RMSBD 07

Chapter – 07 

Coming of Age

When Jules turned five, he was separated from Mother and began his education under Father’s guidance.

Since he was a child who had been interested in my studies, I taught him myself before Father could take over—reading picture books to him, simple writing practice, numbers, and basic addition. Whether he naturally liked studying or not, it didn’t seem too hard on him.

Seven years passed after that. I turned seventeen, coming of age. Jules, whose birthday is a little earlier than mine, turned twelve and had grown quite mature. His round cheeks were still cute, but he called me “Sister” politely, and with his manners, he wouldn’t be out of place even at his first party.

In the end, I never exchanged a single letter with Lord Hugh, but I still remembered how beautiful he was and what a perfect gentleman he had been. Surely Jules would be seen the same way—as a special boy that girls would remember forever.

*(My debut into society is approaching too… I’ve worked so hard since I’m not cute, but I wonder if I’ll find a husband.)*

As I came of age, I started activities like horseback riding, thinking that since I wasn’t cute at least I shouldn’t be clumsy. If I got fat, I’d be even less presentable.

Mother had never failed to tell me I wasn’t cute ever since she came to this house. I didn’t deny it either. But she never specifically told me *what* about me wasn’t cute, so thanks to that, I was able to keep liking my real mother’s hair and eyes.

I hadn’t seen Father in a long time. Between Jules’s education, managing the territory, expanding into business, and even holding a court position at the palace, he must have been incredibly busy. Fortunately, he wasn’t the type to demand that much from Jules—though he did start taking Jules along to inspect the territory often.

Father probably wanted to get rid of me as soon as possible, and for now… actually, I should have been receiving marriage proposals as I neared adulthood, but… not a single one had come.

I had no choice but to find someone at a party. My birthday was near the end of spring, and my society debut was set for a palace ball. A grand stage right from the start.

I worried whether someone as plain as me would be all right there, but on the flip side, I thought it would be better to blend into a large crowd at a big party rather than be ridiculed by a few people at a small one.

Normally, I’d need Father to escort me, but I couldn’t expect that from him. And having Mother escort her daughter would be strange too.

Jules was still young, so in the end, I had to step into the world of society alone.

Thinking that way, a palace ball with lots of people didn’t seem so bad. Or rather, I had to think that way to keep going. It couldn’t be helped that I wasn’t cute, but surely I wouldn’t be laughed at throughout the entire hall. It was big. And there would be many people.

I was confident in my manners, dancing, and conversation. Yes, like at that first party—I wanted someone who would see my inner self.

It was wishful thinking, but… since I wasn’t cute, I hoped a handsome man might fall for me. Truly wishful thinking. If he was someone who would be ashamed to walk beside me, then marriage wouldn’t work out anyway.

In short, someone who would see my inner self. I set that as my minimum standard and tried not to think too carefully about anything else.

Because in the end, I always found myself picturing a grown-up Lord Hugh in my mind.