Gillain brought the conversation back on track. “I first encountered Serephione when I studied abroad in your country. I feel extremely lucky to have met her. No other lady could be as lovely and talented as her.”
“It was a miracle that such a wonderful lady was not yet engaged when you met her,” Prince Gardner replied.
Gillain was implying “You don’t have the right to complain to me.” If he looked soft, Prince Gardner might ask for something stupid, like military aid. There was also Regueid’s second sound channel saying, “You must be dumb to have let someone with a holy beast go.”
“But I hear that you haven’t returned to Judore in a long time,” Prince Gardner said to me. “Don’t you miss your family? Would you like to come back with me?”
“It’s true that I miss my father dearly... But I was almost killed in Judore. I can’t go back as long as the person who attacked me is still there. I would be afraid in Judore as it is right now. I don’t want to be involved in any more disputes. My father will come to visit me soon.”
What does he want to prove by coming back with me? Does he want to be a key player in the return of a tragic schoolgirl? Make the Granzeuses indebted to him? If he wants to take me back, then he’ll have to do something about Schneider himself!
“No, I insist, please come back. I’ll guard and escort you. I’d like to hold an engagement party for you in Judore.”
“Ha ha ha ha!” Several different dry laughs overlapped.
Who and who and who?! And shouldn’t you not be laughing, Cecil?
The prince actually thought he could protect me... It was so ridiculous it was funny. And he’d pushed one of my buttons.
“Escort me?” I scoffed. I couldn’t stop myself. Anger overtook me. Escort me? Now? After you’ve left me alone all this time?
Prince Gardner fell on his buttocks with a thud. All his attendants except Cecil rushed over to him. Cecil, who was still restrained, gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
Lou stood up and rubbed his head against my leg to soothe me.
“Don’t you have someone other than me who you should be escorting?” I asked.
The prince hastily got back into his kneeling position.
“Someone else? But she...went to my brother...”
He was thinking of Maribelle, even now. Isabella... I grit my teeth.
Appraisal! He shone blue.
Gardner Judore (Second Prince of the Kingdom of Judore)
Status: Good
Skills: Fire magic, water magic, wind magic, earth magic
Blue! It hit me again that he didn’t have bad intentions. His status was normal too. Was he just lovesick and not under her spell? Or maybe Maribelle’s spell wouldn’t show up in the first place.
“I couldn’t stand letting a man who’s thinking of another woman escort me, Prince Gardner.”
“No, I don’t have anyone else anymore. Please, allow me to escort you.”
“I’ve always found it strange... What did you like about Maribelle? Don’t be surprised I know about her. I’m a noble lady. I’m privy to rumors.”
It was a rude question, but the prince was so intimidated by my anger, he had no choice but to answer honestly.
“I liked...that she was cute...how she had a childish streak...how she supported me...and how she hated fighting...”
“Lovely. None of those apply to me!”
“I...don’t understand why you’re so upset.”
“There are two reasons I won’t let you escort me. Do you believe all those qualities you just spoke of are necessary for a statesman? I would think the exact opposite.”
“I’m the one who’s becoming a statesman! I just have to protect her!”
“Even though you’re weaker than me?”
“What did you...?!”
I was keeping the pressure up.
“Are you going to fall for Maribelle again if she comes back, despite your weakness?”
No response.
“What kind of future do you want for Judore?”
Totally speechless.
“I find us incompatible, Your Highness. Also, I’m rather fond of Isabella.”
“Isabella?”
“Any man who ignores his fiancée and won’t pay her the bare minimum amount of respect is an enemy to all women.”
“Oh...” His eyes shifted uncomfortably.
“Please allow me to say something, Your Imperial Majesty, Your Highness.”
Oh, Cecil? What is it? My anger briefly subsided at his sudden interjection.
“Your Highness, Serephione has been very interested in you since she was a student.”
“What?!” exclaimed everyone else as they all turned to look at me at once. I vigorously shook my head and hands to deny it.
“She wanted to know if it was okay for you to casually have tea with Maribelle during such an unpredictable era... Vassals won’t follow your lead unless you display effort, so she asked whether you were stronger than I am. I answered no. You would be no match for someone like me, who was trained by Serephione.”
“What?!”
I never said that! And I never trained you! I opened my eyes even wider and shook my head.
“Then she met Isabella at the Marcus Trade Company. She talked to Isabella about training to be the queen without revealing her identity. She encouraged Isabella, and she used her own money to have a dress made for her that would customarily have been given to her by her fiancé. She stood in for you to protect your position.”
“Serephione... You...?” Regueid looked at me.
“Th-That’s not how it went!”
All I did was design it! And my family paid for the dress! Wait, did they not receive that? Is it on my tab?! Nooo!
“Our empress is so unfathomable.”
Stop with the comments, Regueid! I can tell you’re laughing from that look in your eyes!