Published: August 10, 2026
Thank you, as always, for reading.
As the title suggests, the anime adaptation of this work, The Ragged Noble Lady Is Doted on by Her Sister's Former Fiancé, has been decided!
To celebrate the anime announcement and as a Christmas present, here is a special side story.
The timeline is after the end of Princess Karappo, around the first winter afterward, and in the main story this is a time when Marie is overseas... so this short story is a parallel world.
Please enjoy Christmas in Dilz.
At the end of the year—amid the busy days, the Dirts Kingdom has a special day called "holy night."
In other countries, they apparently gather in the city center for a huge banquet, but in this country, it is a quiet and peaceful affair.
They decorate their homes, lay out traditional sweets, and eat a modest homemade meal together as a family. And one other major event was the exchange of presents from adults to children.
"This is for Cedric. And this one is for Ceri."
I said that as I handed the children neatly wrapped boxes. Both of their faces lit up.
"Wow, thank you, Marie-neechan!"
"Can we open them?"
"Yes, of course."
Cedric let out another cheer, and Tzetserie snorted excitedly and began unwrapping her package.
The gift for Cedric was a toy sword and shield. Ceri's box was packed full of colorful hair ornaments. Neither was especially expensive, but I had secretly researched what each of them wanted for a long time and found them at the market.
Both of them opened their already large eyes even wider.
"Amazing! It looks real!"
"This ribbon is so cute! It's so pretty!"
Hee hee... it really does seem like they're delighted.
Their young faces were full of smiles, and seeing that made me happy too. If anything, I should be the one thanking them.
When I was a child, I had never once received a holy night present. Even so, now that I was on the giving side, it made me feel happy. Enough that I wanted to be the one giving thanks.
Presents are wonderful. Not only the person who receives them, but the person who gives them can be made happy too.
Just as the children were about to put on the sword and ribbons right away, I quickly called out to them.
"You can play with them later. Before night falls, we have to decorate the tree."
"Oh, right!"
The two of them obediently put their boxes away and headed to the courtyard with me.
In the courtyard of Granado Castle stood a large fir tree. It usually spread its lush green branches in all directions, but now it had been neatly trimmed into a beautiful cone by the gardener, Johan. It was customary for everyone, including the castle's attendants, to decorate it together.
By the time I arrived, the attendants had already finished most of the decorating. The children hurried over and began stretching on tiptoe, doing their best to place ornaments as high as they could.
I had meant to help too, but... it looked like they had enough hands, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
Maybe I should not get in the way...
So I stepped back and decided to simply watch.
"It's cold... I should have brought gloves."
Trying to warm my hands with my breath, I brought my fingers close to my mouth. Then suddenly, from behind me, a pair of arms reached out.
A large, warm hand caught my fingers.
"How's this, Marie?"
"Lord Cyrus..."
Turning around, I found Lord Cyrus, the master of this Granado Castle. His gentle smile made my chest feel warm. Enclosed by his large hand, my own hand gradually warmed too.
"Thank you. It's very warm."
"I'm glad. Marie, aren't you going to hang any ornaments?"
"Yes. ...It looks like there won't be any left for me to put up."
When I answered, he grinned mischievously. Then he took something from his pocket and held it out to me.
"Then please, take this."
It was a small box, just big enough to fit in one palm. It was wrapped in paper with a cute pattern and tied with a thin ribbon.
"Eh... a present? For me?"
Holy night presents are things adults give to children. There isn't a custom of husbands and wives exchanging them, though...
"Well, something similar, but not quite the same. Go ahead and open it."