Chapter 37

Inviting Lady Sandika and Miss Schrengen, Misha and I held a welcoming tea party. This is the first time I’ve had a formal conversation with Miss Schrengen. I decided to start with a common topic.

“There’s something I want to apologize for to the two of you.”

“...Apologize?”

When I said this, it seemed they didn’t know what I was referring to, and they both looked puzzled. It’s fine. It’s not a serious matter, so let’s start with a light conversation.

“It must be quite a challenge to deal with Brother Carlos. Since the two of you are related to him in some way... I, as a family member, would like to apologize for Brother Carlos’s eccentricities.”

“Eccentricities?”

Lady Sandika tilted her head.

“Yes. Brother Carlos seems to be unable to graduate from his adolescent phase... He still puts on an affected attitude sometimes.”

“Adolescent... phase?”

“Yes.”

I put on a slightly affected expression and then dramatically flicked my bangs with my palm.

“‘Angeline, I have something to apologize for to you. But I shouldn’t apologize. Huh... Being a noble is tough. As a duke... as the truth of the stars...’”

I imitated Brother Carlos. Misha, who is used to it, covered her mouth and laughed softly. Lady Sandika and Miss Schrengen looked bewildered.

“I don’t understand. Does he want to apologize or not? His way of speaking is like smoke... I think he believes it’s ‘cool.’ I think that’s Brother Carlos’s ‘trend.’ Yes. It’s embarrassing to think that he behaves like that outside...”

Yes, really. I wish he would graduate from that phase sooner. But, apparently, if you criticize him too strongly from the outside, it just makes things worse. I can only watch over Brother Carlos during this period.

“Um...”

When I consulted with Lord Ash, he said, “Every boy goes through such a phase. It’s best to watch over them with a warm heart and a long-term perspective. Otherwise, it might make things worse in the future.”

By the way, my imitation of Brother Carlos is very popular with Lady Aria. On the other hand, Elke and the border knights look at me with pained, uncomfortable expressions, saying, “Please stop...”

So, after graduating from the Royal Academy, there will be my ‘wedding’ with Lord Ash, and Brother Carlos is also invited.

The people from the border will probably look at Brother Carlos with a lukewarm gaze, saying, “Ah, that...” Even now, when Carlos occasionally meets someone from Baltsline, they respond with a lukewarm gaze, saying, “Ah, the one I’ve heard about...”

As for Lord Ash’s reaction, it was, “...Angeline, that’s enough.” He seems to be on the side of the observers. When I asked if he had gone through a similar phase, he dodged the question. Yes, well. So, I’ll keep this as a standard family story and not delve further.

However, this time, because the two of you are here. Since one of you might become Brother Carlos’s partner, I decided to share this with you.

“Yes. So, I want the two of you to understand that Brother Carlos has this side to him. I hope you can be considerate of him.”

Well, maybe it’s because he’s a duke’s son, but if someone else did that, they would be called a ‘weirdo,’ I guess.

“...I haven’t seen that side of him yet.”

“That’s fortunate. Hehehe.”

I smiled brightly. At least, Lady Sandika seemed surprised. She doesn’t seem to be upset. Brother Carlos’s adolescent phase was useful. As for Miss Schrengen...

“...Miss Schrengen?”

She was staring at me in a daze. It seems she wanted to meet me this time.

“Did you get a shock? Of course, he usually refrains from such behavior. You don’t need to worry about his work. Our father is properly overseeing that.”

As the heir of the ducal family, Father is making sure he develops the necessary skills. There shouldn’t be any problems at this point. If there were, I would have been informed.

“...Ah, uhm, no. It’s just that... Princess Steizen is different from what I imagined. I was surprised. I apologize.”

“Me? Hehe. Come to think of it, I haven’t spoken to Miss Schrengen before. I’m glad we could talk this time.”

The Schrengen family decided to have a guardian in the Rodeic family. So, Lady Sandika and she are in a similar relationship to Misha and me.

She used to be at the top of her class. The education for the queen is probably quite strict. Her grades have dropped a bit, but she’s still in the top 30, which is quite impressive.

Moreover, she has continued to receive the queen’s education without giving up. So, even if she doesn’t become Prince Leonhardt’s partner or Brother Carlos’s partner, her value as a lady is already demonstrated.

...But if I praise her on this point, it might come off as condescending. After all, I am currently the top student in the third year. I have also been the top student in all three end-of-term exams in the second year.

Yes, if I can be the top student in the second and third semesters of the third year, I will have a prestigious record of being the top student throughout my school years. Even now, it’s impressive, but I can’t let my guard down.

“This time, Brother Carlos said he wanted you to meet Miss Schrengen. Did you have something to ask me?”

“It’s not a matter of business. I just... I just wanted to meet you. I wanted to talk to you, Princess Steizen. I wanted to know what kind of person you are. What you think...”

“Eh?”

What does she mean? What about me caught her interest so much? I exchanged glances with Misha and then looked at Lady Sandika, who tried to avoid the question.

It seems that the feelings she just expressed are not part of Lady Sandika’s or Rodeic’s plans, but are personal to Miss Schrengen.

“Do you want to talk? I don’t mind. What would you like to ask me?”

“...Yes. I’ve heard that you were once engaged to Prince Leonhardt.”

“Oh, you know about that?”

“...Yes.”

Prince Leonhardt’s infatuation with her is a well-known story. Well, since he doesn’t have a fiancée, being devoted to one woman is commendable.

As for Miss Schrengen’s feelings for the prince... they are a mystery. Of course, due to her status, she can’t clearly express her feelings to the crown prince. However, since Lady Sandika is protecting her and she continues the queen’s education, it is assumed that she has the intention.

Lady Sandika’s protection is also a reason for the current situation. After all, she is a baron’s daughter. If Lady Sandika didn’t protect her, there would probably be some... pressure.

It’s pointless to think about what I would do in her situation. Anyway, she seems to be concerned about the fact that I had such a story.

Lady Sandika seems to have moved on. As another duchess, I think she wanted to know what I think about Prince Leonhardt.

“Yes, there was a time when such a proposal was made. I am a duchess, after all. But...”

“...Yes.”

“I am currently engaged to Lord Ash, the Margrave of Baltsline. I am nothing more and nothing less than that. I will not form a connection with Prince Leonhardt or the Veltsuri royal family. I have no intention of doing so. The only person I love as a man is Lord Ash.”

Without lying. I wanted her to feel reassured. I shared my true feelings with her.

“...!”

“Hehe. And the same goes for the Steizen family. It’s impossible for me to form a connection with the prince now. No royal family would try to take a lady who is about to marry a margrave in half a year.”

“...Do you have no feelings for the prince, Princess Steizen?”

“No, I have none. The person I admire is Lord Ash. I didn’t have many opportunities to interact with Prince Leonhardt... Besides...”

“Besides?”

I smiled and spoke to Miss Schrengen gently, as if advising her.

“I don’t think I would like Prince Leonhardt.”

“...You don’t like him?”

“Yes. After meeting Lord Ash, I realized that I prefer someone strong, or rather, someone manly. Prince Leonhardt, well, from my perspective... Yes. Of course, I respect him as a royal. But I have no interest in him as a man.”

“Prince Leonhardt... You have no interest in him, Princess Angeline?”

Oh. She called my name. Was it unconscious because she was in a daze? Well, she probably calls me by my name when we’re not face-to-face.

“Merck. You don’t have permission to call Princess Angeline by her name.”

Lady Sandika reprimanded her before I could.

“A, I’m sorry, Princess Steizen.”

“No, it’s fine.”

But, come to think of it. What if... She has a chance to become the prince’s or Brother Carlos’s partner. It might be good to get closer to her to some extent. Even if I leave the capital.

“...It’s fine. Do you find it easier to call me by my name? If so, you can call me Angeline.”

“Thank you, Princess Angeline.”

“Hehe. You don’t need to be so formal.”

The thing she wanted to know was my stance on Prince Leonhardt. Since she was in a daze, I didn’t push her too hard. It’s best to leave it to Lady Sandika.

There’s no particular unpleasant impression. I think she’s quite cute. Just a bit... but that’s probably because she’s nervous about meeting a princess for the first time.

“Miss Schrengen, can I call you by your name too?”

“Yes! Of course, Princess Angeline.”

“Hehe. Thank you. Then, Merck, Lady Sandika, I have some new pastries. Please enjoy them.”

I instructed the maid to arrange them in an easy-to-eat manner and demonstrated by eating one myself.

“Did you get the answer you wanted from me, Merck?”

“Eh, well...”

“Yes?”

“Princess Angeline... Do you know about a country called ‘Japan’?”

Huh? Japan? A country?

I tilted my head.

“Japan? I’ve never heard of it. Where is it?”

“...Yes, that’s right...”

When I answered, Merck looked disappointed. Oh, it seems I didn’t meet her expectations.

“Where is this country? Merck?”

“It’s... like my homeland...”

“Like?”

“Yes. A place like a dream I saw when I was young. If...”

“Yes?”

“If I were chosen by Prince Leonhardt...”

Lady Sandika reacted to those words. Misha and I also reacted but maintained a calm smile.

“I might be able to use the knowledge of that country... to bring new ideas. Things that don’t exist in this country. I don’t know if they can be realized, but...”

“Yes...”

In other words, she is saying to us, the duchesses, that she has a vision for her future as a queen. So, she’s more ambitious than I thought.

Even as a baron’s daughter. She’s not content with just being a queen and being loved by a prince. She has the ambition to improve this Veltsuri kingdom.

“Hehe. So, you have something you want to do... after becoming a queen?”

“No, it’s just that... there might be something I can do.”

“That’s good. You wouldn’t have been able to work this hard if you didn’t have such goals. You must understand by now that a queen is not just someone who is loved by a prince or a king.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Merck said this with a serious expression. Yes, her eyes and expression are clear, even in front of a duchess. She is a promising woman. I’m glad. Another woman who can support the kingdom has appeared.

“Actually...”

“Yes?”

“I wished... that you, Princess Angeline, also had memories of that ‘Japan.’”

“Me?”

I tilted my head. Of course, I don’t know such a country. I couldn’t think of anything in my memory.

“Yes. I wanted to talk about my homeland... even a little bit.”

“...I see. But it’s a shame. I don’t know the name of the country. Is it even a real country? Isn’t it just something in your heart?”

“I don’t know. I can’t prove it. But it’s not impossible that someone knows about it. And if anyone knew, it would be you, Princess Angeline. But it wasn’t. It was all just my imagination... Now, I can finally... truly end it. Thank you, Princess Angeline. I’m glad I could talk to you today.”

Merck had an expression of resignation. Her eyes were slightly teary. Oh dear.

“Merck, please don’t be upset. I’m sorry I couldn’t help. If you have any worries, I’m here to listen...”

“No, no... It’s okay. I just thought it was necessary to move forward. To accept my feelings... and to make a decision, it was necessary, I thought.”

She smiled, looking troubled. Her expression, even with tears, was heart-wrenching.

We tried to comfort her, and at that moment...

“–Angeline! Have you finally shown your true colors!”

A loud voice echoed, and an uninvited guest entered the ducal family’s courtyard. Who could do such a thing? Yes, it was...

“Prince Leonhardt!? Why...!”

Merck called out his name in surprise. Yes, standing there was the crown prince of the Veltsuri Kingdom, Prince Leonhardt Veltsuri.