In a Political Marriage, Isn’t It Normal to Treat Your Fiancée Well? - Chapter 2

Our marriage was set for three years later.

The idea was for us to get to know each other during this time.

To start things off, I sent Lady Sophia a letter.

Of course, it was handwritten.

Judging from her reaction when we first met, she wasn’t enthusiastic about this engagement.

I felt the same way.

But this was a duty and an obligation. I had to make an effort to ensure this engagement went smoothly.

I kept the letter’s content harmless—talk about the weather, what I did that day, trivial matters like that.

Starting with exchanging these “unimportant things” was important for getting to know each other.

The content would gradually change over time.

Topics like our territories, family, friends, and hobbies.

Lady Sophia’s letters always followed proper form and were written in beautiful handwriting.

I would reply to them.

Lady Sophia seemed to enjoy reading as a hobby. She appeared to prefer romance novels.

Other than that, she often spent her time doing embroidery.

Like a proper young lady? She rarely went outside, only venturing into the garden or occasionally taking walks. It seemed Lady Sophia wasn’t very active.

“What do you think of her?”

I asked my trusted butler, Merlein.

He was a capable butler who had served our family since my grandfather’s time.

Merlein let out a sigh and answered calmly.

“…Well, I think she’s a very quiet person. She likely has an introverted and passive personality. I suspect she might not even be able to ride a horse.”

“That’s fine by itself. But do you think she’d join me for hunting parties?”

“That might be difficult as well. Lady Sophia wrote that she doesn’t go out much.”

“…Should I confirm it?”

“It might be best to ask her indirectly.”

“Understood.”

Merlein’s prediction was correct.

She seemed to view hunting itself as a “barbaric act.”

I also learned that she didn’t participate in any territory inspections at all.

Her reason was, “Eventually, my brother will govern the territory. It’s not my place to interfere.”

I didn’t understand.

Isn’t it her own family?

Just because her brother is inheriting and becoming the head?

Did she think it had nothing to do with her since she’d be marrying into another family?

That couldn’t be right.

Even after marrying me, her ties to her family home would continue. No, more fundamentally, noble marriages prioritize the family—strengthening the bond between the bride’s family and the groom’s. Did she not understand that?

“Maybe her family doesn’t get along well?”

“No, I haven’t received any such information. They seem like a perfectly ordinary noble family. Lady Sophia is the youngest daughter, with an older brother and sister above her, and she appears to have good relationships with both. Her sister is already married, but they still exchange letters.”

“Her sister married into a court noble family, right?”

“Yes. She is now a viscountess.”

“That family produces civil officials, I believe.”

“Yes. She’s reputed to be very capable despite her youth. The viscountess also serves as a lady-in-waiting to the queen at the royal palace.”

If she was chosen to serve the queen directly, Lady Sophia’s sister must be quite talented.

Her brother, as the next count, is also assisting with managing the territory. The letter mentioned the succession would happen in a few years.

The Hart County territory is built on mining.

Over eighty percent of the commoners work in the mines, supporting the engineers. They are laborers, but also craftsmen. Their families naturally work in the mines too, and their children and grandchildren will eventually work there as well.

That’s the Hart County family.

Lady Sophia’s brother seems to follow the same management policies as his father, Count Hart.

“It’s helpful that she answers normally when asked.”

“Yes. Lady Sophia must be an honest person.”

“Honest… I see. Definitely. I wonder if she knows her servants might be leaking information, or if she’s just unaware.”

I sighed.

I truly didn’t understand.

The nerve to casually write about her family’s affairs like that.

A proper noble lady would hint at things or be more vague.

“Lady Sophia doesn’t seem very skilled at maneuvering or reading between the lines.”

“I agree.”

I nodded at Merlein’s words.

“But I don’t think we can leave things as they are.”

“…You’re right. At the very least, we can’t entrust her with our family’s internal affairs.”

“Yes. It’s been three months since you started corresponding. Lady Sophia shows no sign of writing the letters herself.”

That’s right.

All of Lady Sophia’s letters were written by someone else.

She probably has her personal maid write them.

You could tell it was a woman from the pen pressure, and while the handwriting was beautiful, the wording felt youthful—likely someone her own age or slightly older.

Well, what should I do about this?