Why Does This Keep Happening?! (4)

Let’s organize this for a moment. The Jernia family, like the Walpurgis, are loyal only to the imperial family and show no reaction to other power struggles or taking sides. Knowledge is a weapon in a completely different direction from swords or magic. The saying “knowledge is power” isn’t for nothing.

Moreover, the Jernia family not only has knowledge but also the ability to use that knowledge as power if they choose to. Are they lacking in name, wealth, or strength? They have plenty of all.

Of course, in terms of magic, they’re inferior to the Walpurgis, in wealth to the Scrania, and in swordsmanship to the Valderich.

But even so, the Jernia are still a marquis family. They have enough power to cause events that could shake an entire country.

That’s why they have been loyal only to the imperial family for generations and are careful not to wield their knowledge recklessly. In return for this self-restraint, they receive favorable treatment from the imperial family.

And now, Amy, the eldest daughter of this family, has come to me declaring that she approached me early because it’s obvious I’ll become the Crown Princess. Considering the characteristics of the Jernia family I just mentioned, her words are sincere without a hint of lie.

Hahaha… This is maddening.

“Crown Princess… you say.”

“Yes, that’s right. We traditionally don’t take sides or lend our strength to anyone, but if the subject becomes a member of the imperial family, that’s a different story. Moreover, if it’s someone who will become not just a simple member of the imperial family, but the future Empress…”

Ah, wait a moment. I almost felt dizzy just now. I managed to endure somehow. Phew… Calm down. Yes. Let’s calm down. The other party knows nothing about me and Reinhardt. And they know nothing about the future of this world. After all, Reinhardt is destined to end up with Mari. Even if I could change fate, I intend to make it that way. In other words, Amy’s logic is already destined to be refuted in the future.

Receiving help from the Jernia. It’s certainly useful. It’s more than reassuring, it’s overflowing. But accepting that help is tantamount to publicly acknowledging that I’ll become the Crown Princess later. Why? Because there’s no noble who doesn’t know about the characteristics of the Jernia family.

But suddenly rejecting it here would be problematic in its own way. Because there’s no reason to refuse at all. If I refuse here, I’d need to come up with a really plausible reason, but there’s no such thing, and what’s left is only that it’s because I won’t become a member of the imperial family.

Of course, it’s not wrong since I have no intention of marrying Reinhardt, but revealing that fact is problematic in many ways. First of all, my engagement with Reinhardt isn’t simply something that ‘Ariel’ obtained by throwing a tantrum, but a political marriage between the imperial family and the Walpurgis. If I suddenly kick that away here, it becomes a big problem in many ways.

‘I’m doomed.’

I’m doomed, I’m ruined. I’m ruined again today. A familiar and cheerful BGM played in my head, and I realized anew how serious the current situation is.

If this continues, I’ll be irrevocably branded as the future Crown Princess, and the ending could be twisted. You might think it’s not that serious just because one Jernia joined, but I feel like this isn’t the end.

No, it’s really serious, I’m telling you! Look at the current situation. ‘The’ Jernia has personally stepped forward and declared they’ll be on my side. Then, it’s as good as everyone being reminded once again that I’ll become the future Crown Princess, the Empress. In other words, the ‘loyalty to the imperial family’ that should originally only go to Reinhardt might come to me as well.

Of course, there would be a difference between it going to Reinhardt, the Crown Prince, and coming to me, who is still just a duke’s daughter. Even if I become the Crown Princess later, it would be the same. But the foundation would still be loyalty to the imperial family.

This is not good. It’s really not good. I don’t mind if they express favor towards me. I don’t mind if they approach me because of the Walpurgis name.

But loyalty to the imperial family shouldn’t be involved in that. At this rate, I’ll have no choice but to become a member of the imperial family without being able to move an inch. What happens then? The original story becomes just ‘the original story’, and this world could be ruined as it is!

‘I, I need to think of a way later.’

It seems the situation is more serious than I thought. I need to seriously, really seriously consider this.

“And who might you be…?”

Somehow, I managed to finish my long thought and barely change the subject. The topic of the Jernia is already an enormous subject, but it’s something I should think about leisurely when I’m alone in my room later. For now, let’s focus on reality again here.

The blonde girl sitting quietly next to Amy. She looks familiar, but I can’t recall who she is.

When I slightly expressed my question, she made an “Ah” expression and then politely bowed her head.

“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Elizabeth Scrania.”

“Pardon…?”

Ah, wait a moment. I almost dropped my fork while eating. Did I hear that wrong? Elizabeth? That Elizabeth? No, you’re kidding, right? I guess they have April Fool’s Day here too. Hahaha…

It’s not April 1st now.

“Lady Scrania…?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Your image has changed a lot.”

It’s not just ‘a lot’. The villainous young lady image that I was trying to make my role model has been sold off somewhere, and now, although she’s a bit adorned, her image is completely different. If her previous appearance was that of a villainous young lady, now it’s more like… a sub-heroine? No, I’m not really saying Elizabeth is a sub-heroine, just that her current impression feels that way.

“Is that so? I have been hearing that a lot from people around me. That I seem different.”

No, it’s not just ‘seem different’, it’s like a completely different person. I don’t know how to explain this. The impression is too different.

“My thoughts changed a lot after meeting you that day, Lady Walpurgis.”

“Pardon?”

“After being scolded by you, Lady Walpurgis, I thought hard in my own way. His Highness the Crown Prince and you haven’t shown any intention of standing above others in this academy.”

Well, Reinhardt is Reinhardt, and I’m still not fully prepared.

“Seeing that, I was able to truly gain enlightenment. Everyone is equal at the academy… At first, I scoffed at the idea, but now it’s different.”

No, wait a minute. Something feels strange here? Why do I suddenly feel like an awakening flag has been planted?

“Certainly, there can’t be perfect equality in this world. I’m not naive enough to not know that. But one thing I can say for sure is.”

Elizabeth paused there to catch her breath. No, what’s with her? She’s scary. Don’t suddenly awaken like this. I thought she was an extra who didn’t even have a name in the original story, but was she actually playing some important role? Or did I just forget after seeing it? That can’t be! If she was a main character, I would remember, but no matter how much I think about it, I can’t remember the name Elizabeth Scrania!

Either way, this isn’t a very good flow.

“From now on, I will change my mindset and live sincerely. Although I have tarnished the Scrania name, I must change, if only to wash away that stain.”

No, don’t take such a protagonist awakening event for yourself. And what does that have to do with this now?

“As the first step, I intend to assist you, Lady Walpurgis, with all my heart and soul. If there’s anything you need, please let me know.”

“Wait a moment. Suddenly saying such things…”

“There’s no need to decline. You are currently the young lady of the Walpurgis family and will become the future Crown Princess and Empress. When that time comes, I’ll be pledging my loyalty anyway, so I think there’s no problem if the timing is advanced.”

Wait a moment. Don’t do this. Stop… I’m going to die at this rate. I’m going to die from a headache. I don’t know if a person can really die from a headache, but looking at my current state, it might really be possible. Ah, I almost felt dizzy. Wait a moment.

I feel like this happened earlier too, but now I really feel like I was about to get dizzy but barely avoided it. Please don’t do this. Please go away…

“…Shall we get up for now?”

In the end, I don’t know if the food is going into my mouth or my nose, but I feel the urgent need to leave this place. When I pointed at the empty trays and spoke, Elizabeth and Amy nodded and stood up from their seats.

Throughout returning the trays, only one thought occupied my mind.

‘What should I do? How should I overcome this crisis?’

Work, my brain! Please!