The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 1

Chapter 1: You Say You Have No Intention of Loving Me!

“I have something to tell you. I have no intention of loving you as my wife.”

Right after the wedding ceremony, instead of words of kindness to his exhausted bride, Alexis, her new husband, declared this to Melfina in the coldest, most inappropriate voice possible.

A marriage between high-ranking nobles is a kind of festival, essentially a celebration. Parties and parades lasting several days showcase the grandeur of the wedding, the scale of the dowry, and the excellence of the food, generating gossip that serves as entertainment for commoners.

Not only nobles but also the people around the venue and the citizens of both the groom’s and bride’s territories are provided with food and drink, celebrating grandly. The marriage between Duke Alexis of Oldrand, the most powerful man in the north known for his martial prowess, and Melfina, the daughter of the Marquis of Crawford, who governs a vast territory in the south, was a joyous event that stirred the nation due to it being a union between prominent nobles.

“This marriage is purely a political arrangement between the House of Duke Oldrand and the House of Marquis Crawford. I do not require anything from you beyond your role as my wife on paper. In return, I ask you not to seek my affection or waste my time by imposing upon my life as a wife.”

His blue-gray eyes, common among the northern nobility, were as cold as an ice sculpture, and combined with his well-defined features, his dispassionate tone carried an air of intimidation. The young Duke of Oldrand, whose beauty was the subject of whispers among nobles and ladies, spoke these words to Melfina, dressed in a pure white gown, with freezing eyes.

“As long as you do not exceed the bounds of a duchess, you are free to live wherever you like. You may attend theater, host salons, whatever you wish. If country life in the territory is depressing, you can spend your time socializing in the townhouse in the royal capital.”

“…Is that so?”

Momentarily paralyzed by the words hurled at her, Melfina finally opened her mouth, and the words that came out were disappointingly lackluster even to her own ears.

Although referred to as the countryside, the ducal city of Soarasonne in the Oldrand duchy is a large metropolis known as the Great Flower of the North. It places significant emphasis on cultural preservation and the advancement of the arts, and its development rivals that of the royal capital.

Despite the pleasant words, the underlying message was clear: “You’re a nuisance, so stay far away and do as you please.”

After a two-week carriage journey from the royal capital, there was no time to catch her breath before being cinched into a tight corset and heavy dress, enduring the engagement ball, wedding ceremony, and parade, leaving her utterly exhausted. Just when she thought she could finally rest, these words were spoken to her.

Her mood soured beyond repair, every trace of anger and futility drained away.

—This man truly has nothing but his looks.

Not only was there no consideration for his bride, but there was also no respect or courtesy. Although the daughter of a marquis is of lower status than the head of a ducal house, the Marquisate of Crawford is not a family to be taken lightly.

Moreover, from the moment they exchanged marriage vows in the church, they should at least be equals as husband and wife.

Melfina is not naturally combative. As a lady, she has developed the ability to respond appropriately, even when somewhat displeased, without showing it in her expression or behavior.

—But if the other party behaves rudely, there is no need for me to maintain propriety either.

“Are you truly saying I can do as I please?”

“I won’t repeat myself.”

He answered her confirming question directly, without hesitation. Finally, Alexis furrowed his brows slightly, a faint sign of perplexity.

His perfect features gave him the impression of a statue carved from snow when expressionless, but the moment he showed any emotion, he suddenly appeared more human. No wonder this contrast made him popular among the noblewomen.

Not that Melfina cared in the slightest about such things.

“Is that all you require of me, Your Grace?”

“Yes.”

“Understood. However, as marriage is a long-term commitment, it would be inconvenient for me if you added conditions later. So let me confirm a few things upfront.”

She extended her hand encased in white silk gloves and raised one finger.

“First, as long as I don’t overstep, you will not interfere with what I do. Second, I may live wherever I please. Third, whether it is attending balls or going to the theater, I am free to do as I wish.”

Raising three fingers, she thought this seemed like the life of a free-spirited and selfish noble lady. Feeling tired of the realization that she wasn’t being treated with proper respect, she continued.

“These are your assurances. Just to be clear, what about an heir?”

“……My late brother, who was a knight, left behind a son. He is a capable and intelligent boy. I intend to have him inherit the house.”

“In that case, I request to be exempted from marital duties as well. I don’t want any unnecessary disputes should an heir be accidentally born.”

That said, Melfina knew that there would be no children between “Melfina” and Alexis. She knew that he had no intention of being involved with her in that way. However, since anything could happen, it was better to be cautious.

“To avoid any disputes later, I will have these conditions written down as a contract. This should also provide you with some reassurance, Your Grace.”

“And what guarantee is there that this contract will be honored?”

“I don’t believe a high-ranking noble such as yourself would be unaware of the significance of signing your name.”

A noble’s signature carries the weight of their house and family’s pride. As a marquis’s daughter, it was insulting to be thought of as lacking that much dignity.

When she stated this, staring straight at him, Alexis slightly lowered his chin. As one of the few dukes in the country, inheriting the title at the young age of twenty-five, he probably had never been spoken to this way by a woman.

“Very well. Do you have any requests? It’s best to confirm now whether I can agree to them.”

Melfina pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“In that case, there is the territory around Lake Moltre on the edge of the duchy. Please grant that to me.”

“Do you mean you want to live there?”

“No, I mean exactly what I said. I want you to transfer ownership of the surrounding territory to me.”

At her mention of ceding land, Alexis visibly furrowed his brows.

The area around Lake Moltre, known as the Enkar region, is at the northernmost edge of the Oldrand duchy, bordering a neighboring country—a remote, secluded area within an already remote duchy. A vast forest serves as a natural border with the neighboring country, containing much undeveloped land still being cultivated by serf-led settlement groups.

While no particularly dangerous monsters appear outside the forest, it is so far removed that no deputy wants to govern it. Although technically under direct control of the Duke of Oldrand, it is a forgotten region. Alexis likely has little strong impression of it.

Nonetheless, the formal cession of territory is not a trivial matter for a lord. Alexis’s displeasure was evident.

“Why there? There’s a large lake, but no notable industries. It’s a quiet, remote part of the territory. There’s nothing there that should interest you.”

It’s a modest land, with serfs and settlers eking out a living. Beyond the beautiful lake and a resource-rich forest that’s challenging to develop, there’s little of note. Certainly not a place a flashy, spendthrift noble’s daughter would typically desire.

“Rather than entering a convent, I’d prefer to live freely in a sparsely populated area. Simply living there means I could be told to leave if the owner changes their mind. So, I want the ownership of that region.”

Alexis frowned slightly, looking somewhat displeased.

“Now that we are married, I intend to respect your position as my duchess.”

—Does he really think I would believe such words after saying he has no intention of loving me or having children, and telling me to live wherever I please?

At the very least, Alexis’s words did not resonate with Melfina at all.

“My desire is not to dress in luxurious gowns and chat with noble ladies over sweets. However, since you asked for my wishes, I simply responded. If you cannot accept these terms, feel free to reject them. I will live quietly in a corner of this mansion.”

“—Very well.”

Alexis seemed to ponder for a moment but concluded that giving away a large yet largely undeveloped piece of land to remove this bothersome woman from his sight was a beneficial trade. He likely didn’t seek financial gain from this marriage anyway.

The lands and mining rights that Melfina brought as part of her dowry were not insignificant.

For the Oldrand family to secure those assets, they would need to have a child with Melfina. Since Alexis refused this, the dowry would revert to Melfina’s family, the Crawfords, upon her death. Until then, any profits generated would be considered Melfina’s personal assets, providing no benefit to the Oldrand family.

For Alexis, one of the wealthiest men in the country, this expenditure likely meant little.

“I will cede the Enkar region to you. As long as you do not excessively mistreat the inhabitants, you may govern as you see fit.”

—What kind of person does he think Melfina is? This is our first meeting, isn’t it?

Either his perception of people is severely distorted, or he assumes that all noblewomen are like that.

No matter. The important thing is that he agreed to her demands.

“I assure you, Your Grace, I will not do such a thing.”

Her attitude was, indeed, lacking in charm. Alexis nodded, then turned away as if the conversation was over.

The knight who had been standing like a shadow behind Alexis and the butler both gave a perfunctory bow and followed him out.

Melfina stuck her tongue out at their retreating backs.

This gesture was unbecoming of a noble lady—no, she had just job-changed to a noble duchess—but since no one saw, it didn’t matter.

After all, while she was Melfina von Crawford, the marquis’s daughter and now the duchess, she also possessed another set of memories.