HowDeadTL: 1. Ellie is five years old and is engaged to the Crown Prince

The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way

[Eli is five years old and is engaged to the Crown Prince]

Translated by: ME

[Apparently, I've been reincarnated.]

I have what you'd call memories of my previous life a whole lot of them. Within those abundant memories is the genre of [isekai transfer/reincarnation.] There's even something called [otome game reincarnation.]

It feels like an otome game…

I am the eldest daughter of a duke's family. I have an older brother he is the heir. Currently I am five years old. My brother is seven. My seven-year-old brother is such a beautiful boy that even child models would run away in shame. Having the same blood I am also a beautiful girl to the point that I'm a little taken aback myself. And recently my engagement was arranged. My partner is the Crown Prince of this country.

Am I the villain? Am I reincarnated as a villainous lady?

That's what I thought but there's one major problem.

I've hardly ever played otome games. The only one I properly played was a Koei-esque company's nation-building game that's already at the retro game level. It was a game where you expanded your territory while having fun with various gods. And after playing that I thought [Do we really need romance?] and from then on I became hooked on regular RTS games. Nobunaga's Ambition-style games were frankly more fun. The games I mainly played would be too unfamiliar to otome game players so I'll skip them here.

I've been thinking since my previous life [Wouldn't someone be interested?] I'm lonely because there are too few like-minded people around me. I don't know otome games but I did enjoy novels and manga about [otome game reincarnation.] It was because my commute was boring. In stories you often see people playing otome games on their phones during their commute but I personally disliked social games so I read manga and novels. I liked things that didn't require too much thinking to read. The template karmic justice stories had a refreshing and reassuring feeling like Mito Komon and they were perfect for killing time. I also wished someone would listen to my hatred of social games. No one around me ever listened…

Anyway although my knowledge is biased I do have knowledge of being reincarnated into an otome game. And I have the knowledge that otome games have a heroine and capture targets and a villainous lady who gets in their way.

…The retro game I played didn't have a villain though. Have times changed…? She wasn't a villain but a fair and square rival. There was even a route to foster friendship. That aside it's the villainous lady. The villainous lady is usually engaged to the main capture target who is a prince or noble's son. Don't call the fiancé a villain. If bugs are swarming around your future spouse of course you're going to chase them away. It's a legitimate assertion of rights. Even if I think that for some reason they are labeled as villains. It's very unsatisfying.

When my father told me that my engagement to the Crown Prince was arranged I thought [Could it be…?] A common pattern is to be reincarnated into [the world of a game you love and played extensively]… I've never seen the place names or maps of this world in the games I liked and played.

…Well I definitely wouldn't want to be reincarnated into Eastern Europe in the middle of World War II though.

So that means. This world is either just a completely unrelated isekai or the world of a game manga or novel that I don't play. In the latter case I don't know what kind of harsh fate awaits me. But well there's no use complaining. Even if this is the stage of an otome game I don't know the scenario. Therefore I don't know the existence of flags either.

In other words. I have no choice but to live as I am. Going my way. There is no path before me. …There might not be one behind me either. I want to secure a retreat route. Being able to safely retreat is the first step to rebuilding. I should check the path behind me. Yes I will.

Anyway I have no choice but to go with the flow. There's only so much a beautiful five-year-old girl can do.

Having made up my mind I engraved the date of the meeting told to me by my father in my head and chose a dress with my maids.

A week later I was in the Royal Palace's garden. Well it's incredibly vast! (Your intonation has become that of an old man. You are correct.) The garden with its well-balanced arrangement of trees has places with good visibility and places that are just right for hiding. Even the hiding places never create a complete blind spot making it a delicate design where trying to assassinate someone here would be extremely difficult. Since this world doesn't require precautions against headshots from hundreds of meters away there seems to be little physical danger because guns don't exist in this world.

Urged by an elderly man resembling a butler I sat down at a table set up with my father. Even after sitting down I was still looking around the garden. Thinking about where I would position myself if I were a sniper. This is game brain! Looking at World Heritage ruins and thinking about parkour routes looking at cash transport vehicles and calculating escape plans after attacking them watching historical dramas and thinking about battle formations in my head.

Game brain is a very terrible disease because you can kill several hours with just this.

There's a large overhanging wing on the right but the distance is too close so the scope would probably reflect there. It would be an east-facing window so it would probably work from there after evening. Or rather would the rooftop of that wing be good? The distance would increase by a dozen meters but since it would be a downward shot the attenuation wouldn't be too great. Should I take an angle and lie prone? Ah but the top of that tree over there might also work. There's almost nothing blocking the angle of fire. Depending on the wind direction hitting the wing I would need to take wind force into account. There would be almost no scope reflection. The sound probably wouldn't reach either. The problem is how do I hide in that tree?

While I was thinking about such trivial things I heard a rustling sound coming from the building. I exchanged glances with my father stood up and bowed. After staying in that position for a while I sensed that several people had stopped right there.

[Raise your head.]

A boyish high voice but with a tone accustomed to ordering people. Obeying the words I raised my head and there stood the Prince accompanied by guards. Beautiful golden hair that seemed to rustle even in the slightest breeze. Fair skin without a single blemish that didn't look unhealthy in the slightest. Sparkling blue eyes as if inlaid with precious stones. In short a boy with an artificial beauty. He had the air of a masterpiece created by a doll maker with all his heart and soul for beautiful boy maniacs.

[Thank you for coming all this way today.]

[It is no trouble at all. Thank you for inviting us.]

Following my father's words of thanks I also bent my knee. The Prince approached and smoothly extended his hand in front of me who had lowered my gaze.

[Won't you raise your head Lady? I want to talk to you today.]

I stared intently at the small hand extended to me. Gloves made of what was probably silk with very wonderful tailoring. What is this? White gloves for formal wear! It's the outfit I've always longed for! Is it okay for me to touch these wonderful white gloves? No wouldn't it be rude to leave the Prince with his hand extended? Hesitantly I placed my hand on the Prince's hand raised my head and stood up.

As it was the Prince escorted me and guided me to a chair. The maids prepared tea and smoothly retreated from around the table. Their gestures were efficient and refined and I was honestly impressed by the skill level of the people working as [Royal Palace maids.] The guards who appeared with the Prince took their distances and were guarding the table and its surroundings. Judging from how their fields of vision intersected the area within about 260° centered on the table was within their range of caution. The remaining 100° was towards the Royal Palace from which they came so there were probably other guards assigned there. It was truly efficient and wonderful.

I have to rework my sniping plan again. Thanks to the wonderful guards I'm getting a little excited. It's the game brain that thrives on tackling impossible missions.

While I was thinking about such things with a bit of excitement the Prince smiled brightly at me. That smile! It's suspicious!! (Joy) At first glance it's a very kind smile but his eyes are slightly wary of me. I'm not rejoicing that he's wary. It's about the fact that his smile is suspicious! I don't have the confidence to get along well with people who are pure and innocent as white as white can be with a whiteness that would surprise even bleach because I'm not that much of a saint myself. It is said that clear water does not harbor fish but I'm the type of fish that would run away first. If the other person is a good person the better they are the more I become aware of my own dirtiness and shrink back. That's not to say I'd be happy with someone who's completely black though.

[Now then Miss Elizabeth…]

Called by his voice I looked at the Prince. Come to think of it we haven't even introduced ourselves. Well he probably knows more about me than I do since I'm already his fiancée.

[Yes. My name is Elizabeth Macnagan. I am deeply honored to have been granted an audience.]

The Prince chuckled softly at me as I bowed deeply. He chuckled! And it wasn't a sneer but a smile that seemed to slip out! Beautiful people are wonderful. They look good doing anything.

[I already know your name. I had to investigate.]

[As you say.]

That's right.

The Prince narrowed his eyes slightly looking a bit dubious at me as I nodded. Oh my beautiful people are great (omitted below). Seeing my father with that dubious look the Prince sighed softly.

[Duke wasn't your daughter five years old?]

[She is five years old. There is no mistake.]

The Prince with a wry smile said [I see…] looking somewhat unconvinced. I'm five years old. The same age as Chi-chan. I'm Elizabeth. I'm five years old. Hey hey Omura the Prince is thinking about something.

The Prince raised his face and tilted his head slightly looking at me. With that slight movement the Prince's golden thread-like bangs fluttered. Be-au-ti-ful peo-ple are won-der-ful (third time).

[Since you introduced yourself I will follow suit. I am Leonardo Francis Berklein. You can call me Leon.]

Even if you tell me to call you that I'll just give you an ambiguous smile.

[Since our engagement has been arranged I thought I would like to talk to you a little today…]

But? Like never mind?

The Prince chuckled again as I tilted my head wondering what would follow. That [it just slipped out] smile is so unfair!

[Do you know the current popular styles of ladies' dresses?]

[I only know the dresses my mother wears. Therefore I cannot tell whether they are in fashion or out of fashion.]

I am not yet old enough to attend balls. I sometimes accompany my mother to tea parties but the dresses worn there are different from those worn at balls. And the dresses prepared for me are all cute ones for children.

…Well there's no point in dressing a five-year-old with a body like a beer barrel in an evening dress with an open back and chest. Or is there some kind of demand for that somewhere?

But why suddenly talk about dresses? Does he mean that a Crown Princess should be well-versed in trends? As I was filling my head with question marks the Prince gave a slight wry smile.

[Do you have any favorite flowers?]

[Flowers… you mean…?]

Frankly I have almost no interest in them. If they're edible that's another story. Rapeseed blossoms and herbs are not in the category of [flowers (for ornamental purposes)] for me but in the category of [food] or [medicine.] I also have a lot to say about wild vegetables.

There are many flowers in this garden but I only know roses. And even those roses probably have several varieties planted. I can see different colors and shapes. But for me they're [all roses collectively. If anything all flowers.]

[Perhaps you're not interested?]

The Prince still smiling wryly prompted me and I nodded feeling somewhat apologetic.

[...Yes. I think they're beautiful but I don't have any personal attachment to them individually and I don't know their names.]

How is that as a girl? No how is that as a lady?

This is no good. It's a little embarrassing. I'll study a little. At least I'll memorize the flowers blooming in this garden.

[Then what are your 'favorite things'?]

[Favorite things… you mean…?]

[Yes. For example for a young lady it would be dresses or jewels…]

Ah is that what you mean? Understanding I smiled wryly out of apology.

[Flowers or…]

[Yes.]

The Prince also smiled wryly. It was the starting point for a conversation with a normal young lady.

This is terrible! I'm not interested in any of it! What the heck! It's a little embarrassing!

[F flowers are um…]

This is no good. I don't know anything at all. I'd bet anything that this topic won't go anywhere. As I was looking down slightly and stammering the Prince sighed softly.

[No flowers are fine. …Do you read books?]

[I read…]

Yes I read things that a five-year-old girl wouldn't read.

[Can you tell me about a book you've read recently?]

[Recently…]

What should I do? Should I talk about The Green Prince a fairy tale famous among girls in this world and try to gloss over it? Or should I talk about Jewel Princess which girls seem to admire?

[Ellie tell the truth.]

I raised my face at my father's voice which was a little exasperated and resigned. My father already knows full well that his daughter is not like a [typical five-year-old girl.] But tell the truth… huh. Is that okay Father?

Looking at my father with those thoughts in mind my father nodded once. Alright fortune favors the bold!

[Recently I've been reading the lower volume of 'The Rise and Fall of the Dimaine Empire' by Harald Behm…]

[…………Huh?]

After taking a looooong pause the Prince made a dumbfounded sound. Oh my even a blank face looks good on him. Beautiful people are (omitted below fourth time). The Prince is looking at my father as if to confirm something. At the end of that gaze my father is nodding with a bitter face.

[It seems my daughter does not like the stories that a typical girl would like… I bought her fairy tales and such but after reading them through once she doesn't even pick them up…]

That sounds bad! It's as if I'm treating books carelessly!

[That's not true! 'Princess Libea's Crown' is a treasure!]

It's a type of picture book that is popular among girls. I'm appealing that I also value picture books. But my father sighed deeply at my desperate appeal.

[...You don't cherish it because you like the content…]

[That's true but is that bad? It's the book that Father gave me and it's my favorite…]

Princess Libea's Crown is a story about a princess named Libea who lived long ago and wove a crown said to break the curse in order to save her brother a prince cursed by a witch. It may be similar to The Wild Swans from my previous life. It's more conscientious here because there's only one cursed prince. In the end the prince whose curse was successfully broken became king and the princess supported him devotedly throughout her life which is probably a happy ending.

The gist of it is a story about a woman who loves reading history books. It's not that I have anything to say about it. It's just the world of those values.

What's important about that picture book is that my father gave me the first edition, published about two hundred years ago! Moreover the illustrations are by the famous painter Marcus Bernard! The binding is also very elaborate and it's definitely not a [children's picture book.] If I were to put it in terms of my previous life it would be like Cinderella or Snow White or anything like that but with illustrations by Rembrandt. You can learn about the customs of two hundred years ago with detailed elegant and realistic illustrations. I had a special display case made for it and I display it there. Of course direct sunlight and ultraviolet rays are the enemy. It's installed in a place in the bedroom where the light doesn't hit it. It's a wonderful book that makes me happy just looking at it.

[…So you cherish it as a work of art.]

I tilted my head slightly at His Highness who muttered with a hint of amazement.

[It's not just that. Certainly the binding is wonderful and it may have value as a work of art. But more than that the value as a rare book such as the fact that it is the first edition of the Bernstein Publishing House and that there are no missing pages is immeasurable.]

Besides more than anything everything is simply beautiful.

[Even so The Rise and Fall of the Dimaine Empire huh…]

As he said it as if muttering His Highness looked at me and smiled slightly.

[Why are you trying to read that?]

The Dimaine Empire is a country that fell about four hundred years ago. Currently the land that was its territory is divided and governed by three countries. The ruins of the royal castle are located in the current Mithras Republic and have become a tourist attraction. Currently only a part of the castle walls and the foundation of the castle remain. I want to go there once.

It's a history book that examines the rise and fall of the Dimaine Empire over approximately two hundred years from a multifaceted perspective using a variety of materials. It was published fifteen years ago but the way it views the Ogarcia Campaign which until then had been considered the trigger for the fall and the way it depicts the eight emperors are unique and it is still a book that is divided in opinion among historians.

If you ask me why I wanted to read it it's because it looked interesting and I was interested in it. Probably what His Highness wants to ask is [Why did you become interested in the first place?]

[I read Eternal Agathia before…]

[No wait a minute.]

I was interrupted at the beginning. Yeah well. I thought so.

[You read it? Eternal Agathia?]

[Yes.]

[…Duke your daughter seems to be beyond my understanding.]

His Highness looked at my father with a sigh and my father sighed in the same way.

[Our family has already given up on understanding.]

Dad that's harsh!!

Eternal Agathia also known as Excellent Bludgeon. It's a book that's probably ten centimeters thick and you want to say [How did you pack so much in!] It's an excessively thick book. Moreover there are no paperbacks in this world. It's a hardcover. It could even be used as a pickling stone it's such an excellent bludgeon. It wasn't easy for a young girl's arms to hold that. Once I spread it out on my desk it stayed there for a month. It's wonderfully heavy so much so that I couldn't even be bothered to move it.

The content is the history of the Agathia River a huge river and its coast. The aforementioned Dimaine Empire was also a country that arose in the Agathia River basin. That's what made me interested. A great empire with a vast territory abundant national power in commerce and agriculture a powerful military force and even an advanced civilization. That has now disappeared from the world map.

Isn't that just romantic!!! Don't you want to investigate it!!! …I'll allow for dissenting opinions.

[…You read Eternal Agathia and became interested in the Dimaine Empire.]

I nodded at His Highness who said that with a sigh. Isn't that sigh rude?

[As you say. I became interested so first I read Nelson Kokius's 'The Light and Shadow of the Dimaine Empire' then Aurelius Watts's 'The Dimaine Empire—Two Hundred Years of Glory—' and then The Rise and Fall…]

[Are you aiming to become a historian?]

His Highness who looked somewhat tired asked in a tone that also seemed tired.

[No? I just read it because I was interested. It's like one of my hobbies.]

[…Hobby.]

[Yes.]

[She's a bit of an unusual daughter…]

I said Dad! Isn't your assessment of your daughter harsh!?

His Highness said as we parted [Next time we meet I'll try to prepare something you'll like.]

I wonder what he'll prepare for me. I'd jump for joy if it were a ticket to the Mithras Republic where the ruins of the Dimaine Empire are located.

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