kscans

Chapter 181 - Wilfe in Turmoil

"Is it not time you decided upon a marriage partner?"

Before me was a handsome man, elegantly tipping a teacup to his lips. His pale lavender hair was tied back loosely, and his gallant features bore no trace of the mischievous boy he once was. This was Wilfe, now a respectable crown prince.

What was this man spouting, showing up so suddenly?

The new year had come, and winter had deepened.

Having heard that Little One, who had made the guest chambers her base in the royal palace, had changed jobs to a princess to welcome foreign guests, this gentleman had come to visit. Little One was already twelve years old. Next year, she would have her coming-of-age ceremony. By the standards of the nations of Arcadia, she was of an age where, formally, she could be wed to a gentleman. Of course, there would be no marital relations, but it was not uncommon for some to enroll in an academy while being registered with their betrothed's family, in what was called an apprenticeship as a bride, to nurture their affection for one another.

With these thoughts in mind, Wilfe looked at Little One, a bit embarrassed.

"Why not dissolve your engagement to Uncle now? It was a pretense to grant you your freedom, was it not? I have no intention of shutting you away in the rear palace. You may live as you please. So, be by my side."

With the dignified face of an adult, Wilfe smiled serenely. Seeing his composed atmosphere, Little One suddenly felt the passage of long years.

That little rascal has really grown up, she thought.

Wilfe was now in his mid-twenties. His marriage with Miranda was going well, and they had two children. At the sight of Wilfe having become a man in his own right, Little One couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion, just like an auntie seeing her relative.

But that was that, and this was this.

What he was proposing was an invitation to be his consort. A feeler. In a way, it was a betrayal of Miranda. Narrowing her eyes, Little One's lips twisted into a scathing line.

"You must be jesting. For a man of your stature, the Crown Prince, to speak such nonsense to a lady who has a fiancé?"

It was her familiar, ice-cold smile. The old Wilfe would have felt a shiver run down his spine, but the man he was now was a youth who contended with the grandees of the royal court. A threat of this level was nothing to him.

"Uncle is just a shield against foreign advances, is he not? You aren't serious, surely? Neither of you."

Wilfe struck a pose with a smug look on his face.

In moments like these, Wilfe greatly resembled His Majesty the King. While usually feigning the part of a fine young man, he never misjudged when to strike. Like a paper lantern in the daytime, he appeared carefree, but in truth, he shone brightly when the perfect opportunity arose.

Well, an idiot can't govern a country, can he.

It meant he hadn't been a royal for this long for nothing.

The young man, who had studied diligently day by day, learning much from those around him and from Romel, and had shown considerable growth, had made time amidst his busy political schedule to eagerly seek out interaction with Little One. As a result, he must have sensed it. Romel's gaze, as if appraising him.

And what that meant, as well.

His younger self had thought his qualities as a king were being tested. But as time passed, he also noticed the mysterious fervor contained within that gaze.

Wilfe saw through the meaning behind Romel's gaze, which was cast with meticulous care, down to the smallest detail.

"I believe I am at the top of Uncle's list, you know?"

Little One couldn't refute Wilfe's triumphant smile.

To be found out by a youngster like this, has Romel gone senile, nyo?

Those who were aware had noticed that Romel was currently vetting potential marriage partners for Little One. And now Wilfe had come. Prince Theodore and other close acquaintances had likely sensed it too. The extent of Romel's intentions was so transparent to the astute people around him that the modest Pascal of the Claudia Kingdom would later send a love letter.

So that's why I've been getting so many invitations for social gatherings from other nobles lately.

As Little One stared into the distance, Wilfe gave a wry smile.

"You are precious to Uncle. And to us as well, of course. So, come to me. I promise to cherish you. I will treasure you more deeply than anyone else. Let me protect you."

His final words were filled with a thousand emotions.

At Wilfe's fragile gaze, which seemed almost like a prayer, Little One sighed softly in her heart.

For the members of the royal family, the lost Little One of the past was surely a painful trauma. The missing piece was exceptionally large, a wound that had yet to heal. They wanted her back, no matter what. They wanted to fill the deep hole that had been bored into them. That earnest desire was palpable.

Little One, who was now within their reach.

Coupled with that particular fever, their craving knew no bounds.

Deftly deflecting the conversation, Little One briskly left the royal palace.

Leaving behind an indignant Wilfe, Little One walked on with totetote steps, only to have Prince Theodore block her path this time.

"Chihiro. May I have a moment of your time?"

"No."

Guessing the topic of conversation, Little One cut him off curtly, and all Prince Theodore could do was watch her go with wide eyes.

And so, the Frontier Royal Palace was growing a bit noisy.

It's a common occurrence in medieval times, but spies were rampant in every country. There was no way that the various goings-on in the buzzing palace would not be reported. A short while later, Romel burst into the Jorje mansion with the speed of a wild boar, accompanied by his attendants. In their hands, they held multiple letters.

"What, exactly, is the meaning of this, Chihiro?"

With a full-blown dark smile, Romel tossed the letters onto the table. Written within them were marriage proposals from various countries. Not to mention Marrow from Donautil and Louis Charles from Castrato, there were also Prince Ismail and Prince Pacesta from Flowers. Crown Prince Salim from the Sucaraba Kingdom. From the Torzebisont Kingdom came inquiries from Princess Meg's younger brothers and others, with marriage proposals arriving from all over. A more unusual one was a love letter from Pascal of the Claudia Kingdom.

Seeing these unexpected rivals, Little One was aghast.

She truly couldn't believe it. What happened?

That question tumbled softly from her lovely lips.

"Huh? I get Marrow and Charles, but why the others?!"

"You really have no idea what a charmer you are, do you, Hiro?"

Chihaya looked on, exasperated and weary.

Ismail and Pacesta, whom she had saved from predicaments time and again when they were studying abroad at the academy. Chihaya would never forget the looks of adoration in their eyes during the opening of the arts theater. He couldn't help but hold his head in his hands at his sister's denseness for not noticing those heated gazes.

"Perhaps it is because you arranged a connection with Lord Ragon? His obsession with monsters appears to be quite considerable."

Dorfen muttered resentfully. Though it was galling, he could understand Salim's feelings. For someone from the Marquis Kigris family, a family of Golden King fetishists, the second coming of a legend was dazzling. In fact, Dorfen himself had his heart stolen in an instant by Little One when she was Fatima. A feeling of rapturous, ecstatic fulfillment. An ineffable bliss. Dorfen keenly sensed that same kind of thinking from Crown Prince Salim.

Because he could understand it, it was all the more troublesome.

"I hear the princes of the Torzebisont Kingdom are still young. The older prince is a good age for Chihiro. Even the younger one is of an age where it wouldn't be an issue. This is purely a political marriage, I imagine. You were well-liked by the Queen, you see."

"Whaaaat?"

Little One was bewildered by the unexpected turn of events.

According to Romel, this was just the beginning. He said the number of proposals would only increase from here.

"It seems you were kind to the nations of the central region who witnessed Frontier during the arts theater's opening, weren't you? You gave them those miniature gardens, and there are bound to be other countries that will start showing interest, I'm sure of it."

Little One had meticulously taken care of the nobles from the central nations who had come on their own after their countries canceled, distributing tickets and arranging lodging. When she reported this to the palace, the central nations would naturally start to make their moves. All to somehow get their hands on Little One, who was a bundle of secrets.

That was why he had said to be moderate. Romel had repeatedly impressed upon Little One to be moderate in all things. Yet when he lifted the lid, this was the sorry state of affairs.

Just imagining the predictable future made Romel's head ache as if it would split.

"This is what I was talking about!!"

"Unyaaaaan!!"

Understanding the meaning behind Romel's constant nagging, Little One let out a roar.

This was a few months before her coming-of-age ceremony.

What happened after, you can well imagine. Just as Romel had predicted, many marriage proposals came flooding in from the central region as well. Romel was pleased that Chihiro was in such high demand, but his feelings were complicated.

At that moment, Romel did not know of the happy future where Little One, guessing the situation from all this, would pull a prank with a mischievous grin at her coming-of-age ceremony.

All's well that ends well.

A toast to the best possible future for the flustered Prince Romel♪

Around the same time, in a courtyard of the rear palace, Miranda hung her head sorrowfully.

She had heard from her ladies-in-waiting that Wilfe had proposed to Little One to be his consort. Sighing lightly, she lowered her gaze to the teacup before her.

A fragrant aroma wafted from the still surface of the tea.

She knew. She knew that the daughter of Count Jorje was special to the royal family. It wasn't just His Highness the Crown Prince. His Majesty the King and His Highness Prince Theodore were also desperately trying to keep that girl by their side. The state affairs the girl was involved in were extraordinary enough. Her importance was immeasurable. Before she knew it, the young lady had become deeply rooted in the very foundation of the country.

It would be inevitable to welcome that young lady as a consort.

She understood the logic, and it was natural for a future king to have multiple wives. She had prepared herself for it. She was supposed to have been prepared.

And yet, this heavy, gloomy feeling weighed upon her.

"How pathetic of me."

She had been blessed with children, her husband was kind to her, and she had been living a happy life. Was there no limit to her ingratitude?

Pressing a handkerchief to her eyes, which were unexpectedly growing hot, Miranda wept quietly by herself.

If my husband wishes it, I shall obey. I must welcome the Count's daughter. I must be kinder and more affectionate to her than my husband is.

She had heard that the Count's daughter had overlooked the blunder her younger sister had made in the past, and on top of that, had even scolded the Crown Prince to treat Miranda well.

Miranda, who owed a great debt to Little One herself, watched Wilfe approach Chihiro with a pained gaze, struggling with her feelings for a long time.

And then, on the day of the coming-of-age ceremony.

"Why did it have to be Uncle, Chihiroooo!!"

Next to Wilfe, who was letting out pathetic sobs, Miranda heaved a sigh of relief.

Before the contrasting pair, the ladies-in-waiting let their gazes wander dubiously.

This man had no delicacy, professing his love for another woman right next to his wife. How on earth had he managed to have children with Miranda-sama with such a lack of tact?

In a way, the ladies-in-waiting were sincerely impressed.

Unaware of his string of blunders, Wilfe took Miranda's hand, not bothering to hide his blatant disappointment.

"You had said you would welcome her too. I am truly sorry."

"I was merely following the Queen's example. I respect my mother-in-law, who has a good relationship with the other consorts."

This was her true feeling. But it didn't lessen the sorrow of having to share the one she loved. As Miranda admonished her own narrow-mindedness, which was causing her heart to rage, Wilfe dealt the final blow.

"Mother is a very capable person. So it is good to learn from her, but do not try to imitate her. The royal court is not so lenient that you can get by with imitation."

...What?

Miranda's eyes widened. Wilfe looked at her gently.

These words were born from Wilfe's own experience. He too had long tried to imitate Romel and Chihaya, but his attempts had been a miserable failure, an act of presumptuousness. In the end, a person can only do what their efforts merit. Wilfe, who had overreached and stumbled time and again, was admonishing Miranda in a tone filled with conviction.

However, Miranda, who could only take his words at face value, was stunned, and her face turned pale.

She felt as if he had told her it was impossible for her to imitate his mother. That it was pointless to even try. And what's more, in a tone that lamented the loss of the Count's daughter.

...It's no use.

She couldn't bear it. Not him taking a consort, not sharing her husband with someone else, not her husband showing obsession for another woman, none of it.

She hated her despicable self the most.

Overcome with emotion, tears began to spill from Miranda's eyes. Then, she stood up briskly and slapped Wilfe hard across the face. Her soft white hand made a sharp pasheen sound against Wilfe's cheek.

"...Eh?"

Looking down at the stunned Wilfe, Miranda furrowed her brow in frustration and burst into tears.

"I... I can't... anymore!!"

The former marquess's daughter made a hasty exit, crying out. Wilfe watched her go in a daze, stroking his slapped cheek.

Days later, Wilfe was spotted by Little One as he journeyed to the marquess's house to retrieve his wife and children who had returned to her family home. But it was Wilfe's standard procedure to be lectured by Little One after she learned the reason for it all.

"Saying something like that to your wife, are you a real idiot?! Are you a mother-worshipping mama's boy?!"

"No! That's not what I meant! I love Miranda, you know?! I don't think she could be replaced by anyone!!"

"Then hurry up and tell her that!! Tell her until you run out of words!! Don't hold back!! Get moving!!"

After Little One, being a woman herself, explained how Miranda must have interpreted his words, Wilfe's carriage took off like a startled rabbit.

Even without love, affection can grow.

Miranda, who was an irreplaceable wife to Wilfe, did not yet know that.

Wilfe's struggles as a truly pathetic husband were only just beginning.

Neither of them knew of the future that awaited, where Miranda, exasperated by Wilfe's cluelessness about the subtleties of a woman's heart and his constant blunders, would be forced to become stronger and eventually have him wrapped around her finger.

And for now, no one knew that the Queen, seeing the courageous figure of a more resilient Miranda in the future, would feel a sense of déjà vu, as if seeing her own past, and let her gaze wander distantly.

I was amazed at His Majesty's thoughtlessness too. That's why I raised Wilfe not to be like that.

It seemed her efforts had ended in vain.

"...The child of a frog is a frog, I see."

The Queen's muttered words were picked up by Little One, and with the three women flying in to declare that the child of a frog is a tadpole, nyo, it goes without saying that a girls' gripe session was held.

"His Majesty, you know. He's always had a wandering eye, and was involved with about a handful of women. I made him choose just one, you know? ...Well, then Habilus-sama with her golden hair married in, and in the end, it became two."

"Wilfe-sama hasn't given up on the Count's daughter, you know? Even though it's a marriage of covenant, he was saying it's possible the Prince Regent might die young. He was hopeful because they're a couple with an age gap!"

"Haha. A brat like that, I wouldn't want him even if he were my boy toy. The nerve, telling him to come back after he's gained half of Romel's experience, right?"

When three women gather, things get lively.

As they calmly aired their grievances, the women of the royal family grew stronger and more resilient.

A prayer for the men whose only future is to be under their wives' thumbs♪