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

“I only met the young lady five days ago, so I don’t know much about her.”

“But you still know more than I do.”

“Well, the young lady is the only daughter of Count Beryeon, named ‘Ines.’ She’s so quiet and reserved that it’s hard to believe she’s alive at times.”

So that’s why she’s looking at me so curiously now.

“Has she always been this quiet?”

“I can’t say for sure, but in the five days I’ve been with her, I could count the number of times I’ve heard her speak on one hand.”

Was she just tired of listening to your nagging? Or did she think it wasn’t worth talking to a fiancé who plays with food like that?

I wanted to say something, but I held back.

Sigh. I need to find somewhere to vent, or I’ll lose my mind from the frustration.

“Then, is there anyone who knows me?”

“I heard that Count Beryeon left after sending the young lady here and even relinquished his title.”

What? If he gave up his title and left… doesn’t that mean I don’t have any family at all? Of all the bodies I could end up in, why did it have to be someone like this?

“I heard the Count cherished his only daughter very much… but perhaps you’ll remember more if you recover your memories.”

“Uh, then how old am I?”

“You are twenty-two.”

Oh, that’s the same age as the real me. Interesting.

“What about that ‘Your Grace’ Duke?”

“He is the same age as you, my lady.”

“Oh, so we’re the same age?”

…Wait. Didn’t they say the Duke has been in this duchy for ten years?

“So, does that mean the Duke has been here since he was twelve?”

“Duke Yovern was the fourth prince of the Empire. He was chosen to inherit the Duchy of Yovern.”

I had a feeling he might be royalty, but the Empire? And a prince at that…

“This place was originally under the control of the Duchy of Yovern, but their line came to an end. That’s why the Duke inherited the position.”

“Because he was royalty, he became a Duke instead of a regular noble?”

“That’s a title His Majesty the Emperor personally bestowed. He declared this place an independent state, turning it into a duchy and granting him the title of Duke.”

I didn’t hear anything else. My mind was stuck on the fact that he’s royalty from a grand empire.

The word Empire floated in my mind along with the phrase, “I am magnanimous,” from that movie. Are all royals as arrogant as that character? Maybe that’s why he’s filled with such pompousness from head to toe.

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

The only thing on my mind was how to knock that man’s ego down a notch to feel better.

There’s no way I’m marrying a cold man like that. Even if I do, it would only be to my detriment.

But if I really died in a plane crash, there’s no body to go back to. This situation defies all logic, and I know nothing about this country. That’s a problem, too.

“If there’s nothing else, I will take my leave—”

“Wait! No, hold on. Just in case—this is just a question…”

I leaned forward, swallowing nervously, and asked cautiously.

“Is there any way to… break off the engagement?”

“…Pardon?”

The maid’s eyes wavered with unease, looking at me as though I’d lost my mind.

“No, that’s not what I meant… I was just curious…”

“Unless you’re prepared to lose your life, please do not speak or even think of such things. You will face severe consequences.”

The maid looked like she was suppressing her urge to scold me. Her face paled in shock, as if she had overheard something she wasn’t supposed to.

“This marriage holds significant contractual importance.”

“Contractual?”

“The Duke personally chose you. Unless you are willing to give up your life, the engagement cannot be annulled.”

“…If he chose me himself, then why does he treat his fiancée that way? If he’s so thrilled, he could at least dote on me a little! If he wanted a pretty doll, he should’ve just gotten a fancy porcelain one!”

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

How did I end up in this mess? If there really is a god, I could curse them all night, and it still wouldn’t be enough.

Not only did I have to endure the injustice of a plane crash, but now I’m supposed to live with that ice-cold man? I might freeze to death before anything else happens!

There’s only one solution: if I can’t break off the engagement, I need to make the other party want to end it.

At least that way, I might be able to secure some compensation. Since the original owner of this body doesn’t have anywhere to return to, I could live comfortably on that compensation…

“Anyway, breaking off the engagement is absolutely impossible. The Empire wouldn’t allow it either.”

“Because it’s political?”

“His Majesty the Emperor is the one most eager to see this union succeed. He has been anticipating the arrival of spring in the northern region for a long time.”

Hah, as if I care. If he wants it so badly, he should start by fixing that man’s personality!

I snorted and pretended not to hear. The maid sighed deeply, clearly frustrated, and sluggishly got to her feet.

“If you need anything, please call for me. I’ll bring some food separately in the meantime.”

Only after the maid left the room did I collapse onto the sofa, sinking into it like melted pudding.

I was born into a relatively normal family and lived a clean, upright life, never once jaywalking. Even when my family’s finances took a downturn, I worked myself to the bone for scholarships, sometimes even to the point of nosebleeds.

All I ever wanted was to meet a decent husband. That’s all I asked for! And now this? This is a disaster. Anyone can see that man isn’t husband material!

“If they were going to put me in a pretty woman’s body, they should’ve done it before I got into this mess. What am I supposed to do now, stuck in an impossible situation? This is just cruel!”

As I grumbled endlessly, there was a knock at the door. Quickly straightening up and sitting primly, I responded, and a maid I had never seen before entered.

“I’ve brought a snack.”

She placed the food on a small table in the corner and left without another word. Gripping my growling stomach, I finally started eating.

‘The food here is incredible. Delicious!’

I had to admit, as a duchy, the cuisine was top-notch. The dishes were presented in elegant, vintage-looking tableware, and the fried dish on my plate had a savory aroma and highlighted the natural flavors of the ingredients.

“Mmm, this is what real food should taste like. Thank goodness my taste buds are intact.”

The vegetables, some oddly shaped mushrooms, and chewy squid-like seafood were perfectly balanced. There was also soup and a simple vegetable salad on the side.

It’s clear rice isn’t a staple food here. Luckily, I’ve always been more of a bread person.

After filling up on the delicious meal, my mood lifted. Maybe I was just cranky earlier because I was hungry.

Am I really this simple?

“Well, no point overthinking things. For now, I’ll take my time learning about this place. There’s no rush to make decisions.”

Even when the sky falls, there’s always a way out.

The first thing I need to do is gather information about this place. Start with “Where am I? Who am I?” Once I figure that out, I can think about what to do next.

“They did say this marriage is tied to a contract. I need to learn more about that contract.”

That means I’ll have to face that man again, huh? He mentioned having lunch outside today, so I probably won’t see him until dinner or tomorrow morning.

“Alright! Freedom, for now!”

Feeling triumphant, I scraped my plate clean and patted my full stomach with satisfaction. Then, I decided to explore my room, searching for anything useful.

Perhaps there are books I can read? I scanned a shelf filled with books and randomly pulled one out. Surprisingly, although the text was in a different language, I could read it effortlessly.

“…At least the gods didn’t leave me illiterate. That’s something.”

Since I already had the book in hand, I decided to give it a thorough read while lounging on the sofa. It seemed to be about psychology. Maybe the original owner of this body had been curious about that man’s mind, too.

As I skimmed through the text without much thought, a maid came in silently to leave snacks and tea before disappearing again.

‘I don’t even need to lift a finger. They really take care of everything here.’

The tea was something I’d never tried before, but to my surprise, it was quite drinkable. Even the aperitif from earlier was sweet and enjoyable. I started worrying that I might gain weight at this rate.

My original body didn’t gain weight easily. I wasn’t a big eater, but with how delicious the food is here, I might have a problem.

I don’t know when the original owner of this body will return, but I’ll need to take care of it until then. If they come back to a plump body, it’ll definitely be confusing for them.

‘Is my original body still alive? I miss it… my familiar body.’

Feeling a pang of emotion, I wiped away the tear that formed at the corner of my eye. Just then, I heard a commotion outside.

‘What’s going on?’

I turned my head toward the door in curiosity, and suddenly, it burst open.

I was so startled that I froze. An unexpected figure strode confidently into the room.

“…Your Grace?”

The man with jet-black hair entered, followed by what seemed like a small entourage of winter warriors. He stopped in front of me, and the warm air of my room instantly turned icy, making me shiver.

It was the same man I’d seen riding out earlier, wearing a fur-lined cape over his shoulders. Snow was lightly dusted over his black hair, some of it melting and dripping down.

Judging by his glare, it felt like he was looking at someone who had borrowed a large sum of money and then vanished.

C-Could he possibly be here to scold me for slamming the door in his face earlier? But he left a while ago—how much time has passed since then?

The memory of what happened at the dining hall resurfaced, and a momentary urge to argue bubbled up. But knowing this was a strictly hierarchical society, I cautiously observed his reaction.

“Is there something… you wish to say to me?”