It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 31 – Misty's Battlefield

Four years have passed since I became Zeke-sama’s fiancée.

Father still seems endlessly worried about whether Zeke-sama was alright.

Why is that?

Zeke-sama was such a wonderful, reliable person.

If anything, I wish such days could continue forever…

That’s what I thought, but Zeke-sama went to the Ribauto marquis house.

It’s an order from His Majesty, so it can’t be helped.

Even so, watching Zeke-sama get bitten by a horse had been amusing, and his flustered appearance had looked adorable.

In the end, the way he had managed to ride the horse he was bad with was impressive, as expected of him.

Mm-hmm... while nodding alone, Father entered without even knocking.

“My adorable Misty.”

“Father, please knock before entering.”

“Oh, my apologies. More than that, I have something to discuss.”

Despite apologizing, he never learns to knock. I’ve half given up.

“What is it?”

“A party where nobles gather is being held in the west town. Let’s participate.”

“The west… you say?”

“Yes, not only did an invitation arrive, but it’ll be perfect for spreading Misty’s beauty.”

How unusual—recently it’s been all about deepening exchanges with the capital’s noblewomen.

Besides, my beauty iwas nothing compared to Zeke-sama’s elegant coolness…

Come to think of it, Father’s belly has gotten quite large.

He’s come to resemble a tanuki.

If monsters appeared, wouldn’t he be targeted first?

In any case.

“Certainly, I must spread my face as Zeke-sama’s fiancée.”

☆☆☆

The gorgeously decorated venue was very lovely.

Many nobles have come, and among them was apparently Marquis Joan Eisen, Father’s old friend.

“Oh, there he is. Well, let’s go greet him.”

“Yes, Father.”

Led by Father, I headed toward the marquis.

“Joan-dono!”

When Father called out, the marquis turned this way.

A dandy man suited by thin mustaches extending left and right.

Perhaps tightened with muscle, the ceremonial clothes suit him too.

Wait, I heard they’re close in age, but what’s with this difference…

“Oh, if it isn’t my friend Red-dono. Thank you for coming.”

“No no, when called by Joan-dono, I couldn’t not come.”

“Hah! You say the nicest things. And that young lady beside you is?”

“Ah, introduce yourself”

“My name is Misty Claudia. It is an honor to meet you”

“My… she takes after her mother. She’ll surely grow into an even greater beauty in the future.”

“Now, now, doesn’t she resemble me?”

“That’s not the case.”

Hahaha, the two laugh together.

They seem close.

“Speaking of which, you’re engaged to a prince, weren’t you?”

“Yes, to the first prince, Prince Zeke.”

“Ah… ah no, I won’t say your judgment is wrong, but… among the stories reaching this side, there are many mistaken ones.”

Marquis Joan Eisen showed a troubled expression.

While internally sighing, I touched Father’s sleeve.

“Father, may I go look at that garden over there?”

“Hm? Mm, go ahead.”

After leaving the two, I recalled Marquis Eisen’s earlier expression.

Nine times out of ten, what reached the marquis were bad rumors.

Good rumors don’t spread much, but why is it that only bad rumors spread across the continent?

Could something bad be attached behind Zeke-sama?

“Oh, how beautiful. Such a wonderful flower in a place like this.”

While absently looking at the garden’s greenery, a voice came from behind.

Looking over, a pretentious noble was striking a pose while looking at me.

Does he think that’s a cool pose?

From the look of him, his body doesn’t seem very toned and his head doesn’t seem very good either.

Besides him stood a woman that looked like his fiancée… probably one or two years younger than me… with a somewhat displeased expression, yet he still had the gall to call out another woman.

Incomparable to Zeke-sama who didn’t womanize at all.

“…………”

“Pardon me, but such beauty makes one wonder if celestial maidens truly exist. Might you grant me the honor of your company for just this night?”

While watching without saying anything, the noble youth tried to take my hand and kiss it.

“How about saying those words to the woman beside you? I’m in a hurry, so excuse me.”

I smoothly withdrew my hand.

Then after just bowing once and trying to pass by, my hand was grabbed again.

“Please wait a moment. Won’t you at least give me, this Krus, your name!”

While thinking he’s persistent…  remembered my original purpose of coming to spread my name as Zeke-sama’s fiancée.

“My apologies for the delay. I’m Misty Claudia. Fiancée of the First Prince, Prince Zeke.”

When I firmly stated I have a fiancé, the noble youth widened his eyes momentarily before showing a nasty smile.

“Ah, that…”

He asked the woman beside him audibly enough for me to hear.

“Lady Misty, I’m surprised you have a fiancé, but it is that notorious Prince Zeke? My house is only a count in status, but recently our house member achieved merits, so we’ll soon rise to marquis. Considering the future, there’s far more future than a prince with possibility of disinheritance. I don’t think you’ll regret being in my debt?”

A sarcastic way of speaking.

Normally I would lightly brush it off.

However, he said what shouldn’t be said.

If someone insulted me, that was one thing. But looking down on Zeke-sama based solely on hearsay—what nerve!

I had intended to ignore the annoyance entirely, but in an instant I had marked him as an enemy.

Keeping my expression composed, I narrowed my eyes just a touch and formed a polite, empty smile.

“What an amusing joke. More of a future than Zeke-sama? Do you truly believe that? If you’re serious, that’s even funnier. Won’t you make a splendid court jester someday?”

“What?!”

Krus flew into a rage.

Surrounding nobles’ eyes gathered wondering what happened, but I didn’t care.

“Because it’s true, isn’t it? Isn’t that person your fiancée?”

“This is certainly my fiancée, but since she likes me there’s no problem.”

“Fufu…”

“What’s so funny!”

Because isn’t it amusing enough to wonder if it’s deliberate?

“That’s precisely the issue. Prince Zeke would never behave like this. To begin with, your character is lacking. Calling out to another woman while glancing at your fiancée is disgraceful. Go fix yourself.”

“Aren’t your words going a bit too far?”

When I spoke clearly, the noble woman who’d been silent beside him raised her voice.

Really, her face wasn’t bad at all though.

“You, what’s your name?”

“It’s Mine, but?”

“I see. Though your features aren’t bad, your eye for men is terrible.”

“What did you say!”

Her eyes raised triangularly and she seems so angry she might attack any moment, but I restrain that while smiling fearlessly.

“Mine-san. Do you know what my fiancé Prince Zeke does every day?”

“Isn’t he indulging in play?”

“No, he never forgets effort for even a moment.”

From here I conveyed that Zeke-sama rises early in the morning and does swordsmanship and magic until evening. At night, begrudging sleep, he holes up in the library studying or learning etiquette.

He’s continued such a life for years. When I conveyed this, the surrounding nobles watching said “no way…” while seeing me speak with a serious face, they closed their mouths.

“L-lies. There’s no way such a person exists.”

“It’s true. Zeke-sama is genuinely someone who works hard. He’s a wonderful fiancé, far too good for someone like me. And he doesn’t cheat. Compared to that—”

I looked at Krus once before taking the hand of the noble young lady called Mine.

“You, this is advice, but reconsider. You should have a better man.”

I had been watching her for a while—though her composure had crumbled from anger, she quietly stayed at Krus’s side, subtly scanning her surroundings and gently adjusting his position.

Her gestures placing the cup, her deportment.

Too good for this foolish noble.

I stepped forward and pulled her hand.

“Rather than a shallow man like this, there are countless better gentlemen in the capital. At the very least, a person who speaks to another woman while his fiancée stands beside him is unacceptable.”

“Eh, that is…”

Mine glanced at Krus before looking at my face again.

Her expression spoke more than words.

“H-hey. Wait a moment. You!”

“What’s the matter?”

A voice stopped Krus who panicked and tried to approach us.

Who came were Father and Marquis Joan and one more person.

The feeling of being brought along by the two while holding his head was probably Krus’s father.

“You are… Count Red Claudia, Marquis Joan Eisen. My apologies. My foolish son… he’s merely the second son, and the eldest is excellent, but…”

Oh? Though he spoke of future potential, the story seems completely different from earlier.

“Father! Are you saying I’m wrong?!”

“Yes, you’re always like that. That’s why I didn’t want you participating in the party.”

While surrounding nobles mediated the parent-child quarrel, this party ended.

According to what I heard later, the count house’s second son Krus had his engagement annulled, rare in high society.

It wasn’t related to me, so I forgot it after sleeping.

More importantly, I wonder when Zeke-sama will return.