CH 44

Alexandra was born the eldest daughter of Count Lingerburg. She’s proud to be a Lingerburg, even if her House is in decline right now. Yes. Even if her face has the harsh features that characterize the Lingerburg bloodline.

When Alexandra was young, she found out that she had a scarier face than most people. There was a group of children around the same age as her in her neighborhood. There was also a generation a little older than Alexandra and the others, and an older kid lead that group.

Shortly after Alexandra’s generation grew up and joined them, Alexandra was a little wary of the older kid.

To put it in modern Japanese terms, it would be like a neighborhood gathering of children of the same age, with the oldest kid taking advantage of their seniority and doing whatever he or she wanted. However, it wasn’t that they were bullying others maliciously, just that when playing house, they would absolutely play the role they wanted to play, and give orders to the other younger children to play the role they didn’t want to play.

That’s why Alexandra wasn’t really angry either. If they just took turns it would be fine, so Alexandra tried to suggest it so the other kids could play the roles they wanted.

Even so, the leader child started crying after Alexandra warned them. The reason was simple. It’s because they were afraid of Alexandra…

Since then, the older children also began to treat Alexandra as the leader, and Alexandra became the leader of the group shortly after her public debut in their neighborhood.

That’s when Alexandra realized. She doesn’t have a strong personality, nor is she a strong, assertive person. She thought it was just a suggestion not to anger the former leader. Despite this, even the older children burst into tears at Alexandra’s power, and even they began to follow Alexandra as well.

She’s certain her face is scary. Alexandra sighs every time she looks at herself in the mirror.

She really just likes to dress cutely. She likes collecting cute things. She’s not good at arguing with people, and she can’t even make a strong argument. If people rely on her, she would like to do something to honor their trust, but she doesn’t have the skills or the strength to actually do anything.

Still, people around her want Alexandra to play that role. In the group of neighborhood children, she was always relied on, and when they had trouble with another group, she was forced to carry herself out and face the scary-looking leader of the other group.

She just managed to overcome them by doing her best when she was asked to. Before she knew it, it became a rumor, and people around her began to say that Alexandra was a scary person.

And as they get older, their evaluations change even more. When you are a child, other people’s evaluation of you becomes your social standing. However, as you get older, the position of your House becomes your social standing, regardless of your ability. A child from a rich family will be treated as a rich man, a child from a powerful family will be treated as a powerful person, and a child from a poor family will be treated as a poor person…

The children relied so much on Alexandra when they were children, but as they grew older and began to hear about House Lingerburg their parents, they turned their backs as if they were pushing her away. Alexandra had worked so hard for everyone’s sake… and they even cursed her, calling her the cause of House Lingerburg’s decline.

Still, Alexandra is proud to be a Lingerburg. She doesn’t hold grudges against anyone who despises her or her great-grandfather who ruined the House. No matter what happens, it’s okay for her to live with the pride of a Lingerburg, without forgetting what they had done. With that in mind, Alexandra was working hard on her studies today as one of the top vassals of House Carruthers.

Today is the public debut for all the noble children turning 10 this year. In front of a full-length mirror, Alexandra puts on the dress for her social debut, one that has been handed down in House Lingerburg for generations.

Speaking of traditional dresses, it sounds like it’s a good thing, but in reality, they don’t have the luxury to buy new dresses, so they just fix old dresses and wear them from generation to generation. Still, Alexandra is proud to wear that dress today. She’s proud to be able to wear this dress that has been worn by the children of the Lingerburg family over the generations.

That said, social trends don’t change that quickly. Except for the fact that the fabric is damaged and the design is a little outdated, the other ladies’ dresses don’t change their designs much after all, and their hairstyles and dresses are all very similar.

And above all, the other ladies also board a carriage that was the Lingerburg’s reward from House Carruthers, in recognition of their achievements in a certain battle. Although the carriage was a little old, it was more luxurious and exclusive than any other carriage. As soon as you drive into the party’s venue in that grand vehicle, the bystanders’ eyes all turn to you and the rumors begin.

(“Who’s House has that amazing carriage?”)

“(Could it be that she is the daughter of Margrave Carruthers? She is making her public debut this year, isn’t she?”)

“(It may be a guest specially invited from another region.)”

While various speculations are flying around, Alexandra uses the prepared platform to get off the carriage.

“Ooh~~~!”

Murmurs arose from the men. Looking at her from a distance, she looked a bit stiff, but Alexandra looked very beautiful still. No! Alexandra certainly has a beautiful face. She’s just a little… she’s just got a bit of a grim face that makes you wonder if her personality is tough, once you see her face-to-face before you.

From a distance, she looked like a beautiful woman with slightly slanted eyes, so the men’s excitement suddenly increased. The men tried to approach her immediately to speak to her, but women also began to flock to her with the same intent.

“Good day. I’m Adele von Alco, daughter of Viscount Alco.”

“Aah! Amazing! I am…”

“Hold up! It’s my turn next! Good day to you!”

Alexandra was flabbergasted by the girls who came one after another. But to those around her, Alexandra didn’t look overwhelmed and confused. She was majestic as she seemed to nod arrogantly at the introductions of those who flocked to her.

“Good day to you, everyone. I am Alexandra von Lingerburg, daughter of Count Lingerburg.”

“My! A Count!”

“How wonderful~!”

When Alexandra introduced herself, the entourage who were swooning immediately picked up Alexandra and started walking around the venue as if they owned the place.

Alexandra was being dragged around here and there by the daughter of Viscount Alco, Adele, all with Adele’s nose turned up. From Alexandra’s point of view, Adele seemed to be the type of person who used other people’s authority to her benefit and lorded it over others.

The others who flock to Alexandra are more or less like that. Adele is not the only one who seems to want to be special.

And anyway, the people who are flocking to the Count’s title now will probably leave as if they pushed Alexandra away once they learned about the situation of Count Lingerburg. Only people with a higher rank than a viscountcy are invited to this venue. Those with a lower rank than that would likely have gathered at a different venue. Among them, the people around Alexandra must have thought that if she was the daughter of a Count and riding in a carriage of that size, she would be considered a high-ranking family.

In fact, in terms of family status alone, House Lingerburg is said to be the highest among House Carruthers vassals because the family’s status has not been demoted even once. However, the house is currently on a decline and although it has not been dissolved, there is no doubt that it has fallen. There are countless friends who have left the House’s side after learning about the situation.

Anyway, everyone will leave her, as usual, this time. She knows that, but she will not degrade the dignity of the Lingerburg family here. No matter what happens, Alexandra tries not to lose her pride as a Lingerburg.

And the carriage that arrived then was ridiculed by the crowds. Curious, Alexandra also looks out to the street. A simple carriage without a coat of arms, a coachman dressed in not-very-good clothes, and only an old maid stepped down to help. If it’s a normal House, today the carriage and servants will all be of the highest quality to show off the power of their family.

In such a situation, what kind of person would be the one who brought a modest carriage and servants that did not suit this place? Then, she finally appeared, the noble child who caught everyone’s attention, including Alexandra’s.

“Young Miss, please,” the coachman said.

“Thank you.”

Seeing the girl who came down… Alexandra was fascinated. It doesn’t matter if it’s a humble carriage or a shabby-looking driver. You can feel the dignity in each and every one of her actions, and it seems as if she’s glowing.

She has long blonde hair that looks like a princess from a fairy tale. A bright red dress with a novel design that Alexandra has never seen before. Everyone gasps, forgets to breathe, and then sees off the beautiful girl. Alexandra was fascinated, staring at the girl’s back as she entered the venue without even being stopped by the receptionist.

The party started after hearing the greeting from Margrave Carruthers. Alexandra immediately searches the venue to talk to the girl from earlier.

(I’ve found you!)

“You… you came in a very modest carriage, didn’t you? Which House did you come from?”

When Alexandra was heading towards the beautiful girl from earlier, she saw the cronies from earlier gathering around her, too. Alexandra was a little curious, but more than that, she wanted to talk to the girl, so she rushed to her. And those were the first words that came out of her mouth.

(Aah! I’m an idiot! I made a mistake! What should I do…?)

She was going to talk to her more normally, but Alexandra ended up talking to her in a somewhat bossy way due to her usual habits. For a moment, the beautiful girl was dumbfounded and then she replied with a soft smile:

“Huh? Do you mean me? I am the Knight of Caan, Floto…”

“My!” Alexandra said. “A child of a knight’s family? And this Knight of Caan? I’ve never heard of them! If I may? This is a high-class party venue where only people from prestigious families may gather. This is not a place for the children of knights. Are you certain you haven’t mistaken the venue?”

Alexandra memorized the names and coats of arms of all the Houses in the Margraviate of Carruthers. She’s never heard of a family called the Knight of Caan. And this is a venue where only high-ranking nobles from viscountcies and higher are invited. Perhaps it was her first time going to a party and she had made a mistake in the location. When Alexandra thought that, she tried to warn her to move to the other venue, and quickly.

“I am the eldest daughter of Count Lingerburg, Alexandra von Lingerburg. The County of Lingerburg is one of the oldest families to have served the Margraviate of Carruthers, and is one of the most distinguished, most accomplished noble Houses, second only to House Carruthers itself.”

And it’s the usual introduction to start. Alexandra wants to let people know about House Lingerburg as much as possible. This is like a habit and she knows that she has to tell her to hurry up and go to the other venue, but she can’t stop talking.

“We have no place for the daughter of a knight here! Hurry up and disappear!”

Adele pours grape juice over Floto’s head while Alexandra is doing her usual bragging about her family. As expected of Alexandra, her mouth stopped at that.

“Hold up, you! What do you think you’re doing?!”

When she came to her senses, Alexandra slapped Adele on the cheek. She didn’t mean to hit Adele herself, but it seemed she couldn’t stop herself.

“My, that dress you’ve prepared for this occasion has been ruined, hasn’t it?” Alexandra said. “I’ll lend you a spare of my mine, so hurry up and change then head to the other party at this venue. If you hurry now, you might still make it in time.”

The people around them tilted their heads towards Alexandra, who finally said what she wanted to say.

“…… Huh?” Floto went.

“………… Huh?” went Alexandra’s impromptu entourage.

“……………… Huh?” went everyone else around them.

This girl called Floto, her tilting her head is cute. Alexandra was so desperate to look elsewhere that she didn’t notice. After Adele got her cheek slapped, she glared at Alexandra with a terrifying expression…