Chapter 1: Awakened and Abandoned

 

 

 

Chapter 1: Awakened and Abandoned

 

“LAETITIA, as of today, our engagement is over.”

With those words, my future came screeching to a halt.

This man—the crown prince, Fritz—left me dumbfounded with his sudden declaration.

“How cold…”

My whole body shivered as I spoke.

But what chilled me to my core wasn’t just the gaze my fiancé Fritz cast down upon me.

Drops of water formed from my wet bangs and fell before my eyes.

I’d been completely soaked in cold water, and my body trembled violently from the drastic change in temperature.

“How cruel… What did I do to deserve being pushed into the fountain…?”

“Are you really going to play dumb? I know all about you harassing Sumia.”

That’s not true. I never meant to cause her harm.

When I raised my head to object, I was met with the sight of Sumia clinging to Fritz.

Sumia was a young girl with soft chestnut hair and round green eyes.

Her charming face was clouded in fear as she looked at me. I could even see her trembling.

“Don’t you see how frightened she is? Have you no sympathy for the poor girl? You should be ashamed of yourself.”

“…I haven’t done anything to be ashamed of,” I asserted.

I was certain I had nothing to apologize for.

When Fritz had informed me that he was ending our engagement, and with Sumia standing there by his side, all I did was approach the two of them to ask what was going on.

But one of Fritz’s followers had pushed me back, sending me tumbling into the water.

“Still trying to worm your way out of admitting guilt, are you? The dip in the fountain didn’t manage to wake you up?”

“…Wake me…up…?”

The words slipped quietly from my lips.

In a way, I was completely awake now.

My eyes had been opened.

Rattled by the shock of losing my fiancé and being pushed into a fountain, I realized that I’d regained the memories of my past life.

◇　◇　◇

“JIRO, are you ready to go on a walk?”

“Arf!!”

When I peeked under the red roof of his doghouse, Jiro, my Shiba Inu, sauntered toward me.

After a quick stretch of his front legs, followed by the back ones, Jiro was ready for his walk.

I couldn’t help but smile fondly as I watched him sprawl out in front of me. Then I reached over to grab his harness.

Jiro knew the process by heart. He turned toward me and raised his head up eagerly. I pulled the harness over his head, observing the patches of gray around his muzzle as I did.

They say dogs go gray with age just like humans do.

We adopted Jiro when I was still in high school, and now, after many years, he’d grown into a little old man.

“~~~~♬”

Spring was in the air. It was the perfect weather for a walk.

I hummed a tune to myself as the two of us strode along the countryside roads outside of my parents’ home.

Trot. Trot. Trot.

I kept an eye on Jiro’s ailing legs as we walked, and my thoughts drifted to the kitchen back at home.

Homemade strawberry ice cream was waiting for me in the freezer, and it would be ready to eat when I finished walking Jiro. The craving for that delicate yet fruity flavor was vivid in my mind, bringing a smile to my face. I couldn’t wait to feel those thick chunks of strawberry on my tongue.

I’d left lots of strawberry seeds in the mixture too. The ice cream itself was soft and airy—my favorite treat to whip up when spring arrived each year.

Though it was an annual tradition of mine to make strawberry ice cream, the first time I tried my hand at the recipe, I accidentally misread the amount of water to add. The result wasn’t pretty.

When there’s too much water in the mixture, the ice cream doesn’t crystallize properly in the freezer, and the strawberry flavor comes out much weaker.

But with all those failed attempts under my belt, my strawberry ice cream was finally turning into a tasty treat that even my family enjoyed.

“♬ Straaawberries! Straw-berr-iiies! ♬”

I quietly sang a little tune of my own making, strolling along with the rhythm.

My song was pretty terrible, but it didn’t matter that day.

A few years had passed since I graduated from university and started at my current job.

My company kept me incredibly busy…in fact, I’d even call it downright exploitative. I could count on one hand the number of times I made it home on time. Naturally, we had to come in on holidays too, and as the end of each quarter approached, we were so busy, I don’t know how we even made it out alive.

But for once, I had an entire Sunday all to myself.

I used the day to finish up some chores I’d been putting off, then got on a train to visit my parents’ house, which was less than an hour away.

Seeing their smiling faces, playing with Jiro, and eating delicious ice cream—it had the makings of a perfect day off.

“Jiro, wait.”

The traffic light in front of us was red.

Jiro was quick to obey when he heard my voice.

When we first adopted Jiro as a puppy, I was the one who taught him how to respond to commands.

…I’d always heard that Shiba Inus were stubborn creatures, and Jiro certainly wasn’t any different. It took quite a while for him to start listening to me even a little.

“Wait” was the command he struggled with the most. I was only in high school at the time, so it was a real test of patience for me to train him.

Three seconds, then five. Little by little, Jiro learned to “wait” in longer intervals, even though there were plenty of setbacks along the way.

But in the end, it just made me all the prouder when Jiro finally started to listen to me, even outside the house. It felt like he’d finally accepted me as his owner.

“Okay, Jiro. Let’s go.”

The light was green now.

We made it halfway across the street, when suddenly…

“Arf arf!!”

“What?!”

With a loud roar, a truck came barreling in our direction, with no regard for the crosswalk or our green light.

This is bad. I have to move. I have to save Jiro.

I yanked his harness as hard as I could, letting out a shriek…

And then I felt the impact.

The world went fuzzy around me.

The next thing I felt was a growing pool of warm liquid soaking my body, and I realized I was sprawled out on top of the concrete.

As my consciousness faded to black, the last thing that “I” made out was the sight of Jiro running toward me.

◇　◇　◇

“JIRO…”

A single tear rolled down my cheek as old memories of “mine” came rushing back.

Jiro didn’t seem very hurt, but did he make it out okay?

Jiro was a clever dog. I wanted to believe that he managed to dodge that speeding truck entirely…

“Jiro? And who is that? Are you actually crying right now? Your tears won’t change my mind.”

“…It’s just water from the fountain.”

Jiro was the one who had moved me to tears. The sting of losing my betrothed may have also been a factor.

But crying wouldn’t change anything now.

I felt the tears start to form in my eyes again, so I tensed my muscles to keep them from spilling over.

Crying in front of Fritz and the others was the greatest shame I’d yet experienced in my seventeen years of life.

I am Lady Laetitia Gramwell, Duke Gramwell’s daughter. This is the name and title I go by in this world.

On that day, I was at the Royal Elltoria Academy, where all young nobles throughout the kingdom of Elltoria receive an education.

When I’d walked through the front doors, past the water fountain in the entryway, I’d been stopped by Fritz, the crown prince of our kingdom. Out of nowhere, he’d told me that he was breaking off our engagement.

The students around us had fallen into a hush as they took in the shocking scene.

Now, Fritz’s followers stared down at me in the fountain, their faces cold with judging looks.

There stood Fritz—the crown prince, and the man who was supposed to by my fiancé.

Sumia, the baron’s daughter, was clinging to him.

Ilius, the third son of the prime minister, famed for his intellect, was beside them.

Finally, there was Dustin—son of the royal army commander and a skilled swordsman himself.

These were the future leaders of our kingdom, and each one of them glared at me with raw hostility in their eyes.

I stood up, being careful not to let my guard down around them, and placed both feet on the ground as elegantly as I possibly could, almost as if I were in the presence of the king himself. The shock of losing my fiancé and regaining my past-life memories couldn’t rattle me into losing my cool, or letting me be put into an even more embarrassing situation.

Since I was soaked to the bone, I decided to use a spell to dry myself.

“…Hands of red. Cage of fire. Sear my robes until they’re drier.”

I chanted the spell and felt the air around me turn warm, forcing the water right out of my clothes in the form of steam.

…It was my first time using magic with all these new memories in my head. I was a bit more excited than usual.

In my past life, I always adored stories of wizards and spells.

The drying spell I just used was cast by controlling fire. It was a delicate form of magic that couldn’t succeed without an experienced user behind it.

The students around us stared at me in awe, having just witnessed me pull it off so easily with such a short spell.

I was dry now, but there was still one question lingering in my mind.

For some reason, the magical energy coursing through my veins felt more powerful than usual.

Maybe it’s because I just regained the memories of my past life?

…I would have to look into it later.

I combed my fingers through my blonde hair, now that it was no longer wet from the fountain, and felt the long locks rustle the skirt of my uniform below.

Standing up straight, I turned to look Fritz in the eye, and I could have sworn I saw him flinch ever so slightly.

“Your Highness, is it true? Do you really mean to end our engagement?”

“Of course I do. A woman as wicked as you has no place as the queen of this kingdom.” Fritz scowled at me with disgust as he responded bluntly.

“And why is it that you think I am wicked?”

“Playing dumb, are you? I know all about how cruelly you’ve been treating Sumia.”

“Cruelly? If this is about Sumia’s overfamiliarity with Your Highness, all I did was warn her about her behavior.”

I had every right to take such actions.

Sumia had made many attempts to cozy up to my fiancé.

It was nothing as simple as a few friendly chats between them—the two would link arms in front of others and even dine together alone at night. This was completely inappropriate conduct from people of their status.

“As a noblewoman of this kingdom, I only behave in the most proper manner. Sumia can’t claim to be ignorant of the fact that you had a fiancée.”

“I… I did know. But I had no idea my friendship with His Highness would garner such terrible scorn…”

Sumia paled and she shuddered more violently than before.

Tears formed in her eyes. She was curling up like a small animal, surely activating the protective urges of everyone in the vicinity.

“You’ve gone too far, Laetitia! Sumia was raised among common folk! Of course she doesn’t understand the ins and outs of high society!”

“That’s exactly why I warned her whenever her behavior wasn’t acceptable for her class. But she refused to heed my advice and continued making the same mistakes.”

“Don’t you have any sympathy for the girl? She’s been dragged into a whole new world with hardly any time to settle in.”

“I respect the choices Sumia has made. But despite her commoner upbringing, she attends this academy as a baron’s daughter, so she must put in the work to carry herself in a way that befits her position.”

In both this life and the last, I was always taught that decisions come with responsibility.

Sumia’s circumstances were certainly unique, but that couldn’t excuse her every misstep.

…Though she was a baron’s daughter, Sumia was the product of her father’s affair.

From what I’d heard, Sumia had lived alone with her mother as a commoner until her father took her in when she turned thirteen.

In his words, he’d seen a latent potential in his daughter.

“Your Highness, Lady Laetitia’s just jealous of her.”

A boy with dark hair and glasses emerged from behind Fritz.

He was Ilius, the third son of the current prime minister.

“She just made quite the spectacle with that spell of hers…even though it was nothing more than simple Fire Magic.”

…Well, sorry to disappoint.

Despite his remarks, Fire Magic has many practical, convenient uses.

You can dry clothes, warm your body, simmer a pot of soup, grill up a piece of meat to save on fuel for cooking…

…Wait, no, no.

With my newly regained memories of my past life, I was starting to think like a member of the lower class.

I’m a duke’s daughter now.

The lenses of Ilius’s glasses reflected the light, casting his face in a creepy, sinister glow. I decided to save my speech about the many uses of Fire Magic for another time.

Glasses Creep continued to lay on his indulgent theories.

“…And then there’s Sumia, who is one of the very few users of Light Magic in our kingdom. Her powers are so robust, she’s referred to as the second coming of the legendary Goddess of Light. Sumia attends this school so that her tremendous powers can be used in the service of the kingdom. Don’t you find her aspirations to be noble?”

“I would think it unwise to confuse her motivations with their outcome.”

“Oh, but there’s been an outcome, all right. She’s exposed the ugly heart inside you, unbefitting of your title and class.”

“Ugly? You sure sound like you’re trying to sow discord between Sumia and myself. I can confidently say that all the warnings I issued were appropriate.”

“Well…”

Glasses Creep fell silent.

This boy, Ilius, was a gifted student at the very top of his class.

He seemed to understand he had strayed from the pretense of protecting Sumia.

“Hey, now. You’ve got a lot to say, Laetitia, but you’re just jealous, aren’t you? Jealous of Sumia’s precious Light Magic, and of the affection she receives from His Highness!”

Dustin, the redheaded and burly third son of the royal army commander, was next to butt into the conversation.

“I’ve always heard that women are jealous creatures, and I guess that’s true after all. You’ve got quite the nerve, using your title as a shield to bully Sumia. Don’t you have any honor?”

He held out his arms to protect the girl.

“Lord Dustin… You have my thanks…”

“I-It’s nothing at all!!”

His face reddened, and he turned away from her. On the inside, I wanted nothing more than to let out a dramatic sigh.

Et Tu, Dustin?

The famous words of Caesar echoed in my mind.

It appeared that Dustin, now in addition to the crown prince, had completely fallen for Sumia.

Dustin is the third son of a duke.

Between his father, a commander, and his three brothers, Dustin spent his entire life being trained in the ways of the sword.

As a result, he’d grown into a brawny man who lacked any experience with women of his own age.

In fact, it invoked a distant memory from my past life in Japan. I’d seen boys who spent their high school days with nothing but sports and athletics in their brain, only to get to college and start hanging out with nasty, manipulative girls.

“Come on, Laetitia. Don’t you have a response? Or do you finally get it now?”

“I have no intention of conversing with a mannerless man who refuses to address me correctly.”

Both the muscle-head and I belonged to families of equal rank.

He’d always referred to me improperly, but that didn’t make it right.

“Y-You just can’t let anything go, can you?!”

“It’s not only about my form of address. Lord Dustin, I have yet to receive an apology for pushing me into the fountain.”

“I did that because you were getting too close to Sumia, Lae— Lady Laetitia!!”

“I only approached her to talk, and nothing more. Did you see me raise a hand against her? You saw no such thing, and you pushed me down before I could get a word in edgewise.”

“How else could I have protected her?!”

“What are those muscles of yours even for, Lord Dustin? You could have just as easily grabbed me by the shoulders with those bulky arms of yours if you really wanted to stop me.”

“…You seriously want me to apologize to you?! Even after what you’ve done?! I know you pushed Sumia down a staircase! You’re completely shameless!!”

…What the hell is he talking about?

Dustin’s angry accusation was the first I’d heard of this.

“…There’s no truth to that whatsoever. What proof do you have?”

“Sumia said you shoved her from behind…!”

“Is that all? It would be easy enough for her to fake something like th—”

“That’s enough. Shut your mouth at once.”

My heart skipped a beat at hearing Fritz’s icy voice.

The look he was giving me, brimming with disgust and resentment, stung deep inside my chest.

Our parents were the ones who first arranged our engagement when I was twelve years old.

The betrothal was strictly political, but even so, the two of us were to be partners who would spend the rest of our lives together.

I always knew our relationship would never be a passionate love affair, but at the very least, I hoped we could live in mutual respect of each other. For that reason, I spent years working to become a person who could support the crown prince.

But that aspiration had been shattered to pieces. Fritz was now glaring at me like I was his greatest enemy.

“I’m tired of this act, Laetitia. Always keeping a straight face as you manage to find the perfect words…even when you were mocking me behind my back all along.”

His face twisted into a pained smile.

“Your Highness, I’ve never done such a thing. As you are my fiancé, I’ve always cared deeply for y—”

“Enough. You never had any feelings for me. Your one and only goal was the future title of ‘queen,’ wasn’t it?”

…Why are you stating the obvious as if it’s a betrayal?

Our engagement was a political arrangement and was never born out of love. And yet, I still believed we could forge that connection together someday.

I’d worked so hard for a goal that Fritz didn’t seem to have the slightest notion of.

“All your studying was to secure your place as the crown princess. I know you’ve been mocking me behind my back because I can’t keep up with you.”

“You’re wrong. I’ve never once looked down on you.” I immediately objected, though, on the inside, I felt a brief tug of doubt.

To be entirely honest, Fritz was not exactly a shining example of a prince. He possessed no notable talents, nor did he make up for it with his work ethic.

He was lacking when it came to studies, magic skills, swordsmanship, and even his ability to command people. I knew he harbored fears about his future reign as the next king, and for that reason, in particular, I would have expected a more mature attitude from Fritz.

…Which is why I tried so hard to be a woman who could make up for his flaws. It might even be more accurate to say that I was so busy trying to better myself as the future queen that I never even had the time to “look down on” my fiancé.

Even though it was wrong to say I had disrespected him, a rift had clearly grown between Fritz and me as I dedicated myself to my studies. Once his inferiority complex reached critical mass, there was no way to talk him back down.

“All you have are your words, Laetitia. You’re just like all the gossips throughout the royal court—an empty shell of a person hiding behind a respectable name. …But Sumia is someone who actually cares for me. Even though I made fun of her commoner upbringing at first, she’s still always shown me nothing but genuine kindness.”

“Your Highness…I also care about you…from the bottom of my heart…”

Sumia drew closer to Fritz, her expression a mix between bashfulness and joy.

The heroine’s humble origins soothe the weary prince, who’s so weighed down by all his responsibilities, and thus, he falls in love with her.

…I saw this trope all the time in my past life. It was a regular feature in romantic fiction.

But that left me to fill the role of the villainess, who existed only to come between the two lovers.

“I’ve decided to take Sumia as my wife. Laetitia, you’ve committed a grave crime by bullying the future crown princess, and shall therefore be expelled from the kingdom immediately as punishment.”

The echo of Fritz’s declaration was the only sound throughout the hall.

…Me? Expelled from the kingdom for a crime? Have you lost your marbles or something?

…I was so stunned, even my thoughts were turning silly.

By that point, I was starting to accept that our engagement was truly over, but I never expected it to go so far.

I was from a ducal family that figured centrally in the political system.

To drive me out of the kingdom over a perceived slight was an act of tyranny from the crown prince.

…I can’t stop him from ending our engagement, but where does he expect me to go?!

This wasn’t like banishing a commoner.

There was a procedure that needed to be followed for the process of exiling a noblewoman, or so I believed…

Knowing Fritz, he probably hadn’t thought ahead at all.

Glasses Creep, a.k.a. Ilius, looked just as panicked as I felt. He was fiddling with his glasses, and it gave me the distinct feeling that my hunch was right.

Ilius has a disagreeable personality, but he’s far from stupid. The two of us were always battling for the top grades at our academy.

Though our rivalry was fierce, the two of us eventually…well, no, we never really bonded over it, but we had a repertoire of our own as rivals.

“Oh, Cantaloupe Head, come translate this ancient text for me.”

“Glasses Creep, could you lend me your textbook?”

The two of us could cast off all pretenses and engage in an amicable war of words.

Unlike Fritz, Ilius was not the kind of person who would make an ally out of a girl who had nothing to offer him, like with Sumia.

If he was helping her, his motivation had to be his own self-interest.

I did know that Sumia’s and Ilius’s families were distantly related.

On the other hand, my family had a strained relationship with Ilius’s.

It was clear he intended to steal the title of crown princess away from me by pushing Sumia and Fritz together.

…I’d been aware of his schemes for some time, but now it seemed he’d actually managed to best me.

However, I doubted even Ilius predicted how his efforts would be rewarded. His family’s plan was probably centered around destroying my engagement in a much less severe manner.

In the end, Fritz’s decision came in the worst conceivable way.

I knew for a while that Fritz and I were growing apart, and yet, for things to conclude this idiotically was still unthinkable to me.

In front of the world, the crown prince had declared our engagement over and that I was to be expelled from the kingdom.

It was a foolish declaration of war against the Gramwell family and me.

The Gramwells are an esteemed family. We possess a great amount of land and wealth.

If people of our means believed His Majesty had agreed to banish their daughter…it could break apart the very unity of our kingdom. Ilius had surely reached the same conclusion—he was shooting me nervous glances, as if pleading for my help.

…Don’t give me that pathetic look, Glasses Creep.

The boy, usually filled with an irritating amount of self-confidence, had completely transformed…

Sure, you didn’t expect Fritz to be so stupid, but this is all thanks to your plan!

I wanted to scream that this was his fault…but unfortunately, I appeared to be the only one who could fix this whole mess.

I was out of options. All I could do was grit my teeth and accept this fate for the good of the kingdom as a whole.

“…I understand your concerns, Your Highness… But I must ask, does His Majesty know I’m to be banished?”

“I’ll inform Father once it’s done.”

As I suspected, Fritz’s decision appeared to be the result of his own shortsightedness.

…Despite the foolishness of this crown prince, he was the only male heir born to the king and queen.

If Fritz became unable to succeed the throne, the next in line would be the king’s younger brother, who was known to be a wise man.

But this brother was not in good favor with the king, so His Majesty would never think of letting him inherit the crown. Fritz was to remain the crown prince under any circumstances.

At the same time, His Highness should know well enough that he had no right to do something as foolish as to expel me from our kingdom on his own. It would become a political headache for the king if his son were to force this any further.

“…Very well. Since you’ve come to despise me, I’ll respect those feelings and leave the kingdom for some time.”

His hatred was the crux of this whole situation.

Of course, he possessed no real evidence that I had ever bullied Sumia.

It was his emotions, or more accurately, his selfishness, that forced my hand. The best thing I could do was curry favor with His Majesty and avoid causing any trouble for my family.

With nothing left to say, I decided there was no reason to be humiliated any further.

I turned and made my way back to the school entrance as hushed cries of pity surrounded me from all sides.

“She’s the woman rejected by the crown prince.”

“That poor duke’s daughter, banished from her glorious homeland.”

Their voices buzzed against my eardrums, burrowing their way inside my head.

Since our kingdom had survived through era after era, many nobles looked down on our neighboring countries for their lack of history.

They all judged banishment to be as grave a punishment as death.

Thanks to the memories of my past life, though, I didn’t find it to be such a horrifying prospect…

Even so, on that day, I lost both my fiancé and my home in one fell swoop.

◇　◇　◇

“GOOD afternoon, my lady. You’re later than I expected you today. Was everything all right at school?”

My carriage was parked a short walk away from the school gates.

A man with neatly styled black hair stood in front of the carriage, awaiting my arrival.

This man was none other than Lucian, my head servant.

He stood tall over me, with a handsome face that displayed both his attentiveness and poise.

Anyone’s first impression of Lucian would be that he looks like a capable butler, but that position wasn’t yet his due to his young age of only twenty-two. His talents were all but guaranteed to carry him to the role in the future.

“…I found myself in quite the predicament today. We can discuss it in the carriage.”

I took Lucian’s outstretched hand and stepped up into the passenger car.

We were the very picture of a distinguished young lady and her doting servant.

I’m sure I would have been a combination of bewildered and elated to be in such a situation in my past life. But to Laetitia, the current “me,” it was the most ordinary thing in the world.

My customs as a noblewoman appeared to now coexist with that middle-class lifestyle I experienced in the past.

I sighed and leaned against the soft seat. Lucian took his place across from me. With that, the carriage began to creak forward at the beckoning of the driver.

Putting my thoughts in order, I managed to convey the day’s events to Lucian.

“Today, His Highness informed me that our engagement is over.”

“…Come again?”

Lucian’s blue eyes went wide. He stared at me intensely.

“What does that mean, exactly? Surely, it must be some kind of joke…”

“Sadly, it’s all too true. He announced it to the whole world, right there in the entry hall. I’ve also been told I’m to be expelled from the kingdom.”

The more I explained, the sharper Lucian’s gaze grew.

“…What an absolute fool, that prince. A thousand deaths wouldn’t be enough to atone for casting shame upon my lady.”

He didn’t hesitate to hurl insults toward Fritz, the crown prince of our kingdom.

“That empty-headed, spoiled little brat…,” he cursed.

His tongue was sharp for a servant.

…Well, I guess I was just calling Fritz “the foolish prince” in my head earlier, so I suppose I can’t judge him…

…But my innermost thoughts could be ignored for the time being.

Lucian usually carried himself in a dignified manner, like someone born to an upper-class family, despite being a commoner himself.

Throughout all the years of his service, I’d only heard him resort to commoner speech a handful of times…or perhaps a bit more.

“I knew that dunce would screw everything up at some point… Do you have any intention of accepting that ridiculous demand? Expulsion from the kingdom?”

“Yes, and I’ll be going peacefully. I can’t let this land be divided by a rift between the royal family and my own.”

This was the responsibility that came with my title in this world.

Our kingdom wasn’t nearly as peaceful or prosperous as the Japan I once knew. The fact that I could live my life without hardship was thanks to my noble status.

“…A noble must be ready to give up everything for the sake of the people.”

It was my father who’d repeated those words to me many times over the course of my life in this world.

Father was a man with a dauntingly terrifying face. Sadly, this made people overlook his traits as an admirable person with a strong sense of duty.

“…I don’t know where I’ll go when I leave. I could be sent to a distant empire or to a dreadful land somewhere. If that happens, I want you to stay here without me, Lucian.”

“My lady, you couldn’t get rid of me if you were sent to the ends of the earth.”

So that was a no.

“Because you’re the one who saved me from that orphanage after I lost my parents.”

“Lucian…”

That was seven years ago. I was ten years old at the time.

When Father told me to select a few servants of my own, it proved to be more challenging than I anticipated. But one day, when I was visiting an orphanage as part of my philanthropic work, I met the then fifteen-year-old Lucian.

Despite never receiving a real education, the boy had taught himself to read and write all on his own. He even assisted in the operation of the orphanage with those skills.

Moved by his story, I begged my father to let me employ him as my personal servant. He was hesitant at first but eventually agreed to a year-long trial run to evaluate Lucian’s performance.

By the time that year was up, Lucian had become an impeccable servant, both in etiquette and job skills. Even Father came to approve of him.

…Everything worked out in the end, but it was a bold request of me to make.

As a duke’s daughter, I wasn’t supposed to associate too closely with commoners. I’d only just regained the memories of my past life, but it was possible those experiences and the values I held then still influenced me in this life, even before today.

“Thank you, Lucian, but there’s no need to be so loyal to me. I only employed you because I wanted a skilled servant for my own devices.”

“Yes, I know. I’m aware of your reasons…and how you were truly worried for me above all else—not to mention your noble, dignified aspirations to put your kingdom above your own desires… I know these facts better than anyone.”

Lucian placed his hand on his chest and bowed.

My heart was filled with warmth and contentment to hear his declaration of loyalty. It was also just a little bit embarrassing.

…It really was a terrible day.

I had my engagement annulled, I was pushed into a fountain, my former fiancé had all sorts of choice words for me, and a brute of a man tried to threaten me…

There was so much hostility and hatred, with one blow landing on me after another.

But despite it all, Lucian’s unwavering support broke through my shell and warmed my heart. I felt like I could finally stop and take a breath.

“I must have terrific luck to be blessed with a loyal servant like you.”

“Thank you, my lady. I will strive to be worthy of such praise.”

Through the courtesy and respect for me in his smile, I could also make out Lucian’s deep affection for me. I returned his smile. Feeling a little less glum, we carried on with more peaceful topics of conversation. It was a quiet way to pass the time. Eventually, we felt the moving carriage slow to a halt.

We had arrived in the eastern region of the capital city, where my family resided.

The grand mansion came into view through my window. With it, I felt my mood start to sink again.

“Don’t be so upset, my lady. Please remember that you’ll always have me on your side.”

Lucian knew just what to say to me.

I didn’t think my change of mood was visible on the outside, but as my servant of many years, perhaps he was just that good at seeing through me.

“I’m sure the idea of telling your father, the duke, about the end of your engagement is daunting… But knowing Duke Gramwell, I can’t imagine he’d blame you for something that wasn’t even your fault, my lady.”

“…I think you’re right about that.”

With a hesitant smile, I turned my gaze away from Lucian.

The more I imagined Father’s disappointment when I told him about the day’s events, the more my mood worsened.

…But that wasn’t even my most pressing concern at the moment. Though it was over something that would seem trivial to many, something was weighing heavy on my mind now that I had my past-life memories again.

I stepped out of the carriage. The sun was already creeping lower in the sky above me.

My dreaded dinner was drawing near.

◇　◇　◇

I went to my room and changed into one of my dresses.

After some time, a knock came at my door, and one of the maids informed me that dinner was ready.

I gave her my usual, distinguished noblewoman’s smile.

But on the inside, I was filled with dread as I followed the maid to the dining room.

…Solemn background music was playing in my mind.

I made my way down the vast halls of my mansion, letting the song continue to play out until we arrived at our destination.

The maid pulled out my chair at the grand dining table. It could easily seat ten people. I lowered myself into the chair, and it was then that the kitchen door opened.

“…!”

An intense smell stung my nose.

It was coming from my dinner, or more specifically, from the extreme amount of spice in my dinner. The food wasn’t even in front of me yet, and the scent was already overwhelming.

…Yep, this is a bad one, folks.

I was resorting to mental commentary to distract myself from reality. More and more dishes of food were being brought into the dining room all the while.

In our kingdom, it was customary to serve every part of a meal, from the main course down to the soups, all at once on the same table.

The potent smell was inescapable. Hesitantly, I reached over and took my fork.

First, I tried the appetizer. It was a salad made from local vegetables harvested just outside the capital city. However…

The problem was the thick layer of glistening dressing on top of said salad.

It oozed over the greens, reminding me a little of the gravy I used to eat in my past life, but only in appearance.

At first bite, the difference was evident. My tongue was bombarded with an intensely spicy, acidic flavor.

The sauce was so strong, I couldn’t even taste the freshness of the vegetables underneath.

To be honest, not one part of this salad appealed to my palate, but I kept my cool and forced each bite down anyway. My training as a noblewoman, as well as my past-life experience as a corporate drone, was being put to the test—determining how much control I could wield over my facial expressions.

To my further disappointment, I spotted the same sauce from the salad covering the meat that was to be my main course. Naturally, the ingredients had been altered to reflect the different dishes underneath…

But once again, the seasoning was so strong that I could barely tell what I was eating. My meal didn’t feel like meat—it felt like a clump of spices that slightly resembled the texture of meat.

Back in Japan, this probably would have been the highest grade of meat you could buy. However, that quality was completely lost in tonight’s dinner. It was an utterly disappointing meal.

…Not that it was inedible or anything so extreme.

From the meat to the vegetables, and even the spices, too, any ingredients on a duke’s table would be the absolute best the kingdom has to offer.

…Yet, it still didn’t actually taste good. Both my heart and stomach were left unsatisfied.

The dinner was a complete waste of spices that never needed to be used so abundantly in the first place.

The words too much of a good thing seemed fitting.

There was an actual reason for the excessive spices used in every dish. Forty years ago, our kingdom of Elltoria discovered a brand-new sea route that stretched all the way to a southern continent.

When travelers returned home with ships full of these new kinds of seasonings, the people of our kingdom took to them immediately.

Compared with Japan, this world doesn’t have much diversity when it comes to its cuisine, nor have we managed to selectively breed many vegetables for consumption. That’s why spices are used in such high quantities to compensate for the flavor and make the foods easier to preserve.

With the people hooked on these new seasonings, noblemen and noblewomen began to build up their own stocks, and soon, an abundant use of spices became a show of one’s status. This display of fortune turned into a fierce competition of its own.

As a result, I was now staring at a table full of dishes that tasted only of spices.

Of course, commoners and less-wealthy noble families didn’t eat such rich meals, but I was a duke’s daughter, after all.

Just about every dish I ate at this table was completely overseasoned.

It was all the more painful now that I had the memories of my past life, where my hobbies were cooking and eating out at various restaurants.

…In this world, the average person’s palate isn’t that different from what it was on Earth.

I still remembered some of the food I ate in town all those years ago. They were simple yet tasty meals.

Additionally, present-day nobles tend to drink wine that’s light and crisp with dinner. We often drink lemon water at the table as well.

…Though, to me, both drinks just feel like a way of getting much-needed relief from those extremely rich meals.

This overseasoned food only served to benefit the reputations of the upper classes. My theory was that it all came from underdeveloped methods of cooking and a culture that didn’t value the raw flavor of the ingredients as something worth relying on.

“Spices are delicious.”

Thus, if you use lots of those spices, it will only make your cooking taste better.

…That logic brought about the use of even more spices in food, little by little, until everyone’s taste buds were completely numbed.

It wasn’t only Elltoria that was seeing such a trend. To different extents, our entire western continent was going to seasoning extremes in their cooking. I could hardly think of any countries that didn’t share this culture among its highest ranks.

One exception that came to mind was a neighboring nation, the kingdom of Raiolbern.

Their borders housed vast stretches of farmland, and because the population thought highly of their locally grown food, their aristocrats ate meals that used a moderate amount of seasoning. I was very jealous of it.

There was more I envied than just their cuisine. Two years ago, the Raiolbern Kingdom experienced a political shake-up, and the new crown prince was said to be an incredibly capable man. As a result, the land had started to earn itself a great reputation for the improvements to public safety.

Light meals, a talented prince, and a peaceful life for its citizens.

After having my mouth accosted by all those spices and being cast out of my home because of Fritz’s idiocy, jealous was practically an understatement.

…If I have to leave, then I hope I get to live in Raiolbern or some other land with delicious food.

Keeping a blank face, I continued to chew my overseasoned dinner, now with the most earnest of desires in mind.

◇　◇　◇

FATHER asked to speak with me once I was finished with dinner.

Gardocia Gramwell, the head of the Gramwell family.

My father bears a regal-looking mustache and gives off a powerful, dignified aura…perhaps to a fault.

He has the kind of face that’s terrifying enough to make even children cry. Many people feel pressure and uneasiness just by looking at him.

“You’re telling me that your seat as the future queen was stolen by a baron’s daughter?”

He furrowed his brow as he stared at me. His voice was deep and cold.

“…That’s correct. I’m very sorry I ruined the engagement you arranged for me, Father.”

I bowed my head. Regret pricked at the inside of my chest.

The reason I worked so hard to be a good fiancée for Fritz was originally for my father’s sake. As his daughter, I dreaded the thought of casting shame upon him, so I studied hard to become a wonderful crown princess who had both intelligence and poise to boast of.

“Don’t apologize, Laetitia. You’re still a duke’s daughter, so stand up tall and proud.”

“…Yes, Father.”

“Since there’s no escaping your punishment now, I’ll work to find a suitable country for you to live in. It will probably keep me all the busier, so we might not have much time to speak in the coming days.”

“I’m ashamed to have caused you so much trouble…”

I meant every word of it too…

…when I looked at Father’s face.

His usually piercing eyes were now bloodshot, with dark black circles underneath. It only made his face ghastlier in appearance—he was discernibly exhausted.

It reminded me of the days I spent as a corporate drone, surrounded by my pale-faced coworkers. I recognized that look completely.

“Of course I’m going to get the best care for you. You’re my daughter; I won’t let any harm befall you. …Now that you’ve fallen out with Prince Fritz, I think you know better than to show your face at that school anymore, yes? I want you to wait here at home until I find a place for you to go.”

“I understand. I’ll do as you wish.”

I nodded and watched a bit of relief form on Father’s face.

His gaze was still as piercing as ever, but as his daughter, I could tell the slightest changes in his expression.

“If you’re not going to be the crown princess, you have no need to study for that role anymore. I know how hard you’ve been working on your education, staying up late for so many nights… Tell me now if there’s anything you need. If you want something to occupy yourself here at home, I can send away for it.”

“Something to occupy myself…?”

I thought about it for a bit.

My request might be struck down immediately, but I decided to ask it anyway.

“Would you allow me access to the kitchen?”

“The kitchen? What for?”

“I’d like to try my hand at cooking. I know it’s not proper for a noblewoman, but…what do you say, Father?”

Women of high status in my kingdom are not supposed to occupy their kitchens.

Some ladies prepare small desserts for teatime, but other than that, almost no one cooks actual meals.

I didn’t have much hope, but I decided to ask Father’s permission anyway.

“All right. I’ll allow it.”

“Huh?”

The response slipped out of my mouth involuntarily. His words were just so sudden.

“Father? You really mean it?”

“What’s the matter? I thought you were serious. Were you joking?”

“…No, I was serious. I’ve been wanting to take up cooking, so I’m quite pleased.”

“Is that so…? I’m glad you’re pleased, but be sure not to let anyone from outside see you in the kitchen. And don’t do anything stupid when you’re using fire or knives. I hope it’s something to entertain you while you’re here at home, but don’t neglect your safety either.”

He gave his warnings in a clear, deep voice. I felt my heart swell with gratitude.

Despite his harsh words, he was only looking out for me.

It couldn’t be seen on the surface, but deep down, Father was an awkward yet kindhearted man.

“Thank you, Father. If I prove to be a good cook, will you join me for a meal?”

“…Of course. I’m looking forward to it.”

He nodded. It was our promise.

With that, I returned to my room.

Closing the door behind me, I made sure no one else was around before collapsing onto my bed.

“Ugh… I’m exhausted…”

My engagement was over, I was expelled from the kingdom, and I regained the memories of my past life.

…There was a past-life “me” and a present “me.”

Our personalities were polar opposites, but neither one felt completely foreign.

I didn’t have any of these memories until today, and yet, I didn’t feel as if they’d had much influence on my character either way.

“I guess I’ve been on edge quite a lot lately…”

The burdens of being a duke’s daughter and the future crown princess—I was never free of them for a single moment.

Whatever happened next, I decided I wanted to live a freer life where I could pursue the things I wanted.

“…But for now…I should…get to sleep…”

So many things had happened to me that day.

But tomorrow, at least, would be my day to cook up something delicious.

With that last thought, I gently shut my eyes.