Chapter 9

I wonder how many more rooms like this there are.

I gaze out the window, lost in thought. By the way, the window is so small that no one can fit through it. It seems they moved me here as a reflection of what happened last time. How terrible.

Without a care for my sigh, Maria pours tea into a cup.

"There seem to be a few of them. Apparently, they were prepared a long time ago for the many nobles who defied the royal family. They say they aren't used now."

"...Isn't that a bit ominous?"

"Apparently, no one has died in these rooms."

"But didn't they die outside the rooms...?"

I can't, I can't think about that! If I do, this castle will turn into a haunted house!

"What? That sounds fun."

The ditzy girl laughs as if it's someone else's problem and pops a baked good into her mouth. That's mine, by the way.

"Tell me if you see a ghost."

"You can verify it anytime after you marry the prince."

"No way."

The ditzy girl firmly refuses.

"I can't even complete the princess education, so it's impossible for me to become a princess. If I did, it would become a diplomatic issue."

"You'll get used to it eventually. In about ten years, you'll be perfect."

"But by then, I'll be way past my prime."

The ditzy girl slurps her tea. Stop making noise.

Noticing my reproachful gaze, the ditzy girl takes her mouth off the tea.

"Look, this is what you get with just basic manners. I do try to be careful, but I can't drink as silently as you."

"Ten years will be fine!"

"I don't want to spend ten years on it!"

The ditzy girl reaches for another baked good. Fine, eat and get fat as much as you want.

"Oh, and I've been talking about the princess education I received."

"Huh?"

Confused, I look at her, and the ditzy girl grins.

"In society, I've been telling everyone about what princess education is like and how strict it is."

"Why?"

"Obviously, to improve your reputation."

"Huh?"

I voice my confusion, and the ditzy girl puffs out her chest.

"The prince said I could talk about it as much as I wanted, and he even asked me to. This was probably the goal from the start when he had me go through the princess education. Thanks to me, you're now seen as a diligent young lady who endured ten years of harsh princess education. Isn't that great?"

"Not great at all!?"

What are you doing!?

"Thanks to this, there should be almost no one who opposes making you a princess. Well, it seems there are hardly any opponents anyway because you were serious about it. Your status isn't a problem either. In the city, it will surely become a popular love story about a beautiful noble lady and a prince!"

"Stop it!"

"It's too late to stop it; the word has already spread."

Ugh, ugh, ugh.

Killing intent wells up as I look at the always-smiling ditzy girl. What are you doing, I don't even want to get married!

"You should just give up already."

"No way!"

"You're not a child anymore, so stop throwing tantrums."

"It's not that simple."

I retort, feeling indignant.

"I haven't had any free time since I was seven. The more I remember the fun life I used to have, the more I long for it. It's inevitable."

For ten years, I had been dreaming of freedom. It's not that simple to give up.

All the fun games were forbidden, and I lost the time to play with friends. Every day, I went to the castle for guidance, was scolded for any mistakes, and even cried over it. My only hope was to regain my freedom someday.

"You won't get complete freedom even if you get married."

While looking at my sulky face, the ditzy girl takes a baked good.

"You..."

She puts the baked good in her mouth.

"You've become quite bitter, haven't you?"

"Don't say that!"