episode_0319

The Fourth Princess, Mezlen.

One of the heroines of the ‘Luminor Academy’ and the youngest member of the imperial family.

Although she was born in the same year as the Fifth Prince Antonio, there was a difference of over 10 months in their birthdays, making their actual age difference similar to that of siblings born in different years.

“Even in the game, Mezlen naturally treats Antonio like an older brother.”

In the imperial family, the younger they were, the better they got along, while the older ones tended to have strained relationships. This was because as they rose in rank, they became potential rivals in the competition for imperial power. If they were younger, there was no need to restrain younger siblings who lacked a support base.

It would be more effective to have the potential rivals, such as the Second Prince, Third Prince, or the First Princess, compete with each other rather than wasting time and opportunities on younger siblings. Just looking at Seraphine, it was clear that her relationship with Antonio was not bad. Antonio didn’t feel like a potential rival for power in Seraphine’s position. In reality, that was the case.

Anyway, it was important for Mezlen to catch her eye during their first encounter event. Unlike others, Mezlen was a character who was like a ticking time bomb in many ways.

Growing up like a “potted plant in a greenhouse,” she had not interfered in the succession competition among her older siblings who were involved in fierce power struggles from a young age. Therefore, the title that best suited Mezlen was “the girl who grew up ignorant of the ways of the world.”

For this reason, it was necessary to stick by her side as soon as possible to prevent the troublesome events she might create.

“Excuse me….”

“Oh, yes.”

The red twin-tailed princess spoke to a passing male student in a cautious voice.

Although Antonio was taking a slightly different path from the original, fortunately, the day the ‘Imperial Carriage’ passed through the academy was not changed from the schedule. As they passed through the academy gates, he quietly watched the young princess who seemed to be causing trouble again.

Just to confirm if Mezlen, like Antonio, was a different character from the one he knew.

“Excuse me, sir… Did you just avoid eye contact with me?”

“What? What are you talking about….”

“You did avoid eye contact…. I know everything, so you don’t have to be embarrassed….”

“……”

“It can’t be helped…. It’s a fact that my appearance stands out in various ways to commoners…. I can understand why an ordinary and plain man like you would be captivated by my beauty….”

Mezlen shot out malicious remarks with a pure expression as soon as their eyes met. It was only natural that the man’s expression distorted in response to her shameless remarks.

“No, this woman starts spouting nonsense as soon as our eyes meet….”

“Still, you shouldn’t fall for me recklessly…. Marriages between nobility and commoners are not recognized by imperial law, so as an imperial princess, I cannot fulfill your expectations….”

“N-No, are you nobility?! I-I apologize for my rudeness!!”

With a momentarily fierce expression, the male student’s hand, which had risen, froze in mid-air, and belatedly realizing the situation, he quickly prostrated himself on the ground, bowing his head.

Since Mezlen introduced herself as a princess, it was only natural for the woman in front of him to display such behavior, whether she was truly nobility or impersonating nobility.

Bowing to someone pretending to be of noble descent may seem like a momentary embarrassment, but refusing to bow to a real noble could result in a crime for which one could not offer any excuses, even if their throat were to be cut on the spot.

Of course, Luminoir Academy may claim to provide an education environment where ‘there is no difference in status’ on the surface, so it may be impossible to be pressured by the authority of the nobles, but if one did not plan to remain a student at the academy for life, eventually the day would come when they would have to return the favor, so it was normal to lower one’s head.

“This event makes me empathize with the male side every time I see it.”

To be honest, that man did nothing wrong to Mezlen.

It was Mezlen who first initiated the conversation with the man, Mezlen who started an argument with absurd words from the first sentence, and Mezlen who brought up marriage talk with strange delusions.

However, the naive princess still had not dispelled the strange delusions in her head and was just overturning the man’s insides in front of her.

“It’s okay… It is the destiny of the nobles to comfort the commoners who lose their minds to this beautiful appearance….”

“T-Thank you….”

“But I don’t particularly want to end your first love so mercilessly, so how about starting to work hard from today to build up your achievements and strive to become a noble….”

“Stop it and quickly follow me, Mezlen. Sister Sera is waiting for you at the dormitory.”

“Oh, yes. Brother….”

Still treating Antonio properly as an older brother, just like in the original.

Seeing Antonio looking much more reliable than in the original, he looked quite like a decent older brother when viewed like this.

If it were following the original story, by now Antonio would be walking around like a zombie, taking deep breaths, leaving Mezlen behind.

“And in the process, Mezlen becomes a lost child from the first day at the academy, and the protagonist appears to help her, that was the Mezlen episode of ‘Luminoir Academy.’”

So, I was waiting for the royal carriage coming in through the main gate with that in mind, but seeing Antonio taking good care of my sister, it didn’t seem like Mezlen would become a lost child.

“You should get up too. Your little sister did something a little wrong.”

“Oh, no! It’s an honor just to have had a conversation with the princess!”

“See, brother…. You said it was an honor for that man to have a conversation with a beauty like me too….”

“…You may need to receive proper education from Sister Sera at this opportunity.”

…Looking at that absurd Mezlen, something in my head made me lose enthusiasm.

It’s tempting to just leave her be, whether she’s the heroine or not.

Of course, characters with such personalities tend to become complete fools who give everything when they fall in love with a real partner, so they’re not unattractive characters.

Since she had never experienced real love, her actions of mistaking instinctive behaviors for love were quite cute to watch.

That’s why I still have pleasant memories of playing the game when I followed the Mezlen route in my past life. The enjoyment of the Mezlen route was to see how far I could go while watching Mezlen die miserably, hanging on the protagonist’s neck.

“I endure it because there is a connection from my past life.”

Anyway, she was a character I had taken to the end at least once. It wouldn’t be strange to hope that she meets a good love and becomes happy.

And the most important thing was that this woman was one of Ethan’s fiancee candidates.

Although her mind may be in the final stages of princess syndrome, she was not a bad person at heart. Even if she were to shed the title of princess, as a magician, she possessed skills that were quite impressive, rivaling Agnes and Lillis.

And as mentioned earlier, there was no woman as devoted as her once she started to love someone.

…If Melzen really was Ethan’s hidden fiancée, then I could somewhat relax and leave.

“….”

The thought that the woman in front of me might be Ethan’s fiancée left a strange, unsettling feeling in my chest.

…Even if Ethan were to marry another woman, I could deal with it after leaving the academy. I wouldn’t have to witness the heart-wrenching scene with my own eyes, so there was no need to worry prematurely.

“Melzen, don’t just leave all the luggage to Kate, carry one yourself. Are your hands empty, or are you just going to make the maid do all the work?”

“Oh, no, Your Highness! I can carry everything myself, so please don’t worry!”

“Kate said she’s fine, brother… Even if I’m considered a threat in the competition for the throne because of my beauty, trying to break my delicate wrist to prevent me from using magic won’t work…”

“In front of Sister Sara, you never used to say you were beautiful yourself, but ever since she entered the academy, you’ve been quite talkative.”

“That’s not true… Oh, the old Antonio brother was a bit kinder… What is it about the imperial position that makes you keep tormenting such a lovely younger sister…”

“…I think Sister Sara might understand my feelings towards her better now.”

…Is it because Antonio has become more normal that Melzen has become a more irritating character? It must be my imagination.

Despite the absurd remarks of this princess syndrome patient, it seemed that I should continue to support Agnes positively, judging by how she eagerly grabbed a light load with her hands, not giving up even when her younger sister complained about the weight.

“Oh, it’s heavy, brother… I feel like my arm is going to fall off… I’ve never lifted anything heavier than a wand in my life…”

“Quiet down, Melzen. In the palace library, there are stacks of books heavier than what you’re holding.”

“Oh, brother, you’re teasing me again… Why are you so cruel…”

“Prince Antonio, maybe I should carry it instead. Princess Melzen is pushing herself too hard…”

“You also need to stop accepting her absurd flattery, Kate. If Melzen becomes completely useless, will you take responsibility? Even though she’s a princess, sometimes tough love is necessary.”

“Tough love…? Oh, no, brother… Even though our mothers are different, our father is the same, so we can’t love each other…”

“Save your sweet talk for the bed, Melzen.”

Hmm, what should I do?

It didn’t seem like Antonio would abandon Melzen first and go to the royal dormitory.

Rather, looking at that sight, even if she tried to play hard to get, she would somehow end up being dragged along. It was an unintended consequence of Antonio becoming more normal compared to the original work.

…What can I do? I’ll have to push her in, even if it’s forced.

“Oh, I can’t walk anymore… Kate, please carry me…”

“Stop being so dramatic, Melzen…”

“Good day, Prince Antonio.”

“…Lillis Yeong-ae?”

If the situation didn’t present itself, I had to create it by force.

After all, if I didn’t catch Melzen’s eye today, there wouldn’t be another chance.