“…Why not?” “Because you don’t strike me as the kind of person who knows how to do any of those!” I declared, turning back to her. I startled when I saw how shocked she was. Only then, seeing her reaction, could I bring myself to relax. “I’ve been watching you from afar, more than you know.” “…You have?” “Yes. You’re always so perfect. Smiling like a role model to everyone—and completely expressionless when emotion isn’t called for. You’re the perfect young noblewoman! Maybe that’s why…when I found you there…I couldn’t just ignore what was going on…” “…I’m confused. Do you mean when you crashed into the party venue?” “I mean, you weren’t picture-perfect then. Or now. You’ve been crying and getting angry. You may be able to suppress your emotions, but I’m sure it’s difficult for you.” Euphie was perfect. As our next queen, as the daughter of a duke, she was flawless. Her refined mannerisms, her quality education, her abundant talent. She was, by every measure, everything she ought to be. But what if that perfection was wounded? What if it lost its meaning? What would she think of herself, then? What would she have left? Her talent, her spirit, the depth of the effort that she poured into everything would still be there. But if she was to lose sight of the goal she had worked so hard to achieve, what would she do next? “So what I’m saying is that you need to do your best to feel those emotions for yourself. Do what you want. Because when I see you, it looks to me like you aren’t able to do that. So I couldn’t just ignore you.” “…That’s your reason?” “There’s more to it, sure. I acted partly on instinct, partly by design. But most of all, I wanted to help you work out what you really, really want. That’s the most important reason.” I reached under the covers and touched Euphie’s hand. She pulled back slightly at first but then relaxed. And so I pulled her to me in a warm embrace, let her bury her face in my chest, and patted her on the back. “You did your best. So now it’s time to get some rest.” “…” With her face pressed against me, I couldn’t read her expression. But I did notice she was weakly holding on to my clothes. She didn’t try to push me away. I closed my eyes with my arms still around her. The trembling in her body gradually faded, and she drifted off to sleep. Only when I was sure she was slumbering did I allow myself to doze off, too. The day after Euphie arrived at the detached palace, I was preparing to visit Duke Magenta. Euphie had returned home ahead of me. After all, she had to change her clothes and get ready to move in with me properly, so she had arranged to be picked up in the morning while there were still few people out and about. “Your Highness, please pay attention to your attire. You wouldn’t want to offend the duke.” “Yes, yes. I know.” Ilia gave me a deep bow, then led me to my closet. I could only give an exaggerated sigh as she advised me on formal dress. “I’ve been entrusted with Duke Magenta’s beloved daughter, and there’s the whole issue with Allie, too, so I’m willing to at least try to play along with expectations.” “Ah…! I can hardly believe that our wild, uncontrollable Princess Anisphia is being so docile for once…! I could die tomorrow fulfilled…!” Ilia exclaimed like an actress in an opera. “You are so melodramatic.” With that, she quickly returned to her usual stoic, expressionless demeanor. “That being said, perhaps you should take a bath first?” What was with those dramatic shifts in personality…? “We’ll choose a dress for you after you’ve bathed, and see to your makeup, too. Ah, and then—” “You do come alive whenever you get to dress me up, don’t you, Ilia?” To be clear, I wasn’t a fan of all this fancy dress. I only ever put myself through this when there was a social gathering that simply couldn’t be avoided. Maybe I hated the extravagant clothing because of the association with those formal events? Ilia nodded across at me, her expression still unreadable. “Let’s use some flowers. People adore flowers. You used to, too.” “…Yes, yes, I know. Let’s just get this over with.” I didn’t have enough energy to argue with her, so I nodded back with a forced smile. And before I knew it, I was transformed into the image of a lovable young lady. I would have resisted in the past, but now I knew there was no point, so I let Ilia do what she had to. When I glanced at myself in the mirror, my face was so heavily painted that I hardly even recognized myself. Ilia’s enthusiasm was incredible, truly—similar, perhaps, to my passion for magic. Looking at it that way, I found I could endure the hardship of having to make myself look pretty. All of a sudden, I laid eyes on Ilia in the mirror. She might have been approaching her thirties, but her skin still had a youthful luster. She didn’t seem at all old. In fact, she had hardly changed from my earliest memories of her. On the contrary, her beauty seemed to have become only more refined with time. She was both a blessing to the eyes and one of those rare individuals I could easily get along with. I was truly fortunate to have her as my personal maid. “You’re beautiful, Ilia,” I said. “You tease. It’s only because you gave me an invention to maintain my looks.” “I mean it. I’ve thought so since I was a child. That’s why I worked so hard to create it.” “Ah, that brings back memories. I remember when you started bolting through the castle one day all of a sudden.” “Oh… Do you mean when you caught me and held me from behind?” “Yes. That’s when it all started. You started building your magical devices after that and managed to injure yourself more times than I can count. You would come back covered in cuts and bruises.” Ilia’s voice was fond as she tied my hair back. She was referring to my past blunders—shared memories between the two of us. At the time, I had just rediscovered my memories of my past life, and I had been so excited to know that the power of magic really did exist in this world. But then, of course, I had to face the fact that I couldn’t use that magic myself. And then I had set about building my magical devices. Ilia had always been there for me. What would have become of me without her? I couldn’t help but wonder. I quickly realized, however, that I was dwelling on those thoughts perhaps too much and pouted my lips. “It’s true that there were many failures, but there can be no success without making mistakes.” “In that case, my failure was that I didn’t leave you.” In the mirror, Ilia’s mouth was unusually relaxed, almost a smile. My eyes opened wide. It was a rare sight, this maid showing any sign of emotion. “…And what kind of success did that bring you, Ilia?” “This moment now.” I was so embarrassed that I had to murmur, “…You’re exaggerating again.” That wasn’t something to say so proudly. Nonetheless, Ilia began to giggle, even letting out a laugh. I puffed my cheeks in frustration. “You have strange tastes, Ilia.” “Are you one to speak?” she asked, her smile widening. She had been with me for more than a decade, but her appearance hadn’t changed at all from how I remembered it. Even after all these years, she was still the same Ilia. I couldn’t exactly say it aloud, but I was grateful to have her with me. I thought of her like an elder sister, though she would likely be overwhelmed if I told her that. Of course, she wasn’t really my sister. Maybe more of a partner or a friend? While I was musing about our relationship, Ilia had stopped tying my hair and begun to curl it around her finger playfully. She would often play with my unruly hair like this. “…What is it?” “Oh, I just thought how nice it is to be here. So marriage isn’t the only path to happiness that a woman can choose.” “Ah… Right, about that…” I was at a temporary loss for words. Ilia continued to stoke my head, letting my hair fall from her fingers. “Don’t fret. My family name carries little weight, and I was also a pawn in a political marriage. It’s no exaggeration to say that I am now, in a sense, married to you, Your Highness. Thanks to you, I have a good life,” she said proudly, as though fully satisfied. I, on the other hand, found my expression turning sour as I recalled her family. Ilia was the daughter of a viscount. Her parents were particularly power hungry and had sought a marriage for her that could increase their social standing. Sending her to work as an attendant at the royal palace had been part of those plans. No doubt they had hoped she might catch the eye of an heir to a house of means—if possible, an influential member of the nobility. And those shallow intentions had led her here. That was when I first met her. Her parents had been frustrated that she had yet to find a partner, so when I heard they were trying to force her into an unwanted engagement, I went to great lengths to keep her with me. And so, after many twists and turns, we arrived at where we were now. I had taken advantage of the situation to involve her in my magicology research, though I couldn’t say whether that had been for the best. At first, Ilia’s family had welcomed my offer to take her into my employ. But after I relinquished my claim to the throne, they withdrew their good graces. I wasn’t particularly fond of them, so as far as I was concerned, that wasn’t a great loss. Looking back on it all made me feel rather awkward. Ilia said she didn’t mind, as she had always had a somewhat frigid relationship with her family. That was why she had stopped using her family name. She said she had practically been disowned, so I tried my best not to bring up the subject. To me, she was simply Ilia. It didn’t matter who her family was. I brought her here because I liked her for who she was. If that brought her happiness, all the better. “Life is going to get even more exciting, Ilia. You’ll stay with me, won’t you?” “As you wish, Your Highness. Although I won’t hesitate to throttle you if need be.” I broke into laughter at her response. She was the reason I was here today. I couldn’t thank her enough. “Heh-heh, a perfect princess disguise… Thank you, Ilia!” “What are you saying? You are a princess,” she said, making a joke to hide her embarrassment. We engaged in some more light conversation as I completed my preparations, before boarding a carriage to take us to Duke Magenta’s residence in true princess style. Ilia sat across from me as my escort. It was difficult to relax; I missed my usual knight-inspired clothes. The dukes of the House of Magenta belonged to an ancient lineage. They had a long history of a direct relationship to the royal family, although diluted by the ages. The dukes of Magenta were among the most venerated members of the nobility and had served the kings of Palettia as loyal vassals for generations. I had heard that Duke Grantz was a childhood friend of my father’s, and the two had spent much time together during their youth. Through this connection, I had even gone to play at the Magenta estate several times as a child. This had all been before Allie and I had become estranged. Ever since our social positions had become more firmly established, we had grown somewhat distant from the Magentas. To be honest, I was a little reluctant to return there. I might have been dressed like royalty, but I wanted to tear all the finery off of me. Yet that wasn’t an option where we were headed. I steeled my nerves, trying to convince myself that this was my first official visit. That was when the gates to the Magenta estate came into view. “Here we go, Ilia.” “Indeed, Your Highness.” As I stepped down from the carriage with Ilia attending to me, a line of maids led by an old butler bowed their heads in unison, each with perfect elegance and refinement. “Welcome, Princess Anisphia.” “Thank you. I’m impressed. The Magentas are certainly worthy of their reputation.” “Your presence is a great honor, Your Highness. The duke is waiting for you inside. This way, please.” I was visiting as a princess today, so I reminded myself to behave appropriately. I could already feel my smile freezing somewhat, but as my visit was partly supposed to serve as an apology from the royal family, I would have to put up with it. I was a princess today—a princess. With the greetings out of the way, the butler led me into the duke’s mansion. As we passed through door after door, I was taken by the building’s grandeur. It was certainly worthy of a family with such a long and distinguished history. We were led into a drawing room, where we found Euphie, Duke Grantz, and a peaceful-looking woman waiting for us. The woman was Duchess Nerschell Magenta, the wife of Duke Grantz and Euphie’s mother. Her silver-colored hair was done up in a large bun—undone, it would probably spill all the way down her back. Duchess Nerschell exuded the sort of beauty that comes with age. Her eyes were pale green, reflecting a strong core. The strength of her gaze was one of her most renowned characteristics. Euphie took after her father, yet I had to recognize that she had the inner strength of both parents. Incidentally, Euphie was supposed to have a younger brother. Did he resemble his mother, perhaps? It had been a long time since I had last seen Duchess Nerschell, so I found myself staring at her. At that moment, our eyes met. I would have to greet her so as not to be rude. “Good morning, Miss Euphyllia, Duke Grantz. It’s been a long time, Duchess Nerschell. It’s a great pleasure to see you again,” I said with a bow. “Not at all,” Duke Grantz said, stepping forward to welcome me in turn. “It’s an honor to have you visit us, Princess Anisphia.” I glanced up, shaking my head. “I’m the one asking for Miss Euphyllia to join me. If anything, I should be offering my thanks. Above all, I want to apologize for my brother. This is an official apology on behalf of the royal family, but on a personal level, I also want to express my own regrets.” I bowed my head again to give my condolences. “Please raise your head, Princess Anisphia,” the duke said. “You were looking out for our dear Euphie,” the duchess added. “After all you’ve done for her, we couldn’t possibly expect you to apologize.” I looked up and sat down as they ushered me to a seat. Ilia stood behind me, while the duke, the duchess, and their daughter sat immediately across. “I haven’t seen you in so long, Duchess Nerschell. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.” “Yes, the same goes for you, too, Princess Anisphia. How long has it been since you last visited us?” The duchess covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a cheerful chuckle. Her eyes were so compassionate that I found myself swaying restlessly. I was too used to people being cruel and hard-hearted, not this level of kindness. “I remember coming here as a child… But I had to maintain a certain distance after Miss Euphyllia’s engagement to my brother was decided.” “Yes. I’d hoped it wasn’t true, but it seems the arrangement with Prince Algard hasn’t turned out. If anything, it would be more constructive to dismiss this outcome as inevitable now that everything has come to light.” Duchess Nerschell was still wearing a smile, but I could feel the force of the pressure behind her words. Duke Grantz’s countenance was intimidating by its unreadability, but the duchess’s smile was an aggressive one. Seeing these two, I could understand why some people said Miss Euphyllia was stern at times. It most certainly ran in her blood. At that moment, my gaze met Duchess Nerschell’s. She flashed me an amiable smile, but I felt a thrill of tension from it. “My husband and Euphie have already told me about your proposal,” the duchess said, as though to change the topic. “If that is what Euphie wants, I will be happy to let her join you.” I breathed a small sigh of relief and forced myself to sit up straight to clear my mind. This was going to be an important discussion, so I had to keep it together. “I’m honored to hear that you’ve agreed to it. As a member of the royal family who knows what it’s like to lose the respect of those around her, I would like to help redeem Miss Euphyllia’s honor after this unfortunate event. I will assume full responsibility for your daughter and take good care of her. This I swear on the name of the royal house,” I declared, staring straight at the three Magentas. At this, Euphie seemed to have a strange cast to her eyes, while Duchess Nerschell’s shoulders were trembling unusually. Duke Grantz, likewise aware of their reactions, shrugged. “You’re acting rather proper today, Princess Anisphia. I almost found myself laughing there when you swore that oath on the name of your family.” “D-Duke Grantz?!” It had seemed totally out of character to me as well, but did he have to say that aloud?! I was trying my best here to act like a proper princess! Even Ilia let out a sigh behind my back! No, I wasn’t doing anything wrong. Huh? Out of the ordinary? Well, maybe for me, I was… “Ugh, Duke Grantz… I’m trying to treat the situation with the dignity it deserves!” “Do forgive us. I never dreamed to see you conduct yourself so respectably,” the duke responded with another shrug and a faint grin. Something about his reply struck me as vaguely mischievous. Ugh, to think that the duke would tease me so… “Your sincerity is clear. Please take good care of Euphie for us.” “Yes! I’ll love her dearly!” I answered with a cheerful smile, bowing my head once more. Yes! If Euphie decided to join me, I would be able to push on with my research! Hee-hee-hee! After all, I needed the cooperation of a capable magic user to make my inventions. I might have possessed such magic myself, but I was incapable of properly using it. That had been a major impediment thus far, hence why I had set about creating my magical devices. And now Euphie, a prodigious talent, would become my research assistant! The future of my work was bright! I had let my excitement carry me away a little when I suddenly remembered. What would Euphie do about her studies at the Aristocratic Academy? After all that commotion the other day, I doubted she could just go back. “By the way, Duke Grantz… How will Euphie be treated from now on? Such as at the Aristocratic Academy…?” “We’ve yet to discuss how to deal with all this or her future position for that matter… But I think it is best for her not to return for the time being.” “Right. I thought so, too.” “I will have to discuss the details with His Majesty, but I’ll let you know once it’s all decided.” “I’ll be waiting. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” “Very well… In that case, please be at ease, Princess Anisphia.” “…That’s rather mean, Duke Grantz. I’m trying to help here, you know?” He did seem to be trying to be considerate to me, but did he think me incapable of behaving myself like a modest princess? Well, maybe that was beyond me. But if he wanted me to take it easy, I most certainly would! I adjusted my posture to get comfortable, when Euphie and Duchess Nerschell suddenly started giggling. Hmph! Everyone knew I was a no-good princess anyway! “Thank you for looking after our Euphie, Princess Anisphia,” Duchess Nerschell said. “Of course! Actually, I’ll be asking a lot from her, so thank you!” “Oh dear. Well then, I had better help pack her things. Euphie? Let’s go.” “Yes, Mother. Excuse me, Lady Anis.” Euphie and Duchess Nerschell curtsied before leaving the parlor to prepare for the move. As I watched them go, Duke Grantz called out to me: “Thank you again, Princess Anisphia.” “There’s no need for that, Duke Grantz. I’m grateful to have Euphie assisting me.” The duke wavered slightly at this response, although his gaze remained piercing, enough to send a chill down my spine. It was like he was trying to see deep inside me. “…I didn’t think you had a good impression of me,” the duke said. “Huh? Why wouldn’t I?” I tilted my head to one side at this unexpected declaration. Had he really thought that? But why? Duke Grantz was, in a way, my father’s right-hand man. He wielded a great deal of political power, but more importantly, he was my father’s friend, his confidant, and an important ally. I had no reason to think negatively of him. I tilted my head to the other side in bewilderment. At that moment, the duke burst into laughter. All I could do was stare back at him wide-eyed. “You haven’t changed at all, Princess Anisphia.” “Oh…? Is that so?” “Indeed. Since you announced you had no intention of marrying, you’ve been meeting nothing but success in your accomplishments. His Majesty hasn’t known what to do with you for a long time now. I’ve seen that firsthand.” The duke’s voice was filled with nostalgia as he lay bare emotions that he normally kept hidden. I, on the other hand, was simply confused. Why would he reveal this side of himself to me of all people, instead of his own daughter? “Are you certain you didn’t have such a great impression of me?” “Ah. I wonder,” Duke Grantz demurred with a bold grin. In the end, I had no idea what he was thinking. I frowned back at him, not fully satisfied by his response. “You’re fine as you are, Princess Anisphia. Please take good care of Euphie.” “Ah…” No, I wasn’t at all satisfied, but at least he didn’t seem to think too poorly of me now. I decided not to press any further. “In that case, I’ll leave you to it. Please excuse me. I have some business I must attend to.” “Oh, of course. Thank you for taking the time to see me.” Right. The duke was a busy man and didn’t have a lot of free time. He was probably needed elsewhere, especially given the situation with Allie. The duke gave me a formal bow, leaving me alone with Ilia. I relaxed my shoulders and let out a sigh, when Ilia turned her attention to me. “You’re making too many mistakes, Your Highness. You should at least wait until we’ve returned to the palace before you let down your guard.” “Right, right. You’re always finding fault, Ilia.” “I’m honored you think so.” I hadn’t meant that as a compliment… But I did feel a little more comfortable after this exchange. A butler in the employ of the House of Magenta brought us a pot of tea as we waited. Ilia busied herself asking the butler about tea, then about Euphie. Given that she was the only attendant at my palace, she would be responsible for taking care of Euphie, so she no doubt had many things she wanted to confirm. I could look after myself, but Euphie might require more attention. I had nothing to do, so I simply listened into the pair’s conversation as I waited. “Thank you for your patience, Lady Anis,” Euphie called out when she returned. “Are you ready?” “Yes. I don’t have many belongings to begin with…,” she said with a soft smile, though her brow was furrowed in a frown. Was something bothering her, perhaps? I found myself turning toward Duchess Nerschell, who let out a troubled chuckle. Huh? What was going on? “Did something happen?” “…I had a small quarrel with my little brother.” “Oh? About what?” Euphie’s brother hadn’t joined us, so I had no idea why the two of them might be arguing. Euphie, seeing that I didn’t understand, flashed me a forced smile. “I’m sorry, Lady Anis. It’s a family matter…” She often seemed to be wearing this expression lately, as though she was having difficulty knowing what to do with her face. What had happened while she was packing? I glanced toward Duchess Nerschell, but she merely cleared her throat and returned my gaze. “My son doesn’t like being apart from his elder sister. He wasn’t very happy about her going to join you at the palace, so he put up a bit of a fight…” “Ah… I see…” I was in a completely different position from Allie, but it made sense that Euphie’s brother would be worried about her safety there. But she would be much safer with me than she would be staying here, from what I could see. She wouldn’t be staying at the royal palace, either, but rather at my villa. She would have little cause to come into contact with strangers. That was no doubt why Duke Grantz had given his approval. But maybe it was a little much to ask Euphie’s younger brother to understand. Yes, it was a difficult situation… “He’s still rather immature, which is why I didn’t ask him to join us. I’m sorry to worry you, Princess Anisphia.” “Not at all. This is the royal family’s responsibility, too. We caused this problem in the first place.” I couldn’t say I didn’t understand how Euphie’s brother must have felt. My family was the underlying cause of this mess, after all. Perhaps having read my thoughts, Duchess Nerschell shook her head. Her expression tightened as she addressed me in a slightly aggrieved voice. “This is a good opportunity for my son, too, so he can learn to spend time apart from his sister. I’m sorry if this seems somewhat feckless, but I’m truly grateful to you for taking her in.” “It’s fine! Please raise your head, Duchess Nerschell! Don’t worry, please! This benefits me, too, really!” The duchess was bowing so deeply that I nearly panicked. I was just acting according to my own whims, so all this pomp wasn’t necessary. “Don’t worry. Euphie and I will achieve great things, and she’ll be able to reenter high society again before you know it! That way, we’ll be able to restore her honor. I’m sure her brother will appreciate that, too.” “Oh, my daughter is truly fortunate to have you, Princess Anisphia…” “Mother…,” Euphie murmured, softening. With that, the atmosphere in the room relaxed. Duchess Nerschell flashed her daughter a smile before grasping her hands in her own. “Euphie. No matter how far away you are, I wish you happiness. Your father and I share responsibility for this state of affairs, as we raised you thinking only to prepare you to be our future queen. Please don’t worry about us. Just look after yourself.” Her gentle voice was filled with strong affection. Ilia and I watched on as Euphie gave her mother a short nod. And so we set off in our carriage back to the detached palace, Euphyllia staring outside the window until her family home disappeared out of sight.
Chapter 6
24 min read