Chapter 52

Today (August 1st), Volume 2 is on sale!

Please look forward to it, everyone!

I want to release Volume 3 too! (prostrating)

---

This is a story from just a little while ago---

"Which one will you choose, Lady Cecilia, Gilbert or Oscar?"

On the last day of summer vacation, Sharon, the maid, approached Cecilia with her nostrils flaring. Unlike Becky and Lena, who were Cecilia's personal maids, Sharon managed the entire Sylvie household. However, perhaps because of her bright personality, she got along relatively well with Cecilia. Cecilia, who was packing her things in her room to return to the academy, blinked at her words.

"Which one?"

"Yes! I thought it would be best to wait until Lady Cecilia decided, but we simply couldn't hold back any longer! If you've already decided, could you please tell us!?"

"Us...?"

At her words, Cecilia looked behind Sharon. The door behind her was wide open, and the maids were peering in, either trying to hide or not. Cecilia could count four maids there. Including Sharon, that made five in total. Cecilia returned her gaze to Sharon.

"I don't quite understand what you mean. What's wrong with Gilbert and Oscar?"

"Oscar!?"

"Ah, so you've become close enough to call each other by your first names!?"

Two maids jumped out from behind Sharon. Their names were Anita and Joanna. Cecilia's face showed a look of regret as they approached her.

(I let my usual habits get the better of me...)

Instead of calling him "Your Highness" or "Lord Oscar," she had called him by his first name, which was extremely disrespectful.

However, they blushed and looked at Cecilia with hopeful eyes.

"So, it's the Prince, isn't it?"

"You're engaged to him, after all!"

"Wait a minute! Deciding based on first names is premature!"

"Lord Gilbert is always called by a nickname!"

To counter Anita and Joanna, the other two maids, Lucy and Harley, also jumped out.

"That's because they are siblings, isn't it?"

"They are step-siblings! It doesn't matter!"

"It does matter! That nickname doesn't imply anything more than a childhood friendship!"

"But, without a doubt, Lord Gilbert is the one Lady Cecilia trusts the most!"

"Sorry, I don't understand why everyone is arguing...?"

Cecilia tried to calm the four excited maids.

Sharon answered her question.

"Of course! We are discussing which one Lady Cecilia will choose in the future!"

"Future? Which one?"

"Yes! As a maid, it is very important to know who our mistress will spend her future with. Whether it's the noble Lord Oscar or the valiant Lord Gilbert! And we want to be the wall between the two of them who will hold hands!"

"..."

They are supposed to be maids, not walls.

Ignoring Cecilia's confusion, Sharon continued.

"By the way, Anita and Joanna are on Team Oscar! Lucy and Harley are on Team Gilbert. As for me, I am neutral! I can go either way! Yes!"

She declared this with a heavy breath and puffed out her chest.

Cecilia pressed her temples, trying to make sense of the situation. She understood that these five were divided into Team Oscar and Team Gilbert and were arguing.

"So, you're basically saying which one is cooler, right?"

"Well, yes! That's the general idea! Broadly speaking, that's it!"

Sharon nodded, but "broadly speaking, that's it" means "not exactly accurate."

"So, which one do you think is better, Lady Cecilia!?"

"Really!?"

Even in a "broadly speaking, that's it" state, the Oscar and Gilbert factions approached Cecilia.

Cecilia tilted her head.

"Which one is cooler...?"

Honestly, she had never looked at them that way, so she didn't know.

She knew both were popular with women, but comparing appearances was not something she did, and she hadn't seen Oscar for twelve years. Gilbert, on the other hand, was too close for her to think about him that way.

Cecilia rubbed her chin.

"Hmm. I've never really looked at them that way."

"Eh!"

"How can you say that!"

Cecilia's answer made everyone gasp in dismay.

"That makes Lord Gilbert sad!"

"Lord Oscar is even more sad!"

The factions glared at each other, as if in competition.

"How can someone who has been a 'winner from the start, a sudden arrival' be pitiful! Lord Gilbert, who has protected Lady Cecilia for years, is the one who deserves sympathy!"

"‘Protected for years’? Isn't that more like ‘monopolized and surrounded for years’? Besides, Lady Cecilia and Lord Oscar are engaged! Their union is destiny!"

"Destiny? How ridiculous! It's just a political marriage arranged by their parents, not at all dramatic! In comparison, Lord Gilbert, who is Lady Cecilia's step-brother and Lord Oscar's fiancé, makes for a more compelling story! Absolutely!"

"What are you saying! A story doesn't need obstacles! A sweet, loving romance doesn't need excessive obstacles! I want them to be affectionate with each other! Besides, as a hero, Lord Gilbert is not up to the task! A hero must have the strength to protect the heroine alone! Strategy and tactics have their limits!"

"That's a muscle-brain way of thinking! Strength is everything, how foolish! Controlling the situation before fighting is the smartest way to win! Swinging a sword to win is just a temporary solution!"

The four heated up. Sharon stood between them, nodding like a referee.

Thinking that arguing wouldn't get them anywhere, Anita turned to Cecilia and approached her.

"Based on what you heard, which one do you think is better, Lady Cecilia!?"

"Ah, sorry, I wasn't listening."

Cecilia stopped packing and looked at Anita.

"Everyone was so heated, I thought I'd just stay out of it."

"Such a thing!"

"Besides, in the end, both are cool, right? I think both are cool too."

Cecilia smiled, and Anita pressed her.

"That makes us feel---!"

Anita stumbled over Cecilia's spread-out luggage.

"Watch out!"

"Lady Cecilia!"

Cecilia pulled Anita to prevent her from falling and put her hand behind her head to protect her from hitting it. She also put her palm on the floor to prevent her from being crushed.

From the outside, it looked like she was pinning her down...

"It's okay, Anita."

"C, Lady Cecilia!?"

Cecilia removed her hand from behind Anita's head and caressed her cheek.

"It seems you're not hurt. I'm glad you're not hurt, Anita."

She then gave a smile like the White Rose Prince from her time as Cecil.

"Getting so heated up that you can't see anything else is good, but I'm a bit jealous that you're so passionate about someone other than me."

"L, Lady Cecilia!"

"A..."

Anita's face turned bright red.

Seeing her face, Cecilia realized her mistake.

(I did it again!)

She had let her usual princely habits get the better of her.

Cecilia helped Anita up and hurriedly headed for the door.

"Um, I'm a bit hungry, so I'm going to get some tea. See you all later! Be nice to each other!"

With that, Cecilia left the room.

The remaining maids looked at each other.

"The coolest one might be..."

"Lady Cecilia herself."

Behind the maids, who were holding their breath, Anita stared at the door, her face still red and dazed.

The manga version is on sale on August 5th!

It's currently being serialized in Flos Comic and others!

On August 5th, I also want to release another SS here!

Please look forward to it!