Chapter – 44
“Crown Princess?”
“Yes. It seems the Crown Prince should start thinking about marriage soon.”
Has the Crown Prince already completely fallen for Merina?
It’s strange—Stella and Pony, who are always in the know about rumors, shouldn’t be unaware.
Besides, whenever Merina gets involved with the male lead, the rumor always reaches me, the villainess. Hearing it, my instinct is always, “Merina Ikel, I can’t let you get away with this!”
I’ll have to make Ted check the Crown Prince and Merina’s movements, even if it’s a stretch.
“Did His Majesty designate the family, or is attendance at the Crown Princess selection voluntary for each family?”
“That hasn’t been clearly decided. They’ve never forced participation in the past, so I suppose attendance will be voluntary.”
There are two ways to select a Crown Princess.
Either gather the daughters of a few prominent families for tests, or go through multiple stages of selection.
The latter allows commoners to participate since there are no social restrictions, but the initial tests involve noble etiquette and musical performance, making it practically impossible for a commoner to pass.
Sometimes, there’s even a semi-fixed candidate.
I used to be that candidate most of the time and nearly became Crown Princess several times, but the Crown Prince either framed me for treason or staged my death.
Since then, I’ve struggled to avoid ever becoming Crown Princess.
“Roa, even if you wanted to, our family will never participate. Understand?”
“Yes, Father. I have no intention of it at all.”
Of course I don’t want to become Crown Princess—I’d rather die quickly than endlessly reincarnate.
“Good, wise choice.”
My father smiled contentedly and started cutting into the freshly served entrée. I smiled, but stiffened at what he said next.
“Roa, you are the heir of the Levian Marquisate.”
“Father, Calvin is the heir.”
“What nonsense? How would I run the family?”
Calvin, who insisted he’d become the Sword Master Marquis to marry Merina, now backtracks? And he glanced at Lexian strangely.
“Since you’re the future Levian heir, you’re not going anywhere. You’ll stay right in the family, got it?”
“Ha ha, Calvin, you’re actually saying something sensible for once.”
“Father, I understand well how important she is to the family.”
The father and son exchanged words while cutting their meat.
“If Roa has to stay in the mansion, I suppose I’ll have to visit often, right?”
Sheila suddenly smiled at me.
“Please come often, Sheila. I’ll always welcome you.”
It was actually my mother who responded for me, and both my father and Calvin glared at Sheila simultaneously.
Still smiling, Sheila looked right back at them. A crazy magic tower owner might’ve applauded thinking the two’s eyes were impudent.
“Ah, dessert is here. Levian family desserts are famous, so let’s enjoy them.”
“Good.”
Fortunately, Sheila turned her gaze to the mille-feuille, smiling.
I should let her know I need family if I’m going to do something crazy.
After the chaotic dinner, I went up to my room.
The moment I took out a portion of an old book I didn’t know, a voice came from behind.
“What’s that?”
I quickly got up from my seat and dodged to the other side of the voice.
“Roa, what are you studying? Why are you moving so fast?”
“Why are you here?”
He had gone out the front gate earlier, hadn’t he?
“I originally planned to spend time with you after dinner, but you have to have quite a few eyes watching. Especially your father and brother—they looked like they wanted to kill me.”
“But they can’t kill me. Without them, my crazy antics would end.”
“Really? Then I’ll be careful.”
Good thing I spoke in a tone that suggested he’d have killed me otherwise.
“Quyuuu!”
Liss dashed in from lying down after dinner and stood protectively in front of me.
“I sensed your aura—it was you?”
Picking up Liss, and seeing him glance at Sheila with a cautious gaze, I realized he had no intention of harm. His long robe sleeves fluttered.
“I’ll stay with the silver fox to make sure frail Roa feels better. I won’t do anything. After all, it wouldn’t be fun if Roa suddenly collapses and dies, right?”
“More importantly, why are you here? Entering someone else’s room without permission is rude.”
“I just said it—I wanted to talk after dinner.”
“What talk?”
“But do you know why your father and brother are displeased with me? Why is the Duke glaring at me like that?”
Instead of answering, Sheila asked a completely random question. I responded with what I wanted to say instead of the right answer.
“Then you should’ve come back another time.”
“I already waited until Roa called me—how much longer should I wait here?”
Sheila complained and plopped into my chair as she pleased.
“Show me that.”
When he gestured, the paper I was holding flew away.
“What are you—!”
“You were looking at something interesting? You don’t seem to have magic, but are you interested in it?”
“Do you know how to interpret that magical symbol?”
“Yes, I know what it is. But I saw it so long ago, I need to check if my memory is accurate.”
Since the magic tower owner has to verify it, it would be hard for Ted to bring it. So it’s best to leave it to this man.
“Interpret it for me.”
“What will Roa do for me in return?”
“Not killing me, and helping me continue my strange ways—does that not include this?”
“Yes.”
Sheila replied brightly.
“I’ll eliminate those who try to take Roa’s life.”
Although there’s no immediate threat, continuous deals are necessary if I want something.
“I’ll escort you at the next party.”
I offered it like a favor, and Sheila seemed to consider it.
“If you refuse, there won’t be many opportunities to talk with me. If you come into my room like this, I’ll just go stay at the Lissiansus Duke’s mansion instead.”
I lied to reduce entanglement with Lexian.
“Fine.”
Fortunately, Sheila agreed immediately.
“I think that man will comply with whatever I say, and he’s tricky enough that I should step back.”
“Good. Then what brings you here today?”
“Boredom.”
Sheila stood up.
“I thought visiting Roa might be interesting. It was indeed interesting. People who dislike me aren’t common.”
Truly a person who lives out of curiosity.
I wondered briefly whether I should ask about the “Center of the World,” but restrained myself. If he finds out and ruins it, all my last hopes are gone.
“Too many things are off…”
The timing of major events is changing, so I must stay sharp.
One wrong step and I could sink beneath the frozen surface.
“Damn it.”
As soon as we returned to the mansion, the owner muttered harshly, surprising Charles, who remained composed like the veteran butler he is.
“Welcome back, Master.”
He took Lexian’s coat.
“Don’t follow me.”
Lexian strode to the study.
Recently, he had sent flowers to the Levian mansion and seemed delighted just to go there, yet now he returned in this state—something was clearly wrong.
Ever since the sudden tea party where the Levian young lady barely appeared, an ominous feeling had crept in.
Has the relationship not progressed—or worse, collapsed?
“Ah… I wonder when our young master will meet his match…”
The silver-haired butler sighed deeply.
Meanwhile, in the study, Lexian retrieved the family’s treasures from the safe.
