Chapter 152
Chapter 152
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: 13. Cutting Water with a Sword (13)
"I heard your brother visited this morning."
"That's not something you need to... No, it's fine. He said he'd come back once his thoughts are sorted out and his personal issues are resolved."
"What? For what reason?"
"He wants to talk again after everything's in order."
"My goodness."
Yustina was a bit shocked by her father's words. She could hardly believe they came from her brother, who had been fuming with anger.
Of course, she knew her father wasn't one to make empty promises like that, so there was no need to press him on it. Still, it was hard to accept.
The duke sighed as he saw the puzzled look on Yustina's face.
His daughter had always shared his own mindset and demeanor, but lately, she seemed to be changing, trying to follow in her brother's footsteps.
It wasn't a bad thing.
But it still made his heart feel complicated.
"It's not a guarantee he'll return. But if there's any chance he might come back in some form, that's something to welcome."
"...You're right."
"What do you want to do?"
"Pardon?"
"About the succession."
"I'd like to wait until Brother's situation is resolved."
As expected. The duke lowered his head slightly and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Truth be told, the position of heir in a ducal house like theirs could never be left vacant. Especially in a territory like Lebedev, where even the duke's life could be as fragile as a fly's.
The problem was Yustina's position was too ambiguous. No matter how positively it was spun, most people would see her only as "the replacement for Yulius, who left after failing to manage his child properly."
In the end, it wouldn't be good for the family or for Yustina. That's why he'd pinned all his hopes on his son returning.
And thankfully, it seemed his son had heard something from the women around him that softened his heart a bit.
"Yustina."
"Yes."
"Do you have any dreams of your own?"
"Now and before, I just want to support Brother by his side."
"I see."
It would be nice if she could just give up moderately and get married. From a father's perspective, it was baffling. But her affection for her brother was downright abnormal.
How should he handle this?
It would be better if they weren't blood siblings, but unless his wife had cheated—which she hadn't—they definitely were.
No, even if there had been infidelity, they'd still be half-siblings.
Given Yulius's personality, nothing like that would happen, but if something did develop between them, it might be better to just bite his tongue and die. Such dark thoughts crossed his mind.
"Do as you wish."
"Yes."
Her faint smile at those words only gave the duke a headache.
It was autumn, and the days were growing chilly.
**
"In the end, I didn't get a single firm answer."
"Can't you take it a little slower?"
"I'm already going slow, even if it's frustrating."
"Please just wait a bit longer."
"Hm."
Inside the carriage, alone together just like on the way there. The emperor pouted, then lit up with a good idea and pressed her lips to my cheek.
Once I gave her some leeway, her affections grew bolder.
Her silver hair made her flushed cheeks stand out even more.
I could push things further here if I wanted, and honestly, I wouldn't mind it. But starting something without full certainty would lead to regrets later.
And worse, it would hurt her more than me.
In the end, I placed my hand on her cheek, which was growing redder as she realized what she'd done.
"I told you not to rush."
"Ahem. My impulses got the better of me."
"It's fine."
"Er, um. And one request."
"Yes."
"When it's just us, you can drop the formal speech."
"That might be a bit risky, no?"
"It's fine. Oh, and I'd like you to call me Alina."
"...Alina."
"Hee."
She smiled happily just from hearing her name, leaving me unsure of how to proceed.
It was so different from the noblewoman I'd met at annual events during my aristocracy days that it was hard to adjust.
When I offered my right hand again—meaning I wanted to hold hers—she brought her cheek to it.
Her innocently adorable expression made me unable to hold back a laugh. Since we'd already dropped formalities, I placed my left hand on her other cheek and rubbed them vigorously.
"That was supposed to mean you wanted to hold hands, Alina."
"Mhm."
She pulled her face away and offered her hand. I hooked my pinky with hers.
"If someone loves only one person their whole life, that's one out of the world's population... about 800 million right now. And the chance that person loves me back is the same, one in 800 million."
"...Right."
"So, I think love isn't some fated gift. It's when someone falls first, acts to make themselves more appealing, and draws the other in."
"Says the one who's never been in love."
"Exactly. That's why I, who hasn't experienced it, don't believe in destined love. But still."
I paused to catch my breath.
I wanted to express it perfectly, without misunderstanding.
"Imagining being with you doesn't feel uncomfortable or burdensome, and I think that's because of the side of yourself you've shown me. If this continues, maybe someday I could say I love you."
"Yeah."
"Wait for me."
"...How can I refuse when you put it like that?"
Yeah. It was practically coercion. But this was the most sincerity I could offer right now.
Not everything from the people I met after leaving the academy had been good—there were disappointments and discomforts, naturally.
But she always listened to me, considered my feelings, and consistently showed me kindness. That hadn't changed.
She occasionally went overboard due to her inexperience with romance, but she always respected my wishes in the end. That was nice too.
Is there anyone in the world who's perfect from head to toe and utterly lovable?
Even with flaws, if the person is likable enough to endure them, isn't that enough?
"Proof."
"Hm?"
"Proof you'll come back later."
She held out her hand with a slightly sulky expression. After a moment's thought, I kissed it.
"No matter what happens, I plan to keep moving forward. No more running away."
In my past life, I'd always averted my eyes and fled. Even now, with Rias starting to go astray and Yustina veering off course, I'd closed my eyes and run from those around me.
And I'd essentially fled the academy too.
But not anymore.
I need to face forward properly.
**
"Hmm-hmm."
Princess Canilla paced her room, lost in thought. She'd been reprimanded by her father, the king, for half-ruining Christoph's lineage, but her argument that such seeds were better off gone had left him speechless.
So, with no confinement imposed, combining Christoph's gathered intel with her own, she had a rough idea of Yulius's whereabouts.
"The Empire... but the emperor isn't there right now. Could it be?"
Canilla, true to her reputation as a descendant of the current royal family with its poor image, was mostly seen as having her brains turned to a flower garden. Her miraculous thought process linked everything to love and romance—a gold digger for handsome faces, sexy minds, or impeccable manners, jumping to engagement proposals.
The reason she'd been relatively quiet lately was simple: she'd seen Yulius, the epitome of perfection.
No other man caught her eye. It wasn't an exaggeration.
"Oh my, oh my. Is he dating the emperor?"
Of course, her bizarre train of thought didn't always miss the mark; sometimes she hit the nail on the head.
With Rias and Yulius on bad terms, and rumors that the young noble paragon had never fallen in love, dating the emperor wasn't highly probable.
But that was beside the point.
Once Yulius became king consort, he might take a secondary wife depending on circumstances.
What did that mean for her?
The "prime stock inevitably going to Rias" had become "fruit I can sneak a taste from if I rub up against it a bit."
"Alright. Since Yulius hates me, I need to create a situation where he has no choice but to accept whatever I do."
If Christoph heard that, he'd clutch his crotch and yell, "If you know he hates you, just stop!" With such a line in mind, Canilla slipped into bed.
It was dinner time. She'd been pacing frantically since the sun was high, so her legs ached.
"Princess, dinner has arrived."
"Okay!"
The door opened, revealing unremarkable food—but one thing stood out.
Coffee.
The coffee Namei Christe had received as a gift.
Using some family influence in negotiations, she'd gotten a taste and liked it.
Bitter. That's life.
Having read about it somewhere, she sipped pretentiously, drawing a subtle look of contempt from the servant.
Finishing her dinner in bed like a slob, Canilla smiled contentedly and drifted off.
It was 8 p.m.
No reason to sleep unless you're an early riser or unemployed.