Epilogue: From Me to You

After my birthday party ended, a semblance of peace finally returned to my surroundings. With all my party dress preparations and dance lessons done, I no longer had to keep up with them at a breakneck pace, and at last could take a breath of relief.

In fact, I had it in my mind to tend to the fields that I had left alone for quite some time — and till it well I would. For the first time in a while, I put on my overalls, and with my bandana and all, I walked out to the fields in full farming gear.

To prepare for this year’s summer harvest, I had intended to scatter the fertilizer that Jeord had given to me for my birthday. Keith was here as well, as I had asked if he could assist with the fertilizing. As we were about to get down to it, Jeord himself showed up.

“Hello, Katarina. I see you are hard at work today as well.”

“Ah, yes, Prince Jeord. Thank you for coming to my birthday party the day before, and for your birthday gift. I wanted to set about using the fertilizer you gave me immediately.”

“I see. I am glad that you were able to put it to good use so quickly. Well worth the effort to gift you what you requested, if I may say so... In truth, I had wanted to give you a dress, or perhaps an accessory you could wear on your person... but knowing you, Katarina, you would hardly accept such a gift,” Jeord said with a somewhat bitter smile on his face.

It was as he said. Originally, Jeord always wanted to send me a dress or some sort of accessory, but I always refused on the spot. My father, who loved me to bits, constantly showered me with dresses and accessories already — there was a small pile of them in my closets. Honestly, I felt like there were a few too many garments in my room...

If I were like Katarina from the original setting of Fortune Lover, I would have loved changing in and out of pretty dresses, sporting a new one each day. In fact, she would hardly mind having a surplus of dresses to choose from. Unfortunately, I was not quite the same as my game counterpart.

To begin with, I didn’t really like grand dresses of any sort — if only because they were so annoying to move around in. In fact, living life in tight-fitting, frilly, and restrictive dresses day in and day out was a terrible notion. I could not see it as anything but sort of twisted punishment game.

And anyway, I was mostly focused on my work in the fields, and had fitting gardening overalls for that. I had no need for the small mountain of dresses tucked away somewhere in my closet. I felt the same way about accessories as well. If I were to lose some expensive accessory while working in the fields, it would be quite the debacle.

Due to the reasons I had just described, I had decided to inform my close friends to not send me such presents. Jeord, of course, was one of them. He heeded my request, and presented me with the fertilizer I asked for instead.

“However, Katarina, you are already fifteen years of age this year. It is about time that your status is made clear to those around you. After all, you belong to me — perhaps I should send you some garments befitting your station,” Jeord said, seemingly lost in thought.

Garments befitting my station? Me belonging to Jeord? Hmm... what does he mean?

“I think everyone already knows that I am your fiancée, Prince Jeord...” In fact, word of it had spread so far that one would be hard pressed to find someone who did not know. But of course it would be as such — no point keeping me around if my existence could not be used as an excuse to deflect potential suitors.

“Perhaps it is so, Katarina. However, many are not quite convinced of the reality of it — regardless of their knowledge on the matter.”

I supposed Jeord had a point. I was not breathtakingly beautiful like Mary, and I had this villainess face of mine to deal with. I was not that impressive compared to the relatively high-spec individuals around me — hence the gossip. To be precise, gossip that said Jeord and I were hardly a match beyond our standing in noble society.

I, however, hardly wanted to challenge their perceptions, much less convince them. In fact, if anyone had wanted to take over my position as fiancée, I would have welcomed it wholeheartedly...

Even so, I couldn’t just tell Jeord to his face something like, “Being your fiancée is quite the bother. Could we change it up?” Instead, all I did was smile vaguely. It was with this very same smile that I turned to Jeord now, hoping to somehow resolve the problem.

“What exactly is it that you are doing...?” Keith said, coming between me and Jeord with quite the intense expression.

Hmm? Does he feel left out because I didn’t include him in the discussion?

“Hello, Keith Claes. To come between two who are engaged and interrupt their rendezvous... quite the tactless maneuver, no? And what is it with that intense expression of yours? Hardly fitting for your pretty face, Keith.”

“Unfortunately, Prince Jeord, it seems like the only one who thinks of this meeting as a rendezvous is you. To answer your question, I have adopted this intense expression in place of my Big Sister. After all, she has absolutely no sense of danger... especially when it comes to particularly nasty bugs.”

“A nasty bug, you say? I wonder who that could be?”

“...A most unscrupulous individual who engaged in most questionable acts in the middle of a dance party, Prince Jeord.”

“Hmm. Is that right? I, for one, have no idea who that could possibly be.”

“You dare say that with those very lips?!”

“But of course, Keith. After all, she is my fiancée. Exactly how questionable is it to leave your own mark on something that belongs to you?”

“And who is it that you say belongs to you?! Big Sister is still a fiancée at this point in time, nothing more!”

It would seem like Keith and Jeord have started a heated discussion in a subject matter that was foreign to me. Is this how it feels to be left out of discussions...? Hmm. Indeed, it is quite a lonely thing.

I suppose I should start working the fields on my own, then. Such were the thoughts that passed through my mind as I embraced my newfound agricultural exile.

“Lady Katarina!” Turning around upon hearing a familiar, bright voice, I caught sight of Mary and her vibrant smile. Following close behind her were Sophia and Alan.

“Hmm? Did you all decide to come visit together?” Although they were a common sight on the grounds, it was somewhat rare for my friends to visit in groups.

“Yes. I invited them, you see.”

“You did, Mary?”

“Yes. I had heard from Master Keith that some questionable events came to pass at the recent dance party. I felt that it would be prudent to strengthen our defenses — and there is strength in numbers, so I invited Lady Sophia. Prince Alan came too.”

What exactly happened at the party? I had no idea what they were talking about at all. To think that Keith would choose to not tell his older sister, but instead inform Mary about this whole development... ah, I really have been excluded, haven’t I? I suddenly feel... so lonely...

Also, Mary just bringing Prince Alan along like that for such a thing seems a little absurd... well, it seems like Alan himself doesn’t mind, so I suppose that’s all fine and good. But honestly... recent developments have really gone against what I knew of Fortune Lover.

“On another note, Lady Katarina. Did you enjoy the books that you have been gifted for your birthday?”

“Ah, that’s right. Lady Mary, Sophia, Prince Alan. Do allow me to express my heartfelt thanks for your wonderful gifts. The books were so interesting that I already finished one volume before I knew it!”

Alan, Mary, and Sophia had come together to select quite a few amazing books for my birthday. Mary and Sophia did most of the work, of course. In fact, Alan hardly knew what to send me each year, and before long had decided to simply follow Mary’s choice on the matter.

This year, Mary had decided on a book as a gift, and had then apparently approached Sophia, who more often than not gifted me with a book each time. The two came together and had a discussion before choosing this year’s gifts — that was what I gleaned from the developments, at least.

I was more than satisfied, of course, to receive so many highly-regarded literary works as presents.

“I am glad that you are happy with your gifts, Lady Katarina. As I expected, something that remains in one’s hands is much more fitting as a gift. At least, when compared to something that simply disappears into the soil.”

“And would that be a jibe directed at me, Lady Mary Hunt?” Jeord, who had been locked in a heated argument with Keith mere moments ago, apparently decided to join this discussion upon noticing Mary’s presence.

“Oh, if it isn’t Prince Jeord. I did not quite see you there. I hope you are well?” Mary said, curtsying in an impossibly elegant way. As expected of Mary — truly a lady amongst noble ladies. I would do well to learn more from her.

Upon seeing her elegant greeting, even Jeord couldn’t help but break into a smile. “Ha ha. Surely you jest, Lady Mary. I heard you loud and clear. It would seem like you are here with the express purpose of disturbing my and Katarina’s private time.”

“Oh, was I a disturbance? Do pardon me. All I wanted to do was spend some pleasant time with Lady Katarina.”

“Lady Mary. Are you not my brother’s fiancée? Perhaps you should be sharing some pleasant time with Alan instead, no?”

“But of course! That is why I have invited Prince Alan as well. Appearances, yes?”

“Ah, Lady Mary. To think that you were so lovable in your younger years. It would seem that your personality becomes more and more... interesting, with each passing year.”

“Oh? It is an honor that you think so highly of me. However, I would still not be able to rival someone like you, Prince Jeord.”

“But alas. You are merely being humble, my good lady.”

It seemed that Jeord and Mary had now gotten into their own intense discussion. In fact, Keith had started cheering for Mary at some point, “Do your best, Lady Mary!” Alan, however, seemed puzzled upon hearing his name. “Hmm...? Appearances...?”

Again! I’m excluded from this discussion. Did all of you not come to my manor to spend time with me?

To make things worse, they’re all talking about difficult things I could hardly understand. I have never felt more lonely than this...

All this loneliness was starting to make me sulk.

“On another note, Lady Katarina... What did you think of my brother’s gift to you...?” Sophia asked, smiling.

My lonely sulking was blown away in an instant by her radiant, lovable smile. “Ah yes, I really quite enjoyed it. Do tell Master Nicol that I really liked the cute necklace he sent me, if you would be so kind,” I replied, smiling back at Sophia.

“NECKLACE?!” For some reason, the four that had excluded me from their conversations prior all said the same thing at the same time, turning in my direction. And then...

“Katarina. What exactly is this... ‘necklace’?”

“But you are not fond at all of accessories, Big Sister. Did you not reject all such gifts?”

“Yes, yes. Something that is worn could not possibly be used, and so you would never accept it, Lady Katarina. Was that not the case?”

“Oh. Actually I heard from Mary that it was something like that...”

Everyone in the garden was seemingly overcome by surprise. But yes — that was exactly it. I had no interest in accessories and dresses, so I turned them all down. However...

“...Actually, it was a necklace that was featured in one of the stories I read, you see. So I was quite happy to receive it. Also, it had no gems or anything like that — hardly stuffy at all, so I happily accepted it.”

That’s right. Nicol’s birthday gift to me was none other than the necklace that a favorite romance novel protagonist of mine wore. Although I had no interest in accessories whatsoever, my otaku tendencies meant that I was particularly weak to items that showed up in the books and stories I read.

“It’s just like that one character!” I would say, becoming all excited about it.

“I actually like it so much that I have it on today as well, under my gardening overalls!” Saying so, I lowered my collar ever so slightly, showing the necklace to my gathered friends. For some reason, all of them instantaneously adopted similarly intense expressions.

Ah, as I thought... I suppose it’s a social faux pas to wear accessories like this under farming attire!

“Fufu. I was the one who gave my brother the advice, Lady Katarina. After all, he’s the only one who’s a year older, and he is always away. It’s not very fair, you see...” Sophia said, smiling innocently as she did so.

Upon witnessing her smile, my other four friends stood silently, and for a while, seemed resolutely rooted to the spot.