Volume 3 - CH 10

After the party ended with no incidents, I began interviewing the servants of the young Ladies that belonged to Lady Sophia’s faction. As a result, it came to light that Lady Alicia and Lady Ferris had also been bombarded with marriage proposals.

It seemed that what Alicia and Pamela had been discussing earlier was this matter as well. Apparently, they disliked causing trouble for Lady Sophia and were trying to somehow deal with it on their own. Having collected information about their situation, I promptly arrived at Master Grave’s office.

“Hmm. I understand that there are unwanted marriage proposals flooding the three young Ladies. However, what do you want me to do about it?”

“Lady Sophia wishes to become their backer.”

This incident was a case of young Ladies being pressured by higher-ranked nobles, who were thinking, ‘Certainly, they wouldn’t refuse my proposal.’ At the same time, it was an issue that could get resolved just by Master Grave reigning them in by saying, ‘Are you trying to mess with my daughter’s friends?’ Roughly speaking, that is.

“Back them up? Don’t their families have anyone supporting them already?”

“Here is the information I have gathered about this issue.”

While there were noble families that they were close to, those families weren’t able to help them out with this matter. In addition to their relationship not being close enough for them to become their patrons, they were currently being pressured by these ‘friends’ of theirs. This was how strong Lady Sophia’s influence was.

“I see. However, the Rosenberg Marquis household cannot become someone’s patron so easily. Are those three Ladies befitting of the patronage of the Rosenberg Marquis household?”

Since this was Master Grave, he probably already knew not only their personalities, but also their social status and the financial situation of their territories. So this question was most likely a test for me.

“Of course,” I said to meet his expectations and handed over the materials I had prepared.

“Let’s start with the financial situation of each of their territories. They definitely cannot be considered wealthy, but they aren’t involved in any shady business.”

“…I see, you did well in your research. I didn’t think that you’d provide me with such detailed numbers.”

“Thank you.”

The documents that I had just presented him with were all the information that I had researched beforehand. The things I researched in order to select the territories for potato cultivation became useful in unexpected ways.

“As for their character, the young Ladies didn’t want to involve Lady Sophia in this matter and were keeping quiet about their dilemma, so there is no questioning their nature.”

“I see, I see. Sophia certainly seems to consider them irreplaceable friends, doesn’t she?”

Master Grave nodded, with a look on his face as if this had verified his thoughts.

“However, this matter won’t be settled simply by supporting them. I believe that, eventually, it will become necessary to take care of their marriage proposals. Are they worth going to such lengths for them?”

“They have benefitted from Lady Sophia already.”

For example, the potato cultivation was one such a benefit. Eventually, the potatoes would probably spread to territories that didn’t belong to members of Lady Sophia’s faction, but they would still be retaining the advantage of being the first ones to cultivate them. The same went for the preparation of the black tea, as well as other techniques that Lady Sophia might pass on to them in the future.

In the case that these Ladies were taken in by another faction, their position might get taken advantage of. It would be a different story if Lady Sophia were to cast them away, but… that was unlikely.

I convinced him that, even when taking the responsibilities of a patron into consideration, they were worth it. Sure enough, Master Grave nodded, looking satisfied.

“All right. If you want me to do this, then I shall do so, Cyril.”

And so, the matter with the young Ladies’ marriage proposals was quickly settled. In fact, it was settled too quickly, feeling very anticlimactic. It felt as if Master Grave had been waiting for my suggestion… wait, wasn’t I actually overthinking this?

With our conversation finished, I left the office and was caught by Young Master Ernest, who was waiting for me at the door. He brought me along to the dining hall, where we faced each other.

“Is there something you need to discuss with me? If it’s about studying abroad, I already refused, didn’t–…”

“It is about studying abroad, but not about making you go. The Imperial Princess Charlotte said that she couldn’t wait any longer and that she’s coming to study here right now.”

Huh?! I was on the verge of crying out hysterically, but I thankfully swallowed it down. Although she had plans to study here starting next year originally, there was no way that she could have moved the date forward so easily.

“…You’re joking, right?”

“I wish it was a joke, too, but… they are apparently arriving in a few days. Not just Imperial Princess Charlotte, but also Imperial Prince Harold.”

“They are really… how should I put it–proactive people, aren’t they?”   

Normally, royal families decide their schedules even several months in advance. To think that they had suddenly changed this schedule of theirs and would be arriving in a few days, they really worked way too fast.

“While they are quite proactive, it also shows just how astonishing the Imperial Princess finds the magical technique you invented.”

I agreed, but also frowned at the same time, as it became a troublesome thing. I didn’t regret granting Lady Sophia’s wish and saving Her Highness Folcenia. However, publicizing a technique that made the Imperial Princess move her schedule forward to come study here immediately was a mistake.

If the royal family could have at least put some information control into action… no, that wouldn’t have been possible, would it? Since they asked the Flamefield Empire about any methods to save the princess, the technique would have come to light eventually after she was cured.

Moreover, there was no point in crying over spilt milk. The important thing was what I would do from now on.

“…I understand the situation.You have told me about this because you want me to devise some countermeasures while I still can, haven’t you?”

“You’re free to interpret it any way you like. However, before that, there is one more thing I want to tell you. Although Sophia already knows about this too–”

“Understood,” I said, and bowed in response to the words he followed up with, his tone solemn.

***

Let’s go slightly back in time, a little bit before Cyril had been told my Ernest.

“Sophia, I need to speak with you.”

“You need to speak with me, big brother?”

Ernest called out to his younger sister, who was walking down the hallway, and she stopped her in her tracks. She seemed a little guarded.

‘Big brother, please play with me!’ When she was small, Sophia used to act sweetly like that towards him. When exactly had things become like this? Ernest lamented.

…No, I wasn’t able to protect Sophia when she needed it the most. The one who protected my little sister wasn’t me nor my father, but Cyril, a mere butler apprentice. Since I tried to take Cyril away, it’s just natural that she would be guarded with me. Moreover, what I am about to say now is also…

Muttering to himself, Ernest let out a small sigh. However, he noticed that Sophia was looking at him with suspicion, so he hastily shook his head, as if to say ‘Nevermind.’

“I want to talk to you about the Imperial Princess and the Imperial Prince of the Flamefield Empire.”

“I won’t send Cyril away, you know?”

Like a child whose treasure someone was trying to snatch away, she turned to the side protectively, revealing her wariness. However, her expression could in no way be considered as that of a child.

""

Does his little sister understand what these feelings of hers are? Ernest wondered. Concerned about her, he hoped that she didn’t understand, so she wouldn’t have to be saddened over this impossible desire. 

“…Big brother?”      

“Ah, this conversation isn’t about making Cyril go study abroad. I was contacted by the Imperial Princess Charlotte and–”

“Was there a message saying that she was coming to study here immediately?”

“…Who told you about this?”

At that point in time, only a few people knew of this information, so Ernest could have sworn that it wouldn’t have reached Sophia’s ears yet. He was puzzled as to how she knew about it nonetheless.

“…There is no way I could have known about it. However, I know Cyril. Whatever Cyril does always draws the attention of others.”

“So you recognized that Cyril’s technique was amazing enough to make the Imperial Princess practically fly over here?”

“If it wasn’t, he couldn’t have saved Her Highness Folcenia.”

“…I see.”

In some respects, Ernest made light of his technique, thinking that it was just some spell a mere butler from the Ephenear Kingdom, a country that was underdeveloped when it came to magic, came up with. He chased away the fact that it was a technique that even the Flamefield Empire, the country with advanced magic, couldn’t come up with, to a corner of his mind. 

Sophia probably wasn’t aware of this. However, she had come to this conclusion due to her confidence in Cyril. While on one hand, he believed that they were linked by a strong bond, on the other hand, he felt uneasy, as there was clear dependence. Thinking of the upcoming events, he felt a deep sorrow for his little sister, but there was no reversing the situation at that point.

“If you understand, then that makes things easier. It seems that Imperial Princess Charlotte and Imperial Prince Harold are going to arrive in a few days. In addition, the Imperial Princess requested Cyril as her guide.The Imperial Prince requested you.”

“They requested Cyril and I to be their guides?”

Sophia only tilted her head to the side, not showing any big reaction. But that was only at the surface. The depths of her amethyst-like eyes brimmed with displeasure. 

That was understandable. It was clear that the intentions behind the two of them coming to study abroad were political. To put it bluntly, Imperial Prince Harold was after Sophia and Imperial Princess Charlotte was after Cyril; nothing more, nothing less. The first was aiming for a political marriage, the later wanted to meet an outstanding person. If Sophia was aware of her own feelings, then this must have been an unacceptable situation to her. However–

“Those were the orders given by His Majesty the King after he received these requests from the Imperial Prince. Father knows about it, as well. You understand… what it means, right?”

In no way was this a mere request. No, actually, it was nothing more but a request for them to be guides. However, it was extremely likely that Sophia would receive a marriage proposal from the Prince, and it was very likely that the Princess would attempt to recruit Cyril.

That was the basis of their requests. Even if the two were to say that they weren’t aware of this once things progressed, it would be entirely too late. If they were to decline at that point, they would probably turn the gods themselves into their enemies.

There was no way that Sophia would do something that foolish, and neither His Highness the King nor their Father thought that Sophia was a fool who was unable to discern this, either.

Therefore, she could only escape that future at that very moment. Even if she were to throw everything away and elope, at least she wouldn’t lose the most important person to her.

Unable to imagine any other future for her than this, Ernest felt irritated with himself. He treasured his little sister from the bottom of his heart. Therefore, as her elder brother, he always wanted to protect her. However, the only person Sophia relied on wholeheartedly was Cyril. Ernest became painfully aware of that in a short amount of time.

To be honest, he was resentful. He shouldn’t get his adorable little sister stolen away by a butler. But there was nothing he could do about it if that was what Sophia wanted and what made her happy. It was his duty as her elder brother to grant her this wish, even if it brought bitter tears to his eyes.

Therefore–if Sophia were to reject these orders, she should just elope with Cyril. If she were together with that witty young boy, she would be able to keep on living anywhere. The Rosenberg Marquis household wouldn’t decline even without Sophia. Ernest had planned on instigating her by declaring, ‘The Rosenberg Marquis household has no need for a fool such as you! Therefore–’

“I’ve received the Imperial Prince’s request to be his guide.”

Ernest was unable to understand what the words that spilled from his younger sister’s mouth meant. He turned the words over in his mind several times before he finally understood that Sophia accepted becoming the Imperial Prince’s guide.

“…Why?”

“Why? It’s His Majesty’s order and my father knows about it as well, doesn’t he? If that’s the case, then there’s no way for me to refuse this request.”

However, accepting the request is the same as cementing your own future, Ernest thought, and then came upon the possibility that Sophia didn’t understand her own feelings.

No matter how outstandingly talented she is, in the end she’s still just an innocent child, isn’t she…?

Whenever she would become aware of her own feelings, she would come to realize that at that point, it was an impossible love.

‘I pity her,’ Ernest thought as it occurred to him that this moment would come.