Edouard said it in such a ceremonious manner that Sara, who couldn’t totally wrap her head around how formal to be in the presence of the king, sat up straighter and bowed alongside Richard.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Sara replied.
“Thank you,” said Richard.
“Don’t mention it… It’s sort of weird, isn’t it? I’m the whole reason you two got married, even though it was to keep Saleilles in check.”
Edouard crossed his arms and laughed a little awkwardly. Sara looked up at him and slowly shook her head.
“I don’t see it that way. I came to Ferrier fully aware that I would be taking responsibility for my father’s decision to cause so much bloodshed and that I would devote myself to building a relationship with Ferrier based on mutual trust. And you have allowed me to live in the royal villa without any discomfort or inconvenience. I am deeply appreciative for your thoughtfulness, Your Majesty.”
A perverse urge to laugh crept up Sara’s throat as she uttered such barefaced lies. The “father” who had started that pointless war was not Sara’s father, and the king of Saleilles had betrayed Ferrier by sending Sara in his daughter’s place to protect her.
If the truth got out, Sara would certainly be executed.
And if that happened, so many innocent people would get caught up in a retaliation much worse than when Saleilles had lost the war…
Whether or not Edouard knew the dark thoughts that plagued Sara’s mind, he nodded as if her response hadn’t surprise him.
“You’re very welcome. However…just because you came here doesn’t mean that war has been totally washed away. We may have driven out the Saleilles army with our elite mutants, but we, too, suffered casualties. People died. It was Saleilles that started the war by objecting to my ascension as king—and that can never be forgotten.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Of course, I know that as a sheltered princess, you were not involved in your kingdom’s politics. I also know that your older brother had been relegated to some backwoods region. The king and his prime minister were the ones responsible for sending troops to march on Ferrier. However, given that you are a hostage here, I’ll have to keep an eye on yo— Okay, hold on now, Richard. Could you stop looking at me like you want to kill me?”
“If you already know all that, then stop tormenting my wife,” Richard growled.
Sara, who had resigned herself to accepting the king’s speech, turned to her husband in surprise. She had assumed he had just been listening to his brother quietly, but displeasure was written all over his face. Richard channeled his irritation by drumming his fingertips against his knee. His words finally clicked in Sara’s head.
Did the prince…get angry on my behalf…?
Sara didn’t even realize she was staring at him until Richard, noticing her gaze, turned toward her. When their eyes met, his lips turned downward and he cleared his throat, embarrassed.
“…My wife fully understands her responsibilities and attends to me with the utmost sincerity. And I… At first, I thought she was being forced into doing troublesome tasks, but…she’s a very good wife. No matter how much of a say you had in orchestrating this marriage, Edouard, I won’t let you carry on with these senseless verbal attacks.”
“Your Highness…” Sara said emotionally.
“I’m sorry… If you ignore this side of him, he’s really a very good brother,” Richard said to her.
“It’s fine. As the king of Ferrier, it’s only natural for him to feel wary toward me. I’m okay, Your Highness.” Sara reached out to touch Richard’s left arm as she spoke, vaguely wondering if he would let her.
His upper arm was hard, tensed in frustration at his younger brother. But as soon as Sara’s hand made contact with him, his arm suddenly relaxed and the hard line between his eyebrows became a faint impression.
“You’re very brave…,” Richard said softly to Sara. “But you needn’t force yourself in my presence.” Then he turned toward his brother. “My wife may forgive you, but don’t get too cocky.”
“You got it. Haha! It’s been a while since you’ve lectured me, huh? Are you that attached to your wife?”
“Edouard…”
“All right, all right… Well, as long as you two are doing well, that’s enough for me.” Then the king looked at Sara and pointed behind himself with a thumb. “I just wanted to get introductions out of the way today, but I have something I’d like to talk to my brother about, so would you mind giving us a moment alone, dear sister?”
“Of course.”
Richard so rarely came to the main castle, after all, so surely there was business they had to discuss.
“Thanks. You can go relax in the next room over while you’re waiting. I’ll call for you when we’re finished,” Edouard said.
“All right.”
At Daniel’s prompting, who had been waiting at the back of the room, Sara stood—and she suddenly felt eyes on her. She turned and saw Richard staring at her. It might have been her imagination, but…she could have sworn she sensed sadness in his gaze.
It almost looked like he was pouting that she had to leave him.
Adorable.
The word had popped into her head before she knew it.
Sara chuckled and put a hand on Richard’s shoulder.
“I’ll just be gone for a little bit. Take your time talking with your brother, okay?”
“…Sure.”
His voice sounded morose, but his expression softened somewhat, which put Sara’s mind at ease.
Maybe he is concerned about me, after all…
If that were true, Sara would be thrilled.
✦ ✦ ✦
🐺🐺🐺
EDOUARD watched the princess’s long, blonde hair sway as she and Daniel left the room. When he turned back, he saw that his half brother was still watching the door wistfully. Edouard tried to stifle his laugh but was unsuccessful.
“…What?”
“I’m glad! I never thought you’d be so attached to your wife.”
“…I told you not to joke around,” Richard grumbled irritably.
But this was the two brothers’ own way of communicating. Ever since they had understood their respective domains, they simply tried to treat each other as family.
These moments were precious for both of them. Edouard, who had been crowned king at age fifteen, could let his guard down and lean on another person, and Richard, who didn’t trust others, could express his feelings honestly with someone else.
Suddenly, Edouard’s smile vanished, and he lowered his voice so that the princess in the next room would not be able to overhear.
“Brother… You haven’t told Hermine, have you?”
Richard’s face tensed again. He nodded stiffly. “Right. I haven’t told her… And I don’t plan to.”
“Okay.”
“…But she has a sharp nose, and she’s very perceptive,” he added.
“A sharp nose…? Hermine’s not a dog!” said Edouard, laughing in surprise, but the nervousness didn’t vanish from his eyes. “But she doesn’t seem terribly prejudiced against abilities, so she might be surprised to know the truth about you, but she wouldn’t hate you, just as she doesn’t hate the others. In reality, you’ve helped us countless times with your power. Everyone should be able to understand that… And you still want to hide it?”
“Yes,” Richard grumbled. “I don’t want to get hurt, or hurt anyone else…”
Edouard’s face sank sadly.
“I see. I know I’ve teased you about it a lot, but Hermine really does mean a lot to you, doesn’t she?”
“I never thought she’d be so friendly and cheerful. I want to confide in her, but telling her might make her leave… So I can’t.”
“Right. I can respect that. I think doing what you want to do is the best course.” Edouard smiled, looking at his half brother with eyes full of affection. “Both Mother and I are very grateful for you. For all the official business you help out with every day, of course…but for what you did fifteen years ago, too.”
“……”
“If you really like Hermine and want to preserve the delicate relationship you have with her now, I’ll respect your feelings. If you want to live happily together with her, I will create a world where you can do that.”
“Edouard… I appreciate that, but you are the king. Don’t forget your responsibilities, not that I think you ever would. And if there’s anything I can do to help you, I will.”
Edouard smiled at Richard’s mildly preaching tone.
Edouard wanted to repay his debt to his brother, but all Richard wanted was to help him.
They may have had different mothers, but the two brothers were probably more similar than met the eye.
“Thank you, Richard. I won’t let my guard down with Saleilles, but you be careful, too. With Hermine as well, of course.”
Richard gave him a questioning look, but Edouard just gave him a cryptic smile in return.