The Marquis' Daughter, a Research Enthusiast, Fails to Notice Her Junior's Devoted Feelings After Her Engagement is Broken. - Chapter 2.1

When I awoke in the morning, my lady-in-waiting informed me that Lord Emil was scheduled to visit our home today.

It must be about the marriage proposal he mentioned the other day. He certainly moves quickly.

As I made my way to the drawing room, I found my father and Lord Emil already seated, engaged in discussion.

“Frederica, you’ve arrived. Come, have a seat.”

At my father’s urging, I curtsied and took my seat.

Lord Emil, sitting across from me, seemed slightly flushed, though I wasn’t sure if I was imagining it.

“I have long been aware of this young Fitzgerald heir’s intentions. He has expressed his desire to marry you ever since he learned of your broken engagement with His Highness.”

“What…? Since when?”

I had always regarded Lord Emil as nothing more than a junior colleague in the research laboratory. This revelation came as a complete surprise.

Just how long ago had he approached my father about this?

“Hm. You could call it a waiting list of sorts. But no matter. Let’s get to the main point.”

Father picked up the documents resting on the table and handed them to me, silently urging me to read them.

Flipping through the pages, I found details about the Fitzgerald family’s business ventures, Lord Emil’s personal background, and more.

“These are the presentation materials Lord Emil submitted earlier. He used them to explain exactly why marrying him would be advantageous.”

Father chuckled. “Quite the amusing young man, wouldn’t you agree? Well, given that you worked alongside him in the laboratory, perhaps you already knew of his resourcefulness.”

I see… So he deliberately catered to Father’s preference for rational decision-making. Come to think of it, Lord Emil was always skilled at summarizing research findings concisely.

Documents like these certainly made things easier to understand.

As I continued reading, I reached the final page, which listed the various magical engineering research institutes in the Grand Duchy of Wiherrt—Lord Emil’s homeland.

“!!!! W-Wait, Father! This research institute list at the end—what is the meaning of this?!”

“Hahaha… It seems my daughter has taken the bait, just as Lord Emil intended. Well done, young man.”

“This was the only way I could appeal to her, after all.”

Lord Emil smiled warmly and turned his gaze toward me.

“Lady Frederica, if you agree to marry me, you will, of course, be free to continue your research in magical engineering. I will help you enter any research institute of your choosing in my homeland. If you wish, I could even establish one for you…”

“Let’s marry! Immediately! As soon as possible—tomorrow, if we can!”

I agreed without hesitation.

Oh, what a miracle!

When I was engaged to His Highness, I had been resigned to the notion that marriage would mean the end of my research. I had accepted it as an inescapable reality.

But now—marriage and research could coexist!

Could there be anything more wonderful? No, there could not.

Was Lord Emil an angel? A god?

Thank you… Hallelujah!

In my mind, celestial beings descended and began dancing wildly in a grand ballroom of light—until my father’s voice abruptly pulled me back to reality.

“However, there is a condition.”

“A condition…?”

I skimmed through the documents again. “But from what I see here, a union with the Fitzgerald family would also be beneficial to the House of Lorentz, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes… it would. However, I have learned my lesson from your engagement to the First Prince, Frederica.”

“My engagement…?”

“I once believed that marrying into the royal family would serve both the household and you well. I thought that if you could attain the highest status a woman could achieve, you would find happiness.”

“Father…”

“But you care nothing for such things, do you? Your late mother, Eleanor, once asked me to ensure your happiness…”

Father averted his gaze slightly before grasping my hand firmly.

“I have already explained this to Lord Emil. Your engagement to him will be provisional.”

“Provisional…?”

“Yes. I will only permit the marriage if, within six months, you develop genuine romantic feelings for Lord Emil.”

“R-Romantic feelings…?!”

“If you fail to do so within that time, the engagement will be annulled.”

“W-Wait… But as long as I can continue my research, I will be happy…”

This was a problem.

Having spent my entire life avoiding romance due to my previous engagement, I had no idea how to develop romantic feelings for someone.

“Frederica… By arranging a marriage to the royal family, I may have deprived you of the opportunity to experience love as an individual. This time, I want you to choose for yourself, to be certain in your heart.”

“I will do my best to earn your favor, Lady Frederica.”

“…I understand. I shall do my utmost. I will try my very best.”

I wanted to marry and devote myself entirely to research!

And so, driven by my insatiable thirst for knowledge, I embarked on a new journey—one of learning the intricacies of love alongside Lord Emil.