Chapter 70

The Crown Prince’s Fiancée – Chapter 70

“Now, now. Let’s go out for that walk, then. Hurry, hurry.”

Marie bustled to her feet in a flurry. Arti rose quietly as well.

Essen followed after them. Adrian asked,

“Why are you coming?”

“What kind of question is that? I’m her guard knight.”

Essen answered in a prickly voice. It was true, but Adrian felt something unsettling about it.

‘What is this feeling?’

It was a feeling he had never once had before.

As they headed side by side toward the rear garden, Marie spoke to Essen in a friendly tone.

“Brother Essen, won’t you be my guard knight someday?”

“No.”

“Tsk.”

“And change how you address me.”

“Oh, what’s wrong with Brother Essen?”

When Essen scowled with contempt, Marie grumbled and changed her form of address.

“Yes, yes. Sir Essen.”

Whether Marie pouted or not, Essen’s gaze stayed fixed straight ahead.

His whole bearing seemed to cry out:

Don’t talk to me! Get lost! Don’t touch me!

“You’re awful!”

It was an insolent way to treat a princess, but it was such a typical sight from Essen that Adrian let Marie’s complaint pass without a thought.

Just then, Arti suddenly turned to Essen with a bright smile.

“Sir Essen, isn’t the weather lovely today?”

“It is. The sunlight and the breeze both feel nice.”

“…?”

Adrian’s expression stiffened. Essen was smiling. That Essen!

“Do you like this kind of weather too, Essen?”

“I doubt there’s anyone who dislikes this kind of weather, is there?”

“…?”

You were complaining about it just yesterday.

Adrian remembered. Only yesterday, Essen had grumbled about why the weather had to be so dazzlingly clear.

“I think you and I really get along, Essen.”

“You think so? I feel like we talk easily, too, and I like that.”

“Me too!”

In the end, Adrian couldn’t hold back and hurled the sword he was carrying, scabbard and all.

“Stop acting so meek!”

“What?”

Essen frowned at Adrian’s sudden outburst.

“I said stop acting meek! You’re not like this! Cut out that sugary voice!”

“What are you talking about?”

At Adrian’s abrupt rampage, Arti stared in astonishment, wondering what had come over him, while Marie nodded as if she’d seen this coming.

“Arti, come here.”

Glaring at Essen, Adrian suddenly seized Arti’s arm.

“Neither of you follow us!”

After threatening Essen and Marie, Adrian whisked Arti away.

The two left behind couldn’t understand what had just happened and stood there bewildered.

“Sir Essen, Brother seems to have suddenly gone mad.”

Marie nodded, concluding once again that she was the only sane one in this entire palace, while Essen looked at the spot where Adrian’s retreating figure had vanished and wore a dark expression.

‘As I thought. That bastard Adrian likes Arti.’

* * *

I was still puzzled about what on earth had happened yesterday.

Adrian had suddenly lost his temper at Essen and then led me off on our own.

After that, we strolled the rear garden with hardly any conversation and parted ways.

“What was that all about?”

He had looked furious, but I couldn’t figure out why.

I had asked Essen, wondering whether he might know the reason, but he only gave a mysterious smile and shook his head.

“What was it…”

I was gazing blankly out the window with a book open in front of me, unread, when,

“Boo!”

“Kyaa!”

I jumped to my feet at the sudden loud noise. When I turned around, Marie, who had arrived goodness knows when, was laughing loudly.

“…Marie.”

Relieved that it was someone familiar, yet glaring at her with a hint of reproach, I watched as Marie giggled and slung an arm around my shoulders.

“You startled me.”

“Arti, what were you thinking about that you were so spaced out even when I came in?”

“I was just thinking about this and that.”

In truth, I had been thinking about what happened yesterday.

After yesterday, I was convinced. No matter how long I knew him, I would never be able to read what was in Adrian’s heart.

“But what brings you here today? Isn’t today the day your companion comes to the palace?”

“Oh, that. Yes, it’s the day Ivana comes.”

Marie propped her chin on her hand, clearly displeased.

She was frowning openly, but I only watched her quietly and said nothing.

Perhaps that disappointed her, because Marie turned her head to look at me.

“Aren’t you going to ask what’s wrong?”

“I was worried it might be rude…”

“When I act like this, it’s a protest meant to make you ask!”

“Oh, is that how it works?”

Still, I wasn’t sure whether I was allowed to ask such a thing. I was cautious, but in the end I gave Marie what she wanted.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t like Ivana.”

“I see.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“Hmm. Why don’t you like her?”

“She’s close with Gabriel.”

With a sigh, Marie began telling her story.

“Gabriel followed Brother around from when we were little, so I ran into her very often, since we’re the same age, and as you can see for yourself, Gabriel was like that even as a child. Or was she even worse?”

Though she hadn’t an ounce of consideration for others, Gabriel was remarkably good at deceiving adults, and Marie said she’d often been scolded for bullying Gabriel.

“Of course, I really did bully her, but whenever I picked on her once, she’d exaggerate and tattle about two or three things, so I got scolded terribly.”

“Something like that happened.”

“At first I thought I’d get my revenge on Gabriel, but as I got older it just became exhausting, so I kept my distance from her. That’s why, when it was time to take on a companion, I chose Ivana instead of Gabriel.”

A young princess’s companion was chosen by the elders of the Imperial family, but Marie, being the only princess, wasn’t without a say.

“I’d rather die than have Gabriel as my companion.”

By one turn of events or another, Ivana became her companion, and at first they got along well.

Then Ivana, unable to withstand Gabriel’s bullying, had gone over to Gabriel’s side, and the moment it happened that Marie’s every move was reaching Gabriel’s ears, the relationship between Ivana and Marie had abruptly turned cold, or so the story went.

“How did you know Ivana was carrying tales?”

Marie picked up a book with a sour look. It was one of the strangely titled books she had recommended.

“I can’t stand it when someone insults me, but I can’t stand it even more when someone insults the things I love.”

In short, at some party, the ladies had gathered and badmouthed the books Marie enjoyed reading.

My heart sank. The titles might be odd, but they were fun books.

“Oh dear…”

When I looked at her with a sympathetic expression, Marie glanced at me from the corner of her eye.

“…So, you see, Arti.”

“Yes.”

“Won’t you come to a tea party with me?”

Marie made a tearful face.

“It’s just too boring to go alone!”

All the long-winded story until now had been nothing but groundwork for saying this.

I tried an awkward smile at this classic setup, with the invitation to join the party as its grand finale, but it didn’t work on Marie.

“No companion! No friend! A lonely party! Do you know how sad that is?”

“Marie…”

“And I can’t get out of it, because it’s Mother’s order! Please? Arti! Sister-in-law! Come with me! Please?!”

“But I don’t even have an invitation…”

“What’s the problem when you’re coming with me?! Everyone will welcome you, Arti!”

In the end, buoyed by Marie’s relentless persuasion, I found myself agreeing.

After all, as the future Crown Princess, I would have to take part in social life sooner or later.

This will be all right, won’t it?

* * *

The tea party Marie had suggested was a large-scale gathering hosted by Duchess Leberti.

Arti had worried she might make some mistake at the tea party, which the Duchess hosted once every three months, but fortunately nothing happened.

It was because Duchess Leberti, out of consideration for Marie, hadn’t invited the young lady of the Nevel family, and thanks to that, Arti returned home after enjoying herself thoroughly with Marie.

Above all, since Marie had asked the Duchess to invite Lady Benedetto as well, Arti was able to play happily with Acacia at the tea party.

The most enthusiastic reaction of all came from Marie.

“She’s so cute! Look at these cheeks!”

“That tickles!”

“So soft! Adorable!”

“Kyaa~”

“Oh my. Be my little sister! Acacia! From today on, you’re my little sister!”

Having lost all reason at the sight of Acacia up close, whom she had always thought cute, Marie hugged her and proclaimed that she would never return her to the Benedetto family.

“Princess, I like my brothers!”

“Call me sister!”

“Yes, sister!”

With Adrian as her own brother, Marie couldn’t understand why Acacia liked Diano and Sissignu, but since the cute, adorable Acacia said she did, all Marie could do was nod along.

Marie, who kept hugging Acacia and crying out, “I want a little sister like this!”, was deeply disappointed that she couldn’t take Acacia back to the palace when it was time to part.

Arti looked on contentedly at Marie, who had fallen head over heels for Acacia.

“So, how does it feel to meet Acacia in person?”

At Arti’s question, Marie shot up her thumb without a moment’s hesitation.

“The best!”

Apparently raising both thumbs wasn’t enough, because Marie sniffled.

“I’m so glad I joined the Asa-mo. Sob. It’s the second best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“Then what’s the first?”

“Meeting you, of course, Arti!”

At Marie’s words, Arti burst out laughing.

Arti took it as half a joke, but in that moment Marie was completely sincere.

“You’re truly wasted on my brother, Arti!”