It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 38 – Harmful Literature

“Hey, what should I give Larba-sama to make him happy?”

“Who knows.”

“I hear Larba-sama swings his sword all day. Don’t you think he’s wonderful for being so family-oriented?”

“Good for you.”

“Honestly! Are you listening seriously?!”

Today, too, on the way to the Ribauto marquis house, Driema beside me was noisy.

“I don’t want to listen to other people flirting. Talk to the maid standing behind you instead.”

“I talk to Sheena every day and night.”

“Is that so.”

Poor maid-san, having to listen to irrelevant flirting…

I mean, Driema had become quite familiar with me. Where had that initial hostility gone?

“Didn’t you dislike me?”

“That’s… well, you are Elliott’s enemy, but I have no reason to dislike the benefactor who allowed me to meet Larba-sama.”

“…………”

Glancing behind, Sheena nodded as if it were the most natural thing.

“Lady Driema values obligations. However, everything is because of Lady Hilma…”

“Sheena.”

“…Pardon me, I spoke too much.”

Hmm, so Driema viewing me as an enemy was primarily Hilma’s fault.

“Oi, Zeke-sama is getting friendly with another woman again.”

“Hmph. Lady Driema is a cousin, so it is fine. Besides, she is devoted to Larba-sama.”

“True, reporting to Lady Misty is…”

“Yeah, the dangerous one is only Sierra…”

The two men walking ahead were muttering.

“Hey, don’t misunderstand. In the first place, Sierra probably doesn’t like me that much.”

I was probably not wrong. Though polite when speaking to me, her politeness was insolent, and because I had defeated Larba many times with the sword, her favorability was low from the start. She did not seem to dislike me now, but her opinion had probably just improved slightly beyond the ‘dislike’ level.

The two walked ahead while glancing back at me.

“Sigh…”

They sighed with eyes that looked upon something unfortunate.

Arriving at the mansion, Larba welcomed us together with the servants and immediately guided Driema to the garden seats.

I attempted to head to the library as usual, but—

“Prince Zeke.”

Entering the mansion, I saw not only Sierra but also Gaizel standing there, which was unusual.

“Please follow me.”

I was guided to the office.

I sat in a comfortable chair, and tea was prepared on the desk. Behind me stood Debut and Garim. Gaizel sat in front, with Sierra beside him.

What business could this be?

“I hear Prince Zeke comes to the mansion often. Are there any inconveniences?”

“No. Not only Larba, but Sierra also looks after me in various ways. I am grateful to the Marquis regarding my stay.”

“That is good.”

Gaizel smiled while taking a sip of tea and narrowed his eyes.

“I hear a guest has arrived in the garden.”

Ah, so he wanted to talk about Driema.

“Yes. Both parties asked me to introduce them.”

“I see. However, I heard Lady Driema has a fiancé?”

Where did he hear that?

Thinking it might be Sierra, I saw her holding a teacup and looking at Gaizel as if surprised, so apparently not.

“You are well-informed.”

“No, no. The town has many eyes and ears. Oh yes, I am also grateful to Prince Zeke.”

“No, no. I merely did what was natural.”

He was probably referring to the trouble with Giyal. And from his words about eyes and ears, he likely had subordinates secretly conducting intelligence work in town.

There is such an information-gathering method, too. Certainly, rulers inevitably have blind spots regarding the lives of commoners. Educational. I should imitate this.

“Marquis Ribauto is work-diligent.”

“That is also a lord’s duty.”

He said it nonchalantly; he was as shrewd a lord as ever.

“However, I hope the Duke and Lady Hilma will not become angry…”

Yes, I was concerned about that too. If this were discovered, I thought they would be angry. So, I had been thinking I needed to consult about that very issue.

“What does Marquis Ribauto think?”

“Unintentionally forming ties with the royal family is a wonderful thing. Especially if it becomes a strong bond. However, if that causes problems, those problems must be removed at the root before they can grow. Of course, if the situation turns favorable, that is a different matter.”

“I see.”

For now, Gaizel might stop Larba if the relationship became problematic, but he would not actively support him. It might be different if there was considerable merit to offering support.

After that, Gaizel disappeared from the mansion again, and I came to the library together with Sierra.

“Hey, Prince Zeke. What do you think about the earlier discussion?”

The earlier discussion would be about Larba and Driema. It was good that they were getting along, but Driema had a fiancé candidate named Giyal, and Driema’s mother was also pushing for that match. The crucial Gaizel could not be fully relied upon…

“It’s becoming troublesome.”

“What are you saying? It’s the opposite.”

“Huh?”

Sierra clenched her fist.

“They say love burns brighter with greater obstacles.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it was written here. I’m studying about love too.”

While saying so, the item Sierra showed me was a manga.

The title was Chatting with You.

“Kimiosha?!”

“Eh, you know it?”

Of course, I knew it!

A mysterious original romance manga that appeared within this game. Chatting with You. Abbreviated ‘Kimiosha.’

The story detailed how the protagonist noble lady Melissa and the boy Joshua, who moved nearby, gradually became close while bickering, eventually falling in love—a very sweet story. The content was readable in-game, but it was so excessively sweet that it gave me a stomach ache.

It was like trying to meet your daily vegetable requirements by eating only lettuce… I did not know if my expression matched what I was saying, but I thought the example was apt.

In any case, for Sierra to use this as teaching material was inappropriate.

Because this Joshua fellow—

He was actually royalty who rode a horse, leading the vanguard in battle, going toward enemy lines while disregarding his own position for the sake of his friends, and appearing gallantly to save Melissa in times of crisis—the very definition of Prince Charming.

Moreover, though various difficulties awaited the two, they properly overcame them through ups and downs. Basically, it was achieved through Joshua’s efforts alone. He was amazing, like a perfect superman.

Despite that, his personality was somewhat reckless yet quick-thinking, gentle, and reliable when it mattered most. Furthermore, he was devoted to his lover, appearing earliest during pinches to save protagonist Melissa.

Yes, I would declare it: such a man did not exist in reality. If you waited for such a white horse prince, you would reach the end of your lifespan while still continuing to wait.

“Sierra.”

“Yes?”

“I won’t deny its existence. I won’t deny it, but that book will not serve as teaching material, so let’s burn it.”

“B-burn it?! Why?!”

Not ‘why’.

I did not want to say it, but that book deserved designation as harmful literature. Especially for women who had never fallen in love, it was a devil’s book, raising the hurdles for a romantic partner sky-high.

“T-terrible! Mistress! Lady Sierra!”

While having such a conversation, the door opened and a servant came rushing in.

“What is it?”

“Young Master Larba and the others are in trouble!”