It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 11 – I Don't Think Forcing People Is Good!

“Wh-what the heck is this?!”

That was the day after I’d made a hole in the garden.

After finishing breakfast and heading to the second garden as usual, several people I didn’t know were busily working in the garden.

And when they saw me, they each bowed before returning to work.

Looking to the side, Rubert was blankly watching the working people.

“Good morning, Zeke-sama.”

“Ah, morning. More importantly, what’s this?”

“Ah… apparently they’re doing maintenance on Sebastian-san’s orders. It’s probably because of that thing yesterday.”

That thing was undoubtedly that thing where we applied oil to a wooden sword and caused a fire incident.

Why would anyone do something so stupid…?

“Even so, we can’t train like this.”

“Weren’t there a first and third garden?”

“The first garden is for ceremonies, so no good. The third is no good either—my brother’s probably using it.”

I didn’t want to be seen by Tigos or Tigos’s teacher.

“Then what do we do?”

“Mm…”

After thinking a bit, I looked at Rubert.

Come to think of it, I always have him come along, but hasn’t this guy taken no days off at all?

“Rubert, when did you last rest?”

“I’ve never thought about it. I think… I haven’t rested since coming here. Well, I consider it my job.”

Bl-black company! Had I unknowingly brought this guy to a black workplace?

“Rubert, rest.”

“Huh?”

“Today is a day off!”

It’s not Labor Thanksgiving Day, but let’s make today a holiday to let Rubert rest.

“That’s fine, but what will you do, Zeke-sama?”

“One-handed push-ups maybe. I learned yesterday that I need to build basic strength.”

I needed to build enough muscle to fight with one hand.

Build more muscle. Yeah, muscles never betray you.

“I see, that makes sense. It won’t take much space either, so I think that’s good. Well then, I’ll head to town.”

“Yeah, go ahead and rest well.”

After seeing Rubert off, I devoted myself to muscle training.

“Good grief…”

And now I’m taking a walk.

You ask what happened to the muscle training? I got complaints.

I was doing one-handed push-ups in a corner of the garden, but the maintenance people said I was distracting and asked me to go somewhere else.

Even though they told me to go somewhere else, I don’t have anywhere to go.

While wandering around with nothing to do, I heard someone arguing.

I headed to the palace’s main gate.

“Please stop! My lady dislikes it!”

“Dislikes? She can dine with me. There’s no way she’d dislike it.”

Someone seemed to be in a dispute.

Guards at the gate watched with worried expressions.

Normally guards would mediate at times like this, but something seemed off.

As I slowly approached while walking, I could see the faces of those arguing.

The male one was Elliott.

He was saying something arrogantly while leading guards.

His opponent was…

“Please let go.”

“…”

I ran up at a light jog.

“Elliott, let go of her hand.”

“Huh?”

I grabbed Elliott’s hand.

“You’re… ow, ow, ow, ow!”

Elliott hurriedly shook his hand free.

“Zeke-sama!”

I immediately hid Misty Claudia, who Elliott had been bothering, behind my back.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

She hid behind my back, looking a bit frightened.

“What happened?”

“Prince Elliott… tried to forcibly take my mistress away despite her refusal.”

“Don’t make it sound so bad! I just asked her to join me for a meal!”

The maid appealed to me while looking at me.

Hmm.

I glanced at Misty hiding behind me.

If I had to choose whether to believe Misty or Elliott… yeah, Elliott who was grabbing her hand was probably at fault.

As I watched with half-lidded eyes, Elliott glared at me instead.

“What’s with that look? Do you have a complaint about me?”

“I don’t think forcing someone who dislikes it is good.”

“Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m higher ranked than you. You mongrel with impure blood. Besides, I know about you.”

Elliott showed a mocking smile.

“I hear plenty about your foolishness—that unlike your brother, you’re defective. To think someone with tainted blood and inferior talent would dare speak to me!”

“It’s not my fault, my brother’s just excellent.”

Probably…

He pointed his index finger at me, so I just pinched it.

“Ow! What are you doing?”

“No, I just lightly pinched it… but I don’t think pointing at people is good.”

“Shut up. Just hand over that person behind you to me.”

When Elliott said that, Misty grabbed my clothes tightly from behind.

I can’t just hand her over like this.

“Stop it. She dislikes it.”

“You, I’m ordering you. Me, who’s older.”

“You’re only older in age. We’re about the same height.”

“Bloodline too! Hey.”

“Yes, sir!”

The knights who had been standing behind Elliott came forward.

Maybe this was the royal palace knight order.

The knight sighed while looking down at me.

“Prince Zeke, it’s Lord Elliott’s order. Don’t make us get rough.”

“The one trying to get rough with her was Elliott.”

“Zeke-sama!”

When I lowered my posture to protect Misty and reached for the wooden sword at my waist, two familiar people came running.

Then they stood in front of me.

“Hey, you bastards, back off!”

“Hmph. Who do you think this person is?”

Debut and Garim stood protectively.

“Commoner knights?”

“Commoners? And you guys are from the royal palace…”

Debut and Garim simultaneously narrowed their eyes.

“Six against two—nice handicap.”

“Hmph. You can’t beat us with your noble play-swordsmanship.”

“What did you say!”

“Insolent commoners!”

Elliott clapped his hands to stop the knights who were getting agitated by their provocation.

“Wait wait, don’t be so hasty. Hey, you two. Who do you think I am?”

At Elliott’s words, the two looked at each other.

“Prince Elliott, sir.”

“Hmph. We know.”

Elliott grinned.

“That’s right. So, you two—whose side will you take? That fake prince or me?”

The two simultaneously laughed through their noses.

“Obviously we’re on this useless one’s side.”

“Hmph. It can only be this junker here.”

“What!”

Elliott’s face reddened with anger.

I was happy Debut and Garim sided with me without hesitation.

But couldn’t you have phrased it better?

“You…”

“Oh? Looks like something interesting’s happening.”

This voice!

Looking over, Rubert was standing there.

But why are you holding a woman at your side?

“Zeke-sama, a fight? Then let me join in too.”

“Who are you?”

While Elliott showed a suspicious expression, one of the royal palace knights who seemed to know his face looked flustered.

“Y-Your Highness. That’s the Jet-Black Knight, said to be the strongest in Lindl Duchy. It’s Rubert.”

“What, that Jet-Black Knight?”

“Well, I’m honored to be known.”

Rubert moved the lady besides Misty’s maid, then stood beside me.

“However, I’m not currently a Lindl knight. I’m serving as Zeke-sama’s knight, so I can’t just watch if you’d harm my master.”

From behind Rubert who grinned, a voice leaked from the lady.

Damn, this guy’s cool.

This would make ladies let out feminine squeals…

“Lord Elliott…”

“Hmph, my interest is gone. Let’s go.”

Judging he couldn’t win, Elliott slipped past and entered the palace.

Then he turned back.

“Remember this.”

Saying just that, he left as if fleeing.

Elliott, that’s a loser’s parting shot.

“Well then, I’ll be going…”

Saying just that, Rubert took the lady and returned to town.

Apparently a lady he’d struck up a conversation with asked about living in the palace, and through the flow of conversation they ended up at the palace’s main gate.

Actually, getting hit on means Rubert’s popular, huh?

Well, he does have a face that seems like it’d be popular.

“So why are you two here?”

“We were bored.”

“You just came yesterday.”

“Hmph. We were bored yesterday and today.”

“The timing was good, wasn’t it?”

“Well, yeah.”

Though I was called useless and a junker.

I won’t complain since it’s true.

“U-um!”

Turning around, Misty was bowing respectfully.

“Zeke-sama, thank you very much for saving me earlier.”

“Ah, no no. I’m just glad nothing happened…”

I casually took Misty’s hand.

The wrist that had been grabbed was bright red.

“That bastard…”

Should I have punched him once?

What did he do to Misty’s white skin?

“L-Zeke-sama.”

“Ah, sorry.”

I’d gripped her hand too tightly.

Looking, Misty was blushing.

Damn, embarrassed Misty is cute too.

But why was Misty here?

After thinking a bit, I realized the reason and hung my head.

“Sorry, you have plans, right?”

“Huh?”

“Go ahead. You came to see Tigos, right? I’m sorry for stopping you. Please don’t mind me and go.”

Right? The day after yesterday, it’s definitely for that reason without a doubt.

“Huh… ah, yes.”

Misty entered the palace with her maid.

“Y-Your Highness…”

“Ahh…”

Debut and Garim looked at me with sympathy.

They seemed at a loss for words and unusually didn’t say anything more.

Stop it, it’s making me sad.

No, I don’t mind. Not at all, not one bit.

Oops, gotta look up or sweat will come from my eyes.

“Then… well, I’m going to find somewhere to do muscle training. Will you two join?”

“We’ll accompany you with all our might!”

After that, when we were doing muscle training near the main gate, Sebastian came on His Majesty’s orders and forcibly stopped us.

Apparently doing it at the main gate looked extremely unseemly.

That evening’s dinner was bread, herb-roasted chicken, fresh vegetables, seasonal desserts and so on—luxurious food as always.

I’d thought Japan was a gourmet country, but this country’s cuisine was quite good too.

Should I praise the game’s production team for properly setting up the cooking?

After savoring the food and drinking tea, I happened to meet eyes with Tigos.

“Hey Tigos, how was today?”

“Huh, what do you mean?”

He’s playing dumb, but your big brother knows.

“You had plans with Lady Misty, right?”

“Huh, Lady Misty and me? No, I didn’t.”

“Huh?”

“Nii-san, did Lady Misty come?”

He leaned forward asking.

This feeling is someone who genuinely doesn’t know.

“No, I just thought it’d be nice if she came. That’s all.”

“Oh…”

He pulled back looking disappointed.

Huh, she didn’t come to see Tigos?

Then why was Misty here?

“By the way Nii-san, don’t do weird things in the garden. It’s unprecedented for royalty to almost burn down a garden.”

“Huh, ah. Sorry, I’ll be careful.”

I got scolded by Tigos.

Actually, was yesterday seen?