「…?」
「Mira? What happened?」
Yurii-sama tilted his head to the side in confusion at me who was standing there looking around.
「Aah…no. It's nothing.」
Lately, I've felt someone watching us. Because I'm accompanied by Yurii-sama, it wasn't someone looking for a good opportunity to talk with us, somehow, it's…full of malice.
It would be great if it were just my imagination. It's still fine if it was directed towards just me, but if it was directed to Yurii-sama, then it'll be a problem. It might be better to discuss this with Dia.
The next class was on healing magic, so we will be migrating to another classroom. Nowadays, Yurii-sama was getting familiar with the school little by little.
「Today's class is on compounding medicinal plants, but…Yurii-sama, are you good at magic?」
「I know the basics.」
He messed up the basics, well, he also had some things that he's not good at. He wanted to figure it out by himself, so he didn't ask me.
「Ah…but…」
If I remember correctly, today's class was taken with sixth graders. We have magic class three times a week, one of which will be taken with students from another grade. The inexperienced first graders were taught by the eighth graders while the eighth graders were also able to develop teaching skills. The other grades were taught in order.
In sixth grade was His Highness Prince Romeo, who was fifteen years old. If we see him, Yurii-sama would probably feel awkward.
His Highness Prince Romeo, who was a person who was not too serious like His Highness Prince Alan, and His Highness Prince Gilbert were rarely seen within the school. This was because those two know that even if they skip school, they wouldn't be expelled. Of course, it's not like they never come, but they did it on a whim, so they rarely come. It would be great if they weren't here for today's class, but….
「Ow…」
His Highness Prince Romeo who seemed to have gotten there earlier than us was sitting in the front row in the classroom. He was a beautiful person with the same colored hair and eyes as His Highness Prince Alan, but what was different from His Highness Prince Alan was that he was someone with a gentle disposition. If I had to choose between the two, rather than His Highness Prince Alan, Dia gave off a friendly impression. However, because I know what His Highness Prince Romeo has done, I felt that he was blackhearted.
Holding my hand, Yurii-sama stopped and leaned onto me who was behind him. It was like that time with His Highness Prince Alan. He didn't say "Geh", but his eyes were filled with uneasiness.
But he pouted, as if nothing was wrong, and stuck his chest out, trying to make himself look bigger. Intuitively, I knew that rather than His Highness Prince Alan, the one that he had a bad relationship with was His Highness Prince Romeo.
His Highness Prince Romeo slowly walked over towards us, and when he saw Yurii-sama, he gave a huge smile. He was smiling, but no matter how I look at it, I could only see an evil smile. Yurii-sama's frown deepened as well.
「Hello. How long has it been, you? I don't really see you, so I forgot.」
When we walked past him, His Highness Prince Romeo grabbed Yurii-sama's shoulder. The grip that Yurii-sama had on my hand increased.
They were brothers, but they don't see each other often to the point that they forget about each other. They lived in a place that was as big as a castle, so if Their Highnesses were to live in the dormitories, then it might be possible. However, it was expected that Their Highnesses frequently return to the castle for the sake of the administration. I could only wonder who he was intentionally avoiding. Now that I think about it, when he was packing his things, Yurii-sama said something about avoiding Their Highnesses Prince Romeo and Prince Gilbert.
「Let go!」
「Are you the daughter of Count Swain? You're Cain's friend, right?」
He doesn't let go of Yurii-sama's shoulder and His Highness Prince Romeo turned his gaze towards me. His eyes seemed to be assessing me. Ah, those eyes were the eyes of a clever person. The clever antique dealer who deceived father and the maid who stole money from the house, they both had those eyes. I'm not like that, but Dia's father also has those eyes. It doesn't mean that it's bad. It just meant that they were clever people.
「Yes.」
I gave a short reply. It's a dull reply. It was also extreme rude reply towards a prince, but please excuse me.
His Highness Romeo's eyes widened, with only a bit of his emotions reflected in them. I also knew those eyes. Those were the kind of eyes that the antique dealer and maid had. However, Dia's father has never shown these kinds of eyes. These were eyes that looked down on people.
I was not mistaken. This impolite prince. I'm your senpai, ok? …that, I have never thought of saying that to someone of the royal family. In any case, I'm just the daughter of a fallen count house whose peerage will be revoked at any time. Being a little rude to a prince at this time wouldn't really change anything.
「Please excuse me.」
When I brushed off His Highness Prince Romeo's hand, he only frowned for a moment. It really was just for a moment.
When His Highness Prince Romeo let go of his hand and I hugged Yurii-sama at the exact same time, Yurii-sama, with a look of surprise on his face, looked at me and happily smiled . I smiled at the giggling Yurii-sama.
「You're being impolite towards His Highness Prince Romeo, Swain-senpai.」
Immediately after walking towards us from the back of the classroom, the male student who stopped next to His Highness Prince Romeo said this to me. Ara, ara, ara. Not His Highness, but it's you that said that?
「You are also being impolite, Cain. for you to become someone who does not give your greetings to your senpai, how unfortunate.」
「…As usual, you like to find fault with people.」
Cain Marian, His Highness Prince Romeo's friend, averted his eyes while sulking. He looked short when he stood next to the tall His Highness Prince Romeo. However, his beautiful face didn't lose to His Highness's. I wanted to get along with him more, but if I interact with the Marians, Dia will get mad, so I can not openly and intimately interact with them. Not only that, somehow, it seems that Cain is completely hated by his sister.
「Dahlia isn't like you, her manners are good.」
Dahlia is a fourth grader and his sister.
「I'm not good at using my head. That's why I flirt and get close with the ladies.」
「That child is clever. Your sister.」
It seemed that Dahlia and I being close caused discord between the older brother and the younger sister. However, there's nothing I could do, so I wanted him to come to a decision regarding me so that they can get along.
「Yup. All of my friends' family members are smart. Unlike your place.」
The spectating His Highness Prince Romeo stared at me, provocatively. I'm a little annoyed. I knew what he's trying to say.
I wonder why. I know that I get mad relatively easily, however, even though, I could easily ignore the harsh words that were being said by putting up a front and smiling, the one who was indirectly saying harsh things was strangely getting mad. The junior who doesn't have even a bit of innocence was not good at this.
「As expected of a prince. It seems like you are well aware of it. Your younger brother is different…」
After glancing at Yurii-sama, I looked at his Highness Prince Romeo once again.
「You know a lot of unnecessary things.」
It was implied that Yurii-sama was the superior prince with both knowledge and ability.
He seemed to have stopped breathing. Like before, it was only for a moment, but he shot me a death glare and his face visibly stiffened.
This time, I excused myself , and walked to my seat and when the class ended, I hurriedly left the classroom before His Highness could stop me.
「It might be rude of me to refer to you as a younger brother, but he was creepy…he was a little disturbing for a prince.」
He was like a snake. He gave me the creeps.
Because I was saying this even though there were people in the hallway, Yurii-sama was startled.
「That's true, but if Romeo hears that, you will immediately lose your peerage. 」
「It's fine, we don't have it anymore.」
Besides, I think that it's better this way. I had always tried my best to be a good girl on the outside, making sure my reputation didn't lower so that people won't purposely look down on Father and won't use me as a weapon against him.
However, rather than worrying about not knowing when we would lose our status, I would prefer that we emigrate and it'll be fine even if Father became a peasant. Mother and I would follow him and it would be nice if we went to an extremely quiet place. If it did happen, I won't be able to see my friends and Dia again, but I didn't really consider that.
…Because Dia is kind, he would protect my family, but it might not even happen.
「Saying it like that was impolite, but I did not intend to compare Yurii-sama. You're a wonderful prince. 」
I'm glad that it was this child who came to our House. That heavenly adorableness. He looked up at me from within my arms. Ah, I'm going to get a nosebleed.
「But…the one that the country needs is not me.」
「Ara…aren't we timid?」
It might be His Highness Prince Romeo's fault that he's like this. It was different from when he was with His Highness Prince Alan, he was timid and frightened.
「It will take a while, since Yurii-sama still hasn't grown up yet. After this, if you were to become someone who is needed, that would be for the best. Even if all the other princes don't die from a plague, you would come out on top.」
「Don't say something so frightening…」
Come to think of it, what were Yurii-sama's thoughts on inheriting the throne? His Highness Prince Romeo gave off the impression that he was selfish, but it seemed that he was burning with desire to obtain the throne and the reason why His Highness Prince Alan was so calm might be because he had confidence that he would be chosen….
Yurii-sama doesn't particularly talk about the throne, but like what happened just now, it seemed that he does worry about the future of the country. For you to worry about the country at your age, ah, an angel from heaven…putting that aside, if I'm able to, I would like to help him.
Why am I so useless…! I regret being lazy and idle all the time!! It's impossible for me to ask Dia. No matter how you look at it, he supports His Highness Prince Alan.
「Is Yurii-sama…going to succeed your royal father…?」
「…I don't know.」
There was that too. Although he has only lived for five years, for him to think about the future, it was still too early. Even for me, I haven't even thought about what to do after graduating school.
Everyone else was probably thinking that Dia and I will get together once I graduate, but I don't intend on doing that. After graduating, I can finally release that person. If I cancel my betrothal with that person, everyone else will agree.
But, it's not about me right now.
「But I want to work for the country.」
「How splendid…how splendid!!」
He got mad at me when I hugged him tightly and he couldn't breathe.
「Well, for now, in preparation for when all your royal brothers are banished due to a scandal, let's both do our best on our studies.」
「They'll arrest you for lese majeste.」
「If they didn't hear it, then it's fine.」
He didn't agree with me, but Yurii-sama sighed as if in exasperated and patted my head. Ah, ah, ah. I'm going to vomit blood. It's good to be alive..
「Besides, I'll protect you, so it will be fine.」
「Hyun…」
Aah, a weird sound came out again.
「You're the world's most trustworthy prince.」
「Aren't I?」
「Of course!」
Several of my friends who were passing by whispered 「Are you guys an idiot couple?」into my ear.