That’s right. Prince Eric had heard Jill’s side of the story through Philip. It was only natural that he was able to see how her words and actions contradicted each other.
“Y-you think I spoke ill of my sweet big sister to Lord Philip? B-but I would never do such a thing! What I said to Lord Philip was that Leia was so incredibly talented that I felt like an utter failure… I was merely lamenting to him because I felt depressed…”
With tears in her eyes, Jill told Prince Eric the truth as she saw it. She was good at putting on a pretty face and getting people to believe her side of the story, but that wasn’t her only talent. By turning on the waterworks, she avoided deeper questioning and furthered her own agenda.
Regardless of the truth, the look on her face had the power to make you believe you were mistaken all along. I figured Eric would let up on her now.
“All right, if what you’re saying is true, that means Philip is either a painful embarrassment of a man who deluded himself into thinking your sister was abusing you, or the story you told him was intentionally misleading… Now then, which is it?”
Eric betrayed my expectations and calmly pressed Jill further, without flinching. Jill’s story was full of contradictions, yet it was still unusual for anybody to keep digging for the truth like this.
“Wh-what are you saying, Prince Eric? Why are you being so mean to meeeee?” she sniveled, tears streaming down her face as she blatantly refused to answer the prince’s question.
Whenever Jill’s hypocrisy was pointed out, she simply turned on the waterworks, I ended up looking like the villain, and Catherine would scream my ear off. Even more grating was how my father and other men would then always stop questioning her and apologize. They would back down immediately—perhaps to avoid further hassle—and take the blame themselves. Jill had come to expect this treatment from everybody, and that only made her worse.
“Your Highness, I don’t know what Lord Philip told you about Leia and Jill, but as poor Jill is crying…couldn’t we perhaps drop the matter?”
And, just as I foresaw, my conflict-avoidant father begged Prince Eric to drop the matter. Jill was still sniveling. I was almost impressed at how beautifully she could keep those giant tears rolling.
I watched Prince Eric, wondering what his next move would be.
“Jill, do you honestly expect those tears to fool me? Please don’t make me laugh. Such antics can’t twist the truth. Oh, how much easier my life would have been if they could. Speaking as someone who’s experienced a crying lady who nearly stabbed me in the back, I frankly find this situation most unpleasant.” In a tone that was both calm and firm, Prince Eric sent Jill the message that her tears were futile. His voice was quiet yet filled with a distinct rage.
All those assassination attempts had made Eric immune to tears. I had to wonder what circumstances led to a crying lady attempting to stab him in the back. I couldn’t imagine it, but it must have been quite the chaotic scene.
“Oh, oh…waaaah… Prince Eric… You’re just too cruel!”
Prince Eric’s harsh rebuke made Jill sob all the louder. Not knowing what I would even call this scene, all I could do was stand there in a daze and watch. The prince was disgusted by Jill—that much was clear. And my father was more troubled than I had ever seen him before.
“Well, one thing has been made quite clear: The accusations of Saint Leia abusing her little sister Jill hold not an ounce of truth. Jill admitted so herself, so there’s no doubt. In which case, there are no issues with Leia’s ability to be a saint. To settle the matter so quickly is truly a blessing. Now I can take her back to the palace with me with a free conscience.”
“Now, wait just a minute, Prince Eric!” Catherine snapped. It was clear she just wanted to stop me from going to the palace. “Leia is abusing Jill! She’s just tricked sweet, fragile Jill into not noticing it. If you take her back to the palace with you, she will surely cause you trouble. Mark my words!”
“Tricked Jill into not noticing, you say? Would a girl who, deliberately or not, told a misleading story about her sister abusing her really not notice such a thing? Now, let’s set aside the question of whether or not abuse has taken place. I’d like to determine that for myself, if you please.”
“Oh… I suppose that would suffice.”
“As long as there is a possibility of abuse, it’s best that the sisters live apart. Wouldn’t you agree, Count Westoria?”
“Hmm. Yes. Quite right. As long as Your Highness finds the arrangement acceptable…”
This time the muted gasp came from Catherine and Jill. From their expressions, it looked like they’d gotten the opposite of what they’d wagered.
“Then it’s decided! Leia, starting today, you will be my bodyguard. And I won’t take no for an answer. Also, it would be best if you left this house.”
“Prince Eric?”
“Your Highness, wait! Leia does not belong in a palace!”
“Where are you taking her? You mustn’t! Oh, Prince Eric! Please, please don’t take my sweet sister away from meeee!”
As Prince Eric grabbed my hand to lead me out of the house, Jill forgot her tears and jumped to her feet in protest. Her voice was like a howling animal. But without so much as a nod in her direction, the prince tugged on my hand and whisked me into his carriage.
I too was stunned by the sudden turn of events, and before I knew it, I was at the palace. Seriously, I had no memory of the ride over there.
And that was how the new chapter in my life began.
✦ ✦ ✦
“Have a seat. Do you take sugar in your tea?”