What do you think?
Rate this book
小国の侯爵令嬢は敵国にて覚醒する [Oguni no Koushaku Reijou wa Tekikoku nite Kakusei suru] (Novel) #1
A Young Lady Finds Her True Calling Living with the Enemy Vol.1
“We demanded reparations, not a bride.”
Pressed into marrying a general of the enemy nation, she would find only her future husband’s rejection and a cold reception in her new homeland…
As the daughter of a powerful marquess in a small, prosperous nation, Bertine was raised with all the privileges and expectations befitting her station. Yet not long before her wedding day, the king orders her to marry Cecilio instead, a representative of the nation victorious against her own. For she was part of the war reparations. Resigned to her fate, despair in her heart, she crosses the ocean, bound for her new home.
But all that awaited her was Cecilio’s absence and his servants’ humiliating treatment of her. “I can’t rely on my parents or my status. So I shall gain the strength to survive here through my own efforts.” Alone and armed only with her resolve, Bertine flees the estate and begins to carve a path that will allow her to live in enemy territory…
A young lady possessed of a hidden talent for business. A general known as “The Battle-Crazed Savage.” And their love story, predicated by a misunderstanding and a negotiation starts here!
Pressed into marrying a general of the enemy nation, she would find only her future husband’s rejection and a cold reception in her new homeland…
As the daughter of a powerful marquess in a small, prosperous nation, Bertine was raised with all the privileges and expectations befitting her station. Yet not long before her wedding day, the king orders her to marry Cecilio instead, a representative of the nation victorious against her own. For she was part of the war reparations. Resigned to her fate, despair in her heart, she crosses the ocean, bound for her new home.
But all that awaited her was Cecilio’s absence and his servants’ humiliating treatment of her. “I can’t rely on my parents or my status. So I shall gain the strength to survive here through my own efforts.” Alone and armed only with her resolve, Bertine flees the estate and begins to carve a path that will allow her to live in enemy territory…
A young lady possessed of a hidden talent for business. A general known as “The Battle-Crazed Savage.” And their love story, predicated by a misunderstanding and a negotiation starts here!
214 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2022
42 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
December 21, 2023
I just loved this one. Incredibly faint whiff, so faint you could miss it, love interest. The focus is on the MC h’s character growth and development and how she’s planning to take down the Big Bad who hurt her and those she loves. But not via violence.
I am DOWN for a justified vengeance plot. And I love Bertie. She’s a bit of a Mary Sue and things she can do just POP up as she needs them, as well as being able to talk people into what she wants them to do, but she is doing what she is doing for the betterment of all. Though honestly, tradition and WE are right and will do what we want to, tends to rule the day in reality, this is a book and I WANT a HEA, so #dontcare.
5, I’ve pre-ordered the second volume already, stars.
I am DOWN for a justified vengeance plot. And I love Bertie. She’s a bit of a Mary Sue and things she can do just POP up as she needs them, as well as being able to talk people into what she wants them to do, but she is doing what she is doing for the betterment of all. Though honestly, tradition and WE are right and will do what we want to, tends to rule the day in reality, this is a book and I WANT a HEA, so #dontcare.
5, I’ve pre-ordered the second volume already, stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
January 9, 2025come prendere e buttare via il proprio tempo.
posso dire però ora di aver trovato la mary sue più mary sue mai esistita, fusasi con san francesco. bellissimo. arte, maestria, tempo perso. tutto bellissimo.
posso dire però ora di aver trovato la mary sue più mary sue mai esistita, fusasi con san francesco. bellissimo. arte, maestria, tempo perso. tutto bellissimo.
April 13, 2024
What to say...? I did enjoy this book, but there are some pretty big flaws. The FL definitely has a golden finger. Everything she does is wildly successful, and you find out that her father, known as The Alchemist for his ability to earn money, was grooming her to be his successor alchemist. Ok, setting aside the ridiculous nickname...the author really set up the Federation to be pretty backwards when it comes to many aspects of business and living in general, yet at the same time they are a paradise and everyone there is super nice. There is a lack of nuance - what I got was that the Empire is avaricious, powerful, and takes advantage of everyone, San Luenne is money grubbing, and the Federation is amazing. I also think that there was some basic business sense lacking in the writer, and that they forgot some of their own details when it was convenient to the story.
For example, Bertine's own home country, San Luenne, is said to have been very poor about 80 years ago (at one point it said 8 years, but I'm going to assume that was a typo). They had only salt and seafood as exportable products, very little fertile land, and terrible weather. People frequently committed suicide by throwing themselves into the sea because of food shortages. Never mind that if you have a regular, abundant supply of seafood, food shortages shouldn't be an issue - the fact that you can't sell the products does not mean you cannot eat it. They became a wealthy nation when they focused on tourism, becoming a destination for wealthy people from the Empire. But....if their weather is so terrible, how do they support tourism during those times? If they don't have saleable goods, what do tourists buy? However, that was in Bertine's explanation when she was visiting the Hinterlands. If you go back to the beginning of the novel, it says that her nation has year-round temperate climate, very mild weather that attracts tourists.
Not to mention that the royal family (especially the queen) sounds like they are greedy and dumb. Why on earth should they feel threatened by the marquess because he's good at business? How is being wealthy a problem when he's also building wealth for the royal family? Apparently despite his great wealth and power, the royal family can force him to marry a woman of their choosing. Again with a logic breakdown when it came to Luca's family being destroyed by the queen - look, a wealthy merchant/noble isn't going to go bankrupt because a rumor goes around that he's bankrupt and investors withdraw midway from his project. First of all, if the project is already underway, his investors are already committed by contract. Second, if he's that great a businessman, his investors aren't going to believe a rumor that can easily be disproved - they want to make money too, and they'll lose money by withdrawing. Third, why wouldn't he simply ask for backing from Bertine's super rich father, particularly as their families were considering an alliance through marriage? Also, if her dad is super rich, why is 1000 gold coins considered a sum that could bankrupt him? After only a few months, Bertine has already amassed that much in "savings" for the Federation by dabbling in a few deals. This does not lead me to think gold coins are all that valuable.
Then it comes to wheat. The farmers are just selling their wheat for super cheap to the Empire. She tells them that wheat has risen 6-fold in the Empire, and Kurt realizes that he's been cheated as he's only received 3-fold increase. Ok...but have expenses in the Federation also increased 6-fold? Is 3-fold still a fair price in the Federation? Does no one in the Federation buy their wheat, thus setting a price? And fruit. You are telling me that a country that is super abundant in fruit has never learned or even considered preserving that fruit by canning, making jam, or drying it? REALLY? The best they can do is feed the excess to their livestock? Jam already exists, and this never occurred to them? And why does she need to send glass jars and sugar to them? In all of the Hinterlands, they don't have sugar or glass jars?? It's like it's set up so that Bertine is this genius and savior, but...all I can think is that they are kinda dumb to have not seen this really obvious thing.
I'm unclear about Bertine's family. Early on it mentions an older brother, and at some point her stepmom references that the marquess doted on his "only daughter." However, the maid remembers that at some point when Bertine was ill, the stepmother asked the maid to take care of her young daughter
For example, Bertine's own home country, San Luenne, is said to have been very poor about 80 years ago (at one point it said 8 years, but I'm going to assume that was a typo). They had only salt and seafood as exportable products, very little fertile land, and terrible weather. People frequently committed suicide by throwing themselves into the sea because of food shortages. Never mind that if you have a regular, abundant supply of seafood, food shortages shouldn't be an issue - the fact that you can't sell the products does not mean you cannot eat it. They became a wealthy nation when they focused on tourism, becoming a destination for wealthy people from the Empire. But....if their weather is so terrible, how do they support tourism during those times? If they don't have saleable goods, what do tourists buy? However, that was in Bertine's explanation when she was visiting the Hinterlands. If you go back to the beginning of the novel, it says that her nation has year-round temperate climate, very mild weather that attracts tourists.
Not to mention that the royal family (especially the queen) sounds like they are greedy and dumb. Why on earth should they feel threatened by the marquess because he's good at business? How is being wealthy a problem when he's also building wealth for the royal family? Apparently despite his great wealth and power, the royal family can force him to marry a woman of their choosing. Again with a logic breakdown when it came to Luca's family being destroyed by the queen - look, a wealthy merchant/noble isn't going to go bankrupt because a rumor goes around that he's bankrupt and investors withdraw midway from his project. First of all, if the project is already underway, his investors are already committed by contract. Second, if he's that great a businessman, his investors aren't going to believe a rumor that can easily be disproved - they want to make money too, and they'll lose money by withdrawing. Third, why wouldn't he simply ask for backing from Bertine's super rich father, particularly as their families were considering an alliance through marriage? Also, if her dad is super rich, why is 1000 gold coins considered a sum that could bankrupt him? After only a few months, Bertine has already amassed that much in "savings" for the Federation by dabbling in a few deals. This does not lead me to think gold coins are all that valuable.
Then it comes to wheat. The farmers are just selling their wheat for super cheap to the Empire. She tells them that wheat has risen 6-fold in the Empire, and Kurt realizes that he's been cheated as he's only received 3-fold increase. Ok...but have expenses in the Federation also increased 6-fold? Is 3-fold still a fair price in the Federation? Does no one in the Federation buy their wheat, thus setting a price? And fruit. You are telling me that a country that is super abundant in fruit has never learned or even considered preserving that fruit by canning, making jam, or drying it? REALLY? The best they can do is feed the excess to their livestock? Jam already exists, and this never occurred to them? And why does she need to send glass jars and sugar to them? In all of the Hinterlands, they don't have sugar or glass jars?? It's like it's set up so that Bertine is this genius and savior, but...all I can think is that they are kinda dumb to have not seen this really obvious thing.
I'm unclear about Bertine's family. Early on it mentions an older brother, and at some point her stepmom references that the marquess doted on his "only daughter." However, the maid remembers that at some point when Bertine was ill, the stepmother asked the maid to take care of her young daughter
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2025
si on met de côté le fait que tout ce qu'elle fasse est un succès (après elle est littéralement qualifiée de génie) c'est fort sympathique et ça change !! p'tit bout de femme se démerde pour gérer sa vie, slay queen
March 24, 2024
Starting off the Young Lady’s True Calling saga, the first volume follows the usual beats for the genre as Bertine settles into her new life and sets up her business to show her natural prowess. As the volume progresses, however, it becomes clear that there’s more to the series than meets the eye.
For one, Syuu’s writing style makes for an engaging read. They let the characters speak for themselves. As a result, you become engrossed within the author’s world and the story they are trying to tell.
Secondly, whilst the opening volume’s story begins simplistic enough, it eventually develops into a more grandiose affair. With small nods to the reveal scattered throughout the novel’s first half, the realisation that Bertine’s sudden trip abroad, as well as her business dealings leading to more than just a way for her to earn a new living, adds an extra layer to the plot that’s appreciated. After all, there’s only so far a story about dealing cloth will get you!
A Pawn, A Puppet, and a Powerful Leader
With the story eventually achieving its full potential by the volume’s end, there’s one aspect of the series that is a highlight throughout – characters.
Three characters immediately jump to mind as the series’ strong suit, Bertine, Cecilio, and Rose. From the outset, at least, Bertine comes across as the typical noblewoman with an eye for business. This impression changes with time as it becomes clear that Bertine has an innate understanding of people and their circumstances.
In order to assimilate within the Federation’s society, one of her first moves as a business owner was to hire war widows. A move that showed that Bertine as more than just a sheltered noble and that she understood that war affects all parts of society.
As for Cecilio and Rose, they both end up standing out for the same reason – show-don’t-tell character introductions. Through these well-choreographed segments, we can grasp a lot of information crucial to understanding how they’ll react to any given situation as the series continues. Hopefully, this character-building will continue when introduced to other hyped characters, such as the queen of San Luenne.
Overall, Living with the Enemy’s first instalment is an excellent addition to the genre. Whilst the author’s style helps to push the series along, what makes this series stand out are its characters. Complex with well-defined motivations, they help to bring this romantic fantasy to life.
For one, Syuu’s writing style makes for an engaging read. They let the characters speak for themselves. As a result, you become engrossed within the author’s world and the story they are trying to tell.
Secondly, whilst the opening volume’s story begins simplistic enough, it eventually develops into a more grandiose affair. With small nods to the reveal scattered throughout the novel’s first half, the realisation that Bertine’s sudden trip abroad, as well as her business dealings leading to more than just a way for her to earn a new living, adds an extra layer to the plot that’s appreciated. After all, there’s only so far a story about dealing cloth will get you!
A Pawn, A Puppet, and a Powerful Leader
With the story eventually achieving its full potential by the volume’s end, there’s one aspect of the series that is a highlight throughout – characters.
Three characters immediately jump to mind as the series’ strong suit, Bertine, Cecilio, and Rose. From the outset, at least, Bertine comes across as the typical noblewoman with an eye for business. This impression changes with time as it becomes clear that Bertine has an innate understanding of people and their circumstances.
In order to assimilate within the Federation’s society, one of her first moves as a business owner was to hire war widows. A move that showed that Bertine as more than just a sheltered noble and that she understood that war affects all parts of society.
As for Cecilio and Rose, they both end up standing out for the same reason – show-don’t-tell character introductions. Through these well-choreographed segments, we can grasp a lot of information crucial to understanding how they’ll react to any given situation as the series continues. Hopefully, this character-building will continue when introduced to other hyped characters, such as the queen of San Luenne.
Overall, Living with the Enemy’s first instalment is an excellent addition to the genre. Whilst the author’s style helps to push the series along, what makes this series stand out are its characters. Complex with well-defined motivations, they help to bring this romantic fantasy to life.
October 27, 2024
The only good thing is the art.
Written by someone who did not seem to know the first thing about business, apparently I'm supposed to believe that Bertine can get into any and every kind of business venture and make it successful, just because her father is this so-called Alchemist and by virtue of genetic and proximity, she is also a business whizz kid. If you look at successful businesses, they start by specialising in a certain niche and it's only when they have grown big that they start diversifying into other areas, by creating subsidiaries and trying to acquire other businesses in those areas. I get it that the author is trying to create a feminist story of a strong independent woman, but again and again, I'm seeing this successful business venture plotline and the only principle of economics everyone seems to think apply is demand and supply.
Bertine does not encounter obstacles. Those which she does do not bloody count, because they're solved so easily. Where is the payout of seeing a character work hard and strive and fail before finally triumphing? No, everything is just plain sailing for this woman, and for even what? The characters are even telling me how incredible this woman is, how much she has changed, yada yada yada, and I'm like, biss where? There isn't any moment of catharsis in seeing a character grow because there isn't any growth taking place.
And don't get me started on the dialogues. I'm starting anyway. They're so wooden, even the table at my house has more flexibility than this. Ever play a dating sim or any game at all where you have to wait until the NPC stops babbling before you can click on your dialogue option? It feels like that. The dialogues are not necessarily long, but they are so unnatural they make the characters feel like bad actors waiting for their turn to speak up on the stage. In my friend's words whom I forced to sample this, the dialogues are the "Yes, I'll go there and do the thing immediately" kind of dialogues. Maybe it's the fault of the translator but I'm beyond caring.
No. Just no.
Written by someone who did not seem to know the first thing about business, apparently I'm supposed to believe that Bertine can get into any and every kind of business venture and make it successful, just because her father is this so-called Alchemist and by virtue of genetic and proximity, she is also a business whizz kid. If you look at successful businesses, they start by specialising in a certain niche and it's only when they have grown big that they start diversifying into other areas, by creating subsidiaries and trying to acquire other businesses in those areas. I get it that the author is trying to create a feminist story of a strong independent woman, but again and again, I'm seeing this successful business venture plotline and the only principle of economics everyone seems to think apply is demand and supply.
Bertine does not encounter obstacles. Those which she does do not bloody count, because they're solved so easily. Where is the payout of seeing a character work hard and strive and fail before finally triumphing? No, everything is just plain sailing for this woman, and for even what? The characters are even telling me how incredible this woman is, how much she has changed, yada yada yada, and I'm like, biss where? There isn't any moment of catharsis in seeing a character grow because there isn't any growth taking place.
And don't get me started on the dialogues. I'm starting anyway. They're so wooden, even the table at my house has more flexibility than this. Ever play a dating sim or any game at all where you have to wait until the NPC stops babbling before you can click on your dialogue option? It feels like that. The dialogues are not necessarily long, but they are so unnatural they make the characters feel like bad actors waiting for their turn to speak up on the stage. In my friend's words whom I forced to sample this, the dialogues are the "Yes, I'll go there and do the thing immediately" kind of dialogues. Maybe it's the fault of the translator but I'm beyond caring.
No. Just no.
June 8, 2024
Lady Bertine is the daughter of the Chancellor of the small island nation of San Luenne. Her country is allied with the mainland's Empire of Centaur. When the Empire loses the war against the Federation to the south, the king of San Luenne offered her hand in marriage as part of war reparations to the Federation, and so Bertie's own impending marriage is quickly broken off, and she is sent to the mainland. When she arrives at the estate of her future husband, she is shocked to find out that he's not at home, away dealing with a domestic crisis, and furthermore, no one was expecting her arrival. She gets a cold reception. In the end, she refuses to return home in disgrace and is determined to make a life in the Federation. There's nothing wrong with the author's writing style, but the story itself feels like a child's fairy tale - nothing permanently bad happens. There's no sense of jeopardy or suspense after the initial setup, it's smooth sailing for the MC, and it was just kind of boring (as indicated by how long it took me to read this not-epic-length book). Another disappointment is that the book cuts off abruptly without any attempt at a conclusion or transition to the sequel. Not in a rush to read the next book.
December 9, 2023
A Surprising Find!
This story surpassed my expectations and I am excitedly waiting for the next volume!
While the story follows a woman who moved to a foreign country for an arranged marriage, it truly stands out with its world, in this case, country building storyline. Instead of wedding the lady embarks to become a merchant in a country on the cusp of entering in to their industrial age . It ends with you eager to learn more and with hints of intrigues to come.
This story surpassed my expectations and I am excitedly waiting for the next volume!
While the story follows a woman who moved to a foreign country for an arranged marriage, it truly stands out with its world, in this case, country building storyline. Instead of wedding the lady embarks to become a merchant in a country on the cusp of entering in to their industrial age . It ends with you eager to learn more and with hints of intrigues to come.
September 28, 2024
2.75!
A lazy read I feel i needed. Idk if it's the translation, but some parts were written as if MC was traveling half-a-country diatances in a day, but then later in it was written the diatances took 2 weeks to travel. Kinda confusing.
Some things were very simplified, as in the MC's progress and business building. But I was here for a lazy nice read to rest the brain and that's what I've got.
A lazy read I feel i needed. Idk if it's the translation, but some parts were written as if MC was traveling half-a-country diatances in a day, but then later in it was written the diatances took 2 weeks to travel. Kinda confusing.
Some things were very simplified, as in the MC's progress and business building. But I was here for a lazy nice read to rest the brain and that's what I've got.
July 23, 2025
Probably more like a 3.5. Fairly average prose, felt more like I was reading a set play or a manga without pictures. A lot of deus ex machina that enables the protag to never really face any truly difficult obstacles. Was definitely hoping there'd be a bit more romance since I thought it would be a bit of arranged/forced marriage but there's been absolutely none. I'm still going to read the other volume of this but only because it's a relatively quick read and there's only one more.
November 30, 2023
A delightful read
I really need this novel, I can’t wait till the next one comes out… I’m very excited that it’s already been written and will be published in March. I enjoy the business acumen that is shown by the main character, and by the country that is rising. I enjoy stories where people triumph. Characters are delightful and I can’t wait to read more.
I really need this novel, I can’t wait till the next one comes out… I’m very excited that it’s already been written and will be published in March. I enjoy the business acumen that is shown by the main character, and by the country that is rising. I enjoy stories where people triumph. Characters are delightful and I can’t wait to read more.
December 11, 2024
Fun cast of characters with a well developed plot. Low stakes drama with most stressors and trauma occurring in the past. The heroine is incredibly resilient and refuses to accept defeat, so she almost seems too OP, even though she has no political power in the beginning or other obvious power, besides her incredible mind for bargaining and business-savvy.
December 22, 2024
Good interesting story
The world building is lovely and intricate with the usual light novel focus on delicious food. But there's much more going on, and the hints to the powers that be getting themselves into trouble....
All because they messed with the wrong young woman and put her in the perfect place for her to blossom and realise her own ideals.
The world building is lovely and intricate with the usual light novel focus on delicious food. But there's much more going on, and the hints to the powers that be getting themselves into trouble....
All because they messed with the wrong young woman and put her in the perfect place for her to blossom and realise her own ideals.
September 19, 2025
4 🌟 pour cette petite douceur.
Une petite cosy fantasy sans prise de tête, et où la vie et les problèmes se règlent avec la bonne volonté de notre protagoniste.
L'histoire ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard, mais sa légèreté est ce qui rend la lecture agréable.
Un vrai plaisir à lire au bord de l'eau sous un soleil chaleureux
Une petite cosy fantasy sans prise de tête, et où la vie et les problèmes se règlent avec la bonne volonté de notre protagoniste.
L'histoire ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard, mais sa légèreté est ce qui rend la lecture agréable.
Un vrai plaisir à lire au bord de l'eau sous un soleil chaleureux
December 10, 2023
💚💛💙💜
What an amazing start to a series!! I cannot wait to see what happens next. Loved the storyline and characters. Interested to see what adventures our FL goes on next and what product she ends up selling. Enjoyed the bonus side stories at the end.
What an amazing start to a series!! I cannot wait to see what happens next. Loved the storyline and characters. Interested to see what adventures our FL goes on next and what product she ends up selling. Enjoyed the bonus side stories at the end.
January 16, 2024
5 Stars
This book has everything I ever wanted in a Japanese light novel. The FL was regal in everything she did, and very respectful. I can't wait to read more about her and see her gets her revenge. I highly recommend this book.
This book has everything I ever wanted in a Japanese light novel. The FL was regal in everything she did, and very respectful. I can't wait to read more about her and see her gets her revenge. I highly recommend this book.
April 12, 2024
Fun, slight, and exactly what I felt like. Competence fantasy with a hot man looming in the background, who still entirely stays out of the way of the main character exercising agency. What's not to like.
April 26, 2024
A hidden gem
I was starting to get bored of same old manga adaptations light novel. But this one shook me. The story line was amazing. The plots are very interesting. The characters development is well thought out. Highly recommended!!
I was starting to get bored of same old manga adaptations light novel. But this one shook me. The story line was amazing. The plots are very interesting. The characters development is well thought out. Highly recommended!!
May 6, 2024
To be frank, it was fascinating learning about the whole production to transportation to consumer side of things which is not something I would normally say because I’ve no interest in the science behind a business.
December 23, 2023
Meh
A bit predictable . The writer know not about trade in that fitting cheated over a commodity price is not money leaving the country, its money not coming into the country.
A bit predictable . The writer know not about trade in that fitting cheated over a commodity price is not money leaving the country, its money not coming into the country.
May 24, 2024
It's kinda boring read for me. I'm not a business minded person so i think that made me not so uninterested in it until the female protagonist left Cecilio's mansion
May 31, 2024
Commerce 😂
October 4, 2024
Very pleasant, has great moments, feels very "grounded" in reality.
January 12, 2025
It’s the business building I liked the most. The characters and story though seemed a bit cliched?
January 14, 2025
Technically 4.5. A nice charming read with some mild political intrigue that could evolve into more in the next book.
January 24, 2025
This book was the definition of a light novel, but it kept my interest from beginning to end, so I can't complain too much. Bertine had her head screwed on straight and made logical decisions at every turn, which I appreciated. The other characters were well written but not interesting enough to be memorable — and if Bertine is going to have a romantic tie with Cecilio in the future (as the story seems to imply), I would've liked to see far more scenes between them in this volume. I'm unsure if I'll read the second (and apparently, final) volume, but it'll probably be more of a skimming situation to see what happens.
February 9, 2025
Entertaining, simple, easy to read. Loving the story so far and happy to see where it goes from here
March 18, 2025
he's just SO ugly and it's SO generic otherwise
May 1, 2025
2.5
not for me
not for me
November 14, 2024
This one is taking me a while to get through. The text is thick with concentration. Characters are deep and meaningful but we are exploring a new country with the FL and she is taking her time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews