It's Not Like I Want to Play the Role of a Misunderstood, Good-for-Nothing Prince in a Villainess Story! - Chapter 45 – Choosing the Same Path

Driema’s Perspective

“You finally came back.”

I returned to the royal palace after a long time. I didn’t think I’d be away for so long.

“Welcome back, Driema-sama.”

Maid Sheena greeted me.

“Sheena, I’m glad you look well.”

“Yes, Driema-sama also looks well.”

Since the incident with Larba-sama, she had been separated from my side and assigned to Mother.

“What did Mother say?”

“When you returned, I was to guide you to the detached palace residence, and serve Driema-sama again.”

“I see, understood. Then guide me.”

“Yes.”

So, returning Sheena meant Mother wasn’t angry.

As I walked with relief inside, when walking near the second garden, I heard noisy voices.

“Garim! Debut! What did you guys say?!”

Looking, Zeke was making noise in the second garden.

“No, it wasn’t me. I just… talked a little about Sierra-sama and then Garim—”

“Hmph. It wasn’t me either. When asked, I just answered that the concubine topic came up…”

“No, no, no, Sierra is just my friend’s sister, and it’s not like that, right? Also, I properly refused the concubine talk, so why didn’t you mention I refused?”

“Just a friend’s sister… you say?”

“Hmph. Debut and I were consulting and didn’t hear that part.”

“Hey!”

“No, no, Zeke-sama. I’m not angry at all. See, I’m smiling, aren’t I? Right, Rubert-sama?”

“Ah… well, yes.”

“That’s right. Rather, I’m delighted to hear Zeke-sama seemed to enjoy himself over there. Right, I’m not angry, am I? Rubert-sama?”

“Yes, you’re not angry. Misty-sama has a wonderful smile.”

“N-no, Misty, that’s not it…”

Come to think of it, the second garden was where they often gathered. Strange.

When passing this path, I used to get irritated every time I heard their voices, but now they always seemed happy, and I found myself watching with a slightly warm feeling.

If Larba-sama were beside me, he’d take my hand and join them…

“Shall we stop to talk for a bit?”

“Wh-what are you saying? Mother is waiting, so of course not.”

“Is that so? Unlike before, you stopped and seemed to look at them a bit enviously.”

“…I was just looking. Now, let’s go.”

“Yes.”

When I entered the hall of the detached palace, Elliott and Mother were waiting.

“Mother, I’ve returned.”

“Oh, that was quick. I thought you’d take your time a bit longer.”

“No, not at all…”

“Sister!”

Elliott interrupted my conversation with Mother. His face looked somewhat angry.

“I heard the report. The Romash duke house left my faction. Furthermore, the Ribauto marquis house, which maintained neutrality no matter how much I invited them, joined that guy’s faction. Moreover, several noble houses around Ribauto territory that were also neutral are now siding with him. What are you going to do about this?”

Ah, so that’s it. I did feel bad for Elliott. But even if you ask what I’ll do about it…

“My, Elliott. What are you saying? Why aren’t you celebrating Driema-chan’s engagement?”

As I was thinking how to calm my brother’s anger, Mother intervened.

“That’s… I think it’s joyful. But I—”

“Isn’t it good? If Driema-chan is in that one’s faction, there’s a possibility information could come in, and if you’re strong, you could say a foundation has been created to pull nobles from the other side.”

Mother continued to interject while hiding her mouth with her fan.

“Or Elliott, are you becoming weak-hearted, saying you can’t even build a faction satisfactorily without borrowing your sister’s strength?”

“That’s not it! I’ll strengthen my faction even more by myself without sister’s help.”

“That’s the spirit. I’ll continue to help you, so let’s work hard.”

“Yes! Also, sister, congratulations on your engagement. Well, I’ll take my leave.”

Elliott said just that and returned to his room.

When I glanced at Mother, she stared at me intently.

“Thank you.”

“No. I just thought… I want Elliott to become stronger. I’d be troubled if he acts spoiled. Well, I’ll return to my room too, Driema-chan. Let’s go to high society starting tomorrow. The ladies want to hear about you and your fiancé.”

“Y-yes. Understood.”

*****

Hilma’s Perspective

The person I first met had an unusual aura.

Repeatedly taken to high society, introduced to noble sons with good bloodlines, I became disillusioned every time we talked. Mother got angry every time I refused. Even so, they just weren’t attractive…

One day, Mother came into my room breathing heavily.

“It’s here! A big marriage proposal came in!”

A big marriage proposal? Probably just another unimportant partner anyway.

“Yes, yes, so who is it?”

“The next King.”

The Arlest house is a duke house with very high status, but a marriage proposal with the royal family hadn’t come up in decades. Even with good lineage, a daughter the king likes doesn’t necessarily appear, and moreover, being a male line, sometimes marriage proposals don’t even come.

In such circumstances, Mother seemed to have expectations for this marriage proposal. I wasn’t entirely unenthusiastic either. But after seeing those nobles so far… I let out an involuntary sigh.

The meeting with the other party was scheduled for next month, but with Mother’s incomprehensible proposal to “go soak in the palace atmosphere,” I went to see the gardens with my maid.

Beautiful flowers bloomed, and I was involuntarily drawn to the landscaping showcasing the gardener’s work.

“How lovely… may I go look over there?”

“Certainly.”

While looking at flowers with the maid following gracefully, I heard rustling sounds.

Someone crawled out on all fours from a rectangular, trimmed bush.

“Kyaa!”

I cried out and hid behind the maid—it was a young man. Brown hair, fine clothes… but thin and somewhat frail-looking.

“My, beautiful young lady. I apologize for startling you. Please forgive me.”

“No… I don’t mind.”

That was my first conversation with him.

From then on, every time I went to the palace, I’d view the beautiful garden and gradually started talking with him. He wouldn’t reveal his status, but apparently he was someone connected to the royal family. He liked gardening and helped the gardeners, and was apparently praised for his skill. Though he often coughed, he was usually in the garden. He liked the outside air, apparently.

Also, he was knowledgeable about any topic, a mysterious person who knew everything. Unlike the nobles I’d met so far, he was friendly, gentle, laughed often, and didn’t act superior.

Before I knew it, I was drawn to him.

And the day of the marriage meeting arrived.

I put on a dress, went to the palace, and the person I met was a prince named Halt. Until just a few years ago he’d been struggling in the succession dispute and was at a disadvantage, but due to circumstances his younger brother was stripped of succession rights, so now he would definitely inherit the throne. In other words, the person closest to becoming king.

We dined and talked reasonably well.

After returning home, Mother kept pushing. She went on about Prince Halt’s virtues. For Mother, I’d be the next queen. As a person, I didn’t think he was bad—he didn’t act superior and showed thoughtfulness.

But…

I headed to the palace garden.

And indeed he was there, wearing formal attire different from usual as if waiting for me.

I asked him again.

“I have a request. I absolutely must know—who are you? Please tell me from your own mouth.”

He smiled as if troubled, and finally told me.

“I am Lucas. The prince who lost the succession rights, Lucas Karan.”

As I thought, he was Prince Lucas. I had somewhat suspected.

As I stared, Lucas scratched his head with a bitter smile.

“I’m sorry. I really thought I shouldn’t say this with the marriage proposal and for my brother’s sake. That we shouldn’t meet. But talking with you was so enjoyable… you’ll probably marry Halt, right? Then it’s better we don’t meet anymore, so this is a final greeting…”

“My Lady!”

Mid-sentence, I ran and embraced Lucas. The watching maid cried out involuntarily, but I couldn’t stop anymore.

“No, I will become engaged to you. Lucas-sama, please get engaged to me.”

“That’s… but I cannot become king. I’m not suitable for you.”

“That’s not true. You’re suitable for me. No, I don’t want anyone but you. Please, with me…”

Needless to say, Mother was furious afterward. Why would I refuse the first-in-succession Prince Halt and have a marriage proposal with Prince Lucas? He’s intelligent but physically weak, bedridden several times a year, unable to leave his room during those times. Recently he’d been going out and acting energetic, but that’s also why he lost succession rights.

“Hilma, I’m saying this thinking of your future. You’d surely be happier with Prince Halt.”

“No, Mother. I absolutely want Prince Lucas. I don’t want Prince Halt, I want him.”

“Hilma!”

Mother tried everything to make me engage with Prince Halt. But I didn’t yield in the end.

And I married Prince Lucas.

*****

“Haah… why is that, I wonder?”

Hilma sat alone in a chair in her room, speaking to a portrait of her late husband.

“Lucas. In the end, I forgave Driema-chan—was I wrong? But I don’t think that child is wrong. Because even though I broke Mother’s orders and married you, I was happy. Of course, I’ve never regretted it. It was a short time, but always… even now I love you.”

You know… she poked the portrait with her index finger.

Seeing the depicted Lucas’s silent, smiling face, Hilma relaxed her expression for the first time that day.