Chapter 1.1 - Kind and Cruel (1) (1/2)

Chapter 1: Kind and Cruel (1)

I managed to brush my thoughts about Fiona’s terrible end and my impending future.

Currently, Count Green has called the whole family, including me, into the drawing-room. Once again, I’ve been caught in a bad situation. To say the least, I might end up being beaten with a club.

“Everyone knows that these days, the situation at war is not good.”

As expected, Count Green’s grim expression mirrored the words that came out of his mouth.

“Yesterday in the Imperial Palace, an order fell on our family. We must send a mage to go to the northern front.”

Suddenly, my siblings in the drawing-room became fussed. However, I nodded calmly. If my guess was to be correct, the current timeline was about six years before the original war began.

In this world, the war, rather than being a conflict between nations was more precisely, a fight between the forces of evil and humans. The demons were led by cursed dragons, and to block their attack, people who could fight – mercenaries, mages, knights, etc. – participated in the war. Perhaps during this recent period, the empire was in a disadvantageous situation because the duration of the war had been pushed out for a long time.

…… If you were to ask me in my past life about why Fiona had no dreams or hopes in this romance fantasy novel, honestly, it was just to make the main characters stand out.

The summary of the storyline was roughly like this. In this world, more and more humans were dying in the face of the cursed dragons and monsters. These occurrences to the people happened until the male and female lead came to save them all from this retribution. They had appeared like comets. That was it.

“Because of this, one of you must join the war in the northern front.” Count Green said grimly.

The words “join the war” that came out from my father increased the agitation of my older siblings who gathered in the reception room.

“Father, it’s a war. Are we really going?”

“Oh my god….”

The House of Green was one of the imperial mage families. So when things became worse, it was only natural for the Imperial Palace to order support from the families that existed. The biggest question was, who the hell would want to go to the war?

Everyone was a child of a noble family. They were people who had grown up fine and pampered; even I, Fiona, had never done chores. Let alone, go to war. If someone tried to join the war which had been prolonged for a long time, with insufficient training, they would not be able to fight properly. Count Green, who knew the truth of the matter better than anyone else, gave a fake smile.

“I wonder if any of my children will bravely volunteer for this glorious thing.”

“….”

Everyone became silent whilst looking at each other.

At that time, Cain Dell nudged my side and whispered, “you go, rice worm*”

Gosh, since earlier, this guy. I glanced at him with my eyes twitching.

The Count had four children. Except me, the youngest, all the three above me were born from the Countess. So, all of them wanted me, the bastard child, to go to war instead.

Even more, Cain Dell raised his hand and said, “Father, our proud youngest sister wants to go. I think she can’t speak up because she is shy.”

“Wa- wait..”

Of course, I had never said a word! I looked at Cain Dell with my eyes wide open. When his eyes met mine, the snitch smiled menacingly. This son of a bitch.

“Oh, perfect, so you’re saying you will go, Fiona.” Count Green‘s face became bright as he welcomed the idea. This father-and-son duo was exactly the same. Wasn’t this what the two had been planning from the beginning?

“Representing the family is an honorable task. I want to thank you for taking this opportunity to repay me for raising you all this time.”