Seeing Father sitting upright in bed with the dignity he had always possessed filled my heart with emotion.
“Father…!”
Unable to contain myself, I hurried to his bedside and took his hand.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing… I’m simply happy to see that you’re looking well.”
“I see.”
I could not allow him to continue recovering at home as he had in my first life.
After consulting the magical physician, he needed to be admitted to the hospital for a thorough examination.
“So, what brings the two of you here together?”
As though she had been waiting for Father to ask, Carlene immediately spoke up.
“Father, I want to marry Lord Oliver of the Grand Ducal House of Brandenburg. But stubborn Aurelia refuses to give him to me! Please tell her to!”
This was the second time I had heard those exact words.
Just as before, Father let out a deep sigh after listening to Carlene’s complaint.
In my first life, I had married Lord Oliver of the House of Brandenburg and become his wife.
Even there, I had been looked down upon.
I had never found a place where I belonged.
It had been nothing but a painful marriage.
If I could give that future to someone else…
Then I would gladly give it to Carlene.
What would happen if, instead of Carlene, I became the wife of the Margrave of Limburg?
I already knew that, three years from now, a devastating storm would reduce the territory to ruins.
But three years…
Surely that was enough time to accomplish something with the Magitris Workshop.
That was what I believed.
“I have prepared dowry gifts for both of you.”
The Jewelry Workshop and the Magitris Workshop were placed before Carlene and me.
Without hesitation, I reached for the Magitris Workshop.
“Father, I would like this one.”
“As expected of you, Aurelia. This is an Artifact, a relic of the gods. One of only two such treasures in existence.”
The moment Father finished explaining, Carlene cried out in protest.
“It’s so unfair that Aurelia gets everything! I want that one too!”
I hugged the Magitris Workshop tightly against my chest.
This was the one thing I could never surrender.
The more firmly I refused to hand it over, the more desperately Carlene wanted it.
“Tell me, why is it that you get all the good things when I can’t even choose who I marry?!”
In my first life, she had stubbornly refused to accept the Magitris Workshop.
Yet now that I had chosen it, she suddenly wanted it for herself.
That was Carlene’s greatest flaw.
This was my only chance.
Realizing that, I looked directly at Father.
“Father… I wish to marry the Margrave of Limburg.”
“Aurelia, what are you saying?! Such a thing is absolutely out of the question!”
I knew that.
But if I married Lord Oliver of the House of Brandenburg again…
I would simply repeat the same miserable life.
“I understand that you spent an enormous amount of money giving me a special education so that I could marry Lord Oliver.”
“That’s right. I spared no expense raising you for the House of Brandenburg. Besides, there’s no way Carlene could ever fulfill the role of the Grand Duke’s bride!”
“We won’t know unless we let her try.”
Carlene immediately nodded in agreement.
“Exactly!”
“Aurelia… What has gotten into you?”
“For once in my life… I want to choose my own future.”
No noblewoman was ever granted such freedom.
Even so…
I absolutely refused to walk the same path I had taken before.
“If my wish cannot be granted… then I shall enter a convent instead.”
Father’s eyes widened.
He looked at me as though he could scarcely believe what he had heard.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes.”
Realizing that my resolve would not waver, Father released a long, weary sigh.
“Very well. It is your life. At the very least… I shall allow you to choose whom you marry.”
“Father… truly?”
“I do not think it is the right decision. But I wish to respect your wishes.”
“Thank you!”
Unable to contain my gratitude, I embraced him tightly.
“Then, Father! Does that mean I can marry Lord Oliver of the House of Brandenburg?!”
“That… depends on whether the other side agrees.”
“What kind of answer is that?!”
“They also have the right to choose.”
At the very least…
It seemed I had succeeded in avoiding the future in which I married Lord Oliver.
Needless to say, I was grateful to Father from the bottom of my heart.
Afterward, Father formally proposed my marriage to the Margrave of Limburg.
The reply arrived almost immediately.
They accepted without hesitation.
It had been exactly the same when Carlene had been the prospective bride, so that part came as no surprise.
As for Carlene…
It appeared the House of Brandenburg had accepted the marriage in exchange for an enormous dowry.
Father looked utterly exhausted after the negotiations.
Determined not to waste this opportunity, I urged him to begin proper medical treatment.
To my relief, he agreed without argument.
For a time, he devoted himself entirely to treatment under the care of the magical physician.
During his absence, I arranged for the family assets to be frozen so my stepmother could not spend them freely.
I also assigned a maid to keep watch over her so she could not sneak out for late-night escapades while Father was away.
The precautions seemed to work.
My stepmother never found herself a lover and instead spent her days idly wasting time around the estate.
Still, I doubted she would remain quiet forever.
I instructed the servants to keep a close eye on her.
◇◇◇
Carlene was the first to marry.
The wedding took place far earlier than it had in my previous life.
Perhaps they had wanted to marry her to Lord Oliver before he had any opportunity to change his mind.
Standing beside him, Carlene smiled radiantly.
This…
This was how it should have been.
From the bottom of my heart, I truly believed that.
