Chapter 3

Everything seemed to progress in the blink of an eye.

Christina kept apologizing, saying, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," but she never said, "I will get married."

Originally, the earl's family had intended to find a suitable match for Kanna soon.

In this country, around twenty years old was considered the ideal age for marriage, and being a late bloomer was especially fatal for nobles.

So, the main reason Christina apologized to Kanna was not about marriage itself, but about the general she was to marry.

"I finally managed to get some information from Father. You see, Anna, General Serendia is said to have a very frightening face. Children cry, and women faint when they see him."

"Well, that... But, Lady Christina, the position of general is not suitable for a weak and gentle man."

There would be many rough and bloodthirsty soldiers to command, so it would be necessary for him to have a commanding presence.

However, Christina had a different opinion.

"That's not true! The previous General Asteria was a stunningly handsome man, like a bard. He even had love rumors with the princess and the duke's daughter. He would have been perfect for you, Anna!"

But he fell from power due to a political upheaval. Although he was originally of noble rank, Serendia, a self-made military man, was pushed to the top.

"Rather, I'm not good with that kind of person."

A person skilled in courtly love games would be beyond the reach of Kanna, who was just a student.

Besides,

"Is that so, a frightening face..."

"Of course, you must be scared, I'm sorry, Anna."

"No, if he had the looks of the earl or Lord Jeremy, I would have been at a loss. A strong and intimidating face is very welcome. Now that I know, I only have expectations."

"Hey, I've been thinking this for a while, but isn't your taste a bit strange, Anna?!"

Shaking her head, Christina's hand was gently held by Kanna, who looked her firmly in the eyes.

"Everyone has different preferences, Lady Christina. My ideal is not Yosuke Kishizawa, but Nobuo Yana."

"I don't understand, Anna."

"Don Vito Corleone is also amazing."

"Who is that?"

Kanna was aware that her preferences were far from those of her peers. However, there was a reason for this.

Kanna, who had been teased by her classmates, especially boys, for her non-Japanese appearance since childhood, disliked men of her own age.

The ones who comforted her while she cried on her way home and scolded the bullies were the local shopkeepers.

Especially, the butcher, rumored to have changed jobs from a profession that shied away from public attention, had been very kind to her.

The sight of him brandishing a meat cleaver to intimidate had been Kanna's first love while wearing a backpack. She had no complaints about it.

"Come to think of it, you were captivated by the foreman of the carpenters the other day... That's impossible!"

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help but be entranced by his intimidating eyes and impressive biceps."

"I was scared when he glared at me!"

"That's not true. He was blushing because of Lady Christina's cuteness and smiled at her."

"No way, I won't accept that as a smile!"

Kanna looked at Christina, who was on the verge of tears, with a smile.

... She had never thought that a different world would be something that only existed in stories and would have nothing to do with her.

However, she was quite fortunate to have avoided being suddenly attacked by monsters, arrested as a suspicious person, or captured by human traffickers in the new world.

Now, she was living a healthy life with all her limbs intact, without being exploited or forced into harsh labor.

Meeting a patron who guaranteed her safety and even worried about her future was an incredibly lucky break, and it was only natural to think that if she could repay them, even by becoming a substitute bride, it would be a natural progression.

Besides, while Christina could be spoiled like a well-bred young lady, she was also very honest and innocent.

She took care of Kanna without expecting anything in return and even acted like a younger sister... From the very beginning, Christina had been by Kanna's side and had become both a friend and a slightly mischievous younger sister to her.

Christina had someone she loved and was looking forward to her wedding next year.

Kanna had met her fiancé, Jeremy, who was a tall, slender, and sparkling modern prince, and he was a perfect match for the delicate Christina.

The earl had worked hard to secure Kanna's position, and the earl's wife had taken an interest in her, saying, "Think of me as a second mother."

While they couldn't disobey the king's command, they genuinely wished for their daughter's happy marriage. It was impossible not to sympathize with them.

Moreover, Kanna's dreams and hopes for marriage had been completely shattered by her trip to the different world.

With all these factors, she decided to accept the marriage to an unknown person, even as a concubine, while giving up on her ideals.

However, according to the information Christina had managed to extract from the reluctant earl, it seemed that the general's appearance matched Kanna's preferences.

If that was the case, the situation was different.

She lacked confidence in socializing and managing the household as the general's partner, but the high-minded main wife seemed to have no intention of giving up those responsibilities to a mere concubine. This was a blessing in disguise.

There was no reason to refuse such a marriage. Not at all.

"... But, I love you, Anna. I wish you happiness as my sister-in-law."

"I also wish you happiness, Lady Christina."

"Anna...!"

He had gone to the battlefield himself and led many victories, his body covered with countless scars.

In matters of war, he was a top-tier expert, ruthless and merciless to his enemies.

He was Hugo Serendia, the current general, whose gaze alone was said to be able to kill.