“Prince Cedric?”
“Yes.”
Cedric smiled gently.
“What brings you here… No, how long have you been here?”
“I came to attend the ball and just arrived. I thought you seemed to have something to think about, so I was simply observing.”
Wait, did I not even hear his footsteps? I should start a conversation!
“This isn’t the ballroom, is it?”
I looked around me.
A terrace filled with the scent of trees.
The only notable feature is that there is no one here except Cedric and me.
“I wanted to greet someone I know.”
And Cedric pointed at me.
“The only person I know well is right here.”
When did we become close…?
“Why did the prince come to the Southern Ball?”
“I came near the temple to run an errand for my mother and received a message to come and greet the Southern region.”
“I see…”
“But when I go inside, everyone stands up and it’s burdensome to greet them. I don’t like that.”
Thus, it was revealed that even royals and duchy dislike the Southern customs.
“And the atmosphere is a bit strange, so I thought I might find someone who knows why the atmosphere is like this and ask for some information.”
“You have a keen eye. You managed to find me hidden in a corner among all these people.”
“Yes, I have a good eye for aesthetics. Especially when it comes to finding beautiful things.”
“…”
Indeed, actions speak louder than words. I smirked.
‘Is this considered proper behavior for men in this world?’
I grasped the railing and stood up.
“Because my dad is angry.”
“The Duke?”
“Yes. Do you happen to know what ‘marriage without a dowry and without any conditions’ means?”
“It’s an unusual occurrence in noble society. In the kingdom, noble women typically bring a dowry when they get married. To marry without a dowry means the groom’s family has shown exceptional consideration. It’s almost unheard of in noble society.”
“Hmm…”
So, is it saying that he made that proposal to win favor? I explained briefly, looking into Cedric’s curious eyes. Gallian, the Count, is the father of Rose and Melisa. He made the offer. Cedric’s expression hardened coldly.
“It’s an outrageous proposal. To marry a divorced son to a lady as exceptional as you.”
“That’s right. Shouldn’t I feel bad about it?”
“You can curse if you want. Go ahead.”
Cedric smirked.
“Tell me.”
“This is an extreme way of expressing the situation. It’s like bidding with a limited budget before a valuable gem enters the market and gets its appraisal value. Please forgive my choice of words. I don’t mean to compare you, the lady, to objects like jewelry or flowers.”
Hmm. I liked Cedric’s words that he doesn’t treat me like an object.
“But am I appraised? Ah, is the dowry the bride’s appraisal value?”
“That’s part of it. And the lady’s situation is unique. First of all, the royal family is watching.”
Can the royal family say such things to me?
“What does that mean?”
“The royal family always sends proposals to the duchy. Let’s be close, let’s become in-laws, let’s meet often. And the duchy didn’t have a daughter for the third generation until now, and after Marianne was finally born, she became the Saintess.”
Ah, they said a Saintess couldn’t marry, right? But I’m not from the Duke’s blood, so does it have any meaning?
“…But I’m an adopted daughter.”
“That’s why people are curious. What kind of great arranged marriage would you try to have if you were to take in an adopted daughter? That’s what they say. And since there are rumors that the lady is a genius, it seems more fitting.”
Does that mean that if you marry me, you will instantly become friends with the duchy?
Am I becoming a symbol of friendship or something? What am I – based on past lives – making social media friends?
“So, some people speculate that it’s finally to negotiate a marriage with the royal family by bringing in an adopted daughter.”
Now I finally understood the situation.
‘Then the condition of marrying me to someone from the Southern region…’
Cedric continued to explain.
“In the Southern region, of course, they would oppose it. They want their ruler to settle in the Southern region, not the royal family.”
Wherever you go, the Duket’s popularity is soaring, so naturally I, as an adopted daughter, am caught up in this mess.
“Furthermore, the Southern region has weak loyalty towards the royal family and is only loyal to the Duke.”
“So, it’s a tug-of-war between the Southern region and the royal family with the Duke in between?”
“You catch on quickly, as expected.”
I understood. The circumstances of the adults caught in the middle with the Duke.
And I ended up being involved in those circumstances.
It’s not because I’m talented, but because the adults want to use me as a pawn.
“My Dad said people from the Southern region are arrogant.”
I murmured.
“That’s right. They are much more conservative than the people in the capital. So Count Gallian probably must have thought arrogantly.”
“He connected me with his precious-blooded son without accepting a dowry. Is that an act of kindness?”
I omitted the expression ‘as a commoner’ from my statement.
‘And instead of a dowry, it’s like a demand to forgive his daughters.’
What kind of ridiculous calculation is this?
Cedric, who heard my words, awkwardly smiled.
“Be careful here. The Southern region still has some barbaric traditions. To wait for a connection with the Duke, there may be many people like Gallian, who won’t hesitate to approach the lady by any means necessary. And…”
Cedric leaned closer to me and whispered.
“Because the lady shines, she captivates many people with her brilliance.”
“It’s too obvious. It’s a cliché.”
After saying that, I couldn’t help but think how strange it was that I had become someone who exchanged such jokes with Cedric, whom my school friends worshiped.
“Becoming a noble is truly difficult and challenging.”
“Why?”
“I feel like I’m a topic of discussion among the members of the Southern Gathering here.”
Cedric imitated me and leaned his arm on the railing, looking at me.
“I actually think being true to yourself, as the lady, is much better than trying to be noble. Confident and intelligent.”
The wind blew, and Cedric’s hair fluttered under the moonlight.
‘It’s beautiful.’
Come to think of it, tomorrow is the day the moon of Minas rises.
‘But… it’s nice to hear.’
It was simple, but it provided comfort.
“Prince, you’re really kind.”
That’s right, with the word ‘why’ attached.
Why are you being kind to me? That’s what it meant.
“Prince Cedric?”
“Yes.”
Cedric smiled gently.
“What brings you here… No, how long have you been here?”
“I came to attend the ball and just arrived. I thought you seemed to have something to think about, so I was simply observing.”
Wait, did I not even hear his footsteps? I should start a conversation!
“This isn’t the ballroom, is it?”
I looked around me.
A terrace filled with the scent of trees.
The only notable feature is that there is no one here except Cedric and me.
“I wanted to greet someone I know.”
And Cedric pointed at me.
“The only person I know well is right here.”
When did we become close…?
“Why did the prince come to the Southern Ball?”
“I came near the temple to run an errand for my mother and received a message to come and greet the Southern region.”
“I see…”
“But when I go inside, everyone stands up and it’s burdensome to greet them. I don’t like that.”
Thus, it was revealed that even royals and duchy dislike the Southern customs.
“And the atmosphere is a bit strange, so I thought I might find someone who knows why the atmosphere is like this and ask for some information.”
“You have a keen eye. You managed to find me hidden in a corner among all these people.”
“Yes, I have a good eye for aesthetics. Especially when it comes to finding beautiful things.”
“…”
Indeed, actions speak louder than words. I smirked.
‘Is this considered proper behavior for men in this world?’
I grasped the railing and stood up.
“Because my dad is angry.”
“The Duke?”
“Yes. Do you happen to know what ‘marriage without a dowry and without any conditions’ means?”
“It’s an unusual occurrence in noble society. In the kingdom, noble women typically bring a dowry when they get married. To marry without a dowry means the groom’s family has shown exceptional consideration. It’s almost unheard of in noble society.”
“Hmm…”
So, is it saying that he made that proposal to win favor? I explained briefly, looking into Cedric’s curious eyes. Gallian, the Count, is the father of Rose and Melisa. He made the offer. Cedric’s expression hardened coldly.
“It’s an outrageous proposal. To marry a divorced son to a lady as exceptional as you.”
“That’s right. Shouldn’t I feel bad about it?”
“You can curse if you want. Go ahead.”
Cedric smirked.
“Tell me.”
“This is an extreme way of expressing the situation. It’s like bidding with a limited budget before a valuable gem enters the market and gets its appraisal value. Please forgive my choice of words. I don’t mean to compare you, the lady, to objects like jewelry or flowers.”
Hmm. I liked Cedric’s words that he doesn’t treat me like an object.
“But am I appraised? Ah, is the dowry the bride’s appraisal value?”
“That’s part of it. And the lady’s situation is unique. First of all, the royal family is watching.”
Can the royal family say such things to me?
“What does that mean?”
“The royal family always sends proposals to the duchy. Let’s be close, let’s become in-laws, let’s meet often. And the duchy didn’t have a daughter for the third generation until now, and after Marianne was finally born, she became the Saintess.”
Ah, they said a Saintess couldn’t marry, right? But I’m not from the Duke’s blood, so does it have any meaning?
“…But I’m an adopted daughter.”
“That’s why people are curious. What kind of great arranged marriage would you try to have if you were to take in an adopted daughter? That’s what they say. And since there are rumors that the lady is a genius, it seems more fitting.”
Does that mean that if you marry me, you will instantly become friends with the duchy?
Am I becoming a symbol of friendship or something? What am I – based on past lives – making social media friends?
“So, some people speculate that it’s finally to negotiate a marriage with the royal family by bringing in an adopted daughter.”
Now I finally understood the situation.
‘Then the condition of marrying me to someone from the Southern region…’
Cedric continued to explain.
“In the Southern region, of course, they would oppose it. They want their ruler to settle in the Southern region, not the royal family.”
Wherever you go, the Duket’s popularity is soaring, so naturally I, as an adopted daughter, am caught up in this mess.
“Furthermore, the Southern region has weak loyalty towards the royal family and is only loyal to the Duke.”
“So, it’s a tug-of-war between the Southern region and the royal family with the Duke in between?”
“You catch on quickly, as expected.”
I understood. The circumstances of the adults caught in the middle with the Duke.
And I ended up being involved in those circumstances.
It’s not because I’m talented, but because the adults want to use me as a pawn.
“My Dad said people from the Southern region are arrogant.”
I murmured.
“That’s right. They are much more conservative than the people in the capital. So Count Gallian probably must have thought arrogantly.”
“He connected me with his precious-blooded son without accepting a dowry. Is that an act of kindness?”
I omitted the expression ‘as a commoner’ from my statement.
‘And instead of a dowry, it’s like a demand to forgive his daughters.’
What kind of ridiculous calculation is this?
Cedric, who heard my words, awkwardly smiled.
“Be careful here. The Southern region still has some barbaric traditions. To wait for a connection with the Duke, there may be many people like Gallian, who won’t hesitate to approach the lady by any means necessary. And…”
Cedric leaned closer to me and whispered.
“Because the lady shines, she captivates many people with her brilliance.”
“It’s too obvious. It’s a cliché.”
After saying that, I couldn’t help but think how strange it was that I had become someone who exchanged such jokes with Cedric, whom my school friends worshiped.
“Becoming a noble is truly difficult and challenging.”
“Why?”
“I feel like I’m a topic of discussion among the members of the Southern Gathering here.”
Cedric imitated me and leaned his arm on the railing, looking at me.
“I actually think being true to yourself, as the lady, is much better than trying to be noble. Confident and intelligent.”
The wind blew, and Cedric’s hair fluttered under the moonlight.
‘It’s beautiful.’
Come to think of it, tomorrow is the day the moon of Minas rises.
‘But… it’s nice to hear.’
It was simple, but it provided comfort.
“Prince, you’re really kind.”
That’s right, with the word ‘why’ attached.
Why are you being kind to me? That’s what it meant.
