Happy Friday!
How do you like the new site? Well, I did it last week after I posted the chapter, so it might not be new for some of you, but it should at least be better than before where it was just plain white. I’d been meaning to do it earlier, but I didn’t know how to do it, so…it’s finally done? It’s still simple, but I like it this way, do you? Let me know.
「I just remembered something important.」
I moved closer towards the quiet Mirabell, and she became nervous.
Just like that, Mirabell and I, and the reluctant His Highness Prince Yuriel were sitting together harmoniously in a cafe, but His Highness Prince Yuriel dozed off as Mirabell's mood suddenly changed.
「I'm someone who likes to stay home.」
「….huh? I know.」
Putting down the teacup, Mirabell, with a gloomy expression on her face, sighed.
「By nature, I'm someone who shouldn't be outside.」
「It should be the opposite, Mira.」
It's as His Highness Prince Yuriel said, Mirabell says some odd things. In the beginning, the shut-in Mirabell didn't dislike going outside.
However, Mirabell shook her head.
「No, Yurii-sama. Social withdrawal is a type of disease. Those who have this disease, when basked in sunlight, will experience discomfort, and will be slightly aggressive.」
That's definitely an excuse.
His Highness Prince Yuriel was most likely thinking that too.
「But Yurii-sama is at that age where he's still growing, and at that age where he wants to play and enjoys going outside to play. Aah, but, I'm a shut-in. Eh? Maa, how kind of you, Dia. you will take Yurii-sama out to play?」
I didn't say anything.
「Maa, tomorrow? I see, tomorrow is a day off too. Eeh? You're going on a trip? Then, you will leave in the morning and won't be returning until the evening. Won't that be fun, Yurii-sama?」
Just like this, Mirabell continued talking by herself. Neither His Highness Prince Yuriel nor I said anything. She was a little aggressive.
Moreover, she seemed desperate, she was definitely hiding something from this child. Although 『I'll try my best to be someone who will not cause trouble for others』was her motto, it didn't seem like her plans were anything bad.
This girl was extremely bad at leading smart people into doing things, so she wasn't suited to being the bad guy.
「What about Mira? Is Mira going?」
「Don't you remember, I'm a shut-in, so…」
Mirabell said this to the extremely displeased His Highness Prince Yuriel with a refreshing smile on her face.
Rather, for you to bring that up now, I think that it would be better to just forget that you're a shut-in and anything related to it.
「You are much clumsier today.」
「What are you talking about?」
「If you want to feign ignorance, then that's fine too. Even you have your own plans.」
She averted her eyes, so I'm certain that she's feeling guilty.
「A trip, huh. If it's just His Highness Prince Yuriel and I, just the two of us, then His Highness Prince Alan is going to be troublesome.」
「Don't worry about that. While getting along, the two of you should go.」
「When you're aggressive like this, it makes me realize that it's definitely hereditary.」
Right now, she doesn't know how to manipulate people. Once she decides on something, she will see it through. She has her good points as well as her bad points.
Let's just give up. I am unable to go against this girl.
「It seems like you'll be going on a trip with me tomorrow, Your Highness.」
「…I don't want to go.」
Look at Mirabell who had on a smile that stretched across her entire face as she sat next to you while you were eating your cake. When she encouraged him with her eyes, His Highness Prince Yuriel seemed to have give up as well when he looked at her.
Today, a different group of three entered the cafe that I took Dia and Yurii-sama to yesterday.
It was His Highness Prince Alan, His Highness Prince Gilbert, and I.
I was hesitant to have Yurii-sama interact with His Highness Prince Gilbert, who seemed to still be bad at controlling his emotions. It was the same with His Highness Prince Alan, which is why I let Dia and Yurii-sama go out by themselves.
For me, I was hoping that Dia and Yurii-sama would get along better after this.
Prior to this, I had told His Highness Prince Gilbert to come to this place at this time today, which he obediently accepted, but right after he saw His Highness Prince Alan waiting outside the store just now, he tried to run away. However, as expected of the eldest son, he captured him in the blink of an eye, and sat him down at the table.
「Long time no see, Gilbert. You ran away from me, so older brother is sad.」
「I did not think that Alan-aniue of all people, would be affected by every single action taken by this younger brother.」
Although he was using polite speech, his tone was full of sarcasm. He smirked, so he might be a little uncute.
According to His Highness Prince Alan, ever since he was little, his onii-samas have always been badmouthed, so His Highness Prince Gilbert had a complete misunderstanding of them.
It's not like I don't understand. The queen was determined to have her own son become king, so if His Highness Prince Gilbert started saying things like, 'I want to support my sibling', it would be a disaster. Even if that weren't the case, the child born between her beloved His Majesty and another woman would be hated.
Nevertheless, that didn't mean the queen would allow it.
「Oi, Mirabell Swain, what is the meaning of this? I, came here because you said that you would tell me secrets about Dahlia.」
「After we finish discussing the important topics, I will tell you whatever you want to know.」
Drinking a sip of the black tea that was different from yesterday's, I took a deep breath.
「Why does Alan-aniue need to be here?」
「Because it's about his younger brother, I am unable to deal with it by myself.」
His Highness Prince Gilbert understood that I was going to wait and see how it goes. I was using the fact that I was the mediator between Dahlia and him.
However, the bloodthirst in his eyes was obvious, and that usually appeared when Yurii-sama was present.
It was too late to do anything about it now. Before the still immature His Highness Prince Gilbert can do anything to Yurii-sama, I planned on beating…talking it out with him.
What I didn't tell Dia, was that to deal with His Highness Prince Gilbert, Dahlia would have to be involved. He would, without a doubt, tell me to not get involved with His Highness Prince Gilbert. Even if I don't want to be involved, His Highness Prince Gilbert was following me around, so there's nothing I could do about it.
「Look, we are brothers, aren't we? We ought to be cooperating with each other. Don't you think so? Romeo, Yuriel, or me, no one can replace you.」
「You don't think that. You are just one-sidedly forcing upon us your affection, and Romeo-aniue doesn't even recognize me or Yuriel as his brothers. Yuriel is merely the embarrassment of the royal family. I, don't plan on getting along with you or handing you the throne.」
What should I do?
His Highness Prince Alan looked like he was about to cry. It was like a husband talking down to his wife until she's mentally exhausted.
「Do you hate Yurii-sama?」
「That's obvious. That, even his birth was an inconvenience.」
That's why you glare at him? With those eyes?
Most likely, the queen told him to do this. His onii-samas' slander, Yurii-sama's complex.
Just how important was it? Even though it didn't change the fact that a mother giving birth to a child was an amazing thing, regardless of their origins. Yurii-sama's mother should've been a splendid person. That’s why, even His Majesty was fascinated with this person.
「Because his birth was an inconvenience? How ridiculous.」
That child was just five years old, but he had that much knowledge, a child who was like an adult. All of that was because of that child's efforts. To deny that, due to his birth, was not something I could agree to.
「So that means that Your Highness Prince Gilbert, also looks down on, Dahlia.」
「T…hat…」
「If that's the case, then we have nothing else to talk about. To me, your younger brother, as well as Dahlia, are important treasures. If you're going to make a big deal about their birth and hurt them, then I don't think, that I can entrust Dahlia to you.」
Marian was, what was known as, an upstart noble house. In addition to that, due to certain reasons, the Houses that have long histories dislike them. To the point where they were called a tainted household. Moreover, although my House was involved, it's troublesome because the ones that were causing problems were those who were one generation above us.
「I don't want to cooperate with you.」
「…tch, if I wanted to, I could even take away your House's peerage!」
「Please do as you like. When that happens, what Dahlia thinks about you, it would be hard for me to know.」
Biting his lips in frustration, His Highness Prince Gilbert unconsciously raised the corners of his lips.
「It's as Judias and Yuriel said, it seems that you have a terrible personality.」
With a stiff smile, His Highness Prince Alan said something impolite without hesitation.
That's absurd. There's no way that Yurii-sama would say something like that. However, Dia has been straightforward with me lately.
「Gilbert, you, I understand that you have fallen in love with Marian's young lady. I also know that you want the throne because of your mother. You are, smart, but you lack a scheming heart. You only see what's in front of you. Think about it. You, even if it's something that you desire, you don't make it clear.」
Crossing his arms, His Highness Prince Alan looked at him as if sympathizing with him.
「I, don't think that your mother would allow you to be together with a young lady from a Baron House.」
His Highness Prince Gilbert softly clicked his tongue.
「That much, even I, know that.」
「Then, are you just going to put off the issue?」
He remained silent, as if he had guessed correctly.
Most of the time, when people put off the issue of being involved with someone, the one who would be hurt was the woman. For me, I would not be able to cheer for the love of this prince.
「…You, is this the first time that you realize that you need to do it this way? That the things that your mother tells you aren't always true.」
「…what do you know about Mother? Mother, just…」
The reason why he couldn't continue, was probably because he realized that he wasn't satisfied even if he looked like he understood.
「I, won't betray, Mother.」
「But it seems like you're saying that if you could, you would.」
Laughing sarcastically, His Highness Prince Alan seemed like he was also laughing at himself. Because he knew how cruel it was to abandon one's mother.
「…I, invited Your Highness, because I wanted you to talk with His Highness Prince Alan. My important person, irritatingly, excels at everything, so he also has an eye for people. If it's the person that he pledged to, then I too have faith in this person. Doesn't His Highness Prince Alan, love you from the bottom of his heart?」
Dia likes, kind people. His Highness Prince Alan who he was always with was undoubtedly a kind person.
「It's important to talk, with those who think of you. If there was someone who loves both the good and the bad parts of you, wouldn't you be more confident? You might be able to, realize your own faults. You shouldn't glare at Yurii-sama, you should become a strong person who will face Yurii-sama.」
He was frantically looking for a reason to refuse, and was trying to dislike it on purpose. I could tell that His Highness Prince Gilbert was afraid that he would realize that he was the one who was wrong.
「The one who loves you, is not just your okaasama?」
「…Alan-aniue…is just forcing his affections on me.」
Not good. His Highness Prince Alan looked like he was about to cry again.
「You, even though you understand, are you still going to, prioritize one's birth?」
「…then, let's change it. I don't care about things like a person's birth. I just can't stand Yuriel. Is that fine?」
Of course not.
It's kind of different.
If I break down all the reasons, they might be able to repair their relationship, even if it's just a little bit at a time. Not to mention, Yurii-sama is still a child. There's plenty of time.
「I see. Then, why don't I tell you something. Dahlia loves the pie from that shop across from here.」
If I had to say, then she's a child who puts food before romance.
When he heard that, His Highness Prince Gilbert mumbled 「You have my thanks」while pouting and left the cafe. Aah, he went into the shop across the street.
「Although it doesn't seem like major progress.」
「It's important to regularly set aside time to talk like this. He will change a little at a time.」
I said, without hesitation, in response to His Highness Prince Alan's words.
Even if it wasn't a considerable amount, the idea should've been instilled within His Highness Prince Gilbert.
「The importance of talking with His Highness Prince Alan and, doubts towards the actions of the queen. The change in his attitude towards Yurii-sama. And also, opposing me and running from the loving you, he should comprehend them.」
「Calculating women are the second most frightening people in this world.」
「So they aren't number one.」
「They are not as frightening as the furious fiance of the woman.」
I have never seen that person furious before.
「You know a lot more about Dia than me.」
「That's not true. Since he doesn't show the expressions that he has when he is with you when he is with me. Even if he showed me, it would give me the creeps.」
Elegantly picking up the cup, His Highness Prince Alan gave a meaningful smile.
「『My important person』, huh. Unexpectedly, that guy, it seems that there's still hope for him yet.」