Note: I should have inserted this extra chapter before the Chinosato arc!! Oh well, I guess it's fine to put it here after the incident's resolved XD I'd like to thanks all of the patrons and supporters of this story, for this extra was written thanks to the fact that they voted for this extra to exist! ^^ And thank you guys for reading this story so far! Please continue to enjoy this story in the future, too!
Year 963, Month 4, Day 13.
Although there are three elents of unluckiness today, which is 6 from Year 963, then 4 from the month, and 13 as the date…
This is still my birthday.
A special one, on top of it.
My na is Reinst Carnatia Grabberton, the only daughter of the Grabberton family, and the one who is glorified to be the perfect queen candidate.
HOLD IT!!
I am not bragging, by any ans. I am just stating the facts.
The nobles always flatter , but never try to really know .
When I told them that I didn’t think of myself like that, they dismissed and said that I was being too humble.
The noble girls gave praises and complints, yet they talked behind my back. About my pretense and that I was actually a wicked person.
Before I know it, I have gotten used to all that, and nowadays, I don’t really care about them anymore. To the extent that I can’t really rember who is who among them.
Although it is true that…
I often question this world, why isn’t there a single person who would truly want to be by my side just for who I am?
I long for a companion. A true friend. Or a true love, just like the ones they portrayed in the stories I read.
I have given up on the idea of a loving family from my own family mbers. All they care about is the family’s honor.
In the first place, the idea of a loving and warm family just like what they portrayed in the storybooks and films will always remain a fantasy, especially among nobles whose marriages are not based on love.
Oh well…
I was reminiscing the past as today, I will once more stand in front of the nobles and must prepare myself to be showered by their stares, praises, and ill-talks.
As it is my coming of age ceremony.
Which ans, more nobles will attend this year’s birthday compared to the previous ones.
A knock to the door can be heard when I already finished wearing my silver grey dress and emblem, and was just about to wear a hair pin decorated with the imitation of a small red carnation.
“Yes?”
The one who opened the door was my mother.
“Oh, your preparation is done already? Good, as expected of my daughter,” she praised as soon as she saw my appearance.
“You look beautiful. The crown prince should be attending your party. I wonder if he will propose to you right away?”
Oh, it would be nice if that happens, right?
She then approached .
Just right when she walks…
I noticed tiny hands holding tightly to her dress from behind.
Those hands belong to none other than my little brother—Dominick Robin.
Two small amber eyes just like mine—peered from behind Mother.
There you are.
Mother’s treasure. Her pride and joy.
My heart aches a bit whenever I see him.
Not that I hate him… but do I love him?
I am quite unsure.
Although we are true siblings, we don’t spend that much ti together. I am still busy with my studies and trainings, while he also receives the necessary education to be the heir of the family as soon as he can read.
Domi would spend most of his ti with Mother, and the other servants.
My ti with Mother decreased when Domi was born. As a result, my training and education weren’t supervised directly by her, and started to be more lenient. However, I am still not quite sure whether I should be happy or sad.
Not like my feelings matter, anyway.
Shortly after, Father cos in, as well.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
“Take care of your every behavior and words. The others will be watching you.”
“I know, thanks for reminding .”
“Good.”
And sothing unusual happened. Well, it has ever happened before, but not that often…
Father lightly patted my head.
“Happy birthday, Reinst. I hope you will grow up to be more elegant, just like the carnation flower that you’re nad after.”
“Thank you, Father.”
And before standing on the stage and opening the party, Kania-san and Clyde greeted and congratulated on my coming-of-age.
To be honest, I kinda envy the mother and child bond that the two of them have.
They seem to be very close to each other.
After standing on the stage and uttering so sort of empty word---I an, my UTTERMOST gratitude towards all who attended and my GRATITUDE to be here today, I sit down sowhere nearby and begin to enjoy the food and drinks. Top quality, as always. As expected of my family’s top-rated cooks!!
Whenever I eat, I always co to realize that… perhaps… by any chance…
FOOD IS MY RAISON D’ETRE!!
*Ahem*
Nah, sorry for my desperate attempt to find sothing in life that I can enjoy wholeheartedly.
But my lovey dovey date with my food (most of which have already ended up in my stomach by now, I may be a cruel person for eating my love) is sadly interrupted by the upcoming nobles. Seems like most of them have already finished eating, too.
Yup, I know it’s normal and it’s even the correct attitude to at least show your face to the person being celebrated.
“Reinst-sama, congratulations on your coming-of-age!”
“Reinst-san, happy birthday! You look so gorgeous today!”
“Congratulations, Reinst-san. Should you not be the prince’s suitor, I’d happily take your hand in marriage.”
There are so many faces that I can’t really rember.
I an, except my classmates and people I have often seen, I don’t pay much attention to the others… with the exception of those that my family deed important and ordered to rember.
Most of the noble girls here are my rivals, anyway. Mother would tell not to be swayed by their words and plumted below them.
One by one, people who have finished their hypocrite---I an small talks with moved to make ways to others to greet .
“…congrats,” An older noble girl with her golden hair curtly delivered her greetings as she was looking down, seemingly thinking of other things.
Well, there are nobles who are forced by their families to attend, despite how busy they are. As the coming of age ceremony of the Ducal family is important, so most nobles—even those from far away would co.
If it were just another normal birthday, probably those who attended would mostly co from the West area, with so from the other areas.
Anyway, I never saw her before, so she must not be from anywhere around the West Area. Most nobles coming from far areas like her would try to at least make an impression to since we don’t et that often, but she didn’t even try!!
Wait… she didn’t even introduce herself to . Did she not know that I don’t even recognize her?
…ah well, not that I care. I probably won’t even rember the nobles I saw one by one at the end of the day.
“Congrats on your coming-of-age, Reinst-san! I must extend my apologies as that younger brother of mine still doesn’t want to attend to noble gatherings. I sincerely apologize for his rudeness.”
A young man that looks to be in his early twenties humbly bent his body and takes my hand and lightly kisses it.
Hmm, how brave. He must be brimming with confidence.
His white hair is ssy—well, it’s his style, I guess. When he finally looks up, I notice that his left eye is yellow, while his right eye is red.
…hmmm, what a peculiarity.
Wait, I think there’s sothing I need to rember.
Oh, so he is the rumored Hartmann family’s heir.
There are bad rumors about their family, so Father would advise not to be too close to them. If I rember, he had a brother.
Now, I don’t rember if I have ever t with the younger brother, but if I had—then it would an I already forgot.
They are from the East Area, after all. We won’t be able to et one another that often.
The other remarkable nobles would be the Fumitsuna couple.
The heir of the Fumitsuna main family just married a half-oni woman from the South territory. The two of them attended my party and gained others’ attention because of the appearance of the half-oni.
The married couple made their way to congratulate properly.
Well, we are from the sa generation of the Ducal family, despite our age difference, so of course both of them will definitely attend!
A timid girl then approaches , she seems to be around 6 to 7 years old. There are three boys with the sa purple eyes nearby. I am familiar with the two boys who are older than , as their family's territory is in the West, so obviously we have often t.
They are all the Schafer siblings who seem to be close to one another, even towards the siblings born from different mothers.
That-- I can't comprehend.
"U, uhmm...," the girl timidly speaks.
"Sienna, let say it if you can't," the eldest boy--Gilbert, touches her shoulder.
"No, let say it. It's concerning my sister and my mother, after all."
Oh, right. The Schafer has a daughter whose age is the sa as . I rarely see her, though. Maybe because their territory is in another island in the west—the Welsh island. It is quite tiring and ti-consuming to be traveling here from there, and vice versa, so so people who dislike traveling wouldn’t bother coming that often.
It’s alright, I understand that. I won’t judge you.
Anyway…
She is not with them, so I assu she’s not coming…? Or are they having so kind of quarrel?
"I apologize, my sister and my mother are unable to attend. They also told to convey their birthday wishes to you. And... It's not that they don't want to, but there is sothing urgent that they need to attend to, uhm---"
Before the girl can finish her sentence, I cut her off.
"It's fine, I don't mind it at all."
"Ah...," Sienna seems relieved after hearing my answer, and said nothing more.
Whatever reason they have, it must be an important thing that they decided to not attend a duke's daughter's coming-of-age ceremony.
Nevertheless, there are the types of nobles who hate traveling and attending these kinds of parties, and the ones who aren’t forced to attend. I have categorized her sister and her mother in this group of nobles.
After her sister is of age, I bet she will be pressured to be more active in the noble society, so this might be her last ti bailing out of the noble parties and relaxing at ho, or doing other activities there.
"We also apologize if we can't attend the party until its very end, because of the said urgent matter, as well," the second son--Darian talks.
"No problem, you have sothing needed to be taken care of, and it must take quite a long ti for you to go back ho. Thanks for coming and please have a nice trip back."
They bowed down before and excused themselves.
"Let's go back to father's place," Gilbert said.
"Daddy, Mommy~!" The youngest boy quickly located his parents and ran towards them, causing the other siblings to be flustered and raced after him.
When the crowd gathered in front of have finally moved on with their life to the other side—I an, talked among one another—I saw my half-brother with the familiar light-blonde and curly haired girl.
Clyde and Nicole.
“Reinst!! Congrats on becoming 13!! I am going to be 13 soon, as well, so make sure to co, okay?” Nicole shoved a bouquet of white carnation to .
Among all other nobles, I can say that Nicole is the closest to —although I don’t think we are that close enough as friends. I am unsure of my relationship to her.
She would strangely approach over and over again, though I don’t really respond well to her approach. By the way, we are enrolled to the sa school.
“Thank you, Nicole. I’ll surely co.” I accepted the flowers from her.
“Hehe!” Nicole smiled happily.
I think it’s like a common courtesy for to co to her coming of age ceremony, so why would she be happy with that?
I don’t understand.
Then, she gazed behind her.
“Hey, Clyde! Co and greet her, she’s your sister, after all!”
Hearing that, Clyde slowly closed our distance and shortly said.
“Happy birthday, Reinst. Congrats on becoming adult.”
“Thank you.”
And that’s the end of our short conversation.
As always.
We never talk really long. Maybe we have been so used to how we were back when our competition to be the heir was so intense.
I don’t even know how he feels towards Domi’s birth and how our chances to beco the heir to the family just got cut off without considering our feelings to the matter.
Regardless, he seems to be listening when Nicole and I talk.
He would often try to enter our conversation—on Nicole’s urging.
He doesn’t look like he’s being forced, though.
As we are talking about our school activities and the like…
… Oh my, another wave of enemie—no, I an, nobles are incoming!
Huh? Sothing feels different with this crowd.
They seem way noisier…
Taking a close look at the crowd, I imdiately take a notice on the royal family emblem.
Wearing gorgeous golden and white suit combined with the royal family emblem, he is none other than this country’s one and only… crown prince!!
Mother wasn’t lying when she told that the prince would attend!
Obviously, I have t him before, but not that often. So, every chance to engage in a talk with him is equal to the chance of scoring so points with him.
I must admit I am not that interested in doing that—but that’s what my family would want.
The way he walks and moves is really elegant. He has the charisma of a king, for sure.
He is 17 years old right now, but there is no announcent yet regarding his betrothal. As a result, the competition between the noble won is still as fierce as the competition between housewives during a sale.
…Sorry, Prince Titus, for comparing you to an item on sale…
When he is right in front of , the noise that the others made… disappeared in an instant. It’s as if everyone is caught in their breathe—waiting for what will happen.
Yes, this is the long-awaited eting between the crown prince and the strongest queen candidate.
And the queen candidate, naly , has just had her coming-of-age ceremony. It is a good timing to talk about betrothal or proposal.
Naturally, I stood up and deeply bowed to him.
“Your Highness, Prince Titus. I am deeply moved by your thoughtful gesture of attending my coming-of-age ceremony,” I speak as I straightened my posture and look into his green eyes.
“No, the pleasure is all mine. Congratulations on your coming of age, Lady Reinst. The rumors about your beauty and elegance are true,” He smiled.
I can hear everyone’s inner gasp. He is indeed the real depiction of the prince charming from the stories.
And a smooth talker.
I am not sure he ans every word of flattery he’s uttered.
As we talk to each other, I noticed one thing.
Surely, all eyes are on us at this mont.
They are either the eyes of expectation—or the eyes that desperately wish that the prince won’t fall for .
I believe if my parents are aware of the situation right now, they must be watching intensely at , in this very mont, though I can’t see them.
Unfortunately for all of you who have expected things!!!
And fortunately—no, unfortunately…? (WHICH ONE IS IT?!! MAKE UP YOUR MIND, DEAR !!!)
…
…….
For , nothing happened besides our small talk full of superficial complints…?
The prince doesn’t seem to have any special interest to .
Well, it must be hard to grasp the attention of soone as dreamy as he is.
And by dreamy, I an… not to , but to others!!
Maybe I am turned off by people’s expectation of marrying him, or what… but I don’t think I have special feeling towards him.
Like… I don’t really care about him.
But hey, I really DID get the honor of the first dance with him. Not to ntion that he’s the one to invite first.
And our dance managed to srize the others!!
Afterwards, I also danced with the other nobles.
And nope, nah, na-da. I don’t feel really tired, maybe it’s the result of my long and hard training.
After I danced with so noble that I barely know, Nicole who just finished dancing with Clyde suddenly approached and proposed we’d switch partners for the next dancing round.
Enthusiastically.
Perhaps she is interested in the noble man I danced with, just now…?
Clyde didn’t seem to object, and waited for my response.
I tensed up at that suggestion and slightly glanced towards Mother.
Nothing good ever cos from my interaction with Clyde.
I observed Mother’s expression. She noticed my gaze and responded by smiling proudly at —with a hint of disappointnt that I wasn’t being courted by the prince today.
Her gaze quickly beca unfocused to and turned sowhere else I can’t figure where, but her expression turned cold for a mont.
It seems she was looking at sothing or soone near , but before I can analyze where, she shifted her attention to Domi.
Maybe, I was imagining things...?
Ah, anyway, from the look of it, Mother doesn’t seem to mind it if I were to dance with Clyde.
If she is against it, she would usually approach or give the sharp look, and she did neither of them just now.
I quickly turned my face back to Clyde—hmm, sohow, it feels as if Clyde barely turned his face to look at , too.
What was he looking at until just now, I wonder?
The corner of his mouth slightly ford a smile.
“…Shall we, Reinst?” He offered his hand to .
I nod.
We quickly dance to follow the music’s rhythm.
Clyde’s dancing skill is not that bad. He is able to gently lead with ease.
This situation would be impossible if we were still engaged in our heir competition.
Mother’s becoming less strict to as Domi grows up.
On this birthday, for the first ti, I danced with Clyde.
This doesn’t feel so bad.
After the dance, I tried to speak to Prince Titus, together with the crowd of nobles.
But until the end of the party, nothing happened.
It’s quite late at night, so I don’t think it’s wise for to play with my Provice.
I decided to toss myself to the fluffy bed when I feel all the fatigue.
Today was tiring.
Today, I finally turn thirteen.
I can register myself as a cell donor, and make sure that my life has a aning. Not that I’m hoping for sothing (death) to occur, but I wouldn’t reject that offer, as well.
But please wait for until I have finished registering myself as a donor!
I don’t want this tireso life I had to be totally wasted in vain.
Oh well, not that it would happen.
I’m used to not getting the things I’m wishing for.
From now on, I wonder what should I do…?
If only life was as simple as a ga, where I can see the objective and the on-going missions.
Perhaps my life won’t be as boring if I have sothing like that.
My current objective remains the sa from the day I was born, though, to marry into the royal family, to be the future queen. It was an objective decided by my family.
If only I could change everything in my life, I wonder what kind of person will I be…?
Alright, enough imagining the scenarios that won’t happen.
I think it’s about ti to start seeing all the gifts I’ve got, but my eyelids are so heavy...
Mmmhmm, yeah... It’s my cue to sleep. I bet this will be another deep sleep for .
Tomorrow, I need to open and sort out the gifts, ask for a permission to go out alone (so I can register as a donor without bothering to answer a long list of questions from anyone), and... ask the maids what my routine will be.
In the end, I fell asleep while thinking about what little thing I want to do in my life from now on.
--And little did Reinst know that her wish was about to be granted.
And that her life will be turned around. Forever.
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