Chapter 19
Vivian has joined our group, the Avel Empire Human Rights Organization.
We were holding our regular meeting at Belita’s palace, and she decided to join our cause.
Her father, Marquis Bene, reluctantly gave his permission only after hearing that the group name had been changed and that both I and Princess Belita were participating.
“Lady Vivian was the top student in economics at the Academy, wasn’t she? Such a waste. If she had been born male, she could have succeeded Marquis Bene and managed his trading company.”
One of the members said this while sipping tea, looking at Vivian with genuine pity. Vivian also looked a bit gloomy.
“Why? Isn’t Vivian the only daughter? Won’t she inherit? She just has to prove her ability.”
I thought it was possible here as well, since in the Luna Empire—although very rare—women could inherit titles and property.
My father, the Duke of Luna, had even told me he would give me one of his business operations and instructed me to learn. Since I still didn’t know the inheritance laws of the Avel Empire, their words confused me.
“Lady Philina. Women have no inheritance rights… There are rumors that Marquis Bene is currently looking for an heir. Since there are no suitable men in the direct line, they say he will choose one from a collateral line.”
Belita explained the laws of the Avel Empire to me, and Vivian’s expression darkened further.
Seeing their words and expressions, I decided to postpone my original goal and achieve a different one first.
“Vivian. If you have the ability, you shouldn’t let what’s yours be taken. Take what rightfully belongs to you. We’ll help you. Everyone will help, right?”
Everyone simply looked puzzled. Even Vivian blinked in confusion.
“In the Luna Empire, women can inherit titles. And property too.”
Only now did people begin to understand my point, but their expressions still remained dark.
“Duchess, we know that. But the laws and customs of the two empires are different. To change this, we would need to change the law—and people’s mindsets.”
Diana pointed out the harsh reality.
I knew it. Laws don’t change easily, and even if they changed in this conservative empire, women wouldn’t immediately receive inheritance.
“I know. But I believe Marquis Bene will take a risk for Vivian. He was one of the people who supported abolishing that ancient custom—the First Night Mark. And for whom would he have done that? Surely for his one and only daughter.”
I had never met him, but I believed Marquis Bene could be a strong ally.
And the fact that he had not yet chosen an heir gave me hope.
Surely he felt bitter that he couldn’t give his company to his talented daughter and instead would have to hand it to someone else.
“I… I want to try.”
Vivian, who had been shyly sitting quietly until now, gathered her courage and spoke.
“It will be difficult… but I want to try. If all of you will help me.”
She spoke again, clenching her hands tightly, nervous both from the situation and meeting new people.
“If that is Vivian’s wish… then let’s try. We’ll be busy. Handling this and the First Night Mark simultaneously.”
Diana, inspired by Vivian’s courage, decided to make women’s inheritance rights our next main agenda.
“Wait! We’ll do one more thing!”
I had one more goal to add—for myself.
If we didn’t add it now, it would be difficult later. Especially if we didn’t secure Marquis Bene’s support.
“Women’s right to inherit titles and property PLUS women’s right to earn personal noble titles! Let’s add this too.”
Neither the Luna Empire nor the Avel Empire allowed women to obtain non-inherited personal titles.
These personal titles were granted only to men—usually younger sons who could not inherit—when they achieved great merit or reached a high governmental rank. They were made barons or viscounts.
I wanted this. Because even if I divorced, I couldn’t be sure the Avel Empire would send me back to the Luna Empire. I needed a title that belonged to me—not “someone’s wife.”
“My Lady, that is so cool!”
Stella’s eyes sparkled with admiration, and several others looked surprised but pleased.
“Then let’s claim everything we can with our own ability!”
Belita agreed enthusiastically. Realistic Diana held her head in her hands.
“All right. We’ll divide into teams. Her Highness, the Duchess, Stella, and Vivian—your group will focus on this project. The rest will handle the First Night Mark. And we’ll assist each other whenever needed.”
Vivian grew so excited her face turned bright red.
“We will succeed!”
Overflowing with determination, we vowed to accomplish this difficult mission.
+++
Belita, Stella, Vivian, and I stayed behind after the meeting to discuss our next steps.
“Vivian, choose something you can do well within the Bene Trading Company and draft a business proposal.”
Using my experience helping Chester back in the Luna Empire, I guided Vivian on what she could start immediately.
“There’s something I’ve always wanted to try…”
Vivian’s face flushed red again. She lowered her gaze shyly and fidgeted with her fingers.
“What is it?”
Belita stared at her curiously, amazed that the normally quiet Vivian had spoken so boldly today.
“Underwear… Women’s underwear.”
We were stunned into silence.
This shy girl! She’s bolder than she looks!
We were surely all thinking the same thing.
“My family runs a cotton mill. With that cotton… I wanted to make women’s underwear… in daring designs…”
Good grief. Underwear is underwear—was there a need for it to be daring?
But it seemed Vivian’s head was already full of such designs.
“Vivian… You didn’t already design them, did you?”
I asked hesitantly. Her face reddened to the point of glowing as she nodded. We were shocked once again.
Right. This was the same girl who once asked me what kissing felt like. I had forgotten that normal people don’t ask such things upon first meeting someone.
“Wow… That’s amazing, Vivian.”
I muttered what I meant to say in my mind out loud. Everyone laughed loudly, amused.
“Then please bring your business proposal and underwear designs to the next meeting. We should meet at least once a week—more often if possible.”
Stella summed up the plan neatly, as expected from someone experienced and competent.
+++
“Your Highness, it’s the first snowfall!”
When we stepped outside the princess’s palace, thick snow had already blanketed the vast imperial garden.
“My Lady, Avel Empire’s snow is quite beautiful.”
“It is, Margaret.”
Margaret, who followed behind me, looked breathless with wonder. She had never seen snow piled so thickly.
The Luna Empire was warm. In the south, they could even harvest twice a year. Snow rarely accumulated even in the capital or the north.
Snow lay thick on the leaves and the withered petals. I scooped some into my hands.
“It’s so cold… soft… and pretty.”
Though it was Margaret’s first time seeing snow like this, it was also mine—my body had been weak in my previous life, so I had never played in deep snow.
“The Avel Empire truly has beautiful snow.”
Margaret finally found something she liked about this empire and smiled.
“Tsk. Snow like this….”
I was about to say it wasn’t pretty at all… that the Luna Empire was better even without snow.
“My Lady.”
Margaret scooped snow from a large branch and popped it into her mouth with a smile.
“Me too.”
Moved by her attempt to cheer me up, I also took snow from a leaf and tasted it.
What? This tastes worse than shaved ice.
But the delicate way it melted in my mouth was unexpectedly pleasant.
Finally, I had found at least one thing I liked in this Avel Empire.
“Let’s step on the snow!”
Stella, oldest among us, hopped excitedly across the snow.
“Stella… maintain your dignity.”
Belita scolded her like an adult, but I saw her eyes shining. She wanted to run too, but she was restraining herself because she was a princess.
“Princess Belita, let’s make a snowman and have a snowball fight.”
I dragged her to the center of the garden.
“If… if Lady Philina wishes…”
“I’ll join too!”
Belita seemed happy, and Vivian also joined us.
The maids began making their own snowmen in quiet competition.
“The ugliest snowman is Belita.”
I gave the ugliest snowman I made the princess’s name.
“This one is Philina.”
Belita knocked off the stick nose from the snowman named after me.
“So mean…”
I sniffled and fixed the stick back on.
“All right, snowball fight!”
While picking up a stick, I secretly formed a snowball and threw it right at Belita—hitting her perfectly.
This marked the beginning of a full-scale snowball fight.
Stella and I teamed up, while Belita and Vivian teamed up.
It was an already decided match. With my trained body from horseback riding and archery, I easily hit my targets, while the other side were two delicate girls who knew nothing about physical combat.
Stella made the snowballs, and I nailed every shot.
+++
Lucas heard that the meeting was being held again today at the princess’s palace.
“They changed the group name?”
“Yes, Your Highness. It is now called the Avel Empire Human Rights Organization.”
Lucas was speechless.
What a grand and pointless name. Human rights? What human rights?
Someone obsessed with lofty ideals must have come up with it—and Belita had surely been influenced.
“I should go check on Belita.”
Lucas was about to leave but stepped back inside to put on glasses. He asked his attendant for his cloak and fixed his hair again.
“Very well, let’s go.”
He had to admit—even he thought he looked smarter with glasses on.
His attendant followed him with a puzzled expression—why was a man with perfect eyesight wearing glasses, and why fix his hair just to meet his sister?
“…What on earth…”
Lucas arrived at the princess’s palace and saw four women in the garden throwing snowballs at each other.
