Noninterference really is best, isn’t it?
If only Eleanora could cut ties cleanly after saying to back off… But that might be difficult. She values her friends just as much as her loved ones.
“Thank you for your concern. But you’re quick to hear things, aren’t you?”
“I heard it from Marquis Prynan. When I was agonizing over whether I should go see Miss Eleanora, he was the one who pushed me to go, even if I had to intrude. I’ve always been indebted to the marquis.”
Hearing Marquis Prynan’s name, I felt a slight tug.
That’s right. Given my recent visit to the castle, the prince could only know my purpose through the marquis. Did he hear it from him… or was he told by him?
Patrick, having the same idea as me, cautiously asks.
“Your Highness Edwin, do you often have the opportunity to meet with Marquis Prynan? I’d like to hear about the circumstances of your conversation yesterday.”
“Why do you ask? We occasionally cross paths at the castle, but it’s not frequent. Yesterday, he came to see me because he had an urgent matter he needed to confirm.”
My half-belief turned to certainty.
After taking over from Patrick, the words I speak become disorganized.
“Was that really an emergency?”
“It seemed like something that could wait… What have you two been implying since earlier?”
Prince Edwin hasn’t grasped the truth, but seems to sense something off about us.
This will be hard for him to accept. So I return his question with one of my own.
“Do you really think I’d go all the way to the castle just to protect Count Archiam’s position, which is nothing but a title?”
“I hear you couldn’t refuse after the count begged. Is that true?”
“Do you really think I—who spent three years at the academy turning down countless noble invitations, would suddenly be unable to refuse simply because someone pleaded with me?”
“Indeed… Then why would Miss Yumiela go out of her way…? Archiam… Dorothea Archiam!”
Realizing the existence of the count’s daughter, he snapped his eyes open.
If it were Prince Edwin, who had always stayed in the capital, he would surely know of Dorothea and Eleanora’s relationship—understanding that much would naturally explain why Marquis Prynan sent the prince to me.
It is not I who is trying to protect Count Archiam’s wishes, but Eleanora’s. The Marquis is trying to stop Eleanora by having the prince dissuade her.
In short, the Marquis tried to exploit Eleanora’s feelings of love. That infuriates me, and it also makes my blood boil that he thinks she’s the kind of shallow person who would abandon a friend just because the prince told her to.
What suddenly came to mind were the scheming old man’s words as we parted. “I’ll try what I can. Tomorrow might bring a change in circumstances. After all, I’m also troubled by my granddaughter’s whims.”
How dare you try to pander to that naive little girl with your prince charming act? Did he think he was throwing me a lifeline, saving me from this spoiled brat? Eleanora was worried about the marquis getting into trouble, you know.
My anger still boiling over, my words to the prince grew sharp and stinging.
“To smoothly carry out the removal process, it’s not me who needs persuading—it’s Eleanora. And the perfect person for the job is someone she holds in special regard. Don’t tell me you don’t know who that is?”
“I was used… No, thinking back now, the marquis felt off from the start. The fault lies with me. I was manipulated, nearly hurting Miss Eleanora…”
He pressed his hands to his temples and spoke bitterly.
Truly despicable. Knowing Eleanora’s character makes this tactic seem all the more vile. I was furious, and the prince was dejected. Burn with more rage! Before I could incite him, Patrick spoke up.
“I met that gentleman yesterday too. His gentle facade is so poisonous it dissolves your guard. No wonder His Highness Edwin was deceived.”
“Thank you, Patrick. But it’s no good. His unnatural visit, the convenient information he offered, even the fact he lured me here feels off. Looking back now, it’s full of suspicious points. If I’d thought carefully yesterday, I should have noticed. Once again, I lacked foresight.”
Prince Edwin spoke weakly. He seemed deeply dejected.
As the second prince, he must often find himself entangled in the scheming and intrigues of cunning nobles. I felt sorry for his position as royalty.
He continued to speak in a small voice.
“I think it’s better for me not to be a royalty. If I weren’t the second prince, I wouldn’t be exploited like this. If my actions cause trouble for others, it’s much better to do nothing and avoid everyone.”
To think he’d even considered renouncing his right to the throne. I’ve never heard any examples, and royalty shouldn’t be able just to leave so easily. He might have to leave the kingdom and never set foot on Balshine soil again until he dies.
After hearing this heavy confession, neither Patrick nor I could find words to respond.
I couldn’t say, “Why not just leave?” nor did I feel I had the right to stop him.
The endless silence was torn apart at the room’s entrance. The door swung open forcefully, drawing everyone’s gaze.
There she was, listening to every word with her ear pressed against the door.
“What are you saying?! That’s not like you, Edwin!”
“Eleanora!? You’ve been here this whole time?”
Eleanora was furious. She glared at the prince with an uncharacteristically sharp gaze.
“Is Edwin-sama’s desire to help others merely something he feels compelled to have because he’s a prince? That can’t be right! Edwin-sama strives to make the world better precisely because he is Edwin-sama! I know that as a child, he struggled with studies, swordsmanship, and magic—yet he worked hard at everything to support his elder brother who would one day become king!”
Her words, spoken with explosive emotion, continued. Gradually, her voice became tearful.
“The saying that even if things might get worse than they are now, if someone is suffering, we must move forward. I heard it clearly, and I still remember it! You have changed. I… I… I hate you!”
Having blurted all this out in one breath, Eleonora ran off without waiting for the prince’s reply.
Her sobs faded into the distance, and the reception room, with its door still open, once again enveloped in silence.
No one spoke for a long while. Finally, Patrick broke the silence.
“Yumiela, go check on Miss Eleanora.”
“Y-yes.”
I sprang to my feet and left the two behind, chasing after Eleanora.
I couldn’t bear to see what Prince Edwin’s face looked like then.
◆ ◆ ◆
Following Eleanora was easy. The servants at the estate seemed concerned about her running while crying, and without needing to ask, they told me where she was headed.
After going upstairs and walking down the hallway, I arrived at Eleanora’s room.
“I’m coming in.”
I called out before entering. I looked around the room, but she wasn’t there.
…She’s gone? That can’t be. The window’s shut, and there’s no hole in the wall. She must be hiding somewhere.
A rattling sound came from the closet when I peered under the bed. There she is.
“I’m going to open this too.”
The rattling closet opened to reveal Eleanora castle. She was huddled in a corner of the cramped closet. Her eyes, swollen from crying and redder than usual, looked up at me.
“Edwin-sama won’t come, will he?”
“It’s okay. If he does come, we’ll barricade ourselves in together.”
I crouched down to meet her gaze.
Eleanora was sniffling, but she seemed to be calming down gradually. She began to speak, though her words were halting in places.
“How could I… have done that…”
“They say if pushing doesn’t work, try pulling. You shouldn’t dwell too much on saying you hate him.”
“But… I hate the changed Edwin-sama. I forced my own image of Edwin-sama onto him. Then… that makes me no different from those who’ve troubled Edwin-sama by forcing their own convenient desires upon him just because he’s the Second Prince, doesn’t it?”
“…You might be right.”
I had been mistaken. I thought I was just comforting a girl feeling down after accidentally telling the boy she liked that she hated him.
Having just been furious at Marquis Prynan for underestimating Eleanora, I realized I might have been the same. She possesses pure love to the very end. Her love, born of being in love with love itself, was truly love.
It makes me uneasy, wondering if I love Patrick that much.
Pulling the draped dress aside forcefully, I squeezed myself into the closet. I sat snuggled up close to Eleanora. Then I closed the door.
This hide-and-seek game seems unlike something two grown women would play. In the dim light, I ask slowly.
“Eleanora, you liked His Highness who worked hard for others, didn’t you?”
“That’s right. I like all of Edwin—the kind Edwin, the cold Edwin, the smiling Edwin, the angry Edwin. But the one I loved most was Prince Edwin who was trying his hardest.”
“Even if he wasn’t the second prince anymore?”
“It wouldn’t matter.”
“What if he lost his will and stopped trying?”
The answer that had been given without pause stopped dead.
In the dim light of a closet, my eyes work just fine. Looking beside me, I saw Eleonora, her eyes tightly shut, her face twisted in deep thought.
Silence lingered for a while, then she spoke.
“…I like him. Even so, I love Edwin-sama.”
Oh, I see. Now that we understand this much, the rest is easy. It boils down to the typical tsundere elementary school girl level.
“Oh dear, Eleanora, you told the prince you love that you hate him.”
“Ahhh… What should I do…?”
“It happens all the time. You’ll be fine.”
Oh dear, the stupid prince really is foolish. To keep ignoring a girl’s feelings like this.
I don’t really get what she means by “trying hard.” If he tries his best, he should start by leveling up and reaching level 99.
But then again, the prince was the reason we met in the first place. If she suddenly says something like, “I’m not interested in Edwin-sama,” that would be a problem.
Well, the closet is starting to feel cramped.
“Shall we head out soon?”
“Already? But I was just starting to have fun.”
“…You switch gears quickly, don’t you, Eleanora-sama?”
“Huh? -sama? But you were calling me by my first name just now.”
“Is that so? I always call you Eleanora-sama. Changing a name I’ve used for so long feels embarrassing.”
“Yumiera-chan… I’ll call you Yumiera-san from now on.”
Eleanora-chan might think no one noticed because it’s dark, but her face is bright red. …My heart’s starting to race. The part pressed against me feels soft, and she smells nice… What if something happens?
I really should leave. The crying Eleanora is gone. Patrick will send the prince home soon, and I have things to do.
“I’m leaving. I’ll move to the closet in my room.”
“Are you hiding again?”
“No, I’d like Eleanora-sama to help me choose a dress. I’m going to the party tonight.”
Prince Edwin still acts recklessly. I also understand the depth of Eleanora’s love. I know I am the strongest. And I know that Marquis Prynan is a despicable villain.
It’s time for a rematch. Helping Count Archiam? I couldn’t care less. Forget that. I won’t let the Marquis have his way. I won’t rest until he pays for trampling on Eleanora’s feelings.
As I stepped out of the closet, I glanced back. Eleanor looked dazed, her eyes squinted against the glare, her mouth hanging open.
“You’re wearing that dress yourself, Yumiela-san?”
“A beautiful dress is a lady’s combat gear, isn’t it?”
I know I said something out of character. But I want to take down Marquis Prynan politically. The feeling of wanting to beat him to a pulp, leaving no room for excuses—like being dragged into a real fight by that Yumiera—was overwhelming.
Grasping the hand I extended, Eleonora finally emerged from the closet. Then she said.
“Yumiela-san, please listen carefully. Beams don’t shoot out of dresses.”
“…I know.”
“Eh? But combat gear… means you’re going somewhere to fight, right?”
“No, that’s not what I meant. It just means, ultimately, the Archiam family’s position will be protected.”
It wasn’t going well. But when she heard that, Eleanora’s smile made everything else seem unimportant.
Beams dont shoot out of Dresses.
Everyone understands Yumiela so well.