kscans

Chapter 22 - Too Late

The education of the Crown Princess, though a forced march of sorts, was proceeding relatively smoothly. In linguistics and history, the knowledge she had gained at the academy and her naturally studious nature meant there were few problems. The issue lay with her manners and deportment.

The daughter born to a ducal house and the daughter born to a count's house. That alone was an unchangeable difference in birth. The etiquette she had acquired couldn't be faked with a last-minute effort. But she had to do it. Falty's inherently competitive spirit helped her endure. Even if her muscles ached, even if her feet blistered, she drilled the movements into her body so she could achieve an elegant and graceful demeanor.

During this time, she had sent numerous letters to Cassandra, who was supposed to have been her tutor. She apologized for her thoughtless words and pleaded with her to take on her education, but it was all in vain. However, she was finally granted a face-to-face meeting. Falty had to ask why Cassandra was so devoted to Lupia; otherwise, she would never be able to accept it. Why was she being so shunned and disliked? Was Cassandra not aware of her duty as a tutor to the Crown Princess? That was what she intended to demand... or so she had thought.

"Why...? I admit my words and actions were rash. But why are you so fixated on Lupia! Isn't this too much!"

Cassandra, unfazed by Falty's shriek-like voice, spun her words slowly, her gaze remaining cold.

"...Do you have any awareness that you mocked and trampled upon all the efforts the daughter of the Calmond Ducal Family has made thus far?"

"I never meant to say anything like that!"

"...Yes, I'm sure you didn't. However, the daughter of the Calmond Ducal Family, who was chosen as a fiancée for the convenient reason of being a suitable guardian for the Crown Prince, had her original path closed off. The future she was supposed to have, the path to becoming the next Duchess, was stolen from her by the royal family."

"That's just something that can't be helped when you're a noble, right?!"

"Yes, it can't be helped. That is why she was enduring it, was she not?"

"Sh-she was enduring it?"

"Oh, my," Cassandra's eyes widened slightly as she tilted her head.

"I hope I'm mistaken, but... did you truly believe that the daughter of the Calmond Ducal Family was in love with His Highness?"

"Wh-What?"

"She did not hold even the slightest bit of romantic affection for His Highness. If there was anything, it was perhaps a sense of camaraderie."

"...Huh?"

"And then, you came along and stole her future as Crown Princess as well. Her future was selfishly stolen by this country, not once, but twice. And yet, you dismiss it as 'because she's a noble,' don't you?"

Falty felt as though she could hear the blood draining from her face.

"At the academy, she was emotionally trampled by those drunk on your and His Highness's love story, and in the capital, by the lower nobles who heard about it."

She had never even considered such a thing. At that time, Falty had seen the options presented to her and had been overflowing with the desire to aim higher. She had been eager to achieve a future (an ending) that no one else had, but as she met and talked with Liam time and again, their bond deepened, and she came to love him truly, from the bottom of her heart. He returned her love in equal measure. She had learned that there was someone whose presence was so calming, and she didn't want to lose him. Even if this meeting had been guided by the system, she understood that their deepening relationship was also thanks to the system. But the strength of the bond they had formed was irreplaceable, something she never wanted to lose again.

However, she never wanted to believe that Lupia felt nothing for Liam, that she harbored no romantic feelings. He was such a wonderful person; the more you got to know him, the more you couldn't help but love him... Falty stood there, stunned.

"...If it's the ducal house... there's Lupia's younger brother, isn't there...? They could just leave it to him..."

"Ah, he was removed as the heir after failing the aptitude test for the ducal succession education."

"Why...? Why, when he's the eldest son... Lupia is a girl! To burden a girl with such a role!"

"...You ask 'why' an awful lot, don't you?"

"Eh..."

Cassandra smiled, simply stating the facts.

"Who to make the next Duke, how to educate them. That is for His Grace the Duke to decide. It is not for you to say anything about it, nor does it concern you. It is stipulated in the laws of the land, is it not? That even a woman can inherit a title."

"That may be so, but...! B-But! For a woman to inherit a title over a man, th-that's not normally..."

"You are a truly rude person. To both the daughter and the son of the Calmond Ducal Family."

"...!"

"You said you were friends with the daughter of the Calmond Ducal Family, but..."

Falty was at a loss for words, but Cassandra continued.

"I have never heard Lady Lupia speak of being close with you, or of you being a precious friend. Nor from her mother, the Duchess, for that matter."

"...Hmph!"

Of course not. Falty had thought of Lupia as a friend based solely on the high 'Favorability' score displayed on the status screen. A high 'Favorability' meant they were friends. That was her understanding.

"Do you know her favorite food?"

"..."

"Her favorite things to do?"

"...Hmph!"

"...How disappointing."

She was wrong to think that a high number meant they were friends. She realized it now, but it was too late. Falty had told all sorts of people that she and Lupia were friends. She had even told Liam as much. But it wasn't true. It was just a number displayed on a 'status screen.' She couldn't see that number anymore. It was completely blacked out. She had thought it was because the main story was over, because she had reached the end and it was no longer needed... and it was at that point that it dawned on her.

"...Ah."

"Would you kindly stop parading around calling the daughter of the Calmond Ducal Family your 'friend'?"

That's right. She had made a selfish judgment, an assumption. Because she had been told she was the 'protagonist,' she had thought she was correct. That one year must have been a nightmare for Lupia. That favorability score, too—wasn't it something that had been engineered because Falty had decided to live that year as the protagonist? Unlike Falty, for whom everything had gone so well, that year for Lupia must have been like walking on pins and needles.

She didn't know what the system was doing, but if Falty was the protagonist and Lupia was the so-called rival, how were the rival's actions being determined? The more she thought about it, the more she felt she had done something terrible.

"Ah, that's right. You asked why I am so fixated on Lady Lupia. Isn't it simple?"

Feeling a sickening regret, a strange pressure that threatened to crush her, Falty met Cassandra's gaze once more.

"She was toyed with by the royal family for an incredibly selfish reason, yet she devoted herself to her studies and produced results. What is so wrong with cherishing a child like that?"

Ah, I see. Something clicked into place inside Falty.

"Can you understand my disappointment when I was told that the royal family, who had wanted her as a guardian, would make you (Falty) the Crown Princess simply because they met you and you were exceptional, as if tossing away a broken toy? Can you understand the selfishness of the royal family, who trampled not only on Lupia but on the entire ducal house?"

Cassandra was smiling, but there was no kindness in her eyes.

"I was well aware of how brilliant you were when we met. Your academy grades were monstrously high and outstanding; I acknowledge that. It's truly wonderful. But I am a human being. I have a heart. ...Having continued to nurture and cherish a child (Lupia) who was so easily cast aside, I am surely not a suitable tutor for you. After all, my own emotions have won out. ...Please understand that in the future, my family, the Nieholm family, will have no involvement with this royal house as tutors to the Crown Princess."

Slowly rising, Cassandra bowed deeply. Then, she raised her head, and Falty found herself captivated by the sight of her smiling with a serene expression, a complete change from before.

"The other tutors do not know the daughter of the Calmond Ducal Family personally. However, they know how grueling the Crown Princess's education is. They understand that they are disqualified as educators for their words and actions toward you, which belittled a Crown Princess candidate who had worked so hard. And even with that understanding, they cannot cooperate...

"...Ah, n-no, that's not... I really, didn't, mean it, like that..."

"I am aware. However, by marrying His Highness the Crown Prince, you have obtained a position where you cannot simply dismiss things with 'I didn't mean it like that.' ...Please, try to understand that."

"No..."

The caution required in the actions and words of Falty, who had already married into the royal family and was living as one of them. If she had been living as a mere noble's daughter, things might not have come to this, but the entire country already recognized her as a member of the royal family. Moreover, due to her time at the academy, she was incredibly popular with the common people. Probably more so than any Crown Princess before her. She didn't know who was listening, or where, or to what. A careless remark would only tighten the noose around her own neck.

"...At the very least, take this."

Cassandra placed the textbooks she had brought with her on the table. There were several volumes, compiled by Cassandra herself, which could be called the textbooks she used in her Crown Princess education, outlining the path one should follow.

"This is all I can do for you. I admit I have been too stubborn. And of course, I admit I was fixated. ...But this is the end. I will not see you again."

"...Hmph!"

"Farewell, Your Highness. May your path ahead be filled with light."

With one final, soft smile, Cassandra left. Falty looked at the textbooks she had left behind. They were filled with detailed notes and would be extremely helpful for her future studies; she understood that immediately.

"...I'm... sorr..."

She had dismissed the attendants, so no one knew that Falty was now crying. Perhaps the royal family's spies were watching and would report it, but she didn't care. How careless her remarks had been. No, they had been far too numerous. She only realized it now because someone had pointed it out to her. Thank you, she thought in her heart, and then she wondered. That 'system,' what was it? She would have to face it.

And she would have to face Lupia properly as well.