The Mysterious Child: An Adventure Tale Beginning with Numerology

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Author Notes:

 This is a simultaneous update of 2 chapters. 1/2

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Ten years ago, that girl was born into a certain viscount's family.

Not wealthy, but a member of the privileged class. They were what you'd call a middle-income household among the "poor nobility", but they lived a safer and more comfortable life than the average citizen.

They owned a small mansion in a corner of the town, and despite their poverty, their stable lifestyle guaranteed three meals a day. She had her own room and could take baths, and while they couldn't afford luxuries, she was aware of her blessed life.

Still, the girl always sat by the window, looking at the sky and sighing constantly.

"Haah..."

The viscount himself had no sons or daughters.

She was the daughter of the viscount's brother—a niece.

In this country's noble society, male supremacy was the norm. Normally, she, being neither the viscount's real child nor male, shouldn't have been involved in the family's succession issues. However, since the viscount himself couldn't have children, she was currently first in line for succession.

However, in this country, long-term hereditary peerage for women is not recognized. While temporary or honorary titles can be bestowed, in cases like the girl's current situation where only a female heir is available, the method is to recruit a son-in-law from other noble families and make the marriage partner the successor to this house.

In the girl's case, this wasn't just a plan; a potential fiancé had already been decided.

However, she only found out about this three years ago. Moreover, it was because they received a notice from the potential fiancé's side that the engagement was to be cancelled as the boy who was supposed to be the son-in-law had fallen ill.

The girl felt angry that her marriage partner had been decided without her knowledge, but at the same time, she felt relieved to hear that it was no longer happening. While she sympathized with the boy who had fallen ill, her feeling of relief that her life hadn't been decided without her knowledge was greater.

Her father's rage at that time was truly terrible.

Her father was the viscount's brother and had supported the viscount's house for many years. She heard his resentful words many times: they had finally arranged a marriage with a high-ranking noble family, it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. In reality, even if it was just an informal arrangement, the cancellation of the engagement would cause a scandal for both families.

It seemed that their viscount's house had also suffered some bad rumors.

From then on, her father began to openly try to control the girl.

As she grew, the girl became visibly beautiful. And not just ordinarily beautiful—she had looks that wouldn't be out of place if the royal palace were to employ her.

Her father thought his daughter was more beautiful than any member of the royal family. This wasn't just a parent's biased view but an objective fact, so even the viscount himself seemed to want to avoid his niece being exposed to the unfair gaze of noble society.

As a result, the girl was forced into a position that was almost like house arrest.

"Another five years... By the time you turn 12, the rumors about the broken engagement should have died down. Then we'll ask that duke's family to invite us to a social gathering where the royals will be present. They owe us at least that much compensation. Listen, you must make one of the royal men take a liking to you no matter what."

When her father said this, his eyes were slightly bloodshot.

Three years have passed since then, and the girl is now 10 years old.

She still can't leave the house. Her days are filled with nothing but strict instruction from a demanding tutor to ensure she won't embarrass the family anywhere. She knows that in two years, she'll be forced into an unwanted marriage. For the girl, that was the one thing she couldn't stand.

"...Maybe I should run away..."

There's nothing in particular she wants to do right now.

But the girl has always had a dream.

It's too embarrassing to tell anyone, but deep in her heart, there's a person she wants to become. There's a future she wants to achieve, even if it's far away.

"I've decided. I'll do my best."

She looked at the sky and nodded firmly.

That was the small resolution of this girl—the girl loved by the god who could be called the "protagonist" of this world.