The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 03: Meeting the Duke's Daughter

Chapter 03: Meeting the Duke’s Daughter

The time came for the carriage carrying the duke’s daughter to arrive in front of the mansion. 

Being of a lower rank, I had to welcome her. 

I decided that if she said anything like “What a small, peasant-like house” or “Why does a duke’s daughter like me have to come to such a remote place?” I would promptly show her my disapproval with my fists, let’s say. 

We have a saying in our house: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” 

It’s our way of keeping order.

“Young master, you mustn’t harbor thoughts of violence. It’s the same at the academy.” 

“Yeah…” 

Upon Sebas saying so, I obediently restrained myself.

Though strictly speaking, we don’t have such a rule. It’s more about having the right mindset. 

Our family’s motto is more along the lines of “Show no mercy to the people from the neighboring country” or “If you find one goblin, always look for its village.” They breed like cockroaches and quickly form settlements, you see? If you don’t crush them before they grow too large, it’ll become a serious problem.

“Look, she’s arriving. Stand up straight.”

“Yes!” 

I straightened my back.

The carriage carrying the duke’s daughter was smaller than I expected. 

Despite being a noble, I thought she would bring many servants with her. 

I had even made an effort to clean the servants’ quarters, but it seems it was all for nothing. 

Don’t underestimate our small mansion; it’s empty because the servants died in the war. 

My mother was so shocked she took my sister back to her parental home. 

Maybe she feels relieved to be free from the Brave family’s curse, but I try not to dwell on that too much…

“Miss, this way, please.”

The carriage stopped in front of the mansion, and a man who got down from the coachman’s seat opened the door of the passenger carriage.

The person who emerged from the carriage was, of course, a beautiful girl with her transparent silver hair tied back in a bun. 

She was the Duke’s daughter, Alicia Gran Oldwood.

“Uwaa.”

I blurted out the moment I saw her, unable to hold back my surprise.

Immediately, Sebas hit me on the back of my head.

“Young master! …Ahem, welcome, Lady Alicia. I am Sebas, the butler of this mansion. I stand ready to serve you.”

“…So, you react like that too.”

Alicia remarked, glaring at me.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed a large burn scar near her left eye, covering about a quarter of her face.

“How did you get that scar…?” 

“…”

I hesitantly asked and Alicia looked down, her face showing discomfort. 

Despite her scar, she was still very beautiful, the kind of beauty that made you want to protect her.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.” 

I quickly added, not wanting to upset her by asking something sensitive.

Alicia had come here after being involved in duels and a broken engagement scandal, so it was understandable that she had scars from her battles.

Besides, “Around here, that’s quite normal,” I said with a smile, trying to ease the situation. 

Yes, it’s normal. Adventurers heading to battlefields are often covered in scars, and it’s the same for women.

Retired soldiers and adventurers might be missing fingers, arms, or legs – it’s pretty common. 

So, a burn scar covering a quarter of her face? That’s nothing unusual.

As for me, if I took off my clothes, you’d see I’m also covered in scars, and I have a large one on my forehead hidden by my bangs. Sebas, too, if he took off his clothes, you’d see he’s quite the man.

But, the main point isn’t about that.

“Then, I’ll be leaving now.”

“Oh, okay.”

The coachman placed a suitcase in front of the gate and then just left. 

It all happened so fast, I didn’t even have a chance to say anything. 

Seriously, no maid with her? 

Is it sane to send their daughter here all by herself? 

She’s of age, after all… 

I thought they should at least keep someone experienced by her side.

But then again, using our people to take care of the Duke’s daughter would affect our chores, right?

“Come this way, Lady Alicia.”

“Yeah.”

While I was standing there, dumbfounded, watching the carriage leave, Sebas, with a forced smile for guests, led Alicia into the mansion. 

Alicia didn’t even look back at the carriage that brought her here. I expected some resentful glares, but contrary to my expectations, she quietly accepted her fate, appearing utterly resigned.

I had thought that a sheltered girl like her would be more despairing, especially since the fiancées of my deceased brothers always seemed terrified of being in the Brave territory, known and feared by nobles as a place of exile. 

Her expression of utter resignation reminded me of enemy soldiers taken prisoner, not someone who would interfere with the protagonist and make a pact with a demon in the future. 

It was a bit anticlimactic.

Her expression was blank, like ashes after a fire has burned out. 

To be tempted by a demon, one needs darkness in their heart, but she seemed to lack even the malicious resentment I had seen in villains in games… She was just blank.

“Wait a moment, please.”

I called out to Alicia and Sebas, stopping them as they headed towards the mansion and brushing off her shoulder.

“…What? Was there dust on me? Sorry, it’s an old dress.”

“No, it’s just that our place is even dustier, so you’re all good.”

“…”

Alicia frowned slightly at my words, but it actually made her seem more human. 

Hmm, it’s strange that we can have a conversation like this.

Our family is of lower status, yet we’re able to communicate. 

Is this because she’s been defeated by a commoner, had her engagement broken off by the prince, and now her pride is shattered?

Is there a revenge plot brewing that will come after this? 

I really hope she stays withdrawn to avoid my destruction.

But if some incident at school reignites her grudge, I won’t be able to handle it.

For now, the best I can do is hope she changes her mind about us.

I’ll have to think of a way to do that, but there was something immediate I needed to do.

“Welcome to the Brave family, Lady Alicia. I know you must be tired, so please feel free to rest in your room, even though it’s a bit small.”

“…”

She ignored my words and entered the mansion.

I watched her back with a smile, then looked at what I was holding in my right hand.

“Gigi, gi…”

In my hand was a small, black worm, writhing in agony. 

This was the reason I had blurted out “Uwa” when I saw Alicia.

In the Brave household, we call these little devils “magic worms.”

They carry curses and attach themselves to people to cause harm.

Be it poison, paralysis, mental corruption, or some incurable disease, these are what they bring. 

Anyone afflicted by one isn’t likely to have a good life.

Alicia was covered in these unbelievable magic worms, about a hundred of them.

“Sigh, she must be really hated, huh?” 

It might be inevitable considering what she did. 

However, having so many magic worms on her, a normal person wouldn’t be able to think straight. 

Yet, she seemed calm and not disturbed at all. 

Could it be that the magic worms were somehow keeping her quiet? 

No, that’s impossible. 

People infested with magic worms usually become obsessively fixated on something, almost like they’re possessed by a demon…

“Ah, maybe I need to rethink this a bit.” 

That’s when it clicked a little for me. 

Could a Duke’s daughter, who was supposed to marry the crown prince and receive high-level education to become a queen someday, really start a duel with a commoner? 

It doesn’t make sense that our parents, who value tradition so much, would allow such a thing, and normally, they would take the side of the lady, right?

I’ve lived in this world for 15 years, and I’m not stupid enough not to see that, which is exactly why I hated the idea of taking over the family business. 

It all seems too convenient.

“…So, is this what an otome game world is like?” 

All these developments are carefully crafted by the creators for us, the game’s players, to enjoy. 

Looking at it in the real world, it’s incredibly twisted. 

And it’s the worst that my life is now in danger because of it.

“What should I do now? Well, it’s not like I have much choice. I’m stuck with her as a partner, and we’re going to school together next month, right?”

Thinking about going to school with a girl who harbors so much malice, hostility, and harmful intent towards herself. It feels like a journey towards despair, almost like heading towards my own demise at this point.

It’s amazing how, in the game, she managed to keep on being a nuisance to the protagonist without dying.

Surely, someone orchestrated all this.

And as the obstacle, I’m probably meant to be conveniently eliminated at some point.

“This is bad.”

To avoid that, I have no choice but to try and change her mind. 

It seems the only way out is to help her move past her feelings for her former fiancé and get back on her feet. 

So, in a way, she’s like a target I need to win over.

“Yeah, that’s right! We’re officially engaged, so I have to find a way to make her look my way.”

At first, I thought the quickest solution would be for her to die somehow, but after seeing how fate has tossed her around, those thoughts have vanished.

“Face forward and keep walking, no matter what,” my late father used to say.

I had thought about leaving the country and living independently of the Brave family, not because I hated it. 

Now that I’ve survived, it’s my duty to carry on after my family who died gloriously in battle. To have children and continue the Brave family line is my tribute to them.

“Guess I have to try my best…”

With that resolve, I crushed the magic worm in my hand. 

Why can I crush a magic worm? 

Because I’m from the Brave family, obviously. 

Sebas has noticed too.