Chapter 49 – The Youngest Daughter of the Count’s Family (12)
Like the protagonist’s companions in the fantasy novels I used to read.
In the romantic fantasy novel ‘I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Count’s Family’, each of the protagonist’s men also has a specialty and role.
Handsome A protects her, Handsome B funds her, Handsome C handles chores, Handsome D wields power, Handsome E lends connections…
Through their complementary strengths, ‘Angelina Chimac’ becomes a perfect human who knows no failure or surrender.
“Baron Amolang, what should I do?”
“Care for the orphanage kids in their new home.”
“I’ve always done that.”
“Think of it as a debt. Repay me after you become king.”
“…Understood.”
The boy destined to be the Desert Kingdom’s king serves as the protagonist’s lawyer.
He handles the handsome men she neglects so they don’t feel slighted.
How?
When she brings a new man, the boy explains why it was necessary.
If the protagonist explains, it sounds like an excuse; from a third party, it sounds objective.
‘But that’s over now.’
From now on, every new man will force her to rely on excuses and shamelessness.
“Lady Valentine, ensure they settle safely in the Somaek territory. Include my letter to the duke.”
“Yes. I’ll secure carriages and mercenaries for transport.”
Swiftly!
They must reach the Somaek territory before the protagonist notices.
‘Now…’
Erasing the boy—who needs no attention until the Desert Kingdom’s civil war ends—from my mind, I head toward my original goal in the enemy-like Chimac territory.
“To the tavern.”
Let’s provoke the prince.
***
Handsome K fell in love upon seeing the protagonist’s grace!
…Repeating the same plot with only names and looks changed would bore readers.
So the author of ‘I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Count’s Family’ varied the reasons for the men’s obsession…
The guard knight Is a vassal’s son.
The fiancé is a betrothal from the womb.
The emperor has childhood memories.
The boy is from orphanage volunteering.
…The prince?
Disguised as a commoner, he was helped by the protagonist in a pinch.
‘I hope the patient mimicked the original well.’
I took a seat again at the prince’s favorite tavern.
***
Like politicians doing “commoner experiences” during election season, the obviously noble prince played commoner.
And like politicians making clueless blunders during such stunts, the prince did too…
“Lady Valentine, what do you think of this kingdom’s heir?”
“Hm… I’ve never met him, so by rumors: talented in many areas, popular with ladies.”
“That’s true.”
The author nailed the prince’s character.
However,
“This prince has ‘zero’ sense of money. And no eye for people.”
Also true—evident in the “accidental” meeting with the protagonist.
On her way to the orphanage to buy bread for the kids, Angelina Chimac saw a strange customer…
The handsome young man paid with a gold coin worth 500 times the bread’s price and refused change.
“Hm. Some nobles refuse change to avoid commoner coins or to show off wealth.”
“Angelina didn’t like that.”
The prince argued the baker profits by not giving change, so it’s good.
The protagonist countered that value comes from earning what you work for…
Common sense.
“I understand the money sense issue. But evidence for poor judgment of character?”
“That comes later.”
Even disguised, a kingdom’s heir traveling alone is suicidal. Besides distant guard knights, a noble friend of similar age accompanied him closely…
“The friend was the problem?”
“Correct. He skimmed money while buying travel supplies with the prince’s funds.”
And the prince never noticed his “vassal’s” embezzlement until the protagonist pointed it out.
No eye for people!
The author highlighted a mere count’s daughter, but at the cost of giving the prince a fatal flaw.
“Seriously bad. The prince never noticed his closest aide’s betrayal…”
“Shocking, right?”
“…Baron Amolang.”
“Yes.”
“How do you see me as a knight?”
“I’m not a vessel for kings, so I don’t know. But I trust Baron Somaek’s eye, so I don’t doubt Lady Valentine’s loyalty.”
“Humility.”
“Just the truth.”
Among the handsome men in ‘I Became the Youngest Daughter of a Count’s Family’, only the protagonist’s former fiancé, Baron Somaek, has the ability to read people.
Even I, an ordinary cultured citizen of Earth, am no exception.
“Lord Baron, the prince is coming.”
Lady Valentine’s squire, spying outside, whispered.
“Alone?”
“With Baron Broccolin.”
“…An unusual pair.”
He’s the son Count Broccolin of the Military Kingdom boasts about.
Baron Broccolin enjoyed mocking the prince’s poor money sense, so their relationship was never good. Rivals in love, too.
Yet drinking together?
‘Not normal.’
They should be badmouthing each other to win Angelina’s love…
I decided to observe first.
Creak—
“Whoa! Welcome, sirs!”
“Bring the strongest stuff today. Usual side dishes.”
“Yes! Sit comfortably, I’ll serve right away!”
The two handsome men entered, ordered quickly from the bartender, and sat in a corner facing each other.
I wanted to eavesdrop naturally, but their voices were too low.
‘What to do?’
If he’d come alone, I’d have approached without hesitation, but the rival variable bothered me.
“Lady Valentine.”
“Yes.”
“Unlikely, but if a fight breaks out, don’t save me—escape.”
“I can’t obey that. The duke ordered me to protect you, even at the cost of my life.”
“Hm. Then can you play along a bit?”
“Anything but escape.”
“Be my wife.”
“Pardon?”
“A desperate bachelor can’t ignore a married man’s advice.”
Especially from a senior who won a beauty rivaling the protagonist!
“Won’t we get caught?”
“Don’t worry. They have no eye for people.”
We quickly kissed to seal the act.
***
“Excuse me! Gentlemen, may we join? I’ll buy the first round if you allow!”
“You’ve got the wrong people.”
“Find someone else.”
The prince and baron immediately refused, but I persisted shamelessly.
“Haha! Bear with me. I’m so plain, my wife rarely gets to feast her eyes.”
“Don’t make me say it twi—”
“We… uh…”
The two, smitten with the protagonist, lost their words the moment they saw my wife (fake).
Living luxurious royal and noble lives, they’d seen countless beautiful ladies.
But meeting one in a dingy tavern? Curiosity sparked in their eyes.
“Oppa, don’t pester. It’s rude to the oppas who said no.”
‘Oppa!’
A coquettish voice with the charm that made Baron Somaek stray despite family duty.
Lady Valentine, acting as my wife, linked arms and pulled me slightly.
‘…Slightly?’
I nearly got dragged.
“Ahem! Sit.”
“It was a misunderstanding.”
The two who refused now gladly accepted.
“Thank you.”
“Thanks, oppas.”
“Ahem!”
“Hmhm!”
They say a woman’s transformation is innocent, but Lady Valentine was too much.
‘Is this the same person?’
Her face is the same, but her expression and tone are a completely different person. Believable even as split personality.
She could be an actress.
“Are you two married?”
“Yes.”
“We married last year, oppa. No news yet.”
Lady Valentine leaned her head on my shoulder, flaunting affection.
Thump thump!
Even knowing it’s acting, my heart strained.
“So envious…”
“You suit each other…”
The two men, struggling in love with too many rivals, gave bitter smiles of blessing.
The mood screamed ‘still single’.
Yet I feigned ignorance and poked their wounds.
“Are you married?”
“Not yet…”
“Couldn’t.”
We feigned shock and comforted them.
“Oh! Cheer up.”
…That’s it?
Lady Valentine seemed to have zero sympathy for the love-struck duo.
“Haha! Even a plain guy like me got a beautiful wife. No reason you handsome gentlemen can’t!”
“That’s not it.”
“It’s not easy.”
The two rivals, loving the same woman, glanced at each other and spoke little.
Uncomfortable, they changed topics.
“How did you meet?”
“One day, while receiving swordsmanship lessons from my knight father-in-law, I fell for my wife at first sight.”
‘Truth in lies!’
Her restrained movements, calloused palms—uncommon in ordinary women.
But as a knight’s daughter?
It dispels all suspicion while cleverly hiding the fake marriage.
“Madam, if I may—what about your husband appealed to you?”
“That’s—”
“Shh! No. I asked the lady.”
We hadn’t rehearsed this, so I tried to cut in, but the two refused.
‘What now?’
Mocking my worry, Lady Valentine answered boldly.
“Even lacking talent, he never gives up. Even overflowing with talent, he never arrogles. But the real reason I chose oppa is different.”
“What is it?”
“Truly curious.”
“From some point, the only man around me was oppa?”
“…”
“…”
Shocked by her answer, the two froze like ice.
“So what could I do? Had to marry this oppa.”
“Haha! Don’t misunderstand. Better gentlemen graciously yielded.”
“…”
“…”
The prince and Baron Broccolin didn’t believe a word.
Proper audience posture.
“I wanted her to look only at me, like I look only at her.”
“Oppa’s like this. If I don’t cling like now, he won’t let me even glance at handsome oppas?”
“Because I love her.”
“So I married him.”
Lady Valentine exceeded expectations.
‘You think so too, right?’
Clink! Clink!
The prince and Baron Broccolin downed their remaining beer and stood.
“We have much to do, so we’ll leave first.”
“Thank you. A very educational conversation.”
We blessed their future.
“Lady Valentine, shall we toast?”
“Slightly overdrank… Water is fine if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. To the two bachelors’ marriages! Cheers!”
“Cheers. For you, Lord Baron…”
Stimulated by the couple they met at the tavern, the prince declared war.