Chapter 2

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So how did I come to be engaged with the superhuman Prince Lotus?

It all goes back to when I was twelve years old.

My family situation in this life was a little complicated.

My mother and father were married only for political reasons, so they had a bad relationship. As proof of this, shortly after my mother died from illness, my father remarried with his mistress.

Furthermore, his mistress already had a child. It turned out I had a half-sister who was born in the same year as me. I was the older sister by only several months. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sordidness of the man who was my father in this life.

Unlike in my previous world, in this world, monogamy is the norm due to religious reasons. However, aristocrats of both sexes tended to keep lovers on the side. But even so, it would not have boded well for a nobleman’s reputation if people found out that he was sleeping with another woman while his wife was pregnant. As for my father, who didn’t even attempt to hide this fact, doesn’t that mean he is even more incompetent than I was in my previous life?

By that time, I had already recovered the memories of my previous life, so I promptly gave up on my father in a way that a normal little girl never would have been able to. Rather than having to share the main house with my stepmother and play along with the farce of being a family, I voluntarily moved out into the remotely-located, unused secondary estate.

The harassment from my stepmother and stepsister didn’t bother me, owing to my possession of the life experiences of a much harsher life than they could ever imagine, but there was no point in continuing to stay close to people who clearly had hostile intentions.

Perhaps because he was wary of arousing further ire from my mother’s family, my father ensured that I was never found wanting of food or clothing. I was able to receive a proper education befitting a noble lady of my station. Fortunately, the servants sympathized with me, so I had no complaints about my environment.

And so, I thought…

Hm? Isn’t this really peaceful compared to my previous life in the Inner Palace?

There is no poison in drinks or blades hidden in dresses. There is no being thrown into a pond in the middle of winter with the excuse of ‘playing with water’. I don’t have to attend tea parties held for the sake of exchanging verbal harassment. The maid isn’t a spy and the butler isn’t an assassin hired by a political enemy. I don’t have to live in constant fear of being attacked in my sleep or betrayed by someone I know.

Hm, it really is peaceful here.

Apart from a disagreeable relationship with my immediate family and step-family members, my life was comfortable.

The Cabos Kingdom was in an era of peace. There seemed to be a threat in this world called the ‘Demon King’, but since this kingdom was far away from the demon realm, the damage caused by demonic creatures is not a major problem. Perhaps owing to the existence of a common enemy, the conflicts between human countries never escalated to the point of war.

As far as I am concerned, this world is a peaceful one.

Compared to the world in my previous life, where war broke out time and time again over this and that, this place may as well be a place where world peace was achieved.

I raised my hand to my heart in salute to the peace of this world.

It was a bit unpleasant to be reminded of the reality of my status in this life, but it meant that in more or less five years, I would get married off and never have to deal with the annoyance that was my family ever again. If I just think about keeping a low profile and enduring until then, then there really wasn’t any hardship in my life. As the daughter of a Duke, there was no way I would be sent to any place with conditions that were too poor— and actually, I would prefer to be married into a family of lower status because then I would be able throw my weight around and truly live a life free from any trouble. After all, if it were the opposite— that I should marry upward, then the only level left above a Ducal household is the Royal family! Now that would really be a cruel fate, to end up as the wife of a King yet again! Well, it’s impossible because His Majesty the King of Cabos is already married and the Royal couple supposedly has a very good relationship!

Just as I was singing the praises of the life of peace and quiet I was enjoying, an order came from my father.

I was told to attend the selection meeting for the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

It was the spring of my twelfth year.

***

The memories of that incident are very clear in my mind.

It had been a long time since I had been called to the main house, but I was dolled up by what must have been a dozen maids and packed into the carriage in no time at all.

Within the luxurious looking carriage I found myself coming face to face with my father and stepmother. Elize, my stepsister who was also half related to me, made fun of the awkward atmosphere.

“Oh dear, elder sister. It’s been so long since you and mother and father have seen each other yet no one has a single word to say! Surely there must be lots you can talk about!”

When Elize giggled as she said such things, I saw the same look in her eyes as the people I hated in my previous life.

The eyes of someone who loves to look down and ridicule others.

I ignored her and turned to look out the window. The Capital and Royal Palace in the middle of it gave the impression of prosperousness. There was enjoyment to be found just from looking at the streets and goings-on in the city. I figured it would be a more meaningful way to pass the time than trying to talk to Elize and my stepmother.

My attitude must have ticked her off in some way, because my stepmother, Iris, scowled indignantly.

“What an impertinent child! A girl with such a plain appearance and poor attitude has no chance of being liked by His Highness the Crown Prince. Dear husband, presenting this girl in front of everyone would only bring us shame. It’s still not too late. Let’s go back and leave her at the mansion.”

My father shook his head at stepmother’s complaints.

“I’m sure I’ve told you this many times already. It is His Majesty’s direct command that all young ladies of fitting age attend this tea party. I can’t just go against this order at my own discretion.”

My stepmother gritted her teeth as my father shot her an exasperated look. Elize giggled at the scene. I wondered what was funny about it. Ever since the first time I met her, that girl’s thoughts were inscrutable to me, which made me disinclined to be involved with anything to do with her.

Nevertheless, I understood why my stepmother had no expectations of me.

It was simple. My appearance was rather unremarkable, while Elize was incomparably lovely.

I don’t think I could really be said to be ugly in this life, but my current face was definitely worlds away from my old one. Elize, on the other hand, was frighteningly good-looking. If her looks maintain the same trajectory as she grows up, then even the me from my previous life, who became the Emperor’s favorite on nothing but my appearance alone, would find it difficult to compete. That was the extent of her beauty.

The difference in appearance between us was obvious at a glance. Not just compared to me, but when put next to likely all the other girls at the party we were going to, Elize would naturally stand out. The future Queen may not be decided based on looks alone, but there was no downside to having a pretty face. The rest of my family also understood this. There was a clear difference in the quality of mine and Elize’s dresses. Her ornaments and hairstyle were also more elaborate than mine.

I was sneaking a look at Elize’s reflection in the glass, thinking that she sure was in high spirits, when she caught me off-guard. She scooted all the way up to me, put her hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

“Don’t be so down, elder sister. None of the girls will be as pretty as me, so it can’t be helped. This is a game where the winner was already decided before it even started.”

“Fufufu,” Elize laughed softly. The way she never broke from her smile was a little unsettling. I instinctually wanted to slap away the hand that was resting on my shoulder, but fortunately, reason took over and I managed to hold it in. Just then, the carriage came to a halt, and it was announced that we had arrived at the Royal Palace.

I silently expressed gratitude for the convenient timing and quickly exited the torturous space that was a carriage shared with my family.

As we were guided to our destination, the central courtyard, with my father at the head, Elize spoke to me in a voice that only I could hear.

“Elder sister. It is impossible for my dear sister who has no outstanding merits of any kind to be selected by the Crown Prince. So don’t worry about it.”

There was definitely something wrong with the smile that rose upon her face. However, I did not find anything objectionable with the content of her words.

In my previous life, everything was because I was too beautiful.

That was no longer the case.

As I was currently, there was no reason why I would become the fiancée of the Crown Prince who bore the future of the country. The idea of someone like me eventually becoming the Queen, the mother of the nation, was simply inconceivable.

So, I wholeheartedly believed that at the end of the day I would go home, and it would be like it never even happened.

At least, I didn’t think that whatever happened at the meeting would be any of my business.

“We have arrived.”

Perhaps it was because of my belief that all this business had nothing to do with me that I didn’t notice the tired expression of the attendant who guided us.

He bowed deeply in front of the door leading to the courtyard.

“Then, please be careful, My Ladies. I mean this with utmost sincerity… Welcome to the tea party.”

All of us, including myself, tilted our heads at the attendant’s attitude which made it seem like he was sending off soldiers to a war.

Before anyone could ask what he meant, the attendant opened the door and ushered us in. Dazzling light spilled through the opening. We squinted against the glare and entered, as if sucked in by the light.

After taking my first step in the courtyard, I understood what the attendant meant.

It was not a courtyard that we stepped into—

“Ha ha ha ha! What’s the matter, everyone! Come here! Will you not come play with me!”

—It was a jungle where His Highness Prince Lotus could be seen swinging from tree to tree on vines like a monkey man.

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