Chapter 1 (2/2)

It’s true that it’s sudden. This situation is akin to lightning coming down from a clear sky.

But a question rose up in my head.

“Have I ever met the Duke in person?”

I cock my head to the side and think, but I can’t recall any connections between us in the slightest.

“That’s right… you haven’t, right? We fell into poverty shortly after you made your social debut, so you haven’t attended many soirées either?”

Father cocks his head to the side as well.

“Right? And it’s not like I’ve ever been flirted with? And people don’t even gossip about me in high society, let alone spread rumours? So why? A Duke should have no shortage of marriage candidates to choose from.”

Father and I cross our arms in unison, as if we were mirror images of each other. “Hmm,” we say, trying to think up any ideas, but as expected we come up with nothing.

The Duke is very young, only twenty-four. Normally, he works as a knight in the castle. And not just any knight – an elite knight, the leader of a special force despite his youth. He’s handsome as well, with the knight uniform apparently suiting his tight, flexible body very well. Apparently young noble ladies swoon at the sight of him. Oh, but I’ve never met him myself so this is all hearsay – or rather, rumours.

Why would such an amazing thing like this Duke send a marriage proposal to an average noble girl from a poor and ruined noble house drowning in debt? (Just saying it myself makes me depressed.) I don’t understand at all.

“Well, we have no reason to decline on this side – rather, we need to happily accept it – but what do you think, Viola? I’ll decline if you don’t want to.”

My kind father respects my opinion, but it’s not like we can decline. There’s no way that a declining Earl’s house can reject an offer of marriage from a high class Duke’s house. And even if we turn the offer down, it’s not like anybody else is going to want to marry a dull girl drowning in debt. I had so few hopes I had even started thinking “I might not mind being single ☆.”  If it saves my family, go on, hand me over as many times as you need!

“No, Father. If it’s for our house, I will happily accept,” I say, smiling brightly. I nod firmly.

Author’s Note:

Thank you for reading （＾＾）

I’ll be happy if you read through it quickly, just like usual ♪

This story is set in I guess the Middle Ages to the early modern period. It would be good if you thought of it as the country next to the main country in most stories （*＾－＾*）

I’m counting on all of you this time around again!

T/N:

This author really likes flowers! As you may know, fleur means flower and rosier means rosebush in French.

There’s a certain type of Asian violet known as viola mandshurica, or sumire in Japanese.

Euphorbia is the name for a genus of flowering plants.

Cercis chinensis is colloquially known as the Chinese redbud. Here the author writes the name as Tinensis rather than Chinensis, though.

Physalis is another genus of flowering plants, in the nightshade family.