Morai Deville, 31 years old, is the eldest daughter of the Deville family, the first in line to inherit, and also the elder sister of Torina Deville.
She is the undisputed master of Valhalla City.
After she got out of the car, a fourteen-year-old boy who resembled her by about seventy percent followed suit.
He had the Deville family’s signature black hair and red eyes, but his demeanor was a bit gentle.
This was Yodel Deville, the eldest grandson of the Deville family and Morai’s son, as well as Torina’s nephew.
“Lady Morai, Master Yodel, welcome to your palace,” the Old Butler of the mansion warmly greeted them.
Morai nodded, and Yodel politely shook his hand.
“Sebas, how are the preparations for the celebration?” Morai asked, her voice very indifferent.
“Everything is in order.
There are more participants this year than last.
The distinguished guests you mentioned—the Papating family—arrived last week and have been eagerly awaiting your arrival.”
“Have them come see me tonight after I’ve bathed and changed.
Also, I received a message from Miss Torina yesterday; she will be arriving soon.”
“Oh?” Morai raised an eyebrow mockingly at the mention of Torina’s name.
“My lazy, good-for-nothing sister wants to join the fun? Does she think this is a resort?”
“She said she would bring some guests to the celebration, and she seems quite serious about it.”
“Hah, how serious can she be? She’s probably just playing house with her little adventure group.
That child contributes nothing to the family, just spends money… Wait, speaking of which, did Lady Papating mention marriage again this time?”
“She talks about it every day.
She seems eager to marry off her youngest daughter to your son.”
“Of course, the simplest way for the Papating family to climb the ranks of the nobility is to latch onto me.
I also think strengthening cooperation through marriage is a convenient choice, but Yodel is too young to marry now.”
“It’s not just the Papating family.
The Corleone family from the south, the Shangguan family from the east, the Anor Londo royal family from the north, and the Golden Clan from the center… almost all the major families here have proposed marriage alliances to you.”
“If they’re so eager for marriage… hmm… their young masters should be here too, right?”
“Yes.”
“Hah, I’ve got an idea.”
Morai’s lips curled into a smile as she thought of a good plan.
For a marriage alliance, isn’t there a perfect candidate right now? She has a sister of the right age, and those families eager to climb the social ladder have plenty of young masters of similar age.
Isn’t this a perfect match? It would make her carefree, wandering sister Torina settle down and contribute to the family business, killing two birds with one stone.
“Sebas, announce my next words to the entire city, saying—”
————————
The dawn light spread across the land, the breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees.
The gray stone-paved ground glistened white under the sun.
On the horizon, a towering mountain rose abruptly, distinctly separate from the surrounding flat terrain, clearly not a natural formation.
Starfall Mountain emitted a lead-gray halo under the sun, casting a massive shadow over the land.
At the foot of the mountain stood a small stone city, square in shape, with numerous spire-like buildings inside, and flags with runes fluttering on them visible from kilometers away.
“That’s Valhalla City, built by the Deville family six hundred years ago.
Essentially, it can be seen as the northern kingdom’s enclave on the central continent, but it’s directly managed by our family,” Torina introduced to the three people in the carriage.
“The family ceremony is about to begin.
Young strong individuals from all over will come here seeking power, though more people come just for socializing… whatever, I only told the Old Butler at home that I’m coming.
We need to keep a low profile on this trip.”
“Why keep a low profile when it’s your family’s territory?” Anna-veil asked.
“Could it be that you don’t get along with your family?” Milora used her sharp intuition.
“…You could say that.
After all, I’ve been pretty carefree since I was a kid, and they see me as a bad example,” Torina said, a bit embarrassed.
“You’re not a bad example.
To me, you’re the best!” Milora immediately said.
“I think so too!” Anna-veil quickly added after Milora spoke.
“I think so too~” Patty agreed.
“Thank you all…” Torina was a bit moved.
Is this the power of love, friendship, and bonds?
…
…
Not long after, they arrived at the city gate.
The guards were, of course, from the Deville family.
Torina showed herself briefly, and they let her through.
She specifically instructed them not to publicize her whereabouts.
“…You want us not to publicize it?”
“Are you serious?”
“Hmm? Is there a problem?”
“No, no problem… please come in…”
The guards seemed a bit puzzled, but Torina didn’t think much of it.
She had the coachman drive the low-profile carriage into the city, making sure to draw the curtains on the carriage windows.
Valhalla City’s streets were wide, with towering stone buildings, either grand nobles or obviously powerful warriors, mercenaries, and Adventurers on the roads.
In comparison, their small carriage was indeed too low-key.
However—
“Captain, everyone is staring at us,” Patty reminded.
“Huh?” Torina opened the curtain a bit and looked outside—
Sure enough.
Everyone on the roadside was looking at them.
Nobles, mercenaries, Adventurers, merchants, all kinds of people, their eyes following the carriage, and their gazes… as if looking at a delicious piece of meat.
What’s going on…?
“Torina, look, up there…” Milora pointed upwards, and Torina squinted to look—
On top of a tall tower hung a giant portrait of a girl.
The girl had skin as white as snow, hair as black as a waterfall, eyes as red as blood, a chest as large as melons, a waist as thin as a willow, hips as round as peaches, and legs that were voluptuous and alluring.
“…Who is this super invincible, world-class, beautiful fairy-like girl?”
“Isn’t it you? Stop secretly praising yourself!” Anna-veil knocked on her head.
“Captain, your posters are everywhere.
You can see them as soon as you look up,” Patty said.
“It even has writing on it…” Milora’s expression was a bit unnatural.
“It says… ‘Beauty is only for the strong to possess, the best performer will’—”
“—’will have the honor of marrying the second daughter of the Deville family, Torina Deville’??? What’s going on!?” Anna-veil was shocked.
“I don’t know!” Torina was also dumbfounded.
Come to think of it…
In the original work, the bad-ass captain Dorina did have a fiancée.
But the fiancée’s existence was just to be taken by the Protagonist, essentially a tool for the Protagonist to show off.
How she got engaged to the captain wasn’t mentioned, nor was it necessary.
If the plot of the book is reflected in the gender-swapped reality, doesn’t that mean—
(Is my family trying to set me up with a fiancé???)
