The Duke's Daughter Goes Her Own Way
[The Outcome of the Marquis' Daughter Who Wanted to Be the Heroine]
Translated by: ME
(Ingrid Everton's PoV)
What is this?! How did things end up like this?!
I don't understand at all.
I don't understand, but an official claiming to be a messenger from the royal family appeared and stated:
[In violation of Noble Law Article 5, Section 1: Duty to the People; Section 2: Contribution to the Nation; Article 23: Land Management; Article 24: Guarantee of Livelihood for Subjects; Land Law Article 3: Duty as Administrator; Article 6: Redistribution to Subjects…]
The list of laws and clauses continued on and on. So what?
[Due to the above violations, as of tomorrow, the Everton Marquisate is to be demoted to a Viscountcy.]
What!? [What!? Demoted!? And to a Viscount!?]
A knight who had accompanied the messenger restrained Father as he nearly lunged forward. What is this? It's as if our house is being treated like criminals!
[All lands are to be confiscated. Items within the estate on the lands are prohibited from removal, with some exceptions. This punishment has been approved by the council and sanctioned by His Majesty the King. Any appeals must be submitted to the House of Lords. Furthermore, the deadline for removing personal assets and funds from the landed estate is the end of this month. The details are as written in this document.]
With a thud, the messenger presented a thick sheaf of papers to Father. When Father refused to take it, my brother snatched it up instead. [Why… this is…!]
[These measures shall be carried out strictly in the name of His Majesty King Karl Edial Bergraine and His Highness Crown Prince Leonard Francis Bergraine.] With that final word, the messenger promptly left.
Left behind was just our family, still unable to comprehend what had just happened…
* * *
When I was thirteen, I accidentally missed a step on the stairs. I fell down about five steps, hit my head, and lost consciousness.
That's when I remembered my previous life.
Wait, could this be the world of [Fantasy Flower Garden]!?
[Fantasy Flower Garden] was just one of many common otome games. It had such low recognition it didn't even have an abbreviation. That's because it was a standard, cliché game with no unique twists.
Its opening song and movie were exquisitely cheesy, which was the only part that gained any weird popularity. I remember it had quite a number of views on video sites. The comments were all things like [This will never sell www] or [Is this seriously a 21st-century game?] It was popular as a laughably bad video.
The voice actors weren't very famous either, and for some characters, I'd never even heard of the names.
However, the stills were very beautiful, the scenarios weren't all identical, and while it certainly lacked excitement in parts, I liked it.
A sweet, romantic love where just brushing hands with a handsome guy would make you blush. A world kind to me, with no rivals or villainous young ladies appearing.
And I knew people with the same names as the characters from that beloved [Fantasy Flower Garden]. Not just one, but several.
Isn't this confirmation!?
I was overjoyed at the thought. But the next moment, I was in despair.
I'm… not the heroine.
The heroine is a girl from a Count's family, named Marybelle. I am the daughter of a Marquis, Ingrid. Completely different.
That said, I'd never heard of or seen a young lady named Marybelle from the Fluorite County family. Maybe the heroine doesn't exist! In that case, could I take her place!?
In novels and such, if you take the same actions as the heroine, their affection points rise just like in the game. If I do that, maybe I can successfully romance one of the capture targets? And this game has no villains. That means I don't need to frame anyone for events. So, even if I fail, there's no [Serves you right!] outcome.
Now that's decided, who should I go for?
There are seven capture targets in total.
First is His Highness the Crown Prince. The name is the same, the blond hair and blue eyes are the same. He's younger than the game's start, so he looks more childish than his in-game sprite. If I get the good ending with him, I'd be the future Queen… That's not impossible, right?
Second is the son of the Macnagan Duke. …Our family and the Macnagan Ducal house are on bad terms… And in the game, this guy was a sis-con, which I hated. It was always 'my sister this, my sister that…'
Third is the son of the Aristoll Duke. I'm not good with people from the Aristoll Ducal house… They seem mean, or maybe tsundere… But I did like Robert's scenario quite a bit. He might be an option.
Fourth is the son of the Knight Commander. I can't remember his name. I hate meatheads. They're so loud.
Fifth is the son of the Earnest Marquis. I've met him a few times; he's a glasses-wearer who looks down on everyone and seems really sinister. He had a nice face, but no way…
Sixth is the son of the Orchard Marquis. The Queen's maternal family and the Crown Prince's cousin. As expected of the Queen's family, their status is high, and I've never met him. I hear he's a handsome guy who resembles His Highness, but will I get to meet him? If he's kinder than His Highness, he might be an option. In the game, he was the tsundere type, so he was a bit mean.
And the seventh! My favorite character, the guard knight Alphonse Norman! Much older, with an adult's sex appeal, composed, yet lonely… I just love him!! I haven't met Alphonse yet either! Does he really exist? Of course he does! Oh, I'm too excited!
I'm two years older than the game's heroine. To recreate the game, I need to enter Cockford Academy at seventeen. That school should be a piece of cake. Worst case, I can buy my way in. Ahh!! I can't wait!!!
* * *
Even though I thought that, something felt off. Rumors spread that His Highness would take the entrance exam for Steinford Academy. That seemed to be true. Moreover, His Highness had a fiancée.
It was the daughter of our family's nemesis, the Macnagan family. The Macnagans keep poaching our subjects from our lands. Father often grumbles that because of this, our tax revenue won't increase. Isn't it awful to poach subjects from another's territory? Surely, this whole fiancée thing was forced on His Highness by them, right?
…If I don't go to the same school as His Highness, the game can't start! Because Alphonse-sama is His Highness's guard knight!
But there's no way I can get into Steinford Academy…
I know! I'll talk to Father about it!
* * *
I consulted Father, hinting that perhaps I could catch His Highness's eye and become his consort… and Father devised a plan for the exams.
Steinford Academy is the most academically demanding school in the kingdom. Furthermore, it absolutely does not accept backdoor entries… How stuck-up and unpleasant!
The plan Father came up with was, in essence, an ['exam stand-in'].
And it worked ridiculously easily! If they had photo IDs on the exam tickets like in my previous life, it would have been bad! I was nervous until the results came out, but I safely received my acceptance letter! Wasn't that a bit too easy? It's a total breeze! Getting into the top school—aren't I amazing!?
* * *
At the entrance ceremony, His Highness gave a speech. Standing behind His Highness on the stage was a guard knight. It wasn't the meathead from the game. He was a handsome, mature-looking, and calm man. He's kinda cool too. But my true target is Alphonse-sama. Sorry! ☆
Oh, but wait… If I get the good ending with His Highness, wouldn't the handsome guy behind him now, and Alphonse-sama, *all* become mine? Even His Highness's aide, Robert-sama! Eh!? Isn't that amazing!?
The game didn't have a reverse harem route. …That might be another reason it wasn't popular. The event dates for route branching overlapped for multiple characters. No matter how hard you tried, you couldn't even simultaneously pursue two characters.
But reality is different! If I snag His Highness, wouldn't I get the guard knights and aides in one fell swoop!? Yay! Thank God! And I even get a handsome guard knight who isn't a capture target or a mob! Isn't that too much!?
* * *
I immediately tried to trigger the meeting event with His Highness. The school is different from the game's setting, but something like ['game adjustment'] will make it work, right?
The meeting event with His Highness is at the entrance ceremony. After the ceremony, when everyone is about to leave… the heroine decides to explore the school. While wandering the halls, she meets His Highness in the courtyard. In the game, His Highness is an upperclassman, so he assumes the heroine (wearing an entrance ceremony flower) is lost and escorts her to the gate.
But instead! After the ceremony, we moved to classrooms for orientation about tomorrow and beyond! And His Highness is always being all lovey-dovey with Elizabeth! Speaking of which, Elizabeth is *that* much of a child!? Because Mother said, [There's no need to attend a tea party held by the Macnagan girl,] I always skipped the ones at the royal castle. I didn't know!
Eh…? Could it be… His Highness is a lolicon…? That can't be… No matter how handsome he is, that's a no…
* * *
In the end, the meeting event didn't trigger. And Alphonse-sama, whose meeting event should be later, was standing at the back of the classroom.
Alphonse-sama is here!! Just like his still, he's super handsome!! Ahh, I love him already!! I'll make you happy!!
The guard next to Alphonse-sama is also handsome, and he kinda suits Alphonse-sama. The game itself wasn't popular, so no one made fanworks, but wouldn't a guard knight pairing be valid!?
Indulging in such delusions, the first day ended in a flash.
* * *
For a while after that, I kept loitering around the courtyard (where events with His Highness occur) and the hallways (where events with Alphonse-sama occur), hoping their meeting events would trigger. But nothing happened. Is it because the setting is different? Or because I'm not the heroine?
One day, I overheard two girls from my class talking. One was a kinda cute commoner girl with fluffy hair, and the other seemed to be a noble or a rich merchant's daughter—nice figure but plain.
[Why did you decide to give that candy to Lady Elizabeth, Emilia? That was expensive, wasn't it?] The fluffy-haired girl seemed to be named Emilia. Since we didn't have self-introductions on the first day—a staple in games and novels—I didn't know my classmates' names.
The girl addressed as Emilia smiled brightly. [I just knew Lady Elizabeth would look absolutely adorable eating it! She was super cute, wasn't she!? Right!? You thought so too, didn't you, Marie!?] [Yeah… That's dangerous. She's an angel…]
What 'angel'? That girl is the daughter of the Macnagan Ducal house, the ones taking our subjects and industries! …Sigh… Well, I guess commoners wouldn't know about that.
[Ah, Miss Fluorite.] A male student interrupted the two. Eh? Miss Fluorite!? [Mr. Wales was looking for you. He said it wasn't urgent, though.] [Oh, thank you for telling me!] The one who answered was the girl called Mary.
Could she be the heroine, 'Mariebell Fluorite.'!? She was here!? In this school!?
The game's heroine is ['an inconspicuous, quiet girl']. Her appearance was described in a monologue as ['plain, not particularly beautiful']. But isn't she *too* inconspicuous!? Common light brown hair, slightly unusual but plain dark gray eyes. Her features aren't ugly, but she's not a striking beauty either. There's no way anyone would notice her! Is that girl really the heroine!?
Elizabeth is much more like a heroine. His Highness is always by Elizabeth's side, and unlike in the game, he smiles when looking at her. Alphonse is also behind Elizabeth, moving with her when she goes. What's with that girl? Not satisfied with forcibly becoming His Highness's fiancée, she has to have Alphonse serving her too?
Could Elizabeth also be a reincarnator aiming for a reverse harem!? That would make sense! If I don't hurry, won't I fail to achieve *my* 'reverse harem where *I'm* the heroine'!?
Fortunately, Mariebell, the actual heroine, doesn't seem to be pursuing anyone. Far from it, she doesn't even interact with His Highness or Alphonse-sama. This really suggests Elizabeth might have 'hijacked' the ['heroine'] role.
* * *
My anxiety grew with each passing day.
First of all, since I didn't get in on my own merit, the lessons are completely incomprehensible. Besides His Highness and Alphonse, none of the other capture targets are here. Did I make a mistake somewhere?
Hmm. Precisely because it's different from the game, developments not in the game might occur. Plus, even if it's a bad end, there's no punishment for the heroine. She just spends her school life alone and lonely. There was none of the confinement, exile, or execution common in those 'serves you right' type of novels.
Anyway, I have to advance the events quickly. But Elizabeth is far too much of an obstacle. It's because that girl is there that my conquest isn't going well.
* * *
Trying to deal with Elizabeth, I attempted to get close to her. But His Highness is always around Elizabeth, and it never works out. His Highness is often absent due to work, but even then, Elizabeth is always surrounded by her maid or Alphonse-sama, who watch their surroundings warily. Speaking of which, why does she bring a 'maid' to school!? I wanted to bring one too, but the school forbade it! …I bet the Macnagans used some underhanded method. That's what I hate about them!
Wouldn't it be better if Elizabeth just got hurt or something? But if she's seriously injured, even someone like her is still a Duke's daughter, so I might be in trouble. Surely if a ['high noble's daughter'] just sprained her ankle, she'd take a break from school for a while, right?
Thinking that, I tried to make her fall by bumping into her in the hallway, but I ended up bumping into Alphonse-sama instead! Is this recreating the meeting event!? It must be! I wasn't asked for my name or told ['Are you alright, my lady?'], but that must be because Elizabeth was there, right? I've cleared the meeting event now, so I have to trigger more events from here on out!
* * *
Just when the important part is about to begin, Father told me, ["Don't cause trouble for the Macnagan girl."] If Elizabeth would just disappear, it's not like I'm a monster; I wouldn't go so far as to have her confined or exiled. It's just that she's in my way, so I have no choice but to act.
…Why won't Elizabeth disappear? I'm definitely more suited to be the heroine! I'm the only one who knows all the events, the only one who can comfort Alphonse-sama's heart!
* * *
We were demoted from Marquis to Viscount and lost our lands. Most of the mansion's servants quit. Most of the dresses and jewels at the landed estate were deemed ['non-removable']. Most of the furniture, vases, and other art objects from our townhouse in the capital were taken by officials.
The day after the King's messenger came, I was summoned to the academy. I'd been so shocked by everything I'd forgotten about school. I thought I was being scolded for skipping… but it wasn't about that.
[Miss Ingrid Everton. You are suspected of cheating on your entrance examination. Please speak truthfully.] When I was taken to the Headmaster's office, the Headmaster and several teachers were there. And then, I was suddenly told that.
Why? It's been like four months since the entrance exams! I didn't get caught then!
[This is the essay you submitted, and your entrance exam answer sheets. …And these are the answer sheets from tests taken during your classes after enrollment. The handwriting is clearly different. Could you explain this?] Several papers were laid out on the table.
The stand-in who took the exam was a commoner I hired with money. She was supposedly a woman who had graduated from Steinford and now worked at a clinic. We had her wear a wig and glasses, with a hairstyle that hid her face as much as possible. Her body shape was disguised with thick clothing.
On the displayed papers, one set had very neat, standard handwriting, and the other had my own round, distinctive script. The round handwriting is mine.
Even if they ask me to explain, I can't say anything.
[Your entrance exam results were exceptionally brilliant. However, your attitude and performance in class since enrollment cannot be praised by any stretch. …In any case, continuing like this, you face a high probability of expulsion due to poor grades.] [Eh!?] They have a system like that!? I thought once you're in, you just have to be here for three years to graduate!?
[This is a place for pursuing academic knowledge. The entrance exam is for selecting those capable of that. …There is no value here for those who could not pass it on their own merit. Nor do we need those who neglect their studies. …Miss Everton, did you truly take the entrance exam yourself?] Hearing the Headmaster's cold voice, I looked down. His tone was questioning, but his voice held the certainty that I had cheated.
[………No. I did not take it.]
After that, the Headmaster informed me of my expulsion. The next day, official documents arrived from the academy.
* * *
I don't understand at all how things ended up like this. The game didn't have an ending like this. Where did I make the wrong choice!? Why didn't the events trigger!?
…Just what was this all about…?
Thank you for reading. If you want to help my hobby please download and install LDP9 with my link down below. Just Click the small yellow LDPlayer Banner.
OR
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel
-Horizontal.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment