Your Highness, It’s Not Me, It’s Them!

“I’ve only known you for five days, my lady, so there’s not much I can tell you.”

“Well, you must know more about me than I do.”

“All I know is that you are the only daughter of the Count of Vareian, and your name is ‘Ines.’ You are also an extremely quiet person—so much so that you hardly seemed alive.”

So that’s why she’s been looking at me so strangely, I thought.

“Do you think I’ve always been that quiet?”

“I couldn’t say, but in the past five days, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve heard your voice.”

Maybe she stayed silent because she was exhausted by all your nagging. Or maybe it was because she thought it wasn’t worth talking to a man who treats food like a plaything.

I bit my lip to stop myself from blurting that out.

Sigh. I need to find a metaphorical bamboo forest soon, or I’m going to explode from frustration.

“So, who else might know more about me?”

“I heard that the Count of Vareian gave up his title and disappeared after sending you here.”

“What?”

If he gave up his title and left, then I don’t even have a family to rely on. Of all the people I could end up as, why did it have to be someone like this?

“They say the Count was deeply devoted to his only daughter. But I suppose you’ll recall the details yourself when your memory returns.”

“W-what about my age? How old am I?”

“Twenty-two, my lady.”

Oh, the same age as the original me. That’s oddly convenient.

“What about the Grand Duke?”

“He’s the same age as you.”

“Oh, we’re the same age?”

…Wait a second. Didn’t she say he’s been here for ten years?

“Does that mean the Grand Duke has been living here since he was twelve?”

“His Grace, the Grand Duke of Jovern, was the fourth prince of the Empire. He was chosen to inherit the title of Grand Duke by this duchy.”

I’d figured he was of royal blood, but the Empire? And a prince, no less…

“This land was originally governed by the Dukes of Jovern, but their line died out. That’s why the Grand Duke took over.”

“Since he’s royalty, is that why he’s a Grand Duke instead of a Duke?”

“That’s because the Emperor personally granted him the title. He designated this land as an independent state and elevated it to a grand duchy.”

At that moment, everything else she said went over my head. My mind fixated on one thing: he was royalty. A prince of a mighty empire.

The word Empire echoed in my thoughts, along with the line ‘I am magnanimous.’ It was just like the arrogance of royalty in movies. Was it a universal trait for them to be so full of themselves?

Maybe that’s why he was so smug and insufferable, from head to toe.

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

The only thing on my mind was figuring out how to knock that man’s arrogance down a peg.

There was no way I could marry such a cold-hearted man. It would only be a loss for me.

But if I really did die in that plane crash, then I don’t have a body to return to. Nothing about this situation made sense, and I knew almost nothing about this world. That was another problem entirely.

“If not, I’ll take my leave now…”

“Wait! No, wait! I just… I have one more question, purely hypothetical…”

Leaning forward, I swallowed hard and gave her a serious look before carefully asking:

“How… how would one go about calling off an engagement?”

“…I beg your pardon?”

Her eyes widened in disbelief, trembling as if she couldn’t believe what she’d just heard. She stared at me as if I were utterly insane.

“It’s not that, really… I was just wondering, you know… just in case.”

“Unless you’re ready to put your life on the line, you must neither speak nor think such things. It will lead to grave consequences.”

The maid looked as though she was holding back a stream of curses, her face pale as if she had just heard something she shouldn’t have. Her horrified expression screamed disbelief.

“This marriage is largely symbolic—a contract, if you will.”

“Contract?”

“His Grace personally chose you, my lady. Unless you are prepared to risk your life, breaking the engagement is simply impossible.”

“…He personally chose me? Then why does he treat his fiancée like that? If he’s not going to dote on me, the least he could do is act civil. If all he wants is a pretty doll, he should commission a ball-jointed one instead!”

I grumbled in frustration, folding my arms and sinking into the sofa.

How on earth did I end up in this mess? If there really is a god, I’d spend all night cursing their name, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

First, a plane crash ruined my life, and now I’m supposed to live with this icy, insufferable man? I might freeze solid before long!

There’s only one solution: if I can’t initiate the breakup, I’ll make him do it.

At least I might get some compensation. Since the original owner of this body has no family to return to, I could live comfortably on the settlement.

“In any case, breaking the engagement is not an option. Even the Empire wouldn’t permit it.”

“So it’s a political arrangement?”

“His Majesty the Emperor is one of the strongest supporters of this marriage. He eagerly awaits the day spring returns to the northern territories.”

Hmph. Let him wait. If he cares so much, he should start by fixing that man’s personality!

I snorted in derision, ignoring her words. The maid sighed heavily, shook her head, and shuffled to her feet.

“If you need anything, please call for me. I’ll have some food sent up shortly.”

Only after she had left did I collapse into the sofa, feeling utterly defeated.

I’d lived a straightforward life, born into a modest family, never even jaywalking. I’d worked myself to the bone for scholarships, nose bleeding from the effort.

All I’d wished for was to meet a decent man—was that too much to ask? How did I end up with him? He’s the furthest thing from “decent”!

“If they were going to stick me in the body of a beautiful woman, they should’ve done it before throwing me into this mess. How do they expect me to deal with this?”

Grumbling to myself, I heard a knock at the door. Quickly, I straightened up and answered. A maid I didn’t recognize entered.

“I’ve brought your snack, my lady.”

The maid set the food on the table in the corner and left without another word. Finally, clutching my growling stomach, I began to eat.

‘The food here is amazing. Absolutely delicious!’

The dishes were exquisite, as one might expect from a duchy. Even the intricate plates seemed luxurious, and the stir-fried dish was a perfect balance of rich aromas and the natural flavors of the ingredients.

“Ah, now this is what food is supposed to taste like! I’m so glad my taste buds are still intact.”

The dish combined tender vegetables, a chewy, squid-like seafood, and something soft and mushroom-like. Alongside it was soup and a simple vegetable salad.

It was clear rice wasn’t the staple here, though that suited me just fine. I’ve always been more of a bread person than a rice eater.

As I ate, my mood lifted noticeably. I must have been cranky earlier because I was hungry.

‘Am I really such a simple person?’

“Well, no point overthinking things. I’ll take my time learning about this place and then figure out what to do.”

They say every cloud has a silver lining.

My first priority was to gather information. ‘Where am I? Who am I?’ I needed answers to these questions before planning my next move.

“Since this marriage is contractual, I need to dig into the specifics. I should find out exactly what’s written in that agreement.”

Which meant I’d need to face him again. He was supposedly eating lunch elsewhere today, so I’d likely see him at dinner or tomorrow morning.

“Alright! Freedom for now!”

Feeling triumphant, I cleaned my plate and patted my full stomach. I decided to explore my room, thoroughly checking every nook and cranny.

Curious if there were any books, I approached a shelf and pulled out one. To my surprise, I could read it effortlessly, even though it was clearly written in another language.

“…Well, at least the gods didn’t leave me illiterate.”

With nothing better to do, I settled on the sofa and began flipping through the book. It seemed to be about psychology. Perhaps the original owner of this body was just as curious about his psyche as I was.

Lost in thought, I barely noticed when a maid quietly entered, leaving tea and pastries before disappearing again.

‘They really do take care of everything here. I barely have to lift a finger.’

I sipped the tea, finding it unexpectedly pleasant. The appetizer drink earlier had been sweet, too. If I wasn’t careful, I might start gaining weight here.

My original body had a high metabolism, but I’d never been a big eater. Now, with food this good, I couldn’t help but worry.

‘I don’t know when—or if—the original owner of this body will return, but I should take care of it in the meantime. Can’t have her waking up to find herself overweight.’

I sighed, wiping away the tear that unexpectedly trickled down my cheek.

Suddenly, the noise outside grew loud and chaotic.

‘What’s going on?’

Before I could process it, the door burst open.

Startled, I froze as an all-too-familiar figure strode in.

“…Your Grace?”

The man with jet-black hair stood there, as imposing as ever. Snow clung to his fur cloak and hair, dripping onto the floor as it melted.

The warmth of the room vanished, replaced by a chilling air that made me shiver.

He looked like he’d stepped straight out of a snowstorm. His dark hair was wet, and his crimson eyes locked onto mine, filled with the same icy intensity as before.

If looks could kill, this would be the gaze of someone confronting a friend who’d run off with their life savings.

‘Wait… is this about earlier? Did he come to confront me because I shut the door in his face? But he’s been out for a while…’

Memories of the dining room incident flickered through my mind, but the rigid hierarchy of this society stopped me from voicing my thoughts. Instead, I cautiously asked:

“Do you… have something you wish to say to me?”