The White Marriage of the Seamstress and the Ice Count - Chapter 17 - White Marriage, and Beyond (side Alexis)

The first time I met her was at a garden party last year.

Since I usually managed the territory in Searfield, to suddenly be put in the crowded Royal Capital, no less the Palace itself, where the showy party was being held, was a somewhat depressing experience.

Moreover, when I attended such events, women would always try to ambush me from all directions.

I couldn’t stand the fact that my status and appearance were being evaluated like real estate property, and that the women who I didn’t even know were courting me and competing for my attention.

If they knew that the Middletons were a family cursed by witches, none of them would even approach me.

I have been open with my rejections and after such harsh treatment, before I knew it, I have been given the nickname of the “Ice Count.” Not that it mattered.

I had to attend the party to fulfill my duties as an aristocrat, but my younger sister Rosie insisted, “I really want to go to the royal garden party as part of my training as a lady!”, and so she was brought along. All I could think about was getting back to Searfield as soon as possible.

However, when I took my eyes off Rosie, we got separated.

I weaved my way through the well-dressed crowd, desperately searching for my sister.

My sister Rosie was the most important family member for me, since I had lost my parents and had only one other blood relative, my overbearing great aunt.

On the first glance the Royal Palace appeared beautiful, but underneath the masks it was a den of monsters called aristocrats.

I ran around the vast garden of the Royal Palace, the venue of the garden party, blaming myself for leaving my precious sister alone in such a place.

“Oh, big brother!”

I found my sister in a deserted spot at the far end of the hall, near the Royal Forest’s boundary.

“Rosie! Why did you go to a place like this?!”

Perhaps because of relief, I sounded like I was blaming her.

The young woman who was with Rosie stepped forward as if to protect her.

“Um, excuse me. This young lady seemed to be lost, so I was looking for her companion that brought her here. Then…”

“Big brother, this lady is not a bad person. She was just helping me search for you. But when we were near this forest, I saw a squirrel, and it was so cute that I chased it all the way here. It was my fault!”

“No, it’s my fault. I saw a real squirrel for the first time and I wanted to use it as a design for my embroidery… No, that is, I am sorry for making you search for this young lady.”

“No, that’s not it, big brother. It was me who…”

“…Alright. You can stop now.”

The alternating apologies completely drained the will to argue out of me.

I exhaled lightly and turned to the woman with chestnut hair and light green eyes.

To have accompanied Rosie all the way here, she must really be a kind lady.

“Thank you for protecting my little sister. I am…”

As I was about to introduce myself, a man ran up to her.

The chestnut-haired young lady’s cheeks flushed.

“Oh, Seraphina! You’re in a place like this? I finally found you.”

“Master Conrad!”

Instantly, I saw her light green eyes sparkle.

For some reason, I felt disappointed.

I grew even more annoyed when I realized that the man who approached her and put his hands around her waist was Viscount Dexter’s son, the man who just a few moments earlier had been making advances on another woman in the venue. He was called the “Miracle Knight,” but he was also famous for being a womanizer.

He only nodded at me and quickly went back to the garden party.

The chestnut-haired lady turned around.

For a moment, I was convinced that she had looked back just at me.

But I was wrong.

She looked back at Rosie next to me, smiled warmly, and waved to her.

After that, she gave me a small bow as well.

I looked at her leaving, standing beside Rosie, who waved and waved, filled with an emotion I couldn’t describe.

　✧✧✧

It was a few months after Rosie became ill that I received strict orders from the great aunt to find a bride in the Royal Capital and bring her home.

At first I protested, wondering what kind of a joke it was to say that when my sister was suffering from an incurable disease.

But on second thought, it was the last chance to give Rosie a new family member, a “sister.”

Perhaps because of the early loss of our mother, Rosie had a strong longing for all things concerning being a lady from an early age.

A kind, elegant woman with a strong heart.

If I was able to bring such a lady into our family, she just might be able to bring light into Rosie’s life again.

But that lady would need to agree to a “white marriage.”

The only woman that came to my mind was Lady Seraphina Archibald, whom I had met only once at that garden party.

For some reason, that encounter remained vivid in my memory.

If I went to the Royal Capital, would I be able to meet her?

It seemed that she was engaged to the Viscount Dexter’s son, but one could never count on promises made by nobles, even less so with that man’s frivolity and superficiality.

I had no idea at the time that both Lady Seraphina and Rosie had forgotten all about the events at the garden party, though.

　✧✧✧

Serafina — no, Sara — has accepted the contract and became my wife, gentle and lovely as a spring breeze.

Even though she was brought up in the Royal Capital, she did not complain at all about the journey to the remote countryside of Searfield. On the contrary, she was happy to hear that the landscape changing with the seasons is beautiful to behold.

Even though she must have been tired out by the carriage ride, she woke up early and even offered me lemon water after I finished my training.

As soon as we arrived at the castle, the butler, Johnson, taught her all about the management of the estate and was astonished by her enthusiasm.

Even my hard to please great aunt had taken a liking to her. It seemed her fears that Sara was some kind of villainess were extinguished.  

And Sara became fast friends with Rosie as well. It was hard to believe that Rosie was getting better and better, beyond my estimations that she would be happy to have the ideal lady of her dreams as her sister-in-law.

She was like a holy woman, working tirelessly day and night making and embroidering clothes for the bedridden Rosie.

She had a noble and gentle heart and at the same time, she was very lovely.

The day I learned that Sara had misinterpreted my morning return and had not slept at all that night, I instantly wanted to tear up the “white marriage” contract just because my wife was being so adorable.

How wonderful would it be if she was truly my wife.

But there was a curse placed on my family that couldn’t be broken.

Even if I didn’t contract it, my children and grandchildren would surely fall ill because of it.

I couldn’t let her bear such a fate.

After I was notified that the demons appeared, I told her I was leaving for the battlefield.

Sara seemed more concerned about me than about that former fiancé I had seen her look at with shining eyes at last year’s garden party.

She presented me with a beautiful sash she had made for me, embroidered with the Middleton family crest of four lilies.

I made up my mind then.

Even if I could never be truly married to Sara because of the curse, I would at least protect her for as long as I lived.

But Sara broke the curse of my family with the magic of “protection.”

Perhaps I have been the one being protected from the start.

　✧✧✧

The day after the harvest festival.

For the first time, I greeted the morning with Sarah.

…I was just looking after her, with her being drunk on some alcohol, and I ended up falling asleep as well.

“I am so very sorry…!”

On my bed in the white morning sun.

Sara woke up in yesterday’s dress and apologized with a pale face as soon as she woke up.

I chuckled and offered her a glass of cold lemon water I had gotten from the kitchen.

“No need to apologize. The harvest festival probably tired you out. Here, drink this.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

With a look of shame on her face, Sara obediently drank the lemon water.

It seemed to cheer her up a bit.

“…It’s delicious.”

“I’m glad to hear that. How are you feeling?”

“Yes… I’m sorry. I-it’s… so shameless of me to fall asleep in Master Alexis’s bed.”

“Why? We are husband and wife, so it’s only natural that we sleep in the same bed, isn’t it?”

“Ah!”

Her white face instantly turned red.

My “Ice Countess” seemed very spirited and cute today.

Wanting to get a closer look, I sat down beside her and brought my face close to hers.

“This bed is pretty big, so you should have enough space for yourself. Would you like to sleep here with me from now on?”

“M-master Alexis…”

She seemed perplexed with her face flaming red. A sign that I went a bit too far.

Even though we both confessed our feelings, we continued to sleep in separate bedrooms. I would have preferred for us to share the same bedroom, but I didn’t want to push my shy Sara too far and make her dislike me.

“Let’s go get some breakfast,” I changed the subject and stood up.

When suddenly, something pulled at me.

I looked up to see Sara, with a determined look on her face, grabbing at my sleeve.

“…Sara?”

“…Are… are you sure?”

“About what?”

“…That I could stay at your side even at night…”

Before I could stop myself, I hugged Sara.

Any reasoning, like not wanting to make her dislike me or the fact that it was morning, was blown away. I just loved her.

I kissed her ear, peeking through her chestnut hair, and answered, “Of course, Sara. I love you.”

“Master Alexis… I love you, too.”

When our gazes locked, our lips met just like before.

A strong knock echoed through the room.

From behind the door came the humble but urgent tone of voice of Johnson.

“Good morning, Master and Mistress. Lady Margaret has hurried here to see you about an urgent matter.”

I looked at Sara, then answered Johnson.

“…Understood. I’ll be there as soon as I change.”

“Yes, sir.”

Sara quickly got out of the bed.

“I’ll be back after I change clothes, too.”

“Wait, Sara.”

I stopped her as she was about to go to her room and she turned around.

I kissed her, as lightly as a bird’s peck. 

Slowly, I pulled away.

Sara’s face was flushed and her eyes wide.

Then, she smiled, very happy.

Seeing that expression filled my heart with happiness, too.

I said goodbye to my beloved wife.

“I will see you later, then.”

“Yes. See you later.”

And with that, another busy day began.

The days we seized after our “white marriage” were nothing special, not worth making into a story. Just the everyday normality of a husband and a wife. 

But that everyday smile of Sara was something I wished to protect. 

So please, Sara, please keep on smiling next to me forever.

AUTHOR’S NOTES

Thank you for reading to the end!

Your bookmarks, ratings and likes were very encouraging during the series.