kscans

Chapter 35 - Let It All Out, Part 4

"Oh?"

"…Well now?"

The two adults looked surprised at Lupia's unexpected words, delivered with a smile.

"Our family was abandoned. Besides, whether that Falty is insane or what she’s been doing is of no concern to us, is it?"

Lupia had been removed as the fiancée. Forcibly, and without proper procedure. And she had seen a strange dream that suggested the one controlling her was Falty. In a situation where they had suffered nothing but disadvantages while the royal family and Falty greedily devoured all the benefits, what reason was there to warn them that the Crown Princess was acting strangely?

"However… I do think she must receive some retribution for the strange things she has done."

"Ah, in that regard, retribution is already slowly making its way to her. First, the Crown Princess…"

"What?"

Lupia couldn’t help but ask at Millière’s words.

"‘My grades at the academy were better than Lupia’s. Therefore, I will surely become a more wonderful Crown Princess than Lupia!’ …is what she said. Those were the Crown Princess’s words to her tutor."

The color drained from Rupert’s and Vernella’s faces. The person Falty had said this to was her tutor, Cassandra. She was known to be a dedicated educator who hadn't cut any corners in young Lupia’s training. She was strict, but not unreasonable—however, she was also famous for having absolutely no mercy for those who lacked manners.

"…To say such a… thing… to Lady Cassandra…?"

"Yes, at their very first meeting."

"Such words to the Marquess Nieholm’s wife…"

"Vernella, your guess is correct."

As a member of high society, Vernella had heard of Cassandra’s reputation. But even without that, the inappropriateness of Falty’s behavior was glaring.

"…I don’t know this Falty person, but… she’s a count’s daughter, right…?"

Rupert was also thoroughly appalled.

"…I wonder if she was still in the ‘status doesn’t matter’ mindset from the academy, or if she got some strange ideas after… well, ‘taking’ His Highness from me…"

She didn’t want to think about it. But if they didn't sort things out, everyone's minds were going to break. In fact, Gerald was already holding his head in utter confusion.

"Sorry… I just don’t understand the Crown Princess’s actions…"

"It’s alright, Uncle. None of us understand."

Who would have predicted that the formidable Gerald would end up like this? But this was ‘reality.’ All they knew for now was of Falty’s verbal blunders.

"What kind of statement is that in the first place…? It’s so disrespectful to Lady Cassandra!"

"Rest assured. Cassandra has declared that she will no longer tutor anyone from that royal family."

Lupia had just learned, as an additional piece of information, that Falty had apparently messed up more than she thought. If she had managed to make the Nieholm family sever ties with the royals, it was easy to imagine that other tutors had also distanced themselves from Falty.

"So, the tutors were the first to leave that royal family…"

"Yes. And then there’s the Crown Prince, who’s also a bit… you know."

"I heard from my brother. That Crown Prince apparently told him, ‘It is a royal command, stop.’"

All the children froze at that. He wasn’t the king, so what was this about a ‘royal command’? If he was already acting as if he were king, then his thought process was utterly outrageous.

"…For a slip of the tongue, that’s…"

Lupia muttered with a look of incomprehension, while Rupert was speechless. Vernella was also speechless, and her face was pale.

"…I’m starting to feel like our family should also leave that country… At first, I thought it would be fine if it was just me, but… a country that will eventually be ruled by a Crown Princess and a Crown Prince who repeatedly make such gaffes is a little…"

"Lady Vernella, if you’re going to write a letter, you should do it soon. Shall I have a letter set prepared?"

"Yes, please. Everyone, please excuse me for a moment."

"I’ll accompany you."

They watched Vernella and Gerald hastily stand up and hurry inside the manor. All that remained were a mother and her children.

"…And that’s the situation," Millière said.

"I thought it was all over once you were released, sis… but… oh!"

"What is it, Rupert?"

"Mom, earlier in the carriage, sis said she had a weird dream…"

"Did you?"

"Yes. The Crown Princess was talking with something… probably that System thing…"

"…It was… a dream, right?"

"Yes, but…"

That unsettling dream she had in the carriage. She thought she remembered Falty crying, but that was beside the point.

She could hear the conversation. They were saying something about a ‘Grand Finale End,’ but Lupia didn't even know what that meant.

She might need to ask, but she really didn't want to get involved… but if the ducal family was to renounce its title, they would surely need to pay their respects to the royal family and notify various parties. More things to think about…! As she was inwardly holding her head, Millière’s hand rested on top of it.

"Um, Mother."

"Let it all out. And let us help you."

"…Huh?"

"Me too. I want to help you, sis."

"…Rupert, too."

Her mother and brother were smiling at her. She wanted to lean on them, but another version of herself kept stopping her, saying, ‘You mustn’t, you are a duchess’s daughter.’ She didn't have to do that anymore. She could discard what was unnecessary and acquire only what she needed from now on.

Lupia smiled back at the two of them and said.

"I might not be able to explain it well… but I want you to listen. I’ll of course tell Uncle and Vernella later, but…"

She recounted the contents of her dream, holding nothing back, telling them everything she remembered. It was absurd, but it was the ‘reality’ she herself had experienced and didn’t want to remember. By voicing the contents of the dream and her ‘reality’ and organizing her thoughts, she felt as if a vague outline was beginning to form.

I won’t just let them get away with this.

And so, the real information sharing began.