Chapter : 1 “The Mansion Is Burning”
“Good day to you. I am Vaioria Nico Fortesia.”
I, Vaioria Nico Fortesia, returned to my family’s estate in the royal capital for my academy’s spring break.
From Elzemarin, the seaside town where my magic academy is located, it takes half a day by carriage to reach the royal capital. As I traveled along that road, the first thing on my mind was my father, my mother, and my older brother, who were surely waiting for me at the mansion.
In the last letter I received, they wrote about the family’s recent situation and how much they wanted to see me.
They mentioned that a large quantity of the desired ore had been mined from the Fortesia family’s mines, and that product development using it was progressing well. There were also somewhat suspicious movements in noble society lately, and they had found an old album in the storage room and were reminiscing about nostalgic memories. After all that… it also said that Duke Dacter-sama wanted to see me.
…Yes. The person I think about just as much as my family is my fiancé at the royal castle—Dacter Fiera Ochestra-sama.
Dacter-sama is my fiancé. However, it is a marriage of unequal status.
After all, Dacter-sama is the Seventh Prince of the Ochestra royal family. In other words, he is among the top ten highest-ranking individuals in this country.
On the other hand, my family—the Fortesia family—is, to put it bluntly, a nouveau riche noble house.
When I was young, my father inherited my grandfather’s business and struck it rich. With that money, he bought a noble title. Because I am the daughter of such an upstart family, there are many nobles who frown upon the idea of me being engaged to a prince.
Well, without anyone needing to say it, this is clearly a political marriage without love. I fully understand that.
The royal family, whose finances are in decline, wants the Fortesia family’s wealth. The Fortesia family wants to escape its “nouveau riche” status through marriage into the royal family. This is a mutually beneficial union.
And Dacter-sama is also in favor of this engagement. Even if he was attracted more to my family’s wealth than to me, it was the prince himself who proposed the engagement. That is how this marriage began.
In other words, the prince himself desired it! No matter what others say, it is solid! The prosperity of the Fortesia family is absolutely guaranteed!
…Putting that aside.
“The mansion is burning.”
When I returned home, the mansion was on fire.
It is burning. It is really burning a lot. Huh? Why is it burning? Is a mansion even supposed to burn like this?
“Vaioria-sama!”
The one who rushed toward my stunned self was the head maid, Nerina. She is a highly capable maid who has served the Fortesia family for many years.
“Oh, young lady… are you safe?”
“Nerina, what on earth happened?!”
When I asked, Nerina lowered her head weakly.
“…We don’t know. There were supposed to be guests today, but suddenly flames broke out in the reception room and spread at an incredible speed… It seems the fire even reached the basement… and both the master and madam are missing…”
“Th-that can’t be…”
Watching the burning mansion, I could only float through a hazy, unreal train of thought.
What about my father, my mother, and my brother? Did they manage to escape somewhere safely?
If the mansion burned down, doesn’t that mean most of our wealth is gone?
The Fortesia family owns several wineries and mines. Our business connections won’t disappear in flames.
However, land deeds and promissory notes are probably still inside the fire. Of course, since we have built strong relationships with others, losing a single piece of paper shouldn’t cause us to lose everything.
But the cash we had stored… that is clearly not safe. Jewelry exposed to fire becomes nothing but worthless stones. …This is a huge loss.
And if my father, mother, and brother are… if they are…
…Ah. Why has this happened?
“Vaioria Nico Fortesia.”
But that unreal moment soon came to an end.
When I turned toward the voice calling my name, I saw royal soldiers.
…This feels ominous. At the very least, it doesn’t feel like “Dacter-sama has heard of our crisis and sent help.”
Their eyes… were not those directed at a noble, nor at the fiancé of their master.
“You are suspected of attempting to assassinate Prince Dacter. Come with us to the castle.”
“Prince Dacter… assassination? Me?!”
There must be some mistake! There is no way I would try to kill Dacter-sama!
If I marry into the royal family, my house would be secure! I would finally escape the life of being called a nouveau riche! So why on earth would I try to kill him? These soldiers must be insane!
“Take her.”
Without answering me at all, the soldiers grabbed me.
“Wait! What are you doing, you insolent fools!”
“Lady—!”
Neither my protest nor Nerina’s desperate cry changed anything. The soldiers roughly shoved me into a carriage and forced the horses to move.
I am used to passing through the gates of the royal castle. But this time, being escorted while restrained, with soldiers on both sides, is a first.
The gazes from all around pierce into me. I can hear whispers: “It seems the Fortesia daughter has committed a crime,” “As expected of a rising noble house.” It feels like sitting on a bed of needles.
“Walk.”
Even though I hadn’t stopped, a soldier pushed me roughly. Truly, they are treating me like a criminal. If I am only “suspected,” I shouldn’t be treated like this. Where has the rule of law gone?
“I can walk on my own.”
…The only thing I can do now is walk proudly.
Not understanding the situation at all, I simply walk forward.
I was brought before His Majesty the King.
The King sits on the throne, with a minister beside him. Several nobles are also present for some reason. Soldiers line the walls. The door behind me closes.
There is no escape. No allies. This… feels like nothing but bad news.
“Vaioria Nico Fortesia. You understand why you have been brought here, do you not?”
Looking up at the King, I desperately tried to understand.
“No. I do not. I just returned from the academy moments ago, and when I arrived home, the mansion was burning…”
When I honestly replied that I didn’t understand, the King shouted:
“Do not play dumb! We have confirmed that you attempted to harm my son, the Seventh Prince Dacter!”
As expected, the King will not listen.
Though he is supposed to become my father-in-law, someone I have met many times before… now his eyes are cold, as if I were a stranger.
“Look at this!”
A servant brought forward a glass bottle.
“This is something you gave Dacter, is it not? You claimed it was a healing potion, but it has been confirmed to be poison!”
“I have never seen such a thing!”
Even though I truly have no memory of it, the King does not listen.
“And this item, also supposedly given by you, has been identified as cursed!”
“I have never seen that either! This is a misunderstanding! This is someone’s conspiracy!”
The next item—a bracelet—also looked like cheap craftsmanship. Perhaps worth only a few silver coins.
It did appear to carry a weak curse. Nothing lethal. At most, something like causing stomach discomfort every day or occasionally slamming a door on your finger.
“A conspiracy? You still try to deny it?!”
“And there is testimony that you instructed castle servants by letter to poison Dacter’s meals!”
The nobles standing beside the throne were pointed at as “witnesses.”
Looking at them, I understood.
This was a stage.
The bottle and bracelet were props.
The so-called “witnesses” were nobles who disliked the Fortesia family.
I had been cast as the criminal in someone else’s play.
…So I have been caught in a conspiracy!
Suddenly, the doors opened.
“Father!”
From the entrance appeared Dacter-sama.
“Is it true that Vaioria attempted to assassinate me?!”
“Yes. The evidence has already been confirmed.”
Dacter-sama looked confused when he saw me.
“…Dacter-sama, I swear I am innocent! I love you! I would never try to kill you!”
Before I could continue, I was struck by a soldier and forced to stop speaking.
“H-hey! What are you doing to her?!”
“Dacter.”
The King spoke heavily.
“Vaioria Nico Fortesia’s crimes have been confirmed by multiple witnesses. All of them are from reputable noble houses.”
The meaning was clear.
They planned to frame the Fortesia family using multiple noble testimonies.
“Such…”
Dacter-sama looked between the King, the nobles, and me in despair.
Then he looked at me.
I desperately pleaded with my eyes…
But—
“…I see. If that is the case, it cannot be helped.”
He stepped away from me.
“I, Dacter, hereby break off my engagement with Vaioria Nico Fortesia! No objections!”
The moment I heard that…
something inside me snapped.
“Very well! I have no objections either!”
I drove my heel into the soldier trying to restrain me and stood up.
“My engagement with Dacter-sama is nothing but a political contract. I understood that from the beginning. But as long as there is ‘politics’ involved… this annulment will be very costly!”
I glared at Dacter alone.
“Dacter-sama? Say it again. Say: ‘By breaking off the engagement with Vaioria Nico Fortesia, the royal family chooses to walk the path of ruin!’”
The entire room froze.
“…I will say it as many times as needed! I, Dacter, break off my engagement with Vaioria Nico Fortesia!”
“THAT is all I needed to hear.”
Laughing like an evil flower, I spoke:
“I have confirmed it. You have chosen to side with other nobles over me and the Fortesia family.”
“I will remember all of your faces.”
“Regret it in hell.”
“Take her away! Take this demon to the dungeon!”
I was dragged away, laughing all the way.
When bluffing, go big. That is the Fortesia family motto.
And also—
Leave the rest for later. Act first, think later. That is also the Fortesia family motto.
Right now? I haven’t thought about anything for later at all!
Ohohohohohoho!
