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Chapter 05
Two days had passed since Leila declared her engagement to the Second Prince broken.
Fortunately—or rather, mercifully—the annulment did not proceed immediately based solely on Leila’s decision.
In the Persent Empire, just like with divorce, there was a one-month grace period for breaking an engagement.
After all, engagements between noble families—especially high-ranking nobles or the royal family—were basically political deals.
In other words, an agreement between the engaged parties alone was not enough to make it official.
“The problem is that both sides are likely to accept the annulment.”
Leila’s engagement to the Second Prince, Sier, had been arranged when they were very young.
Back when the Second Prince’s influence wasn’t as strong as it was now, his mother wanted a family that could support him.
A direct confrontation with the First Prince—backed firmly by the Empress’s family—was impossible.
They couldn’t bring in Elopeze, who had always remained neutral in the royal succession struggle, so as a second-best option, they chose the Arvid family, who were close to Elopeze.
Even if they couldn’t completely defeat the First Prince, at least they wouldn’t be defeated outright—a smart compromise.
“The most rational choice at the time.”
From the Arvid family’s perspective, however, this engagement wasn’t very appealing.
Although a count’s family, they were closely connected to the powerful Duke Elopeze family. Their business ventures had been wildly successful, so an engagement to the politically weak Second Prince was basically a disadvantage.
Moreover, Count Arvid—Leila’s father—cherished his only daughter dearly.
Yet there was one reason he went through with Leila’s engagement to the Second Prince:
“Because the reckless First Prince was showing interest in Leila.”
Euclid Persent, the empire’s First Prince, was one of the male leads of this story.
As the Empress’s son, he grew up with nothing lacking, yet he had one enormous flaw.
Perhaps because he had been doted on and spoiled, he was naturally ill-suited, showing signs of being a spoiled, tyrannical child from an early age.
If left unchecked, he would have married the madman First Prince to his daughter, so the engagement to the Second Prince had to be arranged in haste.
There were other options besides the Second Prince, but they were all far weaker.
It was public knowledge that the young First Prince had taken an interest in Leila.
Few families had the courage to arrange an engagement with the Arvids without the Empress noticing.
Given the circumstances, the only option to protect Leila and minimize harm to the family was an engagement with another royal—specifically, the Second Prince.
But now…
“The situation is different now!”
I shouted, furiously striking the wooden doll protected by a magic spell.
The Arvids and the Second Prince—things were no longer the same as before.
Unlike the First Prince, who was all appearance and no skill, the Second Prince was highly capable in politics, diplomacy, and magic, and also possessed military strength.
The Arvid family was likewise strong.
Moreover, the First Prince already had another fiancée due to the Empress’s insistence.
Even though the Second Prince’s influence was gradually growing, Count Arvid wasn’t particularly power-hungry, and most importantly, he would readily comply if his beloved daughter wanted to break the engagement.
In short… it was only a matter of time.
In frustrating situations like this, action was the best solution.
The sword path (劍路) appeared before me.
Crack!
At the same time, I heard the sound of something breaking.
Unconsciously, my hand froze.
Looking around, I saw the wooden doll protected by magic lying in broken pieces on the floor.
“Huh… who cast such a lousy protection spell?”
“Who else but Sion. He’d cry if he heard this,”
Kalian said, trudging toward me with his hands in his pockets.
Sion was the Elopeze family’s personal mage and had been my first magic teacher.
Although I hadn’t studied with him for long, thanks to my natural talent, I had learned quite a bit.
As if trying to make me a disrespectful student, I quickly cast a repair spell and restored the broken wooden doll.
“What’s with you? Why are you here?”
“Why? I came to deliver Mother’s message—stop making noise in the middle of the night and go inside.”
Kalian pointed behind him with his thumb.
Following his gesture, I met my mother’s sharp gaze.
The unspoken pressure that I wouldn’t be left alone if I didn’t obey made me nod.
I exaggerated my nod to make sure she could clearly see my compliance.
“If you put that much aura into it, you’ll hurt your wrist.”
…Worrying about me now, huh.
“No, you need to go out once to clear your mind. Pretend I didn’t hear it.”
Of course. No genuine concern, just picking a fight.
The tiny sense of gratitude I felt quickly evaporated.
“Exactly. A broken wrist is the only fair penalty.”
“…What?”
“Why? Should I only use one hand in the match, loser brother?”
Kalian clenched his teeth and forced a smile, clearly falling for the provocation.
He had a wooden sword in hand, as if he had grabbed it from somewhere.
“You’re going to challenge me with that?”
This crazy guy actually intends to use aura in front of his frail little sister.
“Mother told me not to just stand there and get beaten. I can’t be an unfilial daughter.”
“Your mother is my mother too. Agreed, my lovely little sister.”
Kalian stepped forward and swung the sword horizontally.
I lightly dodged and took a step back, gathering magic in my palm.
Take this, you brotherly pest.
As I waved my hand, a chill that had gathered at my fingertips shot into the ground, raising ice spikes.
Kalian’s reaction was flawless, leaping away just in time.
Tch.
Annoyingly agile, and he dodges so well.
That brother had a talent for dodging in a way that irritated you.
Before his feet touched the ground, I quickly summoned flames.
The straight line of fire hit something and scattered in all directions.
“You’re supposed to be the next head of the mage tower, and this is all you can do? Are all mages blind?”
“The next heir is chosen by the mage tower, you know? That comment is punishable by death.”
“You? Don’t call me ‘brother’? You always call elder brother ‘brother,’ but why am I always ‘hey, you’?! Am I your friend?”
“Then act like a proper brother. So what if you were born first—”
A sharp gaze hit me from the side, forcing me to shut my mouth.
I stepped back innocently, feigning innocence, putting distance between Kalian and myself.
“What, surrender now?”
Watch carefully, you pest of a brother.
I shifted my gaze to one side, and Kalian froze slightly.
“What? Are you declaring war by sending me flying that way?”
If you don’t want to actually fly, shut your mouth!
I used magic to turn my head slightly, revealing someone. Kalian’s face went pale.
Finally, he seemed to grasp the situation.
“What are you two grown-ups doing in the middle of the night?! In front of your mother, no less!”
A voice filled with anger thundered in my ears.
“Why do you always start fighting whenever you make eye contact? Fighting!”
Realizing we were doomed, I rolled my eyes at Kalian.
We both simultaneously knelt.
Even as nobles of the Elopeze family, pride was useless in this situation.
“We’re sorry, Mother…”
“Forgive us, Mother.”
Experience had taught me that begging for forgiveness on our knees was the best option.
I glanced up at my mother’s expression, only to meet a stern gaze.
I quickly lowered my eyes.
“Kalian Elopeze. Tien Elopeze.”
In most novels where someone is reborn as the youngest daughter of a duke, she is the “adorable little sister.”
Sometimes, they even act overly cutesy in front of the entire empire.
…Usually.
But this isn’t always the case, and the consequences need to be prepared for.
“Both of you will be confined to your rooms for three days!”
“Mother… ah, three days is a bit too much—”
“Shut your mouth.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Youngest daughter?
Cute?
Doesn’t work in reality.
And that, my friends, is reality.
