Marriage of Convenience - Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Translator: Skye

Scene I. The Villainess, Bianca

A woman stood next to a window adorned with green drapes, her gaze settling on the scenery down below. Her name was Bianca, once the eldest daughter of the prestigious Blanchefort family, and presently the Countess of Arno.

A subtle breeze fluttered through the crack of the window, and the stone walls emanated a chilly air. Though Bianca wore a white fox fur cape over her deep-green satin dress, it wasn’t enough to fend off the draft coming from the walls.

Despite her lips trembling due to the cold, Bianca pressed herself closer to the wall, as if she was trying to hide herself from being seen by the people on the other side of the window.

Those people in question were a group of brawny soldiers. One could see the remnants of war lingering in the air around them as they strode forward on their whinnying and sighing steeds, which were all pedigree warhorses.

Even from her room on the third floor, Bianca was able to distinguish the faces of the men down below. Her green eyes were fixed on the one standing at the very forefront of the group.

The man who received a warm welcome from Vincent, the Arno family’s butler, dismounted from his especially large black horse, his short silver-grey locks fluttering from the breeze.

It was the return of Zachary de Arno, the Lord of Arno Castle, the Iron-Blooded Count, and Bianca’s husband.

Everyone in the castle welcomed him back with warm cheers. He was one who never fought in a losing war, and for every time he left the county, he always returned with feats that only made his domain more prosperous. As such, he was a lord who was much loved by his people.

Normally, it would be proper for Bianca–as the lady of the house–to be standing next to the butler and offering her husband an embroidered handkerchief while expressing her concerns over his well-being. However, instead of welcoming him back, Bianca hid herself behind the high and solid walls of the castle.

There was no one who would be looking for her anyway.

♘♞♘♞

Zachary was a remarkable knight.

Despite being thrown into the world as the second son of a viscount–and therefore title-less–he worked hard on his own to earn the title of ‘Baron’ and the Arno castle. But his feats didn’t stop there. His participation in countless wars led him to receive the title of ‘Viscount’ and eventually ‘Count,’ while also earning the nickname of ‘Iron-Blooded Count’ along the way.

He had only been a mere baron when he and Bianca were engaged, nowhere near the same status as the Blanchefort family. Yet, Bianca’s father had offered him his daughter’s hand in marriage. Had her father seen Zachary’s potential? If so, then her father was an unmatched fortune teller and Bianca could only be amazed.

Zachary was an outstanding son-in-law, having made significant results with such little financial support, but it did not mean he was an outstanding husband. Numerous wars had broken out after their marriage, causing him to practically live on the battlefield while always leaving Bianca behind in the castle alone. It was to the point where he almost resembled a reaper who could not stay apart from death.

But Bianca couldn’t put the sole blame on her husband for their disastrous marriage. She was not an exemplary wife herself.

Zachary had been 20 years old at the time of their marriage, while Bianca had only been 7. She was much too young to be the wife of a hot-blooded 20-year-old who was on the fast track to raising his status and position, as well as starting a family.

Hence, it was to no surprise that their marriage did not work out well. Bianca was unable to adjust to the Arno family, and her relationship with Zachary was that of indifference.

And before they knew it, nine years had passed.

Bianca was now 16 years old and Zachary was now 29. The ambitious young man had hardened, becoming a man exhibiting a calm, irrefutable sense of grandeur. But his vibrant youthfulness remained. Witnessing such an unfamiliar sight caused Bianca to feel a strange lurch in her chest.

The last memory she held of Zachary was blurry–like a faded oil painting–unable to even recall his features. It was a testament to just how little they saw each other face-to-face, as well as the sense of disinclination she held against him.

The only thing she could remember was the way his gaze appeared exhausted whenever he looked her way, as well as his indifference that seemed to signify how he held absolutely no expectations of her. That was the last she remembered of Zachary, and it was representative of the only feelings she held towards him.

Suddenly, Zachary turned his head in Bianca’s direction. Had he noticed her gaze? His eyes, the color of dark wild grapes, were accurately fixed on her position. Startled, Bianca quickly hid herself behind the curtain.

She had done so on pure instinct. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest and her eyelashes fluttered above her light-green eyes. Bianca’s face was already pale as it was–resembling magnolia petals–but it paled even further like a blanket of snow.

“Haa…..”

Bianca steadied her breathing, trying to calm herself, but it wasn’t easy. Perhaps it was because she was already feeling the chills from the cold, or perhaps it was from the fear of the unfamiliar things to come. Either way, she was having a hard time ceasing her shivers.

Once she calmed herself down to an extent, Bianca carefully leaned closer to the window once more. Zachary was no longer looking in her direction, as if he had realized it was her and lost interest, and was giving out orders to his vassals.

He didn’t meet her gaze again after that.

Bianca observed the way his silver-grey hair sparkled under the sunlight and only closed the curtain once she saw him disappear into the castle.

She placed her still-trembling hands over her chest as if in prayer. She had no idea what kind of expression she should have on when she was to face him. She felt terribly awkward seeing her husband again after such a long time apart.

Husband!

Bianca repeated the unfamiliar word hovering on the tip of her tongue several more times. Although they weren’t complete strangers, their relationship was not much different than that of one.

In the past, marriage was the culmination of love between a man and a woman, but that had changed over time. In the present, marriages stemming from love were hardly present. In fact, it was true even amongst the serfs. People married in order to make a living, feelings of affection towards the other taking a back seat.

Marriage between nobles was even more so. They all used marriage as a way to gain benefits by forming political alliances between families.

As the years went by, such conduct grew increasingly extreme, to the extent where engagements with one partner still in their mother’s womb were being made. People called such marriage customs a “marriage business,” but despite all their ridicule and quips, every noble made an effort to participate in such a “business” if the opportunity arose.

Bianca’s marriage was also a result of a marriage business. An innocent 7-year-old girl and a stiff 20-year-old young man. How could love and romance possibly develop between the two?

If marriage was a business, then Bianca’s marriage was a failed one. The reason being that although she had been sold off like a commodity, she was unable to fulfill her role. Their marriage was like a cogwheel; unable to rotate correctly and squeaking until it ultimately came to a stop.

Bianca de Blanchefort.

The wife of Zachary de Arno, thrown out of the Arno family after his death due to her self-indulgent, frivolous, and immoral behavior. She had nowhere to go, the Blanchefort family having already fallen to ruin, and was more or less kicked to a convent out in the border. A woman who ultimately met her end on a cold stone floor.

A villainess with no honor.

That was Bianca’s life before she went back in time.