Chapter 9 - Volume 01; Final Act (1/2)

Volume 01; Final Act

Final Act: And the Two of Them…

His Highness laughed weirdly at me, who was still looking miserable.

“I was quite worried about how to get those who only looked at things superficially and those who only think about power struggles to acknowledge Elli without using the Bernstein’s hidden name.”

Be that as it may, this may sound rude, but I don’t see you being troubled at all with you smiling like that.

“The Bernstein House has always embraced their reputation as puny nobles, and they don’t care even if they’re put down by a House that sticks to authority. ――― But, Elli showed her own worth, and I didn’t have to make up schemes.”

Huh…?

His Highness also tilted his head a little.

“We just talked about this, right? You silence the nobles, officials and ladies of high society with your abilities. Furthermore, 『Princess Bibliophile’s』reputation is rising with the people of Southlynd.”

“As the friendly noble lady who produced new trends and anticipated how to avoid war, as well as an insight into the lives of the commoners…”

Your Highness, who are you talking about? Was I called the 『Ghost of the Library』because I’m friendly? Do I have this insight because I’m a glutton who is interested in food cooked with Sami fish?

Something is wrong. I panicked and backed away from him.

His Highness smiled at me and closed the distance between us.

“I didn’t think that you would establish your position by yourself. I’m glad, Elli. You also want to stand by my side, don’t you?”

“Huh…?” My voice came out. I realised that a face was coming closer to mine and I panicked and was confused.

“――― Your Highness?”

I was prepared for our heads to butt if he got any closer and stared firmly into his blue eyes.

“Don’t lie.”

“… Tsk.”

I can still hear you even if you turn away.

… What is it? I feel that I have only seen the sides of His Highness that I haven’t seen before today.

I can see it if I think about it. I certainly gave sound advice and had some achievements, but it took a lot of work to spread this information widely as something only I did.

Count Casull’s case is a good example. Based on our conversation just now, depending on how it went, only one person was set to profit.

His Highness brushed back his dazzling blonde hair with one hand and sighed lightly.

“I do admit that I manipulated Elli’s reputation a little bit. But, your reputation would have gone up on its own even if I hadn’t done anything. You don’t believe me?”

He looked me straight in the eye, and I couldn’t stay stubborn.

“Your Highness… Why did you go that far?”

『Brains of Southlynd』

That name is now a heavy responsibility. Didn’t His Highness accept the troublesome conditions to obtain this?

My heavy feelings reflected in my eyes, and he lifted my cheeks with his hands. The hands which had grabbed my cheeks were strong.

He had a powerful look in his eyes.

“Elli. I said it before, didn’t I? I don’t want you because of the Bernstein’s hidden name.”

I could see that my pupils were shaking with hesitation through his eyes. He breathed gently as if to erase my anxiety.

“Well… I know that you can’t remember it, Elli.”

I was puzzled, and His Highness told me with a gentle smile.

His Highness and I have met once before nearly ten years ago, he said.

◊♦◊♦◊♦◊

In those days, His Highness was being carefully raised as the First Prince of Southlynd Kingdom. He was smart, but as the very picture of a Prince, he was arrogant and domineering.

One day, he was in a bad mood at the Royal Library and took his anger out on the books.

He threw them, kicked them, and used them as substitutes for balls ―――.

“… Elli! Don’t be angry again. You’ve already scolded me harshly back then.”

Oh my, Your Highness. You don’t have to be that flustered. It’s okay if you’ve reflected on that.

Well, it’s such an exaggeration to wipe off cold sweat.

“Anyway…”

He was slapped by a younger girl at that time. My, that is a courageous move, but it’s terrifying.

The girl used enough strength in her slap to even make His Highness speechless, and she scolded him, 『Apologise to the books! 』His Highness, who had regained his composure, argued.

『It doesn’t matter who you are! Books are our silent predecessors. They are mankind’s treasures. Were you taught that you could act inhuman to people who can’t speak? 』

『Y-you’re exaggerating… Aren’t they just books?』

『… How old are you?』

『Huh? … Tw-twelve years old.』

『The book you just threw away is a history book that was written hundreds of years ago and is still being reprinted. You, who has only been living 12 years of your life, is like a baby in diapers in front of this book. You’re just an inexperienced freshly hatched chick. Apologise to your great predecessors! 』

His Highness was overwhelmed, a girl younger than him called him a baby in diapers… no, a chick. His intelligence had always been praised, and he took pride in that, but now that pride had taken a bad beating. He reflected and apologised.

Since then, His Highness became interested in the girl and often visited the Royal Library. He began to listen to the girl talk about books.

The books the girl talked about were all interesting, and they completely differed from the education he had been taught as the Prince.

It didn’t take long before his heart started fluttering at the girl instead of the books. Therefore, he investigated her background because he wanted to keep her at his side. Then, he consulted with his father, His Majesty…

“The Prime Minister and father started panicking all of a sudden.”

His Highness looked off into the distance. Did the person not have an esteemed position? Was she actually a Princess from another kingdom who came here incognito?

“Elli.”