“THE Duke Jordan issue I’ve been telling you about is approaching its final stages. This weekend, I will be going to my family’s manor to draw the duke out. What would you like to do, Sophia? I’ll respect whatever decision you make.”
We were in Prince Eric’s salon. He had his usual smile as he explained the situation to me.
“Prince Eric. As your fiancée, I wish to accompany you,” I answered.
I felt that I understood what he had in mind. Duke Jordan was the last major player in the anti-royalist faction of Ronaudia. With him eliminated, the faction would completely lose its power. This would make the royals’ position more stable, and Prince Eric would receive credit for his accomplishments, meaning he would be sure to become the next king.
As the first prince, there was already a high probability he’d become king even if he didn’t do anything, but he had his eyes set beyond that, and he was already arranging his pieces on the board. That was the sort of person he was. I was very aware of exactly how incredible he was. That’s why I needed to become someone suitable for him, someone he would accept.
“I thought you might say that,” he replied. “You try very hard to carry out your duties. And I mean this in a good way when I say you’ve changed since you started at the Academy. You’ve always been diligent and kind, but now you’re stronger than before.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
It made me happy to know he acknowledged what I’d become, although I knew I still wasn’t nearly strong enough.
“I think more highly of you than you think I do, Sophia. You’re talented and hard working.”
“I appreciate that, Your Highness, but I understand more than anyone how lacking I am in strength.”
“That’s another good thing about you, that you’re able to view yourself objectively.” He smiled the sort of charming smile that captured girls’ hearts. “If possible, I would like it if we could be a little more like friends when interacting with each other. But that’s difficult, isn’t it? You’re trying to fulfill your duty as the fiancée of the first prince of the kingdom. Oh, I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s the same for me.”
But I knew that charming smile was a mask. He’d always treated me the same way; it never changed.
Our relationship was nothing more than a political engagement. I knew he wasn’t a bad person, and I respected him, but there were no emotional ties between us. Because what he wanted most was to have no relationship with anyone.
I was five and in the palace when I first met him. Ever since then, for some reason, I understood that he didn’t want any emotional interaction with me. At first, I thought he wasn’t engaging with me because I wasn’t worthy of him, but I knew now that that’s simply the relationship he wanted with everyone.
“I understand, Your Highness.”
That’s why I didn’t ask him for an emotional connection. I would continue to work hard in order to fulfill my duties as his fiancée.
“It really helps that you’re so quick to understand. Thank you for your continued support. Although…” He still had that smile as he continued. “You don’t need to tie yourself to me in order to restore House Victorino to greatness. As I said earlier, I think more of you than you think I do.”
“What do you mean, Your Highness?”
“Don’t try to find any deep meaning in it. I simply mean that you don’t need to worry about me so much. You can do what you want. For example, if you wanted to be closer to Arius, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Your Highness…”
Arius’s name came out of nowhere, and I didn’t know how to react to what Prince Eric said.
“Sophia, I mean what I’m saying. Just as you understand me, I understand that you are trying to fulfill your role as my fiancée with sincerity. I will never doubt that part, no matter how close you become with Arius. I have no intentions of chaining every part of you, including your heart.”
I did understand what he was trying to say.
“I understand how generous you are being, Your Highness, but I am dedicating everything to my role. And he’s not interested.”
The reason I only said “he” was that I didn’t want to voice his name. I didn’t wish for Arius to get dragged into my issues. Besides, Arius only thought of me as a friend.
“Maybe not now,” Prince Eric said. “But no one knows the future.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“HEY, Sophia…”
“What is it, Milia?”
“…Nothing. Never mind.”
Sophia was as beautiful and lovable as always today, but something was different. I knew what she was trying to hide from me, so I didn’t ask. It made me sad that she would keep things from me, but she was doing it for me. She was that sort of person.
She wasn’t the only one acting differently. When I saw Prince Zeke in the classroom, he looked like something was bothering him, like his mind was somewhere else. Prince Zeke was easy to read, unlike Sophia. When I thought about what Prince Zeke and Sophia had in common…the answer was obvious.
“Hey, Prince Zeke. Did Prince Eric say something to you?” I asked.
“He hasn’t said anything to me…”
“I’m worried about Sophia. Is she involved in what you’re worried about?”
“Well…”
He quickly explained when I pushed him with questions. I felt bad because it was like I was taking advantage of the fact that he was a good person.
That day at lunch, I saw Arius in the cafeteria.
“Arius, can we talk for a minute?”
We went out into the courtyard, where it was empty since students didn’t eat outside.
“Arius, are you going to the royal manor with Prince Eric to draw Duke Jordan out?”
“How do you know about that?” Arius asked. He didn’t sound upset, just surprised.
“Prince Zeke told me. But don’t blame him. I forced it out of him.”
“Right. I see.”
That seemed enough for him. Arius knew that Prince Zeke couldn’t lie to me when I pushed him.
“Arius, is Sophia going too? She’s not telling me about it because it’s dangerous, right? Because you’ll end up having to kill people. It’s that sort of thing, isn’t it?”
“You’re insightful, Milia. You’ve basically got it right.”
It would’ve been easy for him to lie, but he told me the truth.
“Arius, I know I’m being demanding by asking this, but will you take me too? Reincarnating in this world, meeting everyone… I want to be with all of you. I want to be there for everyone.”
“That’s the reason you want to be stronger. I understand how you feel, but, personally, I’d like to keep you away from all the killing.”
He would say that because he’s kind.
“It does make me happy that you’d worry about me, but I don’t want to be the only one who’s somewhere safe.”
I knew I was putting him in a difficult position by pushing for what I wanted, but it was the honest truth.
“All right, Milia. I’ll protect you. Come with us.”
“Wait. Really?”
Even though I was the one who’d asked for it, I was still taken aback.
“Yeah. And I swear I’ll protect Sophia too,” he said like it was nothing.
“A-Arius… Thank you…”
There was no way that having him say stuff like that wasn’t going to make me feel things. But I knew he just thought of me as a friend. I couldn’t tell him how I felt.
“When the fighting starts, don’t leave my side,” he told me.
“Okay. Thank you, Arius. I’m counting on you.”
All I could do right now was express my gratitude. I knew he was just trying to make me happy, but I knew he’d manage to make it work.
Arius… I’m sorry for thinking this. I promise I’ll get stronger, but for now, I’m relying on you.