🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 3
I’m going to end things with the Crown Prince. No matter what!
Last night, when I witnessed the Crown Prince’s affair, I vowed to get a divorce.
However, I soon had to take that vow back.
“…What? The Crown Princess can’t file a divorce suit against the Crown Prince?
W–What kind of nonsense is that?!”
What kind of ridiculous law is this?
I checked the Imperial Code, the Royal Code, and even the Temple laws again, but nowhere did I find a way to divorce him.
“Then… I have to stay married to the Crown Prince like this forever?”
As I slumped to the floor and muttered blankly—
“Everyone knows political marriages are like that. They all pretend not to know, keep a mistress, and carry on, right?”
Suddenly, a line from a tea party flashed through my mind.
That’s right! If that Crown Prince bastard is cheating, why shouldn’t I?
Of course, this was not a normal train of thought.
But perhaps because I was still in shock, the idea felt like an excellent solution.
Fine. Counter-adultery it is.
With my direction set, I raided the archives, hauled every record back, and locked myself in my office.
But then…
“This one cheated too? No good!
This one’s a gambler?! Out!”
…How is this possible?
“Ugh, this guy beat innocent citizens and got arrested by the security bureau?!”
I flipped through files like a madwoman all night long.
And yet—why was there not a single normal man in sight?
How can there be so few decent candidates?!
I scrubbed my eyes raw searching, but no one suitable for me could be found.
Yes, I excluded nobles already engaged or in relationships, but still!
“Haa…”
I groaned, buried my head in my hands, and collapsed over the paper-strewn desk.
And then, a hopeless truth dawned on me.
Right. Come to think of it…
In the original novel, all central nobles were villains!
The novel “The Degenerate Young Lord of the Magic Noble House.”
According to the storyline, every noble from the capital committed all sorts of crimes and existed solely to be killed by the protagonist—that degenerate young lord.
- …So that’s why I married Abel.*
Frustrating memories resurfaced, and I bit my lip.
There was no choice but to marry the current Crown Prince.
Originally, the Raidtán Empire was destined to lose the entire southern region in the war against the Southern Kingdom.
And my family was the dominant noble house of the south—
the Ducal House of Haim, the Empire’s …
…And there was absolutely no way the Second Prince, Jevarr, could be allowed to become supreme commander of the southern front.
If he did, both the nation and my family would fall.
So I had to make the illegitimate First Prince, Abel, the Crown Prince—
Even if it meant a political marriage!
Since the First Prince didn’t actually exist in the original novel…
Fortunately, once Abel became Crown Prince, he came back victorious from the southern front, and the empire entered peace.
And I became Crown Princess, firmly in place.
I thought this marriage was a success, all things considered…
“Grr.”
Grinding my teeth, I tapped the table with my finger, thinking.
A mediocre man won’t be enough to crush the Crown Prince’s inflated ego.
Originally, I wanted a well-established central noble as a lover—a powerful one, to hit the Crown Prince where it hurt.
But limiting my candidates to the trash characters in the novel…
I’m worth way more than that!
My lover must have a high title, real influence, and no filthy scandals.
Preferably good-looking, too.
Which means there’s only one answer.
Search the entire continent if I must!
Renewing my resolve, I turned to the Northerners’ Registry and opened the first page.
And immediately—one name caught my eye.
Hmm? This person…
[Grand Duke Cardmael Rikesis]
I remember. He became a Grand Duke before even reaching adulthood.
It must have been six years ago.
Heir to the largest northern territory—the Rikesis Duchy—had inherited early.
Girls everywhere were buzzing about how they had a chance to become his duchess.
He was also famous for rejecting every marriage proposal without exception.
But at the time, I had just regained memories of my past life and was too distracted to care.
So that was all I knew about him.
Then why does something feel off?
It felt like I was missing something.
Whatever it was, it wasn’t a major fact, or I’d remember it.
Ah, is it because of the ?
Those were amazing!
In the original D.Y.M.N., mana stones were a crucial resource.
Perhaps thanks to them, the Rikesis Duchy eventually became independent as the Northern Kingdom—but still…
No, that’s not it. It’s something sweeter…
I clutched my head, groaning at the vague sense of déjà vu—
“Ah! Your Highness the Crown Princess?”
I snapped my head up. My secretary, Shuna, had opened the door and was staring at me wide-eyed.
“Your Highness, did you work here all night?”
“…Maybe.”
I avoided her eyes behind the registry.
I definitely can’t say I was selecting a lover.
But to my workaholic aide, my behavior meant something very different.
“As expected of Your Highness!”
Huh?
Shuna had already come up beside me, practically glowing with approval as she eyed the northern registry.
“What a good idea! A few months ago, the Northern Grand Duke completed a massive monster purge!”
She’d clearly misunderstood, but I wasn’t in the state to correct her.
“Northern… Grand Duke?”
Because that word.
Shuna clapped her hands, beaming.
“Yes! You’ll be meeting His Grace to commend him for the purge and to discuss the northern railway proposal—”
“Shuna, is the Northern Grand Duke unmarried?”
“Eh?”
“What about rumors of womanizing?”
I cut her off and fired my questions. Shuna, oblivious, answered smoothly.
“It’s rare for a noble of his status to have no scandals!”
“…”
“I hear he’s still politely declining proposals from every corner of the empire. Such a gentleman!”
“That’s it! This is the guy!”
“…?!”
I leapt to my feet and yanked out writing paper.
[To the esteemed Grand Duke of Rikesis…]
Carefully, I wrote the invitation by hand.
**[I wish continued prosperity to your lands.
I have heard of your distinguished achievements in the recent purge and am delighted, even from afar…
(skipped)
…Thus, I am sending you a palace portal ticket.
Would you consider visiting the capital before the early spring banquet this month?]**
“Hmmm.”
Still feels lacking.
If I had my way, I’d have written, ‘Become my lover!’ in bold strokes, but official palace correspondence does have rules.
[I await your reply.]
I politely closed with pleasantries, stamped it with the seal of the Crown Princess—
“Send this to the Rikesis Duchy.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Shuna left, puffed up with satisfaction like she’d accomplished something great.
And then…
“Haa…”
I collapsed into my chair.
“I’m exhausted.”
After the night I’d had, of course I would be drained.
Still, though my body was tired, my mind was satisfied.
“Hehehehehe…!”
My secretary really is competent!
The moment she’d said “Northern Grand Duke,” dozens of romance fantasy novels from my past life zipped through my brain.
That was the source of my déjà vu.
A Northern Grand Duke straight out of a romance fantasy won’t lose to that Crown Prince bastard!
Granted, D.Y.M.N. wasn’t sweet at all—just bloody, grimdark war.
But starting today, my life’s genre is a romance with the Northern Grand Duke!
Genres are what transmigrators choose for themselves, after all.
I stood to stretch and plan ahead when—
Hmm…?
An ominous internal alarm screamed inside me.
There was only one person who could trigger that instinctive reaction.
No. No no no. Don’t tell me—
As I anxiously stared at the office door—
BANG!
The door slammed open, and someone stormed in, face twisted with fury.
