“Why did he choose me?”

“It’s not just a choice, it’s a marriage proposal.”

A middle-aged man and a young woman with incredulous expressions were conversing in a study.

Snow-white skin, clear large crimson eyes, pink hair, and an aura of softness and lovability that immediately brought herbivorous animals to mind. This association was only natural.

They were Count Mori and his daughter Violet, rabbit beastkin living in the Kingdom of Vatis where various species and humans coexisted.

The Kingdom of Vatis had traditionally been ruled by kings from the tiger clan, with various nobles serving beneath them.

Clan leaders held the rank of Duke, followed by Marquises, Counts, and Viscounts, with only a small number of families from each beastkin type holding these titles.

Humans and beastkin had agreed not to encroach upon each other’s territories, but with such diversity among species, interspecies marriages were gradually becoming more common.

Following this trend, Violet had received a marriage proposal from another species. The unexpected source of this proposal had left them shocked.

The proposal came from Aslan Duke Queensberry, leader of the snake clan.

Having become the ruler of the snake clan at a relatively young age, he was a capable, wealthy, and skilled individual admired by many women regardless of species.

The reason he had proposed to Violet was due to a mandatory order from the royal family.

Despite the increase in interspecies marriages, some clans still hesitated to marry outside their kind.

Therefore, the king felt the need to actively encourage interspecies marriages and specifically designated Duke Queensberry to marry someone from another species.

Rather than assigning him to a specific family, the king had given the Duke the freedom to choose any lady he desired, and he had selected Violet.

The problem was that she had virtually no connection to the snake Duke.

She had only seen him once by chance in the shopping district. In a word, his appearance was beautiful.

Black hair, golden eyes, a straight nose, sharp jawline… She had never before seen a man with such perfectly harmonious features.

But that was the extent of her impression. She felt nothing else.

The Duke had shown no interest in her at that time either, and since they hadn’t encountered each other since, Violet couldn’t understand why he had chosen her as his marriage partner.

“I don’t know why he chose you among all the eligible young ladies.”

“Indeed. I’m flattered, but I don’t understand either.”

The Countess, who had entered the study late, also wore a puzzled expression and questioned the snake Duke’s proposal just like Count Mori.

They weren’t trying to belittle Violet. Objectively speaking, she had a significant flaw that made her unsuitable for marriage.

Despite being well past the age of adulthood, Violet had not yet experienced her heat cycle.

Beastkin typically went through their first heat around the age of 20, and only after experiencing it were they recognized as true adults. This made Violet lacking as a marriage partner, making the proposal seem nonsensical.

“Please tell him I haven’t had my heat cycle yet.”

Thinking perhaps the Duke had proposed without knowing she hadn’t experienced her heat cycle, Violet tried to use this as an excuse to refuse, but the response was completely unexpected.

“He says it doesn’t matter.”

Violet asked in confusion.

“What? Why not?”

“What does the reason matter? If Duke Queensberry is fine with it, that’s all that matters. I want you to accept his proposal.”

“Why? Is it because you were deceived by Count Whale and lost all your investments to the bottom of the sea?”

“Yes. How could I have known that despite Count Whale’s assurance of calm weather, not just wind but a typhoon would blow? The ship carrying the goods sank, and Count Whale disappeared, leaving me with nothing but lost money.”

At that moment, undisguised anger flickered in Count Mori’s crimson eyes.

His business had failed because of Count Whale, who had taken the money and vanished. To recover from this, he needed Violet’s help.

Though she understood this perfectly well, Violet wanted to be selfish about her own marriage.

“I understand you’re worried about financial issues, but I want to decline this proposal.”

“This is truly beneficial for our family. Duke Queensberry has offered to invest in my next business venture as well. So please, Violet.”

“No.”

“Please! Since things have come to this, just accept it.”

“I said no.”

As Violet stubbornly shook her head, Count Mori’s face hardened.

“Is your stubbornness perhaps because of Leon?”

“Yes!”

The reason Violet refused to accept the snake Duke’s proposal despite her father’s desperate plea was because she had a lover whom she intended to marry.

Leon Evercorn. He was Violet’s childhood friend and lover.

Count Mori and Duke Evercorn, the head of the rabbit clan and the Evercorn ducal family, were extremely close friends.

This naturally led Violet to become close with Leon, the Duke’s second son, and their deep feelings for each other had developed into a romantic relationship.

“Haven’t I told you that Leon is not suitable as your partner?”

However, Count Mori had disapproved of Violet and Leon’s relationship long before the snake Duke’s proposal.

“We love each other, so why should I break up with Leon and marry Duke Queensberry?”

“If he truly wanted to marry you, he would have already proposed. The fact that he hasn’t proposed yet shows the limit of his feelings. Marry the man who is actually proposing to you.”

The reason for his opposition was that Leon had not yet proposed to Violet.

Typically, proposals came right after the first heat cycle, but Count Mori maintained that if one truly loved someone, they should propose regardless of the heat cycle.

Therefore, he would never approve of Leon, who not only hadn’t proposed but had recently reduced the frequency of his meetings with Violet, claiming to be busy.

“He might propose as soon as I have my heat cycle.”

“That’s precisely what I find calculating. I would be happy to see you paired with my friend’s son, but how could I approve a marriage with someone who acts so cowardly and petty! You would be better off adapting to a new life with Duke Queensberry.”

“I said no!”

“If you insist on being stubborn, I have no choice but to be forceful. It’s all for your sake, so don’t feel too resentful.”

“This is too much!”

No matter how much they argued, Count Mori showed no intention of changing his mind.

Seeing no way to change her father’s decision, Violet decided to plan an escape with Leon. She felt she could go anywhere with him.

Immediately after leaving the study, Violet went to find Leon and explained her situation before he could even ask why she had come.

“Leon, what should I do? Father is trying to force me to marry Duke Queensberry, but I don’t want to. I want to marry you.”

“Violet…”

She expected him to be outraged at the absurdity of an engagement to the snake Duke, but Leon instead looked troubled. His expression gave her an uneasy feeling, but Violet deliberately ignored it and expressed her thoughts.

“You don’t like it either, right? I hate it too. I can’t follow my father’s wishes like this, so let’s run away together.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t think I can go with you.”

Contrary to her expectation that he would agree to run away together, unexpected words came from Leon’s mouth.

Can’t go together? Why not?

“Leon, don’t you love me?”

Violet looked at him with incomprehension.

“I don’t want you to become an unfilial daughter. It’s better for me to give you up.”

“But you love me. So let’s run away first to prevent the engagement, and then we can change my father’s mind later.”

“Would he like someone who took his daughter away? Besides, this could strain the relationship between Count Mori and my father. I think we shouldn’t act emotionally.”

No matter how much she pleaded, Leon showed no intention of changing his mind, his expression full of lingering attachment.

Unable to sway Leon’s cold refusal despite her entreaties, Violet finally had to abandon her plan to escape with him.

“Fine. Let’s break up then.”

“I’m truly sorry. But even though we’re parting like this, I’ll love you forever.”

If he loved her, he would hold onto her!

Leaving Leon with his apologetic expression behind, Violet had to board the carriage with heavy steps.

Upon arriving at the mansion, Count Mori immediately summoned her to his study.

“What did Leon say?”

“…I’ll get engaged to Duke Queensberry as you said.”

Unable to bring herself to say that Leon had refused her, Violet changed the subject by accepting the engagement to the snake Duke.

“You’ve made a wise decision.”

Fortunately, the Count didn’t ask any further about what had happened between her and Leon.

Starting that evening until the day of the engagement ceremony, Violet cried every night, resulting in her attending the ceremony with a swollen face.

After being forcibly engaged to the snake Duke, Violet had to begin bridal training immediately the day after the engagement ceremony.

Not much was known about the snake clan, but upon marriage, she would have to go to the land ruled by the snake clan and become its mistress, meaning she had countless things to learn even with limited information.

As a result, Violet’s days passed in a blur.