VLA - Chapter 1

VLA - Chapter 1

Violet Love Affair

Prologue. 

What is an arranged marriage?

For nobles, an arranged marriage was a natural task.

If you are a woman from the upper class of the imperial capital, a prestigious family with a long history, and a family who inherited royal blood on your mother's side, you will be allocated a groom with quite good conditions in the marriage market. 

Ana also followed the same typical process.

She made her social debut at age 16, became engaged to an appropriately noble gentleman at age 18, got married just before her 20th birthday, and became the mistress of a family.

Her fiancé, or rather her husband, Garcia, who stayed by her side from the engagement ceremony until the wedding without any discord, was a gentle and polite man.

In fact, he is a very attractive husband and a rare gentleman in today's world.

Even in an atmosphere where free court love and mistresses were public, although not natural, he carried himself well without any scandals, and during the five years from the engagement period to the third year of marriage, he never once raised his voice or spoke to his wife. 

No matter whether it was public or private, he always respected her. The couple never even had any conflicts or fights.

Well. Is this a matter of mere courtesy, she thought. 

If you have big, passionate emotions, you won't get angry and get into trouble, right?

There was nothing but straight dignity and mutual respect between her and her husband. That doesn't mean they're in a cold relationship.

Not only was there no heat, but there wasn't much conversation, and unless it was because of each person's schedule, they ate together regularly, and quiet tea time and walks were peaceful and not awkward. Not only did they have no children, but their relationship was also suitable.

In fact, it is more difficult than you think to maintain such a peaceful and dignified relationship with someone you met through political means. 

She said she thought she was lucky. Her husband is objectively a man with qualities that other women would envy.

García von Tudor. This man of impeccable lineage, a direct descendant of the honorable Tudor family, has a handsome appearance that anyone would look at at least once, and a charm that is refreshingly bitter and elegant, Like the scent of mint.

There wasn't much to say to boast of brilliant speech. However, he had a likable aristocratic accent, speaking skills, and culture. You would probably not find anyone in the entire capital who would dispute that he was an intelligent and decent man.

Older ladies would whisper happily that there would never be a young man so humble despite his enormous inheritance and power.

In many ways, he is a very nice man. It's just that the feeling that connects them is not love. What should she say? 

Perhaps words like friendship or respect would be suitable.

Ever since Ana became a man's wife for three years, she sometimes thought helplessly. They have good feelings for each other and he is a faithful husband and a good man, so why won't love blossom?

However, this does not mean that Ana is an inferior or unsightly woman. She was also objectively aware of her appearance. Their values and sympathies were not very different.

Such a great gentleman and Lady, and as everyone in society says, they are a good-looking pair, so why?

She does not know. She thinks she probably had similar feelings, perhaps one of excitement, when she first met him when she was a girl. Because Garcia von Tudor is a cool guy. But why didn't the seed sprout properly?

There may be several reasons. Because they are such established and rational aristocrats, it may be due to the tendency among prestigious aristocratic families to secretly view it as foolish to mix emotions with arranged marriages, and it may also be due to what Garcia said not long after they got engaged.

“Anais.”

Ana remember that it was around this time that Garcia, who always called her Lady Dufault, started calling her by her first name after Ana's earnest dissuasion.

In fact, the noble girl, who still had some freshness left in her, felt a slight chill as her fiancé's soft voice, containing her name, sweetly entered her ears.

A dizzying goosebump that makes the fur around her ears stand up. However, he carefully made eye contact with the girl who looked as elegant as a lily, took a moment to breathe, and then spoke calmly.

"I want our relationship to be stable and supportive of each other. I want to be that kind of husband for you too. I promise that I will never harm your reputation."

Guaranteeing her honor meant that he would never engage in any of the 'vulgar games of gentlemen', such as creating a mistress or meeting Cortisan behind her back. This is very advantageous and pleasant. Sadly, it was also a rare consideration.

And the kind fiancé said this one after another to his fiancée, who was a little embarrassed and touched by the direct assurance.

"I won't force anything on you. Also, despite my rudeness, I earnestly hope that you will treat me in the same way."

"What does that mean?"

"It means not tying each other down emotionally."

In other words, one should promise maximum consideration and companionship for the other person, but affection is not an obligation. He was certainly a man who would faithfully adhere to all the requirements of a typical marriage. There is only love among them.

The sunlight shining on this elegant and cold-hearted, yet polite and kind person was that of spring, filled with the scent of flowers. Ana can still clearly see the garden full of spring colors that would be suitable for a love serenade, the pumpkin bolo tie he was wearing, and his golden eyes that shined brightly.

Ana just couldn't remember how she felt when she had that conversation with him.

Was she disappointed? Was it sad? Or was it because it was reasonable?

Anyway, Ana nodded and agreed to his suggestion. She seemed to think it made sense. She was already quite satisfied.

Even now, Ana was originally far from being overly greedy and was content with just the right level of satisfaction. She had enough sense to realize that she had succeeded in the upper-class marriage market.

Although she was young enough to feel a slight attraction to her handsome fiancé, the girl was ultimately a noblewoman. Because of this, she was unimpressed when, after her marriage, Garcia started calling her by her nickname, Ana.

They were great, decent partners. The gold and connections of the Dufault family were great allies in the Tudor family's new ship and railroad business, and Ana's internal affairs were perfect.

As her husband, Garcia also actively supported her social activities and paid attention to even the smallest things she did not ask for first, putting them in her hands.

He never allowed his wife to lose her dignity and pride as the mistress of a great family, the Marchioness of Tudor, and as a woman. The most shining trophy in the battle of noble ladies was her husband's absolute support, consideration, and respect.

So it was a satisfying marriage. Even without clear stimulation or passion, it was gentle and sufficient. One fine, sunny day, she had time to relax and enjoy the peace, drinking her tea at her leisure.

But how did it become so different?

She took a step back from the man who glowed with passion like a midsummer day she had already lost a long time ago. Fortunately or unfortunately, the man she looks at so affectionately is not her husband.

Ah, Ana realizes it a bit dully. Maybe the reason she couldn't love Garcia as her girl enemy was because she had suffered from an excessively hot fever once before.

The name of that incurable heat is first love.

The half-baked affection that had swept over the once calm and reading girl, rose up vaguely and messed with her head. She shook the sachet, which she thought was dry, and the scent of musk entered her nostrils. Her heart is pounding. It truly felt like a disease.

However, it was a once-in-a-lifetime beating that was tolerated since she was young. She knows now that she neither wanted nor tolerated it. She was a woman for whom stability and trust were more important than innocence.

Ana turned around, catching a glimpse of him, whose persistent regret and sorrowful heart were dripping under the calm face he had tried so hard to disguise.

“Ana. Anais!”

She didn't answer. Even with her pounding heart and the slightest hint of pain, her pale face was like an elegant Lady whose expression was difficult to read, as if she knew something or not. 

Uncharacteristically, she walks quickly but then slowly slows down. To her home, she wanted to hurry to her place and to the mansion where her husband was.

If she changes her clothes and drinks tea as usual... 

When Ana had a ceremonial and unremarkable conversation with her husband who was coming home from work, she felt like her upset stomach would return to its original state.

Or so she hoped.

However, when she ran into her husband, who had somehow been waiting for her at the mansion she arrived in hastily, she intuitively knew something was wrong.

“Ana.”

The gentle face and thoughtful eyes that always had a faint smile were different today. No, right now was no time for him to be home in the first place. His expressionless eyes slowly stop and look at his wife.

Ana almost bit her tongue when she encountered golden eyes rising from a dress with stained ends, probably because she had splashed muddy water from running without realizing it.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?"

Her husband noticed.

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