CH 27

27  Monologue of a Certain Duke Daughter 3

After our marriage interview, the talk about our engagement went without a hitch.

Since neither Eliot nor I refused that marriage- Not that we’d that choice, to begin with- that marriage was then decided.

Such days continued as we met every now and then for tea while having a trivial conversation or such.

And then half-year later, whether it was to establish a fact or it was already an established fact for me to attend a noon party as Eliot’s partner while receiving warm smiles from the adults around us. [TL: Not the party where she met Theodore for the first time]

That party too was the reason I could meet and form a relationship with the other captured targets and the rival girls.

If there was something that made me worried, it was the fact that Theodore was the only one who I had yet to meet.

For the time being, I’d been introduced to Fredrick before and was glad that he was at least treated as royalty.

Though our meeting was limited to meet and greet, I was still really glad to be able to meet him.

Well, it happened by accident when I was strolling into 『Rose’s Maze』 though.

In the game script, Heroine-chan happened to meet the capture target in this place during their childhood when she happened to find a secret passage to the maze.

That was such a priceless spectacle.

I mean, it was the picture of capture target(Chad) and me(Player) smiling at each other as the fountain reflecting the sunlight and the roses bloomed around us. Naturally, as a fan, I absolutely couldn’t hold back my curiosity to visit such a wonderful place.

After I entered the maze, I followed the straight path and turned twice along the corner before I arrived in a plaza. While there, I saw a water fountain in the middle of the plaza, surrounded by several tables and benches. As if that wasn’t enough, the roses around the plaza were blooming.

Uwaa, such a masterpiece. Nothing could beat the real thing after all.

「Who’s there?」

Uwaa, Someone’s already in this place first. Okay, calm down and take a look at the owner of the voice who spoke to no one.

And then, the one who I saw sitting on the edge of the water fountain was Fredrick. I almost screamed like a fangirl the moment I met the shota version of my favourite capture target.

I mean, the one who was destined to meet him in this place was supposed to be Heroine-chan(player). That’s why I couldn’t help but feel really excited when I chanced upon him in this place.

I couldn’t help recalling those scenes during childhood with Heroine-chan.

Well, that encounter during childhood was nothing more than a picture in which the male capture target’s face was covered with shadow to prevent the player from knowing the other party’s identity. But, this was a reality after all. I mean, distinguishing someone’s features in such a bright place was so easy.

But still. I’m Katrina. I’m not Heroine-chan, that’s why I couldn’t capture him.

「My deepest apologies for the interruption. Please rest assured, I shall go back immediately.」

「Ah, it’s miss Katrina huh. It’s okay, don’t mind me. Are you also interested in seeing roses?」

「Yeah. It’s an extremely beautiful flower after all. Do you love roses too, Fredrick-sama?」

「Yeah… I can be alone in this place after all.」

「… I see.」

I almost cried upon hearing such a loner declaration. I knew that he felt this lonely but this onee-san had to fight back this instinct to hug him. What should I do now? I couldn’t just carelessly get along with him which might result in the change of the script.

「You make a face as if you want to cry again. Am I really that pitiful in your eyes?」

… Eh? He could see through that?

「M-My apologies. I-I just…」

「Then, do you want to become this pitiful person’s friend? 」

Sorry but that is… impossible. Doing so might potentially change the course of the script, to the worst direction.

「My deepest apologies.」

「Naturally, you’re Eliot’s fiancée after all. That’s why please stop looking at me with such compassionate eyes.」

「I-I’ve no intention to do that! But… my apologies.」

I tried to deny Fredrick’s self-deprecating remark but, do I have the qualification to say that to him? I, upon realizing that I couldn’t do anything, apologized while bowing to him.

「Katrina.」

Suddenly, another voice called out my name.

He came out from the passage where I came from and walked slowly in my direction.

「Did she do something to you, Fredrick older brother?」

「She didn’t do anything. She just called out to me when she saw me sitting alone in this place. Well, I guess I shall excuse myself since I might only become the third wheel.」

Saying so, Fredrick left the plaza from the exit passage in the other direction.

Eliot saw his big brother’s back till we couldn’t see him anymore with a strangely delightful smile on his face.

AAAH, Heroine-chan, can you, the future, ride the time machine to go back to the past and heal these two brothers’ hearts please?

「My older brother has no one by his side since he is a bastard born from a different mother… That’s why he should just rely on me.」

「Your Highness Eliot…」

…. Gyaa, stop, stop making Fredrick’s personality more and more twisted with your longing. You creepy Brocon.

Hello, Heroine-chan, please come quickly and save this brocon!

◇

When we turned five, it was finally the time to make a formal announcement of Katrina (AKA me) and Eliot’s engagement, the royal family decided to announce it during a banquet.

Yes, I could finally meet Theodore. Heroine-chan will also make her appearance during this party. GOGOGO, Katrina(me).

The banquet proceeded and we were greeting from above the platform.

Someone was staring intently towards me. He was definitely Theodore.

He might’ve already known about my previous life with his OP fortune telling skill. As expected of Theodore, you’re so amazing!

Okay, let’s try to ask him when it’s his turn to greet me.

「Reason, is it? I think that you have an extremely splendid hairstyle. So splendid to the point that I almost mistook it as your ultimate weapon.」

And here we are, his innocent answer betrayed all my expectations.

W-wait a minute! My ears didn’t trick me right!? Are you really that Theodore? You’re definitely Theodore, right!? You’re definitely that gentle, ever-smiling, kind, soft-spoken, and polite Theodore who is always ready to hear Heroine-chan’s consultation, right!?

And yet, how did such gentle Theodore become such a naughty-looking child!?

Where’s your usual listless smile!? That bright smile when you’re enjoying a delicious-looking feast must be fake, right!? How did your listless smile turn into that bright smile of a child raised with family love!?

Heck, if I had to say, why is your father, Lord Goldberg’s smile more like the ideal Theodore-sama’s smile from the game!? Seriously, someone tell me why!?

Please tell me how things turned out like this!?

Just like that, I who had yet to recover from the shock of seeing the “Bright and energetic” Theodore was walking in silence toward the children’s venue.

My duty was to entertain everyone as the crown prince’s fiancée, but I couldn’t help worrying about whether I did it correctly.

Alright, I need to be careful and pay more attention to Theodore.

He was glared at by Eliot and the other boys after all.

I mean, he literally crushed Eliot’s prank a while ago, when I was preoccupied with his stare at my hair. Sorry, Eliot, I really couldn’t back you up on that one.

But still, why did he do something that could potentially worsen their relationship?

Are you guys a kid!… Whoops, I forgot that we’re still five years old, in short, all of us were kids.

What should I do now? I mean, the Theodore in the game was especially close to Eliot. Theodore with his out-of-the-world level of patience could get along with that selfish Eliot, heck, he even gave a piece of advice or two to Eliot. Or rather, why did Theodore who got along with every single capture target do something that would make everyone hate him just now!?

Moreover, he was getting along with Fredrick instead. I was so jealous of him. Eliot’s mood worsened with each second though. The girls were starting to get scared of him, but you’re not even noticing that huh, Eliot.

Well, I guess I’ve no choice but to make a move to solve this situation.

And yet, both of them flat out rejected my invitation. BUT, BUT, I WON’T GIVE UP. Thus, I abuse–cough– I mean, I used my second greatest power in this place, Duke Daughter Authority.

Eliot’s mood got a little bit better after I managed to drag those two naughty boys back to our group. Look, he was obviously happy upon seeing his oniisan back.

Though Eliot might not show it on his face, I who finished his route, knew how he felt right now. And yet, he was obviously hostile towards Theodore who managed to get along with his oniisan. I wished that he was a little better at hiding his hostility.

Fredrick and Theodore were clearly in a bad mood after I forc– cough– after I convinced them to come to our group.

AAAAAH, what should I do to fix this situation, someone please help me!?

Since Eliot didn’t recommend seats for Fredrick, it then became my job to recommend an appropriate seat for him.

When I did so, before I knew it, Theodore had already sat next to Muriel. Eh, what’s just happening here!? Did a yellow couple just form when I guided Fredrick to his seat!?

I tried to make a follow-up in hurry, but Theodore politely declined my offer. Aah, so he had no idea about the rank seat since this was the first time he was attending a party huh, sorry Theodore.

And then, I asked him about what he and Fredrick were talking about a while ago before I force–cough– invited them to our group. He told me that they’re talking about 『Saint’s Ornament』.  What… Wait a minute, are you sure it was safe to talk about your family heirloom that got stolen by a fake fortune-teller?

「Our house kept one before but, unfortunately, I never had the chance to see it with my own eyes. I heard that it’s already been returned. And speaking of a legendary treasure doesn’t that make you feel excited?. 」

Wait a minute, I felt that something was amiss here. What do you mean by “Returned”? Let’s try to ask him

「Returned… is it? Does that mean the treasure wasn’t in your family’s possession anymore?」

He nodded innocently without a shred of guilt on his face.

「Yes. It’s been returned to the Royal Family two years ago.」

「Royal… Family!」

W-What did you say!? This was the first time I heard about this! You mean, the tiara wasn’t taken by that shady fortune-teller!?

I felt bad for everyone in the girls’ group who got excited about the saint’s ornament, but I must ask this question.

「T-Then, Theodore-sama. Can you do fortune-telling?」

「Fortune-telling? You mean something like flower fortune-telling? The girls seem to love it but sorry, I can’t do that kind of fortune-telling.」

「Then what kind of fortune-telling can you do? Something like tarot…」

「Me? Sorry but I really can’t do any kind of fortune-telling. I never even learnt about it. In the first place, I don’t even have the talent to do fortune-telling.」

「… That… how can it be…」

Not learning any kind of fortune-telling!? Wait a minute, then, how are we supposed to find Heroine-chan!?

「Uuhm, I can’t do fortune-telling but lacework is my forte. This handkerchief is personally knitted by me.」

After saying so, he took out a handkerchief and showed it to us.

Seeing that I must admit that he was as skilled as he said.

「YOU… WHAT!」

And then snapped back as I unintentionally retorted to him. Lacework! Why did you invest all of your talents in this kind of hobby, Theodore-sama! Wasn’t it supposed to be fortune-telling? we’re in deep shit unless it was fortune-telling, you know!

But, he just smiled innocently.

You’re not supposed to be a child who can smile brightly like that though! Please don’t break your character!

Though the topic about lacework made the girls more heated than before, l who had yet to snap out from my confusion was left behind.

But then, a while later, our space was enveloped by an unusual silence.

Everyone was looking at Theodore.

I wonder what he did now to gain all this attention?

When I tried to confirm it, I saw Theodore was in the middle of feeding Muriel a cookie.

He seemed like he was really enjoying it.

「You… what are you doing?」

Unable to hold back his irritation, Rex asked such a question, with a bulging vein on his temple.

「Me, feeding chick?」

Fredrick’s shoulder shook the moment we heard Theodore’s spontaneous reply.

Someone please tell me who this Theodore-look-alike is!

The moment she heard that Muriel left her seat. Theodore went after her a few seconds later. As for me, I was simply dumbfounded upon seeing Theodore who wasn’t “Theodore” that I was familiar with.

Was he really, Theodore-sama?

「Well, I shall take my leave too I guess.」

Fredrick used that moment to leave the group.

Eliot looked like he wanted to stop Fredrick, but the latter didn’t seem to realize it. As a result, Eliot’s mood took a nosedive, and I who couldn’t cope with the current development couldn’t think of a way to bring Fredrick back.

By the time I noticed, everyone had already left their seats.

Good grief, what should I do now!

After I heard that an intruder made a fuss in the 『Rose’s Maze』 during my contemplation, the royalty decided to end the party earlier than scheduled to cope with the situation.

The next morning, I hurriedly went for a visit the moment I heard the news about Theodore-sama being attacked by a ruffian.

Though I was really surprised upon finding Muriel and Fredrick already in Theodore’s room for a visit, I honestly enjoyed the conversation with the three of them.

When I asked Muriel about what really happened during that incident, the shocking truth almost made me fall on the spot.

Heroine-chan turned out to be the template… Shi*tty girl with the worst personality.

Oh god, would you be so kind as to tell me where the reset button is?

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TN: There there Katrina, Ganbatte!