Married On Behalf Of Debt

Reincarnated.

Usually, don’t you bite a gold spoon when you reincarnate?

As if making fun of me with such expectations, I reincarnated with a dirt spoon.

A family whose name is nothing but dust.

That was the family I was born into. I know this is now the reality I have to face, but it’s still depressing nonetheless.

‘I’m sad just to be reincarnated with a dirt spoon, and I have to marry for debt instead.’

I sighed once again, with the situation being roughly the way it is.

My mother, who was weak from the beginning, has been sick after giving birth to me. So, my father, who passionately loved my mother, took on debts to treated mother’s illness, and fortunately, my mother was cured. However, a considerable debt remains.

It was money borrowed from the Royal Family and the nobility of our family as collateral, so now, our family was in danger of being stripped of our titles if the debt could not be paid off.

…And as the last resort of paying off debts, I was brought up.

“If you can’t pay off the debt, there’s another way.”

“The other way? What way?”

“The Duke of Hessenweitz has a successor. I’m sending your daughter to be the successor’s spouse.”

And so, the messenger sent from the Imperial Family declared that, and my father’s face turned pale.

“If you agree so, I will forgive all the debt you owe to the Royal Family. This is the message from His Majesty the Emperor.”

While sitting on the sofa by my dad’s favorite fireplace, a smile appeared on the messenger’s face. It’s as if doing us a great favor.

I bite my lips hard.

‘No way, the Duke of Hessenweitz… are you referring to that family with terrifying rumors?’

Frost Demon, Blue Blooded Silver Dragon, the Emperor’s most dangerous friend. The countless names entwined to the duke.

Isn’t this insane that I’m being put in a marriage with such a family?

“As it was originally, the Royal Princess was supposed to be his wife, but the princess is weak.”

With that said, I thought of the princess who had little presence. I know she’s the same age as me. Perhaps her name was presumably, Annerose Lipenberg.

She is the only sister of the present Crown Prince, but unfortunately, she was an illegitimate child born from a commoner maid. Hence, it seemed as though I’m being caught in a mess for the princess.

“It is a marriage with a duke’s family. Aren’t you supposed to be happy for the Lady?”

“But, messenger, our Ellie…she’s my one and only blood.”

Dad’s face was now blue without any blood. With an almost crying expression, Dad bows his head like a slave.

‘Dad.’ I swallowed my breath. Why does Dad have to do this much?

“If you don’t like that, why don’t you pay the debt right away?”

“Bu-But!”

“You aren’t going to repay the debt, and you don’t want to let your daughter go?”

The messenger tilted his head and stared at father. His plump lips smiled arrogantly.

“Blanchett, do you really want to incur His Majesty’s wrath?”

“Messenger, I never have that kind of thought! However, if you give me a little more time…”

“Of course, I’d like to give you time, but what if His Majesty’s decision is so firmly determined?”

He shook his head with excitement. The moment I saw that, I squeezed my fist tight. It is already spilled water. Of course, I hate the thought of getting married, but I hate seeing my dad bow his head like this even more.

‘In addition, no matter how much my father begs the messenger… It’s not even possible to refuse marriage, right?’

I licked my dry lips. My dad’s desire to protect his child was a painful sight. So far, my dad has done his best to take responsibility and do everything he could to protect me and mother. Then I, too… I will protect my family.

“I’ll do it.”

I said, taking a step forward. The messenger opened his eyes wide, and my father, who didn’t know what to do, just held my wrist. Trying to stop me, he said earnestly.

“What is this…!”

“I agree to this marriage.”

I slowly lifted my hand and grabbed my father’s cold fingertips. Then, I raised my head upright and spoke.

“So, father, don’t bend your head like that anymore.”

The messenger raised one eyebrow high in the sky. Why, what? From the moment he said I was to be married instead, didn’t I hold the hilt? However, he can’t do anything about it, right? Since you can’t marry the princess to him!

I shamelessly faced the messenger. My demeanor was pretty arrogant, causing his face to turn bright red.

I stood firmly, with my usual image, ‘the gentle and elegant self-made lady.’

“Well, I understand that the princess doesn’t want to marry, but… Doesn’t that mean I have to marry him on her behalf?”

No matter how much of a class-based society this is, I wonder if only the princess is precious here and I’m not! I squeezed my seething feelings.

“Hm, hmm. I’ll bear with it this time.”

Finally, the messenger seemed to come to a conclusion that arguing with me was not very wise. Well, that should be because if I refuse to marry here, the Imperial Princess will have to marry the Duke of Hessenweitz.

“Then, sign this paperwork.”

He placed a pen and a sheet of paper in front of me. I picked the pen up and looked at the document carefully.

It was a document related to the marriage to the Duke’s Heir. There are rumors that the Imperial Family cannot let go of the Duke of Hessenweitz, which seems to be true. As you look at the information on the document form of the emperor’s order, it seems that the emperor wants to somehow create a connection with the duke.

However, they couldn’t send the princess to the rumored duke, so they chose our family, who was indebted to them. We were legally guaranteed to pay the money back in five years, though we’re suddenly pressured to pay it right away instead. Do they have a conscience?

‘And the reason why they choose our family, I can clearly see their motive.’

The reason why we have been chosen must be because we are a powerless, self-made family that cannot properly plead. Their thoughts can be seen so thoroughly.

The real intention was to attach someone from the Imperial Family to Duke of Hessenweitz, but it would be a little difficult to marry the princess who inherited some Imperial Family’s blood.

I raised my eyes narrowly. ‘No matter if she was born from a maid, they can’t just send her to an Heir Apparent who has a terrifying rumor.’’

From what I have heard, I also knew about the rumors about the Heir Apparent. People said he would use his monstrous power to command ice and snow. In addition, about how creepy he is and how he resembles a white demon.

‘I am the same age as him. Our family also has a huge amount of debts so they can use that against us. ’

The Royal Family must have been searching for a suitable noble for quite some time, but to know that we are being pushed to it like this?

‘Because signing right away could be stupid…’

With the thought about signature aside, I glanced at the messenger again. The glace does not contain any politeness, he flinched slightly.

“I’m sure you also prepare the documents that His Majesty will forgive all our debts?”

“I got what you’ve asked for.”

Perhaps he hated how I dared to stare straight towards him, he glanced at me and clicked his tongue. Nonetheless, my words weren’t over. I smiled softly with my eyes so it would look like I was as relaxed as possible.

“And that document, it must be a document that received His Majesty’s seal, right?”

The angry messenger digs into the thick fleshy lips. He glared at me with his eyes fluttering, though I just shrugged my shoulders.

What are you going to do with all that glaring? Are you going to cancel the marriage?

“This, boldness…!”

“It seemed that I got married as a substitute instead of the princess, so it’s natural to do this much.”

I bluntly placed the pen down to make a snapping sound. Then, I turned my face and smiled at the messenger, who had a red-green face by this point, looking as if he would collapse if he wouldn’t take the blood pressure pills right away. Although, of course, I wouldn’t know his health status.

Next, I put the papers in my hands onto the table, pushed them away, and folded my arms.

“I’ll sign it after it’s notarized.”

“What?!”

“Oh, deputy. Please stop carelessly talking to me anymore.”

Why does he keep talking down to me?’ I decided to swing the hilt to my heart’s content. Power is the best!

“Now, if I sign this document, I will be in a marriage relationship with ‘Duke Hessenweitz,’ right?”

The messenger couldn’t even answer and glared with his eyes. Seeing so, I lifted the corners of my mouth and concluded.

“To me, who will become the ‘Duchess of Hessenweitz’ in the future, should you really treat me this way?”

To be honest, it is quite bothersome. Although if I were to become the duchess through this vicarious marriage, he would have no choice but to honor me because of a relationship with Hessenweitz.

That said, not only will His Majesty prevent the princess from marrying the notorious duke, he will also be able to find a lady who will marry him on behalf of her.

“Then, I’ll wait until you bring the ‘notarized documents’ stamped directly by His Majesty.”

“What is this…!”

“Well then, goodbye, deputy.”

I, who gave the congratulatory order, gently smirked while observing the changing expression of the messenger.

Why, you never expected me to be like this? Like an amateur, the messenger’s face was distorted.

“My God, you rude bastard!” He stood up and stormed away.

Bang! The door closed and shattered, but even that sound sounded like sweet music. Oh, this felt so good. It’s like ten-year-old congestion seems to settle down!

“Ien, why the hell did you do that!”

After the messenger left, father looked at me with a white face. I shrugged my shoulder and grinned.

“It can’t be helped.”

“But!”

“Father. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”

He looked at me with moist eyes and sighed for a long time.

It is delightful to get a shot at the deputy, but now, the main issue is I really have to go to Duke’s house. No matter how old my mental age is… I didn’t expect to be seeing my husband at the age of thirteen.

Damn, it’s another mountain over the mountain.

1 — I wasn’t expecting a meeting like this.

In the northern part of the Lippenberg Empire is the vast Hessenweitz Duchy. Hessenweitz, the only duke of the Empire who once had a royal title, the monarch of the north.

The ancestors of the Duke were the silver dragons of winter and the royal family, who looked down at the duchy, calling them the lineage of the Frost Devil. They wanted to marry such a family.

‘I’m really married to the Duke of Hessenweitz.’

I was in a strange mood, a little anticipation, curiosity, and fear are intertwining. My heart is pounding.

I opened the curtains and looked out through the window. After riding for a week in the carriage, the only thing I saw in the snow was the blue winter day and white snow. After passing through an endlessly unfolding estate, a splendid city appeared.

The city seems busy with countless people living in it.

I was first surprised to see the enormous size duchy, and secondly, I was surprised to see the duke castle, which could not even be compared to the Imperial Palace.

‘It seems true that this is the only territory in the Empire that can be independent from the Empire.’

The carriage stopped smoothly in front of the Duke’s castle. As I stepped out, I shook my shoulder lightly.

A much cooler air than the southern islands of Lippenberg fills my lungs.

“Welcome, Lady Blanchett.”

The maids waiting politely bowed and greeted me. At that moment, I felt something strange.

‘Hey, why is she still calling me Lady Blanchett?’

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