Dareka Kono Joukyou wo Setsumei shite Kudasai! Keiyaku kara Hajimaru Wedding
Can Someone Please Explain What's Going On?!

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-I might update this as I get further into reading~
-Minor spoilers to set examples.

Introduction

There are quuuuite a few light novels centering on an unassuming (and extremely relatable) “normie” girl suddenly being thrust into a dream-like situation involving highborn nobles, many in which are handsome young men. Most of these are usually isekai and give the heroine a much more dramatic position in the plot, but this one is a lot more chill, and quite funny at that. So if you're here for drama, you might want to sit this one out.

Plot/Atmosphere

"Can Someone Please Explain What's Going On?!" (which is definitely not the actual translation of ... the title) focuses strictly on Viola (or Vi) and her everyday shenanigans in a famed knight's (and duke) home. As the synopsis already mentions, she gets whisked away with a contract, so there are no relations between her and Mr. Fisalis, just a mutual understanding with money involved. Most of the time is spent with Vi commentating on Mr. Fisalis' home, his maids and other staff, and how much she totally doesn't deserve any of it (in a hilariously self-deprecating way that would probably put the most humble of people to shame). In fact, she has a lot more fun dressing up as a maid herself and cleaning/remodeling the vacant home (much to the shock of the maids, and without the knowledge of Mr. Fisalis, of course). The story is written in first-person, so we get a lot of out Vi's monologues, and every situation is dramatically represented as her imagination wills it.

There are some sub plots that slowly uncover, like how Mr. Fisalis is using Vi so he can go off with his mistress, in which many of the maids believe is some sort of man eater. Mistress Calendula adds tension to the plot as she continues to try to get in touch with Vi, but has no luck considering the woman in question greets her in a maid's uniform and obviously gets confused as much (gag stories, amirite?).

Despite the predictability of the plot as far as the reader can call it, the story moves at such a slow pace that it begs to be enjoyed as one would enjoy any slice of life. It isn't meant to be taken too seriously.

Characters

With all that time spent at the palace, we get to know a handful of characters, including two maids (the head maid, and Vi's personal maid), a butler, the head cook and the gardener. So far, none of the characters are special, and are mostly there to inform Vi of happenings or add to her vivid imaginings of the Fisalis home. None are dull or annoying, at the very least, but don't expect too much from the supporting cast. Mr. Fisalis himself is barely around and is mostly a quiet and serious guy, at least so far. Mistress Calendula is the antithesis to Vi, what with a haughty and loud demeanor, and confidence for days. She also serves as a clever gateway to know another side to Mr. Fisalis we otherwise wouldn't get. Vi is the real star here, however, and thankfully so, since we spend all of our time exclusively in her head.

Art/Quality

As a light novel, there isn't too much to mention art-wise. The characters are drawn with good detail but are otherwise generic-looking and can be guessed their role/vocation by design alone (which isn't really a bad thing). There are a handful of illustrations throughout that do the job of showcasing scenes, but it may not encourage a "wow."

The writing itself is very basic. It serves the plot and its characters just fine, but don't think you'll be impressed by any of it (or reaching out for a dictionary every few pages like I usually would, ehe////), it's much less prose and more like a written diary of an energetic and goofy girl. The choice of first-person narrative heightens the experience and helps the reader connect with Vi.

All in All...

"Can Someone Please Explain What's Going On?!" can be a whole lot of fun if your standards aren't too high. If following a girl through the life of nobility with a keen sense of sarcasm, as well as a penchant for overdressing a scenario sounds fun to you, then you might want in. We all know where it might end up, but that's one of the main reasons to pick up something you know you might enjoy, right?

Note: Dropped this after ~2.1 volumes read.

Don't be fooled by the book's title. Everything is perfectly understandable, both to the reader and the characters themselves. We all know what's going on, in fact, so much so that it's hard to understand where the title even derives from.

Viola, daughter of an earnest but down-on-their-luck Earl, recieves a betrothal proposal from the most important Duke of the kingdom. How is it possible? Viola can count on one hand the amount of noble events she has attended since her debut, is rather lacking in the beauty department, and her family is deep in debt. There is nothing desirable ... about her; what is going on??? Except that in the next scene, the Duke comes to her house and explains what's going on in clearly laid-out terms. He needs a noble show-wife so that he can stay with his lover of dubious pedigree, and he is willing to give her and her family an otherwise happy life.

And... that's it. Viola accepts the mutually beneficial contract, and the rest of the story revolves around the Duke falling in love with Viola in the most obvious and explicit way possible. For in fact, it turns out that Viola was actually a Mary Sue in disguise; an ugly duckling turned into a swan, a lady-of-the-house in perfect control of the largest manor in the kingdom, and with the capability to extract the best of her talented people. However, our dear protagonist, decides to interpret every explicit romantic move of his as an inexplicable action, and every compliment to be flattery, no matter who or how many say it.

The story goes nowhere. The only hinted-at end-game is that they eventually form a happy couple after volumes of misunderstandings and forced drama. The characters are flat, with barely any other personality other than lovey-dovey and extreme loyalty. The protagonist doesn't extend past 'homebody' and 'hates extravagance', and the love interest is essentially an extremely competent (work-only) manchild.

Something that threw me off quite a bit, which I can't explicitly confirm if it's a matter of translation, but I'd assume not given the frequency of the happenings, is the anachronism of the writing at times. We're supposedly in a medieval-like society, yet the narration keeps making modern references, such as 'helicopter parenting', 'war flashbacks', or 'man the battlestations'.

All things said, I'd say the first volume is readable, but the second does not inspire confidence that the story is going to improve by any measure, and the forced drama in its latter half (broken vase, cheating rumor) solidified my waning interest. I don't understand how this series has 9+ volumes.