“…Hmm. That most certainly was a handful.” I unclenched my stiff shoulders. In front of me was a mountain of completed papers. Thankfully, my tension seemed to dissipate somewhat now that I had reached my goal for the day. Yet a king’s work was never done, it seemed, no matter how much effort he puts into it. “Excellent work as always, Your Majesty.” “Come now, Grantz. There’s no need to be so formal.” The voice that had called out to me belonged to none other than Grantz Magenta, the head of the foremost house of the aristocracy, the ducal Magenta family, the chancellor of the realm of the Kingdom of Palettia, and above all, my close personal friend. And the one to whom he had called was of course me, Orphans Il Palettia, the present sovereign of the Kingdom of Palettia. I had just completed my royal duties for the day. “I could do with a cup of tea. Join me, Grantz.” “As you wish, Your Majesty.” “Again, so formal! Address me not as your king, but as your friend, now.” “…Very well, Orphans.” I nodded in satisfaction as his tone of voice relaxed. Grantz might have been in his late thirties, but his youthful vigor had yet to show any sign of slowing. I, on the other hand, looked older than my years, my hair graying noticeably. It was probably my constant fatigue to blame for that. I wasn’t oblivious to the difference between us. We were so close in age, yet he was able to maintain his youth. The Magenta family was graced with a long history. The dukes, having inherited royal blood, had also inherited the platinum hair of the royal family. Nonetheless, as the generations passed, that color had come to differ from my own. If anything, it was closer to silver now more than platinum. But the most unique thing about Grantz was his eyes. Those reddish-brown irises were so intense and sharp that they seemed to contain scorching flames that could leave the faint of heart quaking in their boots with a glance. For better or worse, he had passed those eyes on to his daughter and son. The shared blood of the parent and child was difficult not to see. “…The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as they say,” I murmured as I rang the bell to summon a maid to prepare a pot of tea. Grantz must have heard my sigh, as he glanced across at me as he took a seat. “What’s wrong? Are you worried about your children again?” he asked teasingly. “How can I not worry?!” I replied in frustration. I had a special fondness for Grantz’s children, especially his daughter, Euphyllia, as though they were my own. That was partly because she was engaged to my son, Algard—but more than that, it was my own rascal of a daughter who made me feel that way. “She’s been rather quiet lately, but I fear this is just the calm before the storm.” “Princess Anisphia is a bit of a storm herself, isn’t she?” “What are you laughing at? I’ve never once considered this a joking matter, Grantz.” There was a knock on the door, followed by the maid entering the room with a curtsy. She placed the pot of tea on the table nearby before leaving. As I sipped at my cup, I let out another sigh. “She’s already seventeen years old, and still there’s no indication that she might settle down…” “But if she were to settle down, as you say, she would hardly be Princess Anisphia anymore, no?” “Stop it. I’m depressed enough as it is…” “I’m afraid it can’t be helped. After all, we were the ones who condoned her behavior in the first place back when it all began,” Grantz responded, elegantly bringing his tea to his lips. I curled my lip at that, but I had no argument for him. Perhaps it was stress again, but I could feel a heavy weight in my stomach. I let out resigned sigh. “Why is there no end to problems requiring my attention?” I’m sure anyone who saw me would have assumed I was in my fifties from my appearance. My platinum-colored hair, proof of my royal lineage, was conspicuously dull and gray. Constant anxiety had carved deep furrows across my face, to the extent that seeing myself in the mirror was enough to sour my mood. That was proof that my responsibilities as king were a burden. But my biggest cause for concern was my daughter, mercilessly causing me trouble with no end in sight. “But we can relieve those worries at least somewhat, wouldn’t you say?” “Hmm… Do you mean Algard and Euphyllia?” “They will both be graduating soon. In the future, they will be asked to contribute as our future king and queen. And that will give them more opportunities to lead by themselves.” “…Assuming all goes well,” I grumbled. “…Are you concerned about that rumor?” Grantz asked back, narrowing his eyes. I nodded by way of response. “Euphyllia will be fine, but that cursed Algard… It’s all well and good for him to indulge himself with that baron’s daughter, but he needs to learn to exercise moderation.” “It isn’t easy gathering information from within the academy, but word has slipped out. It must be rather public by now.” Rumor had it that Algard was constantly spending time with the Cyan girl, while Euphyllia had been seen warning him to take care several times. The topic had become a subject of intense gossip among the nobility. The Aristocratic Academy by its very nature was quite secretive, and so information from within its walls rarely reached the outside world. The fact that these rumors had leaked in spite of all that meant Algard must have been making a considerable scene. My stomach hurt just thinking about it. “…Sorry, Grantz. It was the royal family who insisted on this engagement in the first place…” “It’s Euphyllia’s duty to ensure that she doesn’t lose her betrothed’s heart. You are quite right that Algard needs to learn moderation, but this may serve as a wake-up call for the both of them.” Grantz’s bluntness didn’t mean he was unloving, loyal only to his official duties. Rather, his very affection for his daughter was why he had given her a strict education, so that she would have the strength to serve as the kingdom’s next queen. On the face of it, the Kingdom of Palettia was a paragon of peace. However, there were a great many problems buried under the surface. Years ago, when I started turning my thoughts to the future, I found myself fretting whether Algard would be able to support the country by himself, and so I had insisted he take Euphyllia, whose talents I had known since she was a child, as his fiancée. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but notice a lack of love between them. Neither seemed to have any feelings for the other at all beyond duty, although that wasn’t particularly unusual for a betrothal among two noble houses. But this rumor had started circulating at a time when I was especially worried. I couldn’t help but be concerned. “But Euphyllia said she would take care of it, yes?” “She did, and yet… I’m fully aware that the royal family wants this marriage to be a success, but if the entirety of the burden is placed on my daughter, we’ll have no choice but to call off the engagement.” It wasn’t easy to agree with that, but what Grantz had said was true. If that was what Euphyllia wanted, we would have no choice but to consider ending the betrothal plans. After all, it was the royal family, not her, who had initiated them, so it was up to us to clean up any mess they caused. That was why I had gone so far as to ask Euphyllia whether she wanted to break off the engagement. But she had asked me to leave everything to her. In the end, I had presumed upon her generosity, but had she actually been able to find a resolution…? I was stricken with an acute pang of anxiety, just as there came a sudden, vigorous knock on the door. “Your Majesty! Urgent news!” “What could possibly be urgent at this hour…? What’s happened now?!” “Princess Anisphia has visited the royal palace using a magical device! She’s requesting an audience with you, Your Majesty!” “What has that harebrained girl done now?!” I found myself exclaiming in a raspy voice. Why couldn’t she just behave herself for once…?! “And also…” “Also what?! Quit dawdling and come out with it!” “Apologies! Princess Anisphia wants to see you, but she is accompanied by Lady Euphyllia Magenta… And we believe Her Highness may have kidnapped her!” My eyes opened wide in alarm at this report, and my vision briefly went dark. I shook my head, trying to regain my composure, but I couldn’t suppress the indignation welling up inside me. “…Well then, what are you waiting for?! Bring her to me! Now!” “Greetings, Father! I’m really sorry for dropping in like this!” “Anis! What have you done this time?! And why is Euphyllia with you?!” Whoa, my father was absolutely furious. Well, that wasn’t an unreasonable response, all things considered. I had abducted…ahem, removed Miss Euphyllia from that evening party at the Aristocratic Academy and taken her straight to the royal palace to request an audience with my father. She was still glancing around wide-eyed over my shoulder. Even the renowned perfect young noblewoman must have been terrified of the flight she had just endured. “Please calm yourself, Your Majesty. Princess Anisphia, Your Highness, I do believe it has been a while.” “Oh? Duke Grantz is here, too? Well, that’s convenient.” There was another figure in my father’s office—Miss Euphyllia’s father, Duke Grantz, my father’s right-hand man. Convenient, indeed. “…Euphyllia? How long are you planning to stay there?” Duke Grantz asked reproachfully. “…Ugh…? F-F-Father?! E-excuse me! Princess Anisphia!” Miss Euphyllia’s face snapped up, and she rushed to get down from my back. I released her hand, letting her kneel and bow her head. “Ah, you don’t have to do that…,” I said. “Duke Grantz, please don’t be too hard on her. She’s probably a little shaken after everything that just happened.” “Anis! Explain yourself! What have you done this time? What are you doing with Euphyllia?” my father demanded. “Well… I was out doing a nighttime test of my Witch’s Broom, and the stars were so beautiful, so I kind of took my eyes off where I was going. And then I crashed into a party at the Aristocratic Academy!” I reported truthfully. “…You fool of a girl!” my father cried out, rising to his feet and bringing his fist down on my head. That strike was so painful it felt like stars were falling to the ground in front of my eyes. The back of my eyes grew warm, and I had to hold my head in my hands. “That hurt, Father! You’re awful!” “I’ve had enough of your cheek! Why, you…you…you…!” “I know it was wrong; you think I don’t?!” “If you’re really sorry, don’t do it again! How many mistakes do you have to make before you learn?!” “Father, no one can make progress without making at least a few mistakes!” “I’m telling you to take precautions! Repeating the same thing over and over is the height of folly, you imbecile! Is that head of yours just for show?!” he bellowed, bringing his fist down on my head a second time. It was so painful that I had to crouch down, pressing my hands against my temples. Ugh, his knuckles really hurt…! He was the worst! The absolute worst! “…Ahem. Perhaps you’ve made your point? Princess Anisphia?” Duke Grantz called out to me, feigning a cough. With that remark, my father came back to his senses and brought his seething anger under control. His complexion, however, was still rather pale. The duke’s sharp eyes were fixed on me. I couldn’t help but feel a little ill at ease, but this was no different than usual, so I sat up straight and asked: “What can I do for you, Duke Grantz?” “Why have you brought Euphyllia to the royal palace?” “Ah, right, right! I came to deliver a report, Father!” “And what would that be, Anis?” “Allie said he was breaking off his engagement with Miss Euphyllia.” “…Huh?” My father froze up, falling silent for a long, drawn-out moment. Beside him, Duke Grantz’s eyes widened slightly, as though taken by surprise. “I’m sorry, Anis. I’m a little tired, so I must have misheard. What was that again?” “I said Allie was trying to break off his engagement with Miss Euphyllia.” “What?” “He’s breaking off the engagement.” “Whose?” “His and Miss Euphyllia’s.” I’d told him the facts multiple times, and my father stood there with his mouth hanging agape. I tried waving my hand in front of his eyes, but there was no reaction. Finally coming back to his senses, my father rubbed his brow and asked in a shaky voice: “Algard…said that?” “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” “…I’m sorry. How I wish this was all a bad dream,” he said in disbelief, before turning to Euphyllia. “Is it true?” Euphyllia seemed to freeze up once again as my father took her in his sights, before she drooped her shoulders and lowered her head. “…Yes. I’m terribly sorry I wasn’t able to keep everything under control.” With that, Miss Euphyllia bowed her head helplessly. She was so fragile that my hand found its way to her shoulder. My lips twitched as I sensed her trembling. I could only imagine how she must have felt. To have her betrothed suddenly break off her engagement at an evening party… As dignified as she was, it was still no wonder that she was in shock. “…What a mess! What on earth is that benighted son of mine doing?! Did he not think to ask me?! In the middle of a party no less?!” “Please, Your Majesty, calm yourself.” “How can you possibly expect me to remain calm?!” “Er, Father? I know you’re angry, but Miss Euphyllia is in shock, so please don’t yell…” Now that I had pointed this out to him, my father lowered his voice, although he remained sour. Duke Grantz let out a quiet sigh, before turning to his daughter. “…Euphyllia.” “I— I’m so sorry, Father… I’m useless, unworthy…” Miss Euphyllia bowed her head even deeper, as though by now unable to raise it back up again. Her shaking was growing stronger by the second. “I know I’m the one who brought it up,” I interjected, “but Miss Euphyllia isn’t feeling well, so can she sit down?” “A-ah. Yes, of course…” My father nodded and helped guide her to a nearby set of sofas. I sat beside my father, while Euphyllia and Duke Grantz took the seats across from us. Once everyone had sat down and taken a few deep breaths, my father cleared his throat. The anguish on his face was obvious. Well, that wasn’t much of a surprise, either. “…I’m sorry I got so upset just now. But I can’t believe it…” “Well, it did happen, Father.” He held his head in his hands. I couldn’t blame him. Allie and Miss Euphyllia’s betrothal had meant they would be the future king and queen of Palettia. It was an incredibly important arrangement. That was why Miss Euphyllia, Duke Magenta’s daughter, had been chosen as my brother’s partner. And that was why their engagement wasn’t something that could be annulled so easily. Then again, Allie’s announcement was so bizarre that it wasn’t entirely surprising that our father had no idea how to respond. “…Sorry, Grantz. I was overly optimistic. Naive, even,” my father murmured, his head lowered, pressing a hand against his gut as though burdened with a stomachache. Nonetheless, Duke Grantz quietly shook his head. “You shouldn’t be so quick to apologize, Your Majesty…,” he said, before turning to his daughter. “Euphyllia.” “…Yes.” “I’ve heard that your relationship with Prince Algard hasn’t been progressing. It is most unfortunate that this has happened.” “…I’m terribly sorry.” “You don’t need to apologize. What you need to think about now is how you will conduct yourself in the future.” “I’m willing to accept any punishment.” Miss Euphyllia seemed to take her father’s words to heart, awaiting his condemnation. Duke Grantz’s eyebrows twitched as he watched his daughter. I had to interrupt the tense conversation between the two. “Ahem… Duke Grantz, if I may?” “What is it, Princess Anisphia?” “Forgive me for saying this, and I don’t believe your intention is to blame Miss Euphyllia for what happened. However, I think the shock has affected her judgment. Could you be a little gentler with her? And you too, Miss Euphyllia. I know you must be startled by how sudden that was, but can you try to relax a little? Everyone here, myself included, is on your side.” Miss Euphyllia finally looked up with some confusion. She didn’t have the faintest clue what I was talking about, did she? I tried smiling back at her. “Anyway, let’s straighten everything out first! Our fathers both seem to understand the situation, right?” “…It doesn’t feel right, hearing you say something sensible for once,” my father remarked. “How rude!” “You can blame yourself for that!” I didn’t get it. Well, that was fine. I pursed my lips, when my father thanked me. “Anis. I’m going to put the matter of your trespass at the Aristocratic Academy aside for now. Even if it was all just a fortuitous coincidence, I want to thank you for looking out for Euphyllia.” “Well, it really was a coincidence.” “We have to go after Algard. If we can’t convince him to show some self-restraint…” “Ah, Father? I think some of his friends were involved, so you should make sure to deal with them, too.” He responded with disgust before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his favorite stomach medication, swallowing it down with a hint of melancholy in his eyes. That was probably partly because of the mess we were in, but I couldn’t help but think he was tired of dealing with me, too. I was perfectly aware I had messed up here. Still, I was technically an outsider to this matter. I might have been a member of the royal family, but I had renounced any right to succeed to the throne. That was why I hadn’t had any intention of getting involved in succession disputes, but thanks to a force majeure, or maybe an accident, it had been unavoidable this time. Well, we could talk about that later. “It’s important that we investigate what happened and how, but it’s just as vital that we tidy this up. I’m talking about Miss Euphyllia’s future.” “…Her future?” my father murmured, his voice filled with bitter regret. At the moment, it didn’t matter whether Allie had legitimately broken off his engagement. The problem was that he had brought outside attention to everyone involved by doing it in such a public place. Now, the whole affair would make it rather difficult for Miss Euphyllia to get married in the future. An engagement broken off in public wasn’t something that could easily be made right. And we couldn’t ask Miss Euphyllia to get back together with Allie after such an experience. So the next question concerned Miss Euphyllia’s future. Being discarded by your fiancé would make you a huge joke at social gatherings. That would be even worse for the expected future queen. Furthermore, she was the daughter of the ducal family of Magenta, a distinguished house known for a great many noteworthy achievements. Together, these factors would make her the perfect target for the scorn of her peers. If that happened, she could potentially have difficulty finding another marriage partner at all. Once a young lady had been abandoned by a member of the royal family, the number of her potential suitors would become quite limited. This was a major problem—Miss Euphyllia’s future was in grave jeopardy. Allie’s actions were entirely one-sided here… Yes, this was bad from multiple standpoints. “Given her talent, I wouldn’t want to let her go too far—” “You couldn’t possibly marry her off to a foreign country!” I interrupted. “After all, she’s your daughter! And a genius, too! A rare child prodigy, blessed by spirits! I’ve heard so many stories about her!” Miss Euphyllia was by far the greatest young lady of her generation. She excelled not only in etiquette and propriety but in magic and martial arts, too. And she was incredibly beautiful. Her silvery hair and snow-white skin perfectly complimented her dignified character. If I had to say anything negative about her, I might point to the sternness I saw in her eyes sometimes—but if she was going to be our next queen, that dignity of hers was generally a good thing. That was why I had heard so many people say she was particularly suited to be our next king’s bride. Even though I distanced myself from official matters, I had still heard of those rumors. To be frank, I felt she was far superior to me as a lady—not that I had ever bothered trying to be the perfect lady, mind you. Maybe the respect I had for her was because we were both so different? Miss Euphyllia’s talent had been evident from an early age, and so the royal family had pursued her as a bride for Allie. Her talents and abilities were widely regarded as immeasurable. That was why it was out of the question to marry her off to another country—another land would have access to all her talents. If that happened, we would never see them again. The issue now would be finding a partner more nearby. How many would be willing to marry someone who had once been betrothed to royalty, only to be cast aside for ostensibly stirring up trouble? On top of that, Miss Euphyllia belonged to a ducal family, so the pool of candidates of appropriate status was even narrower. This was, in many ways, a dead-end situation. I glanced furtively her way; she was hunched over, carrying a dark shadow on her back. No wonder. The expectation that she would one day become queen must have been an enormous burden throughout her upbringing. She had been raised to carry the whole kingdom in the future—and much more, too. I had fled that responsibility as fast as my feet could carry me. To be honest, I had to admit that it might have been my abandonment of responsibility that led to this situation and her ruined future prospects. Needless to say, her father was undoubtedly aware of how bleak the future now looked for her, too. For that reason, Duke Grantz’s continued silence was more than a little intimidating. But this wouldn’t be a straightforward problem to solve—and any solution would need to be even more involved… Hmm. It would require a whole string of achievements. At that moment, an idea suddenly popped into my head. “Father!” “What now?! There’s no need to shout!” “I’ve been thinking about Miss Euphyllia’s future. Is it safe to assume that, given what’s happened, you’re worried about her marriage prospects?” “…Yes, but what of it? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?” “Then I have an idea!” My father clearly didn’t like the sound of this. So rude—it was almost as if he didn’t think much of me! Duke Grantz, still waiting in silence, turned his attention my way. The pressure of his stern gaze left me squirming in discomfort. “What is this idea of yours, Princess Anisphia?” “Yes. At present, Miss Euphyllia has been forced to break off her engagement and suffered a grave wound to her reputation as a noblewoman. Moreover, she’s a person of rare talent. There’s a high possibility you’ll have to be very selective about her next suitor, and it’s difficult to see what the future has in store.” “I suspected as much… So what is this idea of yours? I must say, I have a bad feeling about this,” my father opined. “Ha-ha, that’s a bit rude. Even if you manage to get Allie to recant his one-sided declaration, the fact remains that Miss Euphyllia failed to stop him from coming out with it where he did.” Even if this was entirely Allie’s fault, Miss Euphyllia hadn’t been able to stop him from doing what he had done in public, which meant some would always doubt her suitability as his future bride. But now that it had happened, there was nothing that could be done about it. “Essentially, Miss Euphyllia will also carry some responsibility in the eyes of others…” “Indeed, that’s true. She is at fault for not having discouraged Prince Algard sufficiently.” “And that may not go away, but it’s possible to recover from it. I think it would be good if we could give her a chance to do just that.” Duke Grantz kept his gaze locked on me this whole time, as though not to miss a single word. In the midst of this strange tension, my father seemed both flustered and confused. “So…what are you trying to say? Out with it!” “I’ll get straight to the point, then… Father, Duke Grantz! Please give Miss Euphyllia to me!” If I had to describe in one word the atmosphere that descended on the room then, I would say that it froze. My father’s face twitched, while Duke Grantz’s eyes widened ever so slightly. And Miss Euphyllia, the person at the center of all this, raised her head, staring straight at me. I flashed her a smile, before turning back to my father and Duke Grantz: “I’ll do everything I can to make her happy! Please give us your approval!” “Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! What delusional nonsense are you blabbering about now?!” My father jumped to his feet, pale with fury. Delusional?! I was being perfectly serious here! “Princess Anisphia. You’re asking me to give you my daughter? What exactly are your intentions?” Duke Grantz asked me, his tone returning to normal. I nodded. “I would like to invite Miss Euphyllia to be my assistant.” “…Your assistant?” Miss Euphyllia was tilting her head to one side in confusion. Her mannerisms were so cute that I wanted to pet her. Perhaps having sensed my feelings, my father’s gaze sharpened. I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure. “You must already know that I’m a proponent of magicology, but I would like Miss Euphyllia to assist me in my research and to help present it to the public.” “…Do I understand you correctly, Princess Anisphia? Do you mean to have my daughter take credit for your magicology achievements?” “Yes! That’s exactly it, Duke Grantz!” Magical science, or magicology for short, was the name I had given to my research and my attempts to re-create the fantastical sights I had glimpsed in my past life—and to use those ideas to solve the mysteries of magic. My Witch’s Broom had been one such idea, an invention born from my desire to harness the power of magic to achieve manned flight. “With my father’s approval, I’ve been able to spread some of my magicology ideas, albeit on a very small scale. But given my personal circumstances, I’ve refrained from publicly announcing my major accomplishments.” “Magicology was born from a revolutionary idea. And your magical tools were in turn born from magicology. You’re afraid that the repercussions for the Kingdom of Palettia would be too immense…no?” “Yes. So I promised Father I wouldn’t make waves with the fruits of my research. The next king of Palettia may have some trouble if his elder sister was seen to shine too brightly.” While Allie might have been my younger brother, being a male, he had priority in the line of succession to the throne. That said, I previously had a claim as a member of the royal family—emphasis there on the past tense. You see, I couldn’t use magic. I was a princess, and yet I couldn’t use magic, so in spite of all my magicology achievements, I couldn’t be accepted as queen because of the way this country was run. To put it simply, the Kingdom of Palettia had developed hand in hand with magic throughout its history. The First King had made a pact with spirits and founded the realm using the magical gifts they had granted him. Next, the nobility had joined the king as his vassals, and so the Kingdom of Palettia was established. That was why being able to use magic was essential for members of the royal family—yet I was unable to do so. My inability to use magic had been disconcerting for everyone. And so I decided that if I was unable to use magic myself, I would study a new kind of magic that I could use. That was why I had abandoned my claim to the throne, so I could instead pursue my research. After all, I had thought that trying to juggle the two would only introduce unnecessary conflict. My father had resisted at first, but I had been so insistent that he had resigned himself to my will. And so I became a princess in name only, not involved in political affairs, although still recognized as a member of the royal family. “That being said, my father has been giving me a lot of work lately, and I think I’m getting to be kind of famous.” “Oh, that is rich! It’s the other way around! I determined that, after your conspicuous escapades, I had better try to keep you occupied with something sensible, you unthinking, fool girl!” “Huh…?” Wasn’t it rather dishonest of him to try to impose political troubles on me for such a selfish reason? I usually didn’t like to complain, because it tied directly into my hobby, but… Ah, I got sidetracked there. I had better get back to the matter at hand, I realized. “I want to spread magicology, but I don’t want to take center stage. So I thought, why not make my research a joint effort and let Miss Euphyllia take the credit?” “…Indeed. That may well be enough to overshadow the annulment of her betrothal.” “You see? Oh, and there’s one other thing. I can’t use magic, so I need an assistant who can—and I can’t think of anyone better than Miss Euphyllia!” “…Really?” “Yes! You’re a talented noblewoman, a martial artist, beloved by spirits, and said to have the highest aptitude for magic of anyone in all of history! It’s no exaggeration to say you’re one of the Kingdom of Palettia’s greatest treasures!” In this world, magic was considered a gift from the spirits. And Miss Euphyllia was renowned for her ability to effectively employ a wide range of magic. To be honest, I wished I had her talents—my envy was so strong I could almost taste it. Being the way that I was, the results of my research wouldn’t be positively received by the rest of the nobility. My deficiencies also meant I couldn’t hire an assistant through the usual channels, no matter how much I wanted one. So Miss Euphyllia was perfect! It sounded a bit wrong to say that this was all thanks to her failed engagement, but that was no reason to let the opportunity go to waste. In the end, this would be to her benefit, too! “…It certainly does make sense. I have to agree with you there,” Duke Grantz remarked. “You see?! So what do you think, Father? Will you approve?” “Anis… Do you remember what you told me when you renounced your claim to the throne?” My father crossed his arms, his expression muted. What was that supposed to mean? But I immediately hit on the answer and slammed my fist against my palm. “…Ah, you mean that declaration of hers?” Duke Grantz must have known about it, too, because for whatever reason, he let out a weak sigh. Miss Euphyllia’s gaze wandered back and forth between the two men in confusion. “Father. Um… What are you talking about?” “…When Princess Anisphia first broached renouncing her claim to the throne, she said, ‘I don’t want to marry a man. If I’m going to love anyone, I want to love a woman.’” At Duke Grantz’s words, Miss Euphyllia stared across at me, her eyes open wide. Her gaze felt a little distant… But it was true. I had been completely serious. “I mean, I don’t want to get married and have children.” “You fool girl, yooooouuuuu!” my father cried out, grabbing me in a claw hold. “Aaagh! That hurts! That hurts, Father! Let me go, please!” My father grabbed me, screaming as his fingers dug into my face. The next thing I knew, he had lifted me up so my feet weren’t even touching the ground! Stop—it really hurts! “You treat your royal station and your responsibilities like rubbish under your feet…!” “Ow! B-but…! But if you let me inherit the throne… I mean, I can’t even use magic…! You’ve got your priorities backward…! I— I’m not wrong!” “You’re beyond wrong, you fool girl! Your magicology has value, I’ll grant you that, but what makes you think you can never get married?!” “You gave me your word! You said if I can produce results, I wouldn’t have to! Ever! Owwwww! Father, look at your face! I can’t even recognize you…!” “It’s a million times better than the pain in the gut you gave me back then!” Finally, my father released me—well, more like threw me. Damn, that hurt. I had thought he was going to crush me there. It was certainly true that, when I had made that declaration, I had faced a hellscape of screaming and shouting, and I did feel some regret in hindsight. But I meant what I said, so it would have inevitably come out sooner or later. In effect, all I did was nip it in the bud according to my own timing. Because of that, there were all kinds of rumors about me—namely that I was attracted to girls. I wasn’t about to deny it. I did like girls! I had nothing against men, but when it came to topics like romance, engagement, or marriage, I just couldn’t see myself in that picture. “…Princess Anisphia. May I ask you a question?” “Duke Grantz? What is it?” “Do you mean that you only want Euphyllia as your assistant?” The duke fixed me in his sights, his unyielding gaze peering into my very mind. “Hmm. It’s true that her noble status and abilities with magic will be a boon, but to be honest with you…” “…Yes?” “Miss Euphyllia is just the kind of girl I like!” “Are you capable of holding your tongue for a single moment, Anis?!” “No!” “You’re making me angry again…!” This time, I ran behind the sofa that Duke Grantz was sitting on so my father couldn’t grab my face again. At that moment, my gaze met with Miss Euphyllia’s perfectly, and she pulled back slightly. That came as a small shock. Well, maybe that was unavoidable? I mean, I hadn’t denied the rumors. But if I was going to recruit her, this could be a problem. “Ah, um? If you don’t feel the same way, I won’t come after you. And I’m not a philanderer, either, so you don’t need to worry about that. There are plenty of reasons why I want to get along with Miss Euphyllia.” “…With me?” “I mean, I’ve never even been able to invite you to tea, seeing as you’re Allie’s fiancée and all! The situation isn’t good, honestly, but I welcome it! You must think it was a disaster, too, right? So why don’t you come and study magicology with me?” “…Because these circumstances are convenient for you?” The corners of Miss Euphyllia’s lips rose almost self-deprecatingly, and she averted her gaze. Of course, I could understand that she was depressed at the sudden end to her engagement. “That’s true, but there’s more to it.” “…?” “You’re free to join me for whatever reason you like, Miss Euphyllia. You’re hurting, and I want to help you. You can take those words at face value, or you can believe me for any other reason. I don’t mind.” Miss Euphyllia’s eyes widened. I reached out and gently touched her cheek, then turned her head toward me. Up close, I could say with great certainty that her beauty was the real thing. Whenever I had laid eyes on her from a distance, she had always been wearing a picture-perfect smile or no expression at all. But now she was unable to hide her true emotions, her eyes glistening with confusion and anxiety. “If you don’t believe me, I’ll stop trying to recruit you. If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you. But if you change your mind someday, if you want me to help you then, that will be enough for me.” I stroked Miss Euphyllia’s head, hoping to ease the burden and pain that had been forced on her. “You can change your mind later if you want. So I hope you’ll join me for your own reasons. Reasons you’ve chosen.” Miss Euphyllia stared back at me in a daze, like a lost child who didn’t know what to do. “Euphyllia?” said Duke Grantz, catching his daughter’s gaze. The two of them were sitting on the same sofa, but he was on her other side. Her face was like a blank theater mask. He exhaled slowly. “…I’m sorry.” My eyebrows rose in astonishment at the duke’s sudden apology, as did my father’s. Yet it was Miss Euphyllia who had the most notable reaction. She stared up at him with an expression of disbelief. “Father?” “Euphyllia. As our expected next queen, you have made every effort not to bring shame to the Magenta family. But I suppose it was I who asked this of you in the first place.” Slowly, as though choosing his words with great care, Duke Grantz began to convey his thoughts. At that moment, he struck me as more of a clumsy father than a noble duke. His usual shrewdness was nowhere to be seen as he continued with palpable regret. “I thought that if you were responding to my wishes, it was right to nudge you along. As a strict father, I thought it only appropriate to treat you as the future bearer of the Magenta name.” “…What—what are you saying?!” “I… I feel as though I may have made a grave mistake.” Miss Euphyllia leaned forward, shaking her head in disbelief. There was a hint of apprehension in her eyes—even fear. “It’s thanks to your education that I’m the person I am today! I treasure it! I have no regrets! And you certainly weren’t in the wrong, Father! It’s all my fault! I’m just a fool, unworthy to be a duchess or a queen. I have dragged the name of my house through the mud!” “My daughter is no fool,” the duke interjected. His firm denial cut off Miss Euphyllia’s heartbreaking tears with a single stroke. They had taken me aback, but more importantly, Miss Euphyllia visibly jumped in surprise, her body trembling at the force of her father’s assertion. Her mouth opened and closed in silence, as if she wanted to say something but couldn’t quite put it into words. Duke Grantz, staring straight at his speechless daughter, continued. “You have more than lived up to my expectations… Now I wonder whether I might not have smothered your own ambitions. If so, I am to blame.” Given Duke Grantz’s usual dignity, this was unimaginable. It was hard to imagine that such an eminent member of the kingdom’s nobility had actually just admitted this. And yet those words were his true feelings. But Miss Euphyllia couldn’t accept them so easily. “What are you saying…?” Her voice rose with grief. “Please stop, Father. Don’t say any more, please. I won’t know what to do with myself if you go on!” “Indeed. One can’t know. When you are faced with such trials, you can ask for help.” Duke Grantz’s expression faltered. It was a slight change, but his forced smile was enough to betray his consternation. He reached out his hand and stroked his daughter’s head. Miss Euphyllia stared back at him, unbelieving. “You’re still a child, Euphie.” The duke continued to stroke her head with an unaccustomed yet unquestionably caring hand. They were almost like any common parent and child. “I’ve stopped your heart from growing. I never taught you to grieve when you feel sorrow, to hurt when you’re in pain. And now you’re practically an adult. I kept on acting like you were the same little Euphie. All I taught you was how to put up a convincing front.” Miss Euphyllia’s face visibly distorted in response to her father’s words, becoming an indescribable expression that seemed both tearful and full of poorly hidden anger. “Please stop, Father. Don’t disparage yourself for my sake…! If anyone should be reproached, it’s me! I’m the one who failed!” Miss Euphyllia’s pained cry was a testament to her love for her father as she insisted she alone was in the wrong. Yet her father’s smile only deepened in response to her appeals. “If you failed, then so did I—as a parent and as a man. I had high hopes for you, as the future leader of this country. But at the same time, I was too strict. I disciplined myself to dismiss your suffering, to ignore the hardships that lay ahead. I clothed you with armor, but I failed to strengthen the body inside. I’m ashamed.” “Father…!” Miss Euphyllia shook her head in denial, sending tears spilling down her cheeks as she brushed off her father’s hand. Duke Grantz moved to wipe away her tears anyway; it was a truly fragile sight. “I forgive you. Even if the king himself desires this engagement to proceed, I’ll help you to decline it if that is what you want.” “…!” “So tell me, Euphie, if you don’t want to be queen…” Miss Euphyllia bristled, biting down on her lip. But before she could draw blood, she slowly relaxed, as though the threads supporting her had finally broken. She covered her face in her hands. “…I’m sorry, Father. I can’t do this anymore…” Her breath was ragged, her words broken and barely audible. She sounded as though she might start crying again. Duke Grantz nodded in silence. “I see…Very well. Thank you for telling me.” “…Yes. I should have relied on you more for support, Father. I thought I had to be independent if I was to be the next queen. I couldn’t rely on my parents…” “That’s good to keep in mind, Euphie. But sometimes, a wise noble needs to know when to call on the people around them.” “…Yes.” Miss Euphyllia gave him a short nod. The duke seemed relieved. He placed a hand on his daughter’s shoulder before continuing. “Euphie. I think you should let Princess Anisphia take you under her wing. But the choice is yours.” “Huh…?” “You will undoubtedly face a great deal of scrutiny after what’s happened. It isn’t hard to imagine how that might turn out.” As it was now, there would almost certainly be a commotion if Miss Euphyllia were to appear in public. At best, she would be the subject of questioning; at worst, of slander. This was a huge scandal, and the best option was to lie low. “…So why should I join Princess Anisphia?” Miss Euphyllia asked, her face weary. Duke Grantz pressed his lips together. He glanced my way for a second before continuing, “You’re probably aware that Princess Anisphia lives in a villa on the grounds of the royal palace. It’s much less conspicuous than the main residence. Most of all, it’s located within the palace confines. If something were to happen, I would be able to come to your aid at once, and it should serve as a suitable retreat. Then, of course, there is also the princess’s proposal. I don’t think it’s such a bad idea.” “Father…” “You’ve worked hard and done your best. You need time to be not the daughter of a duke or future queen, but to be yourself. Princess Anisphia isn’t looking for your title here.” “Well, I guess that’s true…” I wanted Miss Euphyllia because of her personal qualities. Duke Grantz must have heard me muttering to myself, as he nodded for her. Right now, he was a father who only wanted what was best for his daughter. “Take some time to think about what you want to do with your life, Euphie.” “But won’t that cause issues for the family…?” “I won’t let something like this affect me or our family. Will you trust me?” asked Duke Grantz, returning to his usual aristocratic countenance. Miss Euphyllia held her breath for a second before letting it out and nodding. “…Of course I do.” “In that case, what you do next depends on your own feelings… It would be wrong for me to ask to you to decide here and now.” Turning away from his daughter, the duke leveled his gaze at me. “In any event, we’re going to have to get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, I don’t want any unnecessary interference. So, Princess Anisphia, would you look after my daughter for a while? Euphie, you can spend this time thinking about whether to accept her offer.” “Of course! I’d be more than happy to!” I replied, filled with so much joy that I leaped into the air. Huzzah! My father, on the other hand, seemed to have another headache. “…Anis. Please don’t do anything reckless.” “You really are rude, Father!” I protested. “Not as rude as you!” he murmured, drooping his shoulders in exhaustion. Why did he have to act this way? Miss Euphyllia wasn’t about to reject her father’s advice, but she was staring at me somewhat anxiously. I smiled back at her, holding out my hand. “We might only have a short time together, Miss Euphyllia, but I’m pleased to have you.” “…Yes, Princess Anisphia.” “Just call me Anis. And can I call you Euphie?” “Huh? I—I don’t mind…” “Yay! Nice to meet you, Euphie!” I shook her hand up and down, beaming with joy. Euphie let out a chuckle, too, though her eyes seemed somewhat bewildered. I hoped that one day I would see her smile for real, from the bottom of her heart. “…Are you sure about this, Grantz?” I asked, shortly after Anis and Euphyllia took their leave. Grantz remained silent for a moment, staring at the door. “It’s for the best. After the annulment of her engagement, Euphie won’t be able to appear in public for a while.” “Do you really think this is for the best? My Anis? Are you really sure about this?” “Is your daughter so unreliable?” Yes, I almost said, before clamping my mouth shut. In fact, Anis’s novel ideas were often a great help to me, too. In spite of her unconventional approach, in spite of her flaws, she did have her redeeming qualities. Given her usual behavior, however, I wasn’t comfortable admitting that. I noticed the tension in my forehead and tried to relax, letting out a deep sigh as I rubbed my eyebrows. “This is a good precaution, too, in the unlikely event that someone tries to attack Euphie.” “Grantz?!” “It’s a possibility. So it makes sense to have her stay close to Princess Anisphia.” “What are you saying?” For a moment, I stared back in alarm, unable to even gauge what he was hinting at. Grantz stared back at me, our gazes meeting. “Depending on what happens next, Prince Algard may have to step down.” “…Surely not?” I murmured. It wasn’t difficult to imagine what my friend was thinking. But it seemed like such an outlandish suggestion that I had to deny it. Despite my astonishment, Grantz’s gaze remained as firm as ever, his eyes glinting with a determined light. His resolution was firm. “I will take action myself if necessary, Orphans. Even if Princess Anisphia refuses,” he declared clearly. Finally able to respond, I gave him a bitter grimace. If what he was imagining did come to pass, just how would my rascal daughter react? It was easy enough to envision. “…She’ll cry. And resist.” “That’s why we should begin to lure her now. To slide the collar around her neck, so to speak.” “Treat her like a beast, you mean?” “Or a creature of legend, perhaps.” “What’s the difference?” She was still a princess, but I had to agree with Grantz. After some more stiff discussion with my good friend, I finally relaxed. This was a troublesome matter that had been brought to my attention, and I couldn’t afford to leave it unresolved. Depending on the outcome, Grantz’s expectations for the future could well become reality. It wasn’t difficult to imagine Anis accepting such a turn of events. Changing the order of succession, forcing her brother to step down—what would that mean for her? Just thinking about it darkened my mood once again. Grantz must have been able to guess what I was thinking. Nonetheless, he seemed amused. “It would be a sight to see, though—Princess Anisphia ruling as queen regnant.”
Chapter 3
42 min read