Chapter 1

This country, the Kingdom of Rosaria, is an island nation established on the Great Rosaria Island.

Great Rosaria Island is a long, narrow island. Therefore, the climate changes significantly between the north and the south, almost like different countries.

The Earl of Floresses' domain, where Estelle lives, is located in the mountainous region of the northwest of Great Rosaria Island, and is known as one of the country's heaviest snowfall areas.

July is the season when the greenery is at its most vibrant. The mountains are covered with a green carpet, and the pastoral scenes of pigs and sheep grazing on the pastures can be seen everywhere.

Although the area is close to the habitat of flying dragons, which occasionally cause significant damage to crops and livestock, the summer in the Floresses domain is cool and dry, making it comfortable to live in. The garden of the manor, designed to capture the natural scenery, was filled with colorful flowers like roses and lavender, which add beauty to the summer.

A carriage pulled up to the manor's entrance, and the guests descended.

The guests who arrived at the manor today were Estelle's fiancé, Lyle, and his father, the Earl of Wintia. Seeing the familiar figures of the two as they got out of the carriage, Estelle's face briefly showed a look of joy, but then she frowned.

Estelle's eyes have a special power. She can visually perceive the mana that living beings possess. Mana is the life energy that all living things have. Among those born with high mana, some awaken to various supernatural abilities, known as "Awakened Ones."

Estelle, who can see mana as light, is also a type of "Awakened One." To her, mana appears as a swirling silver light centered around the heart.

The conditions for awakening to supernatural abilities vary. Some awaken through training, while others awaken when they are on the brink of death. In Estelle's case, it was the latter. Six years ago, she contracted a deadly epidemic called scarlet fever, which brought her to the brink of death, and this was the trigger for her awakening.

Incidentally, "Awakened Ones" are more common among the royal family, who are born with high mana. This is said to be the result of repeated marriages to inherit supernatural abilities.

After recovering from scarlet fever, Estelle realized her ability when she touched a magic stone.

Magic stones are special minerals that absorb mana and convert it into energy, serving as the power source for various magical devices that enrich daily life, such as magical water systems and magical furnaces.

Estelle's ability not only allows her to visually perceive mana, which is usually undetectable without specialized magical devices, but also to discern the general emotions of the person. When someone feels joy or happiness, their mana shines brightly, while negative emotions like sadness, anger, or hatred cause it to dim.

Technically, this ability might not be a function of the eyes. Even with her eyes closed, she can sense the presence of living beings around her as light. However, the range of perception is narrower than when using her eyes, about a five-meter radius centered on herself. Within this range, Estelle can accurately determine the number of people around her even with her eyes closed.

The troublesome aspect of this ability is that it is always active, and she cannot control whether to use it or not. Therefore, she sees things she does not want to see.

Estelle frowned when she saw the guests getting out of the carriage because both the Earl of Wintia and Lyle's mana were dim.

(Something bad must have happened...)

She had a terrible feeling.

◆ ◆ ◆

"I have been waiting for you, Sedric, Lyle."

"It's been a while, Lyle."

Together with her brother Sirius, the head of the Floresses family, Estelle welcomed her fiancé and his parents at the entrance.

"Yes, it's been a while, Estelle."

Despite the long time since they last met, Lyle's expression was stiff, and his mana was still dim. Estelle felt a bad premonition and stared at Lyle's face.

She soon realized her premonition was correct. As soon as they settled into the parlor, the Earl of Wintia got straight to the point.

"Sirius, I'm terribly sorry, but I would like to annul the engagement between Lyle and Miss Estelle."

The world before her eyes turned dark, and the sounds around her rapidly faded away.

"Why do you suddenly say such a thing?"

In response to Sirius's question, the Earl of Wintia sighed and began to explain the situation.

"The damage from last year's prolonged rain was worse than expected... I'm ashamed to admit it, but our finances are quite strained due to the equipment investment in the textile factory the year before last..."

The Floresses and Wintia domains are adjacent, with many commonalities in climate and industry. This area in the north of Great Rosaria Island has poor soil and cold nights even in summer, making it unsuitable for wheat cultivation. The lives of the people in this region are supported by livestock grazing, potatoes, and grains like barley and rye that can grow in cold climates.

The damage from last year's prolonged rain was not a trivial matter for the Floresses domain either. The continuous rain from spring to early summer not only caused cold damage but also led to flooding, resulting in significant damage to the northern region.

This area is already harsh due to the proximity of the flying dragon habitats, which cause damage to livestock and crops when the dragons descend into human settlements.

The Floresses domain managed to endure thanks to the benefits of the magic stone veins within its territory.

"I received a substantial loan from the Porterie Trading Company to cover the deficit. I had a solid repayment plan and intended to pay it back without strain..."

The Porterie Trading Company is a major trading company that has amassed vast wealth through trade with the Eastern Empire and Gandia, earning a baronial title.

"It seems that the daughter of the Porterie Trading Company has fallen in love with Lyle... and is using the debt as leverage to demand that Lyle marry her..."

Estelle could hear Lyle gritting his teeth from where he sat in front of her. Lyle, with his jet-black hair and mysterious purple eyes, has a chaste and ruggedly handsome appearance. It's understandable why the daughter of the Porterie Trading Company would fall in love with him.

"Why didn't you consult us before things got to this point?"

Sirius asked the two from the Wintia family with a stern expression.

"You must have had a tough time too, right? And you, being young and having just inherited the title, had to deal with the disaster for the first time... I'm sorry. I didn't want to burden you."

Sirius was taken aback by the Earl of Wintia's response, as the earl's comment about his youth was true.

"I'm sorry, Estelle. Asking you to break the engagement in this way is truly regrettable..."

Seeing the solemn expressions of the two from the Wintia family, Estelle realized that her opinion did not matter; this was already a decided matter for the Wintia family.

In exchange for a substantial compensation payment from the Wintia and Porterie families, Estelle lost her fiancé. Lyle, who was three years older, and Sirius, who was five years older, had often visited each other's domains and played together since childhood.

Lyle, who had treated her like a beloved younger sister, was someone Estelle deeply cared for.

(I had always dreamed of marrying Lyle...)

The tears she had been holding back finally overflowed after she saw off the father and son from the Wintia family.

"Estelle..."

"Brother, I lost to money."

The damage from the prolonged rain was significant, and the Floresses family did not have the resources to support the Wintia family. She did not lose to the daughter of the Porterie baron as a woman; she lost to money.

Sirius looked at Estelle with a pained expression.