Inside the rattling and shaking carriage, snoring like the roar of a large beast reverberated.
Sitting in the four-seater carriage, I – Ricardo – could not sleep. I couldn’t take my eyes off of Britney who was comfortably lying down across from me.
She was in the middle of her nap, seemingly unconscious of me as someone of the opposite sex… a strand of drool hung down.
It’s not as severe as the first time we met, but as always Britney is quite disappointing for a reijou. (TLN: She’s doesn’t act like a typical noble’s daughter)
The carriage, lit by the setting sun, traveled through the bluish-green grasslands heading for the Hakusu Earldom’s estate.
(It’s shameful. In the end, I was unable to do anything during this ordeal.)
The fact the situation was resolved only a day later was purely luck.
This time the culprit was Ryuze’s parents. Because they were in a hurry to obtain money, the place we were caught was near the mansion.
Thanks to that, discovery and arrest was quick, but under different circumstances we might have been captured for several days.
I’d been taught swordsmanship since a young age, and after polishing my fencing at the royal capital I felt confident. Yet despite that…
(Against the kidnappers, my skills were pitiable.)
The lessons I’ve had until now were completely worthless in a real fight.
As for Britney, she’s clearly not the unpleasant reijou I thought she was at first.
Certainly, her outward experience isn’t beautiful, and her behavior is a little coarse. I can hardly see her as someone of the opposite sex.
However, in contrast to her young appearance, her speech and conduct is that of a grown-up and I highly value her proactive attitude towards territory management.
Above all, her personality is not bad.
Her figure which I had not been able to withstand before has also improved visibly these days.
In that way, I can say with confidence she’s a hardworking girl that doesn’t shirk her goals.
Well, given her hardworking nature, it’s a mystery why she had that figure in the first place.
(I heard from Ryuze she had been bullied by the servants and that there were issues with both her parents. Then with the excessive doting from the Earl… the cause may have been stress. The more I learn, the more unfortunate her childhood seems.)
I have completely abandoned the unpleasant feelings I used to hold towards her. Now, I see her as a like-minded soul in territory management and a close friend I’ve had for a year.
I think I was quite lucky to have been given an engagement to her at that time.
In the royal capital I’m surrounded by reijous with barely hidden ulterior motive. Despite Britney being an oddball girl that snores loudly, I greatly prefer her sincere, honest nature.
However, I myself crushed that opportunity. At this late hour, how could I announce I want to retract my decision to break off the engagement.
Regarding a future with Britney, it would be better to give up. (TLN: MAN UP, RICARDO. (Or don’t. I want her to end up with the prince after all. (=^･^=) ))
The royal capital academy’s vacation is only until the end of summer. I still have some time before I must return.
During this time, I think I will put more effort into learning military arts. I don’t want to feel helpless like I did ever again.
In substitute for my brother with a weak constitution, my father has involved me in the territory’s management since a young age.
Under normal circumstances, as the second son, I am expected to leave home and find my own success in life.
I thought that meant I would be engaged in government affairs in the royal capital, or I would have become a knight for the kingdom.
However, since about a year ago, the clouds have looked menacing. (TLN: That is, things don’t look good.)
Once my brother’s weak constitution looked like it would interfere with his work, my father began to behave like he would bequeath the territory to me instead.
Thanks to that, the relationship between us brothers has become the worst.
To be honest, I do not want to be an assistant to my older brother once he becomes Count. He is a dainty, hot-tempered person, and remarkably finds fault with everybody throughout the day.
(To me, that kind of thing holds no draw.)
But, I was also worried about entrusting the Astaru earldom to my brother by himself.
Ryuze and the others who say it would be good were I to become the next Earl are kindling my desire.
I thought I would be able to decide were I to go to the same academy that Ryuze went to, but to this day I still have yet to decide.
However slowly, eventually I will need to seriously decide my future.
Ryuze says I should succeed my father the Earl.
As he is a close partner who lives in the same area I do, I have compared myself to him for a long time.
After thinking for a while, we arrived safely at the Hakusu earldom’s estate. Later that night the Earl and his party returned safely as well.
After that, Britney guided me to her laboratory where she develops new products, and introduced new special products of the Hakusu earldom to me. She seems to be quite active as an assistant to Ryuze.
(Compared to that, it feels like everything I do is only half-baked.)
If I seriously want to succeed the Astaru earldom, I must put in at least as much effort as she does.)
Endlessly plagued by my troubles, my summer vacation came to an end.
Translator’s Corner:Hmm. Interesting to see Ricardo’s perspective. A lot of this we already knew, but learning more about his family dynamics was interesting!
One more chapter until Britney turns 14-years-old.
1997 characters, 47 lines