༺ Prologue ༻
“Ah.”
Even with the onset of the Great Possession Era, being possessed by a novel that was only sampled for free, and moreover, a novel unrelated to usual tastes, read out of sheer curiosity for lack of anything better to read, seems a bit too much.
Especially, being possessed into a female-oriented romance fantasy webnovel.
Furthermore, to be possessed into a character destined to cry tears of defeat in that webnovel seems like an unduly harsh punishment.
It might be considered extremely lucky not to have been gender-swapped into a female protagonist.
In any case.
“Damn it. Escaping is the only way.”
I surveyed my surroundings.
The room, filled with antique furniture, is clearly the private waiting room for the four finalists.
This means, by tomorrow, the four finalists will enter a cohabitation with the Third Northern Duchess, and the official selection process will begin.
Time is of the essence.
Once the cohabitation starts, escape will become difficult, so I had to settle things today.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
Shiny black hair, a slender but well-built physique, and somewhat dissolute, languid red eyes.
Elden Rapellion.
A libertine who indulged in alcohol and women, a troublemaker who frequently engaged in brawls, a cunning strategist, and also a battle fanatic who did not flinch at blood and pain.
In short, a character with excellent physical and mental abilities but unable to control his masculine instincts.
Fortunately, being the sole heir to a declining count’s family and with both parents deceased, there wouldn’t be any repercussions for an outrageous escape.
Even if I kicked away the opportunity for an engagement with the Third Northern Duchess to uplift my family, there was no reason for personal harm.
Thus, there was no need for prolonged contemplation.
“I forfeit.”
This world was created for the youngest daughter of the Northern Duke, the female protagonist, to flow solely in her favor.
There’s nothing good in getting involved.
Above all, I had no desire to be engaged to a woman I had never met or to become the son-in-law of the ruling family of the Northern Territory, living every day without a moment’s breath.
Not even considering using the special privilege of possession and just running away?
One might click their tongue in disappointment, but unfortunately, the relationship between the regretful group of four and the yet-to-be-revealed Third Northern Duchess is profoundly antagonistic.
Extremely so.
To me, escaping from the selection was not a choice but a necessity for survival.
Click.
I promptly left the room.
Recalling from memory, I sought out the office of the aide in charge of the engagement competition at the Northern Duke’s household.
The aide, busy with paperwork, closed the documents and approached with a somber smile.
That smile would harden in less than 30 seconds, though.
“What brings you here, Mr. Elden? Surely you’re not here to make some sort of request for the cohabitation starting tomorrow? Hahaha.”
I’m sorry, but I categorically refuse to be the one to suffer for a misdeed I didn’t commit, to cry tears of defeat.
I also refuse to be involved with the trio of regrettable characters.
To me, who was once a modern commoner, who was possessed into the medieval era without understanding why, the suffocating etiquette of noble society is less appealing than the freeing life of a wanderer.
“I hereby declare my forfeiture from the engagement competition of the Third Northern Duchess.”
And so, I opted for escape from the final selection of the Third Northern Duchess’s engagement competition.
