As the Villainess Who Was Dumped, I Am Saved by My Childhood Friend from a Noble Family and Spoiled in the Frontier - Chapter 19

When did it begin, I wonder?

The moment I recognized Nina as a woman.

Our parents being close friends, we siblings and Nina had a relationship almost like family. We’d even stay at nearby lodgings during vacations, and when our parents passed away from illness, Nina’s father grieved as if it were his own loss. He acted as a sort of guardian in place of our parents, arranging various accommodations for us.

In a noble society full of enemies, the fact that I could focus this much on managing my territory was entirely thanks to Nina’s family’s cooperation. They could have easily deceived us with sweet words and taken advantage.

Nina probably takes after her father. Despite living in a world of schemes and strategies, she’s exactly like him in winning people’s trust through living sincerely. That’s precisely why she was deemed worthy of being the Crown Prince’s fiancée and they were betrothed when they were just one year old.

The Emperor must have headaches over this.

The ducal house with its excellent lineage, sincere head, and daughter renowned for her wisdom should have been the perfect partner for the heir yet the engagement was broken due to the son’s reckless behavior, earning the ducal house’s distrust. Both the Duke and Nina take good care of their subordinates, forming something like a faction. Making an enemy of the ducal house means increasing the distrust of the nobles who admire them.

In fact, the new fiancée candidate from the baronial family is gaining unpopularity in high society due to her sheer insolence. One can’t blame people for saying the Crown Prince lacks the qualities to be heir.

Furthermore, the new candidate’s family are nouveau riche nobles who rose through scheming and strategy. Completely opposite to the ducal house, with many enemies. Frankly speaking, they’re unqualified as partners for the heir.

In this empire, the conflict between old nobility and new nobility is becoming problematic.

If this continues, the country might split in two over the Crown Prince issue.

That would mean the danger of civil war.

The land would be devastated, the people would starve.

And my border county would undoubtedly be dragged into it.

I might even be put forward as a figurehead.

I resent this position of mine that holds royal succession rights. The politicians should handle this properly to avoid dragging innocent citizens into it.

I don’t want to become an incompetent who can’t protect the people’s livelihoods.

“Sigh, nothing but things to worry about,” I sighed to myself alone.

Times like these make me wish for someone to talk to. Thinking of Nina who helps me with my work, I continued with my tasks.

She looked so adorable in her new clothes today.