The White Marriage of the Seamstress and the Ice Count

When I returned to the mansion and told my parents what had happened, naturally they immediately jumped to Miriam’s defense.

“Because of you lacking magical powers, Mister Conrad had to fight on the battlefield all on his own. But even so he did not complain even once – on the contrary, he became the “Miracle Knight.” Just think how embarrassing it was for us, who only had you, a daughter without any real power, to offer him. We felt sorry for Mister Conrad’s parents, but thankfully Miriam rose to the occasion. Did you thank her properly?”

“Serafina, this is what happens when you have your mind filled with other things and don’t pay enough attention to your own fiancé. But at least you’re lucky this all happened before you got married. It is much better than being unfaithful after marriage. In that regard, Miriam has perfect looks and magical powers, so we don’t have to worry about her being cheated on.”

As I listened to them, I suddenly wondered why it was that my parents and sister had magical powers, but not me.

Here in the Kingdom of Valeant many demons haunt the land, injuring and kidnapping people.

In response to that the Kingdom’s Knight Order, composed of adult nobles, regularly ventures to defeat demons.  

Since the demons are covered with hard fur and have their skin protected by magic, ordinary weapons are almost useless. The only way to defeat them is to attack them with weapons that are also magical.

In the Kingdom nobles are more likely to be born with magical powers than commoners, so the knights are composed of nobles with magical powers.

But even among them are only a handful of special nobles with extremely advanced magical powers and talent who are able to use such arts as fire and water attack magic or recovery magic to heal injuries.

Ordinary nobles, though they possess magical power, cannot use it. 

However, even that small amount of magical power has a tremendous impact when exchanging blows with demons on the battlefield.

Further, it is recommended that knights should, before going into battle, receive a “Transfer of Magical Power” by someone close to them – for example from a family member or a fiancée.

Holding hands, the knight would receive magic through the palms of their hands.

That way the knight would be able to march into the battlefield with double or triple their usual magical power.

But two years ago, when I first gave Master Conrad the “Transfer”, I was only able to squeeze out a tiny amount of magical power, a drop in the bucket for him.

Master Conrad told me, “I have more magical power than other people, so I’ll be fine,” but he still seemed disappointed.

I was so sorry that I couldn’t do anything for my fiancé who was heading off to a dangerous battlefield.

So instead I prayed for his safety with my embroidery, the only thing I have always been good at.

I embroidered the crest of his family, an eagle spreading its wings on a silver background, on a blue scarf the color of his eyes, and gave it to him as a good luck charm.

The scarf, however, had too been forgotten in his pocket without ever being worn, and was returned to me.

　✧✧✧

A week has passed since that day and I was yet to take a step out of the mansion.

I was becoming even more of a shut-in than before, not even leaving my room anymore.

As I laid on the bed in my room staring at that scarf, tears began to trickle down my cheeks.

In the end, my engagement to Master Conrad has been broken by the mutual agreement of both our houses.

The official reason was that the level of my magical power was lower than expected.

But the engagement was called off in broad daylight, in the middle of a tree-lined avenue. By now, most of the nobles in the Royal Capital must have heard about it.

“The Seamstress” had lost her fiancé to her sister.

I was a noblewoman, but I lacked magical power and could not provide a “Transfer of Magical Power” to my fiancé, so instead, I became even more absorbed in embroidery – the thing I had loved since I was a little girl.

I embroidered everything, morning, noon, and night, with an almost insatiable drive.

As a result, not only my room, but every piece of cloth in the mansion was covered with embroidery, and I learned to do any big scale or difficult stitch.

The number of embroidered works grew so large that my mother couldn’t bear to see them, so she put them on display at a charity bazaar held at a church in the Royal Capital.

Perhaps the overflow of knick-knacks was too much of a nuisance.

But to my delight, they were all well received and I continued to exhibit embroidered handkerchiefs, cushions, tapestries, and so on.

It was a result of that that I became known as  “the Seamstress.”

…I did not mind. I have always loved embroidery and sewing, and being a seamstress is an elegant profession.

My dream of marrying Master Conrad and becoming his wife has already been torn to shreds. I looked at the eagle’s crest embroidered on the blue scarf and vowed to myself.

I would live the rest of my life as a “Seamstress” on my own.

All I need is embroidery.

I don’t have to fall in love or get married… In the end, it will only hurt me.

I spent my days holed up in the mansion, completely absorbed in weaving patterns with my needle bit by bit.

The work of making pretty designs of flowers, leaves, and birds come to life with a needle and thread healed my broken heart little by little.

Then one day, two weeks after the dissolution of our engagement, I received a visit from someone I had never expected.

“Lady Seraphina, Count Middleton is here to see you.”

“…Excuse me, who?”

“Count Middleton.”

I did not recognize the title the maid gave me.

…No, I may have at least heard some rumors about him.

The Ice Count.

His appearance was said to be beautiful and his skills in swordsmanship and magic both were outstanding as well.

But just like an ice statue he was cold and cruel, never letting others see into his heart.

“What business could the Count have with me? I am sure I have never met him. Are you not mistaking me for Miriam by chance?”

“No, my lady. The Count did indeed state he wishes to meet Miss Serafina. The Count is now being attended to by the Master.”

“By Father? I understand. I will be right there.”

When Father, the head of the house, is personally receiving guests, it is highly likely that the conversation is not personal, but something important involving the matters of the house.

I had no idea what they could possibly be talking about… I don’t go out much anymore, so it is not possible that I accidentally did something to offend the Count…

Anyway, I hurriedly changed from my loungewear into a dress with the help of my maid and styled my chestnut-colored hair into something presentable.

I went downstairs, feeling uneasy.

The maid opened the door of the parlor room.

On the other side of the door sat my father and a dark-haired man I didn’t recognize, facing each other.

Father’s face immediately stretched into a big smile. 

“Oh, Serafina, you have finally arrived! Listen to me, this is truly a blessing falling right in your lap. Count Middleton here wants you to be his wife!”