The White Marriage of the Seamstress and the Ice Count

I was so taken aback, I couldn’t respond right away.

Wi… Wife? As in, me being his wife? Why?

The dark-haired man stood up quickly.

He looked at my dumbfounded face with an unreadable, icy expression and spoke.

“Good day to you, Lady Serafina Archibald. Forgive my rudeness in barging in here without an appointment. My name is Alexis Middleton, Count of Searfield. A pleasure to meet you.”

“Em, good day to you as well, Count Middleton. I am Seraphina Archibald. It’s an honor to make your acquaintance.” 

I hurried to bend my knees in a curtsy.   

When I looked up, he was still staring at me with cold eyes. As if to confirm something.

He was scary… Beautiful, yes, but even more striking was the strength in that gaze. 

“Well then, sit down, Serafina. Please have a seat, Count.”

With those few words from Father, I sat down next to him and Count Middleton took a seat across from us.

When I glanced at the Count, it was as if a cold, polished, clear and beautiful ice sculpture was seated on the opposite side.

At first I was surprised to see that the “Ice Count” was as good-looking as rumored. 

Black hair, black eyes. Impeccable appearance without any flaws. I couldn’t help but to admire his beauty. 

But that’s not all — he was also apparently an exceptional martial artist as well.

Although his body was slender, his rugged hands and taut body told at the glance that he had been tempering his body.

The Count Middleton was very popular amongst the ladies of the nobility despite the rumors that he was ruthless and heartless, because he has already succeeded the title of Count and became the head of the house at the young age of 22. 

How could that kind of man want to have “the Seamstress” as his wife?

Impossible. 

Maybe… it’s some sort of a scam…?

Father, without regard to my skepticism, began to speak in a good mood.

“Count Middleton met you last year during a garden party at the Royal Palace and fell in love with you at first sight,” he said. “At that time, you were engaged to Mr. Conrad, but he heard that you had terminated that relationship, so he came here to ask you to marry him.”

“A garden party…”

I did attend a garden party last year with Master Conrad as his companion, but he ended up talking only to Miriam and other women.

I was alone the whole time, only exchanging pleasantries with the other guests now and again.

There were so many invited guests that I am not sure if I talked to the count in front of me or not. I can’t just come out and say I don’t remember meeting him, but…

“Love at first sight” is just too unbelievable. 

Father didn’t seem to notice my confusion and continued talking jovially.

“Oh, thank you for sharing that story with us. My daughter had just ended her engagement due to unavoidable circumstances. I was worried because of that, but I never thought that the Count would be interested in her! I couldn’t have dreamed of such a fortunate turn of events. Hey, Seraphina-”

“Fa-Father… I haven’t said anything yet…”

“What? Do you think you are in a position to be picky?”

Father glared at me with a scary expression.

I immediately closed my mouth.

Father has never respected my opinion in anything.

But then the Count Middleton, who had been watching silently with his legs crossed, suddenly opened his mouth.

“Of course you can make your own choice, Lady Serafina,” he said. “It is not your father’s right to choose.”

“Wha-”

It was as if Father had suddenly been impaled by a sharp icicle.

He turned red and blue when the Count, a man about half his age, spoke to him like that.

I stared at the Count in surprise.

I had never met a noble whose words were so straightforward.

The Count spoke again to Father, this time in a slightly more polite tone than before.

“Viscount Archibald, I know that this is very impolite of me, but if you don’t mind, may I have a word with her alone for a while?”

“Oh, am I interrupting you two? Of course it is no problem. Then, please take your time.”

Father’s face was still stiff, but I guess he decided not to challenge the Count, seeing that the Count was a person of higher rank. He stood up immediately.

“Fa-Father!”

I muttered under my breath. Father shot me a look as if to say, “don’t mess this up.”

He was trying so hard to push me to marry the Count.

I was supposed to marry Master Conrad and leave this house soon, but since I’m still sitting at home back to square one, it’s understandable that he thinks I should take this opportunity and get it over with.

But no matter what, this whole story is just too good to be true…

Father walked out, slamming the door behind him.

There were now just the two of us in the parlor, me and the Count Middleton.

I looked at him with fear. 

The Count spoke, indifferent.

“I know you have doubts about my offer, Lady Seraphina, so let me be frank with you. I am proposing to you this marriage as a ‘white marriage,’ that is, as a marriage in name only.”

“…’white marriage’?”

Surprises just keep piling up today, don’t they?

A loveless, token marriage.

I’ve heard this story so often in popular novels and plays, but I never thought it would ever happen to me.

“That’s right. In truth, I have a troublesome relative who insists that even though I have already succeeded to the title of Count, she will never accept a young man who has not even been married as the head of the family. I need a wife to convince her, as the cooperation of that relative is essential to the management of my vast estate. You can play the role of a token wife. There is no need for you to share my bed.”

My cheeks burned.

When the Count noticed my expression, he faintly blushed, awkward.

…So the “Ice Count” can blush as well. I felt a little closer to him.

“…Excuse me. I was being too direct.”

“No, no, it’s…, but why… Why me? Even if you are going to have a ‘white marriage’, don’t you have many other partners…?”

“No, I have no such partner.”

It was so surprising to hear him say that so clearly, and I involuntarily stared at him.

The Count of Middleton looked away, embarrassed, and said something I hadn’t expected.

“I have heard that… Lady Serafina is fond of embroidery. We have a small sewing room in our castle in Searfield. If you agree to this, I will make sure that room is available exclusively to you. You will also be able to order as many materials as you wish from our suppliers.”

“I accept.”

“…Excuse me, what did you just say?”

This time it was him who looked at me with a dubious look on his face.

I repeated myself clearly. “I accept your offer.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course I am. Thank you, Count Middleton!”

I couldn’t help but smile.

I couldn’t believe that I could stay in a castle and do all the embroidery I want!

The Count looked a little puzzled at my sudden change in expression.

But it was only for a moment. Soon, he was back to looking like an ice statue.

“Then, we have established a contract. Could you sign this document?”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

Without pausing to think further, I quickly skimmed through the thick contract that the Count held out to me and signed it with a quill pen.

Thus, it was decided that I would become the wife of Count Middleton.