The Villainess Who Was Dumped Got Married into My Family, a Mob Noble from the Frontier, and Turns Out, She's an Amazing Capable Wife? - Chapter 44: Awkward Train Ride

Chapter 44: Awkward Train Ride

“But hey, it’s quieter than I thought it’d be, which is nice, right?”

“Yeah? It’s hard to find quiet time in the capital…”

Sitting face to face in a booth, both characters, key figures in the game, leaned on the table installed in their compartment, looking out the window.

One was Edward Gran Aetherdam, the crown prince of the country and Alicia’s former fiancé. 

The other, a man with short brown hair who had stuck close to Edward, was Clive von Gungborg, also a key character in the game and the son of the Marquis of Gungborg, who had served as the captain of the royal guard for generations. 

In simple terms, he could be described as a spirited lance wielder with absolute confidence in his strength. 

Although he was brash and rough in speech, his straightforward and genuine demeanor won over many fans. 

Known as the Spearman, he often took the initiative to accompany Edward on his incognito outings, making him a frequently appearing character in Edward’s storyline. 

The reason was likely that, being the son of the captain of the guard, he had been told to protect Edward from a young age. 

Because these individuals were nearby, I found myself in an intensely awkward atmosphere.

“…au, au…”

“…There, there, it’s okay now. I’m here for you.”

Alicia said, patting Mariana, who was muttering in her sleep, and closing her eyes. 

Alicia was technically their classmate, but judging from this situation, it seemed they had little to do with each other beyond official matters?

I was in a different car, so I didn’t know what had happened when they ran into each other, but before I could ask, Alicia had already told me to sit down, leaving me utterly confused.

By the way, there were no other passengers around. 

I wondered, could it be that the prince was expected to board, and the seats in this car were kept empty on purpose?

If that’s the case, they shouldn’t have accepted our reservation!

“…Huh! Did I faint again?”

“Yes.”

“Ah, ah, hey, Alicia, please don’t pat me like that, it’s embarrassing…”

“Just let yourself be patted for now.”

“Well, if you insist… There’s no way royalty would be in a regular car, right? Oh, what a shock.”

Alicia cuddling up was just like a cat.

“Mmm, Alicia, your petting is so soft and comforting, purr…”

Wait, she was acting like an actual cat. 

Did fainting scramble her brains or something?

For now, that spot is supposed to be mine, but I guess I’ll let it go just for today.

“…You woke up? You suddenly fainted with foam at your mouth; are you really okay?”

For some reason, Edward spoke up to Alicia and Mariana.

“It wasn’t a dream!? Blub-blub-blub-blub…”

And with that, Mariana fainted again, leading Alicia to sigh and then speak to Edward.

“Sigh… She’s had a trauma with nobility due to a past accident. That’s why we wanted you to pretend we’re not here and leave us be.”

So, that happened before I came back. 

Despite the clear warning, Edward continued to speak.

“No, but…”

“Your Highness, Edward. This is a regular car. It would be wise to consider that coming here carelessly as royalty could lead to situations like this.”

Mariana fainting is a special case, but I really wish they’d consider how regular passengers would feel.

If royalty boarded the same car and something happened, there’s a chance we could be executed without question.

Apart from the danger of being targeted, we’re talking about levels of status where both sides risk death.

Now that I think about it, that enemy we ran into at the washroom was ranting about something or other. Could it be they were acting with the intention of targeting Edward?

What a hassle.

Finding myself in the same car with such troublesome people again, I sighed internally while pretending to blend in with the air around me. 

Then Edward spoke up.

“…You’re still saying things like that, huh.”

He said with a sad look in his eyes as he gazed at Alicia, continuing,

“I knew you got along with the other sage’s progeny who is a commoner after returning to the academy. I thought you had changed… but it seems my words haven’t reached you…”

“This isn’t the academy.”

“What I tried to convey back then wasn’t about that. Don’t tell me, you’re acting together with the sage’s progeny because your parents ordered it?”

I was infuriated by this line, which showed he hadn’t thought things through at all.

I haven’t heard anything from Alicia about the actual scene of their engagement being broken off, but the game talked about the marriage arranged by the parents and how Alicia, who had always followed her parents’ words, felt stifled by it.

Really, it’s hopeless.

As for the special environment of the academy, where they could freely enjoy their youth under the guise of their status, or sneak around like this, it seems the prince sees it differently. 

He probably thinks this is the path he chose for himself.

—Should I kill this guy… the royalty?

When I thought about it, an unexpected person spoke up.

“D-Don’t be rude to Alicia!”

Mariana, shaking and with eyes brimming with tears, glared at Edward.