“The Ugly Lady,” “a heartless brute,” “Hargle Family’s plague god,” “Boney”—these are the derogatory epithets aimed at Amelia, the daughter of Count Hargle.
True to her name, Amelia’s appearance was something to avert one’s gaze. With a body so emaciated that her bones were nearly visible, an unhealthy complexion, and a dress that was slightly soiled, she was abused by her stepmother and her half-sister. Barely given meals and continuously isolated in the annex, Amelia was nothing but a burden to the Hargle family, who aspired to elevate their noble standing. Unloved and unwanted by anyone, her days were destined to decay.
One day, while gathering weeds in the garden to supplement her meager daily rations, Amelia receives a marriage proposal. Her suitor is Duke Logan, infamous in high society as the “Tyrant Duke.”
“There’s no love in this marriage,” Duke Logan initially approaches it coldly, but…
“What are you doing in that tattered dress? Buy a new one with this money.”
“Why are you only trying to eat one meal a day? Make sure to have three meals.”
As it turns out, Logan is a princely young man whose tongue is a bit sharp, but whose heart is kind and sincere. Unconsciously, Logan begins to adore Amelia, who is ill-fated yet steadfast and optimistic. Meanwhile, Logan also discovers a certain ability Amelia has developed through her despairing life…
“Was the Hargle family suppressing such a talented individual… A loss at the national level…”
“Um… Husband?”
Meanwhile, at Amelia’s now-abandoned family home, the sounds of its gradual collapse are drawing near—
Original Web Serialization
https://www.cmoa.jp/title/302235/
