Chapter 4

Just by submitting the documents, the marriage was easily accepted.

Without even holding a wedding ceremony, I became Serafina Middleton.

When Miriam heard that I had married someone else just two weeks after my engagement to Lord Conrad was broken off, she was stunned.

"Lies... You married the 'Ice Earl'!? And he was the one who proposed to you!? Sister, are you actually quite popular...? N-no, that can't be, because you're the 'seamstress lady'...!"

I couldn't possibly tell my sister, who was muttering to herself with wide eyes, that this was actually a "white marriage." The contract clearly stated that this marriage was to be kept confidential.

Besides, the pain of being betrayed by Miriam and Lord Conrad still stung, and even seeing my sister's face was painful. Even if Miriam envied my marriage to the Earl, it wouldn't lessen the pain. This was just a marriage in name only.

Miriam kept insisting on meeting the Earl and suggested, "Let's have a dinner with Conrad and the two of us. Let us celebrate." But before such a torturous dinner could take place, the Earl decided to take me back to his territory.

I felt relieved and, with only the minimum of trousseau, said goodbye to my family and set off for the Middleton territory, Shaffield, with the Earl.

✧✧✧

The journey from the capital to Shaffield takes three days by carriage. The Earl usually resides in his territory. This time, he had stayed in the capital's secondary residence with only his servant to attend to some business. For the return journey, which included only the three of us, a small carriage pulled by a single horse was prepared.

Inside the carriage, it was just the Earl and me. The servant sat outside with the driver. Being so close to a man I had barely met, and who was now my husband, made me nervous.

After all, he was the famous 'Ice Earl,' known for his ruthlessness. He wore an expensive long sword at his waist, and if I said something wrong, he would surely punish me...!

However, as the carriage started moving, my tense heart gradually relaxed. The scenery seen from the carriage window was exhilarating for someone who had never left the capital. The people walking in the city, the houses in the suburbs, the vast wheat fields, and all the passing scenery were fresh and beautiful.

"How are you feeling? Would you like to take a break?"

The Earl asked this as we passed the wheat fields and entered a forested road.

"Thank you, Lord Middleton. I'm fine."

I turned to him, engrossed in the view outside the window, and answered with a smile.

"Is that so? Aren't you bored on this country road?"

"Not at all. I enjoy seeing the changing scenery one after another."

"Enjoying it?"

"Yes. This is my first time traveling by carriage, and I'm excited. I'm thinking about how I could use those pine trees and that small house as embroidery patterns, and what colors of thread I should use..."

When I realized the Earl was looking at me, I blushed.

"...I'm sorry. Such talk must be boring for Lord Middleton..."

"Not at all, it's not boring at all. However, I would like you to change the way you address me."

"Huh?"

"Please call me Alexis."

I blushed at this sudden request.

C-calling the 'Ice Earl' by his first name...?

But if he said so, I was now Lady Middleton.

Calling my husband 'Lord Middleton' would indeed be strange.

"...Lord Alexis..."

I called him that, and his ice-like expression seemed to soften slightly.

"Can I call you Sera, then?"

"Of course, you can."

No one, not even my family or Lord Conrad, had ever called me Sera. Everyone called me Serafina. So, being called Sera by Lord Alexis felt fresh and made me feel a bit closer, which made me happy.

The carriage gradually approached the territory, and we stayed at an inn along the road at night. We each had our own room: Lord Alexis and I, the servant, and the driver. I shared a room with Lord Alexis, but there were two separate beds. After dinner, he said, "You must be tired. Go to bed early," and I fell asleep quickly.

When I woke up in the morning, Lord Alexis was already up, and his bed was neatly made. He was practicing swordsmanship outside. He must have been considerate enough to let me sleep without feeling awkward in the same room. I decided to wake up early the next day to let Lord Alexis sleep in.

However, on the second and third mornings, I slept soundly and overslept again.

"...I overslept again..."

On the third morning, in the inn surrounded by chirping birds, I looked at the empty bed next to me and muttered. Even if I was just a decorative wife, oversleeping was not good. Lord Alexis must have been tired from the carriage journey, and it was too much to ask him to be so considerate.

He had told me many stories about the territory during the carriage rides. How strawberries were abundant in spring and grapes in autumn, how you could see wild squirrels and deer anytime, how the people were stubborn but kind at heart, how there were beautiful mountains and valleys for hiking, and how there was a legend of a 300-year-old witch living somewhere in the territory.

Thanks to these stories, I was looking forward to Shaffield, and I no longer felt nervous being with Lord Alexis. Although he was called the 'Ice Earl,' he was actually a very kind person. However, I couldn't keep relying on his kindness.

I quickly got dressed and went downstairs, knocking on the kitchen door.

"Good morning, Lord Alexis."

When I went to the backyard, Lord Alexis had just finished his sword practice. In his rolled-up sleeves and flushed cheeks, he looked very human, unlike his usual icy appearance. When I called out to him, he opened his black eyes wide.

"...Sera? Why are you here..."

"I got some lemon water from the kitchen. Would you like to have some?"

I offered him a glass of lemon water. Lord Alexis looked at me and the glass alternately, said "thank you," and drank it all at once.

"It's delicious."

As he said this, Lord Alexis smiled at me. It was not a cold smile but a warm, spring-like smile, the best kind. I was immediately captivated. However, the smile disappeared like a mirage, and Lord Alexis's expression became serious.

"Sera, we'll arrive at the territory by noon today. Once we enter the castle, I expect that troublesome relatives will say many things. But you don't need to worry about anything. If you have any problems, please come to me immediately."

"Yes, thank you."

Since we were finally going to the territory, I needed to pull myself together and properly play the role of his wife. However, every time I remembered Lord Alexis's smile, my heart raced, and I felt a strange restlessness.