It’s Not Fair 10

I never imagined that Lord Hartwig, the Margrave of Limburg himself, would come to meet me in person.
I was leaving for the Limburg Margraviate at the same point in time Carlene had in my first life.
Yet Lord Hartwig remained kneeling with his head bowed, making no move to rise.
What was wrong?
“Um… Lord Hartwig?”
“…!”
As though jolted awake, Lord Hartwig abruptly raised his head.
His finely sculpted features turned directly toward me.
He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen.
Then I caught myself.
This was hardly the time to stand there staring at him.
Father introduced himself first, and Lord Hartwig once again bowed deeply.
“This is my daughter, Aurelia.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Hartwig, Margrave of Limburg. I am Aurelia, daughter of the Marquis of Altenburg.”
Lord Hartwig gazed up at me as though dazzled by the sight before him, then murmured under his breath,
“…A goddess!”
“Pardon?”
“No, it was nothing! I came here because you have agreed to marry into such a remote backwater… No, I mean, to the farthest reaches of the kingdom.”
Still, why had Lord Hartwig come all the way here himself?
Father seemed to share my confusion and asked him directly.
“I was not informed that you would be coming in person. Why did you make the journey all the way to the royal capital?”
“Because I received such a heartfelt letter from you, I wished to meet my future bride as soon as possible. That is why I came here myself.”
“I-I see…”
Lord Hartwig answered Father’s question with ease, but he was completely different from the man I had imagined.
I had expected someone cold and unapproachable.
Perhaps he was far more amiable and warmhearted than the rumors suggested.
“It must have been a difficult journey from the Limburg Margraviate.”
“Not at all!”
The trip took an entire month by carriage, but by flying across fields, mountains, and even the sea on a wyvern, he had apparently arrived in only ten hours.
“Lord Hartwig, perhaps it would be best for you to rest before we depart.”
“Yes, indeed! That would be wise. Stay the night here and leave tomorrow.”
“But would that not inconvenience you?”
“Think nothing of it. We are about to become family, are we not?”
“Family…!”
Lord Hartwig had initially seemed hesitant to impose upon us, but the moment Father called him family, he readily accepted the offer.
“Lord Hartwig, what will you do with your wyvern? He must be tired as well. We can prepare water and food for him.”
At my words, Lord Hartwig smiled before he could stop himself.
Had I said something strange?
“Thank you for extending such thoughtful consideration even to my wyvern. There is no need to worry, however. He is capable of finding food and water for himself.”
“I am only concerned that the water and food in the royal capital may not agree with him.”
This area was heavily industrialized. The sky was often clouded by soot, and the water was undrinkable unless it had first been purified with magic.
When I explained those circumstances, Lord Hartwig looked surprised.
“My apologies. I assumed you wished to offer hospitality not only to me, but to my wyvern as well. I see now that you had a far more practical reason.”
It seemed he had smiled because he thought I intended to entertain the wyvern as an honored guest.
“I found your desire to welcome even my wyvern so charming that I laughed without thinking. I meant no disrespect.”
“Hehe… Yes, I understand.”
His laughter had not sounded mocking in the slightest, so I assured him that I was not offended.
“She laughed… She truly is a goddess.”
“Pardon?”
“No, it was nothing!”
At that moment, Father cleared his throat loudly.
We had been standing outside long enough.
It was time to invite Lord Hartwig into the mansion.