The Reincarnated Count's Daughter Is the Strongest as She Is Loved by the Spirits, Though She Is Only Wishing for Regular Romance!

The balcony, which also serves as the terrace roof, is spacious, with three large round tables and six chairs around each. I sat down in the chair that Douglas-sama pulled out for me, and I sighed with relief as I gazed at the garden adorned with early summer flowers. It was good that no one else was here. I was quite tired.

Behind me stood Cheryl, and behind Douglas-sama stood his attendant, Jildo-sama, who had fetched my mother earlier.

I had read countless descriptions in previous life novels of attendants standing close by, but now that I am in a position to have people serve me, I find it incredibly unsettling. I'd rather be the one standing behind.

"I feel a bit sorry for Deril. He tried so hard to get noticed, but now that he knows I'm here, he'll probably resent me. He was smiling but clearly dejected," Douglas-sama said.

"Deril? Oh, that gentle boy," I replied.

My brother Chris, who had walked over with a slightly irritated expression, sat down on the other side of me. He carefully set up a soundproof barrier and instructed the spirits not to let anyone through without permission. My brothers are much better at utilizing spirits than I am.

"Even if he looks gentle, he must have a considerable amount of magical power. He probably has a spirit beast too," Douglas-sama noted.

"Hmph."

"Were you really being courted?" I tilted my head in confusion, causing both of them to look at me in surprise.

"He was blatantly hitting on you!"

"That brat was hitting on you?!"

"You guys are so noisy."

"That was just a polite compliment."

"Exactly, Diadora doesn't need to worry about it."

"What?! A six-year-old giving polite compliments is impressive in itself."

"You're seven, though."

"I can't even court a girl with polite compliments."

"But everyone says 'cute' as naturally as breathing, like it's a greeting, right?"

"..."

Don't look at me with such exasperation.

I'm used to that look from my brother, but getting it from Douglas-sama too is a bit much.

"Diadora, you shouldn't say that in front of other girls," Douglas-sama advised.

"Huh?"

"People say you're cute because you are cute. Not everyone gets called cute."

"But my friends are also told they're cute."

"Your friends are Carla and Patricia, right?"

"They're all beautiful girls."

I see, so those girls are considered cute even in a world full of beautiful people.

That's why everyone was calling them cute.

"...Natural?"

"Ah, a bit clueless."

"I can hear you."

I thought everyone in this world called girls cute as a greeting. But if that's not the case, then I've been rude by just brushing it off. I'll have to properly express my gratitude from now on.

Wait! Could it be that in Japan too, cute girls are always told they're cute as a greeting? By men?!

Shocking new realization after being reincarnated. That was a life completely unrelated to my previous self.

"In the end... it's all about looks."

"Diadora?"

"Nothing."

Rai and Alisha, my brother Chris's attendants, brought over a tea set and several kinds of cakes on a wagon.

I had just eaten lunch and was full, but how are these boys eating cake with such ease? Their stomachs must be amazing.

Oh, the four attendants also brought chairs and joined us for tea. Chris-nii-sama giving them permission made me feel relieved.

"Those four from earlier, are they your school friends?" I asked.

"I might have exchanged greetings with them," Chris-nii-sama replied.

"They're from Marquis Chandler's house and its affiliates, right?" Douglas-sama added.

Both of them seemed to have unpleasant expressions. There must be something going on.

"When I made the correlation diagram the other day, did you leave something out?" I asked.

"Correlation diagram?" Douglas-sama looked puzzled.

"That's not important now."

"Mother and Lady Cathy Chandler were rivals in love, fighting over Father," Chris-nii-sama explained.

"What?!"

"Even Douglas-sama is surprised? Weren't you acting like you knew earlier?"

"I thought it was a political matter, like faction relations," Douglas-sama replied.

"That too. Mother left to avoid trouble because of it."

"With the changes happening with the spirits this fall, we'd prefer not to cause a commotion."

"Wait a moment."

Why are they continuing the conversation without me? Am I being ignored?

"Could you explain it so I understand?"

Even though I slapped the table with my fan, they just looked at me. So, I alternately slapped their arms with the fan. Although I was holding back, their calm faces annoyed me even more.

"Fine, don't make that sulky face. Even though Lady Cathy was a rival in love, Father only had eyes for Mother from the beginning. Lady Cathy, infatuated, harassed Mother."

Oh. I know this. It's that scene where the gentle heroine gets surrounded and confronted.

But I can't imagine my mother quietly enduring harassment.

Was it a five-on-five girl fight?

That sounds terrifying. I wouldn't want to be involved, but I'd peek out from behind a wall to watch.

"When their engagement was announced, Mother wore the dress and accessories Father had given her to a ball. Lady Cathy pretended to bump into her and spilled wine on her dress. Father had been called away on a false errand by Cathy's accomplices."

"Accomplices? They harassed her in a group?"

"Mother was the Emperor's close friend and a beauty, popular with the boys, and Father, as the heir to the border marquisate, was also popular. Many wanted to get in their way."

Schools are supposed to be for studying, right? I understand it's also a place for peers to gather and find partners, but what kind of lawless place is this?

"Do the adults just let this happen? What were the attendants doing?"

"Of course, Father's attendants and friends rushed to him right away, and Mother was only left alone for a few minutes. Lady Cathy only intended to pretend to bump into her, but actually staggered and got caught on Mother's necklace, ripping her dress."

"That's terrible."

"A disaster."

Although only the three of us were talking, the attendants were also listening, and they all had horrified expressions. Just imagining being there gives me a headache.

"Then, even though she caused it, Lady Cathy got angry and shouted that it was because of the tacky necklace Mother was wearing. Father returned at that moment."

"It was a necklace chosen and given by the border marquis."

"You've seen the zoisite necklace, right?"

Yes, yes. The one she wore to the tea party with the royal family.

She called that tacky? Saying that to a newly engaged couple?

"Father coldly told Lady Cathy that she was harassing his beloved to mock his taste. She cried, not knowing they were engaged or that the dress and accessories were gifts from Father. Father announced their engagement on the spot, and since then, my parents have avoided attending any event with Lady Cathy."

"Even now?!"

"After a few years, people started being considerate and didn't invite them together. They haven't met since."

Seriously? So they haven't attended any major events hosted by the Emperor for years? I wonder what they thought of the recent changes with the spirits.

"It's surprising that Marquis Chandler married such a woman."

"Well, he's part of Duke Powell's faction. Back then, the Emperor had just ascended to the throne and barely managed to avoid spreading conflict."

"I've heard Duke Powell and the Emperor don't get along."

"Earl Dalimore, who was punished for the spirit forest incident, is related to Duke Powell and was in the same faction."

"Even without your parents' issue with Lady Cathy, it was impossible to invite anyone from Duke Powell's faction to this welcoming party."

Wow. Bridget-sama and her friends must have been desperate.

They couldn't approach Prince Andrew or Chris-nii-sama at school because of the surrounding attendants and faction members. Even if they liked them, their families' bad blood prevented them from getting close.

In such a situation, the friendship between the Corquette Marquess's daughter and their sister was their only hope. They finally got an invitation.

They must have heard rumors about me and hoped that getting close to me might bridge the gap between their parents' feud.

But their approach was terrible! Why didn't they gather information? They squandered their one chance and further strained family relations. Unbelievable.

They could have at least sent a letter through an attendant or gotten close to a girl in my faction and arranged a big girls' gathering to invite me. There were ways to do it!

"Why are you holding your head?"

"Diadora, you're not sympathizing with those girls, are you?"

"No, but... they were careless."

"Absolutely."

"You're speaking as if it's someone else's problem, but if the Emperor's anger is assuaged this fall at the Jade's place, there will likely be a celebration in the central region. Their faction will probably attend too."

Oh no. Can I avoid attending?

I don't want another situation like this.

"Douglas-sama."

Jildo-sama, who had been scouting the venue, quietly interrupted.

"It seems people are talking about why the heir of Marquis Carlyle is here."

"I was asked by the border marquis."

"So, why did the border marquis ask Marquis Carlyle's heir? Everyone knows your territories are close and that you're on good terms."

"Do they think my father is trying to pair Douglas and Diadora?"

Chris-nii-sama's smile was dark. He knew this would happen from the start.

"That's why I said you didn't have to come."

"I'm not troubled by rumors."

"Oh, really."

"People from Norland thought they were more aggressive because they live with magical beasts, but they let the children play together without interference. Here, everyone

 is so proactive despite the peaceful surroundings."

With no planned marriage between border marquises, the neighboring territories are eagerly making connections. I've been introduced to people ranging from over a decade older to two years younger. The idea of deepening relationships at school and falling in love seems like a legend.

"What are you talking about? This place becomes an icy wasteland in winter. The low city walls are designed to lure magical beasts targeting cattle so they can be killed and used for food."

"During the border war when the Emperor just ascended eleven years ago, the people here expanded their territory by repelling enemies."

"And everyone's drunk on ale."

"True."

Oh... so they are aggressive types.

I heard they were politically lax. They didn't properly check the invitations this time either.

"Why not invite some friends over and bring lots of sweets?"

"Good idea. I'll call some girls too."

"Could you bring Deril over as well?"

Seeing Rai and Jildo-sama dash off, I sighed. If girls come here, the next rumor will probably be about Chris-nii-sama's relationships. Douglas-sama is also a prime candidate, so people will be curious about his interactions too.

"By the way, Douglas, you're the same age as Prince Eldred, right?"

"We don't interact much. I greet him when I visit the capital, but he's always surrounded by followers, so we don't talk much."

"What kind of person is Prince Eldred?"

Both of them gave me exasperated looks at my question.

Hmph! I'm used to those looks by now.

"You met him at the tea party."

"Chris, is this girl alright?"

"Hey."

"Huh?"

"Oh, right. I've met him a few times but never really talked."

"Now that you mention it... at the last tea party, he mostly talked to Prince Jean and didn't speak much with us."

"Oh, I see. That prince doesn't initiate conversations. People always bring topics to him. He's not a bad guy, but he seems to think he's important and that everyone should follow his commands."

A self-important type.

I can't handle self-important characters.

Alright, I'll keep my distance. If I accidentally snap and hit him, it would be disastrous.

"So, no one talked to Prince Eldred."

"Well... no."

"Berisario..."

Are they thinking we got cocky after gaining favor with the Spirit King?

"But Alan has always been like that, and Diadora is like this."

"Berisario..."

Don't repeat it.

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Author Notes: 

   Thank you for your continued comments, ratings, and typo reports.

   Your reactions give me the energy to write.

   I've learned a lot since starting this novel, and it has been very helpful.

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