It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 34 – Trouble

“Just Larba alone.”

“Indeed. Let’s do this!”

Larba retrieved a wooden sword and handed it to me.

“Then we—”

“Hmph. We shall heckle from the side.”

“No, not heckles—we shall cheer.”

Following the inspection, nothing particular occurred.

Without having met Duke Romash, the days were filled with summoned visits to the Ribauto house and devoting myself to swordsmanship training with Larba. Even on our way to Marquis Ribauto’s mansion, Gaizel had not been present lately. He was apparently quite busy.

“Prince, you are being pushed back.”

“Hmph. Your leg and hip strength are still lacking.”

As usual, my cheering section consisted of Garim and Debut, occasionally joined by Ted, but also—

“Onii-sama! Right there! Now!”

A small cheering squad had rushed over.

Larba’s younger sister, Sierra, was waving her arms energetically as she cheered.

She was a year younger, but her slender build and short stature made her appear younger still. Yet, her enthusiasm was palpable—she clearly adored her brother.

Well, I intended to win regardless.

Since the use of magic was permitted, I disrupted his footing with Darkness magic and scored a point against Larba.

Larba, who had been resting, stood up.

“That’s cowardly! You should fight him fairly and squarely with swords!”

When she complained loudly, Larba stopped her with a raised hand.

“Hey! Don’t say rude things. Regarding magic, I’m the one who said it’s fine to use. Rather, it’s good study. So don’t call it cowardly.”

“Mm… but…”

Sierra pouted her lips sulkily.

It was understandable that she would dislike seeing the opponent use magic when her beloved big brother was devoted solely to the sword. But since Larba had actually told me to use it, it truly could not be helped.

Yes, no choice. I am not in the wrong.

“Did you see, Garim? Though at a disadvantage with swords, he secures victory using any means. This is the prince’s despicable way.”

“Hmph. How cunning. Be ashamed.”

“Whose side are you fellows cheering for?”

One day while spending such days, we ended up going to town while heading toward the mansion.

Apparently, Sierra wanted to go shopping and had pestered Larba. Larba had seemingly wanted to refuse since he was busy training with me, but he was being a good brother in that regard.

“The prince came too?”

Her voice was cold, and she looked at me with half-closed eyes.

“Now now, isn’t it good to have more escorts?”

“…Well, if Onii-sama says so.”

Larba mediated the discussion.

Incidentally, Sierra treated me rather coldly. While I was losing to Larba in swordsmanship, my win rate was notably better with magic allowed. Thus, I received her complaints each time I won in that fashion—a personal grudge.

“Lady Sierra, please say more.”

“Hmph. The prince should reflect on this occasion.”

“You guards are becoming noisy.”

The two men behind us were also of the anti-magic faction, leaving me without any allies.

The town of Afkad was lively as always. Carts rolled among the passersby, and merchants opening stalls raised their voices in advertisement.

The widely maintained roads were apparently the very first thing Gaizel implemented during the town-building stage. If it had developed this far thanks to the initial district organization, I thought it was truly amazing.

After wandering here and there, we decided to eat.

The establishment where we were guided was a large shop, but we were led to a private room. The shop owner knew both Larba and Sierra and prepared excellent seats. A ‘VIP seat,’ I suppose.

Of course, the prepared food was also considerable.

“It was delicious.”

While drinking after-meal tea, Sierra looked at me with a staring gaze.

“Prince Zeke truly does nothing. Our house is even paying.”

Apparently, she was dissatisfied with me, as I possessed no money. But that anger was justified. I was essentially acting as something akin to the Ribauto Marquis House’s kept man.

“Grandfather is fulfilling his duties as head, though.”

“Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Marquis Ribauto lately—is he busy?”

I intended to ask Larba, but Sierra interjected.

“That’s right. Grandfather is having trouble dealing with Duke Romash. Duke Romash’s territory is northwest of our house. In short, it faces both the north and the west. Our house possesses profitable land in both the north and west, so he’s busy dealing with that.”

North and west.

The West would be the commercial city Afkad. Economically it was very prosperous, so I understood wanting it. Furthermore, the North would concern the mineral resources.

If adjacent, greed emerged too, didn’t it?

“What is he doing?”

“Grandfather is showing his face at the commercial city’s merchant association and craftsmen’s meetings, and furthermore, deepening friendships with nearby nobles. It is likely all concerning the duke’s matter.”

Huh, Sierra was knowledgeable about politics.

“Hm? I’m not very good at that sort of thing.”

Glancing at Larba, he declared that confidently.

No, you can’t just say you’re not good at it. You are the future lord.

“According to rumors, Prince Zeke is called both a lone wolf and lonely sheep, but do you have friends?”

Guh, what a blunt child. Also, wasn’t ‘lonely sheep’ an insult?

A neat appearance with poisonous insides.

“I-I just don’t make them because I like it, and I have friends or something… right, Larba!”

“Hm? Am I okay? Originally status-wise it seems wrong…”

“It’s fine! It’s too late for that.”

“Yeah, got it. Alright, Sierra. Zeke is my friend. So don’t say too much.”

“…Understood. Prince, my apologies.”

I was apologized to, though it was delivered with a hint of dissatisfaction.

After that, we left the shop and resumed our town exploration.

Sierra still walked ahead.

“Sorry about my sister.”

Larba apologized apologetically.

“I don’t mind, so it’s fine. More than that, Sierra-san is knowledgeable about politics.”

“She likes studying. Maybe if she was older than me and could use swords, she’d be the future head. I only have swords.”

“Huh.”

Having too excellent a younger sibling was tough—I really understood that feeling.

But in the game, after this, Larba worked hard at studying and became capable too.

“Kyaa!”

When Sierra’s eyes were drawn to a stall, she bumped into a group coming out of a shop and fell backward.

“Whoa.”

—But I, who was just watching, immediately stepped forward and caught her.

One must look forward while walking.

“Th-thank you. Prince.”

“You’re welcome.”

The armored soldier who had apparently bumped into Sierra apologetically gestured an apology, but—

“Oi, who bumped into my private soldier!”

Immediately pushing that soldier aside, a blonde, blue-eyed man appeared.