Volume 01; Side Story 02  Her Worries

“… Mm, so in short…”

We moved away from the commotion and sat down in the corner of a street stall at lunchtime.

Unlike the well-maintained area of the town around the castle, the Roma market looked clustered: there were stalls with food and drinks near the vendors who were selling books, a group dancing nearby and even fortune-tellers.

Sir Glenn was the one who asked information from the children while we were having food and drinks at a food stall.

The violent men pulled back when His Highness told them something.

At first, they had approached His Highness while saying, “Are you his dad?” and “Are you involved with the Bernsteins?” But he pressured the men with a sparkling smile that made even me feel fear and the men reluctantly withdrew after he’d said a few words. I don’t know what he had said.

Sir Glenn looked dejected as he confirmed with the boys who were greedily devouring their food, “The mother of this child, Rene, is sick, but they don’t have enough money to see a doctor. So, you obeyed the orders of the noble who had spoken to you. He promised that he would let her see a doctor if you steal books from the market. The other children and you all pitched in to help this child, Rene.”

The boy, who was around 10, named Paolo, nodded while being engrossed in eating.

“Rene’s my bro, you know. He’s the smallest and weakest out of all of us. That’s why we helped him,” the boy named Paolo looked somewhat proud. Sir Glenn was already tired, and he asked, “That’s why you’re like his older brother. But, why does this boy, Rene, think that Chris is his father?”

The boy, Paolo, finally raised his face up. His blank expression was childish and appropriate for his age.

I compared the dark pupils of the Roma people with the friend, who he treated as a younger brother, seated on His Highness’s legs.

“He doesn’t think that… That person is Rene’s dad, right?”

Sir Glenn rubbed his head as if he had a headache… I think that’s Lord Alexei’s special move.

But I was worried about His Highness, who has had that smile on his face since the beginning.

It’s been on his face ever since the boy, Rene, called him, “Dad.” His blue eyes, which were similar to His Highness’s, teared up when His Highness stopped smiling a little, so His Highness granted this to him.

His Highness heard Paolo’s words and turned to me with his unchanging smile “――― Elli. I’m not shady at all.”

I’ve heard that many times, Your Highness.

Paolo turned to me again and looked between His Highness and me.

“Erm… You’re Rene’s dad, right? Isn’t that why you helped us?”

“I haven’t said anything like that?”

His Highness smiled wider, and Paolo shivered and froze. Sir Glenn said something I couldn’t understand very well, “Don’t get serious with a child.”

Then, a voice called out from His Highness’s knees, “Dad’s a knight!”

It was the boy, Rene. His sky-blue eyes that weren’t cloudy at all appealed to the adults around us.

“Mum said so. Dad’s a splendid knight with the same blue eyes like me. He’s going to pick us up one day, she said. He’s my dad!” He said as he clung tightly to His Highness. This would be an impossible sight in the royal palace. He could be punished for disrespect even if he is a child.

In fact, the other guards other than Sir Glenn was frowning in displeasure. At first, they had tried to remove the child, but Sir Glenn stopped them.

“Ah, so?”

Sir Glenn confirmed with the older boy, Paolo, “You and this child, Rene, have never met your fathers before, right? Rene only decided that his father is Christ because of the features his mother told him, right?”

Paolo replied puzzlingly, “That’s not all.”

“Rene’s d… Erm, that brother over there said Thistle Star’s name to make everyone withdraw when he said he would take care of us earlier, didn’t he? He knows Thistle Star, doesn’t he? Rene’s mum… Marissa is a dancer, but her family is part of Thistle Star. Southlynd knights know Thistle Star because they are their lover’s family, right?”

… Eh. Is that so?

“Elli… What is with those eyes?”

No, nothing. Your Highness.

I heard that Thistle Star are the most sought out people out of the Romas, and strangers needed to have a lot of connections to become acquainted with them. Just having a noble name won’t satisfy Thistle Star, on the contrary, they spread infamy around the continent on the name of those who they are displeased with… Somehow, I feel like I’ve heard something similar lately.

Well, Thistle Star is recognised in the famous holy city Saulkan. A lot of people want to get close to them, but there are a lot of eccentrics among them probably because they were scholars, and there are people who visit them for years asking to be taught by them. His Highness, who had connections with them, was mistaken for a relative.

Sir Glenn shook his head as if he was troubled, and His Highness… still had a cold smile on his face. A cheerful voice interrupted, “――― There’s a play about a dancer and a knight falling in love, and it’s famous in romance novels. It was popular around five or six years ago, but I didn’t know that Rene was the real child of those two and that Chris was that knight.”

The honey-coloured haired young man, who had disappeared somewhere, showed up with a steamed bun that is famous in eastern kingdoms. He sat down next to me with ease. I don’t know if he knew that His Highness looked cold right now or not.

“Oh? Miss Elianna, you not eating? Ah, are you wary against dishes you’ve never eaten before?”

“No… When I read the 『Eastern Information Document』before, I asked the chefs at my house to make these dishes.”

“… I’m sure the Bernstein chefs are remarkable and know a lot of diverse recipes,” the young man muttered thoughtfully, and I shook my head. Does he know my family? Then, his boyishly handsome face looked sad, and he looked as if he was going to cry.

“I just greeted you the other day, but you still don’t realise who I am… Just what is my existence… It’s Alan.”

“Oh my. Lord Alan, you’re a Roma?”

It was His Highness who sighed this time, “Elli,” he prompted as if pulling himself together.

“Anyway, let’s eat before it gets cold. You too. You can’t eat if you keep facing me.” His Highness spoke to the boy, Rene, with a smile, and he looked up anxiously at His Highness when he heard those reserved words. His Highness gently directed the child to the table. I widened my eyes when I saw His Highness pull the plate closer and put a wooden spoon into the boy’s hand.

Does His Highness like children? Or…

Lord Alan changed from his bitter expression and said teasingly “―― Alan. Just call me Alan~” His Highness, who wasn’t smiling anymore, turned his eyes as cold as Lord Alexei’s towards Lord Alan.

“I’ll listen to your report over there. Glenn, come.”

His Highness moved the boy from his lap to the chair and stroked his head when the boy looked up at him anxiously. He left two guards with us as he moved to the wall with Sir Glenn and Lord Alan.

Paolo spoke to Rene who watched as they walked off, “Rene. It’s fine, so eat. We rarely get free food.”

I looked at the meddlesome boy and decided to concentrate on my meal as well for now. Rene also became engrossed in his food as if he’d just suddenly remembered his hunger. Then, Paolo spoke, “Say, tiny sister.”

Is he talking to me?

I stopped my hands and looked at him and saw him looking at me with animosity.

“Are you a Bernstein noble?”

I was surprised. I had forgotten about this because of the things that kept happening, but these boys were ordered by a Bernstein noble to steal books. I don’t think it’s possible for my relatives to order something so barbaric, but the boys won’t understand.

Paolo must have heard what Lord Alan had said. I nodded honestly at him, who couldn’t be deceived.

“Yes. My name is Elianna Bernstein.”

Paolo frowned.

“Are you the mole’s relative?”

“Excuse me?”

“The mole noble. He looks arrogant and lords over people. I could tell that he was looking down on us. But, he said that he would get a doctor to see Rene’s mum…”

Paolo bit his lips in annoyance. Doctors are valuable people. Few people have their knowledge and experience, and nobles also monopolise them. That has faded quite a lot nowadays, but there are still few doctors in town. Low-income people can’t see doctors easily, even if they become sick. It’s even more difficult for Roma people to see doctors because they are faced with discrimination and prejudice.

As I fall into silence, Paolo raised his sharp eyes at me.

“That’s why I don’t like nobles who watch their steps and lord over people.”

“I do as well,” I looked into Paolo’s eyes and said seriously.

“I also don’t like people who bully the weak. In『Star Travellers』, a traveller who was bullied by a crow he’d met in the wildness, said this, 『I’m very sad that you’re bullying me. That’s why I won’t bully the other crows that I’ll meet』… Roma people are proud of their lives even if they’re looked down upon by nobles and other people. I think that’s very admirable.”

Paolo’s eyes began to water as if he was wincing at my words.

“Even if you say such flattering words now, it’s true that you’re a noble and a Bernstein.”

That’s true.

Someone had probably ordered the boys using the Bernstein name, but I have no proof. And it’s also true that my house is infamous with Roma people.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but say for my family’s honour, “Mr Paolo.”

“Mr Paolo…?” I looked sincerely at the boy who repeated this absentmindedly as if he was speaking a foreign language.

“My family never steals books. If we have to get a book we really want to read…”

“If you have to..?”

“We’ll read it even if we have to beg or drug that person!”

We can rewrite those books if we read and remember them.

Paolo looked at me dumbfounded because I had said that a bit too forcefully. “Isn’t drugging someone worse?” I could hear the two nearby guards desperately hold back their voices.

A thoughtful voice sounded from opposite me, “I… know about 『Star Travellers』.”

It was Rene who had blue eyes which resembled His Highness’s. Dark brown hair is a characteristic of Roma people, but I’ve seen people with light skin and eye colours among them.

“Mum read it to me. She said『Star Travellers』is a guide for our Roma people.”

I smiled back at him.

“My mother also read it to me when I was younger. It’s her favourite book.”

Rene smiled at me, timidly, and I also smiled as my heart warmed.

Only his eyes were similar to His Highness’s, but children always fear me because I am the『Ghost of the Library』, so children who smile at me are precious.

“You’re like… a strange noble. Sister,” Paolo muttered while being puzzled by my actions as I wiped Rene’s mouth with a handkerchief. “Are you really the mole’s relative?”

I thought of father and brother’s appearances and tilted my head. Both of them don’t look like moles at all. But, I had a silly thought that they might look like underground moles when they seclude themselves in their study to read.

Rene, who was stuffed, slowly started nodding off, and I rubbed his head like mother used to do to me a long time ago. Then, I felt the weight of a child lean on me as if he was at ease. I was loved unconditionally, and he leaned against my chest.

“… Say, tiny sister,” Paolo whispered as if he didn’t want the guards to hear him. He looked at the sleepy Rene as if he was worried about him and glanced at His Highness and the others who were still talking.

“I know that you’re different from the other nobles. That’s why I’m asking this. What is your relationship with that brother?”

I blinked and looked at Paolo. What does he mean?

Paolo continued as if he was annoyed, “So, I’m asking you if you two are lovers.”

When I heard that word, I felt heat going up to my ears. I was speechless.

I’ve had the fiancée title since four years ago, and I’ve come to realise that this title wasn’t for show since that incident the other day. So, I don’t have to be embarrassed at being called his fiancée, although my heart is throbbing. However, I have no resistance against the word ‘lover’, but that was also one of the thoughts I had the other day.

I realised that His Highness is a special person… an irreplaceable person of the opposite sex to me.

When he returned my feelings and treated me with affection, I was filled with indescribable happiness.

Therefore, I wanted to remember my encounter with him.

The reason why I am here by his side now is that he cherishes our encounter from long ago, and he cares about me. Without that moment, it might be impossible for me to be like this.

Therefore, I also felt that I was obliged to remember, but most importantly, I want to regain my memories with His Highness.

But, I still can’t remember at all. I’ve never felt more pitiful than now since my memory is biased towards books.

His Highness took me to this place that I’ve longed to visit because of his memories from when we were little.

When I thought about that, I felt an unspeakable uneasiness at the corner of my heart.

The other day, His Highness smiled sweetly at me and shortened our distance. He had probably done that because he treated me as a lover before he treats me as a fiancée.

But, am I worthy of receiving this?

I can’t remember my encounter with His Highness, and I’m not sure if I can behave appropriately as his lover.

“Rather than lovers…”

Those words didn’t fit me. At the very least, I might be more confident as his lover if I could recall our encounter.

My feelings and eyes dropped, and I heard Paolo say in amazement, “What the… You’re not sure? Men won’t be satisfied with you if you act like that.”

I was shocked.

His Highness hasn’t shown this, but is he unhappy with me since I’m always flustered? What I’m anxious about what His Highness thinks.

――― Isn’t His Highness disappointed since I can’t remember our meeting at all?

“Is it really like that after all…?” I asked a boy who was at a tender age. “Hah?” Paolo didn’t hide his amazement.

“The heck, don’t go crazy. I can’t ask you if you act like that.”

Hmm? I tilted my head. Paolo asked me even though he was confused, “I heard what you guys were talking about, and I somehow know that that brother isn’t Rene’s dad. But, you know, Rene has always wanted a dad. So please. Just today is fine. So lend that brother to me so he can be Rene’s dad.”

“Eh…” A cold voice was suddenly heard from behind me, who had frozen.

“――― Why don’t you get approval from the person himself?”

It was Prince Christopher. I wonder if they’ve finished their talk.

Only a little time had passed, but Sir Glenn seemed tired. His Highness pulled Rene away from me with a sound, and Alan looked at him and laughed.

“Elli. Alan asked around, but he can’t seem to find the connection between the Bernsteins and the Roma people. I have no choice but to go meet the people from Thistle Star.”

“Do you know people from Thistle Star?”

“No, but it’s easier to ask the Roma people if they’re there. There’s also something I want to confirm… I don’t really want to meet that person, but it can’t be helped,” His Highness muttered reluctantly, and I felt awful. I can’t believe that he’s putting so much effort into something that is happening in my family.

“That… the noble who ordered that child to steal?”

“Ah,” His Highness answered easily. His smile was sparkling and captivated those around him, but I felt a shiver run through me for some reason.

“It’s alright. I’m aware of who they are. They interrupted my (our) long-awaited holiday. I have to thank them well.”

… I can’t sympathise with those who use human weakness as a shield, and make children commit crimes. However, His Highness’s beautiful smile made me want to advise them, “Please run away,” for some reason.