Chapter 2

Just when I had turned thirteen, a marriage proposal from the royal family was brought up for me.

But, it seems that the talk quietly disappeared without me fully understanding what had happened.

I had braced myself, but when I heard that the engagement talks had been called off, I felt a slight sense of relief.

I am Angelina Steizen, the eldest daughter of the Steizen Duke's family.

My mother passed away when I was very young.

Since then, my family has consisted only of my father and my older brother.

My father is a strict man with a strong sense of loyalty to the royal family and the state, and he is an excellent person.

Perhaps because my brother and I are already his legitimate children, he does not seem to be considering taking a second wife.

To avoid unnecessary disputes over the family succession, I believe this is the right decision.

Raised strictly by my father, I believe I grew up as a proper noble lady.

As a daughter of a ducal family, I was taught to be mindful of my behavior.

In the absence of my mother, I also took on the role of the 'mistress' of the Steizen Duke's household.

Therefore, I received an education comparable to that of my brother, who is the head of the family.

My relationship with my father is fine, but if there is a problem, it would be with my brother.

“...Tch. Angelina.”

“Brother Carlos? Is something wrong?”

“...Nothing.”

Even though he says it’s nothing, I wish he would stop sighing when he sees my face.

Lately, Carlos has been particularly harsh towards me.

We weren’t particularly close before, but I don’t think our relationship was this overtly hostile.

“Prince Leonhardt has called off the engagement with you.”

“The engagement? I heard that there were talks of a marriage alliance between the Steizen family and the royal family...”

“The talks have been called off. At the Prince's request.”

Prince Leonhardt is a year older than me, the same age as my brother, so he is now fourteen.

Because of his princely status, my brother is being considered as a candidate for the Prince's retinue.

If I had become the Prince's fiancée, that position would have been secured for my brother.

“It’s your fault, Angelina.”

“...Excuse me?”

“The Prince is disappointed in you. That’s why you couldn’t even become his fiancée.”

Disappointed? I’ve never even met Prince Leonhardt.

I frowned and looked at Carlos.

“Brother Carlos, what are you talking about? I don’t think it’s right for you to speak on behalf of the Prince... Why would I disappoint someone I’ve never met?”

Carlos glared at me, not angry but as if he was sizing me up.

“...You don’t remember?”

“There’s no way I would. What are you talking about?”

“You don’t think about Prince Leonhardt at all?”

“What? About the Prince? ...What are you talking about? I’ve never even met him. You know that, don’t you?”

“...Treating it as if nothing happened. Really, you got lucky, Angelina.”

“Huh...?”

Carlos sighed again and left.

What’s wrong with him? He’s always been quiet, but this is too much.

Confused, I decided to keep a proper distance from my brother.

About two years after that conversation, I turned fifteen.

Since then, my engagement talks have been on hold, and I haven’t been matched with anyone other than Prince Leonhardt.

It seems that the talks are on 'hold,' as I haven’t received any formal proposals.

The Prince’s engagement has also not been announced yet.

...I suspect that I am being kept as a 'reserve' for Prince Leonhardt’s engagement.

The royal family or the Prince himself might have someone else in mind for the engagement.

However, because it’s difficult to secure that engagement, my engagement to Prince Leonhardt is on hold.

If the Prince’s engagement doesn’t work out, I might be the 'reserve.' That’s the current situation.

“I know it sounds ridiculous, but...”

However, I have met the King and Queen, and I know them.

Considering their and my father’s behavior...

It seems that the King and Queen, as well as my father, genuinely want me to be engaged to Prince Leonhardt.

If that’s the case, then the one rejecting the engagement must be Prince Leonhardt himself.

...I’m frustrated, but there’s a possibility that what my brother said back then was true.

Even if it is, it’s not my concern.

In less than a year, I will be entering the Royal Academy.

I would prefer to have my engagement settled before then.

I don’t want people to say, “It’s not like you’re the Prince’s fiancée anyway.”

If I remain unmarried, it’s easy to imagine such rumors spreading.

My brother Carlos is set to inherit the Steizen dukedom.

Since I won’t inherit the title, if I don’t secure a marriage proposal, I will become a burden to the Steizen family.

The longer I wait, the fewer good proposals I will receive.

Unless I marry into the royal family, I will likely marry into a family of lower status than the Steizen family.

There is another ducal family, but the heir’s engagement is already decided, and they are from a rival faction, so they won’t consider me.

“Sigh...”

It’s depressing. And it’s frustrating that someone I’ve never met is affecting my future.

“If I could secure a proposal from a family that my father approves of and the royal family can’t interfere with...”

That would narrow down the options.

I don’t know who Prince Leonhardt wants to marry, but if he’s rejecting my proposal for the reasons my brother mentioned, and there’s no guarantee of his own engagement...

“It’s been two years since the talks began. No matter what his intentions are, I don’t have to go along with them.”

It’s possible that in the future, they might say, “Finally, Prince Leonhardt’s fiancée has been decided. It’s not you, Angelina. As a reserve, you should marry a leftover man.”

I refuse to accept that.

So, I decided to send a letter to a certain family.

I decided to propose to them, asking, “Will you please consider a marriage alliance with me?”

This led to a proposal from the Baron of Baltsline.

The Baron of Baltsline is not a border lord in the traditional sense.

They protect the country from the monsters that emerge from the Great Northern Forest.

Few noble ladies are willing to marry into such a dangerous place, and few families are willing to send their daughters there.

The parents of the current Baron of Baltsline passed away a few years ago in a battle with monsters.

Therefore, the current Baron of Baltsline is a man only five years older than me.

He is quite young to have inherited a high noble title.

Due to these circumstances, he inherited the title without a fiancée.

...Baltsline is a dangerous place. Even the lord and lady of the house...

A lady without sufficient resolve might become a burden. But I saw a 'purpose' in it.

If the Steizen ducal family and the Baltsline baronial family were to be united, the central government could support an important family that defends the country.

It would be a perfect political marriage for the sake of the family and the country.

Being left on hold for an engagement with the royal family, as a ducal lady, is a waste of time.

If I propose a marriage to a stable, albeit modest, family, my father might refuse, thinking it’s only for my own benefit...

But a marriage to the Baron of Baltsline would be different.

If a lady is decided for the Baron of Baltsline, it would benefit the royal family, other families, and our own family.

This would be a marriage that benefits everyone.

“Angelina, a marriage proposal has come from the Baron of Baltsline.”

I was called to my father’s study and told this.

“Please accept it, Father.”

My immediate response made my father look at me with a puzzled expression.

“I proposed this marriage myself.”

“Angelina did?”

“It seems that the talks with the royal family and the Prince have been complicated. I took matters into my own hands. As a Steizen lady, I should wait for the royal family’s decision, but... I’ve waited long enough. The King or Prince Leonhardt himself must not have the intention to marry me.”

“...I see.”

Father frowned, clearly having his own thoughts.

“I don’t have to keep waiting for their indecision and the royal family’s inability to decide on a match for the Prince. For the sake of the country and the family, please proceed with the engagement to the Baron of Baltsline, Father. If my engagement is decided, the royal family might finally take action. Without the ‘reserve’ of me, it might be better for them. Father, you’re not satisfied with the current situation, are you?”

“...You’re right. Angelina is correct.”

Incidentally, Carlos’s engagement has not been decided yet.

It seems they plan to let him choose a suitable match at the academy.

The ideal scenario would be to secure my engagement to Prince Leonhardt, solidify the Steizen ducal family’s position, and then arrange a suitable match for Carlos.

In that situation, he would have a wide range of choices.

He could become the Duke’s wife, which many noble ladies would desire.

However, Father’s plans are not going as smoothly as he hoped.

But the fact that Carlos’s match will be a duchess remains unchanged.

Therefore, he should have more time to find a match.

“Baltsline is a harsh land. Do you understand that, Angelina?”

“No, I do not understand it yet, Father.”

“...What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard that the previous Baron and his wife were victims of monsters. I can’t claim to understand such a place until I’ve seen it with my own eyes, seen the monsters, and the people who fight them, and the people who are hurt. I can’t lightly say I ‘understand’ the pride of the person I’m marrying. But I am prepared. However, that preparation won’t be convincing until I stand on that land myself. I feel the same way.”

“...I see. You might be right.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Before we finalize this engagement, Angelina, I want you to go to Baltsline. See and hear everything for yourself, and then make your own decision. I will give you the right to decide whether to proceed with the engagement.”

“Yes, thank you, Father.”

Six months before I was to enter the Royal Academy, I set out for Baltsline.

There, I was greeted by Baron Ash Baltsline.

...He would later become my ‘beloved husband.’