Formerly, The Fallen Daughter of the Duke

"His Highness Asberto. Let's rethink our engagement for a moment."

"Nicolas...... what does that mean"

Asberto was upset by how his fiancée looked in front of him.

Nicolas has tears in her eyes. Because of his confusion, he tried to comfort her as to whether something was painful. But at the same time, I realize that his moist eyes are filled with anger.

So finally, he could swallow the words of his fiancée, who he almost refused to understand. She says she doesn't want to get married. I mean, the cause was on me.

Today was the second day of the day when a mission from the Paft country would come in two nights and three days. There will be a dinner party after this today, and tomorrow there will be an engagement signing ceremony for First Prince Asberto of the Noston Nation and daughter Nicolas of the King's brother of the Paft Nation.

For that day, Asberto should have been running for the past few months.

"As planned, I'll be at dinner tonight. But don't forget what I just said!

When Nicola said so, she bit her lip off and left the office. Asbelt in a relaxed state squeaks her hair up, makes a sound with her boss and lowers her hips to the stewardship chair.

"Nicola... what the hell is this?"

The story goes back a day.

―――――

"Lord Veek, are you ready?"

Claire bowed her head to Vik in awe, watched over by many of her ministers.

"Oh, that's good."

Cutting that response off, Claire fills her body with magic.

A month and a little while had passed since Claire and Vique promised to marry each other. Today was the day to use the 'door' to leave for Noston Country to attend the rituals and ceremonies associated with Nicolas and Asberto's engagement ceremony.

There are a total of dozens of missions visiting the Noston country this time. The Dukes of Windsor and his brother-in-law King Puffett, Vik and the Neighbors. And in addition to escorts and samurai, Claire, a native of the Noston Nation and fiancé of the First Prince, was the breakdown.

Due to travel in too large a number of people, Claire was entrusted with the role of moving the 'door' this time. And the neighborhood was a little busy today. Because many subordinates gathered in front of the 'door' installed in the magician's room in an attempt to see Claire's strength in purifying the magic tornado the other day.

Claire lets her body do magic, pouring it into a large magic formation painted on the floor all at once. Then the letters fluttered from the floor with brilliance, enveloping a line. And then it disappeared.

◇ ◇ ◇

Behind my ears, I still feel a twist full of moments of vanishing from the Pfeety Nation. When Claire opened her eyes, perceiving that the color of the lights felt behind her closed eyes had changed, there was a landscape there that looked familiar.

"Welcome aboard."

"Father! Mother! Brother Veek! Long time no see."

'Doors' in the royal palace of the nation of Noston, near the church. So they greeted King Noston with Nicolas, Asberto and Virgin Ann. Of course, there are all the ministers, and behind them you can see their little brother Oscar.

"Claire's going home to Martino tonight."

Lewis, who was accompanying Claire in the rear, confirms in a whisper as he sees Vike and Lord Windsor receiving a welcome in the front.

"Yeah. Just for one night, but I'm going back to my parents' house. I want to introduce you to Dion."

"Yes. Long time no see, have fun"

Claire smiled at Lewis, who was as gentle as her sister.

This visit lasts two nights and three days. Today, after the welcoming ceremony, there will be a dinner party on the side of the Papeete country alone, where Nicolas was exchanged. The second day tomorrow, dinner party. The last day was the engagement signing ceremony after all the face-to-face and interactions.

Claire has permission to stay at the Duke of Martino's house after attending today's dinner party. Claire hasn't been home to her parents once since she studied in Puffett Country.

(She said that Aunt Anne is also here.... I'm so excited about tonight!

◇ ◇ ◇

After the dinner party, Claire visited the Duke of Martino's house with Dion using metamagic.

"Are you sure you want me to join you? Actually, I hardly need Claire to escort me... Wouldn't it have been better without family water?

"No. Something I haven't properly introduced to my father or my brothers about Dion yet. Besides, Aunt Anne loves you very much."

"Oh well. It's been a long time since I've had a family atmosphere. Glad to hear it!"

Dion, who tended to shy away somewhere, gets a much brighter look at Claire's words.

That day, the time to gather at the Martino family salon for a drink and talk became a dream pleasure for Claire.

It was a distant old memory for Claire to have laughed without giving in with her father and brothers, and she felt like a day she would never visit again. I can't believe that's how you're greeted again. It's really good to be this future, Claire sincerely thinks so.

"Claire, how is it with His Highness Vik? The letter I received the other day from His Highness stated that I wanted to perform the wedding at the same time as the reign ceremony to the King Prince next spring. He wants me to push him back from his parents' house."

Oscar, his brother, who seeks to revive the glory of the Duke Martino family, seems to want his sister to marry him as soon as possible.

"Brother, that's..."

Claire, having trouble responding, clouds her words. It is common for men to be around 25 years of age for marriage in the Paft country. He also asked his best friend Lydia at the Royal School, 'The royal family will only get engaged and do scaffold consolidation, then put aside a period of several years before getting married'.

Of course, Claire accepted the marriage application with that intention, but Vike seems to want to soak it up somehow.

However, Claire, who has no Queen's education in the Puffett Country, is also asking Vik for a little time to study. Dion follows me when I notice her confusion.

"Your Highness Vik loves you about Master Claire! But... there is talk of Claire being given the title by His Majesty the King for purifying the magic tornado the other day. It would be a waste to get a title... and get married soon, wouldn't it?

"What, is that true, Claire"

"Yep... Yep, well"

Claire is confused again by her brother-in-law Oscar.

"When it comes to saving the country for sure... you should be able to expect a considerable title. Look, the reward is not for money or things, it's for honor. You know what I mean?"

"Yes... I understand... brother..."

To the same brother, 'The Martino family doesn't look like it's going to be a problem,' Claire reassured.

"By the way, Claire...... would there be any vacancies in the work of magicians in the Paft Country"

It was my brother Leo who was listening to Claire and Oscar's conversation with a seemingly complicated look.

Claire had just bowed her head deeply to him as soon as she got home. The reason is that, knowing my mother's place of birth, I hid it for more than a year for my own protection.

But he didn't look particularly angry. On the contrary, he understood Claire's position and stroked her head like a brother by saying, 'Don't worry, I will do that myself'.

Claire, who knew for the first time in his life that he would read and throw away The Letter from My Mother, doesn't know what to do with the unexpected reaction. But I suddenly thought of Leo as a little boy trying to compete with Claire to do anything, and I felt sorry for him even more.

"In the Paft Country… it seems that there are many aristocrats with a strong magic power, and I hear it is also a narrow gate to become a magician of the Royal Palace"

"Right. Is it still hard?"

"Next time I will ask His Highness...... You may not live up to your expectations."

My aunt Anne, who heard Claire's response, which is dwarfing on her guilt consciousness, also says.

"I'd like to use it for you at the church in Noston... but there's something about Charlotte, and I can't do it for a while yet"

My second brother, Leo, had the blue magic in his hands by being baptized back the other day. His service to the royal palace, which was on the verge of being decided in one of Charlotte's cases, has disappeared, and he's looking for a place to work.

Of course, the Duke Martino family has enormous wealth. Leo was also an ambitious type of brother again, not as good as Oscar, although he could live without problems just with the management of the territory. He didn't inherit the house, he was somehow searching his way out.

As the three brothers and sisters, Anne, and Dion, flourished with pleasure, my father was, for a long time, speechless. My father, who is reflecting that his stupidity led to this result, will not speak just to watch this regiment gently.

And I knew Dion was still popular here. Especially as my brother Oscar seems to have really liked Dion. I seriously tried to dictate to myself, not Claire, and the meeting was open.

When Claire is having fun at her first home in a long time. In one of the Royal Palaces of the Noston Nation, there was a problem.

◇ ◇ ◇

"What happened to Nicola?"

Veek says as he makes his move. The most luxurious VIP room in the Royal Palace of the Noston Nation. This luxuriously constructed room, with three bedrooms and two main rooms, was assigned to the First Prince of the Paft Country on this visit.

"He said he'd be here in a little while. Looks like he's been talking to Lord and Mrs. Windsor a little longer."

"Well, if we haven't seen each other in a long time, we will be."

Lewis and Donnie have completed their assignment and are perfectly generous. After enjoying a dinner party in an unexpected atmosphere with Nicolas added to the mission on the side of the Paft State.

I was just gathered in this room to try and re-drink with the members who added Nicolas to Vike and the neighbors.

"Nevertheless, I had no idea His Royal Highness Asberto and Nicolas of the Noston Nation were talking like this."

"You're the only one I didn't realize."

Vik can't hide the shock. Let's see Keith.

"Normally you know. I can't say I have too many problems with my predisposition, because once I turned down Miss Charlotte's escort, who was still my fiancée, and invited Miss Nicola to a 'graduation party'."

I fully agree with Lewis and Donnie.

"Keith's the oldest, but you're really dull about that,"

"Well... well... but... I can't say very loudly, but I'm a little anxious to entrust Nicolas to His Royal Highness Asberto..."

"... I don't even know"

To Keith's disturbing remarks, surprisingly, Veek also synchronizes. For Vik, who is Nicolas' cousin, and Keith, who has served him since he was little, Nicolas was more than just a royal, hands-on sister.

"Before Claire went backwards... for the first time in her life, Her Highness Asberto had a change of heart and hurt her terribly about Claire, didn't she? I can't believe I kicked her out after I took her place... no matter how much brainwashing she had from Miss Charlotte..."

Keith leads the way.

"Sure. Even in Claire's" This Life, "he obviously was obsessed with Claire, even though he had an interesting fiancée named Miss Charlotte. If you think you've finally given up, Miss Nicolas, without putting it between you! It is. I'm just curious."

Donnie says as she floats her nut skin fluffy over the palm of her hand.

"... but all of them involve Charlotte, Claire's sister. Lord Windsor has allowed it, and it won't be a problem."

The door opened as Veek, who decided the story flow was not worthy of a congratulatory day, tried to close this story.

"Brother Veek... I wonder what you're talking about right now...!

There, Nicolas, apparently listening to the whole thing, stood bright red in her face with anger.

"... Nicolas. What are you talking about?

I told Vik, who fixes his smile, that Nicola would almost scream.

"I was listening to it all!! Brother, anyway, you explain!!

◇ ◇ ◇

Vik, who conceived of Nicola's sword curtain, was to explain all the upside of things.

Of course, at first we all managed to deceive each other. But at some point, they respected Claire when Nicolas said, 'If you're as good as Claire, you must be able to turn the clock back, what are you hiding!' I won't give in.

Whatever you say, 'What is Master Claire's first life? What do you mean, he changed his mind, took his place, kicked him out? Tell me the truth!' So he started talking about the untimely end of Asberto, which he didn't even know was happening.

"... it's terrible"

Nicolas, who had heard the whole story, had tears in her eyes.

"Nicola. I know, but this isn't what actually happened. In the world before Claire changed, and it happened because of Miss Charlotte's 'brainwashing'. Don't forget that. We didn't actually see it just because we listened. I can see your fiancée is honest and kind now."

"I know!...... but there's a sorting of feelings!! … excuse me today."

To Vik's words, Nicola stepped up her tone and left the room.

(Vik, I understand what your brother is saying! 'Cause now Master Asberto is totally different)

Nicola thinks as she heads to her own room placed inside the royal palace.

Nicolas also fully understood what his cousin would say, and he is well aware of the atmosphere of the Royal College of Aristocrats. "The Party to Kick Nicolas Out of the Noston Nation" failed altogether, but I knew with my own hands that if there was nothing to shield, I would be able to control the College with one of Charlotte's brainwashes.

(But I can't believe I joined that Charlotte and kicked Claire out!

Believing Veek's story as it stands, Claire says she also has memories of when she was deported from the Royal College of Aristocrats. I'm sure she was so hurt.

How much 'this world' asbestos, though good, can make me happy as it is. Nicola felt her emotions couldn't keep up, even as she understood the answer in her head.

(And...)

A lingering pan somewhere in my heart. I know you're closer to the answer to this anger. But Nicolas couldn't be honest yet.

―――――

And that was a day ago.

Nicolas, heartbroken by events that might have happened in the past due to Charlotte's ruse, couldn't sort her mind out the next day.

Nicolas is only a 15-year-old girl, no matter how victorious she is, how well she performs, and her solid personality. I couldn't control my emotions, and as a result, it led to 'I want to reconsider my engagement' at the beginning.

"Dear Nicolas today... I felt like I wasn't feeling well, but I don't know if it was my fault. My eyes felt swollen too... His Royal Highness Asberto is also the sky above... even though tomorrow is the engagement signing ceremony"

Claire shrugs as she returns from the Martino family after noon and finishes attending the dinner party.

"... Actually, I was hoping to tell you... there was no time to talk"

Rarely to a badly chopped teeth, Claire tilted her neck.

After the dinner party, Claire was in Vique's room. The neighbors are taking it off for a meeting, and there's only two of them in this room right now.

Recently, the neighbors distracted me for my lord, who had little time to spend busily and slowly in public affairs and royal schools.

"Actually yesterday...... Nicolas found out that Claire was going backwards"

"! Is that... or did Master Nicolas believe it?

"Oh. Master Claire can do it, he said. I tried to deceive you, but I couldn't."

We're supposed to be talking serious, but Claire's expression seems to loosen when I think of Nicolas, who strengthens so hard.

"... so you've learned about His Royal Highness Asbert and Charlotte in The Life of the First Time"

Claire, who understood that, was heartbroken.

First of all, it was very easy to tell from my childhood friend Claire that Asberto thinks strongly of Nicolas. Or, it doesn't mean these two are separately too one-way.

Nicola's more fond of Asberto shows up in her adorable look when she sees him, and the two people in line looked like fitting lovers to each other.

"No. It's not. Nicolas seemed angry that His Highness Asberto had hurt Claire"

"But that's..."

Concon.

As Claire tried to answer, the door to the room was knocked.

"I wonder if Lady Claire is here! Keith showed me this way."

The Lord of the Voice was Nicolas.

"... I'm in the back room. Listen to me slowly."

When Veek said so, he disappeared into another main room.

"Dear Nicolas, I can't believe you bothered me...... I'm so happy!

Claire welcomes Nicolas.

"... Vik, what about your brother? Am I interrupting?"

Claire smiles at the care she can't imagine from the time she admired Vique. And I felt uncomfortable at the dinner party earlier, but Nicola's eyes still looked a little swollen.

"Don't worry about it. I've heard from His Highness, Vik. If it's something I can talk to you about, I'll answer anything."

Guided by Claire, Nicola sits on the couch. She doesn't have a hard time worrying about the room. That was all Nicolas meant to be familiar with the royal palace of this Noston country.

"I know there's nothing I can do about it. I have no choice but to strike my anger at His Highness Asberto."

Nicola started talking abruptly and pompously, but with no usual momentum. Having seen how it was, Claire sat back next to Nicola from her seat directly across the street.

……

The brothers are just brothers and Nicola looks surprised that she has never been sweet on an older woman.

"Can I talk to you next door today?"

"... yes, fine, nothing..."

Nicola continues dyeing her cheeks.

"I've been thinking about it since I heard about Master Claire turning back the time yesterday. What do I find so angry? At first, I was angry at His Highness Asberto. I thought Claire was sad and I couldn't forgive her for finally being happy and not knowing anything."

"You were. Nicolas is still kind."

Claire took Nicola's hand gently.

"But... keeping every one of these beautiful in line... I... I'm sure I'm afraid of a change of heart in the end."

I can see that Nicola's hand, wrapped in Claire's palm, gained a lot of strength. Claire loved Nicolas for being brave enough to tell me the truth. And talk with her hands wrapped in both hands.

"Dear Nicolas. Mind if I talk to you for a moment?"

"Yeah, of course."

"This is a story in The Life of the First Time, which no longer exists. My fiancée was His Royal Highness Asberto, the first prince of the Noston Nation. It was a marriage that was decided before we were born, and it was a complete political marriage."

Nicola nods.

"When I was 16, he did dissolve his engagement with me by saying he wanted to marry Charlotte. But until then, we were... until my sister brainwashed us, we were in a really honest relationship. We had no romantic feelings for each other... but we never heard of any other women."

That was also a reversal of the fact that he was not very interested in others, but it was not something to say on this occasion now.

"Are you sure...?

"Now that I think about it...... it also seems like you were adorable because you were 'my sister' at first. Nicolas is the first woman of interest to Her Highness Asberto."

"Really..."

Claire further tells Nicola's voice, who answers weakly, feeling just a little more energetic.

"As his childhood friend, I assure you. His Royal Highness Asberto is not an easy man to change his mind."

When I heard that, Nicolas had it in mind. I need some tea leaves that Claire likes that were still in the student club room after Claire left the Royal College of Aristocracy. Asberto seemed to refill from time to time.

My fiancée, Charlotte, is supposed to be in the same room, but those leaves never changed.

When Charlotte awoke the white magic after a while, he began to come to the student council room before heading to the classroom every morning following Nicola's advice. So, you start the day after you get Nicola to take cover.

As I spent every day that way, suddenly 'Claire's favorite tea leaf' disappeared from the Student Council Room. Sure, that's before and after Asberto offered a graduation party escort.

Having somehow understood what it meant to be invited to a party, Nicola was convinced that was Asberto's tendency to treat women. I sometimes wondered if my favorite citrus tea leaves would be placed next.

But no new tea leaves were put down. Instead, he asked, 'Do you have anything you want me to dispose of?' Nicola felt somewhat honest there.

"Just a little... I think I found out about Your Highness"

"I'm glad."

Claire, smiling, recalls the air that was flowing between Nicolas and Asberto at the dinner party.

"... Could you have spoken with His Highness Asberto about this?"

"Yeah. I said I wanted you to revisit your engagement."

"!! Dear Nicolas, I think you should come to Your Highness immediately or write to me! He can't sleep like this."

Claire thinks of a letter almost as long as a paper sent by Asberto before. Ninety percent of it was written about Nicola, and it was obvious that his head was full of her.

"Okay. It's a little late, but I'll ask the samurai for the next one."

Nicola said so, leaving the room behind.

(Dear Nicolas... I hope I can be honest)

As soon as Claire closes the door, who sent Yale to the luxurious rear, she feels signs of Veek on her back.

"Does Nicola look okay?"

Claire was hugged from behind by Veek. Very ticklish because he talks with his mouth to kiss Claire's neck.

"Yeah, I'm sure.... Veek? It's about time everyone came back. Let go."

"... His Royal Highness Asberto is very sincere?

Claire thought she was kidding and tried to flirt lightly, but panicked when she realized that Vik's voice contained a color of jealousy.

"I was listening! That's... not in that sense..."

As soon as I did, I could see force in my hand placed near my clavicle.

Talk more about me, too.

"... Phew"

As the first prince, Claire's mouth unwittingly spills a grin over too many gaps with her stiff appearance at ceremonies and dinner parties.

"... I always say that.... that you admire it"

"I want to hear more"

While understanding the inconsistencies between his words and his actions, Vik mouthed without hearing Claire try to say anything.

Seven seconds later, they had their first sweet time in a long time until Keith knocked on the door of the room as if he had foreseen everything.

―――――

It was an unexpected visitor waiting for Nicolas to return to his room to ask for a rescue to Asberto.

"His Highness Asberto..."

"Today's daytime story, will you let me do it again"

Seeing where he was dressed, he apparently came straight to Nicola's room without changing after finishing his dinner party and meeting the next day.

The two of them stepped out from the side of the hallway onto the terrace. Much time has passed since the dinner party ended and the full moon is rising high.

"... me and... engagement, no, let me know why you don't want to marry me"

……

Nicolas does not answer. No, I can't answer that. Because she knows for herself. There's nothing wrong with Asberto this time.

The terrace is bright with full moon illumination. But Claire's words come to mind behind Nicola's brain when she realizes his complexion is blue: 'He can't sleep like this'. And I deeply regretted my words and actions that were too direct.

"Nicola. Please talk to me. If there's anything that doesn't get to me, fix it. So please."

Nicola finally opened her mouth to an asbestos.

"... there's nothing wrong with Your Highness. Though I often think you're a little foolish. Besides, this time, I learned that I was something similar. That's the good thing about Your Highness."

Though I managed to talk to him, I knew Nicolas couldn't be honest. Asberto, who truly received 'Nothing Bad', was even more perplexed.

"... Nicolas... So why"

"You just talked to Master Claire about us. Claire said you were very decent. Me, too, I sure do. But..."

"But...?

Asberto gets one step closer to Nicola.

"I need a change of heart... can you assure me..."

Asberto didn't miss hearing what Nicola had managed to squeeze out.

"Were you thinking about that, you?"

Nicola seemed disappointed by his frightened, hoarse and indescribable expression...

But it was a moment.

"Nicolas. Maybe you care about Miss Claire Martino"

Asberto dared to call Claire by her full name.

"That's not true. Master Claire is the fiancée of His Highness Vike, and he is a respected man. No wonder you have the same feelings."

"Sure, let's admit I've admired her before. But... now I think she was like a comrade to me"

Nicola had never actually been heard of her feelings for Claire by Asberto.

"Warrior...?

"Oh, yeah. Claire had me way ahead of her since I was a little girl. Since she studied abroad, there have been honest things I wanted to be like her, to put on the side. But I didn't feel like doing anything just because I couldn't get it. It's just that you... For the first time, I wanted His Majesty the King to set the course for the dissolution of Charlotte's engagement and somehow stay by his side."

That's it, Nicolas had enough.

"Your Highness...... I'm sorry. I said something really terrible."

Asberto graciously holds Nicolas, who spills tears.

"I'm sorry. I'm not really used to this sort of thing. Any little thing, I want you to say if you have any concerns. However, let me assure you that there will never be a change of heart.... Will this reassure you a little?

In Asberto's arms, now Nicola nodded honestly.

The night before the engagement signing ceremony. Thus, they managed to make up successfully.

―――――

The next day, Nicola asks Vik, who is returning home after the signing ceremony.

"Brother Vik, when will your wedding be with Lady Claire?

Claire and Lewis are not here. The two of us were going to say hello to the Virgin Anne.

Last month, Vik and Claire's engagement was officially concluded. Because there is no culture of engagement ceremonies in the Paft country, they were just signed in writing, but the two were formal fiancées to each other.

"Oh...... I'm thinking as soon as I finish my reign ceremony to Prince Wang next spring..."

There was a reason for Vik to cloud his words. Originally, he had grasped that Claire wanted to learn more about the Papeet country before getting married in order to support his future king, His Majesty.

If that's all, it's still fine. Less than a year later, if I told her to learn fully, Claire was willing to convince me that even too early a marriage was out of routine.

However, a completely unexpected obstacle had surfaced on this journey.

"At the dinner party yesterday... Claire's brother began to tell me that Lord Martino didn't have to rush his marriage. I've been very motivated so far, so I thought you'd help Claire convince me... Dion. You were visiting the Martino family with Claire.... you know something?

"Oh, I think I said that."

"!! You...!

Dion's refreshing smile made Vik snap his face.