Happy Friday!
Leonora.
Leonora.
My Leonora.
Why did you die?
My beloved Leonora.
I see. That guy's no good.
The foolish king killed you.
It's true. That guy's no good.
The ugly woman who was jealous of you killed you.
Your hobby was searching for 『good things』. No matter how difficult the circumstances were, there were these many good things today. One of the flowerbed's flowers bloomed. The omelette was delicious. There was a rainbow. I found three『good things』in one day.
I said that it was stupid, but before I knew it, it had become fun to look for『good things』.
But Leonora. Because you died, I couldn't find even a single『good thing』. Even if the flowers bloomed, I can't tell Leonora. Even if there was delicious food, I can't give some to Leonora. Even if there were rainbows, I can't count the colors together with Leonora. There were no 『good things』anywhere.
What should I do?
In a world where there's no Leonora, in such a stupid world, what should I do?
Leonora.
Leonora.
I thought about it. I thought about it a lot. I couldn't find an answer, but, when that child tightly grasped my finger while crying, I finally realized it.
The thing, that I should do—–….
His Majesty the King had collapsed.
His Highness Prince Alan lowered his voice and told us.
After school, in the student council room. The ones in the room were, His Highness Prince Alan, His Highness Prince Romeo, His Highness Prince Gilbert, and Yurii-sama. And for some reason, me.
I wonder why I'm here. Something like His Majesty collapsing, a commoner…I'm more or less part of a Count House, but even so, this shouldn't be something that the daughter of family that could pretty much be considered commoners should know about.
Answer. It was because Yurii-sama said that he doesn't want to be alone in a room with his siblings, and His Highness Prince Alan allowed me to join without hesitation. However, I was extremely out-of-place.
His Highness Prince Gilbert's eyes were wavering uneasily.
「Will His Majesty be alright?」
The one who asked that was His Highness Prince Gilbert, His Highness Prince Romeo let out an indifferent「fuun」. Yurii-sama pursed his lips, and was just holding on to me.
「Just what…」
When His Highness Prince Gilbert asked His Highness Prince Alan, His Highness Prince Romeo scornfully laughed.
「Why don't you calm down? They didn't say that he died, so doesn't that mean that he's fine? You should use your head a little, maggot.」
「Maggot…」
I was inadvertently involved, but it didn't seem like anyone cared, so, un, it's fine. As soon as I thought this, His Highness Prince Romeo looked over at me this time.
「By the way, why, are you here? Count Swain's daughter. Even though you're an outsider at best.」
「I gave her permission. You guys have terrible attitudes, so Yuriel is frightened. It's not a problem. Since the rumor will spread throughout the entire country in a few days anyways.」
Frightened, did he react to that word, Yurii-sama was looking at His Highness Prince Alan while puffing up his cheeks. That's right, he's not frightened. He's just not good with the mood turning sour.
Even so, when I thought about how such important news can spread so quickly, rumors were amazing.
「It seems that poison had been in his food. It doesn't seem to be life-threatening, but this is a serious incident. His Majesty's life is being targeted, and because they were able to put poison in the food, the perpetrator was inside the castle. Not only the principal offender, but the perpetrator as well, have not been caught yet.」
For a moment, I had casually suspected that…if it were His Highness Prince Romeo, he would be able to nonchalantly pull it off. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I had merely thought about it as a joke. I shouldn't say such a joke at a time like this though.
His Highness Prince Romeo chuckled.
「You, suspected me just now, Count Swain's daughter.」
「Please don't be absurd.」
Really, mou, how scary. Why did he read my mind. Besides, I wouldn't seriously suspect him, so please, I want you to overlook it.
「Unfortunately, it's not me. If it were me, I would've done it better.」
「That's true. Ah, no, I'm sorry. I'll be quiet.」
However, in actuality, it didn't seem like His Highness Prince Alan and His Highness Prince Romeo made any oversights. Them being involved in governmental affairs this young was proof.
「Aah, it's probably not Romeo. There's no merit for that guy to kill His Majesty right now. It's not Gilbert either. Since you're bad at acting. If you had something to do with His Majesty collapsing, you wouldn't be so surprised like you are right now. Naturally, it's also impossible for it to be Yuriel. You're always together with Miss Swain, and you have no way of making contact with the castle.」
Looking at each person's face one at a time, His Highness Prince Alan declared, 'It wasn't you'.
「There are four possibilities. Someone from outside the country, a noble with no relationship with the royal family plotting an uprising, the queen, as well as, me.」
His Highness Prince Alan's eyes expressed that there was no need for an explanation.
I understood it as well, His Highness Prince Romeo and His Highness Prince Gilbert also understood it, and Yurii-sama wasn't particularly surprised either. He had an attitude of agreeing with him.
As the next king, the most influential candidate was His Highness Prince Alan right now. Even the support from the citizens was overwhelming. If His Majesty the King passed away, there would be no time for deliberation, and His Highness Prince Alan would automatically succeed the throne.
「As far as it goes, I'm innocent, but you guys don't trust people, especially me.」
「I wonder. To be honest, I don't care if you're innocent or guilty. If I could use this chance to get rid of a few eyesores, it wouldn't matter if aniue ran away from his crime.」
Without hesitation, His Highness Prince Romeo made a remark that accused someone of a false charge, but if this was heard by the citizens, he may be assassinated. At the every least, he would've lost the support of the citizens.
「…it shouldn't be Alan-aniue. Probably, most likely, definitely, the mastermind is….」
His Highness Prince Gilbert was, clenching his fist while glaring at the floor.
His Highness Prince Alan had a grim look on his face, and His Highness Prince Romeo was sneering.
「If you don't have the courage to say anything more, you won't be able to succeed the throne, Gilbert.」
At His Highness Prince Alan's words, His Highness Prince Gilbert bit his lips and hung his head.
「…this is troublesome. For someone to make a move on His Majesty means that, we will also be exposed to more and more danger than before. Until the king's decision next term, there's already no more time. This is proof that the 'enemy' is starting to get impatient. Everyone, do your best to not go anywhere where there's no one around.」
He made the enemy ambiguous, but he was practically talking about the queen. Even if it's outside the country, or a noble within the country, they don't have a reason to be impatient. Since they can kill the new king after the succession.
The talk was over, and when I left the student council room, Dia and Cain were glaring at each other.
The tension was different from just now, I wanted them to leave me out of it.
When I said 「He is Dahlia's oniisama」while pointing him out to His Highness Prince Gilbert who seemed uncomfortable, he responded by saying that of course he knew that. He also knew about me, so it was natural that he knew, huh.
「I'm going back to my room. Mirabell Swain. Don't let Yuriel die.」
Surprised, I looked at Yurii-sama, and Yurii-sama had widened his eyes as well, blinking many times.
「What, Gilbert! It feels unpleasant!」
「Shut up! It's not like I'm particularly worried about you! I only said that because it would be an embarrassment to me if my younger brother died pathetically!!」
Towards Yurii-sama who was shivering as he said that, His Highness Prince Gilbert's face was completely red, either from embarrassment or from anger, and ran off.
「It seems that Marian's daughter had preached to him the preciousness of siblings.」
His Highness Prince Alan happily whispered this to me. Having been preached the wonderfulness of siblings, for His Highness Prince Alan to know that, did that mean that His Highness Prince Gilbert had some affection for us as well.
Yurii-sama, puffed up his cheeks and had a sour look on his face, but his cheeks were red and he looked somewhat happy.
「It's wonderful seeing you get along.」
I said that while being mindful of Dia and Cain, but those two people did not hear me.
「Mou, Dia. Your quick temper has been revealing itself recently. If you don't show that you're a role model for your kouhai to look up to, that's not good, right?」
「I need to teach the kouhai who doesn't show respect to his senpai some manners, Mira.」
「Please don't say ridiculous things. I won't agree with that kind of uncivilized way of thinking. Please don't let Yurii-sama hear that because it's not good for his education.」
Cain clicked his tongue and looked away from Dia.
「Well, what were you doing? Why were you glaring at each other in a place like this?」
「He started it.」
「Your fiance started it.」
「You two, do you really not get along?」
The two people said「No way」at the same time, and Yurii-sama laughed with a kupupu. No, mou, how adorable. He covered his mouth with both hands, mou. It would’ve been fine even if you laughed out loud. Aah, however, it's just irresistible when he’s covering his mouth like that and enduring it, as I thought, please do your best to not laugh out loud.
The two people were people who would immediately fight when they meet, so there wasn’t any special reason behind it. Maa, for them to immediately fight like that was because of me, or rather, my family, so I don’t have the right to thoughtlessly criticize them though.
「…nee, you, won’t you stay with Duke Roderick’s son for a while?」
Leaning his chin against his hand, the absentminded His Highness Prince Romeo, said this to Yurii-sama. His Highness Prince Romeo had a ridiculing smile on his face and said ‘I won’t eat you’ to Yurii-sama who jumped with a start from having been suddenly called out to.
「I want to borrow Count Swain’s daughter for a little while. If aniue and him are nearby, it wouldn’t be a problem for her to separate from you, right, little one.」
After Yurii-sama shivered, he glared at the slender His Highness Prince Romeo.
「What are you going to do to Mira!!」
「Nothing. Not a thing. Unlike you, I have absolutely no interest in her. I’m only using someone who’s useful.」
Dia was looking at me like he wanted to say something, but His Highness Prince Alan opened his mouth before he could.
「Isn’t it fine. Miss Swain, if you're fine with it, go with him. Since that guy won’t do anything that isn’t advantageous to him. He won’t harm you either.」
「Haa…I have no problem with it, but…Cain as well?」
I confirmed it with His Highness Prince Romeo who nodded, and I nodded as well.
「I’ll be going for a bit, Yurii-sama. Please wait like a good child.」
I hesitated, but I kissed the displeased Dia on the cheek.
「It’s probably just something trivial.」
「…you are quite devilish.」
But if I didn’t do this much, you wouldn’t agree to it, right?