Our story begins...
...in a small village, taxmen stealing from the poorest and the king doing nothing to stop them, where our protagonist inhabits. Tori, a twenty-four-year-old homeless woman ever since her upper class family left her in the local community garden when she was five years old. Ever since, she'd always been self-sufficient; although lacking employment and money, she'd always found a work-around.
Various men had been asking her out on dates and for marriage, but there's something about love and dating that meant Tori wasn't interested; she's asexual and aromantic. Also, she's always been the adventurous type, never sticking around to hear the latest gossip or dating someone, Tori would always go out, helping those in need, visiting places that she'd been to before or finding new and different places to explore.
But today, she was forced to remain dormant, stuck in her home village working as a courtier for Lady Mari, the current female leader of Tori's home. Lady Mari has been looking for a husband for ten years and is reaching the age when she can't have children. Unfortunately for Tori, today she's the one who Mari has chosen to play matchmaker and Mari is very picky when it comes to men.
'Oh great, not this again...' Tori thinks to herself, completely hating the task at hand
"So, Ms. Tori Harrison, do you have any suggestions as to who I should date?" Lady Mari asks
"Umm... to be honest, I don't have a clue, milady. You need to find someone who is compatible with you and your... eccentric tastes." Tori admits, saying the same thing that other courtiers have said before
"What do you mean?"
"Translation, be yourself and see who likes you for you and not your social status, milady. You'll be sure to find someone that way."
'What would I know about dating? I've never done it in my life.' Tori thinks to herself
"Are you sure that is a good idea?"
"Yes, it's worked with everyone else. I don't see why it wouldn't work with you, milady. Just make sure to not go overboard."
"Explain, overboard."
'Ugh, is this aristocrat really that dumb?' Tori thinks to herself
"I mean, don't go over the top with expressing yourself, such as expensive dresses and accessories. Anything considered over the top and you'll end up staying single. Like the dress and makeup you're wearing now, those things are pushing people away because those things are too flashy."
"Meaning...?"
"What I mean is, tone down the looks and go for something simplistic, eye-catching but not too out there, milady."
'Yep, she really is that dumb...' Tori mentally facepalms, in embarrassment
After a while, and no match made, Tori and Lady Mari return to the court scene. Soon, Tori's friend, Carrie comes down to her.
"Hey, girl. How was... the lady?" Carrie asks
"Well, all I can say is she's not very clever. Also, yet again, no match made." Tori responds
"How picky was she?"
"Not picky at all, she was asking for dating advice."
"From someone that doesn't date, that's a first."
"I agree with you, Carrie."
After the conversation, Tori goes to her bed chamber and lays on her bed, staring at the ceiling before falling asleep shortly after, unaware of what the next six months will hold.