In a Bad Mood
The next day, while sulking and shutting myself in my room, Georges came to tell me that Princess Rinaluna had arrived unofficially.
“An audience with Father and the others?”
“No, that’s not it. She wishes to meet with you, Young Master Reinhardt.”
I raised myself from the reclining chair.
“With me?”
“Yes.”
“She says she will wait until you are available.”
It’s a school day today, isn’t it?
Brother Chris and the others have already gone to the academy…
“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting,” I said as I entered, still radiating a clearly foul mood.
I know my attitude is extremely rude, but right now I can’t be bothered to put on a polite mask.
“I heard from Chrishford that the matter was discussed last night, so I came.”
“Even if I object to a decision that’s already been made, it won’t be overturned. So why have you come?”
The face of the maid standing behind the princess is gradually turning terrifying, but I don’t care.
“Until now, I have lived as the spare of the royal family, supporting Their Majesties my parents and my elder brother the Crown Prince. Being born into the royal house, a political marriage is simply part of my position. To be honest, I never even dreamed I could marry someone with whom I shared true feelings.”
Princess Rinaluna spoke without averting her eyes from me.
All I could do is listen in silence.
“Normally, if I simply gave up on Lord Chrishford, the legitimate heir, that would settle everything. But this is my first and last selfish wish. Even if it means being hated by you, Young Master Reinhardt, I will not give up.”
“Before, you told me that Brother Chris sees you not as a princess but as an individual person. Isn’t this just you wanting your own happiness?”
“No. I believe my feelings for him surpass even his. Of course I want to be happy myself, but I will make Lord Chrishford even happier than I am.”
So this is her “I love Brother Chris more than anything” declaration.
“I wish you had told him that directly instead of declaring it to his little brother.”
When I turned around, Brother Chris was standing there.
The princess’s face instantly drained from bright red to ghostly pale.
I’ve seen this exact pattern before.
“Brother Chris, didn’t you go to the academy?”
“I did, but Young Lady Diana said the princess hadn’t shown up, so I figured she had probably come here and turned back.”
“To be perfectly honest, I can’t bring myself to simply say congratulations. I can’t declare with certainty that I don’t regret being the one who brought the two of you together… Please give me some time.”
I returned to my room and collapsed onto the reclining chair.
Brother Chris and the others probably want to say that since Atre and Lucas are here, it would be better for me to inherit Westland, but it feels awful—like I’m driving the two of them away.
When I think that my acting freely and impulsively led Brother Chris to decide to be adopted out, I feel empty inside.
How did things end up like this?
“Hardt, you don’t want the brothers to be split apart, do you?”
Atre climbed onto my stomach and asked.
“The fact that my selfish actions caused the elder brothers to decide to be adopted out… I can’t forgive myself for that.”
“That’s not true, Hardt. The elder brothers made that choice because they want to be happy themselves.”
“I know that’s part of it, but they also knew I had tons of offers to marry into other families…”
“Even if we live apart, brothers are still brothers.”
“That’s right. Nothing will really change from how things are now.”
“And we’ll always be right by your side, Hardt.” Lucas nods in agreement.
“If you don’t smile and give them your blessing, the elder brothers will be sad too.”
“I understand that, but…”
“Is it because your dream of living an easygoing life got crushed?”
“You remember me saying that if Chrishford inherited the house, I’d just laze around in the New Town?”
““So that’s what it was!””
Atre and Lucas nodded as though everything suddenly made sense.
I know they’re trying to comfort me, but they’re not comforting me at all.
In the end, the feeling that this is all my fault weighs heavily on me.
But the decision has already been made, and the matter will move forward whether I like it or not, ignoring my feelings entirely.
Brother Chris’s engagement will be officially announced this winter at the New Year’s party hosted by the royal family.
At the same time, it will also be announced that I will become the heir to Westland.
That part is probably just for appearances.
Since I cannot marry into another family, the royal family wants to declare that they will not accept any betrothal offers for me.
What do you think about this chapter?
