Chapter 36

When I was seven, I fell in love at first sight in a rare and beautiful garden.

A petite person with black hair gently swaying.

Someone who never stopped smiling, cared for me, and listened to my stories.

Most of all, someone who understood my unspoken grievances.

I wanted to talk more with such an intelligent person and spend more time together.

I felt that this desire was love.

"Hehe, well......"

"Oh, Diora. You look so happy. Tell me, what did the prince say this time?"

Mother came over and approached the sofa where I was sitting.

I was reluctant to return to my room and had been eagerly waiting to read the letter in the parlor.

A year ago, I wished to marry Asha-sama, but he was a prince from another country, and a powerful empire at that.

Even if I wished for it, we couldn't even become engaged, and it was a special privilege that we were allowed to correspond by letter, as I heard from the maid.

Is exchanging letters with the opposite sex such a special thing in the imperial household?

Even my parents were surprised that Asha-sama and I could correspond.

"The capital's lake is said to be home to a monstrous fish larger than a person. It has a sharp, sword-like nose. Although it's large enough to swallow Asha-sama whole, it was defeated in one blow by a beastman."

The letters often contain stories that sound like adventures.

Stories heard from others, seen in encyclopedias, travelogues, and anecdotes from books stored in the imperial library.

Since I was born into the royal family of a country known as the Academy Kingdom, reading is mandatory.

Still, I am not as well-read as Asha-sama.

He is diligent and doesn't show off his knowledge, and he is straightforward, admitting when he doesn't understand something.

"Pfft! He's just making it up. There's no way a monster would be in a place like the capital. You're so gullible, that's why children are like this."

Suddenly, my brother interrupted my conversation with Mother, just to deny everything.

"Adele, if you're going to deny something, be logical. There are monsters in the waters of the capital, at least."

Of course, Mother scolded him, but he didn't hide his dissatisfaction.

I realized that my brother dislikes me ever since I met Asha-sama.

He told me that women shouldn't show off their knowledge, but Asha-sama said that it doesn't matter whether one is male or female, and I completely agree.

"Brother, please don't interrupt. It's very impolite."

"What? You're acting so superior, just because you're my sister."

"Adele. What Diora says is correct. You should ask for permission before joining a conversation. That's what manners are. You need to practice them regularly."

When Mother scolded him again, my brother glared at me as if it were my fault.

But this isn't the first time he has interrupted me.

From what I know, he does this to other noble children as well.

Moreover, at thirteen, this behavior is concerning as he approaches enrollment in the academy.

That's why Mother has been scolding him frequently lately.

"That's why Diora acts up. You're too lenient with her."

"Adele... now, this isn't about Diora's story, but your behavior."

"Enough! Pfft!"

Not only is it not good, but my brother refuses to admit his mistakes and shows no intention of changing.

Mother looks troubled, unsure whether to say more.

"It's ridiculous to praise a letter written by someone else and be deceived by it!"

"Asha-sama is a distinguished person!"

I couldn't help but retort when Asha-sama was belittled, but my brother looked down on me with a nasty smile.

"There's no way. The first prince is known only for bad rumors and is incompetent."

"Rumors are just rumors. Have you forgotten what Mother said? If you're going to deny something, be logical. You're too quick to judge, Brother."

"You're just blinded by your own feelings!"

He immediately shouts to overpower the other, but that doesn't negate his hasty judgment.

After all, my brother once took Asha-sama's letter from me and read it, and because he didn't understand the content, he concluded that it was ghostwritten and has believed that ever since.

"No, the handwriting has been the same from the beginning of our correspondence. There are no contradictions or inconsistencies that suggest someone else's thoughts. It's written by one person."

"Someone else has been writing it from the beginning. The first prince is a failure. He's stupid, lazy, and has a bad temper, and he even tried to kill his brother."

"Stop it."

Mother strongly interrupted my brother's words.

"Adele, do you know what you're saying?"

"Everyone says it."

"You shouldn't make judgments based on uncertain information from 'everyone.' If you are to rule Lukisaria, you need to listen to others' opinions. But you shouldn't believe everything you hear. You must understand what is true and what is not."

Mother lectured him again.

And again, she glared at me as if it were my fault.

This is all my brother does.

Why doesn't he reflect on his behavior after repeating the same thing so many times?

"What's going on?"

Father appeared with a stern expression, probably because of my brother's noise.

"Everyone knows that the first prince of the empire is incompetent, right!?"

And he still doesn't understand.

While I and Mother bowed to Father, who is the king, he spoke loudly without permission.

Father, as a parent, overlooks his behavior, which is why he doesn't care about manners.

"We need to talk later."

Mother sighed.

This time, Father will likely be stricter about manners.

Father frowned at my brother's words.

"Who is 'everyone'? Who said such an impudent thing?"

"Everyone. The prince who is greedy for the throne and tries to assassinate his younger brother, yet achieves nothing and only learns alchemy, which is a trick of fraudsters."

"Adele."

Noticing Father's anger, my brother finally shut up.

"Whether it's the second prince or the princes below him, there is no fact of assassination."

He said it slowly, but it's obvious.

If such a thing had happened, I wouldn't be able to correspond with Asha-sama, and if I did, it would mean the empire is incompetent for allowing such treason.

I know it's wrong to say such things loudly.

Moreover, 'everyone' is an uncertain and even a rumor, as Mother said.

I think my brother was taught that it's not something a member of the royal family should say carelessly.

"How long do you intend to act like a child? You need to judge what should and shouldn't be said. Count to ten before you speak, and then decide if your words are appropriate."

"Then I'll be thought of as a fool for being too quiet."

"Once spoken, words can't be taken back. It's better to remain silent and make a wise judgment than to make a slip of the tongue."

My brother seems dissatisfied with Father's lecture.

Why doesn't he understand, even though he's the one being scolded?

"Besides, what you learned at ten, Diora had already learned at seven. For the first prince to be able to debate on equal terms with Diora, it's hard to believe he's incompetent."

"That's because an adult is ghostwriting for the first prince!"

Father sighed with disappointment.

"Are you still saying that? I had it checked because you kept saying it. The Marquis Strategos, who is my aunt's nephew and helps with the correspondence, said he saw the first prince write the reply. The letters sent to Diora are indeed written by the first prince."

I didn't expect Father to do such a thing.

The Marquis Strategos is my aunt's nephew and helps with the correspondence.

I heard he is also a friend of Father's, but to go to such lengths for me.

In the end, my brother was scolded by Father and sent back to his room.

He can't leave until he is given permission, which is a punishment for his bad behavior.

"When did you... did you also doubt that the letters were from the prince?"

"No, well... there's also the green-tailed one. I didn't think... And Diora is undoubtedly a talented girl. There's no one with the same talent, right?"

Father was making excuses as Mother confronted him.

If I could talk to Asha-sama, I would understand his intelligence, but I regret not having that opportunity.

My parents and my brother, who refuses to understand and only makes judgments, would also understand if they could talk to Asha-sama.

I hugged the letter, thinking of the distant capital, with a mix of frustration and longing.

(Bookmark 600 Commemoration)