[By the way, Marlow-sama. Have you been practicing self-defense nowadays?]
[Aa, the one that Britney taught me a while ago. I can do it now without any problem.]
[Please be careful of suspicious people. And then…]
I spoke to that point.
In truth, I wanted to say "protect yourself before protecting other people", but if that's the case, then Merrill would die in the manga. It's a difficult problem.
(If I was there… no, I can only save them at the expense of my sacrifice. Do I have to call Ryuze-niisama?)
My grandfather and cousin were pretty reliable on battle.
It was around winter when the crown prince was killed in the manga, currently the season was summer.
The capital was showing the aspect that it would have a heat wave as soon as possible, and the inside of the castle was also hot especially for a fat person.
(…By the way, why was Merrill likely to be killed?)
When I remembered the situation that occurred in the manga well, I realized the fact that Merrill was involved in the highway incident.
(That's it! Merrill, who has noticed what the bad nobleman is doing, went to investigate alone!)
Normally, the nobleman's suspicious behavior would be informed to someone, but Merrill who didn't know about the details of the highway problem became curious and behaved recklessly by searching about the enemy alone.
In the middle of the investigation, she was suspected by the enemy and an assassin was sent to destroy the evidence.
Normally one wouldn't kill a princess suddenly. That might be the case, but I would like to avoid that scenario as much as possible.
(This current world is not of the same state as the manga. But there's a possibility that the same incident will occur.)
Actually, when I was 12 years old, there's a talk about being Angela's companion, and when the northern country attacked, Ryuze was in a bit of a pinch. Ricardo was Marlow's follower.
(Even Merrill appeared as a princess properly.)
It was a situation that one couldn't be negligent about, and it's not enough to just protect Marlow.
As I talked about the highway, things were moving to the manga's plot.
(It's important to protect Marlow-sama, but stopping Merrill is even more important… if, that child rushes head first into a dangerous situation, one after another, other people might also be in danger.)
While I was thinking alone, Marlow watched at me strangely.
[Britney, what's the matter? Are you unwell?]
[No, I'm fine. I've rested a bit, so I'll be returning to my room.]
When Marlow lend me a hand since I tried to get up with difficulty, he staggered.
A delicate man like him couldn't support my weight.
(…Somehow, I apologize.)
I felt uncomfortable, so I apologized to him, and then I cheerfully… no, I left the place while breathing heavily and showing a disgraceful sight.
[Britney.]
Just as I was leaving, Marlow spoke to me.
[What I said earlier, I'm pretty serious about it.]
[Ha, serious?]
[About the engagement. I won't be pushy about it. But depending on your answer, I'm going to move.]
The face of Marlow, who saw me reflexively lost on words, was serious.
[However… unfortunately there's not much time. It will be impossible to escape from the minister.]
[…I understand Marlow-sama's circumstances. But I won't serve as the crown princess.]
[Britney's working ability, Ryuze also highly values it right?]
[No, what I'm currently doing is totally different from a crown princess' duties… my duties consists only as Ryuze-niisama's follow-up.]
[I don't want to say much of this kind of thing, but how about as a concubine?]
[…No, honesty is also difficult. This isn't a good story, I apologize.]
The future of being with Marlow didn't seem realistic.
He looked at me and said "is that so" while showing a troubled face.
[I understand Britney's answer. You can think about it a bit more!]
[Ye, yes!]
I refused the engagement proposal from him to his face.
I'd like to carry out a big operation to protect Marlow and Merrill, but… it's a little awkward.
(I have to manage it by winter somehow…! For the time being, let's postpone Marlow-sama. Let's take measures against Merrill who is the primary cause!)
I decided so, and then I headed towards Merrill while panting heavily.
The energetic Merrill preferred being outside rather than being inside the castle. In addition, her favourite place was the garden at the front of the castle; it was the biggest and most gorgeous garden. Un, she seemed to be there.
[A, she's there! Merrill-dono…]
I tried to rush towards her, but as it was, I stopped walking to proceed towards her.
[E, eh?]
In the middle of the garden surrounded by colourful flowers illuminated by the bright sunlight, the beautiful blonde princess… was in the process of being crammed by an army of young women with atrocious facial expressions.
TN: If I was Britney, I would turn around and sneakily escape before being spotted. But considering her current shape and that she’s on crutches, that would be rather impossible.