It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 42 – Fiancées Are Meant to Be Stolen

“Larba-sama, why are you here?”

“Why? Isn’t that obvious? I came to receive you.”

“………..!”

Driema clenched the hand she had been holding against her chest. Her face, which had been about to break into a smile, tightened, and she pressed her lips into a thin line.

“…No, but I already have a fiancé. If Larba-sama does something reckless, it will only cause trouble…”

Is this what I should say?

Driema looked behind her at her mother, as if asking for confirmation.

Larba noticed that gaze and shifted his eyes to Hilma.

“Hilma-sama.”

“My, greetings. Why are you here? If you want to join the party, go outside.”

“No, I didn’t come here to join the party.”

Larba placed his right fist on his left chest and bowed.

“Hilma-sama, could you please recognize the engagement between Driema-sama and myself?”

His words were straightforward, and his eyes were earnest.

But Hilma hid her mouth with her fan and looked at Larba with cold eyes.

“Isn’t that for my daughter to decide, not me?”

“No, I want to receive permission from you.”

“…I acknowledge your courage in coming directly. If you leave here before the party ends, I’m willing to lighten your punishment somewhat. But, you know?”

Hilma glanced pointedly at Driema.

“Larba-sama… I’m happy for your feelings. But we’re of different social status after all.”

“I understand that.”

“No, you don’t understand. If you do something like this, you may never be able to return as head of the Ribauto house, let alone as a noble… It will cause trouble for your house too.”

“Ah, that matter is fine.”

“Fine?”

“Yes, since my grandfather vehemently opposed it, I relinquished the position of heir and cut ties with the family.”

“Huh?”

Not just Driema but even Hilma let out a sound of surprise at Larba’s extreme statement.

“Excuse me, are you sane? You did such a thing without even knowing if Driema-chan would give you a favorable answer?”

“If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t even be able to hear her answer, so isn’t it natural? To me, Driema-sama is more important than being the family head or a noble.”

“………..!”

In that instant, Driema’s expression finally crumbled. Though she had maintained a sad face throughout, her eyes curved like bows, and she covered her mouth.

“Mother…”

Driema stood beside Larba and turned to face Hilma.

“Please, allow me to break off my engagement with Giyal-sama.”

“Driema-sama…”

“I’ve always followed what Mother told me to do. I thought it was the right thing, and I still think so. I’m grateful too. Even when Mother speaks harshly, it’s all for my happiness… but!”

Driema clenched her hands in front of her chest.

“I cannot be happy with Giyal-sama. Please recognize my engagement with Larba-sama!”

And she bowed her head just like Larba.

Silence enveloped the room.

Hilma closed her eyes once, then slowly opened them and looked at Driema.

“Driema-chan, I think you shouldn’t break off the engagement. Getting those around you to accept it will be extremely difficult too.”

“I understand, we’ll overcome it together.”

“Hmph, how do you think you’ll overcome it with someone who quit being a noble? The world isn’t that sweet. If you’re not a noble, you’re not a person; if you’re not pure-blooded, you’re not a noble. That’s common sense in the royal palace.”

“…………”

“Your resolve remains unchanged even so?”

“Mother… I’m sorry.”

As Driema’s anguished voice echoed, Hilma let out a deep sigh.

“You there, upstart, what was your name again?”

“Larba.”

“I see. What you should do first is apologize to the current head, be reinstated as a noble, and be made the next heir again. Without that, you can never make Driema-chan happy. Remember that.”

“I, under…stood.”

“Mother?”

Hilma closed her eyes once, then sat down in a chair.

“I’ll speak with Duke Romash and return to the capital tomorrow. You two are an eyesore, so disappear from here quickly.”

“Mother, thank you!”

Driema and Larba both bowed to Hilma before leaving the room.

****

“Hey, let go! Damn it, that’s cheating!”

After Larba infiltrated the mansion through the window to meet Driema. After seeing him off, we had to defend the window, considering our return route.

However, we were outnumbered. This was our desperate comeback strategy to overturn that.

“Hey! Do you not care what happens to your young master? Back off, back off!”

“Mm… ugh…”

Our strategy was to quickly capture the commanding officer Giyal and use him as a hostage. While we absolutely couldn’t kill Giyal, unlike ordinary soldiers.

I was prepared for potential failure if Giyal resisted strongly, but Giyal himself was surprisingly weak. I had heard rumors he had good lineage, looks, intelligence—the whole package—and was even strong with a sword, but that was clearly a lie.

“As expected of Zeke-sama, success.”

“Yeah, it’s a good plan, right?”

“Hmph. The plan isn’t bad, but…”

“Hm?”

The two mumbled while glancing at each other.

“Hey, is this really okay for royalty?”

“Hmph. Rather than royalty, more like bandits… but if we don’t say anything, no one will know.”

“Let’s keep quiet.”

“Hmph. That’s best.”

Their words stung, but I was somewhat concerned about that too, so please keep quiet.

“What’s going on?”

Looking up, from the window Larba and…

“Driema! So you came after all.”

“Don’t say ‘after all’ like it’s something bad!”

Though I’m not one to talk, wasn’t appearing while cooperating with a bride thief a bad thing?

“Hey, Larba, why do you have my fiancée Driema-sama?!”

“Ah, sorry. From today, she became my fiancée.”

“Giyal-sama, I apologize. I’m not worthy to be your fiancée, so please find someone else.”

“Wha… even Driema-sama? Larba! I won’t forgive… gah!”

What the—Larba punched Giyal mid-sentence.

Giyal bounced twice as he flew across the ground. Taking Larba’s superhuman punch straight on, he didn’t move at all… no, he was moving, so did Larba hold back?

“Haah… that felt good. Come on, let’s go!”

“Yeah, is that okay?”

“It’s fine. There’s absolutely no way we’ll ever be friends with the Romash house now.”

“That’s… true.”

Stealing someone’s fiancée then asking to be friends… that was impossible.

“Alright, let’s get out of here quickly! But how do we return?”

“Well, since we took her back, we can break through the front. While avoiding the party venue as much as possible. Our destination is my mansion.”

“Alright, got it! Debut, Garim.”

“Yes, we’ll clear a path.”

“Hmph. Leave it to us.”

After that, while the soldiers without instructions fumbled around, we broke through the entrance and escaped.