Chapter 2

Viera let out a heartfelt sigh of admiration.

Clement is also a handsome type, but the man in front of her was no less well-featured. His eyes were long and narrow, but his double eyelids were distinct and beautiful. His nose was straight, and even when his lips curved into a frown, they still looked beautiful.

He seemed to be about the same age as her, or perhaps a little older.

She couldn't help but be captivated, but quickly regained her composure.

(Men with such good looks usually already have a fiancée. No, no. So there's no need to act like a lady in front of him.)

The man who was already there just looked at her with a frown and didn't say anything. Viera, who had arrived late, apologized, "Excuse me for joining you." Then she poured the whiskey she had borrowed from the venue into a glass, and drank about half of it in one gulp.

"Ah! It's so strong!"

The alcohol content was high, making her throat burn, but it was so delicious that she couldn't help but exclaim. The young man who was already there looked at her with a startled expression, but she ignored it and enjoyed the remaining half of the glass, sipping it slowly.

The man stared at Viera, who had joined him uninvited and was enjoying the drink on her own. She started to feel a bit guilty.

"Hehe, I just can't help but drink. Would you like to have some? I promise there's nothing strange in it."

She poured a generous amount of whiskey into the glass again and passed the bottle to the man.

"...Thank you."

He sat up and took the bottle, drinking directly from it with a hearty gulp. Viera applauded his bold drinking style.

"That's good, that's good. You must have had something unpleasant happen to drink like that, right?"

"It might sound like a complaint... but I was surrounded by young ladies and got fed up, so I ran away. They haven't given up yet, so I can't go back to the venue, and I can't just leave my brother and sister-in-law who came with me."

He took another sip of the drink. He seemed to want to get drunk too.

"Do you not have a fiancée?"

"I've been busy and haven't had many opportunities to attend such events. I'm not good at socializing to begin with. I came here to find a match at the urging of my parents and others, but I can barely dodge the young ladies' advances. If I say something wrong, they start making a fuss, so it's impossible to handle."

While it might sound like boasting about his popularity, no one could complain about his appearance. He had a beautiful face, a well-built body, and wore high-quality clothes. It's no wonder he was a target.

"Wow, being good-looking is tough too. I, on the other hand, have no one coming to me, so I'm drinking to drown my sorrows! No money, no connections, no time! I want to get married quickly!"

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

"I suddenly found myself in a situation where I have to become the heir, and I need to get married to qualify as the head of the household. But I've been so busy with work that it's been about two years since I last attended a ball, and I've only been to a handful of them. I have no connections, and my territory is poor and rural, so no one wants to marry into such a bad deal... Ugh!"

She drank a large gulp of whiskey to soothe her parched throat after speaking so much.

"I see."

"When people say they can introduce me to a good person, it turns out they are older than my parents, have bad habits, are gamblers, or have strange hobbies."

"That's terrible. The social scene is the worst. People try to knock each other down for fun."

Viera nodded strongly as she continued to drink the whiskey. She might not be a proper noble or lady, but the alcohol was flowing. The two of them were in agreement that they wanted to get away from the social scene.

"I just want someone normal... At this point, I don't mind if my husband doesn't work. I can't provide a luxurious life, but I just want someone who can live quietly with me! Damn it."

The whiskey was making her drunk, and she started to complain to the man she had just met. He nodded sympathetically, which made her even more talkative.

"I don't mind who it is. Even a commoner would be fine. Am I too idealistic? If my sister marries and takes over the heir position, I'm prepared to divorce if my partner wants to. A contract marriage is fine."

"Right, right. The conditions for marriage shouldn't be too high, but it's surprisingly hard to find someone who meets them. I just don't want someone who is dependent on me, but all the young ladies act weak and clingy. They praise my accessories and calculate how much money they can use in the future. How much do they plan to spend! I want a more down-to-earth woman!"

The man, who seemed to be getting drunk too, spoke with a slight flush on his cheeks. Viera noticed his well-built body from head to toe.

"Are you a knight, by any chance?"

"What? You don't know me? That's rare."

Given his popularity among young ladies, he was apparently a well-known knight in the social scene.

"I've been so busy with work that I don't attend balls or tea parties. I'm not up to date with rumors or trends. I'm past the age where I would squeal over celebrities."

"That's why you don't put on a show for me. It's very easy to talk to you."

"Oh, that's nice to hear. I also find it easier to talk to someone I don't have to put on a show for."

Feeling good, she finished the last bit of whiskey in her glass and looked out the window at the brightly lit ballroom. Her mood, which had been terrible just half an hour ago, was now very pleasant.

If she could spend time with someone like this man, even in a loveless contract marriage, she could have a friendly and enjoyable relationship—she thought of this idea on a whim.

"Hey, Sir Knight. Can I make a proposal?"

"What is it?"

"Would you consider a contract marriage with me? It's a very poor and rural area, but I can guarantee food, clothing, and shelter. I'll handle the duties of the head of the household, so you can live a leisurely life. As I mentioned earlier, you can divorce if you want after a few years."

After making the proposal, she thought, "What a ridiculous offer," with her dulled mind.

The current Viera was drunk and lacked the grace and delicacy of other young ladies. The territory she would inherit was poor and far from a golden opportunity. This was a last-ditch proposal, expecting rejection.

If he accepted, it would be a miracle—

"I'll take that offer! I'll become your husband."

"Really!?"

"What? Are you joking?"

"I'm not joking! I didn't think you'd accept... After all, you have your duties as a knight, right?"

The knight folded his arms and said, "Hmm," thinking for a moment before speaking.

"I take pride in my work, but I've been wanting to step away from my knight duties for a while. However, as long as I live in the capital, I can't quit. If I go back to my homeland with you as the head of the household, I think I can get permission to retire."

"Do you have something you want to do? There's not much you can do in a rural area."

"I want to study. As long as I have an environment where I can read books, it doesn't matter where I am. I've only had knight training and haven't been able to study as I wished... Most importantly, I want to be free from the troublesome social relationships!"

He glared at the ballroom. The young lady who wanted a contract husband and the knight who wanted to live in a quiet place had a common goal.

"Then it's settled. My name is Viera, daughter of the Yubert Viscount family. Sir Knight, will you please marry me?"

Viera smiled and offered her palm to the knight. The knight also smiled and took her hand.

"My name is Lukas Herring. I would be delighted to accept."

At the ball she had attended out of frustration, Viera had found a potential husband.