The Substitute Bride Is Adored by the Clumsy Margrave

Chapter 1

“Clarisse, Your marriage partner has been decided.”

She had thought that it was unusual to be summoned to her fathers’ office, since he had never done so before, but after listening to what he said, Clarisse Farenheit blinked her violet eyes.

“My marriage partner ..?”

“Yes.”

Her father did not even make eye contact with Clarisse, as he explained the situation in a businesslike manner.

There had been a battle with a neighboring country on the border.

When the king had asked his vassal what he would like as a reward for his remarkable war achievements, he asked for marriage to the “Jewel of Farenheit” who was rumored to be the best in the kingdom, and the king granted the request on the condition that the vassal pledged eternal loyalty to the royal family.

The “Jewel of Farenheit” was the title given to Matilda, the eldest of the two daughters of Viscount Farenheit.

Matilda was beautiful from birth, her blue eyes charmed all who saw her, and her voice was as pretty as a bell and made all around her embarrass themselves by tripping over themselves when they saw her.
After she came of age this had not changed, and she was constantly receiving offers of marriage from all the families around the kingdom.
She was a daughter that her parents were proud of, and they felt happy just by looking at her.

Clarisse, on the other hand, had violet eyes and when compared to her elder sister, her appearance was average and there was nothing special about her.
She was always seen as an insignificant presence in the Farenheit family.
If you looked at her, you could see the intelligence in her eyes and her lady-like manners, but even that was overshadowed by Matilda’s beauty.

Her parents gave Matilda whatever she wanted and gave the leftovers to Clarisse.

The butler and other servants had no choice but to follow the parents’ attitude.

Clarisse was actually treated very kindly behind the scenes by those who felt sorry for her, but since they knew they couldn’t go against her parents, as they were their master, they only did it in the shadows. 

Clarisse knew that her parents would probably arrange her marriage to some nobleman sooner or later, but she had never thought that she would be offered to a Frontier Margrave, whom she had never met, for the sake of her sister. 

They had not the slightest intention of offering the lovely Matilda to a stranger  who was living far away near the border, although the Frontier Margrave undoubtedly had meant her sister.

However, the Frontier Margrave had not specified Matilda by name, so they weren’t disobeying the royal order.

“I have heard that your partner, Margrave Gutenberg, is a great man.”

Her mother, who was sitting next to her father, remarked, but Clarisse, who was fond of books and secretly read the newspapers, knew that the Margrave Gutenberg was rumored to be a cruel man with the appearance of a wolf and the temperament of a tiger.
The nickname he was given was the Cannibal Margrave.

‘Neither father nor mother loved me… until the end…’

Clarisse, who hid her disappointment to the fullest extent, had no choice but to say yes.

After Clarisse returned to her room, her sister Matilda came in.

“What should I wear to the ball tonight?”