Chapter 12

Standing at the classroom door, I took a deep breath and firmly gripped the letter containing secrets that my mother had given me.

My engagement to Lord Ash was, as a member of the Steizen family, part of a political strategy.

I certainly did not intend to exercise the rights entrusted to me by my father based solely on romantic feelings.

Of course, there was also the background of pressure from the royal family that had stopped my engagement talks.

However, I concluded an engagement that would benefit my family and the country sufficiently.

...That was supposed to be the case.

"Haa"

But, I never expected it to make my heart flutter so much, as if it were a bond formed by love.

I never thought I would feel such emotions.

Even the breath I exhaled seemed to carry a passionate heat.

It was a feeling that was both embarrassing and delightful.

I needed to pull myself together again. My life at the Royal Academy was about to begin.

I was not here to play.

In the future, I would marry the Margrave of the northern great forest, who defends the country from the beasts.

Since I was to marry into the border, I could not afford to neglect my relationship with the center.

Rather, I needed to deepen my ties with the center and the nobility, and use my position as a duchess's daughter to become a force for the border.

I had to spend my time at the academy with a high level of awareness.

My purpose in attending the Royal Academy was to 'contribute to the interests of the Baltsline family.'

If my engagement to Prince Leonhardt had been successful, I would probably have been busy solidifying my position in the center.

I would have strived to be a suitable fiancée for the prince and a future queen, learning, maintaining a proper attitude, and building relationships.

But now, I am on a different path, far from such a strategy.

My relationships with those around me would certainly be very different.

Of course, the future where I become Prince Leonhardt's fiancée is now 'nonexistent.'

How the eyes of those around me would change.

...For example, regarding the eyewitness accounts of my interactions with Lord Ash.

I had to respond to the keen interest of the female students. No, no.

Yes, I was asked repeatedly about my relationship with Lord Ash. It was very embarrassing.

'The duchess's daughter adored by the Margrave.' Unexpectedly, this was the start of my school life.

With the connections I made at the academy, I also heard rumors about Prince Leonhardt.

It seems that he has not yet engaged with anyone.

He has not even entered into engagement talks with another duchess's daughter, Sandika Roddick.

Sandika and the Roddick duchy have decided to 'wait.'

Given that the crown prince's fiancée has not been decided, this can be considered a reasonable decision.

Perhaps, like me, their engagement talks were stopped, but that is uncertain.

Who will become Prince Leonhardt's fiancée?

The noble society, especially our generation, is the focus of much attention and rumor.

Not only Sandika, but many others and families want to secure a place for their daughters.

I stepped away from that competition early and found a 'good person.'

So, from now on... well.

"First, I should train my body. I also need to practice magic."

To avoid being a burden in battles against beasts. Fortunately, I have a talent for magic.

I have good physical coordination, and with the use of body-strengthening magic, I can move quite well.

However, I have avoided intense physical training because my body is not fully developed yet.

But I intend to continue handling swords and moving my body regularly.

"Good morning, Angelina-sama."

"...Misha. Good morning."

At the academy, the one who spoke to me was... Misha. Misha Traumer, the viscount's daughter.

A female student with unremarkable brown hair and eyes. She has been my 'friend' since before.

"Finally, our school life has begun, Angelina-sama."

"Yes, Misha. It has, hasn't it?"

"Yes, Angelina-sama."

I needed to confirm something about her.

Because my situation has significantly deviated from the Traumer viscount's expectations.

Misha's family, the Traumer viscount, is a 'foster child' of the Steizen duchy.

There are factions in the noble society. High-ranking families serve as 'foster parents' to support 'foster children' families.

If my engagement to the prince had been successful, the daughters of the foster families would have surrounded me.

I would have been surrounded and protected by many people, spending my school life that way.

However, now that it is known that I will marry into the Baltsline margrave family, the benefits for those who want to rise in the center are few.

Therefore, building relationships will be a bit more difficult. The difference in purpose and camaraderie is the key.

A duchess's daughter who will eventually leave the center and not often appear in society.

How close should they get to me?

Of course, I still have authority. The margrave I will marry is not someone to be made an enemy.

There are benefits to getting close to a duchy. However, if asked whether he is the top priority...

"Do you understand this, Misha?"

"Yes, Angelina-sama. Of course, I understand."

I am reiterating this because I am a bit worried about her.

Misha and I have a long-standing relationship.

As noble daughters with a significant difference in status, it might seem odd to say this, but we are like 'childhood friends.'

However, she does not act as if we are on equal footing.

We are the same age and entered the Royal Academy in the same year.

And the reason I am worried is not just because of the long-standing relationship.

"Misha, I heard that your engagement has not been decided yet."

"...Yes, that is correct, Angelina-sama."

"I'm sorry, Misha..."

"It's not something you need to apologize for, Angelina-sama."

"Maybe, but..."

I feel guilty. I have a sense of guilt.

Misha Traumer has liked a man since she was young.

He is a noble son, and a match far above her status as a viscount's daughter.

Misha's love interest is Dennis Colden, the third son of the Colden marquess.

His father, the Marquess Colden, is the 'Chancellor' of the Belzuri Kingdom.

Dennis is the third son of the marquess, the 'son of the Chancellor,' and a person recognized for his talent.

He is our age and has entered the academy as a first-year student this year.

He has connections with Prince Leonhardt through the chancellor.

He is rumored to be a potential chancellor for the next generation.

I have only seen him from a distance and have not directly interacted with him.

It is a difficult match for a viscount's daughter.

However, as I mentioned, she is a foster daughter of the Steizen family.

And we have known each other since we were young.

...So, 'if I had become Prince Leonhardt's fiancée.'

As a 'future queen's' friend, it would have been possible to arrange an engagement for Misha with Dennis.

If I had not given up on the royal engagement, she might have found happiness.

I understand the happiness of being with the one you love.

The fact that I cannot give her that happiness is painful.

"...It's fine, Angelina-sama. It was a one-sided love from the beginning."

"Misha..."

Indeed, it was a love from childhood, and she had tried to approach Dennis.

Even in ways I did not know. But he never paid her any attention.

"Besides, recently, it seems I have even displeased Dennis."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"...Actually, it seems he dislikes even seeing me from a distance. Now, I am forbidden to approach him."

"Huh? Why go that far...?"

I did not know that Misha was in such a situation.

"I don't know. Perhaps he found out about my feelings and was displeased. The marquess's family told me to stay away. However, it was not a harsh reprimand. My father told me it was a gentle warning."

"That's... a big shock."

It must be a significant blow. Misha has liked him for a long time.

Certainly, the status difference was strict, making it a difficult match. However, Dennis, being the third son, does not have a hereditary title.

Of course, he can establish himself as a civil servant.

While the position of chancellor is not guaranteed, with his talent, he could serve in the royal court.

However, in that case, he would likely receive a 'civil servant title' lower than a marquess's son.

Depending on his position and responsibilities, it could be a baron or viscount equivalent.

If that were the case, an engagement with Misha would have been a well-matched match.

If their feelings were the same, it would not have been an impossible match.

I cannot help but take Misha's side, and I cannot find the right words to say to her.

Of course, Dennis has his reasons. If he had protested to the Traumer family to stop her from approaching him... it means his feelings were not for Misha.

A political marriage is one thing, but a marriage based on romantic feelings, where the other party does not reciprocate, is painful. In a way, if it were a marriage without mutual feelings, it might have been better for Misha to be clearly rejected.

...But I cannot say that to Misha, who has just experienced a breakup.