kscans

Chapter 167 - The Hourglass of Life and the Little One, Part Five

".....Um?"

"Oh my, are you surprised?"

The new year had begun, Wilfe’s wedding had concluded without a hitch, and just as the Little One was preparing to set out, Princess Margaret stood before her.

This was the royal palace. The twins, summoned by Romel, were dumbfounded.

"She will be transferring into the high school division of the noble academy next term. I hear you are close with them. Please look after her."

The King beamed as he looked at the twins.

Romel, with an indescribable expression, glanced at Chihaya. Chihaya had come to ask about the church’s vows, and Romel had reassured him.

‘A church vow isn’t valid with just one party. It only takes form as a prayer when both parties swear it.’

Apparently, marriage vows were the same. If a vow from only one party were effective, then the one-sided pledge of a deluded, unrequited lover would be binding. On Earth, that would be grounds for a lawsuit. The gods would never permit such an injustice.

Relieved by Romel’s explanation, Chihaya next showed his disgust for the royal family in question.

"Who are they, really. What a nuisance."

While the young lord muttered to himself, Romel chuckled and thought to himself, It’s the princess of the Torzebisont Kingdom, you know?

In Frontier, not only the princesses and princes, but also the nobility were not permitted to leave the country. Due to the lineage of the Golden King, families with royal blood in their ancestry were not allowed to marry internationally. If, by some chance, it was absolutely necessary, they would have to swear an oath at the church.

That for all eternity, the two nations would not be hostile to one another.

Frontier was a country that had declared both at home and abroad that it would not invade other nations. There was no problem for them to make this vow. However, for a country with even the slightest desire for conquest, this vow was like having a sword held to its throat. As expected, there were no countries willing to go that far to form ties with Frontier. Even if it was a mere formality in other countries, in Frontier where magic remained, the vow was still active and effective. Even decades ago, when countries were desperate for children with magical power, none were willing to weigh it against the peace of their own nation.

With one exception.

"Let us make the vow. It is an easy matter for my Flowers, which has maintained a friendship for several thousand years in the past."

Presented with the vow as a condition for the engagement, Prince Marcello scoffed at the flustered attendants from Flowers and readily agreed.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

"What is there to panic about? Our country is already dependent on Frontier for food, is it not? They already hold our lifeline, things cannot get any worse than this."

Prince Marcello grinned.

And so, with great decisiveness, Prince Marcello swore the vow at the church and secured his engagement to Fatima.

Each country was an independent entity in a state of isolation. War required immense effort, and there had been no major wars since the lost age. If anything, it was Frontier that had been instigating one major conflict after another. The wars in Castrato and Donautil were still fresh in the memories of other nations. Adding to that, rumors of the princess racing and flying around in a monster carriage had swept the world, and countries, hoping to form a security pact with Frontier, had begun to show interest in political marriages.

The first of these was the marriage proposal from the Torzebisont Kingdom for Princess Margaret. Since she would be marrying into the country, no vow was required, but the fact that they included such wording suggested that it was the other country that wanted the vow. That was how much Frontier was feared by the world now.

Surely, more proposals would come one after another.

Looking at Chihaya, who had been unexpectedly drawn into the matter, Romel’s head began to ache. Before him, the conversation continued.

"What? Look after her? No way, no way, we’re about to go on another journey."

The Little One waved her hands in front of her face in a gesture of refusal.

Instantly, the expressions of those around her fell away.

"But, the pilgrimage is over, is it not? Will you not be returning to the academy next term?"

"I have been granted exemption from all my teachers, so there is no need for me to attend, is there? Father."

As if just remembering, the Little One smiled plumply in her noble lady mode. Addressed as Father, the King’s face dissolved into a doting grin, but the Queen jabbed his elbow with her fan, pashi, and he came to his senses.

"That may be so, but....."

The King couldn’t continue. Not once in this life or the last had he ever won an argument with the daughter before him. If he had, it was only when he had seen through her as the Golden King. Even then, he had lost about eighty percent of the time. All he had done was see through her, and only a tiny fraction of his demands had been met.

As the King groaned, gunununu, Wilfe, who was standing by Fatima’s side, raised his hand with a pitying look.

"May I have permission to speak?"

"Oh, is that you, Wilfe? You have my permission."

The King gestured as if seeking help from his daughter’s long-serving attendant. Wilfe nodded and took a step forward.

"Everyone in the palace knows that Her Highness the Princess is very busy. She has achieved remarkable results in both goodwill and diplomacy. To add the burden of hosting a guest would be too much to ask, I believe."

The words laid out before them left everyone in the hall with no choice but to agree. Just recently, there had been the opening of the arts theater, goodwill missions to other countries, welcoming receptions, tours, and so on. The Little One had been piled with so much work she barely had time to breathe. Even at the Crown Prince’s wedding, she had gifted something called a pipe organ, unheard of in the past, and its majestic performance had left the assembled nobility in awe.

Frontier, where everything was being updated and renewed. The Little One was involved in almost all of it. It was simply too much to ask her to take on the trivial task of hosting a guest.

As Wilfe explained this, he glanced at Chihaya.

Chihaya’s back prickled with a bad feeling.

"Therefore, I would like to suggest asking her elder brother. For your sister’s sake, what do you say?"

Chihaya’s temple twitched, pikiri, as he was met with a gentle yet unyielding gaze.

"I am with my sister. Wherever she goes. ..........Are you getting in my way?"

He wore his usual amiable smile, but there was a faint malevolence that only those close to him could discern. A bone-chilling coldness filled the air, and Chihaya’s widened pupils had narrowed to pinpricks. A beat later, the surrounding people stared, wide-eyed, at the child with the glittering eyes of a predator. Romel pressed a hand to his forehead with an "ah, geez."

".....Haya?"

"What’s wrong? It would be an honor to stand in for Chiihiro, wouldn’t it?"

"Then you do it, Theo."

Miltisia and Theodoria were flustered and fidgety at Chihaya’s sudden change. Ignoring the attendants and chamberlains who frowned at his disrespectful tone, Margaret herself spoke up.

"I have been a bother, haven’t I? I do apologize."

Chihaya glanced at Margaret, who was bowing deeply, and didn’t hide his annoyed expression. The marriage proposal is one thing, but you’re really a nuisance. I wonder if I can get rid of you somehow. Should I make her want to go home?

A gentle voice tickled the ear of Chihaya, who was contemplating something dangerous.

"It is no bother at all. It is just that we cannot make the time. I am so sorry."

Seeing his beloved sister’s happy expression, Chihaya’s eyes widened slightly, and he looked at Margaret again.

Come to think of it, this girl was friendly with Hero.

In Chihaya’s line of sight, two girls were chatting happily.

"How have things been since then?"

"The engagement has been called off. I’ve had quite enough of it all."

"That is wonderful. Please enjoy your time in Frontier. I will make time as well, so let us have a tea party."

Miltisia joined the two giggling girls, and the surrounding people relaxed, warmed by the sight of the charming young ladies’ chatter.

"Hero and Haya are busy, so would it be alright if I accompanied you? I have studied with many international students up until now, you know?"

"Ah, that’s a great idea. We only have one more year here, but by then Chiihiro and the others might have settled down. Right? Chiihiro?"

"I cannot promise anything, but I will do my best."

Left out of the circle of conversing children, Chihaya gnawed his thumb in frustration alone.

What the hell, if it was going to be resolved so smoothly, don’t push it on me in the first place.

Romel tapped the shoulder of Chihaya, who had a scowl that was just short of a sneer, and narrowed his eyes.

".....You get angry too quickly. When Chiihiro is involved, you have a short fuse. You’ll get tripped up that way. .....Like just now."

Romel whispered in a voice only Chihaya’s cuff could hear. The meaning of his words was unfolding right before his eyes. Chihaya had been excluded from the circle of friendly exchange. He didn’t care what anyone other than Chihiro thought of him, but if he hadn’t gotten angry then, he would surely have been standing next to his sister in that circle now.

".....I will endeavor to do better."

"Yes. You’re trying hard. You’re doing well. This is just the beginning."

Seeing Chihaya nod slightly, Romel chewed on a bitter pill only in his mind.

He really is a prodigy. If only Chiihiro weren’t involved.

Stealing a glance at the two of them, Margaret’s cheeks flushed faintly. Chihaya-sama. .....I wonder if I am not good enough. I am a princess whose engagement was broken, so it cannot be helped if he does not like me.

Although the Torzebisont Kingdom was formally rejected by Frontier for the marriage proposal, Margaret, as planned, wished to study abroad in Frontier.

"Are you sure? It may be a bed of nails, you know?"

"It is something I have wished for myself in order to learn magic. And I am looking forward to meeting Princess Chiihiro."

Princess Margaret and the Queen of Torzebisont were impressed by everything they saw in Frontier. The prosperous and smiling people. The beautifully paved roads and the streets lined with magnificent buildings. They were wide-eyed at the school they were shown, astonished by the orphanage, surprised by the inn, and left speechless by the baths and the honeybee sales. As for the aforementioned arts theater, they were at a loss for words.

"Frontier, where those things are considered normal, is an incredible country. The academic city, the noble academy..... a country capable of such ideas. I truly wished we could have become close."

Wanting even a small share of the benefits, and taking advantage of Margaret’s fondness for Frontier, she had proposed a marriage alliance, but was refused.

The Queen of Torzebisont sighed lightly behind her fan.

Chihaya didn't know it, but the marriage proposal had first been directed at Theodoria. Because Theodoria refused, it had been passed on to Chihaya. The letter had only stated a desire to form a connection with a royal or noble of suitable age. Margaret's own intentions were mixed in, with a note added, "If there is no one in the royal family, then the son of Count Jorget.....". For Margaret, Chihiro’s brother, her benefactor, was better than a complete stranger from the nobility. There was an age difference, but four or five years was a common range. She had looked with envy at the gentle boy who stood by the Little One’s side.

If only my fiancé were half as kind.....

She couldn’t help but envy the loving siblings. She had wished she could be a part of their circle. That faint dream was fleetingly shattered, but.....

"And if I can associate with them even a little, perhaps I might win their favor later. I think it is too early to give up."

The Queen of Torzebisont smiled wryly and nodded at her cheerfully laughing youngest daughter.

She was a surprisingly tough princess.

And so Margaret, now called Meg, came and settled into the Kingdom of Frontier.

Weeds don’t die.

Meg, who had been constantly trampled by her former fiancé, was strong. Every time the twins returned, she would charge over to the Count Jorget estate, spending her days engrossed in discussions of magic and sweets, and before she knew it, she was spending all her long vacations at the Count Jorget estate. It must have been a rebound from being suppressed. The sight of Meg, lively and actively moving and learning, was heartwarming, and she was doted on by Drago and Sakura, to the point where she would be at the house to welcome the twins home when they returned.

"Welcome home, Hero, Haya."

"We’re home, Meg!"

"We’re home. Here’s a souvenir for you."

The entire Count’s family was all smiles at the curt but not out of place Chihaya.

The Meg of today did not know of the future where she would secure a place for herself within the bright Jorget family.

Dreams can come true if you don’t give up. Birds of a feather flock together. The theory of single-minded devotion was becoming a daily occurrence in Frontier.♪