In a Political Marriage, Isn’t It Normal to Treat Your Fiancée Well? - Chapter 15

The third year of our engagement.

My engagement with Lord Arslan ended abruptly.

The reason was a reassessment of engagements between nobles.

It was announced that this would be led by the royal family.

My parents were fluctuating between joy and anxiety over the announcement, but I remained quietly obedient to my duties as always.

The only difference was that the decision of my marriage partner shifted from my parents to the royal family.

It wasn’t a significant change.

News arrived that Lord Arslan had married the daughter of a marquis.

“The son of the Seljuk Margrave marrying a marquis’s daughter?!”

“That mixed-blood, taking a marquis’s daughter as his wife.”

“How outrageous! And the daughter of the Landolt Marquis house, no less!”

My parents and brother were furious.

At the same time, I learned that my family looked down on Lord Arslan as someone “of foreign blood.”

This was utterly shocking.

I knew many central nobles detested mixing with foreign blood.

My brother-in-law was indeed one of them.

While he didn’t make overtly discriminatory remarks, he clearly couldn’t accept foreign bloodlines.

Even when my engagement to Lord Arslan was decided, he expressed considerable sympathy.

“Such a misfortune to be engaged to that mixed-blood,” he said with an unpleasant smirk.

Although my older sister admonished him, that smile didn’t fade immediately.

Even though he was my brother-in-law, I thought to myself what a disagreeable person he was.

But I never dreamed that even my parents and brother felt the same way.

I was simply astonished by this unexpected side of them.

It took some time to decide my next partner.

There were apparently negotiations with Lord Arslan’s family.

I didn’t know the details, but since my parents and brother were in very good spirits lately, it must have been a favorable outcome.

Several months later, I was finally informed that my partner had been decided.

He was to be Ravil Regenburg, the son of a duke.

And not just any son—the heir apparent.

Me, merely the daughter of a count house?

To become the wife of the next duke?

“Sophia, what a fortunate daughter you are!” my parents and brother rejoiced.

“Will I be able to fulfill the role of a duchess?”

“No need to worry. You simply need to obey your husband quietly.”

“That’s right, Sophia. You only need to focus on becoming a duchess. There’s no need to think about anything else.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

And so, the marriage arrangement with the Regenburg ducal house was settled.

Just like the first time, my will had no place in it.

Moreover, this time it was led by the royal family.

I couldn’t hide my anxiety about marrying someone so far above my station.

“Don’t worry, Sophia.”

“Brother?”

“The Regenburg duke’s son is not of legitimate birth. You likely won’t be treated poorly.”

Not of legitimate birth…?

What could that mean?

“But I heard Lord Ravil is the heir?”

“That’s correct. The Regenburg ducal house originally had twin sons of legitimate birth.”

“Twins…?”

“Yes. However, these twins were disinherited due to behavior unbecoming of nobles. Lord Ravil is the duke’s illegitimate child. His mother comes from a viscount family. While his bloodline is somewhat inferior, there should be no issue with marrying you.”

“I see…”

I accepted my brother’s words without question.

Bloodlines matter greatly in noble society.

Perhaps my marriage was arranged for that very reason.

And so, my engagement was decided.

This was my second engagement.

Just like the first time, I figured I simply needed to adapt to my partner. That is the fate of a nobleman’s daughter.

————There was no contact.

Three months had passed since my engagement to Lord Ravil, yet there had been no communication from him whatsoever.

No letters, no gifts.

“Perhaps Lord Ravil is busy?”

“That may be so. But there’s no need to worry,” my father said.

Indeed, the Regenburg duchy was far away.

Distant from our county.

Even if messengers were sent, they wouldn’t arrive quickly, and letters would likely be delayed.

But six months passed, then a year, with no word from Lord Ravil.

This was the complete opposite of my experience with Lord Arslan.

What could this mean?

I didn’t understand.

What should I do?

I didn’t know how to act in such a situation.

For a lady to initiate contact would be highly improper.

Normally, it’s proper etiquette for the gentleman to send the first letter.

Lord Albert had done so.

With Lord Arslan, I had received the first letter from him.

And so, time passed without any interaction between us…

Before I knew it, the wedding date had been set.