kscans

Chapter 189 - Doodle. The Little One's Reverse Proposal (Behind the Scenes)

"Haa..... Why doesn't he notice?"

With a rare, listless expression, the Little One leaned against a window in the detached palace. The girl, who had turned twelve this year, was quickly becoming more and more like a young lady. Her beauty, inherited from Sakura, had been polished, making the hearts of boys on the street go sowasoa. Her slender limbs were delicate, and her ivory skin, characteristic of Japanese people, was dazzling to the eye. Eyelashes as dark as her rich black hair framed her eyes, and the allure of her deeply downcast gaze made the cheeks of those around her flush crimson, but she herself was oblivious. Though there were many men, only one person occupied her mind. Pochiko-san, who had sharp-eyedly detected the gazes thick with mashimashi longing, had brought Sasha from the count's residence, and she now spoke to the melancholic Little One.

"Ojou-sama? What is the matter?"

Her voice was soft and pleasing to the ear. Turning to the familiar sound, Chihiro let out a long sigh.

"Ah, Sasha. The thing is....."

Moving to the gazebo in the royal palace courtyard, the two conversed in hushed tones.

"Prince Romel?"

"Yep. That blockhead hasn't even noticed my feelings. He seems to be extending his feelers here and there, looking for a match for me."

The girl's complaint was exhaled with a dramatic haaaa sigh. However, this was news to Sasha as well. Her eyes went wide. The Little One gave a wry smile at Sasha's face, which looked like a pigeon that had been shot with a peashooter.

"I had no idea you held such feelings for Prince Romel, Ojou-sama....."

"Hmm? It's probably a different kind of feeling from what you have for Dorfen, Sasha. Though the foundation is the same."

The fever of adoration does not last long. What comes after is inertia and compromise. For some, it may cool completely, and they may even find the other person annoying. Such complex emotions intertwine, and yet, they still want to be together. It is a rare few whose feelings sublimate into a devotion that says this is the only person for them. Romel and Chihiro were already at that stage.

"Romel thinks that my number one is still my family, like Father and the others. He's not wrong. But he hasn't realized that he became one of them a long time ago."

To Romel, the Little One was his one and only. But even for him, if the country and Chihiro were put on a scale, he would waver. It was that slight wavering that Romel himself could not forgive. Drago and the others would prioritize the Little One without a second thought, but Romel could not do that. In that regard, he had already cornered himself into a dead end, believing he was not qualified to be Chihiro's number one. What's more, there was the age difference. It was only natural that he would hesitate.

Romel, who voluntarily shut himself in a cage of his own making.

"He's an idiot, isn't he? Really. He could be a little more selfish. If he feels that way about me, I'd like him to show some spirit, enough to snatch both the country and me."

Staring at the girl who let out a small fuu sigh, Sasha's eyes grew hot.

The Little One who was so small.

After two lifetimes, the troubles had finally subsided, and though she could hardly be called her age, she now had the luxury of worrying about everyday matters. There was nothing more joyous. The vector might be different from what she had imagined, but Chihiro's feelings for Romel were genuine.

That coward. Making our Ojou-sama wear such an expression.....!

Sasha's anger began to boil. He is so loved by Ojou-sama, and yet he's looking for another partner for her? There is a limit to this foolishness. But that anger dissipated with the Little One's cheerful words.

"I wonder when he'll realize? That among all the men who aren't family, he's my number one."

The girl giggled kuskusu.

.....Ah, that's right. You were always that kind of person.

Chihiro's bad habit of enjoying any and all situations.

Sasha felt a tiny bit of sympathy for Romel. Just a little. And then, a wicked idea crossed her mind.

"Then, Ojou-sama, how about we do this?"

Chihiro leaned her ear toward the beaming Sasha, and her own eyes began to sparkle.

"I like it, that's great! A reverse proposal♪"

"A reverse proposal? You have a clever way with words."

The coming-of-age ceremony was just around the corner. There, children would each make a vow for their future, but some of the more precocious children with fiancés might also wish for a good married life. It was extremely rare, but it was a vow that could be made by both men and women, and Romel, who would be participating as a royal, knew of it. But he surely never imagined it would happen to him.

The Little One wore a mischievous nishishi grin and bumped foreheads kotsunko with Sasha, who smiled happily.

Oh, you haven't changed. You must always be happy.

And so, after smugly witnessing Romel fluster and hastily accept the reverse proposal at the coming-of-age ceremony, Sasha married Dorfen. The two were taken aback by the blessings they received from more people than they had expected. As an added bonus, they even received congratulations from the Prince Regent himself, monopolizing the gossip of the noble district.

Those who had sneered, saying that marrying a beast-human was going too far in eccentricity, had a different story to tell once the royal family gave their blessing. Sasha, who was always with the Little One, was on good terms with the next king, Wilfe, and his younger siblings. They were familiar faces who greeted each other casually. The children often visited the Jorje family mansion. They frequently stayed over, and it was not uncommon for Naya or Sasha to scold them. And so, the nobles had not realized that the impression of beast-humans in Frontier was changing, starting from within the royal palace itself.

"Because she's a beast-human? A slave race? A short-lived race? Save your nonsense for when you're sleeping. Sasha is my sister. Do not be rude to Chiihiro's family."

Wilfe narrowed his eyes sharply.

"An inferior creature? A beast? Hah? You don't know Sasha? She is the epitome of a lady, you know. When I was young, I often admired her."

Mirtisia, who had clung to Sasha's fox ears and tail and learned the ways of a lady from her alongside the Little One.

".....That is out of the question. Have you seen her embroidery? Her Tsumami-zaiku flowers and Kumihimo. They can only be described as magnificent, you know?"

"I know of no attendant superior to her. To think that someone with such loyalty would be scorned simply for being a beast-human. Like my uncle, I truly believe the world is full of fools."

Fatima and Theodore, with their sharp-eyed gazes. The atmosphere created by the blonde twins was amplified, scattering a terrifying intensity around them.

And so, Sasha, the older sister to the royal children. Her reputation soared, and by the time the reign shifted to Wilfe, the human rights of the beast-humans were restored.

This also became a help to the Lygaan Kingdom, the nation of beast-humans that would later be founded.

Sasha, who in the near future will be praised as a saint in the Lygaan Kingdom.

Today, too, she is by the Little One's side.♪