The Unattractive Princess' Marriage - Episode 1

“Lady Sophina, we have arrived.” After a pause following the coachman’s voice, the coach door opened. “…Please. Watch your step.” Gardner, the eldest son of Duke Ceridorf and an old acquaintance, offered his hand with a stern expression. He was also a member of the Knights and had, so Sophina heard, volunteered to escort her to the border. “Thank you.” “There’s no need to thank me that way,” “You always used to say that, Gardner. It makes me sad to think this is the last time.” Sophina chuckled and took his hand to descend from the carriage. “…I’m truly sad too.” Gardner gripped Sophina’s hand particularly tightly and mumbled. Hiding the stinging sensation in her nose, she chuckled and gently pulled her hand away. “And I wonder if you won’t get angry even if I say thank you now.”

Though it was a gentle mountain pass, it must have been a considerable burden for the horses pulling the coach. Their breath turned white in the cold air. In the distance, the farewell party and the welcoming party had met and seemed to be beginning their handover. Multiple voices could be heard.

“…” Sophina’s gaze fell to the foot of the road they had come from, where the highway snaked through the hills, and fallow fields filled the spaces between. Villages dotted the landscape, and gentle smoke rose from each, likely preparing lunch. A cold wind blew down from the mountaintop to Sophina. Her dull brown hair danced in the wind, obscuring her homeland, Hydeland, spread out below her. Wanting to burn it into her memory, Sophina held down her hair and whispered a small farewell under her breath.

“Lady Sophina, if… if Kazak proves difficult for you, you can always…” “Gardner, please take care of my brother.” Sophina interrupted Gardner, who stood beside her, looking at the same scenery. It wasn’t that the words he was about to say were inappropriate, but rather that they expressed Sophina’s personal desires. If they were voiced, she knew she couldn’t escape for the sake of her country, but she would surely want to flee back to Hydeland. “You know he’s too busy to even think of himself. Probably even more so from now on…” (I can no longer help my brother by his side.) Sophina was often looked after by him when she was young, as he was also a friend of her brother, Celsius. She also knew that her brother, who was still close to him, had once jokingly sounded him out about an engagement with Sophina. Sophina shook her head slightly at the thought of what would have happened if that had come to pass. “Please help him.” Sophina looked into Gardner’s light blue eyes, entrusting her wish to him. “…Of course.” Though he looked sad, he agreed, and Sophina was finally able to breathe a little easier.

Approaching footsteps made the two turn around. “Greetings, Her Highness Sophina Foyle de Hydeland. From here on, I, Carran, captain of the Third Platoon of the Kazak Kingdom Knights, will guide you.” About 20 knights, led by Carran, dressed in black uniforms with gold and silver embroidery, knelt before Sophina. Their numbers were half that of Hydeland’s knights. All were well-groomed, and their manners were graceful. Yet, for some reason, they exuded an intimidating aura.

“It pains me to say farewell, but… Lady Sophina, please take care on your journey. Though we will be lonely, I sincerely pray for your happiness in your new home.” “Thank you, Gatheran. May your return journey and future also be safe.” Sophina smiled at her country’s knight commander, who had seen her off this far and now stood beside Carran.

“Lady Sophina, may you be happy. Lady Marybelle is always watching over you. Anna, I’m entrusting Lady Sophina to you. Please take care of yourself too.” “Of course. Mother, please take care of yourself as well. Please give my regards to Father and my elder sister. I’ll write a letter.” Sophina bid farewell to her wet nurse, Zelde, along with her foster sister Anna, and boarded the carriage prepared by Kazak.

“To Hydeland!” “To Kazak!” “Eternal glory!”

With the chant of both nations’ knights as a signal, the carriage crossed the border and began moving towards the Kingdom of Kazak.

(From here, Kazak…) It was a country she had visited several times on official duties. Just as with every other road, the current path became smooth as soon as they entered Kazak from Hydeland.

That difference felt like the gap between herself and Feldric Shirnia Kazak, her future husband, who waited ahead. Sophina exhaled deeply.

“Huh? I heard she was a peerless beauty…” “No, she’s certainly beautiful, but, you know, most people would look that good if they dressed up…” “Shh, it’s a different person. She’s Princess Sophina, the younger sister. The peerless beauty is her older sister, Princess Aurelia.” “The peerless beauty’s younger sister… Why isn’t it the real one?” “What a waste, I took time off work to see her.”

(Perhaps there’s no bride who disappoints people quite like this…) Inside the carriage on her way to marry into the neighboring country, Sophina waved from the window to the people gathered along the road in the post town just beyond the mountain range that formed the border. (But, well, it’s true, I’m far from being described as a beauty.) She almost let out a wry smile, finding herself agreeing with the comments of the people that drifted in through the open window with the cold wind. However, as a royal, she couldn’t let her smile, which her mother had drilled into her for years, falter.

“Look, that’s the carriage! There are so many knights. Oh no, it’s leaving!” “She’s the princess of Hydeland, they say. Wow, she’s smiling!” “She really is! Princess, oh, she waved!” Two small girls waved with all their might, chasing after the carriage. Seeing their joyful faces as they ran, Sophina somehow managed to recall that what she was doing was right. Yes, they had come specifically for her. If she disappointed them with her appearance, she should at least make up for it with her demeanor.

“But, you know, won’t she look inferior next to Prince Feldric?” However, a name she least wanted to hear, or ideally never wanted to hear in her lifetime, reached her ears, and Sophina finally knitted her brows.

(I’m used to being told that, but…) Leaving the post town, the carriage proceeded into a quiet forest. Taking a quiet breath once the crowd had disappeared, Sophina glanced at Anna, her foster sister, who sat across from her. What made Sophina so uncomfortable wasn’t the words people uttered about her, but rather Anna’s expression. Anna was undoubtedly more distressed than Sophina herself by the innocent yet cruel comments. Her downward gaze was pale, her hands gripping the dress on her lap were white, and they trembled slightly.

“Anna, you mustn’t look like that.” To reassure her kind foster sister, Sophina gently placed her own hand over Anna’s tightly clasped ones. “Lady Sophina… I’m so frustrated. They don’t even know you well.” “It’s alright. The people of Kazak will get to know me properly in time. I’m good at that, you know.” When Sophina smiled mischievously, asking, “You know that, don’t you?” Anna finally let out a small laugh. “Yes, you are. At least Prince Feldric knows your charm, Your Highness. Fufu, soon I won’t be able to call you ‘Princess’ anymore.” A faint pain resonated in Sophina’s chest at her foster sister’s cheerful words, which she had regained her composure to utter. “It’s truly wonderful that your first love came true.” “Yes, it is…” Sophina truly resented herself for being so swept away by his proposal that she spoke so carelessly.

(Yes, first love. That’s why it’s even more heartbreaking—) Wanting to end the conversation with Anna, Sophina fled by looking out the window again.

It was a hot summer when Sophina was twelve, when her mother, who was still alive then, took her by ship to the faraway maritime nation of Auselin.

Wanting to witness the conference discussing the treatment of prisoners of war, Sophina, through her mother, requested permission to observe from the representatives of each nation. While the kings, crown princes, and their equivalents from various countries were surprised and made grim faces, saying, “This is no child’s play,” there was only one person who, with an astonishingly well-formed face, gently softened it and smiled at her, saying, “You are a promising young lady.” At 19, he was exceptionally young among the attendees, yet with that one remark, Sophina was permitted to observe. He stood out remarkably during the conference, and his methods were nothing short of brilliant. Though he spoke few words and not often, he always seized the key points, skillfully poking at the weaknesses and tickling the vanity of his opponents. Even men were captivated by his gestures, and he managed to deflect others’ opinions with a soft smile and words. The conference remained entirely at his pace, so much so that Sophina’s mother occasionally looked displeased.

“Was it interesting?” “Y-yes.” After the conference, he spotted Sophina and spoke to her. The first time he spoke to her, she was only surprised by how beautiful he was and felt nothing particular. But this time, her heart froze. To avoid any rudeness, Sophina lifted her face as much as she could, gazing at his tall figure. She knew he was the Crown Prince who would carry the weight of that great nation, Kazak, and she respected him as a child, thinking he was worthy of it, so she couldn’t help but be nervous. “Fufu, you’re a strange child. I expected you to say it was difficult and not interesting.” “It was difficult, but… it was enlightening.” “Do you like studying?” The man, beautiful as the sun fairy in Hydeland’s folklore, tilted his head slightly and smiled. Sophina thought she was quite flustered by it. “I don’t think I like it that much, but I believe that if I become wise, I can make everyone happy and be happy myself.” As Sophina replied, blushing deeply, the man’s eyes widened, and he said, “…I see.” Then, he truly smiled. So beautifully that it was clear how artificial his previous smiles had been. And then, he ruffled Sophina’s hair and left.

After that, Sophina met him several more times at international conferences attended by national representatives. His presence grew each time, as he demonstrated overwhelming ability in conflicts with other nations, such as the swift suppression of rebellions orchestrated by the Kingdom of Shada, the prevention of drug distribution by the Kingdom of Mabeld, the annihilation of human trafficking based in the eastern nation of Calpo, and a complete victory in the war with Domskus. Before she knew it, his name, along with his appearance and intellect, had become known across the continent. Many heads of state began bringing their daughters to conferences he attended, and Sophina had no opportunity to speak with him privately, but her admiration for him only grew. She was drawn to his stance as a ruler.

He didn’t conspicuously claim to be “for the people” like some kings. Yet, his proposals and the ideas he pushed through were always for the benefit of the people of his country. Moreover, when he had the leeway, he seemed to consider the people of other nations as well. At first, she thought it might be a coincidence, but when it happened repeatedly, she had to conclude that he was simply that kind of person, and her respect for him deepened even further. He never wielded power for personal gain, but if it was necessary to achieve his objectives, he would use his strength without mercy, even resorting to slightly cunning tactics, always securing results. He possessed a perfect intellect and embodied the ideal of what a royal should be, as her mother had taught her. Of course, she knew that no matter how much she admired him, he was beyond her reach. But she could become a ruler like him. That strong conviction became one of the driving forces behind Sophina’s efforts. He was her faint, faint first love.

What kind of karma was this? — The object of her admiration had become within her reach. And, by some mistake, he was waiting for her ahead.

“To my shame, I fell in love at first sight at the last conference.” “I never thought you’d take such an introduction seriously.” “I just thought I’d let you dream a little.”

(…No, he’s definitely not waiting. At best, he’s lying in wait.) Sophina placed a hand on her stomach and squeezed it tightly, recalling the handsome face of her first love, a face she now wished she could erase. And it wasn’t just her. Her brother, Celsius, six years her senior, who had loved her even though their mothers were different—her only bl00d relative, whom she loved more than her father now that her mother was gone—was also burdened.

Despite being in a deserted forest, there was no change in the vibrations transmitted to Sophina from the carriage wheels. The thought that a country capable of maintaining roads even in such places was her destination filled her with even more dread. It felt like she was being reminded again that there was no escape.