Here we go again. It isn’t the first time Father pulled something like this and I know for a fact that Mother actually got his back.
They said that they’ll have me meet someone for a marriage interview.
Just like before. Again, and again, and again.
Just how many times did this happen? The houses they’re trying to get wedded to me goes lower and lower as the day passes.
We’ve now reached the viscounts, apparently, from marques families, counts and earls, and now viscounts.
Nonetheless, Father is still excited about it. What did he say? The person I’ll be meeting this time is the founder of what they call the Rabban Merchant Organization (Rabban Co. for short. Too lazy to type it all).
From the sound of it, perhaps this one isn’t doomed to fail?
A founder of such a well known business organization must be one they call an old bachelor, isn’t it?
And talking about Father, he won’t consider just anyone. He judges them as well in their ability because as my husband, they will be succeeding the head position of our dukedom, the Sevensworth family.
The chances of a young man getting married to someone like me would be pretty slim. Especially when they have both the skills and the looks as they have lots and plenty of other options when it comes to women.
That’s why if the person I’ll meet today is someone who is on the older side, who doesn’t have much prospect in women anymore, then perhaps he’d be willing to settle for someone as ugly as me.
Or so I thought when–
[You don’t have to feel so stiff, dear. I heard that he’s around the same age as you! And based on what I heard, he’s even being called with a nickname Hyakka (A Black Winter Flower) and has a massive fan base among his business partners! *Giggles*]
Mother just had to break that tiny shred of hope that I got.
What else is she saying? That he started the Rabban Co. at the age of ten and has been on top of it from day one until today?
Rabban Co. isn’t just a small shop, you know? It has a store as well in the capital that even someone like me, who doesn’t go out often, knows them.
But who would have thought that it was founded by someone the same age as me?
At the age of ten, even? I didn’t even have the word ‘company’ in my vocabulary when I was that young!
Just hearing more about him makes me realize that this person is way way past my league.
Now I’m quite sure that this marriage interview will just go down the drain as well.
As a requirement for succeeding the duke title, everyone that I’ve had interviews with are those with high prospects and great potential.
Which taught me a valuable lesson. Skilled and really talented people don’t need to rely on political marriages to be successful. Even if they’re not the first born, those around them will definitely support them to succeed in their respective family heads even without our influence.
That’s why, for them, there is little to no value marrying into the duke title especially if it’s someone as horrendous as me.
And going back to the person who I’ll be meeting next for my marriage interview, what’s the term people have been using to call him? Hyakka?
Hyakka is a plant so rare it only blooms in plateaus and really high mountains. It has black stems and petals that look so icy blue they appear like snowflakes. A direct comparison to a Hyakka is a privilege reserved only for those who’ve been physically gifted by the heavens of beautiful appearances.
And what is it now? A man that people describe as a direct incantation of such a flower will be my partner this time?
If he’s been that talented and beautiful, why would he want someone like me as their wife?
Ah goodness. Is this really happening?
[Let’s go. We’ll give them a visit to let them know that we’re serious about it!]
I was still in the middle of my thoughts when Father suddenly interrupted!
What is he saying? That sounds convincingly sincere if I was still naive and don’t have any idea about what you’re doing!
A duke? Personally visiting a viscount’s estate for marriage?
If I was born yesterday, I’d actually believe it!
That’s basically a power play, a threat, and abuse of authority!
With my father putting up such a show, then perhaps the other party will have no choice but to ‘willingly’ accept.
Everyone that had marriage interviews with me had been nothing but displeased about it.
How much more now that Father’s committing a foul play and leaves them no choice but to submit to his will?
I’m sure he’ll be so mad. He’ll definitely be so dissatisfied.
I’ll definitely get bathed once more with half meant praises and plenty of sublime sarcasms…
I… I just don’t want to go anymore…
◆◆◆◆◆
[I’m Genorius. Fourth son of Viscount Aldone. It is a pleasure to meet you.]
He’s hiding it pretty well.
He might still be a young man but the way he carries himself shows how mature he is for his age by not showing any particular distaste of my face.
Father and mother said that he’s the head of his own company so I thought he’s someone whose face is always plastered with a business-like smile.
But contrary to my expectations, Generous-sama’s actually a bit dull and expressionless. He doesn’t even smile too often.
Rather than a merchant, feels more like an academic. An architect, engineer? Or perhaps someone who has to deal with stuff like numbers and arithmetic.
To be fair… His face looks like it was sculpted by god himself. His hair is jet black while his eyes have this purple like amethyst shine.
Goodness. I’m sure this person is a lady killer.
I can see now why the nickname Hyakka is being associated with him.
The beautiful flowers suit him right down to a tee.
With his looks alone, on top of being a renowned businessman, there’s no wonder why most ladies in the female circles all look at him with tantalizing eyes.
He probably has quite the selection to choose from to be his wife.
Ah, what was I thinking before coming here? That there is high probability that this engagement will not push through.
I don’t think that’s a mistake on my part.
It’s not a probability anymore, but a certainty.
This kind of man will never choose to marry me.
Blah, blah, blah, blah.
Everyone introduced themselves formally and proceeded with the formal discussions between our families.
The Adolynys look nervous at first but that’s always the case when the entire duke’s family is sitting in front of lower ranking nobles.
Father and Mother already used to such an atmosphere so they made the conversations as casual as they could to make the Adolyny’s comfortable.
It’s around this time that my marriage partner would show their distaste as usual and stop talking to me but…
Genorious is acting differently.
Even though the topics of the discussions are related to things I am unfamiliar with such as the viscounty’s management of its territory, he makes sure to explain things in a simple manner while checking up on me from time to time making sure I am not getting bored.
Is there any other man out there who’d be able to discuss territorial management between a duke and viscount at the age of sixteen?
What’s more, he’s also a caring person making sure that even someone as ugly as me won’t be disregarded during the whole course of this conversation.
Really, he’s such a splendid man.
Knowing Mother, she definitely favors Generious-sama.
[Now then, how about we give the young ones some time by themselves?]
Everyone then begins to stand up and leave just as my father had said.
[Would you mind strolling around the garden for a bit? It might be a little embarrassing compared to what you have in the Sevensworth estate but there’s a flower here that can’t be found even in the capital called sisis. It just so happens that it is in full bloom today.]
Huh? Is this for real? This is kind of surprising.
The best of the partners I had in this wedding interview were able to hide their real feelings during family discussions but showed their true colors when it’s just the two of us alone.
The best of them would avoid me and not talk until the others come back while the worst would criticize me for having such an audacity to marry them using my family background and authority. When that happens, I feel so ashamed and embarrassed I could only lower my head and apologize.
For him to invite me even for a stroll to have me entertained…
But then, Generious offers me his hand and I can only stare at him blankly…
This isn’t the first time that I’ve been asked for a walk in the garden together with my proposed partner. However, not a single one of them offered their hand to escort me.
They all just left me behind, walking alone without hiding their disgust of sharing the same space with me.
The only thing I could do during those moments would be to hold my heart close as it crumbles to pieces everytime while pretending everything is okay so my parents won’t feel burdened.
But the man in front of me isn’t the same as them.
He really is a gentleman through and through.
..That’s why… I can’t let this marriage happen.
This man doesn’t deserve such misfortune to be wedded to me. I want him to be happy.
Simplyrical 