A girl who thought she had no talent actually possessed a special power that no one had noticed. Just hearing such a premise makes you curious about what happens next, but “Mujikaku Seijo wa Kyou mo Muishiki ni Chikara wo Tare Nagasu” does not end with a simple reversal of fortunes. It is a popular Japanese light novel by Almond, with cumulative series sales exceeding 2 million copies. It won the Encouragement Award at the “2nd Earth Star Novel Grand Prix” and has even been confirmed for an anime adaptation. The long title contains quite a few secrets of the story, but the very question of “So, when will she herself realize her power?” serves as an enticing entry point that makes you want to keep reading.

In the Duke Sanchez household, there are two sisters. The older sister, Flora, possesses both beauty and intelligence, making her a brilliant presence expected by those around her to be a candidate for Saint. In contrast, the younger sister, Carolina, has been treated as a plain “dropout” with no talent. Being constantly compared to an excellent older sister, it is no wonder that she loses confidence in herself. Carolina also harbored a strong sense of inferiority, spending her days thinking she had no great worth. It is precisely because of this starting point that the process of her later being accepted in a new land touches the heart. Rather than suddenly becoming an all-powerful protagonist, there is a warmth unique to this story in how she gradually changes her view of herself through encounters with others.

What came floating into Carolina's hands was a marriage proposal with Edward, the second prince of the neighboring country. Moreover, the purpose was a political marriage to adjust relations between the two countries. Furthermore, Edward even has unsettling rumors of being “savage” and “unparalleled in cruelty.” Even so, Carolina accepts the marriage to protect her country, saying “If I can be of service.” This is an interesting aspect of her character; even if she has lost confidence, she has not lost her kindness or determination to be useful to someone. And ironically, this very decision, which seemed full of anxiety, becomes the door that greatly transforms her closed-off life.

Though she was supposed to have set off for the neighboring country prepared for marriage with a terrifying person, the actual Edward was a gentlemanly prince, different from the image imagined from the rumors. Furthermore, Carolina comes to be properly evaluated as a human being by her new family as well. For her, who had always been judged by the ruler of “being inferior to her older sister,” it must have been a fresh experience. By having people who acknowledge her, Carolina herself gradually changes as well. Precisely because Edward is also a person carrying clumsiness, their relationship is not merely one of being unilaterally protected. It can be enjoyed as a story of love where a fallen noble lady and an clumsy prince draw closer and find happiness together.

And what moves the story significantly is the mysterious power residing in Carolina. Despite her older sister Flora being thought to be the Saint candidate, Carolina's hidden power becomes clear in the new land. Moreover, she herself is not fully aware of how special she is. This aspect of being “unconscious” is an important charm that also connects to the title. Meanwhile, around that time, Flora, who remained in the kingdom, experiences one ailment after another. The evaluations surrounding the sisters, and what was actually hidden within. As that discrepancy gradually comes to light, it makes you want to follow the story to find out “what the common sense believed until now actually was.”

What is impressive about this work is not just that Carolina possessed a special power. The great charm lies precisely in how she herself changes by being seen properly by someone. Comparison with her sister, a political marriage, a prince rumored to be terrifying, and the power of a Saint. At first glance, it is a life full of trouble, but for the girl who had not been able to find a place to belong until then, setting off for the neighboring country was also the beginning of knowing her true self. What will Carolina, who thinks “I have nothing,” find through her time with Edward and her new family? It is a work where a story of self-affirmation and affection breathes firmly within a brilliant Saint fantasy.