Chapter 28

When Lute returned, his right arm didn’t move at all.

It looked perfectly healed, but he couldn’t move it.

Kneeling before His Majesty, Lute’s voice was steady and fluent as he reported on the mission.

“You did well, Lute. It’s a shame about your arm.”

“It’s my own fault. Fortunately, none of the soldiers were injured.”

“The Second Knight Regiment should also get some rest. You did a great job.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

After the audience with His Majesty, Lute called out to me.

“Jinklett, you’re not blaming yourself, are you?”

“Lute! Let’s have the court mage take a look! There might still be a chance to heal it!”

Lute sighed and smiled.

“I already had it checked. The mages of the Second Knight Regiment agree. There’s no hope for further recovery.”

“Such...”

I was filled with despair.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve given up on my right arm. I’ll train my left and return to being a knight.”

“Lute, I’m sorry. If I had gone, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Why would you apologize? Are you saying you would have done better than me?”

I shook my head at Lute’s teasing words.

“No! If I had gone after the ball, this wouldn’t have happened!”

“Jinklett!”

Lute’s stern voice silenced me.

“Thinking about what could have been won’t change the outcome. Accept the result and think about what to do next.”

“But...”

Lute patted my shoulder and smiled wryly.

“Prince Lute.”

A woman’s voice interrupted us.

“Lady Yulisia...”

Lute looked at her with a slightly troubled expression. I was puzzled. Despite being his fiancée, why did Lady Yulisia look at him with such a cold gaze?

“Congratulations on your safe return. ...Well, I can’t really say you’re safe, can I?”

She glanced at Lute’s arm and sniffed.

“This morning, my father informed His Majesty that he wishes to annul our engagement.”

“I’ve heard. It’s a shame.”

What? Annul the engagement? Lute and Lady Yulisia were breaking off their engagement? They seemed so well-matched...

“My father, of course, found it difficult to accept a husband who can’t use one arm. I suppose it was just not meant to be. Oh, Prince Jinklett!”

Lady Yulisia turned to me and flashed a dazzling smile. Her honeyed voice sent a chill down my spine.

“I was disappointed you left the ball early! I was going to introduce you to one of my cousins! ...But perhaps it’s for the best that I didn’t. Prince Jinklett, would you like to have a quiet chat with me?”

She wrapped her arms around my arm and smiled seductively. I was filled with disgust and shook her off.

“Get off, you’re creepy! Do you have no sense of propriety?”

In front of Lute, I said such a thing!

“W-What a terrible thing to say!”

Lady Yulisia clutched her chest, her face red.

“I’m sorry, Lady Yulisia. My brother doesn’t like greedy types.”

Lute smiled gently and patted my shoulder.

“However, the annulment was accepted this morning. Why are you here?”

A noble’s daughter wouldn’t come to the castle uninvited.

“I-I came to have tea with Her Majesty as usual!”

“That was part of your fiancée education. Since you’re no longer my fiancée, there’s no need for you to come.”

“I-I came for Prince Jinklett!”

“This is His Majesty’s decision, and it has been communicated to Lord Zanet. There will be no further ties between the Zanet family and the royal family. I’m sorry. Someone! Lady Zanet is leaving! Please escort her.”

The cold-faced head maid and the royal guards surrounded Lady Yulisia and led her away.

“Lord Zanet suggested to His Majesty that your fiancé be changed from me to you. His Majesty was furious.”

Lute smiled wryly. His smile was painful to see, and my heart ached.

As far as I knew, Lute and Lady Yulisia had been getting along well. It was a shock to learn about her character, but Lute had cared for her.

“Really. We’re back to being without a fiancée.”

Lute said this playfully, but I couldn’t look at his face.

Because of me, Lute’s right arm was useless, and I had taken away the person he loved.

Lute’s future and happiness had been stolen because of my rash actions.

◇◇◇

“Since then, I haven’t had a proper conversation with Lute. I’ve ruined everything. I can’t face him. I rarely return to the castle and go on long investigations or monster hunts.”

Jin whispered this while holding me in front of the campfire. My heart was pounding in his arms. I tried to calm down so he wouldn’t notice. What should I do?

“Shina, are you disappointed? I’m the fourth prince of Marita Kingdom, and I’m such a foolish and terrible man.”

Jin’s silly question distracted me. I tried to clear my mind and regain my composure.

Usually, Jin would notice if I was acting strange, but today he seemed preoccupied with his own feelings. That was good. I didn’t want him to notice yet.

After regaining my composure, I reconsidered what Jin had said. The conclusion: it was full of things to comment on.

I turned to face Jin, cupping his face in my hands. He blushed as I stared at him silently.

“S-Shina?”

Jin closed his eyes. Why did he close his eyes?

I tightened my grip and headbutted him hard.

“Ouch!”

“A-Are you okay, Shina!?”

Stars were flying out of my eyes! It hurt! Is he made of stone? And Jin, did he feel nothing?

“Damn! Is Jin’s head as tough as a lion’s...!”

“W-What did you do, Shina? Did you try to kiss me and our heads bumped?”

Kiss? No way! Why would I give my first kiss to a tough lion?

“It’s completely different! I was trying to give you a headbutt to snap you out of it, but I got the worse end of it!”

I felt deflated. I’m as foolish as Jin. I should have slapped him.

“Foolish? Snap out of it?”

Jin’s face was full of question marks.

“Because, Lute is pitiful. He lost his dominant arm and was dumped by his fiancée.”

“Y-Yeah... It’s all my fault...”

“And he’s being avoided by his beloved younger brother for a ridiculous reason.”

“Huh? But I... I can’t face him.”

“It’s not because you feel guilty. If a close brother is being avoided for such a reason, it’s pitiful, isn’t it?”

“But...”

“In battle, anything can happen. Even with the best preparation, things can go wrong because of monsters. You go on monster hunts knowing you might die. Thinking that if you had gone, Lute wouldn’t have lost his arm is just a hypothetical. You might have been eaten by a snake.”

“...But Lute must hate me. I’m the reason he lost his arm and his fiancée. It’s only natural for him to hate and despise me.”

I sighed deeply.

“Maybe. Lute might have felt a moment of resentment deep down. But can’t you let him punch you until he feels better, or accept all his complaints and still want to be friends? Saying you can’t face him is just an excuse to run away. Lute is pitiful.”

Listening to this, and seeing how Jin is usually treated by Prince Alan, I think it would be hard for a beloved younger brother to be avoided like this.

“So, after breaking up with his fiancée, did Lute get engaged to someone else?”

“Yes! To Saria, the second daughter of the Lyle family, a friend of Lute’s from his school days. She’s gentle and understanding about Lute’s arm, and even studies massage. They get along well and are planning to get married next harvest season!”

“That’s great. Meeting such a wonderful person means the breakup was for the best.”

I smiled, and Jin looked surprised.

“T-That’s true. But thinking about how he could have been happy with Yuliana...”

“I think it’s better that he didn’t marry someone who would run away at the last minute. Even in a political marriage, such a partner isn’t trustworthy, is it?”

“...Y-Yeah...”

“Also, there’s someone who feels even worse than Lute and you.”

“Huh?”

“Lute got injured protecting a subordinate, right? That subordinate must feel terrible, thinking they caused a royal to lose their dominant arm and strained the relationship between brothers. Is that subordinate still in Lute’s regiment?”

“Y-Yes. Lute’s aide, Rend!”

“Aide! Like Barry to Jin or Jean to Prince Alan? Wow.”

Just imagining it, the discomfort. An aide is always by Lute’s side, seeing the strained relationship with Jin. They must feel terrible. Poor them.

“Jin, no more hugging until you make up with Lute. No touching either!”

“Huh?”

I jumped away from Jin, crossed my arms in front of my chest, and made an X.

“If it’s cold from tomorrow, I’ll sit on Prince Alan’s lap. Make up quickly.”

“Wh-What? Shina?”

Prince Alan has said, “Come sit on my lap sometimes.” I’m not joking; it’s for real.

Recently, Jin has been touching me all the time, so a no-touching rule will be hard for him. Hahaha. I’ll gradually get him used to not touching me.

Also, if I don’t say this, this tough lion might drag out the reconciliation.

From then on, my usual spot was on Prince Alan’s or Barry’s lap. They were happy to let me sit there after I explained the situation. It was good to have such friendly royals and nobles. I thought I didn’t need to sit on their laps since there were cushions, but I did it to show Jin.

Jin was deflated the whole way to the capital. I was carried happily by Prince Alan, and my self-esteem was also deflated. We were even.

But thanks to this, perceptive Jin didn’t notice my true feelings. I was relieved to have some time to think.