Description
Clarisse Farenheit is the second daughter of the viscount Farenheit who lives in the royal capital. Ever since her birth, she has always been compared to her beautiful sister, Matilda.
One day, Jean Gutenberg, a Frontier Margrave, known for his odd personality, asked for the "Jewel of Farenheit" from the king as a reward for his achievements in war.
The parents, who loved their eldest daughter the most, decided to give him their second daughter Clarisse instead of Matilda.
Clarisse, who has an unfortunate background, is being doted upon by the clumsy and slightly weird Margrave.
This is a story about an unfortunate girl who makes her way into the world and receives love from the people around her…
The author wrote, "I want to write a story about happiness!"
Chapter 1
"Clarisse, Your marriage partner has been decided."
She had thought that it was unusual to be summoned to her fathers' office, since he had never done so before, but after listening to what he said, Clarisse Farenheit blinked her violet eyes.
"My marriage partner ..?"
"Yes."
Her father did not even make eye contact with Clarisse, as he explained the situation in a businesslike manner.
There had been a battle with a neighboring country on the border.
When the king had asked his vassal what he would like as a reward for his remarkable war achievements, he asked for marriage to the "Jewel of Farenheit" who was rumored to be the best in the kingdom, and the king granted the request on the condition that the vassal pledged eternal loyalty to the royal family.
The "Jewel of Farenheit" was the title given to Matilda, the eldest of the two daughters of Viscount Farenheit.
Matilda was beautiful from birth, her blue eyes charmed all who saw her, and her voice was as pretty as a bell and made all around her embarrass themselves by tripping over themselves when they saw her. After she came of age this had not changed, and she was constantly receiving offers of marriage from all the families around the kingdom. She was a daughter that her parents were proud of, and they felt happy just by looking at her.
Clarisse, on the other hand, had violet eyes and when compared to her elder sister, her appearance was average and there was nothing special about her. She was always seen as an insignificant presence in the Farenheit family. If you looked at her, you could see the intelligence in her eyes and her lady-like manners, but even that was overshadowed by Matilda's beauty.
Her parents gave Matilda whatever she wanted and gave the leftovers to Clarisse.
The butler and other servants had no choice but to follow the parents' attitude.
Clarisse was actually treated very kindly behind the scenes by those who felt sorry for her, but since they knew they couldn't go against her parents, as they were their master, they only did it in the shadows.
Clarisse knew that her parents would probably arrange her marriage to some nobleman sooner or later, but she had never thought that she would be offered to a Frontier Margrave, whom she had never met, for the sake of her sister.
They had not the slightest intention of offering the lovely Matilda to a stranger who was living far away near the border, although the Frontier Margrave undoubtedly had meant her sister.
However, the Frontier Margrave had not specified Matilda by name, so they weren't disobeying the royal order.
"I have heard that your partner, Margrave Gutenberg, is a great man."
Her mother, who was sitting next to her father, remarked, but Clarisse, who was fond of books and secretly read the newspapers, knew that the Margrave Gutenberg was rumored to be a cruel man with the appearance of a wolf and the temperament of a tiger. The nickname he was given was the Cannibal Margrave.
'Neither father nor mother loved me… until the end…'
Clarisse, who hid her disappointment to the fullest extent, had no choice but to say yes.
After Clarisse returned to her room, her sister Matilda came in.
"What should I wear to the ball tonight?"
Clarisse looked at her sister, who looked like a beautiful porcelain doll.
"…A ball?"
Matilda saw the surprised look on Clarisse's face, and said in an apologetic tone .
"You may not have been invited. Just me…"
'Again…'
Her sister always used to make sarcastic and mean remarks like this, tormenting Clarisse constantly and in the past, she used to cry a lot because of that, but now she has gotten used to it since she knew that her sister was that kind of person, so she tried not to take it personally, but on days like today, when she was already feeling down, it was hard to bear.
"I've heard from our father that your marriage partner has been chosen."
The voice of her lovely sister cornered Clarisse, although her voice was as soft as a ringing bell, her words were laced with poison.
"He said he couldn't bear the thought of letting me go, so he will send you instead of me. I'm so happy for you, I think it's a wonderful match for you. You get to become the wife of a Margrave. Well, it's my hand-me-down though. Fufufu."
Clarisse felt the pain of a sharp knife slicing through her chest. She stared at her sister who had a beautiful smile on her face as if she was pleased with making her suffer.
"I'm sure you've heard the rumors about him, apparently he eats people, right? …I wonder if he took you to be a sacrifice."
Matilda finally left after she was satisfied with her verbal tormenting of her, Clarisse hugged her cold body in an attempt to warm herself up.
"—My Lady."
Mary, the kind maid who had been in the room before Matilda came in, called Clarisse's name softly in a caring manner. Clarisse came back to her senses and tried to smile at her.
"What is it?"
"Would you like me to get you something warm to drink?"
After being treated so coldly by her family, those kind words almost brought tears to her eyes.
"Thank you. But that's okay. Can you leave me alone for a while?"
"As you wish, My Lady."
Mary left the room with a worried look on her face, and Clarisse sat quietly on the couch by the window until night fell. In the midst of the silence, Clarisse slowly made up her mind.
'Yes, it will be fine.'
The king of this country was reputed to be a wise king, and there's no way that the Margrave that he valued was a man-eater.*
One thing that concerned her was whether the Margrave had met Matilda somewhere and had then taken a liking to her. Matilda has been to many more soirées than Clarisse, and with her good looks, there was a good chance that was what happened.
In that case, he might be furious once he realises that Clarisse was sent in her place. If that happened, the only thing she could do was to apologize so that he might forgive her, and she would have to bear the guilt of her family.
Once she had made up her mind, her previously frozen body finally began to move.
Early Fall・Clarisse Farenheit・Nineteen years old.
According to her father, the matter of Clarisse's marriage had been arranged quietly behind the scenes and it was to be kept as private as possible at the Margrave's request.
She was allowed to bid farewell to a few noble ladies she was close to, but the future marriage was never announced publicly to the aristocratic society.
The Margrave had sent word through the royal family that Clarisse would be welcome to arrive at any time.
However, he could not come to the capital to pick her up because the current condition of the border was too unpredictable and he needed to remain to keep it secure.
"It's a pity there won't be a ceremony."
Matilda, who was still trying to bully Clarisse, said.
However, on the contrary, Clarisse was rather pleased that things were proceeding quietly.
She thought it would be worse if the Margrave came to the capital for the ceremony and found out that she was not the wife he had wanted.
It was unlikely that her selfish sister would have gone to that remote area just because she had been ordered by the king and if they were not careful, the Farenheit family would probably be ruined as a punishment for disobeying a royal decree.
Clarisse couldn't think of much to take with her, so she just packed a few of her favorite books in addition to her daily necessities, along with a few items that she treasure which were kept in a wooden box.
The winter in the remote area was said to be very cold, however she thought it would be better to buy winter clothes there, so she didn't bother to prepare them.
The only maid she was taking with her was Mary, who had volunteered. Although Mary wasn't the only one who volunteered to go with her, she had to comply with the order from the Margrave that she could only bring one personal maid.
Mary was four years older than Clarisse, and she had been Clarisse's maid since they were both little, so having her for company was reassuring.
The preparations proceeded smoothly and the departure date for the wedding was set, and the only thing left for her to do was simply to keep quiet and do everything she was told.
When the morning of her departure finally arrived, her parents and Matilda bid farewell to Clarisse at the mansion's entrance.
"Take care of yourself."
As her father said this, her tearful mother nodded next to him.
"I will miss you, Clarisse. Be sure to write to me."
Matilda said with the face of a sister who was grieving over the fact that her beloved sister was moving faraway. There was no one better at this kind of acting than her.
It was hard to believe that she was the same person who had been sitting in Clarisse's room a few minutes ago, saying how refreshing it was to see her leave.
Once their parents arrived Matilda had quickly changed her to a gloomy expression. She had always been this quick to change her expressions since childhood, and Clarisse had no intention to say anything about it now. She just thought, vaguely, that her sister seemed happy to get rid of her.
"Father, mother, sister Matilda, take care."
That was the end of the conversation.
After a quick farewell, Clarisse walked out of the house with Mary and was surprised to see all the servants lined up outside.
"You all…"
They were all the people who had served Clarisse well since she was a child. Seeing them felt much more sorrowful than saying goodbye to her parents and sister.
"Take care of yourself, Lady Clarisse. Mary, you must serve Lady Clarisse well."
The head maid looked at Mary with teary eyes.
"Of course I will, even if it costs me my life."
The head maid, the butler, the head chef, and the other servants all expressed their grief at Clarisse's departure and their concern for her future.
"Thank you, everyone. I wouldn't be who I am if it weren't for you. I hope you will continue to support the Farenheit family."
As the sound of sobbing echoed through the air, Clarisse fought to keep from crying as she and Mary walked out the gate.
The Margrave had sent them a carriage for her to travel in.
It would take three days by carriage from the royal capital to the border where the margrave residence was located.
The coachman of the Gutenberg family was surprised at the small amount of luggage she was bringing with her. He glanced quickly at the other young man next to him, who nodded as if to say he understood.
"My Lady, the daughter of Viscount Farenheit."
The young man opened his mouth.
He was a tall man with pale golden hair and a kind face.
"My name is Marius, the eldest son of Viscount Shtok, in the service of the Margrave Gutenberg. I am here to escort you on behalf of the Margrave."
As he looked at Clarisse's face, he saw that her blue eyes widened as if she was startled, but she quickly blinked to hide her shock.
"Lord Marius."
Clarisse greeted Marius with a smile.
"Marius is fine."
"'Then, by all means, call me Clarisse as well."
"Very well, My Lady, then, please come this way, Miss Clarisse."
Marius assisted Clarisse and Mary into the carriage and then sat down next to the coachman.
'What a beautiful person!'
Marius thought back to Clarisse's beautiful face as he leaned back against the swaying carriage. Those violet eyes… there's nothing quite like them.
Marcus thought back to the scene he had just witnessed, and she seemed to be adored by the servants as well.
There was less luggage than he had expected, and from what he caught a glimpse of, the contents were relatively modest. No wonder the coachman was surprised.
Marius came from a similar family as the Farenheit family, as both families hold the title of Viscount. Still, his mother and sister always made a fuss over trips that lasted for a few days, and as he recalls, the luggage they always packed him was more than Clarisse's today.
'She's a strange one, Miss Clarisse…
Meanwhile, Mary, the maid, was suffering from severe motion sickness in the Margrave's luxurious carriage. It hadn't been long since they'd left the mansion, yet she was extremely ill when they arrived.
"Oh, Miss… I'm sorry…please forgive me for going before you…"
Clarisse giggled at the maid, who appeared to be dying and was out of breath.
"You're exaggerating, Mary."
She then showed Mary a small glass vial that she had hidden in her skirt pocket.
"I brought you some motion sickness medicine, just in case this would happen."
"As expected, my lady is always prepared…"
The servants surrounded Mary after they parted. They tearfully asked her to take care of the young lady. Still, even before doing anything, she had already caused trouble…
Mary reflected on how she shouldn't have pretended to be calm and said, "Even if it costs me my life."
She should have died immediately to apologize and make up for this situation – but instead, she's already dying of motion sickness!
"Yes, it doesn't smell great, but drink it all at once."
Clarisse, with her angelic smile, handed her a black liquid with a strong odour. The smell alone made Mary think that if she drank it, she might die anyway.
It smelled like a sweaty shirt that hasn't been washed in three days after working outside every day in the middle of summer. It's one of two options: does she want to keep having motion sickness ? Or, will she take this medicine? Does she have the courage to take it?
Mary took the vial with trembling hands and looked at Clarisse. She was watching her with a smile plastered on her beautiful face – making Mary fall in love with her.
'Oh, my Lady, these clear eyes of yours…they are dazzling….'
'Eeeeew, whatever!'
Mary slurped down the contents of the vial in one gulp.
Suddenly, violent coughing came from within the carriage, and Marius, startled, turned around.
There was a small frosted glass window between the seat outside where the coachman sat and the inside of the carriage. Still, it could only be opened from within for security reasons, so he knocked lightly on the window.
Though the intermittent coughing was still going on, the window opened a few moments later, and Clarisse's beautiful violet eyes peeked out.
"What's the matter, Mr. Marius?"
"No… um… there was a coughing sound…"
"I'm sorry, but Mary is coughing."
It's not possible to see where Mary, the maid, is sitting through the small window, but since Clarisse could talk normally, the coughing could only belong to Mary. And while Marius and Clarisse were talking, the coughing seemed to have finally subsided.
'Hmm? What's that…strong smell…?'
For a moment, the scent of condensed sweat drifted around him. Still, Marius decided to believe that the wind was changing direction and that he smelled the scent of the coachman. It was a cool, early autumn day, and he didn't think that someone would sweat that much.
When the window closed, the pungent smell subsided, and Marius forgot about it for the rest of the day.
"My Lady… the motion sickness is definitely gone… but the other side effects are terrible."
Mary opened the small window behind her; as she was seated in the back, the window faced away from the coachman. She had a hunch that if she didn't aerate the carriage then she would definitely find herself dead. She heard coughing from the coachman of the second carriage behind them, which carried Clarisse's belongings, after being hit by a scent bomb.
'I'm sorry, coachman… it'll go on for a while, get used to it… but I promise you won't get motion sickness…'
Mary apologized in her heart.
"That medicine is very effective, but it smells… I think I'll add some dates to it next time, just to make it more fragrant."
"What, you're going to add dates to that medicine? Won't it make it smell even weirder?
"I know, but there isn't any other material that smells so good and won't compete with the benefits…"
Mary imagined a version of the sweat she had just smelt with a sweet smell added to it. She was confident she could vomit from that alone. They say sweetness together with sweat brings memories of sweet youth…
Clarisse's wooden box, which she had placed on her cart.
Having been isolated at home since childhood, Clarisse's interest was in gardening. She became friends with the gardeners. As they shared their knowledge with her, she began to study them: focusing on medicinal herbs.
She now knows so much about medicinal herbs that she can mix and create her own natural remedies. Of course, this is Clarisse's hobby and skill that no one in her family knows about. However, all the servants working for the Farenheit family knew about it, and her knowledge had saved them many times.
Clarisse, of course, has brought with her to the Margrave mansion a guide to medicinal herbs, a medical book, and a notebook containing all the medicine she has created so far and the methods used to prepare them. It was the first thing she had packed away, for it was the only thing she was absolutely determined to bring along.
'I hope the Margrave will be open to the idea of Lady Clarisse handling medicinal herbs… I don't even know if he will give his wife that kind of freedom in the first place… I'll have to be careful…'
Mary made up her mind after her motion sickness had subsided entirely.
Marius was impressed by Clarisse's manners throughout the trip.
She understands her position and never complains.
That's right; not at all.
The trip to the border was excruciatingly long; even a grown man would have complained at least once on the way, and there was no such thing as a good meal or luxurious accommodation.
However, Clarisse always had a smile on her face and never forgot to thank Marius and the coachman. He's never seen a noblewoman like her before.
She may be a little shy, but even so, when Mary, her maid, is around her, she appears more at ease than usual.
Not that she did anything rude to Marius. She was always polite. She flashes friendly smiles at him, but when she's with Mary, she occasionally laughs when the maid says something funny.
Her smile at the time was truly beautiful. It was as if she was glowing from within, and she had those mesmerizing violet eyes.
When Marius learned that his master intended to marry a 19-year-old viscount daughter and bring her into his family, he assumed she would find it difficult. Any normal noblewoman would think so, because the mansion was close to the border, where she would be forced to live a difficult life. It had gotten to the point where Marius thought his master had finally lost his mind.
But now, Marius was utterly intoxicated by Clarisse. He decided that he would stand by her and help her if that stubborn man-eating margrave ever made her cry.
"My Lady, today I was able to spend the day without taking any medicine for motion sickness!"
At a humble inn on the second day of their journey, Mary proudly exclaimed this as she helped Clarisse change her dress.
Mary has been by Clarisse's side since she was a child, so when they're alone, she relaxes her guard and gets cocky. Clarisse can't help but find this side of Mary cute, and she not only forgives but also enjoys their conversations.
"I'm glad to hear that. You must have really hated taking that medicine."
"Only those who have taken it will understand, My Lady. It was a life-threatening experience, to say the least."
Mary sighed as she brushed Clarisse's silky, lustrous hair.
People only admire Matilda's blonde hair, but Mary thinks her master's shining brown hair is much more beautiful.
"My medicines are very effective, but they just don't taste very good, do they?"
"It is indeed the most effective medicine in the world! I'm well aware of that, but when it comes to taste, it's as good as poison."
"Oh, Mary. Don't you know that the better the medicine, the more bitter it tastes?"
"There is a limit to how bitter it can taste."
She folded Clarisse's dusty clothes and tied up her hair with a deft hand. Normally, she would change her clothes first and then brush her hair, but because she was covered in dust, including her hair, Mary decided to remove the dust from her hair first and then prepare a simple loose indoor gown that she could wear without needing to cover up with a shawl.
As Mary was putting away Clarisse's luggage, Clarisse asked.
"Mary, do you mind if I put it on myself?"
"..Well, we are not in the residence anymore. Go ahead."
Clarisse basically wanted to take care of herself, but she knew that when she was in the mansion, it was the role of the master to let the servants do their work. But now that she was alone with Mary at the inn, she didn't need to worry about anyone else.
While Clarisse was putting on a simple but elegant evening dress by herself, a knock came from the hallway. Marius' voice came shortly after, telling her to come to the dining room for dinner whenever she was ready.
'She really doesn't seem like a Viscount girl …!'
He expected it to take more time than that – noblewomen always take a long time to get ready – but not long after that, Clarisse and Mary came down to the dining room, looking neat and tidy. To his surprise, Clarisse appeared in a simple dress.
Although the inn was simple, it was basically an inn where aristocrats stayed during their travels. Thus, the food was reasonably good. However, since all the nobles gather in the dining room to eat, apparently, there were a number of upper-class young noblewomen who didn't like the idea of nobles of various classes gathering together.
They would have been happier if there had been a better place to stay. Nonetheless, this was a decent place to stay when travelling along the border, where things get worse as they get closer. Even in this situation, there was no hint of dissatisfaction from Clarisse about the inn.
As simple as her dress was, Marius thought that Clarisse was more beautiful than any of the women in the dining room. And she didn't seem to be aware of her beauty at all.
"This way, Miss Clarisse."
Clarisse sat down at the seat Marius led her to and stopped Mary from walking over to the wall.
"I know this is very rude of me, but could you ask the innkeepers to deliver Mary's food to her room later?"
"Yes, of course."
The dining room was now occupied by nobles, and Mary, a maid, was not allowed to eat; they were supposed to be standing by the wall in the hallway.
After Clarisse finishes her meal, Mary will prepare her for bed and then return to the small room she has been assigned and wait for the servants' mealtime, which is set for late in the evening. That would mean she would have to go to bed at midnight.
Clarisse smiled brightly and thanked Marius.
'She is a person who can smile for others, isn't she?'
Marius was impressed by Clarisse's kindness, which was evident in the way she was caring for Mary, who was tired from the long journey. Mary, with eyes full of appreciation, bowed and went to stand by the wall.
The closer they got to the border, the more sparse the houses became: there was less greenery, and the road became more craggy and rocky. Clarisse had never been outside the royal capital since birth. Hence, the world through the carriage window was simply refreshing.
"Mary, look! I can see the horizon. It really is a straight line!"
"Only a lady of noble birth would be happy to see the horizon."
"But it's just like what I've read in books. Isn't it amazing? To actually see it with your own eyes!"
Mary didn't seem to understand, but Clarisse never seemed to get tired of looking at the scenery outside. Using her knowledge of medicinal herbs, she took note of the trees in the distance.
She'd have to get a closer look to examine them properly. Still, it might be slightly different from the plants that grew in the royal capital because of the climate difference…
'I still don't know what kind of person the margrave is, but if I'm going to have to spend my days alone in his residence, I'll start by investigating the nearby plants using the botany book that I got from the herbalist who frequented the house.'
Clarisse grew up in a home where her parents didn't care for her. read only at sleepy translations When her older sister saw her, she tormented her. Hence, she spent more time alone in her room or in the garden than with her family, as a result, she became very adept at spending time alone.
'Besides… even now, the situation near the border isn't exactly stable…'
A peace treaty was signed the other day following a victory in a battle with a neighbouring country. The country was safe for the time being. However, the situation was still unpredictable, and Clarisse believed the Margrave when he said that he couldn't leave due to security concerns.
'Either way, I'm sure that the Margrave is a very busy person… but it's all right, I'm sure I'll be fine…'
When she looked at Mary, she noticed that she was nodding off, i sent to wuxia to take down my translations, yet after shamelessly asking for which novels i'm talking about, they ignored me, so wow tired from the long ride in the carriage. Clarisse draped the lap blanket she'd given Mary earlier over her shoulders.
When Mary woke up, the maid was embarrassed and said, "You're doing this to me again, My Lady!" A smile appeared on Clarisse's lips.
Later that day, they finally arrived at the Margrave's mansion.
The area was already enveloped in darkness, making it hard to see the scenery. However, there were torches burning brightly at the mansion's gate.
The Fahrenheit family also had a mansion of their own, but Clarisse could tell that the Margrave's mansion was twice as large from a simple glance at the outer gate.
'So… the Margrave is here… the one who will be my husband…'
She squeezed her hands, which she had unconsciously rested on her knees. She overheard Marius utter something to the knight guarding the outer gate.
The gate swung open soon after, and the carriage drove into the grounds. After entering the grounds, the carriage took several minutes to reach the mansion before coming to a halt.
A few moments later, Marius opened the carriage door for them.
"Miss Clarisse, we have arrived."
"Thank you, Mr. Marius."
She stepped out of the carriage with his assistance, looked up at the mansion, and let out a sigh.
'It's stunning!'
The mansion was even more beautiful than she had imagined. Perhaps tomorrow, in the sun, she would be able to get a better view of the whole place. However, even at night, it looked fantastic, illuminated by the lights seeping out of each window.
"This way, please watch your step."
She looked up at the large front door as Marius led her up the magnificent stone staircase. Without a doubt, the Margrave seemed to be an incredibly wealthy man.
Marius rang the heavy iron doorbell next to the entrance. The door opened from the inside without much delay, and an older man who appeared to be the butler bowed respectfully.
"We've been expecting you, Lady Farenheit."
"Oh, my, thank you."
Clarisse, who did not expect to be welcomed so politely, thanked him with a smile. The butler straightened his posture and met Clarisse's smile with a glint of admiration in his eyes.
"I've been instructed to lead you to the Master first."
"Very well."
Clarisse agreed, despite the fact that meeting with him first meant she couldn't put her luggage away. This surprised the butler and maids, possibly because Clarisse had unexpectedly agreed without a complaint.
'Right, because most normal noblewomen would be angry if they were not given enough time to rest and dress nicely first.'
Marius muttered in his mind.
Now he can't help but look forward to it: wondering how his Lord will react to this unusual young lady. This will be fun, he thought to himself as he trailed behind Clarisse, following the butler.
"This is the master's office, My Lady."
Apparently, her future husband was behind the gorgeous door at the end of a long, long corridor. The butler knocked on the door, and a clear, low voice from within said,
"Come in."
'Wow…I can tell he's a confident man just from the tone of his voice…!'
Clarisse took a deep breath and stared at the door as it opened.
"I have brought Lady Farenheit."
At the butler's words, the man sitting at the large table in the back of the room stood up with a quick, light gesture.. The butler held the door open and gestured for Clarisse to enter. She stepped into the room without looking at him in order not to offend the Margrave.
She picked up the hem of her skirt with both hands, bent her waist and knees, and bowed her head deeply.
Marius also entered the room, and the butler closed the door softly behind him.
"A pleasure to meet you Margrave Gutenberg, I am Clarisse Farenheit."
The sound of the Margrave's footsteps echoed in the quiet room, and a pair of large black leather shoes came into view as Clarisse lowered her gaze to the floor.
"Raise your head, Clarisse."
"…"
It was the first time she had seen a man of such wild beauty in front of her. His face was undoubtedly attractive, but it was overshadowed by his overwhelming masculinity. Above all, his broad physique indicates that he works out often.
'How beautiful… with his golden eyes and silver hair … I can see why they refer to him as a tiger or a wolf…'
Clarisse was fascinated by his beautiful eyes and short hair, as if under a spell. His eyes glowed with unwavering intelligence, and she knew instantly that he was definitely not some sort of cannibalistic Margrave.
Most of the aristocratic men Clarisse had met in the past had been fashionable, with a liking to poetry and the piano, neatly styled hair, and a taste for cravats and trendy clothes, so this was the first time she had met a man with such a unique style: overwhelming anyone who saw him.
The Margrave, on the other hand, had a somewhat blank look on his face. His eyebrows wrinkled faintly as he stared at Clarisse in silence. This translation is provided to you by Leila from sleepy translations. When she noticed the wrinkles between his eyebrows, Clarisse realized.
'I wonder if he's disappointed because I'm not Matilda, but he did call me by my first name, right?'
Clarisse's father told her that he had once sent a letter to the Margrave to acknowledge his approval of the engagement; he did not write "the jewel of Farenheit," but only that he was sending his second daughter, Clarisse Farenheit, to be his fiancée.
Anyone who lived in the capital knew that Clarisse was not the "Jewel of Fahrenheit". Therefore, she assumed that the Margrave had accepted the possibility that it was Clarisse.
However, suppose the Margrave had never greeted Matilda and passed by her at a ball and asked someone for her name. In that case, it is quite possible that he had been told that she was the 'Jewel of Farenheit' and not by her name.
..That's how famous the nickname "Jewel of Farenheit" was. When Clarisse came to that conclusion, she suddenly turned pale.
At that moment, the Margrave reached out and gently held Clarisse's thin arm.
"Are you alright? Your complexion is pale."
His face still showed the same stern expression, but his gesture and voice were gentle.
'He's not angry at me, is he?'
He did not move once he had grabbed Clarisse's arm, but instead kept staring at her violet eyes. At the same time, she also gazed at her own reflection in his golden eyes as if bewitched.
"..Buh-ha!"
Laughter echoed from the back of the room, and the Margrave released his grip on Clarisse's arm.
"Jean, Clarisse must be tired after her long journey; maybe you should let her rest on the sofa?"
At the back of the room stood a young man with a face resembling Marius's, but with a cocky smile that made him appear younger and a little more devious. Marius sighed in response to the young man's blunt words.
"Sid, you are being rude. You really shouldn't talk like that."
"Why? Why? The two of them just froze there like dolls, isn't it unbearable to watch?"
Marius sighed.
"First of all, you shouldn't call her by her name -"
And then he looked at Clarisse and continued, "Miss Clarisse, I apologize for the rudeness on his behalf. He is my cousin–"
"The third son of Viscount Hansen, Sid Hansen, Clarisse, at your service."
Of the three men in the room, Clarisse thought of Sid as the most similar to the aristocratic men she had previously encountered. Marius was too kind and polite, and the Margrave was …. not much of a talker.
"Third son of Viscount Hansen, it is a pleasure to meet you as well."
Sid waved his hand lightly.
"You can call me Sid, Clarisse. By the way, Jean and I are milk brothers. You really don't have to be so nervous about him."
"Do you want to sit down? Clarisse."
Suddenly, a smooth baritone voice interrupted, and Clarisse shuddered involuntarily. She looked up to see the Margrave looking down at her from a close distance, his brow wrinkled once again.
She felt as if her mind would go blank, and she wouldn't be able to think straight if she stared into those golden eyes, so she replied in a panic, forcing out the words.
"Um, excuse me, but I've been riding in the carriage all day, and I'm covered with dust… I'm worried that I might stain the sofa…"
"What the …, Jean, did you make Clarisse come here before she even had a chance to change her clothes?"
"Shut up, Sid," Marius warned Sid.
Sid then took out a handkerchief from his pocket and laid it on the sofa.
"Now the sofa will be clean, okay?"
'I wonder how it came to this…'
Clarisse sat down on the sofa, unable to refuse after having a handkerchief laid out for her; the Margrave sat next to her as a matter of course. read only at sleepy translations, Marius and Sid sat on the sofa across the table.
"Have you eaten dinner?"
The Margrave suddenly spoke up, and Clarisse hurriedly nodded.
"Yes, I had it before we arrived here."
"That's good then."
The Margrave's expression was still stern, but his voice was unexpectedly gentle. Clarisse concluded that this was probably a standard facial feature of his.
If you were to close your eyes and just listen to his voice, no one would think that the Margrave was wearing this sort of expression…
The Margrave's entire demeanour towards Clarisse since her arrival had been one of concern and care.
"By the way, Clarisse, can you tell me about the 'Farenheit Jewel'?"
When the Margrave asked her that, Clarisse turned pale once again.
I'm aware many readers are getting annoyed by the comments I add between lines, not that I will stop any time soon, as this is the only way to fight against aggregators, trust me I tried it all. However, I'll make effort to add less of them (1 or 2 max) and place them in a way that you won't make the lines hard to read, I'll understand if this discourage you from reading but don't forget that having people repost and claim my translation is disheartening for me too so… its my small revenge so please take it with a grain of salt :)))
"So you collapsed from anemia, right, Miss?"
"…Yes."
"The Margrave had burst into the room with my Lady in his arms at such a speed that I nearly fainted from worry."
"…I'm sorry."
Here's what happened.
Clarisse had wanted to tell the Margrave the truth: "The Jewel of Farenheit is my sister."
Clarisse intended to tell the frontier count that the "Jewel of Farenheit" was her sister. She thought, maybe, after she told him, that his golden eyes would show contempt, anger, and disappointment that she was "not Matilda", as others had done since she was born.
Clarisse had never experienced anything like this before, and she suspected that she had lost consciousness due to a combination of excessive tension after three days of a tight travel schedule.
As Mary was packing up Clarisse's belongings in the room that the butler had arranged for her, without any knocking, the door opened with a bang, and the largest man she had ever seen charged in – she hadn't realized it was the Margrave at the time.
He walked in carrying the unconscious Clarisse, and Mary thought her heart had stopped. However, once the heart stops beating, it usually dies.
After that, the large man kept asking Mary, with a stern expression on his face, if Clarisse was sick or if she had any chronic illnesses. Mary was overwhelmed by his intensity, even though she had done nothing wrong, she had lost the will to live.
"M- My Lady has no chronic illness. She is in perfect health. I believe it's because she's tired, but I'm sure she'll be fine after a little rest."
Even though she had answered all of his questions, the large man stared at Mary suspiciously before he gently laid Clarisse down on the bed.
'Well… I appreciate the way he gently handled the young lady… and the fact that he wasn't intimidated by the dusty young lady and brought her in himself… but my life span has been shortened by ten years… and my heart almost stopped…'
That was about an hour ago.
"Do you want me to take some of that restoring elixir you made, Miss?"
"No, I'm fine."
"Would you like me to ask one of the servants to bring you some hot water for your bath?
"No, thank you, I feel bad bothering them at this time of night."
Clarisse said this, but Mary frowned at her response since the only way to bathe was to have the water boiled in the kitchen or laundry room, have the servants carry it several times to the rooms, and then pour the water into the bathtub to fill it.
"But you're covered in dust, my lady. I must change the sheets before you go to bed."
Of course, Mary was well aware of her lady's reserved nature, so she did not press her further.
"I'll get you some hot water to wipe yourself down with for today. I can only bring you that much myself."
"But you are tired too, Mary…"
"Don't. Worry. About. Me."
When Mary began to talk like this, things usually wouldn't go well until she got her way, so Clarisse sat on the bed and quietly watched her maid leave the room. Then she sighed and decided that she would tell the Margrave about her sister when she sees him tomorrow.
No matter what that attractive man might say to me, I'll be fine, I'll be fine. That's what Clarisse told herself.
This novel was brought to you by sleepy translation
"Oh, you're Clarisse's maid, aren't you?"
Mary went to the kitchen and found a young aristocrat who looked a lot like Marius but was much more laid back than he was.
"Has Clarisse woken up?"
'Who is this?'
She was suspicious, but since he knew Clarisse's name and she was sure he was a nobleman from his appearance, she gave him an appropriate response.
"Yes."
"Haha, you're really wary of me."
He was full of energy even at this time of night. leila was here translating while other were just there to steal it. Mary paid no attention to him and asked a servant to boil plenty of water for her. While she waited for the water to boil, the young man didn't leave but instead kept staring at Mary, which she found very annoying.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
Typically, it would be considered rude for a servant to address a noble without being asked anything. However, if he was staring at her like this, she must do something. She had no choice but to ask him, and then he smiled at her. He had a smile on his face, but his eyes weren't smiling, she thought.
"I wonder if Clarisse has been holding back like that all her life. Is she enduring so much to the point where she collapses?"
'How rude… I hate this guy.'
Although she never showed it on her face, Mary immediately added him to her "disliked" list. Of course, Marius, who had been so polite and kind to Clarisse during the trip, was on the list of people she liked.
"I'm not authorized to answer that question."
He seemed to have already guessed the answer and just shrugged his shoulders.
'Compared to this man, the Margrave seemed to be reasonably decent.'
Mary secretly shuddered as she remembered the time when he had stared at her like he could have killed her with a mere glance.
The next morning, Clarisse awoke to the sound of a knock on the door, followed by Mary's entrance. This room had a wall-mounted clock, and she quickly glanced at it to see that it was past ten o'clock in the morning.
When Clarisse was at her family home, she kept to a regular routine and rarely overslept. But last night, she had gone to bed late and was exhausted, so it couldn't be helped.
"I thought you'd be up by now. The Margrave would like you to join him for lunch."
"All right."
Thank God, even though she had collapsed in front of him yesterday, it seemed that he didn't hate her just yet. Clarisse got up from the bed, and Mary brought a tub of water and towels to her bedside.
"Do you want to do it yourself?"
"Yes."
Clarisse soaked the towel in the cool water, wrung it, and then wiped her face. The cool water was very refreshing.
Mary quickly prepared a simple, pale blue dress for Clarisse.
Clarisse didn't have that many dresses to begin with, and today's dress is one that she has worn for several years. Although her father had bought Matilda a mountain of dresses whenever she asked for them, he had always neglected Clarisse's dresses because she was too shy to ask for them herself this was translated by leila, the more you know.
After she got dressed, Mary brushed her beautiful brown hair and tied it up nicely.
She rarely wore makeup because she didn't like it much. And the few times she did wear makeup, Matilda would give her a look of disgust, saying, "Your look is a joke!" and torment her non-stop, so she only wore makeup at soirées. But even then, it was always just to emphasize Matilda's beauty.
"You're looking stunning today, my lady. Your complexion, which appeared to have been run over by a carriage the night before, has returned to normal, which is a good thing!"
Mary praised me like this every day. Despite her foul-mouthed words, her skills as a maid are top-notch, and she is always kind to Clarisse and gives her words that her family did not give her.
"Thank you, Mary."
Clarisse couldn't live without Mary.
The butler came to meet Clarisse in her room and escorted her to the dining room just in time.
The more she looked, however, the bigger and more magnificent the house appeared to be.
Nevertheless, it seemed to be a good blend of luxury and masculinity, just like the wild image of the man she had exchanged greetings with yesterday.
As she walked towards the dining room, Clarisse was worried that she wouldn't be able to finish her meal if it was too lavish.
However, the butler led her to a private dining room used by the Margrave himself, and she was relieved when he opened the door to reveal that it was not that large, with only a table in the center of the room large enough to hold six chairs.
The Margrave hadn't arrived yet, so Clarisse sat in the chair pulled out by the butler and waited quietly for him to arrive.
It wasn't long before the sound of steady, unwavering footsteps echoed down the hallway, and she soon realized that they were getting closer and closer to this room.
'It must be the Margrave'
Clarisse stood up softly to avoid rushing when the door opened.
The footsteps were indeed the Margrave's.
He opened the door, looked at Clarisse standing there, and furrowed his brows.
"How are you feeling?"
He took Clarisse's right hand in his and kissed the back of it lightly. Clarisse's hand was much smaller in comparison to his large, hot hand.
Latest releases only on Sleepy translations!
As he took her hand, he looked at Clarisse and seemed to be observing her complexion.
'He's so close…!'
She felt her face gradually blushing as the attractive Margrave stared at her from a close distance.
"I'm very sorry for the inconvenience I caused you last night. I'm feeling much better now that I've had a good night's rest."
When Clarisse managed to thank him and looked up at him, he blinked his golden eyes a few times before nodding and letting go of her hand.
"I'm glad to hear it. I'm sorry to have called you last night when you were so tired."
The Margrave then drew Clarisse's chair and assisted her in sitting, after which he walked across the room and sat across from her.
His face was expressionless, but his voice was still gentle.
"No, there's no need for the Margrave to apologize…"
"It's Jean, Clarisse."
She looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"My name is Siegfried. So you can call me Jean. It's not the Margrave."
After that, he fell silent and seemed to be thinking about something, so Clarisse kept silent so as not to disturb him.
After a while, the maids brought them their meal, which consisted of omelets, salad, vegetable soup, and bread, all of which were delicious. The two of them ate together in silence.
When the meal was over, the butler asked if they wanted coffee, which surprised Clarisse because it was an expensive delicacy that was rarely served in her parents' home. Still, the Margrave ordered the butler to bring two servings, so she just went along with it.
The coffee arrived with warmed milk and sugar a few moments later, and Clarisse savored her first café au lait. Meanwhile, the Margrave drank his coffee black.
"Well, Clarisse."
The Margrave spoke quietly as Clarisse finished her café au lait.
"We have a lot to talk about. It's a beautiful day, so why don't we take a walk through the gardens?"
'First of all, Margrave… I must listen to what Lord Jean has to say, and then I must inform him that I am my sister's substitute.'
As he escorted Clarisse, they walked through the garden with her hand around his elbow.
The mansion, let alone the garden, looked amazing from the outside. There appeared to be many plants in this large and magnificent garden that she had never seen before.
She wished she could look at each plant more closely, but she simply couldn't do it now! She wasn't ready for that.
The Margrave, who had been silent the entire journey from the mansion, opened his mouth as they entered a small path leading to the garden's centre.
"First and foremost, I want to apologize for not being able to pick you up at the capital. As I told the king, even though a peace treaty has been signed with the neighboring country, there is still tension near the border. I can't leave my own territory during this period of instability."
The Margrave always had a stern expression on his face. However, the content of his speech was still considerate and kind to Clarisse.
'He apologized… even though he didn't have to…'
"Yes, I understand, Lord Jean."
Jean glanced at her as she called his name.
"And, with the king's blessing, we're ready to marry right away, but I'd like to postpone our engagement party until relations with our neighbors are more stable. Oh, and regarding the wedding, do you have any desires, wishes, or plans that I should be aware of? stolen from sleepy tl."
She assumed Jean didn't want to do the wedding ceremony, so she was taken aback when he asked her that, but she quickly shook her head in a small gesture.
"I don't…I don't need…a ceremony."
Either way, she was a replacement for her sister. If they held a big wedding in the royal capital, Jean would be humiliated for being trapped with her.
After all, as soon as Clarisse tells him that she is her sister's substitute, he may break off the engagement and send her back to her parents' house.
"Is that so?"
His tone sounded a little surprised.
'But what does that mean? He was going to hold a ceremony for me if I wanted one?'
Suddenly, Clarisse's eyes caught sight of a large, tube-like object standing perfectly next to the mansion.
It seemed too unconventional and inorganic for the elegant mansion. Jean, who had followed her gaze, explained.
"That's a tube that leads to the sewer."
"…What exactly is a sewer?"
"Every floor has a bathroom. In short, it's a system in which all unclean things flow down through that tube into the sewer. The sewer is a way to flush out the filth."
Yes, this mansion had toilets!
Of course, the bathroom didn't have a flushing system, but rather its own tub of water to wash in, but it was still a rare thing. Most of the noble families in the capital usually used something like an Omaru* to do their business. (TL note: potty, the kid's toilet practice chair :))
After doing their business, the Farenheit's family servants would flush the garbage into the gutters and rivers where the river's water flowed. Honestly, it wasn't a very sanitary method of disposal.
Come to think of it, Clarisse suddenly realized that this house, unlike any other in the royal capital, had no odor..
"I was thinking about it when I heard that many children get sick, and it occurred to me that it could be because of the filth around us or what we flush down the river. So I built a sewer system and poured it somewhere other than the river. Then, little by little, year by year, the number of sick children has decreased. So, in my territory, we are working hard to build sewers and bathrooms as close to each household as possible."
He seemed more talkative and lively when he talked about the sewerage system he was working on for the people of his domain than any other topic. Clarisse was struck by this. So far, she could tell that he was proud of his efforts to govern his remote land.
"But the only downside is that the sewers smell, making it really difficult to use the restroom, especially in the summer. That's why I'm encouraging the estate's researchers to come up with a better system of restrooms and sewers."
'I see, for smell-…' Clarisse thought about it.
"Sansevieria."
Jean was intrigued by Clarisse's mumbled words.
"What is it?"
"Ah…"
'I said it out loud…..'
"It's nothing-…"
"You can't say it's nothing now. You should finish what you were going to say."
His golden eyes captured her violet irises.
Clarisse had no choice but to give up when he said that.
"There's a plant called Sansevieria that comes from the south and has a deodorizing effect. It's relatively easy to get to the capital, so it's not that expensive. If you can get it here, I think it'd be helpful if you plant it around the sewers."
"Hmm…"
"Also, since herbs are less expensive and easy to find, we can make a simple spray with peppermint or lavender, both of which have antibacterial properties…this was typed by leila… If we leave it in the bathroom and everyone can use it as they please, it will keep the bathroom relatively clean, and the odor may lessen a bit."
"I see."
After she had said that much, Clarisse came back to herself.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that!"
Jean looked down at her with a puzzled look.
"Why? I'll have to run some trials to see if it's feasible, but I'll take it under consideration. I'm surprised; you know a lot about plants."
Clarisse felt a great warmth deep in her chest.
It wasn't because of his handsome looks or the fact that he owned such a large mansion, but because he recognized Clarisse as she was, without looking at her through spectacles.
'I'm sure that Jean-sama is a noble person.'
That's why she had a strong urge to say something.
"Um, Jean-sama…"
"What?"
"I am not the 'Jewel of Farenheit'… the 'Jewel of Farenheit' is my sister."
Jean stopped, and Clarisse followed. He looked down at her, but his beautiful golden eyes did not appear to be filled with the disappointment and rage that Clarisse had expected to see.
Instead, what was floating in the air was — what was it? His eyes flashed with an emotion Clarisse didn't recognise and then vanished.
"I see."
They returned to the mansion in silence, and he escorted Clarisse to her room without telling her whether she could stay or return to her parents' house.
Later that day, Sid visited Jean in his office and couldn't believe his ears.
"What? You were talking about sewers and toilets?"
"Yeah."
"You're lying! It's the morning after you meet your fiancé for the first time, and that's what you talk about!"
"Why, it's important. Besides, Clarisse also provided me with some useful information. She has an excellent point of view."
Sid had known him long enough to know that Jean was seriously complimenting her.
"You know, if she were a normal young lady, she'd faint at the mention of sewers."
"Why would she faint?"
Based on the number of years they had known each other, Sid knew that Jean was serious!
"Most young ladies, you know, don't openly discuss that kind of vulgar talk. Never mind from a man to a woman! Clarisse is well-mannered, so she went along with it!"
"That's ridiculous. Every day, we use the restroom. It's something only the capital's nobles do."
"You do realise Clarisse grew up in the Royal Capital, don't you?"
"…"
"The engagement period is a time to deepen your love for each other, so talk about each other, get to know each other, and whisper things like (I like you)!"
Jean sighed, ignoring half of Sid's passionate speech.
"You're really cool when leading the knights and very talkative when it comes to politics and territories, but when it comes to women… you're just … hopeless."
"…"
"Clarisse seems to have lived her life holding back a lot in the first place, so I think she'll hold back a lot here as well if you don't lead her gently."
Jean glanced at the letter from Viscount Farenheit on the table. He then raised his eyes to Sid and changed his tone.
"In the meantime, Sid, let's talk about one of my favourite topics: politics. Go call Marius."
…
"Are you alright? You appeared to have been hit by a carriage this morning, but you now appear as pale as if you had been kicked by a horse. The lines were decrypted by layla, You know how if you get kicked by a horse and get hit in the wrong spot, you'll die? Do you understand? In short, you are about to die."
"…Yeah."
Mary's casual tone was soothing, as it always was.
"Do you want to lie down? Or do you want me to give you a massage, My Lady?"
"It's okay, Mary. Please excuse me, but could you please get me some cold water?"
Clarisse sat on the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling, as Mary quickly exited the room.
Was Jean disappointed to learn that Clarisse was not the Jewel of Farenheit?
From his reaction, it seemed that he wasn't disappointed, so Clarisse wondered if he might have known it from the beginning.
He didn't say anything else after that, and she was afraid to elicit a reaction from him, so she remained silent. Jean, on the other hand, escorted her to her room and did not ask her to return to her parents' house.
'He didn't tell me to go back home, but he also didn't tell me to stay here either.'
I guess he's still thinking about it.
She wondered how long Jean had been in Royal Capital in the first place. Did he really not know that Matilda was the Jewel of Farenheit ? Suppose he had known from the beginning that the Jewel of Farenheit was her sister. Why didn't he refuse when her father wrote to him saying that he would send Clarisse as his fiancée?
Clarisse knew almost nothing about him because it was not a marriage born from love, as is often the case with noble marriages.
She was also surprised to find herself wanting to know more about that charming man who always had a stern expression on his face but cared about her through his words and actions.
'I want to know more about Jean-sama.'
If he'll let me, she softly added in her heart. It only took Jean a few hours to discover Clarisse's interest in plants, which even her family was unaware of. That alone made Clarisse feel special.
Mary went to the kitchen to return the cup, relieved to see Clarisse's colour returning to normal.
"Oh, Clarisse's maid."
'What the… I met that nasty guy… does he wander around every day? This guy.'
That nobleman's son, whom she took the liberty of naming as a degraded version of Marius, walked towards her from the other side of the corridor, waving his hand in the air.
He didn't leave as she bent her back to greet him, so she had no choice but to resume her original posture.
"Did Clarisse say anything about her conversation with the Margrave today?"
She immediately felt calm since it was about her mistress.
"The lady said nothing in particular…'
"I see. But she didn't seem unwell or anything like that?"
Mary hesitated. Suppose the nobleman in front of her was Marius. In that case, she might have been a little more trusting of him and spoken more freely. However, she was hesitant to reveal information about her mistress when she didn't even know the man in front of her that well.
"Oh, so you can't tell me? Of course not; you don't know me."
He nodded and began to walk forwards before turning around and saying, "Follow me for a minute."
Mary had no choice but to follow him as he walked further and further down the second-floor corridor until he came to a very secluded spot and stopped.
"You've got some nerve, you know that? Aren't you afraid? Following me here in a deserted place?"
Mary stared at the young man in front of her.
"I'm not afraid."
"Why not? I won't be offended; just tell me."
'Oh, how annoying. I want to expose my true colours and make this man despise me as much as possible..'
"You may act like a bad person, but I don't think you're that bad-…."
He was surprised and stared at Mary with a serious gaze, and she continued.
"A bad person wouldn't ask something like (Aren't you afraid), and…"
"And?"
Unlike before, he asked Mary as if he were genuinely interested.
"I'm confident that I won't lose facing most men."
That's right. Mary had learned self-defense from fellow servants of the Viscount Farenheit family, and she was confident that she could match or even exceed the strength of a slender nobleman's son.
Of course, she is no match for the men within the servants. Still, even so, she is confident enough to take advantage of a momentary opening if he is not careful, mistaking the opponent for a weak woman.
Her abilities were one of the reasons she was chosen to be Clarisse's servant this time.
"Really?"
By staring at Mary rudely, he made her feel uneasy.
"Would you mind telling me where we're going? I have to get back to my Lady right away."
Then he turned around and opened the massive door in front of him.
"Isn't it obvious? Jean's place."