The Crown Princess's Interest
As I followed Achillea fil Hamen Ulais, she led me into a room that looked unmistakably old-fashioned. Amusingly enough, it was one of the administrative offices used by the Academy, yet Achillea paid that fact no mind and naturally took the seat of honor.
Was this what it meant to be the next emperor of the Empire? That even something like this was simply beneath notice?
“Sit down, child.”
“I am grateful for your boundless mercy.”
When Achillea casually offered me a seat, I bowed my head and lowered myself into the chair she had indicated. On the table in front of the sofa, two teacups had already been prepared. They had probably been set out for Leonhardt rather than me, but I didn’t particularly care. Achillea didn’t seem bothered by the sudden change in her schedule either.
“My foolish little brother has caused you quite the inconvenience.”
“Not at all. I was also rude, so I believe we are even.”
“Hehe. Are you trying to gloss over the crime of insulting the imperial family so easily?”
Tsk. She’d seen right through me.
Achillea took a sip of tea with a small laugh, and I could only offer an awkward smile in return. No matter what, she wouldn’t go so far as to execute the second son of a founding contributor family—one that had helped place her on the path to becoming crown princess. With that thought in mind, I lifted my own teacup.
“I can only rely on Her Highness the Crown Princess’s boundless mercy.”
“You certainly have a silver tongue.”
The tea carried a profoundly deep flavor. Of course, I had no real expertise in tea… but if Felice’s body perceived it that way, then that was that.
“Still, I must say I’m surprised. I never imagined the second son of House Astria would be such an intriguing person.”
“……You flatter me.”
I couldn’t tell whether it was praise or an insult, but I decided to take it as a compliment. In response, Achillea simply continued savoring her tea with that same relaxed smile.
“You needn’t worry too much about what happened with Leonhardt. His Majesty is also quite displeased with that child’s recent misbehavior.”
“Understood.”
As I listened to Achillea, I let out a quiet sigh of relief in my mind. After all, if his own son was running around tarnishing the imperial family’s honor under the excuse of being royalty, there was no way the emperor would simply let it slide. If he were the type to overlook such things, he would never have become emperor of the Empire in the first place. Perhaps the price Leonhardt would pay was never becoming crown prince.
Even so, while I felt relief at Achillea’s words, I could not relax. Simply being in her presence kept every nerve in my body taut. Achillea fil Hamen Ulais was, without question, the most dangerous person I had ever encountered.
Leonhardt was like a child with a fiery temper—difficult to handle, but manageable. Achillea, on the other hand, was like ice. Her abilities, her talent, her dazzling eloquence, and her political acumen were all so exceptional that she had turned the hearts of nobles who despised her and secured her position as crown princess. No matter that House Astria was a founding contributor family, I could not let my guard down in front of her. There was no telling when she might use me as an excuse to put a leash around my family’s neck.
“There’s no need to be so tense.”
“……How could I possibly not be tense before Her Highness the Crown Princess?”
“Well, I suppose my appearance is beautiful enough to make anyone nervous.”
The mischievous grin that spread across Achillea’s face left me no choice but to smile awkwardly in return. She was certainly beautiful, but what I feared far more was making a mistake.
“It is true that among the young lords, Her Highness’s beauty is praised as being comparable to a goddess.”
“Hmm? I seem to recall being called a vampire.”
“That is nothing but the petty jealousy of foolish people.”
A cold sweat trickled down my spine. This woman—Achellea—had no particular complex about her appearance. She was the type who remained completely unmoved by those who disparaged her by calling her vampiric. Even so, the fact that she brought it up now was clearly meant to tease me.
Her playful yet dangerous words left my mouth so dry that I instinctively licked my lips.
“I am well aware of that. So tell me, what do you think?”
“……What exactly are you referring to?”
“Does my appearance suit your taste?”
……I had no idea what her intention was with that question. For a split second, my face nearly twisted into a frown, but I barely managed to keep my expression neutral as I answered.
“How could someone like me possibly presume to judge Your Highness’s appearance? I can only say that you are the most beautiful person I have ever seen.”
“I see. In that case, would you like to hold my hand once?”
“……How could I dare lay a hand on Your Highness’s noble person?”
There had never been any particular point of contact between Achillea and Felice. So for her to suddenly say something like this left me feeling like I was losing my mind. She couldn’t possibly be looking for something to use against me… or was this really just a joke?
Amused by how flustered I looked as I desperately tried to refuse, Achillea smiled and continued.
“How dull.”
“Your jokes go too far.”
“Shall I scold you properly, then?”
“……Your Highness.”
I let out a deep sigh without realizing it, and Achillea burst into soft laughter.
“My apologies. It has been a long time since I met a child who speaks to royalty so boldly, so I got a little carried away.”
“Haha……”
It seemed she had found my rude attitude toward Leonhardt interesting. Still, I couldn’t possibly behave the same way toward Achillea, so I could only smile awkwardly. He was nothing but an ignorant brat, while she was practically a battle-hardened veteran.
“It seems I have taken too much of your time.”
“Not at all. I also found it quite enjoyable.”
“What a terrible liar you are.”
I knew the age difference between Achillea and Felice was only about two years, yet the way she spoke made it sound like she was addressing a very young child. It was funny that my actual age was far greater, yet I didn’t find it unpleasant to be treated that way by her.
“I have work to attend to, so let us end things here.”
“Understood.”
Following Achillea’s words, I stood up as well. She walked leisurely toward the door, but then paused as if something had occurred to her and turned back to me.
“It is widely known that I will ascend as crown princess, but in truth I have not yet officially taken the position, so be more careful next time.”
“……I apologize.”
“There is no need to apologize.”
Achillea gave a small smile, then continued in a meaningful tone.
“Next time, if you call me Achillea, I will consider overlooking it.”
“……Please just kill me instead.”
The time I had spent with Achillea was short, yet for some reason I felt completely drained.
“Haa……!”
Bang!!
Leonhardt fil Hamen Ulais could not contain the rage boiling up to the top of his head. He hurled a nearby chair and exhaled roughly.
“Crown princess?”
The rude behavior Felice had shown him, Achillea’s sudden appearance, and the conversation the two of them had shared—having heard it all, Leonhardt’s head burned with uncontrollable fury. The words crown princess kept spinning through his mind.
Leonhardt had never once doubted it. He had always believed that the position of crown prince would eventually be his. He had thought himself superior to that insidious woman and to the man who pretended not to care about the throne while secretly pulling every dirty trick in the book. That was why he had been able to proudly declare himself the crown prince wherever he went.
[Get a hold of yourself. That is the only way you will keep your life.]
Yet now, without him knowing, that insidious woman was going to become crown princess? And that madman Felice actually thought he could insult him like that and still survive?
Leonhardt clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. His blue eyes blazed as he spat out his words.
“These insignificant things dare to ignore me?”
Compared to him, they were all inferior. Talent, martial prowess, bloodline—everything. He was superior in every way. That fact would never change.
Biting his lower lip, Leonhardt finally made up his mind and turned on his heel.
I must see His Majesty at once.
To confirm whether it was true that Achillea was being appointed crown princess… and to discuss what should be done about Felice, who had insulted him.
Just as he hurried forward, Leonhardt stopped in his tracks at the sight of the person standing before him.
“……Move.”
“It seems you are on your way to see His Majesty.”
At some point, Achillea—who had disappeared with Felice—had returned. She was staring at Leonhardt with the same cold eyes as always.
Grind.
“I said move.”
Leonhardt growled through gritted teeth. Even with his fury on full display, Achillea remained perfectly composed. As if no matter what he did, he could never surpass her.
The way she naturally looked down at him made Leonhardt bite his lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
“It will be pointless even if you go.”
“……What would you know, you wench.”
“Do you truly believe you can change something that has already been decided?”
Seeing Achillea smile as if she found him pathetic, Leonhardt felt heat surge into his head once more. As his body trembled violently, unable to contain his rage, Achillea took one elegant step closer and spoke in a low, quiet voice.
“It is already a foregone conclusion that I will take that position. You know very well that it is not something someone like you can change, don’t you?”
“……”
“And one more thing.”
Achillea’s long, slender finger touched the tip of Leonhardt’s chin. Forcing his lowered head up, she met his eyes and said,
“Do not lay a hand on that child. I have finally found someone interesting after so long.”
The beautiful smile that curved her lips was accompanied by a voice that was
“cold and chilling enough that I doubt I would be able to hold back if you touched him.”
Leonhardt could only stare blankly at Achillea’s retreating figure as she turned and walked away, unable to even fully register that he had been completely overwhelmed.