Chapter 1: The Armistice Memorial Gala

Cocolette

Fifteen years had passed since the Kingdom of Cheriotte and its neighbor to the south, the Portanian Empire, signed a peace treaty. A party to celebrate the occasion was taking place in the Cheriotte royal palace, and as I walked underneath the numerous large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling in the palace’s main hall, I could hear several flattering comments and sighs sent in my direction.

“That must be Cocolette, daughter of Marquis Blossom, one of the princes’ marriage candidates. She’s even prettier than people say.”

“Oh, look at her wavy rose-pink hair and her leaf-green eyes! She looks just like a spring fairy.”

I knew, of course, that this was not mere lip service—after all, I had workedhard to make sure my beauty was unmatched. I had been blessed with a naturally pretty face, which despite its youthfulness was already hinting at the full gorgeousness I would grow into in just a few years’ time. I also took considerable care with my physique; at just fourteen, I had already developed a somewhat large, shapely bust. And the dress I was wearing, made specifically for tonight, also perfectly matched the blue-sapphire hair clip that Prince Raph had gifted me.

Smiling sweetly, I went to greet the lady and gentleman who had complimented me only a moment before. Since this was my first time being invited to a formal party, it was best I use this opportunity to make as many allies as I could.

The madam I had the pleasure of meeting was a refreshing beauty; were we in my old world, she’d be flooded with modeling offers. Being the absolute sucker that I was for a pretty face, I couldn’t help but be entranced by her loveliness.

Next, I greeted her husband. The gentleman wore a suit on the cutting edge of fashion—but was a total orc-face.

“So, Miss Cocolette, I hear you started at the royal academy this year,” he said. “That was where my wife and I met. I hope your youth is as wonderful as ours was.”

“Oh, dear—please, not in front of Miss Cocolette,” the wife said, the fetching blush appearing on her face making it clear her protests against him indulging in his memories were half-hearted.

Not for the first time, I thought,I’ll never quite understand how things are here.

The world I had reincarnated into held unique values about appearances. While beauty standards for women were fundamentally the same as