A regular, spoiled earl’s daughter might have lost her temper, but in my case, my feelings were mixed. This wedding proposal was all due to my family’s debt, after all. Father, Mother, and my little siblings would struggle terribly if they had to pay back all of that debt. If I get angry over his requirements and break off the engagement, my family will fall headfirst into financial ruin. Who am I kidding? We’ve already hit rock bottom. We would be pariahs in the eyes of high society. Naught but a stain on the face of the aristocracy!
...That sounds kind of impressive, though.
No, no! Focus! Everything will work out as long as I grin and bear it.
I mentioned this in a conversation a few days ago—I’ve never been in love. Not a single gentleman has ever caught my interest in my eighteen years of living. I never really thought about my future. I simply figured, ‘We’re too poor for me to get married. I need to be around to help out!’ So, really, I should be grateful for the opportunity to live a life of luxury, right? I mean, I wouldn’t have to worry about retirement!
All of this flew through my mind in that one moment. “Alright. I’ll do anything if you promise to pay off our debt,” I answered calmly enough.
I don’t think that I’ll be looking for a lover or anything, though.
Perhaps it was because I answered him so matter-of-factly, but the duke seemed slightly surprised. His smile, however, soon returned, and he said, “I’m glad you’re so agreeable. I’m looking forward to our future together.”
He held out his right hand.
Are we ‘closing the deal?’ I unhesitatingly wrapped my right hand around his.
“Yes, me too... by the way, what would I actually be expected to do as your show wife?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, to start, as duchess, I would have to go to social events, right?”
“Oh, no, I’m so busy that I don’t often go to parties. You would not be required to go.”
“I don’t have to?”
“Correct. If things change, we can discuss it then.”
So in other words, socializing is still a possibility. Got it.
“I understand. What about tea parties?”
“Er, my mother is not really one for socializing, so she only goes to and hosts them infrequently.”
“I see.”
Of course, glitz and glamor aren’t appealing to reserved people, you don’t have to tell me.
I was relieved to hear that I did not have to be a social butterfly.
“Managing the manor, then... What about that?”
I’ll bet it’s going to be all up to me to do.
“The butler, Rohtas, takes care of running the house, so you don’t need to worry about that. He’s been serving us since my parents’ generation, so he knows our household better than anyone. If you ever have any questions, do ask Rohtas or the head maid.”
“Alright.”
He sounds less like the head of the house... and more like a butler himself!
“Well then, what of your territory?” I pressed. The duke was a knight. I was sure he was busy, since he held the important position of division commander, so I was curious as to how he managed his territory. In my family, my father ruled the fiefdom, but my mother helped out where she could. I did not expect him to pass the whole domain off to me, but just in case, I wanted to ask.
“At the moment, my father... the previous generation looks after the territory. When the rank of duke was suddenly passed down to me, I stopped going out around our territory, you see, because I had so much to do. I left the land to them. You are not required to accompany them around the territory, either.”
Phew, I thought, nodding along.
Me? Administering a domain? That would be asking for disaster.
And now for the big question. “Where do you stand in terms of producing an heir?”
I am going to be a virgin ‘show bride’ and I am not going to make an heir with him.
“If I have a child with any of my lovers, it obviously would not be yours to raise, but I would adopt it and make it my successor.”
What a brutal answer, even for a man as indifferent as him! He’d rather hire a wetnurse than let me raise the baby.
Hmm... it looks like what we have here is a debt-canceling devil. Is he really going to save my family? When I weigh my options... I’m inclined to lean toward wiping out our debt. I guess if there aren’t any guests, you don’t have to worry about the upkeep of the house, anyway. On top of that, he said I don’t even have to worry about the territory... I really will be just for show! What am I going to do all day then—just sit around in the manor?
...I guess I’ll put off thinking about that until the time comes.
To sum it all up, the duke told me that he had to get married, that all my necessities would be covered if I behaved myself while at the manor, that I could have a lover so long as I was discreet about it, that I didn’t have to go out and be social, and that we didn’t have to have a baby together.
This is quite a set of terms and conditions. To be fair, they don’t negatively impact me all that much personally, so I think I’ll be fine. My family’s well-being depends on it! Moreover, a reserved person like me is better suited for a life indoors than one out and about!
“Is there anything else you want to know?” Cercis asked, although he had already answered all of my questions.
“I think I am fine for now. If I come up with anything later, I’ll ask you then.”
“That sounds like a plan.”
And thus I formally entered into a marriage of convenience, or rather, a marriage by contract, between the Fisalis and the Euphorbia families.