Chapter 1

"Cynthia-sama, I will take my leave then."

The maids bowed politely to me before leaving the room.

Sure enough, these are the maids who serve the Count and Countess of Tarche, who live in the capital. Everyone is so refined and kind.

"Such a difference from the Baroia territory..."

The Baroia territory, where I was born and raised, is so rural that I sometimes wonder if there are more horses, sheep, and cows than people.

Always preparing for war, the buildings are generally rugged, and neither the people nor their clothes are as sophisticated as here.

Well, if you say it's comfortable and good, then it is.

But... it's just too rural there.

The Baroia territory, far from the capital and near the border, has cicadas chirping early in the morning in summer, and frogs chorus at night.

When the sun sets, it gets pitch dark, and all that's left is to go to bed. There's nothing to enjoy.

That's why I looked forward to getting books from the capital to read.

My heart flutters only when I sigh over the latest dress catalogs or read the popular romance novels in the capital.

And now, I, such a country girl, am in the capital for my debut in society. It feels like a dream, and I've been nervous all along.

Why I'm staying with the Count and Countess of Tarche is that the Countess is my mother's sister, my aunt.

"My aunt is also a very beautiful lady."

She looks like a sophisticated adult woman in her bright dress. But, with her blonde hair and purple eyes, just like my mother and me, I feel a sense of familiarity even though it's our first meeting.

The light purple dress I'm wearing now is a gift from my aunt. A dress as beautiful and delicate as this can't be bought in the Baroia territory.

I looked around and, after confirming that all the maids had left, hurried to stand in front of the full-length mirror. The mirror reflected me, dressed up like a princess.

"Wow, amazing!"

When I twirled, the skirt flared out.

"I've never worn such a beautiful dress before!"

The fabric of the dress feels so good, and the design is neither too childish nor too adult, but just right!

My hair was also styled very cutely by the maids. I don't even know what they did with it, but it looks great.

This flower-shaped hair accessory is a gift from my uncle, the Count of Tarche.

"Even my uncle has such good taste! No wonder people in the capital are completely different."

My father, before we left for the capital, gave me a dagger for self-defense, saying, "The capital is dangerous." My brother gave me a mysterious wooden carving, saying, "It's a charm."

I brought both, but... would any woman be happy to receive such things? I wasn't happy at all.

There was a knock on the door. I hurriedly moved away from the mirror.

"Y-Yes, come in."

When I called out, my aunt, dressed in a deep green dress, appeared.

"Wow... beautiful."

My aunt chuckled.

"You're really cute, you know. You're very beautiful too, Cynthia."

"Ah, um, thank you."

My aunt praises me a lot. She must be encouraging me, who is nervous about my first time in the capital.

"Cynthia, my husband will escort you today."

"My uncle will!? Aunt, is that okay?"

"Of course, for my dear niece."

Being escorted by a man feels like I've really become a princess.

When my aunt called out, "You," to the door, my uncle, dressed formally, entered.

With a gentle smile, my uncle asked, "Miss Cynthia, may I have your hand?"

My aunt whispered in my ear, "Just hold out your right hand."

When I hesitantly held out my right hand, my uncle gently took it and pretended to kiss the back of it.

"Let's go, Princess."

"Y-Yes!"

Being escorted by my uncle, my heart is pounding, and my legs are wobbly.

We somehow made it to the carriage and got in. The carriage door closed, and it started moving slowly. I looked out the window, thinking about what was to come.

During the social season in the capital, glamorous evening parties are held all over.

At these parties, young noble men and women of marriageable age look for spouses.

I came to the capital from the Baroia territory to find a husband and make my debut in society.

My father and brother also found their spouses in the capital and returned to the Baroia territory. But, is there anyone who wants to marry me?

Moreover, I can't imagine a nobleman who would leave such a comfortable capital and come all the way to the rural Baroia territory.

My aunt frowned at me, who was nervously touching my blonde hair.

"Calm down, Cynthia."

"I'm sorry. I'm just nervous..."

My aunt and uncle exchanged glances.

"Your brother Rio and you are so different."

"Really. Rio is so bold, it even surprised me."

I thought of my always laid-back brother.

"My brother is kind of dense."

My aunt and uncle nodded in agreement. It seems my brother spent his time in the capital as usual.

My uncle said, "I can understand why the Margrave of Baroia was worried about you." My cheeks flushed at his words.

My overprotective father, worried about my first trip to the capital, assigned many guards.

When we arrived, my aunt and uncle were so surprised by the number of guards that they opened their mouths in astonishment.

I told them to stop, but my overprotective father wouldn't listen... It was really embarrassing.

While we were talking, the carriage arrived at the castle.

"Wow... amazing."

The white castle walls are low, making it easy for enemies to attack. The capital's castle is really not built for battle.

Inside the castle, everything is as beautiful as a painting, and I was captivated.

My aunt whispered, "Cynthia, close your mouth," so I hurriedly did. My uncle, who was escorting me, smiled gently.

Are all the men in the capital this gentle?

If it weren't for my aunt and uncle, who are familiar with the capital, I wouldn't have been able to participate in the evening party properly. I owe everything to them for not embarrassing myself in the capital for the first time.

When we entered the party venue, it was like stepping into a fairy tale.

Looking up, the chandeliers sparkled like stars. The men and women dancing in the center of the hall moved in unison, which was interesting.

"It's so different from our parties..."

In the Baroia territory, parties are gatherings of knights and peasants, where they eat delicious food, drink a lot of alcohol, and make a lot of noise. They dance too, but just follow the music without any rules.

So, before coming to the capital, I received intensive lady education. Thanks to that, I think I can handle the manners and dances in the capital, but...

I feel like people are looking at me. Maybe they've noticed I'm a country girl and are laughing at me.

"Aunt, am I standing out?"

Am I wearing this beautiful dress properly?

My aunt misunderstood and asked, "Oh, don't you like the dress?"

"No! I love this dress!"

My aunt tucked a loose strand of my blonde hair behind my ear.

"Cynthia, be confident. You are my pride."

My chest warmed at my aunt's words.

"Thank you, Aunt. But, I feel like everyone is looking at me..."

My aunt seemed surprised.

"Cynthia, you still don't understand your value in the capital. They are waiting for a chance to talk to you."

"Really!?"

My aunt opened her fan and whispered in my ear.

"Most of the nobles know that the daughter of the Margrave of Baroia is at this party tonight. The Baroia territory is wealthy and a key military area, and the king holds it in high regard, so many people want to get to know you."

"But, it's just a rural area!"

There seems to be a misunderstanding about the Baroia territory in the capital.

I asked my aunt about something I had been worried about.

"Aunt... will anyone want to marry a country girl like me?"

"What are you saying! When your brother Rio came to the social scene, many young ladies swooned over his ruggedness. There was even a long line of young ladies waiting to talk to him!"

"Even my bear-like brother!?"

My brother Rio swings his sword every day, not knowing what's fun.

He trains with the knights of the Baroia territory in the early morning and trains alone at night. During the day, he apparently helps my father, the Margrave, with his work, but I once saw him smile and say, "Yeah, that's true," when my father, with a disappointed look, said, "Rio, you're not cut out for managing the territory."

I'm worried about the future of the Baroia territory.

My brother, who isn't good at using his head, somehow married an incredibly beautiful woman.

They apparently met at a social event and fell in love at first sight, but I can't believe it. She's so delicate, refined, and kind!

She's originally from a count's family, but she looks like a real princess.

When I asked her, "Why did you come to such a rough brother?" she blushed and said, "I've never met anyone as wonderful as Lord Rio." I really admire her.

While I was lost in thoughts about my beautiful sister-in-law, my aunt scolded me, "Cynthia! Snap out of it!"

I remembered I was at the party.

"Cynthia, the social scene is a battlefield."

"B-Battlefield?"

I swallowed hard.

I remember reading something like that in my favorite romance novels.

The heroine, lost in thought at a party, is splashed with wine by a rival young lady who says, "Oh, I'm so sorry."

There are also scenes where she is slapped and told, "You're not good enough for Lord X!"

...The capital is scary.

But, this is a story. I shouldn't mix it with reality.

I shook my head to focus, and my aunt smiled.

"It's okay, Cynthia. You don't need to be so scared. Here, you're the one being chosen, not the one doing the choosing."

"H-Huh...?"

Does that mean I can marry anyone I choose?

That can't be... But my aunt isn't the type to lie.

Then, could I marry that incredibly handsome black-haired young man over there?

He noticed my gaze and gave a small bow. His eyes are as beautiful as rubies, and I can't help but stare. But, his face looks tired, and he has dark circles under his eyes.

He doesn't seem to be feeling well. Should I ask him if he's okay?

As I was considering, my aunt pulled my arm.

"Cynthia, that one is no good."

"But, you said I'm the one doing the choosing?"

"Even if you can choose, you can't choose someone who is already engaged."

"Engaged..."

That's true. My aunt led me away and explained in a low voice.

"That black-haired young man is Theodore, the son of the Duke of Bailey. He is engaged to the princess of this country."

"The princess's fiancé!"

I almost made a huge mistake. That was close.

"And, the one over there is the princess."

Following my aunt's gaze, I saw a beautiful woman with bright red hair.

"That's the princess..."

She's a real princess.

"But, what?"

For some reason, there's a strangely familiar silver-haired young man near the princess. They are smiling at each other and leaning close.

"Aunt, who is that?"

My aunt made a displeased face, but, of course, as a refined lady, she hid it behind her fan so only I could see.

"That's Theodore's younger brother."

"But, he seems very close to the princess?"

Meanwhile, the silver-haired young man kissed the princess's right cheek. The princess didn't scold him and blushed.

My aunt watched with a cold eye.

"So, it's an affair. The princess likes her fiancé's younger brother, Kurt, more than Theodore. That's why she's being harsh on Theodore."

"Huh? Why is the princess, who cheated, being harsh on Theodore?"

I don't understand at all. My aunt is also exasperated.

"Letting him do whatever he wants, even though he's her brother. I don't know what Theodore or their father, the Duke of Bailey, is thinking."

That reminded me of a romance novel I read.

One of my favorite genres is "villainess" stories.

Originally, it referred to the villain who bullied the heroine, but stories where the villainess tries to avoid her downfall are very interesting!

And, Theodore's current situation is exactly like a "villainess" story!

But, Theodore is a young man, so it's a "villain" story.

As I was thinking about this, the party venue suddenly became noisy.

My aunt and I exchanged glances, and we heard a woman's loud voice.

"Theodore Bailey! I'm breaking off our engagement right here and now!"