Chapter 1: Royal Command Marriage
“How do you do, I am Cecilia Ashford, the eldest daughter of the Ashford Ducal House.”
As she performed an exquisitely graceful curtsy, a single strand of her platinum blonde hairâshimmering like silver threadâslipped smoothly down from her shoulder.
Cecilia Ashford, the ducal ladyâ
Until just recently, she had been the fiancĂŠe of the Crown Prince of this kingdom.
And today, she had married into the Trevant Margrave House.
“…Leonhardt Trevant.”
For years, she had cruelly tormented her own younger sister, and due to an inappropriate relationship with someone other than her fiancĂŠ, she had been deemed unfit to become Crown Princess, and at the graduation ceremony of the Noble Academy, her engagement had been annulled by the Crown Prince.
Furthermore, on that very spot, her younger sister had been named as the Crown Princeâs new fiancĂŠe.
She accepted it all quietly, without voicing any objections.
However, the younger sister who had long suffered under her feared that if Cecilia remained in the royal capital, she might seek revenge, and so she tearfully pleaded with the Crown Prince.
Yet, Cecilia, who had completed the education required of a Crown Princess, could not be sent to another country.
Thus, by royal command, she had been ordered to marry the Margrave of Trevant, far removed from the royal capital.
Leonhardt Trevant, the Margrave of Trevant, was cousins with the Crown Prince, who was seven years younger than him, and in the letter that accompanied the royal decree were words of apology along with the note: “If you have someone else you wish to marry, you may divorce after one year.”
He had no particular person he wished to marry, but taking as his wife a notorious villainessâwhose reputation had reached even this remote frontierâwas absolutely out of the question.
“I have no intention of becoming husband and wife with you, nor will I treat you as the Margravine.”
As he declared this without hiding his rejection, she stopped her curtsy and slowly raised her face.
“I see. In that case, why not divorce me at once?”
“…What?”
Because it was a royal command, the administrative officer who had accompanied her from the royal capital had already made him sign the marriage documents, and thus the marriage was already official.
If they were to divorce immediately, it would be tantamount to defying a royal order.
“It is a royal command. Surely you understand that such a thing is impossible.”
“Is that so? I had assumed His Highness the Crown Prince had granted permission for a divorce.”
The corner of her previously expressionless lips lifted ever so slightly, as if in mockery.
Yet, no emotion could be seen in her jade-colored eyes.
“…That is not the case.”
“I see. I do not possess such peculiar tastes as to harbor affection for someone who despises me, so please, do as you wish. Ah, just one thing. I have a personal butler, so I have no need for a maid.”
With that, she turned on her heel and left the office, accompanied by the butler she had brought from the ducal house.
After she departed, Leonhardt let out a sigh.
“…Is that really alright?”
When he turned around, Hans, the steward who had been standing slightly behind him, wore a troubled expression.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, Masterâyour wife? No, wait, you said you wouldn’t treat her as the Margravine… the Ashford Ducal Lady… well, anyway, she said she doesn’t need a maid or anything.”
“Yuri is right. No matter what you say, Master, the fact remains that she is the Margravine of Trevant. To treat a wife given by royal command so poorly would be akin to dragging His Majesty the Kingâs name through the mud.”
Hans followed up on the words of the attendant called Yuri.
Certainly, this was a marriage bound by royal command, but it was likely that both the royal family and the Ashford Ducal House did not know how to handle her, and so had sent her here.
The frontier was not a dumping ground for unwanted people, but unlike the glamorous royal capital, there were no entertainments here that would appeal to a noble lady.
It was a land where monsters could appear at any time, where food shortages could occur, and where lives could easily be lost.
There was no way a lady who had lived a pampered and elegant life until now would be satisfied in such a place.
Soon enough, she would be unable to endure it and would run away.
“If she says she doesn’t mind, then leave her be. However, that black-haired man she brought earlierâis he her personal butler?”
He seemed to be around the same age as her.
He had nearly overlooked him since he stood behind her, but even in a tailcoat, it was clear that he was capable.
“Ah, I think he’s a butler Lady Cecilia personally brought along.”
“Personally? Not someone from the ducal house?”
“Apparently, he was hired personally by Lady Cecilia, and even within the ducal house, she only allowed him to attend to her.”
It seemed Yuri had decided to call her “Lady Cecilia,” while Hans had chosen to call her “Madam.”
“Personally, huh. In other words, a lover?”
“…That much, I don’t know…”
It was rare for a noble lady to entrust all her care to a personally hired butler instead of maids.
If it did happen, it was often because they were involved as a man and a woman.
“Well, whatever. Let her do as she pleases. As long as she doesn’t cause any trouble, there’s no need to report anything to me.”
After he said that, Yuri casually replied, “Got it~,” while Hans, still wearing a troubled expression, silently bowed his head.
“…Are you certain about this, Lady Cecilia?”
“What do you mean?”
The room given to Cecilia, who was supposed to be the Margravine, was located at the farthest end of the mansion.
It was so small that it could easily have been mistaken for a servant’s room, furnished with only the bare essentials.
It was clearly neglected and uncleaned, making it obvious that not only Leonhardt but also the servants of the mansion had no intention of accepting Cecilia.
“I am referring to what he saidâthat he has no intention of becoming husband and wife with you, nor treating you as the Margravine.”
Noin, Ceciliaâs personal butler, covered his nose and mouth with a handkerchief in the dusty room and forcibly opened a stiff window that had likely not been opened for a long time to let in fresh air.
“I don’t mind. You expected this much, didn’t you? I’m glad we prepared for various things in advance.”
Like Noin, she covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief and replied in a muffled voice.
“Then, shall we consider it as rejecting all involvement with them?”
“I don’t mind. Rather⌠if they themselves do not acknowledge me, why should it concern me?”
A faint smile formed on her lips as she narrowed her jade-colored eyes.