Part two of the bulk (?) release!
Translator : KuRuuRuu
UNEDITED
~ Sometimes Brother and Sister ~ 14
Hearing Tobias’ demand, Christina went pallid then looked at Alberto.
Even though Christina and Alberto were dealing with Tobias in order to prevent him from meeting Irene, like this, it was like putting the cart before the horse.
He should have known that if he let Anna speak it will turn out like this, I wonder what is he thinking about?
Christina sent a gloomy gaze at Alberto, nevertheless he just carefreely laughed.
“I understand. I’ll try searching for a lady named Irene Düker. During the search, I’d like to ask Your Highness Tobias to stay in the Royal Palace, would that be fine?”
Alberto accepted his demand easily, which left Tobias bewildered with a blank look. Tobias tried to gloss over his surprise by coughing once, then replied grudgingly.
“Yeah…… I’m also tired from traveling, resting for a little while wouldn’t be bad”
“Then, the general explanation about the church has just finished too. Let us return to the Royal Palace”
Hearing Tobias’ response, Alberto smiled satisfiedly.
.
Prompted by Alberto, everyone left the church, and just before they got into the carriage, Christina approached the Royal Family’s carriage. She went to Alberto who was helping Anna to get into the carriage, and pulled his sleeve. Tobias had already went inside his carriage, thus the only one left outside were just Christina and Alberto.
“Christina?”
Her name was called, however Christina kept silent and took Alberto next to the big stairs in front of the church. It was a place where their voice would just barely be heard by the attendants that were standing by around the carriages.
“What is it, Christina? Bringing me to this kind of place, are you possibly trying to get intimate with me?”
“Eh?”
After reaching the shade, while still being pulled by Christina, Alberto embraced her waist with a half joking face.
──it’s not my intention to…… っ
Having her cheeks reddened in an instant, Christina turned her gaze towards the attendants.
Even if it’s outside, if an unnecessary misunderstanding were to be reported to her father, she would likely be scolded by him.
Alberto laughed meanly near her ear.
“I’m just joking. Even I won’t think to do anything in this kind of place. The attendants can also see us clearly after all, so I won’t be able to do any mischief”
“……”
We can’t be seen as anything other than a betrothed couple chatting together friendlily, he said, and Christina furrowed her eyebrows.
“……What are you thinking? Didn’t you say that you’ll protect Irene-sama?”
Anna had already waited inside the carriage. It would feel bad to let her wait for a long time, so Christina immediately stated her business.
Alberto also seemed to have thought that he would be asked about this. With a wry smile he replied.
“Although I don’t mind protecting her, but either way, nothing will ever be solved if they don’t meet each other”
“Why?”
Irene specially came to another kingdom all in order to run away from Tobias’ proposal. Even for Christina who only had a few exchanges with him, she couldn’t think of wanting to meet that kind of arrogant man. If it could end without having to face him, wouldn’t it be better?
Unconvinced by what Alberto said, Christina asked him back; he then lowered his eyebrows and brushed her cheek gently.
“It’s because that man wants Miss Irene. Because he couldn’t give up, he even came here. Even he should want a convincing explanation in order for him to give up, no?”
“But……that explanation, do you mean for her to do it by herself?”
Christina lowered her eyebrows and looked up at Alberto.
Irene’s expression she saw during the tea party the other day left a deep impression on her. She had been talking amiably with Marx, but then her face immediately turned to be full of anxiety the moment she noticed Christina’s presence behind them.
The lady with the swaying navy blue hair, even now it felt like she had been on the brink of tears.
Although she looked cheerful in front of Marx, the picture of her ending up shrinking in front of Tobias could be easily imagined.
Perhaps Alberto had also guessed that, as he bitterly said in a dejected manner.
“No matter how difficult the other person is, there are times when you can’t just not meet that person. Although I don’t know what is she planning to do from now on, but even if the things with His Highness Tobias were to be left behind, it may not be the same with her engagement with Marx. If she were to follow Marchioness Klüger‘s will and become Marx’s wife, then she’ll no longer be an ordinary lady. As the future Marchioness, she must keep on smiling no matter who she were going to deal with”
“That is…… っ“
If Marx and Irene were to marry, Anna will cry.
Alberto was only speaking out the most probable future. Although it did not necessarily would turn out like that, but Christina unconsciously teared up when she thought about Anna’s feeling.
It might just her being partial to people close to her, nevertheless Christina want Anna to be happy no matter what.
“……Christina. Why do you look so sad?”
Alberto lowered his voice. But Christina couldn’t understand the meaning behind his change of tone. She looked down and tried to wipe her tears, but Alberto’s hand didn’t allow that and holding her chin, forcefully made her looked upward.
The man she saw, furrowed his eyebrows after seeing Christina’s tears and laughed in displeasure.
“Nee, Christina. Why are you supporting Miss Irene that much?”
“……she’s so pitiful”
To marry a man you don’t even like, isn’t it so painful?
However Alberto showed an expression as if he wasn’t convinced, and asked again.
“Really, only that? Isn’t there any other reason……? For example, that’s right……because you don’t want Marx to get married, or so”
“──“
Christina’s heart jumped.
The real reason, might actually be that, she thought.
Although I was showing how I try to save Irene with good will, in fact, can it be that I was just acting for my own sake──
If Irene were saved, the temporary engagement talk between Marx and her would be dismissed. If that’s the case, a way for Anna to create a good relationship with him in the future might appear. Am I not wishing for that future somewhere in my heart?
Realizing the fact the she herself had not realized, Christina’s eyes wavered.
Alberto saw Christina’s discomposure and squinted, then snorted unamusingly.
“Fuun, is that so. If that’s the case, isn’t it better to marry Miss Irene off to His Highness Tobias?”
“……no, but”
There’s some truth in that. However, as expected Irene would be too pitiful like that.
When she shook her head, Alberto sighed sarcastically.
“Well, that’s right. In any case, you’ll marry me after all. Even if you old feeling reemerges, that’s certainly not a somehow possible future. You’re just don’t want to see Marx bound with another woman before your eyes……”
“……?”
Christina stared blankly at Alberto as he took his hand off her chin. She couldn’t understand the meaning behind his words.
Alberto furrowed his eyebrows and scratched his forelock.
“A─ah. ……As expected he is an eyesore. He is useful, but a nuisance”
“……umm, Al……?”
When she asked, Alberto unusually scowled sharply at Christina.
“I’ll say this though──Even after we marry and have child, if you were to have a lover other than me, I’ll confine you. And then I’ll kill whoever that secret lover is”
“──……ha?”
Hearing the sudden declaration, foolish voice leaked out from Christina’s lips. What was Alberto angry about, she completely didn’t understand at all.
She understood the part where he imagined they got married and had child, though it was somewhat embarrassing, but she couldn’t perceive from where did the talk about her having a secret lover came from.
While she hardly understood anything, Christina honestly spoke out her feelings.
“Umm……Even after we get married, it’s impossible from me to be with men other than Alberto-sama, so……please be at ease”
“……”
Alberto showed a complex expression as he stared at Christina. She was confused, nevertheless she smiled sweetly, and to that Alberto grinded his teeth then embraced her strongly.
“Christina……I love you”
“……me too, I have been yearning for you”
Christina felt the gaze of her maid, but since Alberto seemed to be at his wits’ end, she decided to stay quietly within his arms until he was satisfied.
.
That night, Christina’s mother visited her room, and with introductory words of [I think it’s fine though, but I’ll say this just in case], warned her to be more mindful about hugging in front of other people and kept it in moderation.
It seemed she was asked to tell Christina that by her father.
Although it was a scold, there was no anger within it.
Feeling relieved, Christina told her mother about her next appointment with Alberto.
That three days later, she would visit the Royal Palace, bring Marx and Irene along──
A/N:
Thank you very much for reading this humble work.
From J Publishing corporation in Fairy Kiss,
on June 27th,2017 a new book titled “Koushaku Reishoku ro Kioku wo Nakushita Cinderella” (R15) (PN : Kouduki Kitou) will on sale. [The Duke’s Son and Cinderella who Lost Her Memory]
The details will be described in my activity information page, so if you have any interest, it will be greatly appreciated if you would buy it.
My best regards.
T/N : I have bad news and good news (?) guys… First is, this is currently the latest chapter and the author hasn’t released any other chapter for half a year already… So.. I don’t know if we’ll ever see the continuation of Anna’s love story, but if the author release a new chapter I’ll be sure to translate it again!
The good news (maybe) is… I tried to put up a summary for the Light Novel version. It’s the continuation for the main story. Actually I tried make a summary but somehow my translation habit kicked in and it doesn’t seem like a summary anymore.. Maybe it became an abbreviated translation? Well.. If you’d like, please check it out . I’ve only done half of it, but I’ll update it again along with the special short stories from author’s blog. And other things, I’ve also put up the illustration !
All in all, thank you for reading!!!