Chapter 10: The Age of Ordeals (4)

“Of course, I’m not forcing my feelings on you, Seirin. But expect it—I’ll try to make you fall for me.”

After confidently declaring this and returning to the palace, Princess Pesopotemia was seen off by Seirin, who then returned to her room. She washed off her carefully crafted sickly look and collapsed onto her bed with a long sigh.

“What am I even doing… Ha~! Ahhh—! Seriously!”

Seirin, her irritation at its peak, thrashed about, then sat up as Remi entered and asked worriedly what was wrong.

“Remi!”

“Yes, My Lady.”

“Did I really do something wrong? Hm?”

“You did nothing wrong, My Lady! Nothing at all!”

“Then why! Why do I have to suffer because of the Crown Prince and everyone around him! Why!”

“M-My Lady, please calm down. D-Do you think Princess Pesopotemia really likes you? Maybe she was just joking…….”

“How can you say that after seeing it yourself?”

“S-Sorry, My Lady.”

Seeing Remi so deflated made Seirin feel she was taking it out on the wrong person, so she apologized for getting angry and collapsed onto the bed again.

“If I keep living like this, I won’t last.”

“M-My Lady! Don’t say such things! If something happens to you, I’ll die too!”

“Who’s dying! Sigh. I need to learn memory alteration magic as soon as possible…….”

Thinking she could finally be free from the Crown Prince and all those who made her suffer, Seirin clenched her hands on the bed and stared at the ceiling.

“No matter what it takes! I’ll master memory alteration! That’s the only way I’ll survive.”

“My Lady, don’t rush. Please take care of yourself.”

“I’m doing this for me. Just for me. Ah, I’m hungry but I don’t have the strength to go to the dining room.”

“Just tell me what you want to eat. I’ll bring it to you!”

“Thank you, Remi.”  

“No need to thank me.”  

Seirin felt most grateful and comfortable with Remi, who stayed by her side with a smile even when she was snappy. She reached out and grabbed Remi’s slender wrist.  

“My Lady?”  

“Do you eat and work? Why are you so skinny?”  

“My Lady, please. It’s embarrassing to say, but I have a lot of belly fat.”  

“Liar! You, fat?”  

Seirin was speechless seeing Remi show her belly fat with both hands, and Remi laughed at her lady’s stunned face, then asked what she wanted to eat.  

“Cream stew, bread, and milk.”  

“Understood.”  

Remi bowed politely and left, greeting Knight Luen briefly as she passed him at the door. Seirin, seeing Luen staring blankly at Remi, asked if he had something to say, and he was startled, hesitantly approaching her. A faint smile appeared on Seirin’s lips.  

“Madam instructed me to keep watch over you.”

“I’m in my room, so what’s there to watch? By the way, Luen.”  

“Yes, My Lady.”  

“It’s better to be honest in front of me.”  

“Huh? Wh-what…?”  

Normally expressionless, Luen now looked visibly flustered. Seirin, watching him with sleepy eyes, crossed her arms.  

“You like Remi, don’t you?”  

“Wh-What?!!”  

“Keep your voice down.”  

“S-sorry, My Lady. I, um!”  

Seeing Luen’s face flush bright red, Seirin finally managed a real laugh, then sat up against her pillow and told the flustered knight to calm down.  

“……”  

Luen straightened his back, clasped his hands behind him, and bowed his head. Seirin smiled and spoke.  

“How about confessing like a man? I think you two suit each other.”  

“She’s too good for someone older like me…”  

“Oh, please. You’re only four years apart, not forty.”

“S-still…”  

“You don’t know, do you? Remi’s popular. What if another guy snatches her away?”  

“That—!”  

Laughing at Luen’s worried face, Seirin gave the pure knight a word of advice.  

“Want me to help you get together with Remi? She listens to me.”  

“T-thank you, but… I want to win her heart myself.”  

“Heh. Alright, then do your best. I’ll cheer for you, Luen.”  

“Thank you, My Lady.”  

“What for?”  

After Luen left, Seirin was left alone in the quiet room, looking up at the ceiling.  

“Come to think of it… I’ve never dated anyone. Never even wanted to.”  

Seirin, who had only ever been absorbed in books or magic, had come of age but never cared much about romance. Now, she felt a tiny bit interested.  

“But what does it matter? I’ve already been branded as the Crown Prince’s match in this empire.”  

Having endured twelve years of the Crown Prince’s obvious affection, Seirin was frustrated that she’d never actually been confessed to. Hugging a cushion tightly, she imagined it was the Crown Prince’s face and pounded it in anger.  

“Ah, I feel a bit better. Whew.”  

As she loosened her wrist, the door creaked open. Her brother Sein peeked in, wanting to come inside but watching for her reaction.  

“What?”  

“D-dear sister, I swear, I didn’t want to bring Her Highness here—”

“Fine, just leave. I’m eating dinner in my room tonight.”  

“Are you feeling sick?”  

Seirin waved her hand at the worried Sein, telling him to go, but when he grabbed her hand and looked at her with teary eyes, she frowned.  

“Rin, you can’t be sick. If you’re even a little unwell, my heart breaks! Sniff!”  

“Hah, really. Anyone would think I have some deadly disease. Enough, go have dinner with Mother.”  

“My one and only beloved sister Rin, I’m here so you don’t have to worry. Whether it’s the Crown Prince or the Princess, I’ll protect you.”  

Seirin didn’t trust her brother much, but figured having him around was better than not, so she thanked him and told him to hurry to the dining room. At her thanks, Sein was overjoyed like a child, so Seirin playfully kicked his plump bottom like a ball. Sein crashed into the wall and slid to the floor.  

“Ah, sorry. Maybe I used too much strength.”  

“Haha~ It’s fine, Seirin. I’ll go now.”  

Knowing she’d get scolded if she sent her brother to the dining room with a bleeding forehead, Seirin reluctantly treated his wound, and watched him leave, happy to have been healed, shaking her head and clicking her tongue.  

“Will he ever get married?”  

He was her only brother, so she worried a bit, sighing before diving into a book while waiting for Remi to bring dinner.  

“My Lady. Did you wait long?”  

“No, not at all. Thank you, Remi.”  

“It’s nothing~”  

Seirin stared at Remi’s always smiling face, then slyly asked as Remi handed her a spoon.  

“Remi, what do you think of Luen?”  

“My Lady, your knight?”  

Seirin nodded while sipping soup, and Remi smiled as she fiddled with her chin.  

“He’s dignified. Seems like a good person. I like how he always seems so responsible.”  

“Oh~ really?”  

“Yes. But… why do you ask?”  

“No reason. Remi, did you have dinner?”  

“Yes, I ate in the kitchen while waiting for your food.”  

“Hm, okay.”  

“The soup will get cold. Please eat.”  

Seirin nodded, blew on the hot soup, and ate, tearing bread with her hands to finish her dinner.  

“Ah, I feel alive again.”  

“Should I bring dessert?”  

“No! I just finished dinner.”  

“Alright then…”  

“Just a bit of ice cream, please.”  

“Hehe, got it.”  

As Remi left with the tray, Seirin raised her voice slightly, telling her not to laugh, then stood and walked to the window.  

Looking up at the clear sky tinged with sunset, she sighed deeply and spoke with longing.  

“I wish they’d just quietly go back to their own countries. Please…”  

She prayed earnestly to Theron, the Lord, but when her father returned from the palace and mentioned that Princess Pesopotemia was coming to visit his sick daughter, Seirin seriously considered running away for a while.

***

Kasel entered the well-tended garden, heading to the rose beds. He gently touched the beautiful roses, carefully picked them one by one, and began placing them in a basket.  

“Your Highness.”  

“What is it?”  

Without looking at Lawrence, who stood behind him, Kasel focused on picking the freshest, most beautiful roses for his basket. He turned his head slightly, noticing Lawrence’s unusually worried gaze, and asked why.  

“Are you going to visit Lady Seirin tomorrow?”  

“Isn’t that obvious? If I just send that perverted princess, who knows what might happen to my Seirin. Of course I’m going.”  

“I see.”  

“That’s not why you called me, is it?”  

“Well…”  

“Just say it straight, Lawrence Chenpester.”  

“Princess Mariana asked His Majesty the Emperor for permission to go with you tomorrow.”  

“To where?”  

“To the Damarania ducal residence.”  

Seeing Lawrence’s troubled face, Kasel handed him the basket and gloves, ordering him to wrap up the 78 freshest, most beautiful roses and deliver them to his room. He then went straight to the palace, arriving at Mariana’s quarters.  

“You’ve arrived, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”  

Kasel only nodded at Ledia, Mariana’s knight, and reached for the door, but she stopped him.  

“Her Highness the Princess just fell asleep.”  

“Hm, is that so?”  

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Alright.”  

Ledia bowed as Kasel turned away. As his footsteps faded, Mariana called from inside. Ledia carefully opened the door and turned on the light.  

“Where’s Kasel?”  

“He left.”  

Instead of answering, Mariana beckoned Ledia over with her finger. Ledia approached, stopping at a respectful distance from the princess sitting on the bed.  

“I suppose that chatterbox already told him I’m going to the Duke’s estate?”

“Seems so.”  

“Honestly. People who can’t keep their mouths shut!”

“Your Highness. Wouldn’t it be better not to go?”  

“Why? Do you think I’ll go to that girl’s house and cause trouble?”  

Ledia bowed her head in front of the unusually sensitive princess and spoke.  

“No, I just worry the Crown Prince might misunderstand you, Your Highness.”  

“Misunderstand what! I could get rid of that girl anytime.”  

“Your Highness.”  

“But if I did, Kasel and His Majesty would hate me.”  

Seeing tears fill Mariana’s fierce eyes, Ledia looked at her with pity, but Mariana snapped at her for it, so Ledia apologized and bowed.  

“I just don’t get it. Kasel! His Majesty! Why do they care so much about that arrogant girl!”  

Ledia quietly wiped away Mariana’s tears with her sleeve and handed her a handkerchief, but Mariana told her to take it away, so she withdrew her hand.  

“This time, I’ll get an answer from that girl. Preferably in front of Kasel.”  

Seeing Mariana’s lips curl into a smirk, Ledia wanted to stop her but knew it would only make her angry, so she closed her eyes and sighed softly.  

“Leave me.”  

“Have a peaceful night, Your Highness.”  

Ledia closed the door gently, leaned against the wall, and gazed at the bright full moon outside the big window, genuinely dreading the coming day.