September of my fifteenth year. The time when summer was beginning to draw to its close.
I was traveling by carriage to Margrave Baltzrein's territory in the north.
From the royal capital to the Baltzrein lands was a two-week journey by carriage.
The purpose of this trip was to learn about that land, in order to finalise my engagement.
Otou-sama had not been pleased that the royal family had been keeping my engagement on hold.
So he had granted me the right to finalise my engagement with Margrave Baltzrein myself, and sent me off.
"I wonder what he's like...? Lord Baltzrein."
Margrave Ash Baltzrein, the man who had answered the letter I sent; a man five years older than me.
Naturally, I had never seen his face nor spoken with him.
"I really did do something rather bold..."
After all, I had proposed to a man I had never even met.
But if I had simply waited on the royal family's response... I'm sure I would have never found happiness.
That was what I had thought. So I had made my decision.
"... Prince Leonhardt's circumstances, or Carlos Onii-sama's, have nothing to do with me."
Whatever their motives may be, I will seize my own happiness.
With that resolve in my heart, I continued the journey to Baltzrein.
... Eventually, the two-week journey neared its end, and a thriving cityscape came into view in the distance.
"That must be the city of Baltzrein! And, beyond it..."
Beyond the city, I could see a great wall.
Past that wall lay the Great Northern Forest, teeming with magical beasts.
I couldn't help but swallow hard. I had never seen a magical beast.
As a high-ranking noble, I had at least been taught how to use "magic."
What's more, my mana capacity was apparently among the highest in the kingdom.
Whether I would actually be of use as a combatant was another matter, but with training, I should at least be able to be of some use... probably.
"I wonder if Lord Baltzrein will accept me."
Right now, that's probably my biggest worry.
Well, since he's a man I've never met, I'm also worried about what kind of person he might be.
He might not be pleased with the state of my tangled betrothal with the royal family.
Just as Carlos Onii-sama had said, perhaps Lord Baltzrein might also refuse to marry me.
Even if I could use magic, he might turn me down on the grounds that I was useless in combat.
Lord Margrave and I might not get along.
Or he simply might not like how I look. That could happen to either of us.
And I might not be able to build a good relationship with the Margrave's family...
"If I recall, the Lord Margrave has a younger sister."
A pair of siblings who had lost their parents early, and had supported one another ever since.
His sister was not someone I could afford to slight, either.
She might even see me as a "wicked woman" trying to snatch her precious brother away through politics.
"... Here we go, at last."
Burdened by such worries, I set foot in the lands of Baltzrein.
"Welcome! To the Baltzrein territory! Angelina Onee-sama!"
"... Onee-sama, you say?"
The one who had come out to greet me was a noble lady who looked my age.
She had wavy silver hair, and ruby-red eyes.
Given those features, this had to be Lord Baltzrein's younger sister, Lady Aria Baltzrein.
"Yes! Angelina Onee-sama! I am Aria Baltzrein! It's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Erm... yes. The pleasure is mine."
I was taken aback by Aria's enthusiastic welcome.
We weren't engaged yet, so "Onee-sama" was not... a word for her to be using just yet.
"Onee-sama. You are so beautiful... and cute too! Pink-blonde hair, with sky-blue eyes! You're absolutely lovely!"
"Thank you, Aria-san. You are very lovely yourself."
"Thank you very much!"
Being complimented on my pink-blonde hair that I had inherited from my late Okaa-sama didn't make me feel bad.
Even so. I've received quite a warm welcome.
It wasn't just Aria-san who had welcomed me.
The strong knights lined up before the manor, and the servants too, were all smiling at me warmly.
... It seems the entire Margrave house is in quite a welcoming mood.
Could it be that, from their perspective, they were treating me as if I've "come to marry into the family"...?
"Duke's daughter, Lady Angelina Schteizen."
In the midst of that welcoming mood, a young man stepped forward and bowed his head.
"I am Elk Sedda, son of the Sedda Viscount house, who serves the Baltzrein house. I serve as Lady Aria's attendant and chaperone, and as Lord Ash's adviser."
"How very polite of you, thank you. I am Angelina Schteizen."
"This way, please. I shall escort you to Lord Ash."
"Yes, please do."
So I'm finally going to meet him. The moment that would decide the rest of my life was almost here.
I was led inside the Baltzrein manor. The interior was splendidly furnished.
It probably wasn't my imagination that it felt more austere than the Schteizen house.
You could feel the atmosphere of this house from its very interior.
"Ash Onii-sama! Angelina Onee-sama is here!"
"... Aria-sama."
Aria-san called through the door cheerfully, with the warm and familiar tone of a family member.
And Viscount Sedda's son admonished her. From this you could tell their relationship was something like family, too.
"Mn, mhm. Ah... Show her in."
Lord Baltzrein's voice came through the door. It was a youthful voice of a young man.
"Well then, Lady Schteizen.[1] Please go in."
"Thank you."
The door opened, and I went into the room. Once inside, I made my greeting first.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Baltzrein. I am Angelina Schteizen."
I dropped a curtsy and offered my respects.
"Ah. Please raise your head, Lady Schteizen."
At those words, I lifted my head and properly looked at him.
"Pleased to meet you. Thank you for coming all the way to the Baltzrein lands. I am Ash Baltzrein. I serve as the Margrave."
He had silver hair, like Aria-san's. Cropped short and neat.
He gave the impression of a rough but upstanding young man.
His eyes were also the same ruby-red as Aria-san's.
My first impression is that he is tall.
I am on the taller side among women my age, but I still had to look up at him.
He seems tall because of his sturdy build.
I sensed the aura of a tempered warrior. His features were also well-defined.
He was well-dressed, and I didn't get an unpleasant impression from him.
... All in all, a good first impression. I felt relief at that.
"Lord Baltzrein. I am grateful that you received my letter and have proposed this betrothal."
"... Mn. I should be the one thanking you. I am truly glad you have come. I imagine there is much we should discuss, but you have just had a long journey. You must be tired. For the time being, a room has been prepared for you in the manor. A nearby room has also been arranged for the maids who came with you. Please rest first."
"Thank you, Lord Baltzrein."
"Your knights' rooms will be a little farther off, but if anything is lacking, please don't hesitate to ask. We will accommodate you as best we can."
"Thank you again."
The welcoming mood seemed to extend to Lord Baltzrein.
"Schteizen-jou."
"Yes, Lord Baltzrein."
"I, and all of us here at Baltzrein, welcome you."
"... My thanks, Lord Baltzrein."
The atmosphere was quite warm and welcoming. But how should I put it...
A stoic, oblivious sort of man; the kind who people had to keep telling him, "Don't you dare let this one slip away!" ... He gave off a rough impression.
How shall I say this... there's a disconnect there. Rather than him personally directing his enthusiasm at me, the impression I got was that the pressure was coming more from those around him.
... I shouldn't be swayed by those around me and have a proper conversation with him myself.
There seemed to be something in his thoughts that had made him hear me out, and that was worth considering.
And so, I ended up staying at the Margrave's manor along with the maids and guards I had come with.
I had researched and asked about the territory's situation beforehand.
Although it was a land of battle with magical beasts, at present they did not seem to be especially troubled by food shortages or the like.
It seemed my somewhat unannounced arrival would not cause them to go hungry or anything.
When it came to the talk of forming an engagement, I wanted to hear what kind of support they desired.
Or first, I need to get a clear grasp of the actual conditions here.
There were countless things I wanted to ask... But first, I wonder whether Lord Baltzrein and I could get along well.
The first impression had not been bad. He seems like an upstanding young man.
... Had his parents still been alive, he would still have been the "heir." There was a youthfulness to him that fits "noble's son" better than "head of house."
That alone made it easy to imagine that his hardships were endless.
And, judging from Aria-san and the others, those around him seemed fond of him. I had the sense that they were all trying to support him.
"... Yes. Not bad."
All that remained was for him to have a good impression of me. So I thought.