10 Things to Do Before My Engagement Is Broken

Daisy overheard it all.

Her fiancé, Prince Luke, was whispering comforting words to a girl with bright pink hair.

“Phoebe, please wait just a little longer. At the next evening party, I will officially announce the end of my engagement to Daisy. After that, you will be my official fiancée.”

“Oh, Luke, I get it,” Phoebe replied. “I don’t really understand complicated things, so... I’ll just trust you and wait.”

The two of them locked in a tight, passionate embrace.

In stark contrast to the heat of their romance, Daisy’s heart turned ice-cold. She returned to her estate, locked herself in her room, and sat at her desk.

She conjured a blizzard within her mind, desperate to keep the raging fires of her anger from burning her alive. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her pen and wrote a single title at the top of the parchment:

10 Things to Do Before My Engagement Is Broken.

“Number one on the list—there’s only one choice. Getting absolutely wasted with my girls.”

There was no way she could face this sober. But drinking alone was too dangerous. It would be like being swept out to sea by an ebb tide, never able to make it back to shore, drowning in her own sorrow.

At a time like this, the only ones she could rely on were her female friends. They were her ride-or-die besties who would listen to her vent, soothe her wounds, and pull her back from the dangerous rip currents of despair.

Lycoris of the West, Petty of the South, and Erica of the North. And then there was her—Daisy Lubener, hailing from the eastern frontier.

North, South, East, and West. Together, they were the Frontier Girls. They shared everything—multiplying their joys by four, and cutting their sorrows to a quarter. Supporting each other, they had survived the chaotic royal capital together.

Shocked and heartbroken by her fiancé’s hideous plot, Daisy reached out to them. And just as she knew they would, her three best friends gathered in a heartbeat.

Daisy sent her carriage to circle through three estates, picking up her friends before returning to her own manor.

“Alright, let’s drink,” Daisy announced.

“I brought the absolute finest booze,” Lycoris offered.

“Same here.”

“Cheers!”

The four of them slammed back their drinks.

“Ugh, that absolute piece of trash, Luke! I am not letting this slide,” Daisy groaned. “I’ve let pretty much everything go just because he has a pretty face, but this is completely out of bounds.”

“Damn straight,” another chimed in with a fierce nod. “We need to make him learn the hard way what happens when you mess with the Frontier Girls.”

“Seriously! People in the capital have always looked down on us as hicks, but we’ve been playing nice and playing dumb just to blend into this city.”

“Exactly! He’s always whining about how he prefers ‘cute, fragile girls,’ so we had to put on that fake, bubbly act for his sake.”

The four of them were the Frontier Girls—country girls from the furthest corners of the north, south, east, and west, far away from the royal capital. Thanks to their shared background, they clicked instantly and became inseparable.

“So, here’s the plan,” Daisy said, her eyes gleaming. “Since this is happening anyway, I’m thinking we turn this whole engagement-breaking event into an absolute spectacle.”

“Revenge by taking it to the next level? Oh, I love it,” Lycoris grinned.

“Let’s show them we aren’t just some country girls who are gonna sit around and cry about being mocked.”

“Daisy, let’s hear the master plan.”

“First up: we dig up everything on that pink-haired girl. You know what they say—know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win a hundred battles.”

“On it!”

All three of them were completely onboard.

“By the way, that pink-haired girl is Lady Phoebe Sewell, the baron’s daughter. I assume you all know her?” Daisy asked.

“Oh, we know her,” one replied. “She’s the ultimate cutie that literally every single noble guy in the capital is simping over right now.”

“Even we hear about her, and we’re completely out of the loop with social circle gossip.”

“Honestly, you can’t even blame them. Guys are just hardwired to fall for that type.”

No one could argue with that. Slumping their shoulders, they downed their cups and poured another round.

“Pink hair and pink eyes... but her skin is so pale that she actually pulls it off without looking tacky,” one sighed.

“Ugh... it’s so frustrating!”

The jealousy Daisy had been trying so hard to suppress finally leaked out.

“Look at me! I’ve got brown hair, brown eyes... I’m practically camouflaged for a swamp! I’m just a walking pile of mud!”

“Whoa, chill out, Daisy.”

“Hey, you’re cute, Daisy! It’s just... well, the enemy is built different. Phoebe’s stats are straight-up S-Tier.”

“Should we just raid the Sewell estate? If we shake them up a bit, I’m sure a skeleton or two will come tumbling out of their closet.”

“Yeah, let’s do that. Thanks, guys. Seriously.”

Daisy was overwhelmed with gratitude. Truly, the best things a girl could have in life were friends with off-the-charts empathy and elite tactical mobility.

“So, what’s the move? Are we breaking in at midnight?”

“If we get caught doing that, we won’t have an alibi.”

“True. That’s why I’ve put together a plan that plays directly to all of our strengths.”

“Ooh, look at you go!”

“I always knew you could deliver when you actually tried, Daisy.”

Basking in their praise, Daisy felt a spark of energy return to her chest. Clearing her throat, she began to lay out the master plan.

“Well, well. Talk about a killer view.”

Daisy was perched high up in a tree outside a certain manor, peering through a brass telescope concealed by the thick foliage. Framed perfectly in her lens was the estate of her nemesis—the infamous pink-haired Lady Phoebe.

The Frontier Girls had a secret weapon: wash off the makeup, throw on a wig, change into men’s clothes, and they could blend into absolutely any crowd. Daisy had been running this undercover sting since before sunrise, all to cross off item number two on her list: Know Thy Enemy.

Shortly after the sun peaked over the horizon, the live-in servants woke up and flung the windows open, followed by the arrival of the day-shift staff. Up on the top floor, a set of curtains parted, signaling that Phoebe’s parents were awake. The estate swelled with life—noises grew louder, and peddlers and guests began to visit.

By observing this daily, Daisy had mapped out the exact times and blind spots perfect for a break-in. The raging fire that had been burning in her chest was finally cooling into a sharp, ice-cold focus.

Thanks to days of recon—or rather, full-on surveillance—she had amassed quite the collection of sketches of everyone entering and leaving the estate.

“Good. My skills haven’t rusted,” she muttered.

Back in her eastern homeland, silent observation was a way of life. It was a land of sprawling wetlands and open seas, where fishing was the lifeblood of the people. If you couldn’t erase your presence, hold your breath, and literally become one with nature, you’d never catch the shadow of a fish beneath the water.

Chirp, chirp.Tweeeet, chirp-chirp.

A small bird landed on a nearby branch, chirping at her. Daisy clicked her tongue and whistled right back in perfect mimicry. The bird hopped down to the base of the tree and began pecking at the ground. Before climbing up, Daisy always scattered treats that birds loved. That way, they’d flock around the tree and naturally camouflage her presence.

She had always been on good terms with the birds back home. Perhaps it was because they were both clans that chased and feasted on the fish—fellow “fish-friends,” so to speak. In fact, almost everyone in her eastern territory could speak a bit of ‘Bird.’ Granted, it was basic stuff like, “Hey, look, fish!” or “Watch out, snake!” or “Found food!”

But Daisy happened to be exceptionally talented, capable of mimicking complex melodies.

Pee-chew, pee-chew, zee-zee-zee!(Hey everyone, come over, there’s food!)

At her call, a flurry of wings rustled as a flock of birds descended around the tree. Daisy pulled a handful of sunflower seeds from her pocket and tossed them down. Using the chaotic flapping and chirping as the perfect distraction, she slipped down the trunk completely unnoticed.

“Alright, that’s wrap on today’s recon. Time to report to the squad.”

Every evening, the girls gathered at Daisy’s house to talk strategy. And true to form, by the time she walked through her front door, the other three were already waiting in her room.

“Good work today! Cheers!”

Nothing beats a cold beer after a long day of scouting. Daisy chugged her first glass and settled into a slow, appreciative sip for her second.

“Alright, time for my report,” Daisy said. “Today, there were four peddlers and three guests. Here are the new sketches.”

She laid out the drawings she’d done while perched in the tree. They were simple pencil sketches, but she’d managed to capture each person’s distinct features perfectly.

“Whoa, as expected of Daisy! Your art skills are insane.”

“Well, I’ve spent my whole life sketching birds,” Daisy shrugged, “so it turns out drawing people isn’t that much different.”

“I’ll handle the peddlers,” Lycoris from the West said, picking up the sketches.

Then, she tapped one specific drawing. “By the way, who do we think this incredibly stunning female peddler is? Let me just answer that for you—it’s me in disguise!”

Lycoris held the sketch up right next to her face, flashing a mischievous grin.

“Wait, what?! That was you, Lyco? I had absolutely no idea! You’re freaking amazing!”

“Heheh, please. Don’t understimate my elite disguise skills.”

“So, what happened? Tell us, tell us!” The Frontier Girls leaned in, crowding around Lycoris.

“Well, I did some digging based on the peddler sketches from the other day and found out a high-end pastry shop visits the manor regularly. So, I bought some cookies and waltzed right in pretending to be a delivery girl.”

“You’re a literal genius.”

“Your nerves are made of steel, honestly.”

“I told the staff the sweets were a gift for Lady Phoebe from ‘a certain noble gentleman of exceptionally high status,’ and the servant just casually accepted them. They weren’t surprised at all.”

“Wait, what does that mean?” Petty asked.

“It means she’s completely used to getting them,” Lycoris said, her expression hardening. “Luke has been showering her with expensive gifts behind your back.”

“Are you kidding me?!” Daisy gasped, her voice cracking with pure emotion. “I—I barely ever got any presents from him!”

“Hey, I bought extra cookies, okay? Here, eat up,” Lycoris said softly, sliding a box over.

Daisy began to eat the cookies, hot tears streaming down her face.

“They’re... they’re so delicious. They taste so expensive!”

“Eat as much as you want, babe. Let it all out,” Lycoris crooned, gently patting Daisy’s head.

“So anyway, I casually brought it up with one of their maids,” Lycoris continued. “I was like, ‘Oh, I’m thinking about a career change, and since this estate seems so incredibly well-off lately, I’d love to work here! Are you guys hiring?’"

“Oh? And then?”

“Turns out they’re looking for scullery maids. So, I officially start tomorrow morning!”

“Lyco, you are a literal goddess.”

“I can’t believe you infiltrated them that easily.”

“I do need to bring a letter of recommendation, though,” Lycoris said, turning to the north. “Erica, can you forge a nice-looking one for me?”

“On it,” Erica, the brilliant northern intellect, saluted playfully. “I’ll draft one using the name of a noble family known for high servant turnover. They’ll never double-check.”

“Ugh, everyone is doing so amazing, which makes me feel terrible for bringing bad news... but I lost my target during the tailing mission. I’m so sorry.”

Petty, the southern beauty, bowed her head in apology.

“Wait, what?!” Daisy gasped. “You, Petty? Your stealth skills are on par with mine—if not better! What happened?”

“You know that guy who visits Phoebe’s house all the time? The older dude with the beard? Uh, this one.” Petty tapped one of the pencil sketches.

“I’ve been staking out the area near Phoebe’s manor and following the guests when they leave. But every single time, Bearded Uncle manages to shake me off midway. I’ve successfully tailed all the other people on the list back to their homes, but not him.”

The color drained from everyone’s faces except Petty’s. This was bad. Very bad. They knew better than anyone just how elite Petty’s tracking skills were.

Come to think of it, Daisy recalled a moment while sketching through her telescope when that very man seemed to sense her presence. She had panicked and quickly blended in with the birds, so she didn’t think she’d been spotted, but... yeah. This Bearded Uncle was dangerous. A major red flag.

“Petty, babe, let’s leave Bearded Uncle alone from now on.”

“Yeah, backing off is the smart move here.”

“If someone trained in monster hunting like Petty can’t track him, he’s definitely bad news.”

Hearing her friends’ reassurance, Petty bit her lip but nodded.

“True. I’ll drop the tailing. In that case, Erica, can I leave the investigation of the other people to you?”

“Sure thing, leave it to me,” Erica smiled. “As long as we know where they live, I can dig up their backgrounds through public records somehow.”

“You’re a lifesaver!” Petty threw her arms around Erica in a hug.

“I feel like we’re piling way too much work on you, Erica,” Daisy said, looking worried. “Are you going to be okay?”

“Fret not! Unlike you guys, I can’t do recon, disguises, or tailing. So please, keep passing the brain-dead paperwork and forged documents my way. That’s my jam.”

“Erica, you’re so badass.”

“Seriously, we are the ultimate dream team. We complement each other perfectly.”

“SQUAD GOALS!”

“CHEERS TO THAT!”

When her world was falling apart, her friends had rushed to her side, utilizing their unique talents to the absolute fullest. How precious was that? Daisy thought to herself, a warm, tipsy glow washing over her. Her luck with men was absolute trash, but she had struck gold with her friendships.

“I love you guys so much,” Daisy sniffling, her eyes getting misty.

“Duh, we know.”

“Ditto.”

“Preach! Real talk.”

“Pfft—stop, you guys are killing me!” Daisy laughed through her tears.