Chapter 22

After the tea party, I returned to the main house in a carriage.

Ah, it was nice to have a tea party after a long time.

Although some troublesome things happened, I enjoyed them as well.

Later, I should check how the relationship between Eira and Oline has developed and what the Arkla Marquis family will do to the Dianu Baron family.

It's already around evening, but there’s nothing special I need to do today.

I also had Lauro come back to the main house with me, but it might be fine for him to return to the house where those children are waiting.

Leo and Rena must be waiting for Lauro too.

Thinking this, I held Lauro's hand as I got off the carriage.

Then, Maimi, the maid, came out from the main house and approached me.

She seems to be in a hurry. Did something happen?

"Ah, Asaria-sama! You've finally returned!"

"Yes, I'm back, Maimi. The tea party was very enjoyable."

"Y-Yes, that's good... but! It's a serious matter!"

"What happened?"

Maimi glanced back at the main house and then spoke in a slightly lower voice.

"T-The Crown Prince is here."

"Really? Crown Prince Louis?"

"Yes, that's right."

I was a bit surprised too.

Crown Prince Louis has never come to the main house.

If we were to meet, I would usually go to the palace.

Well, since he is from the royal family and I am from a dukedom, it’s natural for me to visit him.

Still, even as a Crown Prince, it would be normal for him to come to the house of his fiancée.

In fact, the Crown Prince before the regression used to go to Oline's house.

We are still engaged, but I never thought the Crown Prince would come to my house.

But, isn’t this too sudden?

"Did you receive any notice before the Crown Prince's visit?"

"N-No, not at all. He came here about an hour ago, unexpectedly."

"I see."

Just because he is the Crown Prince, it doesn’t mean he can come without making an appointment.

It seems that Crown Prince Louis still looks down on the Spencer Dukedom.

"What is the purpose of his visit?"

"He said he came to see his fiancée, Asaria-sama."

"Did Crown Prince Louis say that?"

"Yes."

"Is there any other purpose?"

"He didn’t mention anything else."

"I see."

Did he really come just to see me? I can’t understand his intentions.

But he has been waiting here for an hour.

I could interpret it as he was waiting to see me, but I could also interpret it as he just came and stayed for an hour.

In any case, I have to meet him.

"Alright, let’s meet him."

"Yes... By the way, it’s almost dinner time. Should we prepare dinner for the Crown Prince?"

Well, if a fiancé came at this time, it would be normal to have dinner together and have a pleasant conversation.

But...

"No, there’s no need to prepare it. I don’t intend to keep him here that long."

After telling Maimi this, I spoke to Lauro.

"Lauro, can you stay with me a bit longer?"

"Of course, I will."

"Just stand behind me."

"Understood."

Then, Lauro and I headed to the reception room where Crown Prince Louis was waiting.

Normally, I would change into a better dress for a visit from the Crown Prince, but it’s too much trouble.

It seems Crown Prince Louis was shown to the most luxurious reception room in the main house. I opened the door and entered.

Crown Prince Louis was sitting on the sofa, glaring at me as I entered.

"You’re late, Asaria."

...Why is he in a bad mood when he came here unexpectedly?

"Is it because Crown Prince Louis came unexpectedly without any notice? I just returned from a tea party and am tired, yet I came to meet you."

"Feeling tired just from attending a tea party is pitiful."

Huh? I’m not really tired, but why do I have to respond to his sarcasm with sarcasm?

Sigh, I was planning to be a bit more polite since he waited for an hour, but forget it.

I sat on the sofa opposite Crown Prince Louis, with Lauro standing behind me.

"Who is this man?"

"He is my personal knight, Lauro. Lauro, greet him."

"...Lauro."

Lauro greeted him much more casually than he did to the young ladies at the tea party.

Hehe, that’s a very good judgment. I’ll have to reward him later.

Crown Prince Louis frowned, seemingly displeased with Lauro’s greeting.

"What is this knight? He doesn’t even know how to introduce himself properly?"

"When visiting a dukedom without any notice and staying for an hour, I think this is a very polite greeting."

I said this with a smile.

"What? You also always come to the palace, don’t you?"

"When did I ever come to the palace without permission?"

"..."

He couldn’t come up with a counterargument and fell silent, looking unhappy.

Sigh, why did he come here?

Did he come just to annoy me?

"So, Crown Prince Louis, what brings you here today?"

I crossed my legs and leaned back into the sofa, resting my body against the backrest.

It’s not a proper attitude in front of the Crown Prince, but no one is watching, so it’s fine.

Oh, Lauro is here. Well, he’s on my side, so he won’t tell anyone. It’s fine.

"What is this attitude? It’s shameful for a lady."

"As I said before, I think this is the minimum courtesy for someone who visits unexpectedly."

"Since when have you become so impolite, Asaria?"

Crown Prince Louis glared at me, looking unhappy.

Before the regression, as his fiancée, I tried to stop his affair with Oline and was afraid of a broken engagement, so I couldn’t be very assertive.

But if you think I will still be submissive and try to please you, you are mistaken.

Before the regression, you were the one who wanted to break the engagement.

But now, the situation has reversed.

I don’t need to be submissive or try to please you.

Rather, it’s Crown Prince Louis who needs to please me.

"Since when? Maybe since my fiancé cheated on me and I fell ill from the shock?"

I brought my hand to my mouth and lowered my eyes, putting on a sad act.

I never actually fell ill.

Before the regression, I probably lashed out at the servants.

Crown Prince Louis didn’t seem to believe it, as his expression didn’t change.

But I felt Lauro’s presence behind me become sharper.

Maybe he believed that I fell ill?

I’ll have to explain it to him later.

"At that time, I thought, how foolish I was."

"What do you mean?"

"I thought, why did I show respect to someone who didn’t respect me?"

I smiled slyly as I said this to Crown Prince Louis.

"If the other person treats me this way, I will treat them the same way."

"…I am the Crown Prince. Even if you are a duke’s daughter and my fiancée, do you think it’s appropriate to treat the Crown Prince like this?"

"Oh, how many times do I have to say this? Crown Prince Louis, you are just a fake, a nominal Crown Prince."

"…! You…!"

Crown Prince Louis glared at me, but I wasn’t afraid. Instead, I smiled even more.

"Didn’t we talk about this at the previous party? If I weren’t your fiancée, you wouldn’t be the Crown Prince."

"…"

Crown Prince Louis said nothing. No, he couldn’t say anything.

"Since you are Crown Prince Louis, you must have confirmed with the Emperor, right? How did it go? Did you get the answer you wanted?"

"…!"

Hehe, his expression changed.

You must have confirmed it, or the Emperor must have told you directly.

That you became the Crown Prince because you are engaged to me, the daughter of the Spencer Dukedom.

"So, it’s fine now, Crown Prince."

"…What is fine?"

"That you don’t need to bother with me anymore. I won’t bother with you either."

I no longer have any expectations or hopes for this person.

If I have any hope, it’s for his downfall.