Published: July 31, 2025
That day, the owner of the horse-drawn carriage rental shop was enthusiastic.
“I’ll provide the finest white horse and a platinum carriage!”
And rightly so. Though the baronial family was of lower nobility, they were the lords of the Chadelan Territory. The eldest daughter’s wedding would surely be an extraordinary, lucrative job.
However, when the baron visited the shop and heard the price, he said:
“Ridiculous. If it’s for a dress fitting before the engagement, that might be understandable, but why spend so much on transportation? The cheapest carriage and coachman will do.”
At the sound of his voice, Jacob, who was cleaning up horse manure, looked up. If it was a cheap job, it was Jacob’s chance. But the shop owner hurriedly refused.
“In that case, it will have to be a small cart where you can’t even stretch your body properly. It’s terribly bumpy and would be harsh for the young lady.”
“I don’t care. We’ll save on lodging fees if we sleep on the cargo bed at night.”
“Th-that’s impossible. Even the coachman’s body would break down after four days on the ground.”
“You can sleep on the cargo bed together with Anastasia.”
“...Baron, all our men are male, you know?”
Usually strict about making money, the shop owner frowned and groaned. I recalled he once lamented that his daughter had found a boyfriend. Even so, his reaction was reasonable.
Especially for a baron’s daughter, on her wedding day no less.
But Baron Chadelan snorted.
“I don’t care. If it’s too cramped to sleep, let Anastasia sleep on the ground. It’s more troublesome if the coachman’s health fails than the cargo. Just make sure no accidents happen.”
On the day... thanks to the shop owner’s arrangement, a higher-grade covered wagon was prepared. The coachman was, as expected, Jacob.
“Jacob, don’t ever lay a hand on customers again. Especially when it’s the lord’s daughter. Next time, you won’t just be fired.”
The owner sneered sarcastically. Jacob just ignored it, thinking, “Then why don’t you sit on the coachman’s seat?”
Miss Anastasia was somewhat surprised to see the shabby carriage and foreign coachman but got in silently without complaint.
Jacob found it strange.
It was known that the Chadelan Family’s second daughter was a ragged girl.
On the other hand, the older sister Anastasia was said to be beautiful and loved by all. But Jacob couldn’t believe it. Though Anastasia was indeed beautiful, he doubted she was loved by her parents.
Anastasia sat down on the hard wooden floor of the heavily shaking carriage. Expressionless like a doll, she didn’t move a bit. She wasn’t sulking, either.
Jacob tried casually speaking to her in a rough tone.
“Hey, aren’t you thirsty? Want some water?”
An ordinary noble would have been furious at this. But the young lady merely frowned briefly.
“...Thank you for your concern. I have enough.”
She even gave a faint smile.
Jacob tried several more rude behaviors. Calling her by her name without honorifics to show familiarity, honestly commenting on her appearance—especially her figure—and teasing her.
He also asked impolite questions. She didn’t answer most of them, but never got angry. When asked if she was a virgin, she just silently lowered her eyes.
Jacob’s suspicion was confirmed.
—So this one is a doll who has no choice but to obey her parents, just as she looks.
Noble daughters cannot oppose marriages decided by their parents. Political marriages are the norm, and breaking an engagement from a lower noblewoman’s side is impossible. It requires a huge penalty, and could even mean the family’s ruin.
It was clear the baron’s family was struggling financially. The fiancé was a high-ranking noble and a wealthy magnate.
—This girl was sold. And she herself understood it.
No matter what happens, she cannot run away.
That night—while Anastasia was washing herself with water, Jacob opened the canopy widely.
“Oops, sorry. Just came to get some luggage.”