Chapter 82

"Right now, what?"

Holding the 'Black Fan', I opened it to hide my agitation.

"......No, and..."

......!

...Rejected...?

...Admit it. Honestly, I underestimated Guy. No, because I am a princess. I look like a 'little sister'! I somehow overestimated myself...! The inside? Is it the difference in the inside?

Damn. To be rejected... To be made aware of my arrogance is this.

Guy, a bit. But is this normal to reject here? It's a request from a princess? The power of a princess...! I should have acted with ease and not given the choice...!

Guy firmly shook his head from side to side.

"I am not fit for such a great role...! I fear I cannot meet Your Highness's expectations...!"

Meet them!

"Besides!"

With a serious and grave face, Guy strongly appealed.

"If you are going to ask this, there are far more suitable people than me...!"

He is making a strong argument.

A more suitable person than Guy? Is there such a person? Someone both Guy and I know?

"...Who?"

"Like, the princess's guard knight! Ah, not Lord Roberts...!"

The guard knight... The guard knight Guy is talking about... There is only one person who fits.

"...Clifford?"

Guy nodded vigorously up and down.

Clifford as a fake lover...?

"......"

I shook my head.

"No."

My tone was stronger than I thought.

As a suitable person for a fake lover, Clifford is indeed the best. In terms of 'master' and 'servant', and because I trust him.

Yet, "No" was the immediate answer.

I was surprised at how quickly and without hesitation I decided.

At the same time, a question arose.

...Why?

Because Clifford is a guard knight? Because, like previous guard knights, he might fall in love and leave somewhere? But the result of our talk to prevent that was the 'master' and 'servant' contract, and if I ask him as a job, it should be... the most suitable...

Ah, like a veil falling from my eyes, I understood.

That's why.

I don't want to.

—Because it would become an order.

If I ask Clifford to be my fake lover, it would feel like an order, and I don't want that.

I don't want him to be a fake lover by order.

Yes. That's it.

But—why do I find it unacceptable as an order when I was about to appoint Guy as a fake lover using the power of a princess?

Why is it unacceptable as an order?

"Princess Octavia...?"

Asked by Guy, who seemed hesitant, my thoughts were interrupted. Yes. I said "No" on the spot...

"—It's not acceptable for a guard knight."

I decided to add more words.

By broadening the scope of the denial, I could make it ambiguous.

"Is that so...? A guard knight...? Well, now that you mention it, indeed...? It's not exactly the same..."

Guy seemed to agree, muttering to himself. So, is it all good?

Guy nodded vigorously.

"In other words, my way of asking was not good. I understand."

"...Yes."

The conversation wasn't really matching, but...

If I press the issue, it might return to the original question of why Clifford is not acceptable.

...Yes. Anyway, I can't ask Clifford to be my fake lover.

I don't want to.

But Guy's insight is quite good. —Then.

"Who, other than a guard knight, would be suitable?"

I seek advice!

"Other than a guard knight...? No, I..."

"I want you to name the person you had in mind."

It's not something to say to a person, but I pressed on, sensing that the answer might come out if I pushed. I felt like there was an answer inside Guy!

"Then, after all, O, O..."

Guy, who seemed to have said it involuntarily, quickly clammed up. He covered his mouth. Suspicious behavior. But did the answer I sought come out?

"I apologize! I should not have said it here!"

O...? Hmm... I searched my memory. Guy's reaction was the same as before... That's it! The practice room in the castle! When I was practicing dancing with Clifford!

'I heard Princess Octavia was here—hiyaa? O!'

O... O, k.

O of Octavia? ...Me? But this interpretation only fits the practice room incident.

"—O?"

I opened my mouth to ask for the continuation, and Guy stammered, "No, that is..."

He doesn't want to say it, does he?

Then...

"I'll write the continuation here."

I encouraged him to use the invitation note and my pencil on the desk.

Guy swallowed hard. Our eyes met, and I smiled at him.

"Write the continuation of O... Is that fine?"

"Yes."

Holding the pencil, Guy hastily wrote under 'Will you be my fake lover?' He folded the paper and slid it to my side.

"I wrote it here! Please take it."

I took the folded paper.

I got the continuation of O.

—But Guy was tense. He had just rejected a proposal from a princess, so it's natural. However, he seemed even more tense after writing the continuation...? In any case, this is a backlash from trying to use the power of a princess. I need to take care of it.

"Guy"

"Y-Yes!"

"Since you answered 'No', forget my question."

"Yes! I will remember that!"

"Of course, answering 'No' will not cause any disadvantage for you in the future."

My attitude towards Guy will not change!

"You may go."

"Yes! I will take my leave."

After bowing deeply, Guy returned to the corridor.

Then, let's see... I immediately checked Guy's writing. I opened the note.

Given the flow so far, the name of a suitable person for a fake lover, recommended by Guy, should be here...? Moreover, with 'after all', it was said involuntarily, as if on the spot!

The nine characters that caught my eye were:

There, in bold,

'Obagrinunjija'

was written.

"......?"

I cast a glance at Guy, who had returned to waiting in the corridor. Our eyes did not meet.

I looked at the note again. The pencil was held tightly, and the pressure was evident. It was definitely in Esphera script.

'Obagrinunjija'

Hmm. It looks more like an ancient spell or something rather than a person's name?

Only 'O' matches.

Even that 'O' is probably just a guess that it starts with 'O'... The only characters I'm confident about are 'N' and 'O'! I think 'O' and 'N' are correct!

If this is not a prank or anything—Guy is a beginner at reading and writing. Moreover, despite the high pressure, it became terribly messy because he wrote it in a hurry? ...I can relate because I've been there. The writer is trying their best! A common issue for beginners. Probably only Guy can read it.

However, calling him back to ask him directly... "Write it so I can read it"? Isn't that a bit like harassment! Plus, it would be awkward after he rejected me!

—Let it go.

I stood up. For now—evidence destruction of 'Will you be my fake lover?'.

Into the small fireplace with the note!

With the flames, my failed attempt to recruit a fake lover was buried in darkness...

Next, next!

I turned to the door.

The next target is.

"Ereil Burn. Come in."