], just like a British 시골 귀족 [country nobleman]?”

The other princesses 맞장구쳤다 [agreed] to her 말에 [words].

“That’s right. He definitely looks better than the Naples 촌놈 [bumpkin]. But why is that guy 붙어 [stuck] with the Naples donkey?”

“Quite a lot of 귀족 집안 [noble families] from England who are 별 볼 일 없는 [insignificant] 이주해서 [immigrated] live in the Kingdom of Naples. I heard that such 떨거지들 [riffraff] do 시종 [errands] in the palace.”

Tae-oh could not 알아듣지는 [understand] the princesses’ 말을 [words], but the 분위기는 [atmosphere] was 대충 짐작이 갔다 [roughly guessed].

“혹시 [perhaps], are the princesses 흉을 [insulting] us?”

Before he could ask, the Prince’s 표정은 [expression] was already 바뀌어있었다 [changed].

“허 [huh]- 참 나 [really]. 아니 [no], 어디서 감히 [how dare they]···.”

Prince Pietro, who was 자신 있었던 [confident] in his 외모 [appearance] to receive the 관심을 [attention] of many Naples 아가씨들 [young ladies], was 붉으락푸르락했다 [red in the face] at the princesses’ 천박한 [vulgar] 말투 [tone] that compared him to a donkey.

But he could not 차마 내색은 [show it] in front of Tae-oh.

“What did those princesses say?”

The Prince said while 돌리면서 [averting] his 시선을 [gaze] to another 곳으로 [place].

“There’s no need to 신경 쓰실 [worry] at all. They are very 상스러운 [crude] 여자들 [women]. I can’t even 찾아볼 [find] the 교양 머리라고는 [refinement]···. I don’t know how they can 함부로 [carelessly] such 말을 [words] in a 들리는 목소리로 [audible voice], 원 [really].

When you asked to hide your 신분을 [identity], I wondered if I really had to, but now I think it was a really good thing. 험 [hum]! 험 [hum]! ”

“······?”