Chapter 2

When we arrived at the palace, just as I was about to return to my room, Onee-sama, Saran, spotted me and ran over.

"Onee-sama... Please don't run in a dress like that, it's not ladylike."

"It's fine, we're at home. So, how did it go with the person you met?"

Onee-sama, calling the palace home, is truly something.

Hmm, but it's a hassle to explain.

"I couldn't meet her. She seemed to be feeling unwell."

"Is she going to be okay...?"

Onee-sama, who is about to be sent to a neighboring country as a bride, is worried.

"Shin, you know, a royal consort must be healthy, have the allure to attract men, and be able to bear many children. If she's frail or has a disease, or lacks allure, it's absolutely unacceptable. You should turn down such a girl."

"It was just a coincidence. It's not something to worry about."

"I hope so... But still..."

"Onee-sama... seems to be doing well."

Onee-sama, with her large chest and hips inherited from Mother, swayed as she patted her stomach. No, she's not showing her stomach, and she's not fat.

"Leave it to me! I'll charm the prince, bear lots of children, and dye the country of Halva with our Midland blood!"

The way she says it... I think there are better ways to say things, Onee-sama.

"Have you met the prince, Onee-sama?"

"Hmm, I think I have, but it was three years ago, and I don't remember at all."

Onee-sama studied abroad in the great country of Halva for two years. She observed the advanced country and, upon returning, devoted herself to establishing orphanages and hospitals in our country. She became famous in foreign countries, and at a party at her study abroad school, she caught the eye of the first prince of Halva, who proposed to her as a consort.

"Are you going to marry someone whose face you don't remember...?"

"Marriage and love are different. If you're a noble, you have to accept that. We've lived comfortably thanks to the people's taxes, so we must repay them."

Marriage between families. Strategic marriages to form alliances. That's how noble marriages work. It's not special. It's like breeding for better bloodlines, which might sound like horses or cows, but it's similar.

So when I was ten and Father, the king, said, "Your fiancé has been decided," I just thought, "Oh, I see."

"The fiancée is Miss Serah from the Colette Duke's family. She will come to greet you next week, so remember that."

It's a matter of order. The prince chooses his bride from among the duchess families. It just so happened that Serah, who is close to my age, was chosen in turn, with no special reason.

Onee-sama, who was once considered to marry a duke's son and become queen, was quickly decided to marry the prince of a great country for the country's benefit. The duke's son who was once her fiancé is pitiful.

"Shin, but even if there's no love, it's not normal to think it's okay. I plan to love my husband when I get married. After all, if they want me as a bride, they won't make me unhappy. Don't worry about it now."

"Yes."

"Shin, when you get engaged, make sure to make your fiancée happy and love her. If you don't, I won't be happy either."

"I will."

"Onee-sama..."

With that, Onee-sama hugged me tightly.

I can't breathe with my face pressed against her chest.

"I'm most sad that I won't be able to see you anymore..."

Tears fall on my head, and I feel like crying too.

"Let's take a bath and sleep together tonight."

"Sleeping is fine, but I don't want to take a bath."

"Why not?"

"Because you try to touch my... you know."

Onee-sama glares at me.

"I'm getting married too, so I want to know some things in advance!"

"What kind of knowledge will you get from looking at my... you know? Stop it."

"Has it grown?"

"Not yet!"

"Has it come off?"

"It hasn't! It hurts, so stop it!"

"Fine. Then I'll go with Ren."

Ren is my younger brother. I also have two younger sisters.

"Go ahead..."

I'm ten, so I should avoid taking baths with women...

"Don't be swayed by rumors. See things with your own eyes."

That's what Father, the king, says.

The king cannot rule the country alone. He makes decisions through many ministers and officials. There are many conspiracies, lies, and deceptions, and the king must decide whether to trust and act on them or see through the lies and stop them. Many people try to deceive and profit in the king's name, which would be the king's responsibility.

I must decide what to do about my engagement to Serah. I need to meet her again.

So, three days after the first tea party, I visited the Colette Duke's residence in the capital, under the pretext of a visit.

"The young lady is still in bed, confused and disoriented."

The maid, Bell, is guiding us.

Shurigan, my guard, is following happily. Well, maybe only I see his face as happy.

"I see... But I want to apologize for my rudeness the other day. I must give this to her."

I present a bouquet of roses and a basket of sweets.

"That's too kind. We should be the ones to apologize for the rudeness."

"I want to talk to her alone. Can I please see her?"

"I'll ask for the duke's permission. Please wait a moment."

Surprisingly, or rather, very happily, the Colette Duke gave his permission. Shurigan, who came with me as a guard, was asked to wait in the salon, and Bell and I went to Serah's room and knocked.

"Miss Serah, Miss Serah? Prince Shin has come to visit you. He wishes to see you."

...Silence.

"I'm going to open the door. Here we go."

This maid is amazing! She opened the door to a girl's room without her permission!

In the room, decorated with bright and cute ornaments, typical of a girl's room, Miss Serah was sitting on a canopy bed, wrapped in a blanket, wearing a negligee.

The room is dark with the curtains closed.

"I'm sorry for my appearance. I was very rude the other day. I have no words to apologize. I'm grateful that you came to visit me."

Miss Serah bows deeply on the bed. This is almost a full prostration.

Bell strides into the room and opens the curtains without permission. She's truly an amazing maid.

"Please look up. I hope you can forgive my rudeness for visiting a woman's bedroom during the day."

In terms of propriety, I'm the one who is hundreds of times more rude. But since we're both ten, it's probably okay. I'm glad we're both children.

If it were Onee-sama, even I would get kicked for entering without permission.

...The sunlight enters the room, and I see her (normal) face for the first time. She's a beautiful girl.

Her long black hair is very beautiful. Her eyes, which were wide open the other day, are now black and sparkling like jewels. She has fair skin and a slender body wrapped in a fluffy white negligee.

She's not strikingly beautiful, but she has a quiet, delicate beauty that you notice when you look closely.

She might be plain, but her modesty and grace make her seem refined. Her natural beauty is very appealing to me.

"Nice to meet you. I am Shin Midland, the first prince of the Laster Kingdom. Thank you for granting me an audience despite my sudden and impolite visit. I apologize for visiting you while you are unwell."

"Um... We've met before."

"This is our first meeting."

"The tea party..."

"Let's pretend it never happened."

The maid, Bell, looks at me with a slightly surprised face.

"I'll bring some tea."

She leaves the room.

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness."

Miss Serah bows again.

"No, no, no, no, let's not do that."

I'm getting tired of the formalities.

"Come on, now that we're alone, let's talk without all the formalities. We're supposed to be fiancés, so let's be open. We're both ten, so let's keep it simple."

I've heard that she's lively and willful. I also want to talk more naturally.

"About the engagement... If I may, I would like to... cancel it."

"Why?"

"Someone like me is unworthy to be your fiancée. I can't fulfill the role of a queen, and I must respectfully decline..."

"Did I look that bad?"

"No! No, that's not it!"

"You were really surprised when you saw me. You screamed and fainted."

"Let's pretend that never happened."

"Right."

I asked the question myself, but why am I pressing the issue? I scratch my head in confusion.

"Are you still feeling unwell?"

"I'm still dizzy... but I'm much better."

"That's good. Do you like fruit cake?"

"Yes."

"Let's eat it together. Do you have a vase?"

"Um, no..."

"Of course not. I picked these roses this morning. I'd be happy if you'd accept them."

I hand her the bouquet of roses.

She takes them with a sad, lonely, and complex expression.

"..."

Hmm, I need a topic. I don't want to be seen as a boring guy.

I open the basket and take out the cake.

"Let's eat this."

"We don't have plates..."

"We don't need them."

I offer her the basket. I move a chair to the bed and sit down, then take a slice of cake from the basket and offer it to her.

Miss Serah is silent.

"Then I'll start."

I eat it without hesitation.

"..."

Suddenly, she starts crying.

What? Why? Why?

"I'm sorry."

"Do you not like it?"

"No!"

"Why are you crying!?"

I'm flustered. Anyone would be flustered when a girl cries in front of them!

"I've seen this event before."

What event...?!!

Next: "3. What is a Villainess Lady?"