The Reincarnated Noble Lady is the Infamous Viscount's Heir - I've Accepted a Contract Marriage for Estate Management. - Chapter 1.17

Humans tend to stop thinking when confronted with something completely unexpected.

Am I going to die?

I’ve never been confessed to in my life.

Not in my past life, and not in this one either.

Sure, there’s a part of me that feels happy, flustered, and unsure of what to do.

But wait—hold on. Seriously, hold on.

It’s hard to believe that this man is proposing marriage purely out of sentimental reasons.

What does he really want from me? I need to hear his honest intentions.

With my favorite golden eyes—this life’s most cherished feature—I looked at him intently.

“May I ask for the Earl’s true intentions?”

The Earl placed a hand to his mouth and closed his eyes briefly. After a moment, he opened them again, revealing those mysterious, amethyst-like irises.

“Lady Grace—or rather, Viscount Wilcox—I recently acquired new lands. However, I lack expertise in estate management. With my military duties, my current territory functions smoothly only because I collaborate with reliable partners. But this new territory is a different matter entirely.”

He seems like someone who could handle this seamlessly, though…

Still, new lands? That’s impressive. Our family struggles with just one territory.

“Women who are physically capable of traveling between the capital and the territory and who also have expertise in estate management are incredibly rare. Most young ladies who approach me are only interested in my title and appearance. I value your achievements, which is why I proposed this marriage.”

I see. He’s looking for advice on managing his estate.

This seems worth considering, doesn’t it? After all, he’s an Earl. He must have plenty of other good matches lined up.

Even if some relatives oppose this marriage because of my lower status, I could still negotiate opportunities to assist with estate management.

Should I accept?

Yes. Let’s go with it.

“Where is this new territory located?”

“It’s Yubashar, on the frontier, bordering a neighboring country.”

“Lord Rockwell, surely you’re not planning to send my sister there?” Abigail, my elder sister, furrowed her brow.

Come on, there’s no need to get so upset. The Earl just answered my question sincerely.

“Yubashar… Is it farmland?”

“Farmland? Hardly. It’s filled with rocky mountains, the soil is hard and barren, and magical beasts roam freely. It borders the List Mountains at the edge of the kingdom, near a rather aggressive neighboring country. It’s a dangerous place. While there are villages, the locals barely manage to cultivate their own fields. Tax revenue is negligible, and crops struggle to grow. Your family’s territory also deals with magical beasts, but thanks to policies from two generations ago, it’s manageable. Yubashar, on the other hand, is untamed wilderness.”

Oh…

“However, magical ores are mined from the List Mountains. That’s how the locals scrape by, selling the ores to sustain themselves.”

Abigail must know this place because of those magical ores. It sounds like the ore trade supports the people by supplying the Magic Academy in the capital.

What should I do?

…I want to survey the land in Yubashar. I can’t commit without knowing its potential.

“Developing a territory from scratch…”

I muttered, and both Abigail and the Earl turned to me with surprised expressions.

Why is the Earl surprised too?

Abigail leaned toward the Earl, speaking in a hushed, restrained voice that I couldn’t quite catch.

“Lord Rockwell, why did you bring this up? Now my sister is motivated!”

“I was being straightforward about my intentions. She wouldn’t believe me otherwise, so I mentioned something I thought she’d find intriguing. Once she sees the reality of the place, she’ll change her mind, and we can proceed with the engagement.”

What are they whispering about…?

Never mind. I summoned Hans and asked him to bring a map of the Lazurite Kingdom.

I need to know exactly where this territory is.

Is it really that dangerous?

“Is something the matter, Abigail?”

“Grace!”

“Yes? I’ve asked Hans to bring the map.”

Hearing this, Abigail slumped her shoulders. Why?

When Abigail became a Mage Countess, our family acquired some of the most accurate maps. I can pinpoint the location easily.

When should I begin?

“Of course, you’ll stay in the capital during the social season. Your safety is my utmost priority.”

Hmm. So I can’t head to the territory immediately. Too bad.

Accompanying the Earl to social events as his fiancée is part of the job, I suppose.

I should also meet the neighboring lords and gather information about adjacent territories. That will help identify a focus for the estate’s development.

“Grace, you might be misunderstanding, but this is a marriage proposal. Whether you accept the marriage is the main issue here, understand?”

Abigail’s words snapped me back to reality.

Oh, right. On the surface, that’s what this is about.

I want to leave my family’s territory to Jessica, though…

“My dowry is modest.”

Money is important to clarify.

“Even if you were a commoner, I’d still want you as my wife. Don’t worry about that.”

Generous, as expected of an Earl.

“…May I propose some conditions?”

“Does that mean you’ll accept the marriage?”

“I may come from a humble Viscount family, but I am its head. I’ve supported this house, and I take pride in that. If you’ll agree to my conditions, I will accept your proposal.”

The moment I said that, the Earl stood and lifted me like a child.

“Earl!? What are you doing?!”

He beamed up at me, delighted.

“Will you really marry me?”

Wait… Is estate management not his main goal?

And—

“Please put me down! I’m heavy!”

“Not at all!”

His sparkling, amethyst-like eyes were so mesmerizing that I couldn’t resist staring.

“This feels like a dream. I’ll cherish you, Grace.”

I wanted to ask if this was the real dream…

“Grace, he’s getting through to you this way,” Abigail’s voice brought me back to my senses.

“Put me down, Earl!”

“No.”

“What?!”

“I’ve waited three years for this. It was worth it.”

His delighted gaze made my heart race.

I might die from this. My face—or is it my head?—feels like all the bl00d is rushing to it. I might burst a bl00d vessel!

I glanced toward Abigail for help, but she slowly shook her head.

“Lord Rockwell, for someone who delivers dramatic lines at balls like a third-rate actor, you could’ve at least said something sweeter. But you chose this approach, huh?”

The Earl replied with a calm expression.

“Some people need actions to understand. My words are truthful. I was captivated by Lady Grace’s beauty.”

Sweet words… again.

Hearing his “truth” reminded me of my broken engagement three years ago.

Maybe it feels shallow because I’ve become jaded.

No.

I’m just a coward.

In my past life, one thing was clear: I was a lonely, unattractive woman who was never loved. Even my family’s affection was scarce.

But in this life, I’ve been blessed with my family’s love. I’m truly happy.

Still, when it comes to love and marriage—I can’t take the first step.

I’m a coward who lacks the courage.