Chapter 1

“Haahhh…”

Sitting inside the rocking carriage, I let out a sigh. I don’t think I’ll ever return to this country again, and honestly, I don’t even know if I’ll live to see it.

Still, I have to go. Because I am the second princess of this country.

Last year, our Fatenam Empire and the neighboring Kingdom of Vallatenear had a war, and Vallatenear won.

Since it was not a war of conquest, a peace treaty was signed, and one of the clauses of the treaty was to send a princess from the Fatenam Empire as a bride.

I was the second princess, with my eldest sister being the first princess and my younger sister the third. In addition to them, I also have two older brothers. The First Prince and the Second Prince.

The Kingdom of Vallatenear only has two princes, so naturally, the two princes were excluded. And among the three princesses, I, Claire Fatenam, was chosen.

I know why I was chosen.

My older sister, Bianca, who was two years older than me, was praised as immensely beautiful, charismatic, and a perfectly educated lady. I’m not sure about her personality… But it wouldn’t be a problem if she were to marry off to a high-ranking noble.

And my younger sister, Lilia, who was one year younger than me, was lovely and charming, and her ladylike education was perfect too. Her personality… Well, it was dubious… But, there wouldn’t be any problem if she marries a high-ranking noble or into a vassal state of our empire.

As for me, I am not particularly beautiful or cute, and I have the most difficult personality as a result of the disapproving looks I’ve received from above and below for as long as I can remember. I have no affection or charm. The deadpan expression on my face could be said to be a setback for my ladylike education and to be honest, my posture was not good either, that my tutor even gave up on me.

So instead of continuing that ladylike education, I became absorbed in my studies. My parents, two brothers, and sisters told me that although I had read most of the books in the royal library and had dabbled in books from other countries, even if I was fluent in languages, history, economics, politics, and art, such things were not expected of a woman. I agree with them.

But, what choice do I have?

You are not beautiful, my eldest sister said.

Elder sister, you’re not very good at smiling, aren’t you? My younger sister curled her lip.

My parents and siblings criticized me for not being beautiful or lovelier enough, and since I wasn’t competitive in appearance, my older and younger sister always ridiculed me.

Gray eyes and wavy, almost white hair. This blurry face is hazy in front of the bright blonde hair and ruby eye color of my older and younger sisters. My face is neither beautiful nor lovely. I don’t think I’m ugly, but I still think I’m the worst looking of us sisters. To be honest, I don’t know much about beauty and ugliness.

I was the first choice for my parents as a sacrifice to be given away, they don’t care about what I loved to do, even when I talked back to them that I’m devoted to studying, and thus…

(I wanted to marry someone in the bureaucracy in the future and work as a bureaucrat myself…)

Here I am, about to marry into the enemy country, unable to fulfill even the slightest of such dreams.

The reason for the war was… The Fatenam Empire has several vassal states, but the Kingdom of Vallatenear was large enough to be a colony, with an armful of grain-producing regions and the sea just on the other side of the country.

The kingdom of Vallatenear was a colony under the empire of Fatenam a few generations earlier, but because of the nature of the land, which was different from the Fatenam Empire, which resulted in open trading activities, it gained strength, launched a war for independence, and successfully became independent.

So, although the countries were not on bad terms with each other, to begin with… They would definitely not welcome a palanquin from a country that has looked down on them until now.

It couldn’t be helped. I may die, but I can bear it if I think it is for the good of the people. Though it made me depressed, knowing that I’m also doing it for my parents and siblings.

“Haaahhh…”

The carriage is almost reaching the border.

And just like that, I left my homeland with a sigh for what seemed like the umpteenth time.