It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 40 – Is There Insurance I Can Join Even Now?

Several days passed after the confrontation scene.

Driema had not visited the Ribauto house. Likewise, Larba was apparently in poor health, so I had been told to refrain from visiting him. Being gently rejected by Driema must have wounded his heart.

“Onii-sama won’t come out of his room.”

Sierra specially came to the inn to explain Larba’s recent state. According to her, he was barely even eating.

Just like when he first fought me with swords and lost, Larba is mentally weak, huh.

“Good grief, causing Lady Sierra such worry. Larba-sama could learn from Zeke-sama.”

“Hmph. True, Zeke-sama has a strong heart.”

“Prince Zeke does?”

Mm. Debut and Garim both nodded.

“Certainly. Though Lady Misty is undoubtedly Zeke-sama’s fiancée now, apparently it was originally different.”

“Hmph. From what I hear, she was nearly decided as Lord Tigos’s fiancée. He actually got rejected too, right?”

“Yes, at that time despite saving her from an unreasonable person… well, we comforted our Zeke-sama though.”

“Hmph. Suggested exercise to forget. Good memories.”

“Huh, such a thing happened.”

They were probably referring to the time I protected her from Elliott, but I was neither rejected nor comforted, and the exercise—muscle training—was my suggestion. It was half-true, but these fellows were skillfully embellishing the story.

Still though…

“Why did Sierra come here?”

“Oh my, must I not come here without business?”

“I don’t say that, but—”

Shouldn’t a noble lady avoid coming to a stuffy room with only men?

“I’ve told the servants I’m coming here, so there’s no problem.”

“I see.”

Whatever. More important was the current situation with Larba and Driema.

“If the mother appeared, isn’t it hopeless?”

It did not seem like persuasion was possible either…

“I don’t know what kind of person she is, but a change of heart…?”

“Absolutely won’t happen.”

I did not think that mother would ever change her opinion.

“Won’t Prince Zeke’s persuasion work?”

“She won’t listen to my talk.”

“Hmph. Then how about the backdoor route through His Majesty?”

“Father, huh.”

I considered that briefly as a last resort if this whole affair were discovered. But judging from my conversations with Father before, wasn’t Father bad at handling Lady Hilma? His way of dealing with her was like trying to touch a swelling. It did not seem like he would move much.

After that, we discussed various things, but no truly good ideas emerged.

******

Then several more days passed.

Early one morning, a Ribauto house servant came, saying Sierra was calling and I should come immediately.

Why from Sierra?… While wondering that and going, upon arriving at the mansion I heard a loud voice.

“Does Grandfather think this is fine?!”

“Onii-sama, please calm down!”

“What, what is going on?”

Bringing Debut and Garim behind me as usual, I saw Larba unusually pressing Gaizel.

“What is this about?”

“Oh my, Prince Zeke.”

“Zeke! Please tell him too.”

“Prince Zeke! Please stop Onii-sama.”

The moment she noticed me, Sierra flew over.

Larba was busy—either holing up in his room or coming out to press the current Head of the House.

“I don’t really understand, so for now, please explain.”

Tomorrow, a party hosted by the Romash house would be held. Many nearby nobles were invited, and furthermore, there would be an important announcement.

Given this timing. It was probably the engagement announcement of Giyal and Driema.

Gaizel was also invited to that party and planned to participate.

“So Larba isn’t convinced.”

“Because Zeke, she said it. That she doesn’t want to be engaged to Giyal, whom her mother decided on her own. Yet at this rate…”

Well, I understood Larba’s feelings.

“Do you have some plan to stop it?”

When I asked, Larba nodded and pulled out a single wooden sword from behind his back.

“In a history book I read before, there was a story of a hero stealing brides. I’m thinking of doing the same.”

“Ehhh…”

What an outrageous history book to reference. Weren’t these siblings’ choices of books to model after strange?

“Grandfather, this may cause trouble for the house. So my position as heir. I will yield it to Sierra. I don’t mind being disowned.”

“Onii-sama, such…”

After Gaizel stared intently at Larba, he sighed deeply.

“Do as you like.”

And Gaizel returned inside the mansion.

It had escalated into an outrageous situation.

What should I do?

“Is this our turn?”

“Hmph. My arms are itching.”

Glancing behind me, Garim and Debut were receiving wooden swords from the servants.

Eh, am I forced to participate in this?! Could you not include me in ‘our’ without permission!

“Of course Zeke will help too, right?”

“Prince Zeke.”

The two looked at me with sparkling eyes, but honestly, I did not want to go?!

I understood the feelings, the emotions. But this definitely brought nothing good for me.

If it went well and Driema and Larba got together, wouldn’t the Ribauto house lean toward Elliott’s faction? Even I, who was ignorant about such factional relations, understood that much.

But emotionally, I wanted to cooperate… hmm.

“Zeke-sama, you’ll do it right?”

“Hmph. Zeke-sama looks like this but is warm-hearted. He’ll help one way or another.”

Ahh… Without even answering, the outer moat continued to be filled in.

“In the first place, doesn’t it depend on where the party is held? If in Romash duke territory, preparations and information gathering—”

“I heard those details from Grandfather. The party will be held at the Romash house’s mansion in this town. Since the grounds are spacious, it will probably be in the garden if the weather is clear…”

In this town?

“Eh, they have a mansion in Afkad? Why?”

“To demonstrate influence to nearby nobles, rather than their own territory, here which is more prosperous and has well-maintained roads is better, isn’t it?”

True. By showing strong relations with the royal family here, noble houses that might lean toward Romash over Ribauto could emerge.

“Let’s prepare wooden swords for everyone.”

“Well, with four people, even if security is somewhat thick, there will be no problem.”

“Hmph. My arms are itching, Zeke-sama.”

“Ahh, yes… that’s right.”

This was definitely the ‘can’t escape’ type of situation.

Isn’t there a save-crystal-like thing somewhere in this town?