episode_0022

After the quite bewildering morning class had ended,

“I still can’t believe you were such an impolite person.”

“…So how long do you plan to keep muttering?”

Even though it was lunchtime and all the students had left the classroom, Labilaa remained seated next to me, still muttering.

Aren’t you going to have lunch?

Everyone else has disappeared to eat lunch.

Then, I suddenly became curious about how Labilaa managed her lunch before meeting the protagonist.

Reading my expression, Labilaa tilted her head slightly as if to say there was no need to worry about that.

“I can endure this much. As long as you satisfy my curiosity.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have any plans to satisfy your curiosity, Your Highness.”

“…Not yet. Can I take that as a promise to satisfy my curiosity someday?”

As soon as Labilaa heard the word “not yet” from my lips, she rushed in eagerly.

“…”

Looking at her like that,

I briefly felt like I misspoke again.

“…Well, it’s okay if you understand it that way.”

Soon, that thought faded away.

“In fact, it’s not even that important. I’m more concerned that you might be disappointed when you find out the truth, Your Highness.”

“If it’s not that important, then why not tell me…?”

“I simply don’t want to reveal it to others right now.”

Because it wasn’t a lie.

Labilaa, who is currently tormented by curiosity, will eventually find out the truth.

A rather insignificant fact.

Just the fact that I set such a goal because my days are numbered.

Perhaps the princess in front of me would be disappointed if she found out about this fact.

Thinking about this, Labilaa, seeming unamused, clicked her tongue and said, “You make it impossible for me to ask further questions.”

“…It wasn’t intentional.”

“This wasn’t intentional, was it? You were just standing there looking like you’d drop dead if I asked.”

“···.”

Hmm.

Was my expression really that bad just now?

I couldn’t tell if what they said was true.

At the very least, I hadn’t looked in the mirror just now.

– Yeah. And not just any dislike, but with the most detestable eyes in the world.

However, the reason I felt some trust in Labilaa’s words was likely due to the sentence I heard earlier.

Since extreme language from Labilaa was almost nonexistent in the original work.

In the original, instances where Labilaa elicited extreme sentences were only associated with the protagonist and the royal family.

So, it was hard for me not to believe Labilaa in such circumstances.

How could I not?

They’re supposed to be the most objective person in these matters.

“······I didn’t see it directly, but I’ll admit it. My expression just now wasn’t great.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Your expression is usually like that anyway.”

“···.”

“It’s a compliment, so don’t doubt it. Consistency is a virtue in people.”

Of course, that trust vanished as soon as I heard Labilaa’s subsequent words.

But that didn’t mean Labilaa was wrong.

I’ve heard the saying that changing people die plenty of times myself.

‘······A compliment, really?’

It just significantly undermined the sincerity of the statement, considering Labilaa’s tone, expression, and the current situation.

That doesn’t sound like a compliment, does it?

It’s like saying it was always a rotten expression.

······Well, anyway.

Whether it’s a compliment or a sophisticated way of criticizing, what’s important right now isn’t whether those words were true or not.

“······Your Highness.”

“Why do you call? Do you have other business?”

“How do you usually handle lunch, Your Highness, that you keep staying here during the academy’s only break time, lunchtime?”

What mattered right now was that it was currently the academy’s only break time, lunchtime.

“I usually just sort it out at the academy cafeteria.”

“···.”

Today, I have a weekend appointment to keep, so it seems I’ll have to resolve it with you. While we’re at it, how about you guide me to your place?”

Even my only relaxation time was being taken away by Labilaa.

***

Forcing a smile through tears.

Isn’t that an old saying that accurately describes my current situation?

It felt like being a cow dragged to the slaughterhouse with a bit of exaggeration.

I don’t want to go.

I really don’t want to go, but I feel like I’m being forced.

Feeling exactly like that, Labilaa, who had been walking beside me, sighed and said, “I’ve felt it many times, but you really can’t control your expression. Someone might think I’m dragging you along against your will.”

“Did you notice?”

“I must have mentioned it earlier. This isn’t me dragging you along, it’s you guiding me.”

“Oh, right.”

“Hmm… That was quite brief. Is something bothering you?”

“No, why would there be?”

Although verbally expressing denial, inwardly, I was thinking something entirely different.

What’s the difference?

Even if I’m taking the lead a little, it’s not like it’s my will.

Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.

Because I wasn’t confident in dealing with the aftermath of speaking my mind.

Labilaa still looked at me with an uncomfortable expression.

“You’re quite peculiar, aren’t you?”

“…”

“To refuse a meal with me, someone people would do anything to have, with such an unwilling expression.”

“It wasn’t to that extent.”

“I think it’s okay to stop lying now. Even though I haven’t known you for long, at least I’ve realized when you make that kind of expression.”

Labilaa pointed out the fact that I am different from others based on my expression.

It wasn’t an incorrect statement.

No, if you think about it, it was a very accurate statement.

In the world where the royal authority still exists, as depicted in the original work.

The first noble to enter the academy.

That would also be something every student hopes for, as it means making contact with the next emperor, Labilaa.

“So far, out of all the academy students I’ve encountered, there have been only three students, including you, who did not seek to make contact with me.”

“······Would you be able to tell me who the other two are, excluding me?”

I had a rough idea, but I still wanted to hear an accurate answer. Just in case. Perhaps it might be someone other than the two people coming to mind right now. However, it didn’t take long for me to realize that my guess was not wrong after all.

“It’s not very pleasant for someone who doesn’t explain themselves to others to demand an exact answer from others, but this is just simple information, so I’ll tell you.”

“···.”

“First, Elise Arkstera of the Arkstera Marquis family.”

“······Yes.”

It was a given. Given the nature of the Arkstera family, which wields influence in the other world, it couldn’t be unrelated to the royal family.

I was already almost certain about the first person.

“The second person seems to be someone closely related to you.”

“···.”

“The second is your fiancée. Elena Brilliant of the Brilliant Duke family.”

“······Is that so, as expected?”

I had anticipated the second person as well, but it felt strange to hear the full name after a long time.

Elena Brilliant.

She was the fiancée of Lian Trice in the original work, but later became the heroine who broke off the engagement with Lian. Perhaps even now, the Brilliant Duke family is preparing for the engagement breakup with the Trice Viscount family, following the flow of the original work.

That’s what I knew.

– Have you heard? There’s news that the Brilliant family is gathering evidence to break off your engagement with your fiancée.

– ······Really?

– Yes. We sent a request to our trading partner to purchase the information.

At least among the information Elise provided me, there wasn’t a single piece of incorrect information.

“Well, it’s quite amazing in its own way. Both people in an engagement relationship seem to have no interest in me.”

“···.”

“When you love, do you become similar? Is that how it goes? If so, then that would explain why you have no interest in me…”

“Perhaps that’s not the case, Your Highness.”

The negative comment interrupted Labilaa’s sentence.

Out of the blue, a thought occurred to her.

If only the person who interrupted Labilaa wasn’t him.

If the one who interrupted Labilaa’s words wasn’t him, I wonder if I’d be wearing a different expression by now.

Daring to interrupt the princess’s words.

While expressing anger towards the interrupter, wouldn’t she also be considering a way to leave this place?

“I never said I had no interest in you, Your Highness. Could you tell me who the audacious person is that made such a statement to you?”

“…”

“······Elena.”

Right.

If only she wasn’t my fiancée.

Upon hearing the name muttered as if under his breath, Elena finally looked at me.

And then, with a faint smile, she spoke.

“······Hello, Lian.”

“…”

A smile that seemed incredibly strained.

A smile that seemed to force its way through slightly trembling lips.

And for some reason, I couldn’t quite understand.

“Could we talk for a moment?”

“…”

For some reason, within that smile, I felt a hint of sadness.