The Abandoned Duchess Seems to Want a Peaceful Life - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Reincarnation Full of Trials

Looking back, Melfina von Crawford’s life was a series of trials from the very beginning.

It all started with her birth.

Her mother, Letina von Crawford, was notably free-spirited even among nobles. Despite being due to give birth, she ignored the warnings of her handmaidens and went to the theater, where she went into labor, resulting in the embarrassing situation of giving birth away from home.

In this world, there were no DNA tests, and even blood types weren’t recognized. It was essential for a bride marrying into nobility to be chaste to ensure bloodline purity. Likewise, it was common practice and an ironclad rule for newborns to be guarded against substitution, with multiple attendants including nurses and maids present from birth until a certain age.

Melfina’s birth, however, lacked the usual attendants, with only her mother and one handmaiden present. Unfortunately, Melfina’s hair and eye colors were not inherited from either parent, raising doubts in the Marquis of Crawford’s mind about whether the child was truly his.

This wasn’t because the Marquis lacked affection; rather, as a noble who prioritized direct succession to the title, it was a natural precaution. In a society where nobles held overwhelming economic power and authority, incidents of familial takeovers were not uncommon.

But none of that mattered to Melfina.

As she gazed at the clear sky from the swaying carriage, she reflected on her life so far.

Even though there was only a handmaiden present, the birth happened unexpectedly during a trip, and it took place inside the carriage, with the escort knights stationed outside. While there was no opportunity for the baby to be swapped with another, no matter how many precautions were taken, mistakes could still occur.

With the stain of being doubted about her daughter’s lineage, Letina, Melfina’s mother, naturally began to distance herself from Melfina. The birth of a brother a few years later, who bore a striking resemblance to the Marquis of Crawford, only fueled the parents’ disinterest in Melfina.

Melfina, longing for love and recognition from her parents, had been striving hard since childhood. She put in much more effort than other noble children of her age in acquiring the education befitting a high-ranking noble’s daughter: etiquette, dance, embroidery, musical instruments, and more.

But ultimately, her efforts did not reach her parents.

On her sixteenth birthday, she was called to a rare family dinner and informed that her marriage partner had been decided. In no time, preparations suitable for the marriage of a high-ranking noble’s daughter were made, and she found herself boarding a carriage bound for her prospective husband’s estate, leaving the capital behind.

At this point, it was clear that her marriage partner had not been chosen with her happiness in mind.

While Melfina understood that political marriages were inevitable for noble daughters, she was no longer naive enough to believe that the engagement had been arranged to rid the troublesome and difficult daughter of the “Crawford” name.

During the journey to the Oldrand territory in the carriage, Melfina didn’t cry. Despite never receiving her parents’ love, she believed that the education and manners she had acquired would never betray her.

Moreover, Melfina wasn’t assigned to become the second wife of a wealthy merchant or a prosperous baron or viscount, as if she were being discarded like trash. Her marriage partner, Duke Alexis of Oldrand, was twenty-five years old, not outrageously older than sixteen-year-old Melfina. While he rarely left his territory, his handsome features and tales of bravery in defending the kingdom from monsters were well-known among the daughters of the capital’s nobility.

As the head of a ducal family with blood ties to the royal family and a prominent figure in governing the borderlands at a young age, he was a suitable match for a marquess’s daughter. Although she hadn’t received love in her birth family, there was still the possibility of creating a loving family of her own.

Even if she wasn’t loved by her political marriage partner, she believed that her child would surely love her. Despite being treated poorly, Melfina loved her parents, and she had grown up seeing the good relationship between her parents and her brother.

Moreover, her brother Rudolf also adored Melfina, providing her with some relief from being sidelined within the family. If she were to have children, she thought having siblings would be beneficial.

Living surrounded by children while fulfilling her role as a noblewoman would surely be enjoyable.

“I had those kinds of thoughts too.”

She murmured.

The journey from the capital to the Oldrand capital of Soarasone took two weeks by carriage. Despite initially dreading another carriage ride, the day after the uneventful wedding night, Melfina found herself looking out the window again, this time as the Oldrand Duke’s household servants left after the wedding ceremony, without even bothering to bid them farewell.

The handmaiden who had been discreetly observing her shot a glance in her direction upon hearing the muttered remark. While Marie, the composed handmaiden, must have overheard the soliloquy, she didn’t inquire further.

For nobles, servants are treated like convenient furniture or tools, so it’s common to bring along personal attendants and chefs from the family’s estate to take care of daily needs. However, since she would now be considered a resident of this land after fleeing the ducal mansion, she made sure to subtly suggest to them to return to the Crawford estate. This was to prevent her actions from being easily monitored by her father, the Marquess of Crawford.

Marie had originally served the Oldrand family. She was one of the handmaidens tasked with taking care of Melfina during her stay at the Oldrand Duke’s mansion, but without a word, she decided to follow her when she left.

At a glance, she appeared to be in her mid-teens, not much different in age from Melfina. Her eyes had a coolness to them, and she exuded an elegant air, resembling a refined beauty.

Though quiet, her subtle gestures were polished. Being selected as the handmaiden of the duchess implied that she was likely the daughter of a noble family among the vassals.

She introduced herself as Marie, but she might have had a more aristocratic name like Marianne or Mariabel.

Nevertheless, Marie’s position clearly indicated her role as Alexis’s overseer. While Melfina had no intention of doing anything to warrant surveillance, nor did she have any desire to increase Alexis’s favor toward her, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for spending time in the countryside, which was practically the bottom rung of society in this country, especially for unmarried noble youths.

“Do you have an engagement, Marie?”

“No, I don’t, and I have no plans for one.”

“I see. Well, feel free to return to the capital whenever you like, especially during the social season.”

As evidenced by Melfina, the marriageable age in this world is quite early. It’s normal for engagements to be settled in the mid-teens, and getting married before one’s twenties is considered commonplace.

…It weighs heavily on one’s conscience to subject a child of such a young age to a life at the edge of the territory. The responsibility is even greater.

“No… My job is to take care of you, Lady Melfina, so please, don’t worry about it.”

Marie said so, but her demeanor conveyed a sense of confusion suppressed within.

“I understand you might know this already, but I can manage basic tasks on my own, so please don’t worry too much.”

While nobles might not feel responsible for the lives of their servants, treating them as mere tools, it felt too burdensome for Melfina. Even if she didn’t intend to spread happiness to everyone, she didn’t want to see anyone become unhappy because of her actions.

“…Madam, were you often involved with the common folk?”

Melfina was the daughter of a high-ranking noble. It was customary for daughters of nobles above the rank of earl to have their daily needs attended to by servants, from dressing to bathing, and even dresses were designed to be worn with the help of others.

Although she was listed among the high-ranking nobles, having the opportunity to take care of her own daily needs was something usually reserved for those who were merely noble in name but had fallen from grace, or perhaps for daughters born from mistresses who were neglected by their families.

“Not particularly, but this isn’t a castle, and where we’re going is even more rural, so I thought I’d need to be able to handle things to a certain extent on my own.”

“I see…”

With the conversation having come to a halt, I turned my gaze back out the window of the carriage.

Spring had arrived, and some time had passed since the snow melted away. It was a sunny day today, but the early spring breeze still carried a slight chill.

This country—Francesca Kingdom—was generally cooler than the Japan I had lived in in my previous life, with temperatures not rising too high even in summer, and winters being snowy.

Located to the north within the country’s territory, the Aldrand territory, and even more so the Enkar region at its very edge, should be prepared for harsh winters.

Along the roadside stretched fields of wheat, their lush greenery a sight to behold. As I gazed upon these fields, I couldn’t help but think how far I had come from the ordinary life I once led.