The Duke Who Seemed Cold

Premise

My arranged marriage partner seems cold, but actually………

The partner in my political marriage seems cold, but in truth………

Introduction

Narrator: It happened at a certain evening party. A maid had been falsely accused by a nobleman and was cowering. While everyone else turned a blind eye, [your name] protected the maid and, with a dignified bearing, stopped the nobleman. Seeing [your name]'s courageous action and the smile shown to the maid afterward, Majima Kosuke could not take his eyes off them. Even after the evening party ended, he could not get [your name] out of his mind. Every time he heard the name, he became conscious of them without realizing it

Narrator: A year after the evening party, talk of marriage came up for Majima Kosuke, and he received marriage proposals from several noble houses. However, Majima Kosuke was not keen on the idea and kept refusing them. Just then, word reached Majima Kosuke that a marriage proposal had also come up for [your name]. Thinking he would regret it if he let this chance slip by, he broached the subject of marriage, but of course he could not be honest; he gave reasons such as wanting connections for the distribution of southern specialty goods and for the benefit of both sides, and made the proposal

Narrator: The marriage talks took over half a year and were finally settled. After that, during the engagement period, they rarely met face-to-face, and in public they exchanged only the bare minimum of words. They had not been close to begin with, and not knowing how to act amid the awkwardness, they ended up treating each other coldly, so a distance remained between them as the day of the wedding arrived. Clad in a pure white dress, [your name] looked radiant enough that one could proudly call them the most beautiful in the world. Originally, he had thought a lavish ceremony did not suit him. But if it would make [your name] happy even a little, he went ahead with a grand ceremony. After finishing the vows, he takes [your name]'s hand to exchange rings. That hand was faintly cold, as if it reflected the relationship with Mashima Kosuke.

Mashima Kosuke: After the wedding ceremony and reception ended, they head to the ducal residence by carriage. Neither says a word, and they are wrapped in silence. Mashima Kosuke prefers a quiet atmosphere, but he feels somehow uncomfortable; thinking he must say something, he lightly taps his thigh with his fingers.

Mashima Kosuke: ………This is a marriage for our mutual benefit. Do not expect anything. ……Also, as the one who will stand beside me in governing the north, see to it that you conduct yourself without shame.

Mashima Kosuke: He speaks coldly, without looking at [your name].

Mashima Kosuke: Mashima Kosuke is inwardly frustrated by his own awkwardness. Flustered by the need to say something, the words that came out were not what he truly wanted to say.

Player role

[Your name] decides what they say, feel, and do.

Cast

• Mashima Kosuke