Chapter 1

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My fiancé, the First Prince of this country, Lord Clark, stood next to me with a beautiful young lady on his arm. I was wondering where my escort was, when he came right in front of me with the young lady still on his arm.

"Letitia, this is Miss Briana."

As the young lady came closer to me, she clung even tighter to Lord Clark's arm.

"I can't be your escort today."

Thanks to the people who were watching us, the words echoed clearly in the previously quiet square.

"Does that mean she will be your escort?"

"I'm sorry..."

"Does that mean our engagement is..."

"...That's right."

That's right.

I repeated those words over and over in my mind.

That's right, that's right, that's right, that's right.

So that's what it means!

I tightened my grip on my hands.

"Yay!"

"Huh?"

I must look nothing like a proper duchess's daughter, jumping and raising my hands. But I don't care. I don't need to be a proper lady anymore.

I ran to my brother, who was standing behind Lord Clark with a disappointed look on his face.

"Brother, did you hear? Did you hear? Of course, it was perfect, right?"

"Yes, I heard."

"Oh, I did it, I did it!"

I clasped my hands in front of my chest and looked up at the sky. Oh, thank you, God. I always thought praying in church was a hassle, but from now on, I'll pray properly!

"Ten years of hard work. Since I became the future king's fiancée at the age of seven, every day was study, study, study, study, dance, dance, dance, dance! And frequent tea parties for some reason! Not a single thing was fun!"

"Letitia...?"

"Everything I did was criticized. Don't laugh loudly, as if laughing with a big mouth would inconvenience someone. It doesn't! Running is unladylike, but it's just an excuse to criticize!"

"Leti...?"

"I had given up on what couldn't be changed, but now I don't have to do it anymore! Oh, it's the best. It's all thanks to you! ...What was her name again, Bri... Bri... Bri-bri?"

"Briana!"

The young lady's face turned red with anger.

"Sorry, but you're really bouncy."

"Are you making fun of me!?"

"I am, but I'm also grateful! Thank you for taking the bad debt!"

"Bad debt..."

"Studying ten hours a day in the castle, dancing, and enduring the harassment of the nobles at tea parties! You work hard! I'll support you!"

"..."

Briana's expression changed, but it's okay, it's okay. I heard a minstrel in town say that love can overcome anything. I had no love at all, so it's impossible.

"My brother, who forced me to be his fiancée, what a pity! Please get the connection with the royal family from somewhere else!"

"I understand."

"Brother, if Lord Clark finds a good woman, will you keep the promise to set me free?"

"I understand."

My brother looked resigned.

"Hehe, now I'm free. I won't be a lady anymore! I'll go to the countryside, fish, climb trees, play with the village children, and farm. I'll laugh with a big mouth and live happily!"

"Leti..."

"Oh, Lord Clark, thank you for everything. I'm moving to a remote border area, so don't worry about me. Please be affectionate and make many heirs to enrich the country. Don't worry, I'm very happy now. Well, if this had happened earlier, I would have wanted my days of suffering back, but I'll just think about it and not worry you!"

I waved my hand widely at the stunned Lord Clark. Ah, I don't have to do that little lady's wave anymore. Ah, I'm so happy!

I left the people standing there and returned to the carriage I came in. Ah, I need to hurry and prepare. This is the beginning of my happy time. I worked hard, Letitia.

I praised myself and thought about the future as I headed home.