Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2: Business Negotiations Complete ☆

A few days after we responded that we would accept the Duke House of Physalis’ marriage proposal, the good Duke himself came to our home. Along with a number of betrothal gifts.

Fancy and exquisite dresses, gorgeous jewels – items I’ve only ever seen from a distance. There were loads of various other gifts.

It’s a secret that everyone in my family didn’t just get agitated, but outright pulled back at the sight of the fancy goods brought into our home one after another.

“We might be able to pay off our debt just by selling off all of these…” I mumble idly.

“Hey! Viola! You can’t say that!”

My mother immediately denies my words, a black aura emanating from her despite her wide smile.

The Duke gallantly appears in front of this shell-shocked House of Euphorbia.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lady Viola. I am Duke Cercis Tinensis Physalis. I am very much pleased that you gave your assent to accept my offer of marriage,” he greets graciously, then smiles such a beautiful smile that you can’t help but blankly stare at it.

I on the other hand, am standing straight up, stunned at the Duke’s handsomeness. It’s the first time I’ve seen him in person.

I did hear in rumours that he was handsome, that he had good looks, but the real thing was even better than rumoured. Slender and tall with a tight body. His dark brown hair is cut short and refreshingly kept neat in a normal knight’s style. His similarly dark brown eyes are manly, his nose bridge straight and long, and his mouth is currently smiling softly. Every part of him was very much perfect. All the different parts of him create a perfect harmony even when they’re put together to make one handsome man.

With such a dazzling man in front of me, it would be more unreasonable to ask me to not become nervous.

“A -A pleasure to meet you, I am Viola.”

I stuttered.

But the Duke doesn’t comment on my ungraceful state and instead smiles cheerfully.

He takes my hand in an instant and turns to Father.

“You’re lovely, just as the rumours say. Earl Euphorbia, I wish to talk for a bit with Lady Viola, but would you mind?” he requests for a chat.

“Yes, yes, feel free, feel free. If you would like, we may prepare seats for you in the garden,” Father agrees, nodding his head like a bobble head figure.

“Thank you very much.”

Having gotten permission the Duke decides to head there immediately. I ended up going to the garden with him.

We enter the modest garden, the bright afternoon sun shining down.  The moment the Duke and I become alone, he speaks.

“I would like a wife just on a superficial level, a cosmetic wife.”

With a smile, the first thing out of his mouth is this.

What? What did this guy just say?

“Cosmetic, you say?”

I doubted my hearing for a moment at the Duke’s words. Dontcha think that’s not the kinda thing you should say with a big smile?

… Ahem, I lost control of myself. I thought that I had heard wrong thanks to the loud chirping of the birds in the garden.

“Yes, cosmetic. To tell you the truth, I have a lover I’ve been dating for over six years. While I do love her, she’s regrettably a former wandering dancer. She’s not just any commoner – no one even knows where she came from. Since everyone around me opposes it, I cannot marry her.”

My uncertainty disappears in an instant. The Duke, his beautiful smile unfaltering, is cheerfully telling me an incredible story.

“I see…”