It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 37 – Spring Visiting the Ribauto House

“Now, please. I prepared the finest tea. I hope it suits your taste.”

“Thank you. No, no, I’ll gladly partake.”

“…………”

Currently, the two were seated opposite each other, drinking tea at a set of garden seats in the Ribauto marquis house mansion.

And between them, in a position resembling a judge, with Driema on the right and Larba on the left, sat I, drinking tea.

No, no! I am far too much in the way!

From any angle, I was surely unnecessary, was I not?

I mean, Driema, whom I had brought along, was surprisingly approachable. Apparently, Driema was also quite curious about Larba.

Looking at Driema, whose usual sarcasm had vanished—her face was flushed red, and she was looking down.

Looking at Larba, his usually talkative mouth was closed, and he was restlessly drinking his tea.

Sigh… what is this awkwardness?

Glancing toward a thick pillar, I saw Sierra peering this way, attempting to convey something to me with frantic gestures.

No, I understood what she wanted to say. Judging by her shooing hands, she wanted me to quickly fade out. I was fully aware of such things myself. Or rather, I did not wish to be in such a location either.

After quickly gulping down my tea, I deliberately cleared my throat.

“Well then, for now I shall leave the rest to the young people—”

My clothes were grabbed simultaneously from both sides as I tried to stand.

“Wait a moment, isn’t it still fine?”

“Wait. In the first place, you’re younger than us.”

“…………”

Reluctantly, I sat down again.

As I watched the waiting servant pour tea into my empty cup with half-closed eyes, my left sleeve was pulled.

Larba spoke in a small whisper.

“Hey, what should I talk about?”

What about… you are asking me about the content of the conversation?

“How about talking about swords?”

“Swords? Would she be interested?”

Perhaps if it is a conversation from someone she likes, she would listen with interest to anything? I truly don’t know, though.

“Still, don’t you think Lady Driema is beautiful?”

I truly did not know that either.

Sighing and taking a sip of tea, this time my right sleeve was pulled.

“What is it?”

“You’re the matchmaker, aren’t you? Come up with at least some topic for me and Larba-sama to discuss.”

Matchmaker?! I have been upgraded from ‘fake prince’ to ‘matchmaker’!!

…No, wait, which status is higher, matchmaker or fake prince?

Considering the future troublesomeness, I wanted to immediately throw away the matchmaker status, but—

“I am not a matchmaker. In the first place, I arranged this meeting at your request, so handle everything beyond that yourselves.”

“That’s true, but…”

Honestly, I was asked by both Driema and Larba to introduce them, so I had not necessarily taken only one side.

Let me deliberately act like I am doing them a great favor.

Otherwise, I would not be able to stand getting asked to handle troublesome matters in the future too.

“Still, Larba-sama is wonderful even up close.”

“…………”

I silently stood from my seat.

After glaring down at the two who turned their gazes up at me—

“Tch, be happy!”

“Huh? …Hey, what suddenly? Where are you going?”

“Eh? Wait?”

Leaving the confused pair behind, I quickly stood and escaped toward the mansion.

Why am I sent to distant lands, spending days unable to meet my dear Misty, yet forced to help others’ love paths, only to have to listen to flirting up close! I cannot take this!!

“Prince Zeke. Don’t you intend to watch how those two turn out?”

Sierra chased after me, saying such things, but this was perfect timing.

“Hey, where is the Ribauto house library?”

“Huh?”

“Guide me.”

*****

“Really, why such a place?”

I had thought there might be one, but the Ribauto house library had a considerable collection of books.

Right, the Marquis is learned and Sierra is politically skilled, so I thought there would be lots of such books.

“It’s okay to use, right?”

“Please, do as you like.”

“Ah, are there any materials I shouldn’t look at?”

“There is no such thing, and regarding the materials, it is as reported to the capital, so if anything seems suspicious, please check after returning.”

“That’s true.”

“…A strange person.”

When I began pulling out books without suspicion, Sierra muttered, frowning.

After that, I frequently came to the Ribauto marquis house with Driema, declined their occasional invitations to ‘won’t you drink tea together?’, and retreated to the library.

Thus, that day, too, while I was reading books, unchanged from usual, Sierra sat down beside me, which was unusual.

“Hm, what is it?”

“No, I was thinking that despite coming to the mansion, you’re always here.”

“I am only here because I like it. Don’t mind me, you can go see them. I am just reading on my own.”

“I am here because I like it. Or am I in the way?”

“Well, do as you like.”

A quiet time flowed. With high windows letting sunlight stream in, only the sound of turning pages echoed in the room.

I was concentrating on reading, but halfway through, when I finished a book and reached for a new one—

Glancing beside me, Sierra also held a book… but she was frowning and looking at me as if viewing something highly suspicious.

“What is it?”

“No, I was thinking that rumors are ultimately just rumors.”

There was no need to ask what rumors she meant. It was content I had heard enough times to get calluses on my ears.

“Seeing once surpasses hearing a hundred times.”

“Hearing a hundred…?”

Sierra tilted her head. Apparently, such a saying did not exist in this world.

“Rather than hearing rumors a hundred times, it is better to actually see once.”

“I see… that was educational.”

Though she nodded with a serious face, I did not think it was something to listen to so earnestly.

“How are they?”

“Unlike the first day when they were testing the waters, now they are happily talking together.”

“I see, that’s good.”

A situation where they could not converse without me would be troublesome. Besides, once conversation began, it usually continued on its own. After all, both of them seemed to be the talkative type.

“Prince Zeke.”

“What?”

I responded vaguely without taking my eyes off the book.

“Is love such a good thing?”

“What happened suddenly?”

Glancing at her, Sierra also had a serious expression while lowering her gaze to the book in her hand.

“I haven’t fallen in love yet. Grandfather won’t deal with engagement matters, saying it is still early. I thought love wasn’t particularly special, but—”

“But?”

Sierra continued, carefully choosing her words.

“Those two looked truly happy. Enough to make watching them exciting, how much they like each other.”

“Hmm.”

Exciting, huh… watching those two flirting guys only irritated me, though. It is mutual, so just start dating already!

“Speaking of which, Prince Zeke also has a fiancée. Is it like that?”

How were Misty and I? We had only held hands while dancing, so our relationship had not progressed at all. Regarding conversation, too, Garim, Debut, and Rubert were basically always nearby except at parties.

Wait? Could we have never talked just the two of us like Larba and Driema?

We did magic training together and read books, but…

“…Normal, I guess.”

“…Sorry for asking strange things. I will study on my own.”

From sparkling eyes, she averted her gaze and sighed deeply.

Sorry for not being helpful.