“Mer, what do you mean?”

“I will become a six-month terminally ill duchess as you wish, Mom. In exchange, if I don’t conceive a child within six months and leave the duke’s family, then I will become independent. Once I become an adult, even a noble lady can become independent under imperial law. So don’t interfere with where I go.”

“W-What? Are you saying you’re going to cut ties with me?”

“You have my sister anyway, Mom. And wouldn’t it be problematic for my sister’s marriage if a widowed daughter remains in the baron’s family?”

Mercian briefly held hope as she watched Penelope’s surprised expression at her words.

Hoping that even if it was just empty words, she would say that you are my daughter, so come back to the baron’s family anyway…

Penelope fell silent for a moment at Mercian’s words.

Penelope hadn’t told Mercian, but in fact, the contract terms set by the duke’s family were to find a six-month terminally ill duchess, with a dowry of 250 gold coins and 100 gold coins paid monthly to the duchess for six months, and if no child was born until the duke’s death, 250 gold coins would be paid as compensation.

Penelope had requested to change the contract terms to receive 500 gold coins in advance as a dowry and to send the monthly 100 gold coins to the baron’s family instead of Mercian.

She didn’t expect the duke’s family to accept her conditions, but anyway, if there was no more money to return to Mercian, as Mercian said, her presence as a widow could block Lucienne’s future, so there was no reason to keep her.

After finishing her thoughts, Penelope slowly nodded and replied.

“Well, come to think of it, that makes sense. Noble families might use that as an excuse, so as you said, it wouldn’t be bad for you to live as you want since you’ve become an adult. Do as you please.”

I knew it. What did I expect from Mom?

I really am not a child to Mom until the end…

Mercian was hurt once again by the hope she had, but she smiled as if nothing was wrong and said,

“Then you promise?”

“Yes, alright. Now we can proceed with the marriage.”

“…What? What do you mean proceed with the marriage? Weren’t you going to submit the marriage proposal?”

“Oh? Didn’t I tell you? I’ve already submitted the marriage proposal. And thankfully, the duke’s family accepted it. The aide will probably come tomorrow, so don’t eat too much today and tomorrow. It would be troublesome if the aide sees your appearance and postpones the marriage, wouldn’t it?”

Mercian watched Penelope leave the garden with a bright smile, feeling for the first time what it meant to lose one’s appetite.

The next day.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, My Lady. I am Cassel, the aide to Duke Ruan Canoloup. The Duke himself should have come today, but due to his poor health, I have come in his place. I sincerely apologize.”

“Oh my. It can’t be helped. Hohoho. Everyone in the empire knows about the Duke’s poor health. You came to discuss the marriage today, but why did you send all of this?”

Penelope greeted Cassel, unable to hide her rising joy as she looked at the dress and jewels he had brought.

Ah, I really am being sold for money.

Mercian felt conflicted and on the verge of tears as she watched Penelope happily examining the items brought.

Surely if Father were alive, he wouldn’t have arranged such an absurd marriage…

Even if Mercian ended up living alone for life as her mother said.

“My Lady. Are you upset because I came instead of the Duke?”

Cassel asked Mercian, who had been sitting with a somewhat displeased expression since he introduced himself as the aide.

“No. It’s just that the gifts are excessive.”

“I heard that ladies have many things to prepare for marriage. If it’s not enough, I can send more.”

“No. This is more than enough.”

It’s not like it has anything to do with me anyway.

Cassel quietly observed Mercian, who wore an indifferent expression as if she had no interest in the many gifts he had brought.

.

.

.

When rumors spread that Ruan, given six months to live, was seeking a six-month terminally ill bride to continue his lineage, marriage proposals from countless noble families’ ladies poured in.

Unlike Cassel, who was choosing a lady from a family befitting the duke’s reputation, Ruan chose the Beanoman baronial family, a family of low power.

After Baron Charles Beanoman died in an accident a few years ago, the family’s fortunes declined, and now they were a family that existed in name only as nobles, no different from commoners. Cassel asked Ruan with an incomprehensible expression:

“Are you really going to propose to this family? How about the first daughter then?”

“Isn’t the marriage proposal for the second daughter?”

“Of course, the lady mentioned in the proposal is the second daughter, but from what I’ve gathered, the first daughter is superior to the second daughter in every aspect.”

Hearing Cassel’s words, Ruan picked up the marriage proposal and smirked as he said,

“Cassel, think about it. There are two daughters from a fallen family. If it were you, which one would you give away? Would you give away the lovely and beautiful daughter you cherish, or the slightly lacking daughter?”

“Of course, the slightly lacking daughter. But still!”

“Enough. It’s only for six months anyway, why bother? Just go with this lady.”

Who was it that looked at all these marriage proposals and said this family won’t do for this reason, and that family won’t do for that reason?

As Cassel looked at him with an aggrieved expression, Ruan said with an annoyed look,

“Submit the marriage proposal to the baron’s family tomorrow and proceed with the wedding as soon as possible. There’s no need to delay a marriage that’s going to happen anyway. And prepare for my funeral in six months as well.”

“Yes, I understand.”

At Cassel’s words, Ruan stood up with a tired expression.

.

.

.

“Oh my? Mother, what is all this?”

As Cassel, who had been lost in thought, looked up, a lady as beautiful as a goddess was slowly descending from the second floor.

So this must be that rumored lady.

They say she’s the most beautiful lady in the empire, and it seems the rumors weren’t exaggerated.

But if the older sister looks like that, the second daughter must have been quite compared…

Cassel glanced at Lucienne and Mercian.

They both had brown hair, but they looked so different.

Mercian had a slightly chubby figure overall with a somewhat girlish, cute style, while Lucienne had a slender figure and was clearly a great beauty with a mature woman’s image, sufficient to draw people’s attention.

Moreover, the elegance that emanated from her body with every step made him feel the urge to go up the stairs and take her hand to escort her down.

“Lucy, come here. Today, the duke’s family sent so many gifts for Mer. Look at this. This necklace would look really good on you. And this dress…”

Cassel stared in bewilderment at Penelope and Lucienne, who were rummaging through the items prepared for Mercian as if they were Lucienne’s, and at Mercian, who didn’t even glance at the items he had brought, as if used to their behavior.

What’s this? These are clearly for the second daughter, so why are they looking at them as if they’re their own?

I heard rumors that the baroness was particularly fond of her first daughter before coming, but to this extent?

Anyone watching would think the second daughter was an illegitimate child.

.

.

.

“It’s a six-month terminally ill marriage, right?”

Cassel smiled and answered as Mercian looked at the contract and asked,

“That’s right, My Lady. Of course, if a child is conceived during that time, you will remain as the duchess in the duke’s family to raise the child until they come of age and inherit the duke’s title. The child’s gender doesn’t matter, of course. If no child is conceived, you can leave the duke’s family after six months as per the contract.”

So if I don’t conceive a child, I’ll be free in six months?

Mercian felt an inexplicable excitement as she looked at the contract.

“Alright. Let’s do that. When is the wedding?”

Cassel replied with a slightly apologetic expression to Mercian’s question.

“The Duke wishes to proceed as soon as possible. As you know, he doesn’t have much time left. But if you wish, we can proceed more leisurely.”

Why bother, whether we marry tomorrow or a month later, everything ends after six months anyway.

“No, let’s have the wedding as soon as possible, as the Duke wishes. And.”

“And?”

Mercian said, looking at Penelope and Lucienne, who seemed completely uninterested in her conversation with Cassel and were busy examining the items brought:

“If no child is conceived within six months and the Duke passes away, I will definitely leave the duke’s family at that time.”

“Pardon?”

Did I hear that wrong?

In fact, Cassel had been worried that Mercian might insist on remaining as the duchess even if no child was conceived, since it was a legal marriage officially held, despite being a terminally ill marriage.

He had expected that she would plan to help her family’s livelihood by receiving the dowry and compensation in advance, and then live as a duchess herself…

She’s just going to leave the duke’s family?

Is she planning to increase the baron family’s wealth with the dowry and compensation received in advance during the marriage, and then return to live in the baron’s family?

But Penelope and Lucienne didn’t seem particularly interested in Mercian in Cassel’s eyes, making it difficult to think that way.

“My Lady, since the original contract is for a six-month terminally ill duchess, it seems unnecessary to specify it explicitly.”

“No. Please specify it without fail. I might say something different later, you know?”

Something different…

Cassel was certain that Mercian would not say anything different as he looked at her expressionless face.

If anything, it would be Penelope, who was distracted by the items he had brought and showed no interest in Mercian.

“If that’s what you wish, My Lady, we’ll specify it in the contract.”

“Thank you. Is that all then?”

“Ah. Yes. But My Lady, why haven’t you asked about the dowry or compensation?”

“Oh, I heard about the dowry from my mother. And I don’t think I’m in a position to receive compensation. The dowry is enough.”

Does she not know that she received both the compensation and the dowry combined?

As Cassel was about to say something with a puzzled expression, Penelope approached with a smile and said,

“I’ve explained everything about the dowry sufficiently, so there’s no need for a separate explanation. Please make sure to convey our thanks to the Duke for the gifts.”

“Ah. Yes, Baroness. Then we’ll proceed with the marriage between the Duke and the second daughter. We’ll contact you later about the dress fitting and other matters.”

After Cassel left, Penelope smiled and said to Mercian,

“Mer, look at this. Don’t you think it was a good decision to marry the Duke, giving so many wedding gifts?”

“Mom, don’t forget. If I don’t conceive a child after six months…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t hold you back. Anyone watching would think something terrible would happen to this baron’s family without you.”

“Mother, stop it. Has this child been like this for just a day or two? It’s fortunate that you know your place well. And don’t feel too wronged that I’m taking all of this. Not only does it not suit you in the first place, but thanks to these, if I marry into a good family, I might be able to give you some travel money when you leave for the countryside later.”

Mercian felt a surge of anger at Lucienne’s words, who spoke as if everything there belonged to her while trying on the jewels and dresses, but she held back and said,

“Lucy, thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass. I don’t want anything, so don’t worry about that.”

“Really, Mer, is that how you take it when your sister is saying this out of concern for you? How do you plan to live in the countryside with nothing?”

With nothing?

After receiving so many things, are you saying there’s not a single penny for me when I go to the countryside in six months?

“What are you doing? Hurry up and move these to Lucy’s room!”

At Penelope’s urging, Mercian, feeling that she might cry if she stayed there any longer, hurriedly entered her room without saying anything.