Chapter 8

Unaware that the Margrave of Ganongruff was entirely unenthusiastic about the marriage, Marguerite brought only a few recipe books and her favorite cooking tools. After all, the journey to the Margrave of Ganongruff would be a long one. Marguerite would spend two days traveling to the border.

The corset was so tight and uncomfortable that she used the knife she brought to cut the tightly tied strings right away. She enjoyed the two-day journey, taking breaks and getting to know the driver.

The journey was smooth, and the warm wind felt pleasant. The driver said, "I thought the weather would turn, but we had good luck." When Marguerite looked up at the sky, she saw a clear blue expanse without a single cloud.

At that moment, her stomach growled. The money she was given was only enough for lodging. It was quite stingy, especially since this was the last leg of the journey. Should she be grateful for what she received? But Marguerite remained optimistic.

(We'll make the best of this journey!)

She chose a cheap inn, bought ingredients in an unfamiliar town, and served the driver a homemade meal. She listened to the driver talk about his hometown's cuisine and took notes on the recipes. They enjoyed the journey to the border while savoring delicious food.

This world seemed to have many ingredients she had never seen before. The driver was surprised that the daughter of the Nefashial Viscount's family was cooking and taking care of the horses so skillfully.

The driver appeared to be arranged by the royal family, not the Margrave of Ganongruff. When Marguerite mentioned that she was not Adelle, the thought crossed her mind that the Nefashial Viscount's family would be finished. However, as the scent of the sea began to waft through the air, she gradually stopped caring.

(The smell of the sea! Finally, I can get fresh fish...!)

The capital was inland, and there were no fresh fish due to the lack of preservation methods. If any were available, they were dried and salty, making them inedible. Her desire for grilled fish or sashimi, a memory from her life as a Japanese person, was strong. Since the Ganongruff territory was near the sea, Marguerite had high hopes.

She stretched her stiff body as the carriage arrived and waved goodbye to the driver, with whom she had become friends.

(This is the Margrave of Ganongruff's residence...?)

The old, dilapidated mansion was nothing like what Marguerite had imagined. The pillars, window frames, and doors were rusted, and the windows were dirty. The surrounding area was covered in ivy, making it hard to believe anyone lived there.

(That's amazing... This is the Ganongruff residence. It looks like a haunted house.)

Carrying her large luggage, Marguerite made her way to the front door and knocked gently. The door opened, and she looked up at the person standing before her.

"...Unnecessary."

He had olive-brown hair that covered his eyes and a scruffy beard. The emerald green eyes that briefly met hers exuded hostility. It was clear she was not welcome. Despite the intense pressure, Marguerite remembered the importance of greetings and bowed slightly to the man without showing any fear.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Marguerite."

"...Marguerite?"

"Yes, Marguerite."

In this atmosphere, Marguerite quickly revealed her name. She had intended from the start to let him know that she was not Adelle. She had no time to worry about the Nefashial Viscount's family. The viscounts must have known this would happen and sent her anyway.

(No, they didn't know...)

She mentally criticized them. After treating her so poorly, did they really expect her to care about the Nefashial viscounts? If so, it was so ridiculous that it made her want to laugh.