Why?
Does she mean… I’m to be adopted into the royal family? That’s got to be a joke.
“Why would I need to be adopted into the royal family?”
“No, that’s not it…”
It’s not? Then by “become your older sister”, she must mean marrying one of my brothers.
“Which brother are you talking about?”
Realizing I understood, she blushed deeply and quietly said,
“Young master Chrisford,” while placing her hand against her cheek.
It was an adorably rare gesture. Honestly, I wanted to say “Save that for in front of Brother Chris.”
“And… what exactly do you want me to do about that?”
“Well… I thought if I got close to you, Young master Chrisford might notice me too.”
“Why?”
“Because Young master Chrisford really dotes on you, Reinhardt. So I thought that if he saw us getting along, he might start paying attention to me too.”
Why such a roundabout way?! You don’t have to drag me into this.
“Umm, I’m sure you know already, but due to the ‘Westland Curse,’ our family doesn’t do political marriages.”
“The Westland Curse?”
“I’ve heard it’s fairly well known. They say anyone from the Westland family who enters a political marriage dies young. That’s why Brother Chris doesn’t have a fiancée.”
It seems Her Highness didn’t know. Uncle Davit said it was famous, though.
When I asked whether she had much contact with Brother Chris, since she’s in the academy, she said they meet almost daily as members of the student council.
“… You didn’t… by any chance, tell Brother Chris something like ‘I’d be useful to the Westland family’ like you did with me, did you?”
“… I mean, I couldn’t just say I liked him…”
She actually did. I was half-joking when I said that!
“Then just say you like him. If you don’t, he’ll end up marrying someone else.”
Her face went red, then pale. This is the first time I’ve seen Her Highness like this.
“What do you even like about Brother Chris? Don’t tell me it’s his family name or because it’d make a good match.”
My tone is getting harsher, but this concerns Brother Chris’s future. As family, I have to make sure.
“When I visited Westland last year, he gave me a tour around the domain. He was very kind. Most people who approach me do so with ulterior motives. But he told me… that I should allow myself to do the things I want once in a while, that the academy offers experiences I can only get there. He saw me as myself, not just as a princess.”
She spoke with such emotion.
This is… the real deal. Well, considering how she was blushing and paling earlier, I guess I did get to see the real princess.
“… So, there you have it, Brother Chris. By the way, why are you here?”
Brother Chris stood just outside the gazebo. His face was slightly red. Her Highness had gone from red to pale and looked like she might faint.
“Father asked me to go fetch you, but when you didn’t come back, I was told you were with the princess. So, I came to get you.”
“I’ll go back with Father. You should have a proper talk with the princess, Brother Chris.”
Leaving the two of them behind, I slung the backpack on and asked the attendant to take me to Father.
“Did something happen? I asked Chris to go fetch you,” Father asked in the carriage.
“He and the princess seem to work together on the student council, and they started talking about student council matters. So I said I’d return with you.”
“Chris talking student council matters… hmm. Well, there were maids and knights around. Should be fine.”
Seems like Father also sensed something was off, but he pretended not to know.
Brother Chris really is cool. He’s good-looking, smart, kind, devoted to family—the perfect husband. But… why did the princess come to me, an eight-year-old, for relationship advice?
Is there really no one else she could have asked?
I don’t know what kind of conclusion Brother Chris will come to, but I feel like I’ve lost my unease around Her Highness quite a bit.
What do you think about this chapter?
