Former village girl and the Flag Crusher Prince

Chapter 02: How we get engaged

Why his superhuman highness and I became engaged.

The reason for this goes back to when I was twelve years old. My home in this life, has been a bit complicated...

My mother and father didn't get along because of their political marriage. To prove this, my father had remarried his mistress shortly after mother died of illness.

On top of that, the mistress already had a child, My sister, we're six months apart in age, and apparently half of our blood is connected to each other.

I couldn't help but laugh at my father's trashiness in this life, unlike in my previous life, monogamy is the norm in this world for religious reasons. That's why aristocrats often surround themselves with mistresses, both male and female, but even so, it would be bad for the public if they are discovered.

Isn't my father, who doesn't even bother to hide this, more incompetent than I was in my previous life?

By that time I had already remembered my previous life, so I quickly gave up on my father and decided to live in a disused house instead of the main house where my stepmother lives.
I didn't fight back against my stepmother and half-sister's harassment, partly because I was mentally older, but also I knew it was for my own good if I avoided anyone who was clearly hostile to me.
As expected, my father never leave me without food, clothing, or housing, as he was concerned about my mother's family.
I was able to get a full education as well. Fortunately, the servants took pity on me, and I had no complaints about my surroundings.
And I thought.
"Huh?　Isn't it so peaceful compared to the life in the palace in my previous life?"
No poison in your drink or blade in your dress. No one is dropped into a pond in the middle of winter for playing in the water, no one invited me to a tea party and insulted verbally me."
Neither is the maid a spy, nor is the butler an assassin hired by a political opponent.
No one is going to be attacked or betrayed in their sleep.
"Huh?　Peace after all."
This girl is just a little on bad terms with her stepmother, but her life itself is peaceful.
The reign of the Kingdom of Kabos has been stable.
It seems that there is a threat called the Demon King in this world, but geographically the kingdom is far from the Demon World,
so the damage caused by the Demon is not so serious a problem.
Thanks to a common global enemy, wars between nations are now lukewarm.
"~~ Peace"
It's peace itself compared to the world that was, if anything, a war-to-war of my previous life.
In my mind I raised my hands to the sky saying thanks for the existence of this peacefully world.
The only thing that I was afraid of was my original status, but in five more years, I will get married and leave this house.
If I wait with patience in the meantime, the level of danger is nothing. It's rather a very pleasant life for me.

"Ha! If you want to torment me, make me the King's wife like you did in your previous life! Well, that's impossible since His Majesty the King is already married! "
While I was singing along and celebrating peace, my father called me.
He said that he was to attend the Prince's selection of his fiancée.
It was around the time of the start of spring.

********

I remember that time well.
It's been a long time since I've been invited to the main house, but a second after entering, I was being dressed by a dozen of maids and taken to the carriage in no time.
Then it was me, my father and stepmother facing each other in a luxurious carriage.
The awkward atmosphere was teased by my half-sister, Elise, who sat beside her.
"Sis. It's been a while since you've seen father and mother, and you haven't said anything yet!　I'm sure it will be a great story."
The way Elise coughed and laughed as she said this, her eyes resembled the people I hated in my previous life.
Eyes that love to ridicule and condescend to others.
I ignored her and looked out the window. The royal city, where the court is located, is flourishing.
The view of the city is enough to enjoy it.
She figured out it would be a more meaningful way to pass the time than having a conversation with Elise and her stepmother.
Perhaps my attitude was offensive, and my stepmother, Iris, was outraged.

"What a cheeky girl!　A sober and unloving child would not be found lovely by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Hey, honey. It's a disgrace to have her attend after all. It's not too late now. Let's leave such a girl at the mansion."
My father shook his head at my stepmother's argument.
"I've said it many times. His Majesty has asked me to have all the ladies of his son's age present at this tea party. I can't say NO to him without a proper reason"
When my father glared at her, my stepmother held her tongue. Elise laughed at the sight, as if amused.
What's interesting about it? Elise, who hadn't been able to read my thoughts since we first met, was just plain creepy to me.
Nonetheless, I understood why my stepmother didn't expect me to stand out.
It's simple... because my appearance was somber and Elise was incomparably adorable.
I don't think I'm ugly in this life, but I'm not as beautiful as I was in my previous life.
In contrast, Elise is frighteningly cute.
If I continue to grow up like this, even my previous life self, which only have beauty appearance, I will not be able to compete with her.
That is it...
The difference is obvious if you only look at our looks. Naturally, Elise is the one that attracts all the eyes.
It's unlikely that good looks will determine the future Queen, but it's still the case that a beauty have advantage, I suppose father understood that.
Obviously, the quality of the dress was different for me and Elise, she is the one who has elaborated ornaments and hair style.
I was sneaking a look at Elise's reflection in the glass when she noticed me.
Elise purposely walked up to me and put her hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.
"Don't be discouraged, Big Sister. There is no prettier lady than me, so it can't be helped. It's like the game is already over."
Elise laughed, I'm a little scared of this half sister of mine who never stops smiling, I wanted to get rid of the hand on my shoulder right now, but I resisted the urge and held still.
Then the carriage came to a halt, announcing that we had arrived at the court.
Inwardly, I thought I was saved and hurriedly got off the uncomfortable carriage.
As I was led by my father to the courtyard of our destination, Elise said, only for me to hear.
"Big sister. A sister with no merit would never be chosen as the Crown Prince's fiancée. You can rest assured."
After all, the smiling Elise is creepy. However, I agreed with her words, in my previous life, beauty was the only thing I was good at.
In this life I'm not even that beautiful, I never believe that I could be the future fiancée of the Crown Prince, someone was promised an important role in the future, and by extension, the future Queen.
So, I thought that this event wasn't going to present a problem for me, at least, I had assumed that I wasn't part of the participants of this competition.
"This way, Sir"
Perhaps it was because I was feeling like such a stranger that I didn't notice that the squire who was guiding me had a very tired look on his face.
He bowed his head deeply in front of the door that led to the courtyard.
"Well, take care of yourself... and have a good day."

All of us, including myself, received a gaze from the servants as if we were soldiers going to war.
Before anyone could ask a question, the squire opened the door.
A dazzling light leaks out of the gap, we squint at the glare, but went in as if we were being sucked in by the light.
Then, after taking a step further, I understood the meaning of the squire's words.
It wasn't the courtyard that we set foot in before.
"Ha ha ha ha!　What is it, all of you! Come on, come on! Let's play with each other!"

--It was a jungle, with His Highness Lotus using the tendrils to fly around in all directions.