It was typical for women like herself to be practically sold to lowranking nobles in rural territories who harbored strong thoughts against marrying commoners.
Aelfrie knew from others’ stories what became of the women who hid their presence in social circles in such a way.
Most of them went down to the countryside where sending even a single letter was difficult and continued to live through constant pregnancy and childbirth.
Honestly, even enduring that was better.
Very occasionally, women who had been sold into marriage like that would appear in the capital, their bodies bruised and broken.
They would go to their family’s home and beg for a divorce, saying they would die if things continued as they were.
To divorce in Denerthum, one had to go through several complicated procedures. But more important than the procedures was one thing.
It was having to return the gratitude money that the man’s side had sent at the time of marriage.
Women who were married off like that were considered a disgrace by their families from the start. If not, they were sold for money. So there was no chance of returning the money or granting the divorce.
‘So most of them went back to their husbands…….’
What happened to them after that was unknown. Whether they lived or died. Since Aelfrie heard that Ellie’s parents had lowered her gratitude money to 1,000 guilders, she had been constantly tormented by anxiety.
She felt that she would face a similar future.
‘But fortunately, there has not been a single marriage proposal yet.’
Her reputation must have been even lower than her parents’ expectations.
But she couldn’t keep feeling relieved. At the end of summer, the royal family hosts a summer ball.
It was the largest ball in Denerthum, and all those listed in the noble registry were invited.
Even distant nobles would come to the capital. Naturally, many matchmaking would take place during that time.
Some even called it Denerthum’s greatest bridal market. From expensive brides to very cheap ones, it was a place with great variety.
“Haah…….”
A sigh flowed out as if it was now a habit. Would she be sold somewhere after the summer ball?
Having changed her clothes, Aelfrie looked under the bed. The books she had borrowed from the library were neatly placed on a cloth there.
“I need to return them soon.”
A marriage proposal could come in at any time.
It wouldn’t come easily, but if her parents lowered her gratitude money further to get rid of her before Ellie’s wedding, someone might make a proposal.
She had already read nine out of the ten books she had borrowed. Since she couldn’t sleep, all she could do was read.
But the last book was the problem.
“It was difficult, but I didn’t think there would be so many words I couldn’t understand.”
The book was more difficult than Aelfrie had thought. More precisely, the problem was not that the content was difficult, but that she didn’t know the meaning of the terms that were continually mentioned in the book.
“They all seem to be newly announced economic laws in the empire, so there were no related books in the library.”
Someone could explain it just once, and she would quickly understand and be able to read it, but the explanation seemed likely only available in an academy lecture. Of course, Aelfrie couldn’t hear it.
It was when Aelfrie was coming down the stairs to go back to the kitchen.
“You bought this crap to send to His Majesty!”
Elize’s sharp voice was heard.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
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