The Leftover Princess and the Knights of the Round
Story by: Riine Ishida
Okobore Hime to Entaku no Kishi
Characters:
Knight of Sixth Rank of the Royal Chivalric Order
The receiving end of Leti's high-handed invitation
Leticia
First Princess of Sommevesle, heir to the throne
Already knew that she would be the next queen
Leonhardt
Third Prince of the Kingdom of Sommevesle
iv
Friedhelm
Leti's eldest half brother
A prince of charm and charisma
Astrid Gale
Duke’s junior
Guido
Leti’s second oldest half brother
planning and organized executions
v
Credits:
Translation: Crystal Hikari
Quality Checking: Mizuouji
The Japanese honorifics were kept in the translation of the dialogues of
Footnotes were provided upon the first appearance of the honorific in the
Thoughts are signified by ‘italics’.
PROLOGUE
- 8 -
and the sound of slashing rain mixed with the roaring thunder.
curtains draped over the window.
night. Though old enough to handle the storm, the unpredictable
difficult for him to sleep. He simply lay down on his bed, kept his
He knew not how much time had passed when he heard a soft
door, wondering who it might be. Then another knock came,
“…Who is it?”
On the other side of the door was his older half-brother of two
his brother’s order and found his younger half-sister, Leticia, on
Friedhelm knocked using his feet.
younger than Guido. She was wrapping her dainty hands around
she was scared of thunder.
- 9 -
“Well, I can’t allow Leti to sleep alone on a night like this. She’s
thunder.”
after Leti and their mother was probably staying with him all night,
“Alright, let’s all sleep together! The bed may be a bit small for
middle.”
in all sense of the name, an “Older Brother”. Friedhelm did not
“Guido Onii-sama1 will also be sleeping with Leti?”
Guido gently said to Leti and helped her get down from
a ten year old child to sleep alone but it was a bit narrow for three
safer would Leti feel.
1 Onii-sama: Onii =Older Brother Sama = formal honorific for a high person
- 10 -
gradually became softer and Guido was thinking about the
“Can’t sleep?”
Guido heard Friedhelm sigh about him being too serious.
and wise child like our great-grandmother?”
you written anything like that, Ani’ue2
“Oh, that one. Yeah. I have. But it was something they made
same for you, it’s something to please your Grandfather Eulenberg.
them.”
said it.
“Do you not want to be king, Ani’ue?”
2 Ani’ue. A Japanese honorific referring to one’s older brother (More formal and
“Who knows? I mean, being a King is something like a future
an adult.”
maybe, he was just the same as well.
in the future.”
Then after the thunder subsided, Friedhelm said, “Me too.”
Guido opened his eyes when he heard a voice whispering in his
young face grow older. Soon he realized that he had been dreaming
“Are you alright? Shall I have a room prepared for you to rest?”
“Are you certain? It is strange for you to openly sleep in a place
Today was one of their regular tea parties Leti had suggested to
drawing room in the Royal Villa. Guido unconsciously closed his
“Did I…did I say something?”
and I thought you were having a nightmare so…”
stood up and left the room to welcome Friedhelm, leaving Guido
nightmare.
unnecessarily overflowing liveliness and she returned his greeting
specifically Friedhelm’s knights. After the greetings, Leti ushered
“I am doing fine. But Prince Guido, on the other hand, does not
room.”
in his sleep… and here I was, thinking that he was feeling fine since
They were only a few steps from the drawing room but they
“Two months have passed since Queen Sofia’s death. He is
down.”
castle. It was about a month after the Ghost Energy incident.
sick for a while already. Everybody was prepared for her imminent
caused hurt and pain.
other’s neck,” warned Leti.
meant it for her to be cooperative when Guido became King. But
request.
“Stop making that obviously troubled face. If he noticed that his
though I am well aware he is not one who will notice it.”
anyone who was actually worried about him unless it was plainly
off anyone who was worried about him. Guido’s rationale for
- 14 -
point as well.
not on good terms with each other.”
give my recommendations for Princess Leticia’s future husband. I
“And Prince Guido is attending as well to stop you from your
Leti and Friedhelm reassured each other about where they stood.
party with the complete representative of the top of the Kingdom.”
fallen from grace anyway.”
Inside Sommevesle’s social structure, there were three families
Lauensteins – Friedhelm’s faction, the Eulenbergs – Guido’s faction
known as the Three Grand Marquises. They were special even
they had descended from the royal family.
- 15 -
their lineage and simply treated as special nobles?
created a decree that stripped down the three dukedoms of their
“dukes” to “marquises” as punishment for abusing their power and
“Great-grandfather left us something troublesome. It might’ve
for us.”
as time passed.
reaped what they sowed. They could just be satisfied with the special
“Well, as if Your Royal Pureness could understand us.”
sometimes referred to as a “pure-blooded Princess”.
“Half, yes. The other half is the cursed bloodline of the
Leftover Princess be kind to show me the room where we shall have
Leti coldly glared at Friedhelm for his unfunny joke.
your sister!’ at the top of my lungs and mess up my hair and dress a
“Quit that! That won’t be a joke at all!”
Leti. Her two excellent brothers, both coming from one of the
complicated problem. The competition between the two princes
prevent the strife from getting worse, the King came up with a novel
Leti picked up the crown that fell from the two princes, a leftover
But despite all of the conflict, Leti knew that her two brothers
the political war between their families that they had to pretend
“This is the third tea party. I guess it’s about time I get to hear
“These tea parties are meant to eradicate all rumors circulating
neighboring countries think of this as an opportunity for them.”
- 17 -
Right now, Friedhelm and Guido met up with each other out of
“Tell me, how does the next queen plan to solve the strife
with each other? Or will you keep them in check with some
Marquises problem?”
plans are for the future?”
for your answer.”
answer, then this brother of hers, who was more fit to be king,
Leti knew, more than anyone, that her most difficult enemy was
just right beside her.