Volume 01; Side Story 03: Part 02

I met Dr Nicola Lezzi when I was 15.

At that time, it was decided that I would be formally installed as the Crown Prince, and a lot of troublesome problems occurred with it.

It was the problem of my fiancée.

Until then, many prominent noble ladies in the kingdom were nominated as candidates, but I evaded them well and crushed them secretly before they became big sprouts. However, when I was formally installed as the Crown Prince, the fact that I had no fiancée was seen as a problem, and this time, a candidate arose who was challenging to crush even for me.

She was the first Princess of the southwest maritime nation, Miseral; the birthplace of my maternal grandmother.

I had met her, my distant relative, at ceremonies where both kingdoms attended. She is a beautiful princess; the Miseral’s national pride and was also known as the Pearl Princess. She is graceful and elegant. She thought fast and gave the man all the credit. She is the ideal Princess.

“She’s also different from you in a way. Why are you not satisfied with her?” People around me hounded, but I couldn’t think of a rebuttal.

It would create friction in the surrounding nations if we continue to deepen our blood relationship with one nation continuing from mother. ――― I evaded them under this pretence.

I was always frustrated at that time. I was always irritated with no place to take refuge.

I was refused whenever I wanted to meet Elli, who had returned to her fief, and if I wrote her a letter, the delivery person would return with it still sealed, 『A private message from the royal family is frightening』. Still, I didn’t give up and got information from the subordinates I had slipped into the Bernstein House. The underwater battle between old man Bernstein, Marquis Bernstein and I was like a fierce swan that swam elegantly on the surface of the water.

Father, who was supposed to use his authority and power for his son, was panicking with the Prime Minister at first, but he gradually began watching amusingly as the matter progressed. In the end, he’d said, “If the day comes when you can outsmart the『Brains of Southlynd』then my retirement won’t be far off,” and looked as if he was reflecting on the basis of his son’s innocent affection.

… My distrust of adults, which was common at that age, increased further.

“Don’t you think it’s childish…?!” All my complaints at that time went to Uncle Theodore. Alexei, who was three years older than me, was studying abroad to learn diplomacy, Glenn was a local soldier who was training from the bottom, and I hadn’t met Alan yet… my surroundings seemed to just be a gathering of people who were obsessed with the power of the next King.

My only comfort was my thoughts of Elianna, who was separated from me three years ago.

But even that had a relentless obstacle, and I was unable to reach her. Elianna was 12. She hadn’t appeared in high society yet, but that doesn’t mean our ages didn’t go well together. There shouldn’t be any problems for her to be the fiancée of I, the Prince.

And yet…

When I tried to visit the fief next to the Bernstein fief, they heard about it somehow and pulled some strings, and I ended up visiting a fief that was exactly opposite from where I wanted to go. My engagement with the Princess of Miseral was only supposed to be discussed between the senior vassals, but for some reason, it was the main topic amongst lower-ranked government officials.

The other day, a nonchalant old fox said, “Congratulations on your engagement, Your Highness.” It goes without saying that I was sharpening a blade to cut up this fox underneath my twitching smile.

When I came to complain in Uncle’s private room at the royal palace archives, he had stifled a laugh at first, but then he turned serious, “Chris, aren’t you taking it too seriously?” he said.

I was certainly aware of that. Aren’t I stubborn because there are obstacles? I thought that the Bernstein family was childish, but desiring her to be close to the royal family was the same as depriving her of her potential and future. Therefore, I knew that Marquis Bernstein and the old man were trying to pull us apart while they still can.

Young love fades as time passes.

“It’s not like you think there’s a problem with Princess of Miseral, right? Isn’t it about time you move forward from your young attachments?”

I know. I knew that I couldn’t run away from political marriages as long as I was born into the royal family. The Princess of Miseral will solidify my standing as the Prince, and we could probably establish a relationship made from respect.

I was only selfishly obsessing over Elli. But, even so…

“… I can’t give her the feelings I have towards Elli.”

She unravelled the discord between mother and I. Was I drawn to her because she thought differently from me?

――― I can probably make up many reasons.

Still, my feelings towards Elli were different from the feelings I had for other people.

Uncle looked at my youthfulness and smiled wryly as if he was troubled.

I shook off my guards because I was so annoyed with them, and went on a ride with my old chamberlain. Then, I reminiscence about Elli when I saw the Roma market.

At that time, I really wanted to know her and tried this and that. I also found out at that time that she didn’t like sweets. I had the childish idea of scaring her with a frog, but that stopped one day when I saw a grasshopper jump in from somewhere, and she picked it up to take it outside.

『――― Elianna, is there somewhere you’d like to go?』

I was desperate because I wanted her to turn my way more than she turned towards books. And, I just wanted to bring her out somewhere that wasn’t the library.

Then, little Elli unusually spoke of her desire, 『I would like to go to the book market』, she’d said.

Once every three years, Thistle Star opens a book market. “I want to just go there once,” she said.

『Let’s go. Go with me, Elianna.』I invited her enthusiastically and Elli shook her head sadly. “Father and people at my house said I can’t go,” she said.

“Last time brother sneaked out, and he was strictly told that he wasn’t allowed. You can’t get close to the Roma people, father had said.”

Even though I asked her why she didn’t know the reason. I was only made to realise at that time that I didn’t have the incentive to break her father’s order.

I looked at the market in curiosity. I looked back at the chamberlain, who didn’t look happy, as I left the horse to him and walked through the market. Then, I met old drunkard Lezzi. I intervened when he was quarrelling with a noble, and for some reason, he brought me, a minor, to the tavern and started drinking.

At first, I never imagined that this old drunkard man was part of Thistle Star. But, when I talked to him, I realised he knew a lot of things that a simple drunkard wouldn’t know. I was surprised when I heard his name.

Because he had the same name as the author of the books I use to study with.

“No way…”

I was stunned, and old Lezzi laughed scornfully.

“You’re a naïve boy, aren’t you? Your world is still tiny. You’re trapped by fixed notions. That’s why that girl’s dad, the fox, is playing with you.”

This was true, so I stifled my frustration.

“… How can I win?”

“How would I know? What’re you going to do if you can’t get a girl or two with our own power? You’re just a cowardly chick.”

He had been saying as he liked in front of me, the Prince. Of course, I didn’t reveal my identity, so it was only natural, and it wasn’t like I wanted this old man to respect me.

The old man snorted again when I grinded my teeth and uttered words that Roma people would say, “There’s something called the circling of stars. One day, your star and the girl’s star will come together… Well, I wouldn’t know since I’m not an astrologer. But shouldn’t you as a naïve boy improve your abilities for that time?”

I got a better opinion of this old man. Didn’t he just say something that sounded like advice to a worried young man?

At the same time, I felt my irritation smooth a little. Everyone said that my feelings towards Elli was young love. They said that it was a childish attachment that would become a memory.

And while I was being swept away by that, I was also struggling with my feelings that wouldn’t fade.

It was the first time I had been told that I didn’t have to give up, and the irritating whirl within me quietened down. Finally, I was able to calmly think about what I needed then.

I couldn’t beat the old foxes who had hidden names as I was. So, I decided to gain power that I would need for that time.

So that we wouldn’t be separated the next time we meet. ――― This time, I will definitely catch her.

When I decided that, I cut off my engagement with the Princess of Miseral, and put up with the old foxes so that they wouldn’t be more wary of me than necessary. ――― Of course, I gained information on Elli behind the scenes.

Two years passed, and I was ready for her debut. I had laid out every possible trap… *Cough*. I made the necessary arrangements and succeeded in making Elli my fiancée.

The stubborn old foxes gave me conditions, but I thought it wouldn’t be a problem because I had already begun to build up my strength… At that time, I never imagined that Elli would have forgotten about me.

By the way, Nicola Lezzi had said that he had taught me a lesson on life and took all the money I had on hand for his alcohol expenses. Apparently, he had brought me to the tavern because he judged that he would be able to take money from me from my clothing.

I re-learnt it again on that day.

――― I can’t trust adults.