Ch. 2.5

 In my previous life, I was a fujoshi. I was a high school girl who loved gay romance.

My favourite book at the time was a unique novel targeted to a young girl demographic. It was a BL fantasy novel set in a different world, "The Noble King". I'm not exaggerating when I say that I spent all three years of high school reading this book.

While the average high school girl spends her youth gossiping about true love, my youth was spent obsessing over "The Noble King". It had a spin-off manga, a BLCD, a game, an anime, and a wide range of other medias, which had been developed in response to its increasing popularity. Those were the days when I spent all the money I could on the franchise as a high school student! Oh, how I miss those days…

The best version is, after all, the original novel. Syl, a baron's son with secrets regarding his birth, and Sirius, the first prince of the country of Esfia, have a chance encounter, fall in love, and face many hardships. However, it is unfinished. This is because I died before I could finish reading it all.

I was Maki Tazawa in my previous life. Age 18. Cause of death: ... I remember my cause of death, but I don't want to talk about it. It's directly related to some shitty memories, so I usually brush it aside.

Anyway, I died and was reborn.

… Actually, I was supposed to be reborn in a much more miserable world, but luckily (or not so luckily, according to my shitty memory), I escaped it and was reincarnated into a story that I really liked when I was Maki Tazawa, the world of "The Noble King,"

… as the younger sister.

'My little sis'. 

In my previous life, I referred to the princess, the younger sister of Sirius, as my 'little sis'. In BL novels, female characters were treated very delicately. She may have been a hindrance to the blossoming love between the protagonist and his partner. Or was she a good friend to the two main characters? Well, either way, that girl is a supporting character.

In "The Noble King", the younger sister, Octavia, the first princess of the Esfia Kingdom, was a successful example of a female character in a BL novel that was reasonably well received by most of the readers.

'My little sister' loved her brother. She is gentle and kind, and she is humble even though she is royalty. She's the two main characters' best friend. Even when Sir Syl and her brother Sirius were in serious trouble, she never betrayed them during any crisis, and even solved the problem successfully.

That's what the original Octavia's personality was like.

But, now I am Octavia, born with the distinct memories of my previous life as Maki Tazawa, being raised up to be a princess.

… really?

I'm kind of disappointed. No, you see, 'my little sister' is in charge of solving the problem concerning the royal succession. At the moment, this issue has yet to be discussed in the Noble Council. However, if the story goes on as it is, this problem will develop over time as my brother gets older.

Now, let me repeat: this is the world of a fantasy BL novel. 'My' older brother is the first prince and the future king. His beloved, Sir Syl, is a man. However, no matter if he is a man, no heir can be born since our country is strictly monogamous… and in the case of my brother, he is therefore a monogamous man. Futhermore, although it is a fantasy world, there is no medicine or magic that can make a man be able to give birth to a child.

So, now what?

No, no, no, I don't care if it's BL. For the succession problem, we can ensure the existence of an heir in an administrative way, right?

But, you know, it's a true-love story.

My older brother has no desire to embrace anyone other than his lover. Because there'll simply be no affection if he does it with another person! And he says it's like committing an act of betrayal to his lover, Sir Syl. He'd never want to make him sad.

In the novel, that's exactly how it would pan out, and maybe, looking at my older brother right now, his answer wouldn't be any different.

… it'd be fine if you were an ordinary commoner.

But you're royalty, aren't you? The first prince? The future king? There are duties that come with that, you know?

I'm not saying you should leave your beloved, but you should at least have a baby with a woman! 

I couldn't help but think that from the royal family's point of view.

But my older brother Sirius doesn't agree, and why, for the sake of love? I just can't take it anymore!

In my previous life, I was trembling when I read this part of the story.

Syl! Oh, Syl! So hot! Sirius, so hot! Even if you're royalty, even if you're the future king, you can still abide by the one hole-one dick policy! They're men in love, so let them stick to that! Oh, Sirius! You're never allowed to embrace a woman! Get out of their way, women!

Readers who sympathised with the main characters didn't want Sirius to have an affair, even if it was for the sake of a royal succession.

But as the story goes, if he doesn't, the royal lineage of Esfia is doomed. So, what the hell can they do?

The solution presented itself:

Dashing into the scene was his little sister, Octavia. 

"Leave it to me, dear brother. I want you to raise my child up as yours and Sil's."

Of course.

Of course she had to say something like that.

And, she wasn't forced to do it, she did it of her own free will!

The succession problem is solved! That's basically how it happened.

And thus Sir Syl and Sirius's love endures!

All the readers were relieved.

But, I'm Octavia.

You know what that means?

This means that I will probably have to have a child from a political marriage. Or, to be more precise, I'll have to give birth to multiple children until I have a girl, and then I have to give her away to my older brother.

The optimal age of marriage for women in Esfia is 20, and it can range from 3-4 years younger or lower (than twenty), regardless of status. I'm almost at an eligible age for marriage. By the way, I'm a princess, but I wasn't assigned a fiancé from birth.

As a country, when I am of marriageable age, they want to make sure that I marry the person who is going to give our nation the greatest benefits. That's the way it is, isn't it? If you look back at the history of the royal family, there were some cases of marriages that had been pursued because of love, but only a few.

Most of them are political marriages. Once married, the couple must have at least one boy and one girl.

In my case, my daughter will be the next heir for the future king.

Only when I have my third child, I'll finally be able to raise them as my own.

You see, they've been doing this for generations.

The dark side of the BL royal family, which you couldn't see from Syl's point of view in the original novel, seems like it can only be seen when you're in Octavia's shoes.

For generations, the first prince of Esfia has loved a gay partner very deeply (he doesn't want to have sex with anyone other than his lover), so his sister(s) get married (ah, also from the previous generation and the one before that, without exception. It seems to be a political ploy!) marry and have children…

—And now, I'm a part of this.

Fuck off!

That's all I have to say.

Do I have no freedom?! What if I only like girls?!

… Well, I don't know about that.

Even if I did, I'd have to give up on true love and marry a man.

Yeah. Because this is a world focused on BL. It's a world that's only kind to gay love between men.

I'm the little sister… I'm just one of those characters whose only purpose is to solve every problem conveniently and protect the stability of the world.

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