The Reincarnated Noble Lady is the Infamous Viscount's Heir - I've Accepted a Contract Marriage for Estate Management. - Chapter 1.16

In this country, noble marriages begin with discussions between the heads of the families. They first agree on the match and align on dates and conditions for the ceremony. Only afterward do the prospective bride and groom meet to discuss matters personally.

In my case, as the head of the Viscount Wilcox family, and with Earl Rockwell as the head of his family, we bypassed the usual process and went straight to a direct conversation. Patricia, my eldest sister, wanted to attend but, as a married woman with semi-noble status, she opted to wait with Jessica in another room. Abigail, however, accompanied me as my support.

When the Earl arrived at our modest townhouse, he was dressed in a striking military uniform, a sharp contrast to the elegant attire he had worn at the ball. Yet, the sense of refinement and charisma remained unchanged. Comparing him to the uninvited ex-fiancé who appeared earlier was almost laughable—the difference in demeanor, upbringing, and innate qualities was glaring. In fact, it was all of those things combined that made the Earl stand out so distinctly.

“Lady Abigail, I didn’t expect to see you here,” the Earl greeted.

“And why would my presence be an issue? This concerns my sister’s marriage,” Abigail replied coolly.

“Not at all. In fact, your close bond as siblings is something I greatly admire,” he said, as Hans, the butler, served him tea with impeccable grace.

Abigail gave a sly smile. “Of course. Our head of the family is my precious younger sister, and as the elder sister who left everything in her capable hands, it’s only natural that I’d worry about her—especially on occasions like this.”

“Earl Rockwell,” I interjected, “are you certain you’ve chosen the right person? The Viscount Wilcox family has three unmarried daughters. As mentioned at the ball, one is already engaged. Are you sure your proposal is meant for me and not for my sister, Abigail Wilcox, the Magic Countess?”

As the head of the family, it was my responsibility to clarify. The Earl had mentioned knowing Abigail, and she had admitted as much earlier. At my question, Abigail shrugged lightly.

“Perhaps I’ve raised her to be overly cautious. My apologies, Earl Rockwell,” Abigail said with a small laugh.

“I see. Then let me clarify: Grace Wilcox, Viscount, I am asking you to marry me,” the Earl declared without hesitation.

A direct, bold proposal—straight to the point.

Call me easy if you want, but I wanted to say yes right then and there. After all, in my previous life, I never had the chance to get married. My first crush ended in unrequited love, mocked and dismissed by classmates. And in this life? My engagement was broken, and the man involved was… well, let’s not go there.

But still—no, I needed to calm myself.

We’re a Viscount family. If we were both Earls, it would make sense, but for a high-ranking nobleman to propose to someone from a lower-ranked family? What would people think?

I glanced at Abigail for reassurance.

“What? You’re not thinking something strange, are you, Grace?” Abigail asked, noticing my gaze.

The Earl turned to her with a faint smile. “Magic Countess, what exactly have you been telling your sister?”

“She hasn’t said anything,” I replied before Abigail could speak. “But I find it hard to understand your reasoning for this proposal. It doesn’t seem plausible that my appearance is the reason behind it.”

In both my previous and current lives, I’ve never considered myself someone people would naturally admire. Though, to be fair, I like the way I look now.

“Isn’t it natural for a man to want to marry someone he finds appealing?” the Earl said, his tone calm.

Wait—does this mean his type is the “cool beauty” archetype often seen in villainess entourages? Do we share the same taste? No, focus, Grace. This is probably just polite flattery.

Even my family’s compliments about my appearance are likely just bias. Sure, I’d felt flattered by his sweet words during the waltz, but I don’t think I let it show at the time.

The memories of my past life came rushing back—being teased by classmates for liking someone, only for the person I liked to look away in embarrassment while others jeered, “Poor guy! Imagine being liked by someone like you!”

No. Keep your expression neutral. Stay calm. You’re not that person anymore—you’re Viscount Wilcox.

“Earl Rockwell, don’t you already have someone you care about?” I asked, steadying my voice.

After all, during the ball, he had mentioned being captivated by someone unforgettable. That surely hasn’t changed. So why this sudden proposal?

His response completely took me by surprise.

“It’s you, Grace. Ever since you debuted at your first ball three years ago, I’ve been drawn to you.”