Chapter 5 I Feel Like It’s Pretty Underwhelming for an Otome Game
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Garrett-sama intends to break off his engagement with you, Lady Rebecca Howard!”
Charlotte’s sharp voice cut through the ballroom.
They had already been getting attention, and now the music hit the pause between songs, the sound dropping just enough for everyone to hear. The poor conductor had gone very white, but his hands never stopped moving. I liked that.
In an otome game, the dramatic music would be swelling right now. But that is from the heroine’s side. In high society, this was nothing but a scandal. The conductor was doing the only thing he could – picking something gentle to fill the awkward silence.
Garrett, whose name had just been pulled into this, was clearly surprised by what the pink-gold-haired beauty beside him had blurted out. He looked at the crowd, saw it was too late, and let out a sad breath.
”Silver-jousama. This is not the place for such discussions.”
I caught his words carefully. He did not deny the broken engagement.
With my past-life memories back, I had no plan to marry anyone. If Garrett wanted to tie himself to this hopeless child, let him. I would not suggest it, but people have different tastes. I wished him happiness.
Still, there was no reason for me to be cast as the bad person. Garrett had been planning to follow proper steps, and we had history as engaged. Keeping the dignity of royalty was a given. So I decided Charlotte, who had forced this blame event on her own, would be the one to take responsibility.
Now everyone in the hall – guests, teachers, students, orchestra, even the servants – all eyes were on the scene that had just exploded.
Charlotte ate up the attention and smirked. She did not seem to catch that Garrett had called her “Silver-jou” – a planned reminder of formality.
”Garrett-sama has heard about all the harassment you put me through,” Charlotte declared. “He is furious that a lady of your standing would stoop to such behavior.”
Garrett had gone white and was shaking his head, trying to pull Charlotte’s fingers off his sleeve. She had not noticed that either.
”I have done no such thing,” I said, smiling calmly.
Charlotte got angry. “Don’t play dumb! You were jealous of how close Garrett-sama and I were, and you said all kinds of mean things to me, didn’t you?! Evan-sama, Brandon-sama, and David-sama are all on my side!”
The named people behind her were shaking their heads hard. At the same time, they were playing a quiet game of passing the job of saving His Highness. How handy of them. In the end, the one with the lowest rank, Brandon-sama, lost. He unwillingly set about pulling Charlotte off the prince. To her, this was probably just another “they’re fighting over me… eep!” romantic moment.
Looking at it this way – and I am sorry to say this – but aside from Prince Garrett, the other “capture targets” were… disappointing.
I have never played an otome game, but if I put this in old-school RPG terms, their stats would look something like this:
[Evan Hawk]
Age: 17
Attributes: Triple-element magic warrior (Water, Earth, Wind)
Family: Heir to Count Hawk, Vice-Commander of the Magic Corps
Affiliation: Position secured in the Magic Corps’ 2nd Special Cavalry Unit
Romance: Engaged (to Lady Samantha Lott, Count’s daughter)
[Brandon Garcia]
Age: 17
Attributes: Fire-element swordsman
Family: Third son of Viscount Garcia, Assistant Captain of the Royal Guard
Affiliation: Knight trainee position secured with the Baxter Knights
Romance: In a relationship (with Sophie Clost, Baron’s daughter)
[David Howard]
Age: 15
Attributes: Fire element, still training
Family: Heir to Marquis Howard, diplomat
Affiliation: Student at Royal Lemres Academy
Romance: ?
What was going on here? Had the game been made with too much realism? As capture targets, their specs just were not cutting it.
Normally you would expect the “perfect boyfriend” types – the crown prince, the chancellor’s son, the future knight commander – people with huge status, right?
Was this one of those cases where underground idols are more friendly than major-label stars? While I was thinking about that, Charlotte kept adding accusations.
”She broke my things and stole from me… She ruined my dresses so I could not attend parties, and on other occasions she tore them so they were unwearable. And surely you haven’t forgotten that time she tried to have me attacked by thugs!”
Whispers spread from the guests’ seats.
The Kingdom of Rendel had two princes. Even if the crown prince – already engaged to the princess of the Shium Kingdom – was out of reach, many families hoped to see their daughters become the second prince’s consort. This was perfect ammo for them to use against me.
I let out a small sigh and gave her one last chance.
”Please retract everything you’ve said and apologize. If you do, I will refrain from revealing the truth here. This is a public venue. Please don’t forget that.”
”You’re the one who should be apologizing! But don’t think for a second I’ll forgive you just because you say sorry! I’ll have you stripped of your rank and sent to a convent – no, I’ll have you exiled from the kingdom! And anyway! My prince, Garrett-sama, is going to propose to ME, Charlotte Silver!”
Charlotte puffed out her chest with a self-satisfied look.
For a moment, I did not know where to start. Not because I was shocked by the future she had laid out, but because there was so much to point out.
”Stripped of your rank” – you have no authority to do that.
”A saint” – you’re not a saint yet. To become a saint requires awakening. Until you’ve awakened, you’re merely a candidate. That’s misrepresenting yourself.
And “is going to propose to me” – I don’t even know what to say about that…
My opinion of Garrett rose slightly. At least he had the decency to plan to settle things with me before proposing to Charlotte. Though given that her prince, who was apparently blind with love, was now white and almost fainting, I doubted he’d be proposing at all.
Still, I’d received reports from Peridot about “the insane saint candidate who said this” and “the pathological liar who did that.” But meeting her in person drove the proverb home.
”To willingly bear a wound that a noble lady wouldn’t recover from… I suppose it really is a mental illness.”
And with that quiet whisper, I raised the signal for my counterattack – to secure my victory in this broken engagement.
===
Author:
Thank you for your time and company.
Q: Why does Rebecca give her subordinates embarrassing organization names and code names?
A: It’s a product of history.
I couldn’t work it into the main story without disrupting the flow, so here’s a little side story if you’re interested:
”Rebecca-sama, I’d like a detailed explanation about ‘Shadow.’”
”Oh, ‘Jade.’ You’re part of Shadow yourself. I’d expect you to at least know the organization’s origins.”
”No, I’m just saying – I admit ‘Moon Princess’ is cringeworthy, but what about ‘Shadow’? And our code names? Aren’t they embarrassing?”
”Ahh… this might take a while.”
”Please keep it brief.”
”It’s a product of history.”
”That’s so brief it doesn’t make any sense.”
One sunny day, just before my seventh birthday, I asked my father: “I want subordinates who will move for me. For my birthday, please give me the right to negotiate for Onyx’s transfer.”
”If you’re going to recruit him, you as his employer will have to pay his wages. He’s a member of the Howard Marquis family’s ‘Darkness.’ He won’t come cheap. How do you plan to handle that?”
Father never outright said no to my requests. Instead, he offered these little tests. If I passed, he granted my wish; if I failed, he refused. Knowing this, I always came prepared.
”I’ll use the funds allocated for my dresses. Cut my seasonal wardrobe in half, and give me the difference in coin.”
”Hmm…”
Father rested his chin on his hand, thought for a moment, and approved my request for Onyx.
The Howard Marquis family had a private military group called “Darkness.” Their main work was intelligence gathering. Depending on their team, they stayed in one place or moved around, sometimes doubling as bodyguards, and in some cases… well, let’s just say they handled all sorts of roles.
”Father, why are the team names based on animals?”
”Originally, ‘Darkness’ is an organization that doesn’t officially exist. Its members have code names separate from their civilian identities.”
”Yes, I understand that. But the organization’s name, the team names, the code names… they’re all unusual. It caught my attention.”
”It’s the taste of the founder. Even I have to endure reports like: from Team Dog, Husky: ‘Doberman and Pomeranian got into a fight at a tavern; they’re under suspension.’ Or from Team Rabbit, Lop-ear: ‘American Fuzzy Lop is apparently marrying Bengal from Team Cat; leave request submitted.’ It’s painful. That’s why the new teams I’ve established have inorganic names.”
Rebecca chose Team Mineral’s Onyx. Was there meaning in that? Father asked. I only answered, “He’s the one who’s always been protecting me from the shadows.”
Once I convinced Onyx to work directly under me, my father suggested I form a second organization under the “Darkness” umbrella. In essence, Onyx would create and run a new group while remaining registered with Team Mineral.
”You’ll be responsible for their orders and funding. We’ll form a business alliance with ‘Darkness’ for information and supplies – it should benefit both sides. But at the same time, Onyx and the others will always have a place to return to. Do your best so they don’t feel the need to run.”
Thus, the name of my personal organization was chosen as “Shadow,” balanced against the existing “Darkness.” Since then, every member of Shadow has had code names chosen from gemstones based on their eye color. The old Darkness members were supposedly jealous of those beautiful names.
”At the time, I was seven. I thought ‘Shadow’ got its name from the words I’d spoken – ‘the one who protects me from the shadows’…”
Shadow is shadow. No matter how much I tried to open my heart to them, no matter how warmly I treated them like family, they would never stand in the light, nor would they be permitted to reveal their existence.
If my father had guided me into naming it “Shadow” – so that I would never forget that truth…
”Rebecca-sama? Is something wrong?”
I looked back at Jade, who was watching me with puzzled emerald eyes, and simply said, “You are my proud subordinates.”
—
Summary:
Charlotte’s public outburst forced Garrett to address the broken engagement, but he avoided denying it, leaving Rebecca to read his silence. She analyzed the underwhelming capture targets – all either taken or related to her – and prepared to counterattack with ruthless politeness. The afterword showed that Rebecca’s entire Shadow organization was named through her father’s quiet manipulation, reminding her that she would always belong to the shadows.
—
Trivia:
Charlotte’s address to Garrett as “my prince” and her use of “atashi” highlight her childish, self-absorbed personality.
Evan, Brandon, and David are all capture targets, but they’re either engaged, in a relationship, or Rebecca’s brother.
David Howard is Rebecca’s younger brother, making him a nonsensical romance option.
The stat block formatting is a direct nod to RPG game interfaces, preserving the diegetic feel.
Rebecca’s father’s manipulation in naming Shadow is a key character moment that shows his influence over her self-perception.
Onyx is a member of the Darkness organization, handpicked by Rebecca through negotiation with her father.
The Shadow organization’s code names are based on gemstones corresponding to members’ eye colors.
”Moon Princess” is Jade’s self-admitted embarrassing code name.
Rebecca’s past-life memories give her genre awareness, allowing her to critically analyze the otome game tropes around her.
Garrett’s failure to deny the engagement is the unspoken center of the scene, revealing his indecision or unwillingness to commit to Charlotte publicly.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Garrett – Blond-haired, blue-eyed second prince of Rendel, strikingly handsome and formally betrothed to Rebecca. Remains silent during confrontation, failing to deny engagement dissolution, which speaks volumes. Initially distant, he apologizes and dances with Rebecca, showing reluctance toward Charlotte’s advances. Attempts to de-escalate scandal with restrained dignity, telling Charlotte this is not the place for such discussions. Startled by her declaration, he tries to pry her off his arm.
• Rebecca – Seventeen-year-old daughter of Marquis Howard, protagonist and first-person narrator. Silver hair, amethyst eyes, ties to royal family. Fiancée to Prince Garrett, top student at Royal Lemures Academy, seeks to dissolve engagement. Temporary villainess, oversees “Shadow,” a group of former “Darkness” operatives. Competitive, mature, genre-savvy, uses formal dialogue with casual internal monologues. Emotionally guarded, sharp analytical mind, hides deep loneliness beneath composed exterior. Adopts villainess role to expose false accusations, maintain family honor.
• Howard – Marquis Howard, Rebecca’s father and Howard family head, shrewdly manages domain yet indulges her unusual requests; reluctant about her royal marriage. Her mother supports with exasperated tolerance toward daughter’s demands.
• Charlotte – Baron Silver’s daughter, the self-proclaimed heroine of the otome game scenario. Brash, entitled, and deeply self-absorbed. Speaks in a childish, informal register using “atashi.” Publicly accuses Rebecca of harassment in a bid to force Garrett to break his engagement. Lacks social awareness and does not grasp the gravity of her actions or her lower noble status. Displays delusional behavior, believing the male leads are fighting over her. Uses phrases like “my prince” and refers to herself as a “saint” despite not having awakened to saintly powers. Baron Silver’s daughter. The false accuser who claims Rebecca bullied her, destroyed her belongings, and assaulted her. Emotionally reactive, prone to outbursts and panic when her lies are exposed. Displayed nervous behavior when cornered.
• Silver – Baron Silver. Charlotte’s father. His family name is used to identify Charlotte.
• Brandon – Lord Brandon, aged 17, third son of Viscount Garcia, Assistant Captain of Royal Guard. Fire-element swordsman, knight trainee with Baxter Knights. In relationship with Sophie Clost, Baron’s daughter. Physically restrains Charlotte during accusation, manipulated into prying her away from Garrett. Reputation jeopardized by unfolding events.
• David – The heir to Marquis Howard and Rebecca’s younger brother. Listed as a capture target in the stat block, but his romance status is marked with a “?.” Aged 15. Has the fire element and is still training. Attends Royal Lemres Academy. The joke of the chapter is that he is a romance option despite being Rebecca’s brother.
• Evan – The son of Count Hawk, Vice-Commander of the Magic Corps. Listed as a capture target but is already engaged to Lady Samantha Lott. Aged 17. A triple-element magic warrior (Water, Earth, Wind). Has a position secured in the Magic Corps’ 2nd Special Cavalry Unit. When Charlotte names him as a witness, he shakes his head vigorously to distance himself from her claims.
• Samantha – A lady who stands beside Rebecca and testifies that she witnessed the drink-spilling incident. Provides supportive testimony.
• Sophie – A dormitory resident who testifies on Rebecca’s behalf. She witnessed the dress incident and consulted Lady Rebecca about it. Described as good-hearted and unable to stand by quietly.
• Peridot – The informant among the servants who supplies Emma with gossip about Charlotte. Described as mining information aggressively.
• Jade – A member of Rebecca’s “Shadow” organization, identified by the code name “Jade” due to his emerald-colored eyes. Appears in the afterword side story. Questions Rebecca about the embarrassing nature of the organization’s name and code names, noting that even he admits his own nickname, “Moon Princess,” is cringe-inducing. Rebecca explains the names are a “product of history.”
• Onyx – One of Rebecca’s four personal Shadows. Originally poached by Rebecca from her father’s intelligence network “The Dark” at age seven. Founded and trains the Shadow organization.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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