Chapter 2 - Volume 01; Act 01 – Part 02 (1/2)

Volume 01; Act 01 – Part 02

Don’t blindly believe in rumours. But, I also knew that I had the facts to corroborate this.

In Southlynd Kingdom, men and women are considered adults at the age of 18. But even if the woman is a minor, it is possible for partners to get married when the man reaches adulthood as long as they don’t act indecently. However, His Highness has postponed our marriage by telling people that I am still young.

And, he doesn’t bring up the topic of marriage even when I reached the age of 18. That might have increased the credibility of the rumours.

But it can’t be helped.

The exchange between His Highness and I are based on the merits we can gain from each other. It is impossible for him to welcome a lady as a princess consort when she hasn’t even received the proper education.

We harboured no feelings of love between us, and are just cooperating together to ward of marriage requests from other men and women.

And now…

As if I was reading a book, I knew that a day would come when His Highness would break off the engagement, and I realise that that day has come.

The other person with His Highness is from a Viscount House and she had just recently entered the inner palace to learn good manners through apprenticeship.

There are many reasons for why a noble lady would go to the inner palace for apprenticeship: getting ready for married life, add value to themselves before getting engaged, or for job hunting.

Even noble ladies need to work depending on the situation at their house.

Amongst those reasons, I hear that ladies admire the position of lady in waiting or maid. The prestige of serving a high-ranking noble, the opportunity to meet a promising gentlemen who works at the royal palace, or perhaps, having a member of the royal family fall in love with you at first sight like in a romance novel. The chances of these things happening was by no means zero.

I think the name of the Viscount Lady is Irene Pascal.

Recently, I have encountered this lady many times.

The first time I saw her was at the royal palace archives. It started when I overheard a conversation about her from the archive staff.

――― Recently, there’s an adorable lady learning good manners through apprenticeship, they whispered.

She has chestnut hair that looks soft to touch and light brown eyes that charm anyone who looks at them. She is an attractive, pretty and sociable woman with a voice that people don’t get tired of listening to.

I got the impression that she is the exact opposite of me, and I remembered the face of the lady who often appeared in the archives on errands for the inner palace.

That happened when I noticed that the ladder had been chipped and went to look for someone to tell. I peeked into the break room when I heard the voice that resounded from within.

Thereupon I smelt the scent of tea leaves that floated around the room, and saw Miss Irene panicking as she picked up the tea utensils which had fallen all over the place.

“Please excuse me for… my carelessness, Sir Theodore.”

“No… it’s nothing serious.” The person who replied is the manager of the royal palace archives, His Royal Highness Theodore.

He is the younger brother of the current King, but since they are years apart in age, it is more fitting to call him Prince Christopher’s brother.

He is still single even though he is a member of the royal family. He has dark golden-brown hair and ultramarine eyes, and is impressively popular with his middle-age charm.

“That aside, you’re not hurt, are you Miss Irene?”

“I’m not… But, what should I do? I’ve stained someone’s book. This is a popular book amongst women downtown. Is there someone in the royal palace that likes this kind of book?” Her voice is full of doubt.

The book she was referring to was smeared with tea leaves. It is one of the most popular books in town, and reading about the daily life of a housewife from a fisherman town is interesting and sometimes moved me to tears.

I felt uncomfortable and came out from the doorway.

“Mm… that is my book.”

Bernsteins don’t distinguish quality in things that have been printed. However, this is not the normal consensus amongst nobles, and I feel ashamed because people wouldn’t expect the fiancée of the Crown Prince to like a book like this.

“Oh my.” Miss Irene covered her mouth cutely, then quickly began to apologise, “I’m sorry, Miss Elianna…! I ruined your belongings due to my carelessness…!”

Does she think that I’m angry because she ruined my belongings?

Before I could refuse, Prince Theodore’s sigh echoed around the room, “Everyone knows that they shouldn’t leave their belongings here. So the fault lies with Miss Elianna. You don’t have to apologise that much, Miss Irene.”

However, to calm the distressed Miss Irene, Prince Theodore informed me, “I’ll keep this. We will tidy up this mess, so you may go now. Miss Elianna, be more careful next time.”

I couldn’t say anything back to Prince Theodore who sounded cold, and barely managed to tell him about the ladder before leaving.

I often see Miss Irene and Prince Theodore getting along with each other after that.

About half a month ago, I saw her chatting happily with Sir Glenn Eisenach, a red-haired knight who serves as His Highness’s guard, and also affiliated with the Imperial Knights.

Sir Glenn is a cheerful person, and is popular with both men and women so this isn’t a rare sight.

But then the next time, I was surprised when I saw her with Lord Alexei Strasser, a Duke who is a close aide to His Highness and also considered as his right-hand man. He is also known as the Ice Lord.

Like his nickname, he has black hair and ice-blue eyes, and looked intelligent. He treats everyone equally with his cold attitude, no matter if they are a high ranking noble or a cute lady. Therefore, seeing someone talk to him in an outgoing way is also rare for me.

Also, according to the conversations I heard in secret, Lord Alexei is quite close with Alan Ferrera, the young, handsome, and popular Royal Maestro with honey-coloured hair.

At that time, I thought nothing of it.

It seemed he is seen in quite an unfavourable light by other males, but I suppose that jealousy and envy are at play there since all his acquaintances are famous people.

However, the interactions between His Highness and Miss Irene could be seen as intimate from other’s point of view, and Miss Irene’s feelings towards His Highness are conveyed through her earnest stares.

I see, I finally understand.

If you want to shoot the general, first shoot his horse… this might be rude, but I’ve seen evidence of this.

In spite of being a noble lady, I like books and tend to seclude myself to read them, so these interactions are a great way to build her connections and is worthy of praise. That is the skill I am supposed to demonstrate as the fiancée of the Crown Prince.

Is Miss Irene trying to gain a foothold to get close to His Highness? Or are the people around His Highness being considerate towards her because she has caught His Highness’s attention?

Even I don’t know which it is but this is clear.

The relationship between Miss Irene and His Highness didn’t just start yesterday.

Because His Highness Christopher was having fun and laughing like that.

“… Miss Elianna?” I came to my senses when I heard the voice that had suddenly called out to me. When did I get off the ladder? The laughter from outside had already disappeared before I realised.

I noticed that I had spaced out for a brief amount of time.

“What’s wrong?” The person who had asked me what’s wrong in a deep bass voice is the manager of the royal palace archives, Prince Theodore.

I thought he was someone who I wouldn’t exchange much conversation with, but we got closer when I started coming to the royal palace archives.

Prince Theodore looked at the book in my hand and ladder and frowned faster than I could shake my head.

“I’m sure I told you to call someone to get the higher books for you the other day.”

A noble climbing a ladder is definitely not commended by others. I apologised quietly.

Prince Theodore sighed. He even wasted a sigh on me even though he has been busy lately.

“I didn’t hear that you would be coming to the palace today. Where are your guards? This may be the royal palace, but don’t walk around here without an attendant.”

“Okay… I’m sorry.”

It was like a teacher scolding a naughty student.

Up until now, Prince Theodore was one of the people who tolerated my unbefitting behaviour as a noble lady, but does this mean that things won’t be the same as they were in the past?

“Does Chris know you’re in the palace?”

“… He doesn’t.”

I haven’t been to the royal palace in the past five days.

My aunt had hurt her lower back, so she requested me to starve off her boredom… in the name of nursing. Because of that, I was kept away from the books I wanted to read, and I endured the hardships of being forced to recite the romance novels and love poems my aunt proposed.

Today, I sneaked out of that torment and went to the royal palace archives to read the books I wanted to read, then I witnessed that scene.

Prince Theodore sighed again. He coldly chased me away from the archives by saying, “You should go home.”

As expected, my chest hurts. Prince Theodore was the only person, other than my relatives, with whom I could discuss books with. I thought that I could ask him about the book I had if I met him today.

I tottered through the corridor. Actually, the times when I have been chased out of the archives like this have increased in the past month.

I had free access to the archives ever since I became His Highness’s fiancée, but the archive workers, who I have gotten to know, have become distant and seem like they’re trying to keep me away from the books. The chances for me to handle old books increased, but when I offered to help them with gloves on, they firmly refuse.

It was like they thought I would do something to the books, and it made me feel dejected.

But I finally understand after having witnessed the previous scene. Everyone must have seen that His Highness had found his special person, so they were distancing themselves from me little by little.

Looking back, the event that happened in the rose garden 10 days ago was also the same.

On that day, the regular tea party was scheduled to be held in the rose garden. But, I was detained by the Head of the Medical Department and was late. I quickly rushed to the rose garden with my male attendant.

The rose garden seemed to be noisy. It was Miss Irene and a few ladies-in-waiting.

“Geez, Miss Elianna!” I winced a little at Miss Irene’s accusing voice and strong gaze.

“Where have you been? Everyone has been waiting for you.”

It was my fault that I was late, even though I had a reason.

“I’m sorry. I had something to do… What happened?”

Miss Irene’s clothes and hair are wet. But the weather looked fine when I was in the corridor.

Miss Irene was startled and looked down to hide her intense gaze, then her body started shaking as if she had just remembered that she was wet and cold.

“Someone like me has done something rude. And for you to see me in this state… Please forgive me.”

Huh? I tilted my head. She was just telling the truth and there was no need for her to humble herself to that extent.

More importantly, if she doesn’t change her wet clothes then she’ll catch a cold. When I opened my mouth to speak, a sharp voice called out to me, “Miss Elianna!”

When I turned around, I saw the red-haired knight, Sir Glenn, running towards us with an unusually dangerous look on his face. Sir Glenn was more drenched than Miss Irene and the other women.

What had happened? He sternly inspected my appearance from head to toe, then also observed the male attendant near me and finally sighed in relief.

“Even so…” he muttered unpleasantly. I shrunk back at being blamed indirectly.

Did Sir Glenn also feel disappointed in me because I was late and made everyone wait for me?

He must have thought, “She’s not worthy to be the fiancée of my master, Prince Christopher.”

“Sir Glenn,” it was Miss Irene who called out to him. She spoke in a voice softer than the one she had used on me and tried to mediate between us, “You have to change your clothes. You can still catch a cold no matter how strong you are, Sir Glenn.”

Sir Glenn sighed a little at her gentle, consoling voice. “I’m fine. Miss Irene. You’re also covered in water. I want to ask you about this, so I will take you home.”

He called a nearby guard over in a stilted voice and told him to escort me home with an unusually strong gaze.