CH 57.1

By Antoinette Vanessa September 27, 2022

—I discarded my feathered hat and combed my hair. Then, I cleared my throat. I was tired of forcing myself to speak in a low voice. Although, apparently, that was how an ideal noble lady would speak.

Due to my old, mischievous habits, I was able to change my voice to an extent. However, I should’ve practiced more.

Looking up at me, His Highness Zafield muttered.

“…Lelouche.”

“Then, let me repeat myself—good day to you, Your Highness Zafield.”

The corners of my mouth slowly lifted up. Once again, I held the hems of my pink dress and curtsied.

His Highness Zafield sat on the bench while holding his cheek. His eyes were wide open.

Aah, what a nice expression.

I was glad that he was surprised.

The starlight and the lanterns were our only sources of light. In the darkness, at the edge of the garden, not a soul could be seen. All that could be heard was the gentle music and the voices of people drifting over from the hall.

With a chuckle, I looked down at His Highness Zafield.

“How’s my kick? Unfortunately, when push came to shove, I still hesitated in aiming for your crotch. I’m sorry that I couldn’t adhere to my teacher’s teachings.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean? Is it a punishment for a liar like me?”

“In a nutshell, it is. Oh, right. There’s something else I’d like to ask—”

My leg aside, the hand that hit him stung.

…But, compared to the pain in my chest, it was nothing.

If possible, I didn’t want to ask about this, either.

“Two days ago, the sword that I left at the academy went missing. Do you know where it went?”

As soon as I asked, His Highness Zafield burst into laughter. He patted his jacket and trousers, which were much flashier than his school uniform, to show that he wasn’t hiding anything.

“Who knows? Maybe it was stolen because they deemed it too good for an amateur?”

“Oh, my, and here I thought that Your Highness, who had skipped out on our training, would know. But… what a shame.”

“Now, it’s my turn. I’m more curious about your dress. What happened to the dress that you went to pick with me and paid for yourself? Your current dress, shouldn’t Lumiere be wearing that?”

“As usual, your acting is solid! Did you think I was Lumiere? Then, were you trying to ask her out? For two princes to vie for a baroness… it sounds like something out of a maiden’s novel!”

As he sat down on the bench once again, His Highness Zafield shrugged.

“…I got it, already. Lelouche is mad. Sorry about that.”

He apologized while laughing.

Amazed, I couldn’t help but sigh.

“You’re no longer planning to kill your brother, right?”

“What? This, again? Lelouche seems to love that setting too much. Do you want me to be the culprit to his murder that much?”

“While that isn’t necessarily the case, how do I say this. That’s right—I saw it in a dream. A dream in which you stabbed His Highness Sazanjill to death. It was terribly awful.”

In truth, I heard that from god last night in a dream.

Therefore, I didn’t lie.

When I tearfully said that, His Highness Zafield laughed.

“Poor you.”

Then, as if nothing happened, he invited me to sit on the handkerchief he had laid out on the bench. When he saw I wasn’t moving, he proceeded to stand beside me.

“Right? The other day, Lumiere praised me for being dreamy!”

“Is that truly a compliment?”

“Well, what else do you think it could mean?”

While making jokes as usual, I began to think.

According to god, His Highness Zafield would get angry at His Highness Sazanjill for stabbing me, and killed him.

If I recalled correctly, god mentioned at the beginning that someone was aiming for His Highness Sazanjill’s life… or something like that. It was already a hundred days ago, so the memory was vague.

After confirming it last night, I wondered about the cause of my death—and the aftermath.

As a result, I couldn’t help but think that His Highness Zafield was plotting something…

Precisely at that moment, the sound of the bell echoed amidst the dark night. The party was about to start. I couldn’t stay with His Highness Zafield there forever—

—Then, should I ask frankly now?

“Hey, Your Highness Zafield, do you have anything you’d like to say to me?”

“Hm? I love you.”

“Oh, no. Not that kind of joke, please!”

When I puffed my cheeks, His Highness Zafield gleefully wiped away his tears.

“Even though those were my honest feelings… Lelouche is really the worst.”

“…By the way, other than this dress and bullying Lumiere, have you done anything else?”

“Well, I did. Three years ago, do you remember when I told you that unless you made your social debut, my older brother would only see you as his little sister?”

“Of course.”

From then on, I began to put tremendous effort in becoming the future princess.

Then, His Highness Zafield added.

“I lied. My brother’s concern towards you was genuine.”

“…Aside from that, is there anything else?”

After blinking several times, His Highness Zafield nonchalantly explained everything.

“Also, I probably said a lot to my brother. I told him that in order to alleviate your stress, it’d be better if he didn’t approach you in school. That way, you could forget about the princess education, even if a little. I also told him that if you were avoiding him, then he should show some manly dignity once in a while and catch you by surprise.”

Well, well, no wonder he spawned everywhere to the point that I was overwhelmed and exhausted.

“…I think those are honestly good pieces of advice, coming from you.”

“Haha, that’s right! As expected of Lelouche, you understand, don’t you?”

“Did you have fun?”

When I asked him, he gently narrowed his eyes.

Knowing that he wouldn’t respond right away, why did I ask such a thing? Not like the answer would benefit me either way.

Nevertheless, I was neither resentful nor angry. Thus, I proceeded to the next question.

“Did you enjoy seeing us being influenced by such behavior?”

“…That’s right. It was a lot of fun.”

…Hey, Your Highness Zafield.

If what you said is true, then why is your face filled with sorrow?