IHBWAT 01

Chapter 1

The Doll Princess and the Harsh Domain

Men came of age at twenty. Women at eighteen.
In the kingdom, this was the age of adulthood. It was also the time they became independent from their parents.

Once they became adults, sons branched off to establish their own households, and daughters were married off.

Cliff had also turned twenty.

“…Am I going to be kicked out?”

Cliff made a bitter expression.

Born as the child of a wealthy noble family, he had lived twenty years without ever worrying about food or survival. Until today.

Normally, he would have been granted a separate residence or nearby estate, maintaining ties with the main household. But Cliff was different.

Because he was a bastard, there was no way the family would welcome him.

“…Sir Cliff. His Grace the Duke is calling for you.”

Even the way he was addressed had changed. “Young master” had already become “Sir.”

At least they were still using an honorific—that alone could be considered fortunate.

‘I guess I can’t even call myself a noble anywhere anymore.’

Following the servant, Cliff wore a self-mocking expression.

In his mind, he organized what he would say when meeting his biological father.

He didn’t expect to receive land or be given a branch estate like other legitimate children.

‘A pouch of gold coins! A pouch of jewels! I’ll at least make sure I get money before I’m kicked out!’

That was the best outcome Cliff could imagine.

However, what his biological father—the Duke—presented was something entirely different.

“…What is this?”

A portrait.

Inside it was a young girl.

Beautiful silver hair, a delicate face, emotionless expression, and blue eyes gazing straight ahead.

It was just a painting—but even so, it was a face more beautiful than any girl Cliff had ever seen at that age.

So why was the Duke suddenly handing him a portrait?

‘It doesn’t look like my mother’s portrait… she doesn’t resemble me when I look in the mirror or reflections in water.’

Then why give this to him?

It wasn’t like he was being told to sell it for a few silver coins either.

Of course, another possibility crossed Cliff’s mind.

“…She looks like a lady right before marriage. Giving this to me makes it seem like the girl in the portrait is my fiancée.”

He was now an adult. And the girl in the portrait also looked of marriageable age.

Among nobles, it was customary for women to send portraits to men as part of engagement arrangements. So it was a joke he could make.

‘I’d like that, but… the chances are low.’

If it were real, it would already be too late.

Noblemen usually became engaged at fifteen.

So an engagement being arranged only now, when he was already being sent away as an adult, made no sense.

“Correct.”

Still, sometimes common sense was broken. Just like now.

“…Correct?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s….”

“Do you not like it?”

It didn’t seem like the Duke expected an answer.

Before Cliff could react, the Duke continued.

“Even if you don’t, accept it for now. If you dislike her, you may take a concubine.”

Cliff stared blankly at the Duke.

As if trying to read his father’s intentions. The Duke met his gaze calmly and continued.

“Her name is Priscilla Elimis. The eldest daughter of House Elimis. She is now seventeen.”

“Elimis… I’ve never heard of it.”

Cliff muttered the name of his supposed in-laws.

House Elimis.

It was unfamiliar.

But that was natural.

‘There’s no way a bastard without even a maternal noble lineage would be married into a well-known noble house.’

So, in modern terms, a “nobody” provincial noble’s daughter becoming his bride was understandable.

Cliff looked again at the portrait.

To his eyes, she seemed youthful—but she would surely grow into a stunning beauty.

‘At this level, even if her family isn’t impressive… she could easily secure a position as a high noble’s second wife.’

Which raised another question.

“…If I may ask.”

“…”

“Does Lady Elimis have any siblings?”

Cliff asked directly.

Only then did the Duke’s usually stoic expression change.

“Tch. You really should have been born from Helena. No… even if not that, it would have been better if you were pure-blooded…”

The Duke clicked his tongue, his gaze filled with regret.

The word “pure-blooded” still felt unfamiliar.

‘What is this, some kind of caste system?’

In the Duke’s usage, “pure-blooded” meant a child born from two noble parents. Cliff’s mother, of course, was not a noblewoman.

So the Duke regretted it.

“As you guessed. She has no siblings.”

Even without Cliff asking further, the Duke understood his intent.

And Cliff quickly grasped the situation.

In this kingdom, women could not inherit titles. So if a noble only had a daughter, her husband would inherit the title.

In short—he would become a muk-ruled son-in-law (a live-in son-in-law).

‘So I’m becoming the live-in husband of House Elimis.’

This was the Duke’s arrangement.

As a bastard, Cliff originally would receive nothing from the Ducal House. He couldn’t even be kept nearby due to political complications.

So instead, the Duke was giving him a different form of compensation—a manor and territory through marriage.

“Your father-in-law, Baron Elimis, will not be much of a concern. He won’t remain in his domain.”

Meaning the Duke had summoned the baron, who was eager to enter central politics, to the capital.

In exchange, the Baron had handed over his daughter and territory.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Cliff couldn’t bring himself to call him “father.” They were now completely separated.

From the moment he accepted the portrait, he was no longer part of the powerful ducal house of the capital—but of the provincial Elimis Barony.

Still, his gratitude was sincere.

‘I know… you tried your best.’

Normally, bastards weren’t even acknowledged by noble families.

But the Duke had brought him into the household. Even if there was discrimination, he had been given servants, food, clothing, and education equal to his siblings.

And in the end, he was even given a territory, just like legitimate heirs when they branched off.

This was more than enough as a father.

“Enough. I will cover your escort and travel expenses. But that is all I can do. From this moment on, you are no longer my son.”

The Duke of Iron Blood drew a line between them.

“Leave.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Cliff left the room.

The Duke watched the door for a long time.

“Tch.”

Then clicked his tongue again.

It was a pity he had no talent for swordsmanship or magic.

But that didn’t matter.

He was the son who resembled him the most.

‘There was no one as intelligent as that boy…’

The remaining sons all resembled their mothers.

They had talent for swordsmanship due to maternal lineage, but the family itself was not a martial house—it was a house of politics.

A family that had produced generations of prime ministers.

Yet none of his sons had the qualities of a statesman.

“They only chase strength in their heads. Knowing when and how to use a sword is more important than knowing how to wield one…”

There was no child who understood politics.

That fact deeply disappointed the Duke.

Then he spoke again.

“…Handle Baron Elimis properly. Make sure there are no problems later.”

His shadow rippled.

* * *

It took 23 days by carriage from the royal capital.

After nearly a month heading south, the Yusta Peninsula appeared.

Between the kingdom and the peninsula lay a vast river, and at the center were forests and low mountains.

The Elimis territory lay in the center of that peninsula.

The terrain was basically a basin surrounded by mountains.

The peaks weren’t high enough to be impassable, but still—

‘It’s isolated!’

There was only a single narrow path to the north.

One could travel elsewhere, but the surrounding forests and mountains were dangerous, filled with unknown magical beasts.

The forest itself was vast enough that without the northern path, one would easily get lost or meet danger.

And—

Cliff looked over the farmland.

Most of it was in terrible condition.

He didn’t know the exact cause. Perhaps the soil or climate didn’t suit wheat and barley. Perhaps pests.

Or maybe drought—or excessive rain that year—had ruined the harvest.

‘But this doesn’t look like a one- or two-year problem…’

On the way to the lord’s manor, he saw the peasants.

Most of them looked so weak they seemed on the verge of death.

They were clearly malnourished.

“…This is serious.”

From now on, this was his territory.

He would need to call an administrator for a proper report. Cliff headed toward the manor.

There, people were already waiting for him, as if they had been informed of his arrival.

“Huh?”

The most eye-catching figure was a silver-haired girl in her mid-to-late teens.

The same girl he had seen countless times inside the portrait he carried.

“Oh?”

He had thought she would only be half as good as the portrait.

But in reality, she was even more beautiful.

And unlike the portrait, which made her look very young, the real girl felt more mature.

She had the body of a young woman.

Yet there was also something unchanged from the portrait.

Her face—more precisely, her expression.

And her quiet, unreadable eyes.

‘So it wasn’t just a painting effect…’

He had expected her to look slightly displeased.

In a rural territory like this, a lord’s authority was absolute.

As the only daughter of the ruling house, she likely had never experienced waiting for someone before.

Not only that.

‘Her father left home… and now she has to hand everything over to a husband she barely knows… yet she’s calm.’

Even noble ladies would struggle to accept this.

Marriage was a major matter, especially for women.

Yet she was calmer than most highborn ladies.

She stood there like a painting—watching him with eyes that revealed nothing.

‘It feels like looking at a perfectly crafted doll.’

Yes.

My wife was a doll princess.

A doll princess and a poor rural territory.

My domain began here.