Chapter 1 – Refusing Again Today
With just two days left before her coming-of-age ceremony, Seirin couldn’t bring herself to feel happy.
Why did the ceremony have to be held at the Imperial Palace?
Seirin disliked everything. The fact that her father was the closest friend of His Majesty the Emperor and the Prime Minister of the Theodor Empire, that her mother was the Crown Prince’s former nanny who now constantly fussed over her, and lastly, that her only brother, five years her senior, was also the Crown Prince’s best friend.
She wanted no involvement with the Imperial Family, but she was inevitably entangled. Others might say she was being spoiled, but Seirin truly despised the clingy Crown Prince. Even though she had clearly refused, he had been proposing to her since she was eight, asking her to be his wife, the Crown Princess of the Empire. By now, it was just revolting.
Knock, knock.
“My Lady.”
“Come in.”
Seirin, sitting on a rocking chair and gazing out the window, was racking her brain for ways to avoid going to the Palace. She turned her head as Remi entered.
“Sigh…”
The moment Seirin saw the bouquet of roses Remi was holding, she sighed as if the ground would collapse beneath her.
“Of course, I wondered why he hadn’t sent anything today. That clingy Crown Prince.”
“A-ah, My Lady, calling His Highness the Crown Prince clingy is—”
“What’s the problem? He isn’t here.”
“Still…”
As Remi glanced around, sweating nervously, Seirin spoke as usual.
“Put them in a vase and leave them in the greenhouse.”
“There’s nowhere left to put them now.”
“Then do what you can. Just place them somewhere sunny.”
“Yes. Would you like to keep one in your room?”
“No.”
“All right. And here.”
Receiving the bouquet and the love-filled letter sent by the Crown Prince, Seirin didn’t want to open it but had no choice given her position, which she despised.
Rustle—
『Dearest Lady of Damarania, you will soon become an adult. I wish to congratulate you on your coming-of-age more than anyone. My beautiful fiancée. Let’s meet at the Imperial Palace.』
“Fiancée, my foot!!!”
She tried to crumple the letter but couldn’t bring herself to do it, so she tried to stash it in her drawer, only to find it already overflowing.
“Sigh, Remi.”
“Yes, My Lady?”
“Could you bring me a box?”
“Of course. I’ll put the flowers in a vase first.”
“Take your time.”
As Remi left the room, Seirin tossed the letter onto the desk and was about to head to her soft bed when, hearing someone running, her irritation reached its peak. Her idiot brother, who should be guarding the Crown Prince at the Palace, had come home, and she was even more annoyed. She grabbed a pillow.
“My beloved Rin~ My lovely little—”
Seirin hurled the pillow at her brother, who was nothing like the legendary Sword Master father. The pillow hit Sein, the eldest son of Damarania Duchy and Seirin’s only brother, straight in the face, sending him crashing into the wall and collapsing weakly to the floor.
“Ahaha~ Our lovely Rin is always so full of energy. This brother is so happy. Rin, it’s proof you’re healthy—”
“Wipe your nosebleed. And get out.”
“Ahahaha~”
“Stop laughing and get out.”
If he got any closer to his precious sister when she was in a bad mood, she’d kill him. Maintaining a safe distance, Sein looked at his sister, who was scanning the room for something to throw, and asked:
“Why are you so grumpy today, my sister?”
“You really don’t know?”
“Ahaha~ Kasel sent another bouquet and letter today, didn’t he? He’s so devoted. But don’t worry~ Your brother—”
“You should leave too.”
“Ah~ Ahaha~ Got it. Rin~ My beloved sister. See you at dinner.”
When her brother disappeared from view, Seirin lowered the vanity she had easily lifted back into place.
“At times like this, I’m glad I have Thor.”
She called the magic that let her lift any heavy object with ease ‘Thor.’ Even without using Thor, Seirin had learned various martial arts since childhood. She might look like a delicate duchy lady, but her strength was not to be underestimated.
A single mistake could send someone crossing the Jordan River, the entrance to the afterlife.
Having kicked out the world’s most annoying brother, Seirin thought she could finally relax. But then her mother, the only person she feared, entered, and Seirin sighed again.
“Seirin! How many times must I tell you not to use Thor’s strength on Sein!”
“I didn’t use it. The pillow just accidentally flew at him.”
“You really…”
“If I had used my strength, it wouldn’t have ended with a nosebleed.”
Serpiana, nodding at the truth, almost got swept up by her daughter’s pace but furrowed her brow and tried to leave, only to be blocked by her son, Sein, who rushed in.
“Beloved Mother, Rin really only threw the pillow by accident. Please don’t scold her.”
“Heavens. Sein, how does a pillow thrown by accident break your nose and make bl＊＊d spurt like a fountain? Go get treated.”
“Mother. As her brother, I failed to consider Rin’s feelings—”
“Sein, are you ignoring your mother’s words?”
Seeing her mother relax her hand, Sein had no choice but to leave, earnestly asking her not to scold his sister too much.
Tap.
“Seirin.”
“I’m sorry. I won’t throw pillows at my brother anymore. I won’t use my strength either. I’m tired. I’d like to be alone.”
Serpiana turned her head sharply and approached her daughter, gently pulling her into an embrace.
“…”
“My beloved daughter, Rin. I don’t scold you because I hate you.”
“I know.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Standing face-to-face as her mother held both shoulders, Seirin bit her lip, feeling tears well up from irritation and exhaustion. Serpiana softly stroked her cheeks, kissed her forehead, and hugged her, running her hand down her back.
“It feels like you just started walking yesterday, and in two days you’ll have your coming-of-age ceremony. I’m so happy.”
“Oh, Mother…”
“Rin, don’t forget that I love you as much as I love Sein.”
“Of course.”
“And please, try to maintain your dignity as a noble lady.”
“Well…”
“Hmm?”
Nodding to her mother, who smiled while pressing both shoulders, Seirin couldn’t hide her expression when her mother mentioned that His Highness the Crown Prince would attend tonight’s dinner.
“Seirin, fix your face.”
“Mother, I really…”
“No.”
“Mother, His Highness makes me uncomfortable! No matter how many times I refuse, he’s so persistent. I’m stressed to death.”
“Yes, Rin, I know how much this stresses you. But what can we do? His Highness has expressed his devotion to you for twelve years.”
‘I hate it! Why does the Crown Prince have no pride?’
Seirin raged internally, watching her mother leave with a final request to at least show her face. As the sound of heels faded, she slumped to the floor and let out a rough sigh.
“D＊mn it! What a dog’s life! His Majesty lets his only son behave this way at twenty-five and doesn’t stop him…”
Thinking of the Emperor and Empress, who called her ‘future daughter-in-law’ instead of ‘Lady,’ Seirin pounded the floor with her fist. Then, seeing her graceful pet cat Ann enter through the open door, she scooped her up.
“Ann.”
Meow~
“If only I’d been born a dignified cat like you. Then I wouldn’t be harassed by the clingy Crown Prince, and my father and brother wouldn’t be obsessed with me… Sigh. I can’t even quit being a duchy lady.”
Meow~
“Ahaha~ That tickles~ Stop, it really tickles.”
As Ann’s affection soothed her mood, Seirin heard a click and turned to see her brother secretly taking her picture with a video stone. Catching his eye, she pointed at him and spoke to Ann, who was already poised to attack.
“Ann, bite him.”
Hiss!
“Ah, aaagh—! O-okay. Ow!”
Sein desperately tried to escape Ann’s savage attack, refusing to let go of the video stone. No matter how close they were as family, Seirin would never forgive secret photography.
“Ann, scratch him all over.”
“Aaaagh!”
Sein, who tried to take a picture of his sister, ended up with his face shredded by her agile pet, Ann. The screams echoed through the house, and when their mother rushed in, Seirin had to kneel and listen to her nag for over an hour.
Afterward, Seirin used healing magic on her brother Sein, whose nose had been bent and whose face and legs were covered in wounds, restoring him completely.
“As expected~ Our Rin is a magic genius!”
“Shut…”
Ready to snap, Seirin met her mother Serpiana’s stern gaze and kept her mouth shut, getting up.
“Mother, I’m tired after using healing magic for the first time in ages. I’d like to rest in my room.”
“Sigh, all right. Go rest.”
Having endured an hour of her mother’s nagging and used a significant amount of magic, Seirin was in a foul mood. But she was secretly glad she wouldn’t have to meet the Crown Prince. She entered her room and collapsed onto the bed.
“Ah~ I feel alive.”
“My Lady, let me know if you’re hungry. I’ll bring you something.”
“Thanks, Remi. I’m going to sleep.”
“Rest well.”
After Remi closed the door, Seirin thought she could finally sleep peacefully. But just as she was drifting off, an unwelcome knock sounded from outside.
‘No way. It can’t be. It’s not him!’
Seirin shot up, her emerald eyes trembling as she stared at the firmly closed door.
“Wh-who…”
“It’s me. My Lady, I just wanted to see your face for a moment. May I come in?”
‘Please go away! Preferably to the Palace!’
“My Lady?”
“C-come in.”
“Haha. Thank you.”
Descending from her bed, Seirin opened the door. The Crown Prince, Kasel Redéan Theodore, entered smiling brightly. Seirin greeted him with perfect etiquette.
“I, Seirin Damarania, greet you, the small sun of the Empire, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“There’s no need for such formality between us~”
‘Please just go away! There’s nothing between us!’
Keeping her true feelings hidden behind a smile, Seirin listened to the Crown Prince, who proudly claimed he came just to see her face. She didn’t pay attention to his pointless words, maintaining her smile and wishing he would leave soon.
“Dearest Lady of Damarania.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“I wish you would finally accept my proposal.”
‘I wish you would finally stop.’
“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”
Bowing, Seirin delivered her 29,999th refusal.
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