Was he aiming to replace Siraiya as our class’s top student?
From my point of view, being the crown prince already made him plenty special enough…
But that was when I remembered the crown prince’s route and his story in the game. His Royal Highness harbored an inferiority complex when it came to his genius fiancée. As their relationship deteriorated because of it, the heroine arrived to help comfort him, until the two eventually formed a romantic bond.
“Forgive my interruption,” I interjected, “but may I ask if your desire is to receive better grades than someone in particular, Your Royal Highness?”
It was rude of me to interrupt a conversation between those of higher rank, so I made sure to be polite and humble. The crown prince flinched in surprise, then grimaced awkwardly.
“Yes, well… It’s not like I want to get the better of her or anything. I just don’t want her thinking poorly of me if I don’t outperform her…”
“And this would be your fiancée, Lady Estellise Gridimore, correct?” I ventured.
“How did you know that…? I don’t recall telling anyone…”
I know because I played the game. But I couldn’t say that, so I simply smiled and said, “I’m told I’m quite clever.” I ignored the look on his face, which told me he was still confused, and continued with my explanation.
“I seem to recall that Lady Gridimore is another excellent student at our school, like Siraiya. But is it just me, or does Lady Gridimore seem to be a bit down these days? I have noticed she hangs her head a lot, too, like when the two of you are together.”
“That’s because… I’m so worthless. She’s lost all hope in me…”
“You’re mistaken, Your Royal Highness. Lady Gridimore has genuine feelings for you, so she wouldn’t care about something so trivial. I respectfully ask that you take a second look at her situation. I believe she’s been pushed to her limit,” I informed him.
“What do you mean by that? Is there something you know?”
“It wouldn’t be right to hear it from me. You should ask her yourself, and everything should start to resolve, should she choose to open up to you.”
“I don’t understand. What are you talking about…?”
It probably wasn’t very convincing coming from a viscount’s daughter. His Royal Highness stared at me with suspicion written all over his face. He leaves me no choice. In that case…
“If your situation fails to improve, then Siraiya will commit to helping you with your studies.”
“Cynthia?!” Siraiya called out to me in shock. But right now, I needed him to be on board with this temporary inconvenience.
Even if the plan did fail and Siraiya was forced to tutor the crown prince, that would become another honorable achievement in Siraiya’s life, allowing him to grow closer to the royal family. It wasn’t a bad outcome at all. Of course, I would help him however he needed as well.
“…All right. I’ll come back to you here in the library at this same time one week from now to tell you if I have confirmed what you said is true. Is that acceptable?”
“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” I answered without Siraiya’s permission. With that, the crown prince turned and strode out of the library.
“What’s going on, Cynthia? Do you have proof for anything you just said?”
“I apologize for involving you in this, Siraiya. You have the right to refuse, and if you can’t do it, then I’ll tell him it was my fault, not yours.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. You won’t just be able to call the whole thing off after everything you said to him, either.”
“It will be all right. His Royal Highness is very smart, and he understands that this wasn’t a formal agreement between you two, which is why he didn’t push for your personal consent. It was nothing more than a bit of humor exchanged between students in the school library. Of course, it would still be wrong to lie to a member of royalty, but at least the punishment will land on me and me alone.”
“Punishment?! I don’t want you to be punished! I’d gladly tutor anyone for your sake, Cynthia! I promise to get His Royal Highness the top grades in our class!” Siraiya came toward me, his voice raised. It was quite surprising, considering how he usually pulled away shyly whenever I closed the distance between us.
“Hehe! Thank you, Siraiya.” I beamed and muttered, “…I love how passionate yandere characters can be.”
I was never interested in yanderes in my past life, but I certainly didn’t hate Siraiya’s intensity when it was directed at me in this manner. In fact, I quite fancied it.
He’s just so adorable.
“…Yan…what? What did you say?”
“Oops, did I say that out loud?”
Was I starting to get careless around Siraiya? I needed to be more careful.
“It’s a word from a distant country. Yandere means someone who experiences love very deeply,” I explained.
“Is that right…? Well, I’m just glad you understand how I feel. But I want you to explain why you said all that to the crown prince. I’m just worried about you.”
“I know you’re my future fiancé, but I can’t tell you any of the details. All I can do is swear that I wouldn’t do anything to threaten our future together, not when it’s something I look forward to so earnestly.”
“…All right. I won’t force you to tell me. I’d rather have faith in you.”
“Thank you, Siraiya. …You’re just so adorable. May I kiss you on the cheek while no one’s watching?”
No one was nearby, but when I whispered that into his ear, Siraiya turned beet red and leaned away from me.
“I-i-it’s too soon!”
His adorable bashfulness was almost too much to bear. I wished the two of us could just hurry up and be engaged already.
✦ ✦ ✦
✶✶✶
HOWEVER, perhaps as punishment for making my dear Siraiya squirm, I was greeted by my parents when I returned home that day—both of them with grim expressions.
The Brookes had given them an answer. They wanted me to consider their second son for marriage instead.
According to them, it was wrong to arrange their third son’s marriage before his older brother was even engaged.
According to them, the second Brooke son had feelings for me, the only Rhuddlan daughter.
According to them, their third-born son was a petty thief with a terrible personality and was probably pulling the wool over my eyes somehow if I was interested in him.
According to them, their second-born son was a wonderful, gentlemanly sort that I was sure to love.
That was the gist of it. It was the last thing I ever wanted to hear. Duke Brooke wanted to pair me with his second son instead of Siraiya.
“How dare a father speak so poorly of a wonderful boy like him!”
“To think he treats his own flesh and blood that way…”
My parents expressed their own anger before I could even react. It was clear just how deeply Mother and Father both cared for Siraiya.
“I’ve never heard anything good about the elder sons of the Brooke family. Duchess Brooke sings their praises, but everyone else describes them as brutish types,” Mother said.
“I’ll never allow a boy like that to be my daughter’s groom. We’ll reject the offer without hesitation,” Father said. “Not even a duke can force an engagement on anyone he likes. However…”
Both of my parents’ faces fell at this point. I see. I know what they’re about to say. If they were struggling to get the words out, then I would do it for them.
“It would be too impolite to refuse a duke’s request outright. I’ll have to go and meet his second son face-to-face first.”
Mother came over and wrapped her arms around me. “That’s exactly right, Cynthia. You’ll have to meet with this man you don’t want at least once or twice.”
“I understand. Nobles have a duty not to embarrass those of higher rank. I’ll accept the duke’s request to meet with his son. But I’m still concerned that, once I reject him, Duke Brooke will be so offended that he refuses to allow my marriage to Siraiya.”
An unexpected dark cloud hung heavy over our heads that day.