The Story of a Modest Young Lady Who Formed a New Engagement the Day After Her Engagement Was Annulled - Chapter 7

The marriage proposal from the son of Margrave Lotus is a great honor. However, this isn’t something I can decide on my own, and I should consult with my mother and younger brother back home before giving a response. While giving an answer now wouldn’t necessarily be problematic, if I were to arbitrarily form a connection with the Margrave’s household, it could potentially alter the power dynamics of the Narcissus Count household.

“I gratefully receive your proposal, but I don’t possess the authority to make such a decision here. If possible, I would appreciate if the Lotus Margrave and Narcissus Count households could arrange a discussion.”

Moreover, it’s uncertain whether His Lordship Margrave Lotus would happily accept a marriage between his son and me. I had thought this engagement talk was merely a pretext to avoid complications with Lord Caius, but apparently the Margrave’s son seems quite serious about it. Meeting my gaze directly, he gave a single nod.

“Understood. As I mentioned earlier, I shall send a messenger to the Narcissus Count household.”

The Margrave’s son had accepted my proposal. I’d heard he would send an envoy afterward anyway, but I wanted confirmation. From the Narcissus Count household’s perspective, this is an incredibly advantageous match. After all, it’s a connection with the Lotus Margrave household, renowned for their military exploits in the Twenty-Year War, and with the very man himself who’s called the God of War. However, if asked whether this marriage alliance holds any benefit for the Lotus Margrave household, I could immediately answer that it holds none at all. I don’t wish to speak poorly of my own family, but the Narcissus Count household is rather plain and inconspicuous.

It’s not that we have problems managing our territory or carry massive debts. We serve the royal family as an ordinary count household, but we’re simply too ordinary to stand out. Given that, forming an engagement with the daughter of another prominent count household would surely be more beneficial. Just when I was agonizing over the annulment of my engagement with Lord Caius, now this marriage proposal from the Margrave’s son emerges. I can’t help but wonder how things have come to this.

“Stiff! You’re both so stiff!”

It was His Highness the Crown Prince who broke the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

“You should be more sweet and sour? Since you’re a man and woman of marriageable age? At least try some sweet talk, Fels!”

His Highness hesitated after saying “marriageable age.” Both the Margrave’s son and I feel we’re well past what would be considered that age, so it’s understandable that His Highness would question it.

Research shows that people living in our kingdom mature faster and age slower than those in other countries. Perhaps because of this, the appropriate marriage age here is several years later than in other nations, between twenty and twenty-five. I’m not well-versed in other countries’ customs, but from what I’ve heard, around eighteen to twenty seems to be the norm elsewhere.

“This is how noble engagements typically are,” the Margrave’s son stated.

As he said, romance rarely factors into noble marriage arrangements. Engagements between people who’ve never even met are commonplace, and I too had resigned myself to likely becoming some household head’s second wife. To receive a proposal from someone close to my age, and moreover from someone with an epithet, makes me feel like I’m being deceived  yet part of me hopes this proceeds as is, even if I am being deceived.

“Wow, serious! Too serious!! While strength might be attractive in a man, not knowing how to please a woman is fatal… Lady Narcissus.”

His Highness the Crown Prince called my name with a heavy sigh. Beside me, Her Highness the Crown Princess was giggling softly.

“Y-yes.”

Being addressed by Their Highnesses the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, along with the Margrave’s son – all high-ranking individuals I’ve never interacted with before – made me nervous. It was a different kind of tension from being called by a superior officer on the battlefield.

“Despite how he is, he’s a good man at heart. If you’re willing and the Narcissus Count household accepts, please take care of him… of Fels.”

He’s ignoring the Lotus Margrave household’s intentions, but I suppose it’s fine? His Highness’s joking expression had shifted to a serious one.

Since he’d mentioned earlier that this was an unofficial setting, this was probably his way of indicating he was setting aside his position as Crown Prince. He’d said they were childhood friends, so it’s natural he’d be concerned if his friend lacked a fiancée. From the royal family’s perspective as well, the Margrave’s son remaining childless would be an untenable situation.

“Lord Heinrich, when you say such things to Eleanora, she has no choice but to agree. Though, Eleanora… come to think of it, I’m putting you in a difficult position too, aren’t I?”

Her Highness addressed the Crown Prince, but ultimately, she was applying pressure on me as well. Realizing this, her smile turned into a wry grin. This is the first time I, merely the daughter of an obscure count household, have found myself surrounded by such high-ranking individuals. The fact that they noticed my nervousness is something to be grateful for. Given their status, they could have simply forced the engagement through.

“Hm, ah, yes. My apologies. You’re right. Please take my earlier words not as those of the Crown Prince, but as personal ones… No good, it still sounds like an order no matter how I phrase it.”

Her Highness agreed with the Crown Prince’s assessment. Given our respective positions, it can’t be helped, and I’m in no position to say anything to them. I can only listen quietly.

“I apologize for the suddenness of this proposal. But I’d like you to give it some consideration.”

The Margrave’s son spoke to me with apparent concern. When he offered to escort me to the carriage stop, I gave a small nod, then bowed to Their Highnesses before leaving the room.