The Reincarnated Noble Lady is the Infamous Viscount's Heir - I've Accepted a Contract Marriage for Estate Management. - Chapter 2.1

In my previous life, I was an overweight, unattractive otaku with zero romantic prospects. Then, I was reincarnated into another world.

Born as the third daughter of a viscount’s family, I had my engagement broken off and eventually became the head of the Wilcox Viscountcy to support my declining family. My name is Grace Wilcox.

This is the story of everything that happened before I married my future husband, the esteemed Vincent Rockwell, Lord of the Countship.

At the start of that year’s social season in the Lazulite Kingdom, all of high society was abuzz about one topic: my engagement to the Count.

The Count, Vincent Rockwell, hailed as the number one most desirable bachelor among countless noblewomen, had announced his engagement. And who was the lucky fiancée? None other than me—a woman infamous for having her engagement broken just a year after her debutante ball, wresting control of her family’s estate from her father, and eventually inheriting the title of Viscountess after his death. My reputation in social circles? Let’s just say it wasn’t flattering.

Yes, I am Grace Wilcox, head of the Wilcox Viscountcy.

The White Birch Hall, second only in grandeur to the Crescent Palace, served as the venue for tonight’s celebration. Here, among the glittering elites of the capital, my engagement to Count Vincent Rockwell was being formally announced.

In this kingdom, debutantes, engagements, and weddings require the women involved to wear white dresses. However, for events like engagement parties, the dress code allows more freedom in colors and designs.

My dress tonight was a masterpiece in champagne gold. Crafted from luxurious satin fabric with an A-line silhouette, it featured a ballooned lace hem made from threads unique to Wilcox territory. Rose corsages cascaded diagonally from the skirt’s design—a creation proposed by none other than my younger sister, Jessica.

Despite the murmurs behind my back, I noticed an air of intrigue around my dress. Of course—Jessica’s designs were so well-regarded that one of the kingdom’s top designers once admitted, “If Lady Jessica ever opens her own atelier, it’ll put me out of business.” That’s my sister for you. She’s amazing!

“She must have deceived him.”
“I can’t believe Lord Rockwell chose her of all people!”
“Such a greedy woman—she even drove her father to his death just to claim the title of Viscountess.”
“Poor Vincent…”

While noblewomen whispered spiteful remarks about me and my engagement to their beloved Count, others couldn’t stop talking about the dress.

“Where did she get that gown?”
“Look at the balloon hem—so unique!”
“That lace fabric is all the rage right now, isn’t it?”
“The detailing on those corsages is exquisite!”

Opinions about me seemed divided into two camps.

Let’s face it—no matter who the Count’s fiancée was, people would find reasons to complain. And when that fiancée was someone like me—Grace Wilcox, with a reputation for being cold, calculating, and unfit for marriage—the criticisms were bound to be louder.

The truth is, most noblewomen don’t have the courage to approach the Count directly, especially with his towering presence and military background. Some might try, but tonight, they didn’t stand a chance.

Upon entering the hall, the Count and I were immediately surrounded by his colleagues—high-ranking nobles in military uniforms. Their intimidating presence alone discouraged anyone from breaking through the crowd to speak with him.

Tonight, however, the Count wasn’t in his usual uniform. Instead, he wore a tailored tailcoat, chosen specifically to complement my dress.

For gentlemen, formalwear typically includes military uniforms, tuxedos, or tailcoats in shades of black, navy, or charcoal. But the truly fashionable pay attention to details—cufflinks, lapel pins, and pocket squares—and tonight, the Count’s pocket square matched the champagne gold of my gown.

Even the lapel pin and cufflinks he wore were crafted from a unique material found in his territory, a shimmering white stone reminiscent of polished pearls. He had gifted me matching hairpins, asking me to wear them for this occasion.

This was more than a thoughtful gesture—it was strategic. The Count hoped to showcase these adornments as potential trade goods from his newly inherited border territory, Yubashar.

The truth behind our engagement? The Count, a military man with little experience in estate management, needed help restoring Yubashar. He proposed to me, specifically citing my ability to revive my family’s declining estate and my resilience in the face of adversity.

I, a woman burdened with a tarnished reputation and few prospects, accepted his offer—not as a romantic gesture but as a practical partnership. Marriage would give me the opportunity to support his territory and secure my own future.

That being said, a lot has happened since then. And now… well, let’s just say our relationship might have evolved into something more mutual.

The Count claims to love me, but I can’t help feeling insecure.

After all, I was once rejected before. What if one day, he declares, “I’ve found my true love—I’m ending this engagement”?

Even if I’ve been reborn into a beautiful body, the scars of my past life—and my present reputation—haunt me.

How could someone as perfect as Vincent Rockwell truly want me?

Marriage? With him?

It feels like a dream.

I completely understand the frustration and indignation of the young ladies who admire the Count.

If I were in their shoes—if this weren’t about me but someone else—I’d absolutely be thinking, “Damn it, that woman really snatched up the best prize!” Without a doubt.

When I glanced up at the Count standing beside me, he turned to me with a smile so warm it could melt the hardest of hearts.

Ugh… what a sight to behold…!!

I’m so weak. Truly, I’m hopelessly weak!

If seeing this smile is the reward, then—if there’s anything I can do to support him—I’d gladly do it.

And if there’s one thing I can do, it’s the very thing he mentioned during his proposal: supporting him with managing his territory.

That’s why tonight’s engagement party also serves as the debut showcase for products from the Count’s territory in Yubashar, which I had the chance to inspect before the social season began.

I have to give it my all!