Sasha believed the reason I hadn’t changed was that I’d never taken serious interest in a man before. Thus, it always fell to my brother to shove my carefree self into social events.
“There’s a royal ball next week.”
“Ugh.”
“This was ordered by father. He says if you don’t attend, he’ll send you straight to a convent.”
“He’d never do that.”
I was well past the age where my soft-hearted father’s threats could work on me. But my brother’s next remark was far more convincing.
“Really? What about mother?”
“Mom?”
“She said if you don’t attend the royal ball, she’ll cut off your allowance.”
“What? That’s ridiculous!”
I burst into a fit of irritation.
“Without your allowance, you’d be in trouble, wouldn’t you? How would you buy books or keep living your leisurely life? So, just listen to me and attend the ball quietly.”
The nagging seemed endless as Sasha continued his lecture.
“I’m not saying you have to find a husband right away. Just show a little initiative.”
And then, as if he couldn’t resist, he slyly added another threat.
“If it doesn’t work out, there’s always the option of marrying into the merchant guild.”
“What? That’s absurd! The merchant guild’s heir… you mean Andre?”
I gaped at him. What kind of suggestion was that? Seeing my reaction, Sasha smirked wickedly.
“Andre will inherit the guild, our families are closely connected, and he already knows all about your odd quirks. In a way, isn’t he the most ideal match?”
“That’s enough. What a terrible thing to say.”
I shuddered without realizing it. Andre’s face flashed in my mind—a laid-back guy with long black hair tied in a ponytail.
I’m sure, no matter what I did, Andre would probably just raise an eyebrow and say something like, ‘You’re so unique every time I see you.’
“Marriage between friends? Ridiculous!”
We’ve known each other for more than 10 years. Sasha’s nonchalant suggestion made him seem downright ruthless.
“Exactly. I think so too. Which is why you should at least pretend to look for someone suitable. They’re ready to bring up the merchant guild option any moment now.”
That day, Sasha’s nagging had one conclusion: I needed to attend the royal ball and find a potential match.
Reluctantly, I nodded. My compliance seemed to unsettle Sasha, prompting him to pile on some unnecessary praise.
“Don’t worry. As long as you keep your mouth shut and don’t act strange, you’re actually quite decent. My sister just needs a bit of effort, that’s all.”
“If I’m decent, then I’m decent. What’s with the ‘quite’?”
Sasha looked much more relaxed now, confident he’d persuaded me.
“And take off those trousers and leave them in my room, will you? How long are you going to keep this up? Oh, and I’m taking this book.”
I glared at Sasha with all my might.
“No way! I bought it with my allowance, so don’t touch it.”
His hand froze as he reached for the book.
“Stingy.”
“Stingy? That’s you, brother. Instead of helping your little sister, you’re always resorting to threats.”
“Well, that’s…!”
“If you’re so eager to read it, why don’t you go and buy it yourself, brother? Hmph!”
If a grown man were to purchase a romance novel at the bookstore, it would become the talk of the entire noble society. He’d be the subject of gossip, dissected and discussed as entertainment for months.
Faced with this dilemma, Sasha hesitated. I extended my hand confidently.
“Five gold.”
“What?”
“Don’t like it? The book cost twenty gold, so five gold to borrow it once is a great deal.”
“Wow. You might not be wielding a knife, but you’re practically a thief.”
“I don’t like your tone. Just now, the price went up to six gold.”
My brother knew that arguing further would only encourage my mischief from long experience.
Without a word, he pulled six gold coins from his wallet and placed them on the desk. Then, he picked up the glittering pink hardcover book.
“Seeing how calculating you are, I have to admit, you and Andre might make a perfect pair.”
He tossed out the irritating comment and quickly shut the door behind him. I shook my head as I watched him leave.
Just as Sasha didn’t acknowledge my merits, I couldn’t help but dismiss his. What kind of genius is that? He’s as childish as a schoolboy.
After Sasha’s storm of nagging, I found it hard to focus and eventually had to close my book.
Earlier in the day, I’d gone out with my maid Michelle for the first time in a while. It was a good day—I’d been in high spirits since morning because my favorite author’s new release was out. Yet somehow, I couldn’t concentrate on the words.
“Marriage?”
I muttered to myself, shivering involuntarily. Marriage.
Of course, I understood Sasha and my parents’ concerns about my future. Even for a family of lower nobility, reaching twenty-one without a decent fiancé was bound to invite remarks about our family’s standing.
I was already the focus of my family’s worries, thanks to my childhood accident and my naturally reclusive tendencies. Their desire for me to meet someone good came from a place of love, so I couldn’t resent them for it.
Sasha was in the same boat, technically speaking, but his situation was entirely different. Unlike me, who never left my room and read books all day, Sasha was so popular that he could line up potential dates endlessly.
If Sasha ever married, he’d cunningly pick the best option to advance his career. But me? I didn’t have the slightest intention of getting married.
As someone who had only encountered the noble life through romance novels, it felt absurd to say this as the daughter of a baron, but in reality, the lifestyle was nothing but a shiny facade.
Love? Romance? The idea of love playing a role in a noble marriage was as rare as flowers blooming in the dead of winter.
Most noble marriages were calculated arrangements made for mutual benefit. They were about giving and taking, meticulously weighing profit and loss.
My parents, naturally, hoped to marry me into a prestigious family. That’s how parents of daughters were—they’d willingly part with a significant chunk of the wealth they had worked so hard to accumulate to secure my future.
Marrying into a good family, having children, and living a peaceful and comfortable life.
But behind this idyllic image, which looked like it belonged in the corner of a fairy tale, lurked suffocatingly oppressive traditions and responsibilities that left little room to breathe.
In the 21st century, where merely mentioning such antiquated notions would earn you the label of a “boomer,” why on earth would I willingly walk into the lion’s den?
If I lived the way I behaved at home, I’d be divorced within a day.
‘I wish they’d just give up already.’
It frustrated me that my parents acted like the sky was falling simply because their daughter didn’t want to get married. Every year during the royal ball season, the entire family would unite as if on a crusade to push me into the arms of a suitor.
Knowing their intentions were rooted in care, it wasn’t like I relished being an ungrateful daughter who disregarded their efforts. But still, this situation was far from ideal.
“Haah…”
I let out a deep sigh. I couldn’t bring myself to read the new release by my favorite author, something I’d been eagerly anticipating for months, in this mood.
Climbing out of bed, I grabbed the book and slid it back onto the shelf—the only spotless, dust-free area in my room. Nearly the entire shelf was filled with works by R.G., my absolute favorite author.
This latest release had been particularly hard to find. Even though I’d visited the bookstore early in the morning, there had only been one display copy left. All the others were already sold out.
The cover was slightly torn, likely from other hands flipping through it, but just seeing it filled me with joy. Dwelling on marriage had left me downcast, but the sight of the book lifted my spirits a little.
“Marriage? What for? Watching other people’s romances is way more fun.”
In romance novels, the male and female leads fall for each other with all their might, passionately and desperately longing for one another. It’s pure fantasy, in a sense.
“Where do men like this exist in real life?”
The hero of R.G.’s latest book was a man who was terrible at expressing his feelings but deeply adored the heroine. He was, of course, handsome, rich, and an exceptional swordsman—the quintessential golden boy.
The trope of such a man falling for a completely ordinary heroine was cliché, sure, but no matter how many times I rolled my eyes, it was always captivating.
I couldn’t help but smile as I briefly imagined myself in the heroine’s shoes.
As if. Men of such high status marry within their own circles. The only exception would be if the woman brought something significant to the table. This wasn’t some era where an innocent, ordinary girl could be adored just for being herself.
“Must be nice for you. Being loved just as you are, without needing to fake anything.”
There was no need for lies or pretense. The male lead had just reached the part where he realized the depth of his feelings for the lively and genuine heroine. If someone like that came into my life, perhaps I’d reconsider marriage.
The thought was so absurd it made me laugh. I brushed off the crumbs clinging to the book and carefully placed it back on the shelf.
I was too grown up now to believe in a perfectly beautiful world like the one in the stories.
