"Bring me to my father."

"...... oH uh! Yes my lady!"

.....

ARRGGGG THAT TONE OF VOICE!! I hate using that demanding "I'm your master so listen" kind of voice! I'm cringing... The poor maid seemed frightened after she realized her multiple blunders after I used such a voice. With wide eyes, she scurried out of my room and closed the door with yet another slam. My my, I hope nobody thinks I bullied her. I'm a good girl you know? I don't want to become the typical misunderstood villainess in those light novels I read, so please don't make any more blunders miss maid! 

Another sigh escaped my lips as I sluggishly prepared suitable clothes for meeting with my father. Despite being only 12, as a noble girl, I was educated in a variety of things, including mannerism. According to this world, you must wear different more formal types of clothes when meeting with high standing parents. It was honestly annoying, but luckily this was a modern world!  Comfortable dresses are truly the best~ I don't mind Lolita clothes but victorian dresses are a no-go! Before I did anything else, I quickly washed up by myself. As a noble child, it's expected that maids help me out with everything, however, I prioritize my freedom and privacy. The maids don't help me with washing up or picking clothes unless I ask. To many, this is considered rude of the servants, as this is their duty. This odd behavior of mine caused rumors about me. Noble girls would gossip and say unsavory things. Those fuckers would whisper amongst themselves saying bullshit like "Ara~ She's probably an illegitimate child~" or "The maids don't tend to her because she is an idiot that has no presence~" while laughing like stupid bastards going all "Ohohohoho!" Like some anime character.  Ah, but despite the rumors, I'm quite popular~ As a pretty girl, there are bound to be rumors since they are so jealous of my beauty.  Let's get this fact straight! I have many friends! I'm the "ghostly" flower of society! That's why dear brother asked me for help after all.

"My lady, before you greet his highness the grand duke... The young master would like to meet you and follow suit."

"Hm? Brother does? What would he need from father and me?"

"I'm unsure my lady, the young master said this matter was private..."

"hehhh~ I see, tell my brother that I will be out shortly."

"Yes, my lady."

With a yawn, I quickly slipped on my simplest cute dress and crept out of my room. Hiro, who was waiting in front of my door, greeted me with an anxious look. His eyes were baggy and his complexion seemed pale. Did he sleep at all? Don't tell me that he was anxious about the favor!  In all honestly, that damn brother of mine was really worrying me. He's never seemed this anxious before. Despite being quite bitchy, I was still his sister and he was still my precious brother.

"Good day to you dear brother... Is everything okay? you look a tad pale."

"Ah, Ally... That's... Yes, I'm fine. Good day to you too Ally."

With a fake smile, he patted my head gently. His hands were colder than usual, and despite having such a gentle smile, his complexion made it look painful. Even his eyes were a little empty. Did something happen? Don't tell me somebody bullied him... Those little fuckers dare go against my brother?!  I furrowed my eyebrows and sighed.

"Brother..."

"Ally, I really am fine..."

"Brother please tell this humble little sister, if it's about the favor I pro-"

"Shhhhh!"

Hiro covered my mouth with his hands, his face full of panic and a pleading look. My my, it seems this was supposed to be a secret. My dear stupidly cute brother... I wish he knew that people would find this gap moe cute and stop bothering me. I mumbled, trying to order him to take his hands off, but he didn't seem to notice. He kept pushing harder without realizing, he was going to make me fall, and the way he slammed his hands kinda hurt... His hands were quite frail compared to fathers. It was like he was some soft boy or uke*. So naturally, I bit him. Nobody fucks with me, got it?

"Ow! Can you stop hurting me?!"

"Nope! You always start it, so I clearly have to fight back."

"Ally, this is unbecoming of a noble lady!"

"And what is so noble about covering a lady's mouth so forcefully? That hurt you know!"

"You're my sister, it's fine."

"And you are my brother, so biting you is fine according to your logic. I only bit softly too... Look, the mark is already gone."

"...---tsk"

Ding ding ding! I win~ This is why you should let people care about you! Your mental health and logic are at risk after all. Bothering with my brother at this rate would be the same as talking to a wall. Yo asshole, while I'm being a good sister, answer me, kay~? Is what I would say, but that boy has been acting off ever since yesterday. Did something bad happen? I was genuinely getting worried and was completely willing to beat up any bullies. Nobody touches my stupid cute brother! I gently grabbed Hiro's wrists. Softening my expression, I inhaled lightly. 

"Brother, you've been acting weird since yesterday. You look sickly and even asked me for a favor. I know we aren't close, but I still worry okay? Be a good boy and tell me before I kick your- I mean, ahem. Before I get anxious. Yes? Good? You don't need to tell me in front of everyone, so whispering it is fine yes?"

"Ally, what were you saying about kicking--?"

"I said absolutely nothing about kicking brother."

"Al-"

"Brother. Your issue please."

Aha, it seems I cut him off a lot... I need to make sure he doesn't change the topic after all~ As I squeezed his hands tenderly, Hiro let out a sigh. He reluctantly ordered the maids to go further back and whispered into my ear.

"It's not the favor... You'll know more once we meet father."

What an unsatisfactory answer. But I couldn't be mad, as long as he told me eventually, I would be as patient as an owl waiting for prey. He is lucky I'm in a good mood today, or else I'd be swearing like a sailor and making jokes. Ah~ It's too early in the day~ I can't bother. I nodded slowly and continued to make my way towards fathers office. The door was quite large, there were golden flowers engraved into the door with patterns etched lightly onto the handle. I took a deep breath and glanced at my older brother. Hiro was fidgeting with his fingers, his complexion even more shitty than before. He seemed far too nervous. Did father do something? There was only one way to find out. 

"You may enter."

Father's words alone could shake anybody up. The door creaked open. Sitting at the desk was father, staring into our souls.

"Greetings to your highness the grand duke."

Looks like all those pain-in-the-ass etiquette lessons were useful after all. I bowed in an elegant manner and Hiro did the same.

"... Greetings my children, what are you two here for?"

"Father, you see-"

"FATHER! Please reconsider Ally's engagement!!"

Hm? Hm??? Brother???? Did you perhaps know about my reluctance to be married to the crown prince? Well... How kind of him? Was the reason he couldn't sleep because he was worried about me? Ah... Maybe I misunderstood him, maybe he is not as cold as I thought he was. Recently, he has been a lot kinder... No wait, maybe he was buttering me up for that favor? Oh well~ as long he is on my side with the engagement!

"And why would you request such a thing, my son?"

Surely because I'm uncomfortable with this engagement.

"Because Ally is far too eccentric!"

Hm?

"His highness would surely find being around us uncomfortable because of her!"

Hm hm hm???

"Ally has no motivation and is quite rude! She's violent and even swears! There is no way Ally is fit for marriage with someone as cool, gentle, amazing, handsome and smart as his highness!"

You shit brother?! Are you actually on my side?! Aren't you praising his highness too much?! And what's with the insults! I would also like to point out your disgraceful attitude, yelling in front of father but...

"Sob, my son grew up so fast~"

FATHERRRRRR!!

"AheM! Dear brother, I am grateful for your concern... however, aren't you being too harsh?"

"Not at all."

This fucker.

"Erm, anyways... Esteemed father, I too would like to request for you to reconsider my engagement. Though for completely different reasons."

"... Sob sob, my daughter~ Don't be so stiff! Be like your brother a little~ Come on, call me papa like you used to~"

"..."

"..."

"Father."

"Nope, it's Papa."

This weird doting father?! He's always been like this! Everyone assumes he is some badass but really he is a big softie who wants his kids to call him papa... Is nobody in this family normal...? I had to give this some thought. On one hand, my 12+19-year-old pride would go down the drain. On the other hand, I can suffer from the fate of thousands of people's lives on my hand from being a queen...

"......Papa, can you please reconsider my marriage?"

I gave in.

"As much as I would love to, this was on his majesty the king's order..."

The current king... His majesty Edgar Roy Frederickson. He is fathers step-cousin who ascended the throne due to fathers brothers disappearing without a trace. It was rumored that his majesty was the one to kill fathers brothers, and that father swore loyalty to his majesty to save himself... I myself am not sure why father stepped down from succession of the throne. But this is a semi-modern world, it doesn't make any fucking sense to have such a dark backstory. It's extremely unrealistic, but it hasn't affected me yet, so I just ignored everything. I ignored all the ridiculous signs. Oh how I came to regret such a choice... I never really noticed, an extremely plain but popular brother, a somewhat dark rumor surrounding the family, being extremely pretty, all these signs... If I had just paid attention before, maybe I could have been saved from the terrible fate that awaited me (Cut to the first few lines of this story). Ahem, but enough of that. Why on earth would his majesty want me to marry the crown prince? Despite all the rumors, his majesty and father seem close... So surely he would know how abnormal I am. 

"But papa... You know how I am with responsibility! I'm not smart either... If it is connections you need, aren't you already related to his majesty? Wouldn't this put a power imbalance in the kingdom? If it's really needed, couldn't elder brother just become his highness' aid?"

Fufu, in all honesty, I have no clue what nonsense I am spouting. It seems reading so many novels and webcomics have really paid off.

"Ally is correct (for once) father, why exactly did his majesty ask for this engagement? I could simply be an aid. I swear on my name that I will work my hardest so..."

Oi oi oi, I heard that silent "for once" brother!

"Hiro, this is not a matter of connections. As Alysia mentioned before, connections aren't necessary. Rather, this is because his highness needs a political fiancée in order to keep those hungry for power away. It would also be helpful for his highness in case there is nobody up for the task. Alysia, this will only be a temporary engagement I'm sure. However, in the unexpected event that he is unable to find somebody suitable, I would like you to work on your education in preparation for being the queen."

F a t h e r ? Ah... in the end, despite being annoying, I am not some shitty unreasonable bitch. I would prefer not to have any responsibilities, but this is something I just have to do. The entire time I've lived in this world, I've been avoiding as many responsibilities as I could, but this is just one I can't avoid. I've read many novels in the past. Girls who would run away or injure themselves just to escape... I'd understand if they were abused or treated unfairly, but usually, they are just escaping from their responsibilities. Using true love as an excuse... I don't want to be like that. I'll always cuss them in my head, however, I won't avoid my responsibilities. I'll try to do my utmost best. Not in my studies, but finding his highness a suitable lover! I'm still running away, I'm just going to do my job first before I do! Unlike those unreasonable girls, I shall not be a coward! In my mind, I clenched my fists. My eyes glistened with an idiotic determination.

"Father please... Ally is not suited for that life! I'm worried she might get overwhelmed..."

"Brother..."

"She will definitely explode, I heard royal etiquette and crown princess training is rough and usually starts when the child is at least 6! Please have mercy..."

"Brother I will be fine. Many start crown princess training late, do not worry about me. I'll do my best."

Despite my reassuring words, Hiro muttered something I couldn't quite hear.

"I'm more worried about the prince though..."

"Did you say something brother?"

"No no, not at all."

"You are both dismissed. Alysia, please work hard from now on."

And with that, my efforts to break the engagement failed. I trudged back to my room with Hiro who had an exhausted expression. The both of us were quite disappointed, for some reason that I for some reason couldn't put my finger on for plot convenience, Hiro was a lot more worried than me. For the life of me, I also couldn't remember the crown prince's name. Rude I know, but I've never really cared until now. So with my big brain, I asked my brother. The words that came out of his mouth shocked me considerably. 

"Hm? The name of the crown prince? Ally... You should really know this... Ah, but his highness' name is Blain Gorman Frederickson."

Huh? I feel like I've heard that name before...

Huh?! WAIT... Isn't that the name of a yaoi character?! HUH?! You've got to be fucking kidding me?!

Surely this was a coincidence, right?!

*uke is a term in yaoi that means passive/bottom

AN:

Ahahaha chapter 2 done! I'm writing this in my free time in class so it's funny having classmates think I'm studying but I'm writing this trash