The Runaway Princess #2
Who is Simon?
The deliberation didn't last long. Simon was the name of the knight I had met at the Philemon Marcher's estate.
…It must be someone with the same name. Why would a knight suddenly write a book?
“Brother, are you managing your image with things like this now?”
Cecilia tapped the cover of the book. I didn't know what it was, but the cover was incredibly flashy.
Could that possibly be me?
I waved my hand dismissively.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding, my foot. I looked it up, and the author is a former knight. Why would a knight write a book praising you like this? It must be something you ordered him to do.”
Is it really *that* Simon?
“What? Is it really not you?”
Seeing my reaction, Cecilia wore a suspicious expression.
“Why would I bother?”
I am not the type of person to worry about my image.
No, I do think about it, but...
It’s already quite late to try and restore it.
Besides, that’s not me; the original tyrant was someone who didn't care at all.
Cecilia should know that better than anyone.
“That’s why it’s strange, so I came to ask. Are you sure you didn't do it, Brother? Then what is it?”
“Doesn't it occur to you that he might just be a knight who purely likes me a lot?”
“It doesn't. Do you think it would, Brother?”
I suppose it wouldn't. Especially not with the image of me that Cecilia remembers.
She is closer to being my sore spot.
I had managed to improve my relationship with Theodore to some extent, but for Cecilia, even that was a distant goal.
The reason she left the Imperial Palace was to train to defeat me, after all.
“Have you returned fully prepared to defeat me?”
“…….”
Cecilia stared at me intently.
Then, she let out a deep sigh.
“I don’t think I’m ready yet.”
“Is that so? Do your best.”
“……Getting cheered on by you makes me feel even angrier.”
What can I do?
To be blunt, I don't think I would lose even if I were ambushed while sleeping.
Objectively speaking, with Cecilia’s talent, it would be difficult even if she scraped together every miraculous opportunity in the world.
But we aren't on the kind of terms where I can just tell her to give up and come home.
I have no choice but to cheer her on.
“Haa. I even went all the way to the Great Forest, but there’s really no progress.”
“Did you meet the pointy-ears?”
No wonder her footsteps felt light. Did she learn some elven footwork?
“That sounds like a pretty decent achievement.”
“So what? You’ve become even more like a monster in the meantime, Brother.”
That may be true, but I shouldn't be used as a benchmark in the first place.
I looked at Cecilia.
When she was young, she was so cute, calling me 'Brother, Brother' all the time. She even used polite, respectful language without fail.
It’s my own karma that we ended up like this, so I can’t say much.
Where did my cute little sister Cecil go, and why is there only a woman left who is past her prime for marriage and full of bitterness?
I miss the past.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It’s nothing. By the way, don’t you have any thoughts of giving up and coming back?”
“No. Not until I’m certain I can defeat you, Brother. This time is special.”
Does that mean she’s never coming back? Well, that explains why she’s wandering around outside without even looking for a marriage partner.
To think my younger sister is destined to become an old maid.
“……Something feels unpleasant.”
“Must be your imagination.”
Of course, that’s only because of the nature of this world where marriageable age comes quite early.
Cecilia sat opposite me with a prickly attitude.
“It’s been a while, Lady Cecilia.”
“……It’s been a while, Elise.”
The two exchanged awkward greetings.
They are old childhood friends, but seeing them like this, they seemed to feel a slight awkwardness.
It was Cecilia who broke the silence first.
“Why is Elise here?”
“Pardon? Ah.”
Indeed, the princess who had been wandering the continent for training wouldn't know how the Empire was changing.
“She is my proxy. As the backbone of the Empire, she is working hard every day.”
“Ha?”
Cecilia furrowed her brows.
“What does that mean? What is Elise doing?”
“That is how it turned out, Lady Cecilia.”
It is a hard fact to accept.
Her friend, who had been dominating high society until she left, is suddenly the highest power in the Imperial Court.
After pondering for a long time, my younger sister whipped her head toward me.
“Brother, are you marrying Elise?”
“Pardon?”
What.
“W-w-what are you talking about, Lady Cecilia.”
“Well, isn't that it? If it’s not that, then for what reason is Elise...?”
In a way, it was a reasonable question.
A young emperor who is fond of women, and a daughter of a Duke who has been close to him since childhood.
And yet, the Emperor suddenly poured all his power into her?
I entrusted it to her because I knew she would handle it well if I just gave the order, but to an outsider, it was a relationship with enough room for misunderstanding.
“It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Cecilia’s eyes stared at me. Then, she glanced at Elizabeth.
“……?”
“There’s also a face I’m seeing for the first time.”
And then she looked at Lily.
“Nice to meet you, Princess Cecilia. I am Lily, who serves His Majesty, though I am lacking.”
“Right. Another woman.”
Once again, my younger sister’s golden eyes stared straight at me.
“……Is it really a misunderstanding?”
“There is room to think so, but it is a misunderstanding.”
I merely gathered people out of necessity.
Of course, I can’t say I have absolutely no personal interest.
If I didn't have personal interest in female characters, I wouldn't have played this game in the first place.
“Forget it. Anyway, since I’m here, I’ll stay for a few more days.”
“As you wish.”
Cecilia stood up and left the room.
Her ponytail swayed long and light.
*
Cecilia von Aquitaine.
Although she is an Imperial Princess, she couldn't help but admire the Imperial Palace upon her return after such a long time.
“Is this really the place I knew?”
“It has changed a lot.”
Elizabeth smiled faintly. For reference, Khalid had sent her.
‘It’s been a while since you’ve met, hasn't it? Today is relatively relaxed compared to usual, so go and spend some time with her.’
He called it a vacation, but...
If you really think about it, isn't serving the Princess supposed to count as work?
They might be childhood friends, but one should still distinguish between things.
Such thoughts crossed Elizabeth’s mind for a moment, but she shook them off with a smile.
“Lady Cecilia has changed a lot, too.”
“I-is that so?”
“For starters, you didn't use such casual speech before.”
“Ah.”
She had become more accustomed to the rough speech of the mercenary world than the formal etiquette of the Imperial Palace. Cecilia mumbled, looking embarrassed.
“Is it strange?”
“Fufu. No. It’s cute.”
Elizabeth covered her mouth and laughed. It was a casual tone she had never imagined for herself, but...
Seeing Cecilia like this, it actually suited her well.
They say elegance and class are innate; no matter what she said, nobility flowed from her fingertips and toes.
“Cute, my foot.”
Cecilia grumbled as if she didn't like being called cute.
But she didn't seem to hate it entirely.
Even if she chose the life of an adventurer wandering the continent instead of remaining a flower of the Imperial Palace to become stronger...
What woman wouldn't be happy to be called cute?
“Many things have changed while you were away, Lady Cecilia.”
“It seems so.”
Cecilia muttered softly, as if she had seen a fascinating sight. The Imperial Palace she remembered was not such a warm space.
Hadn't she run away because she hated that place, which felt like walking on thin ice where it wouldn't be strange if someone died at any moment?
Those who speak the truth die.
Those who speak sweet lies receive the Emperor’s favor.
She hated seeing her brother fall apart, swayed by the sweet whispers of such people.
She wanted to stop him, even if it meant using force.
‘You are weak, Cecil.’
It was no use. The cold face of her brother, looking down at her while grabbing her hair so miserably, still makes her shudder even now.
Although quite some time has passed and they have recovered to a relationship where they can talk normally, at first, it was hard to even look him in the eye.
“But now...”
It has changed a lot. Just as the Imperial Palace has changed, so has the appearance of the brother she met.
Cecilia knew that the gaze he directed at her contained affection for family.
It felt like seeing her brother from when she was young.
What could be the reason for that?
As she rolled her eyes, she saw Elizabeth, who had been following closely by her side.
“Elise, why don’t you tell me? Are you two really in that kind of relationship?”
“……I told you, it’s not like that.”
“Then it’s not two, but three? Even that girl who was next to you?”
“W-what on earth have you been doing while you were away, Lady Cecilia?”
Elizabeth’s purple eyes trembled.
“I thought maybe the reason Brother changed so suddenly was because of you, Elise.”
“T-that’s impossible.”
“If not, then never mind.”
Cecilia turned away as if she had lost interest.
From her perspective, it was close to a lighthearted prank. She didn't think, *'Could it really be?'*
After all, wasn't he the brother who lived with women more than anyone else?
He was someone who had never truly loved, even while holding women in his arms.
It was hard for Cecilia to believe that Khalid had changed because he had come to love one woman.
However, just as a frog can be struck dead by a stone thrown lightly...
Elizabeth, who was following Cecilia, pursed her lips for no reason.
‘……Does His Majesty really love me?’
W-well, now that I think about it, he did entrust me with a very big role, even if it was a bit much.
I-is it true?
Her brilliant brain began to spin furiously.