25. The Crown Princess
The Pope’s coup d’état was over in a day, and thanks to the king’s—Xanagan’s—swift arrangement of contractors, the royal capital’s repairs were smooth-sailing.
“—And here I thought I was going to lose my entire capital. Thankfully, there’s little to no damage.”
At the usual tea party, Xanagan breathed a sigh of relief.
Presently, there were only four of them—Buffeg, Elmera, the queen, and the king. Therefore, the atmosphere was more relaxing than usual.
“By the way, Buffeg, what happened to the fire dragon?”
“Oh, the fire dragon is residing peacefully in a bird cage near the black wolf. Lord Lydian named him Gradfrim.”
“Hmm, an impressive name, but I’m sure Lady Eleonora will change it again, anyway. Now that the Pope’s faction has been eradicated, the burden on my shoulders has been lifted, but we’re facing yet another crisis.”
The king was seemingly dour, and there was a valid reason for that.
The aftermath of the Pope’s coup d’état was a major reformation.
Xanagan and Lydian took this opportunity to weed out the pus in the royal palace.
Up until that point, Xanagan was keeping up with the schedule, so there was no problem.
Lydian, who’d finished cleaning up, said this in front of Xanagan and his subjects.
“All right, now that we’ve gotten rid of the rampant waste, it’s time for me to become a real family with Eleonora. At first, I intended to wait until she graduated from the academy, but due to the queen’s education and other things, we rarely get to see each other. If that’s the case, I thought it’d be a good idea for us to get married and live in the royal palace. What do you think?”
Although Lydian phrased it as a question, everyone knew it was an order. If they refused, they’d either be reduced into charcoal by the fire dragon, or fed to the black wolf… Either way, there was no salvation.
To the senior vassals, Lydian was the ‘Eloquent Crown Prince’ no more, but the ‘Fearsome Doom Lord.’ Thus, they came to see Eleonora as the ‘Woeful Sacrificial Virgin.’
In fact, the people of the royal capital believed that in order to appease The Tyrant, Lydian, Eleonora had no choice but to marry him. That Lydian, who had taken an interest in Eleonora, forced her to marry him. As a result, The Duke of Bazestilma family garnered sympathy from their surroundings.
However, it didn’t end there, as the rumors only escalated even further, ultimately becoming ‘Prince Lydian is the sealed Demon King. Just as the prophet said, he’s awakened from a 100-year slumber and has been resurrected!’
Eleonora, who was in high spirits because she was about to marry the love of her life, remained in the dark.
Even now, she had invited a merchant to her mansion, about to enjoy shopping.
Nobody could stop her from splurging left and right.
“…Poor Lady Eleonora.”
“She’s trying to distract herself from her fear by shopping.”
…Many people misunderstood her actions as such.
Meanwhile, Eleonora was like, “Ohohoho! Not even my father dares to interfere with the future queen!” She casually bought a bunch of ridiculously expensive jewelry and dresses.
On the other hand, the merchants pitifully stared at Eleonora.
“I pity you. You’re putting up a strong front. Deep down, you must be in so much despair…”
Some even broke down crying.
Eleonora was baffled. “Why would you pity me? I’m the happiest person alive right now.”
Even after the merchant left, Eleonora was still hung up on it.
“Why do I have to be pitied? What am I? A commoner? Considering that I am the duke’s daughter and the future queen, they should be sending blessings my way, not sympathy!?”
Feeling unwell, Eleonora had a tea set brought to the terrace overlooking the garden. As she sat there, sipping tea brewed from high-quality tea leaves, someone called out to her.
It was none other than her own father, the Duke of Bazestilma, Isengard.
“Don’t push yourself too hard, Eleonora. There’s no need to hide your tears from us.”
“That’s right, Eleonora. I can’t go against the king’s orders, but if something happens, I’ll defect. I’m willing to give up my status for your sake.”
Her mother, Altina, burst into tears as she pulled her daughter into an embrace.
Out of fear for her daughter, the duchess refused to touch her food. She was completely emaciated, and her cheeks were sunken.
The same went for Isengard. He was very haggard and seemed a decade older than his actual age.
Isengard never stopped blaming himself. After all, not only did he fail to protect his daughter, he also could do nothing but watch as his wife deteriorated day by day.
—Eleonora, on the other hand, was the epitome of liveliness.
“Father, Mother, I don’t really understand what you mean.”
When Eleonora uttered that in confusion, her parents burst into tears.
Eleonora, who was growing more perplexed by the second, looked around her surroundings. Was there anyone who could explain this situation?
However, the maids only averted their gazes. By the way, Luna was on a vacation. To be precise, she was on a trip.
The maids who were close to Eleonora were well aware of the actual situation, but they kept their mouths shut, fearing they might be dragged into a mess if they said the wrong thing.
Soon, the wailing of the duke and the duchess resonated on the terrace. Eleonora was growing nervous.
A few days after that happened, Eleonora’s parents came to visit her in her room.
They were unusually chirpy.
“It’s all right now, Eleonora.”
“That’s right, Eleonora. Your step-sister will marry Lydian on your behalf.”
It was a curveball.
Even though she had a stepbrother, she never knew she had a stepsister?
—More importantly, what did they mean, ‘on her behalf’?
“Wait, Mother, Father. What on earth does that mean? Also, I have a stepsister?”
“Oh, right. Of course, you didn’t know. There is a lady around the same age as you in the house where your stepbrother, Desti, was born. She was so concerned about you that she offered to marry His Highness Lydian in your stead. She’s a gorgeous beauty, so I’m sure His Highness Lydian will agree. Good for you, Eleonora!”
Her parents smiled for the first time in a while, but Eleonora was as pale as a ghost.
“W-why would you allow such a thing!? I truly love His Highness Lydian!! Didn’t I ask Father to get engaged with him!? I even threatened to set this mansion on fire if you didn’t make the engagement happen!!”
“R-really?”
Isengard tilted his head.
“—Father! Did you forget that I begged you to take me to the castle solely because I wanted to meet His Highness Lydian!? At that time, I told the maid I’d whip her if she didn’t keep her mouth shut!”
Truly, what a bona fide villainess she was.
Lately, she’d been hailed as a saint or a goddess so much that she was on the verge of losing confidence, but Eleonora was, without a doubt, a villainess.
When Eleonora spoke proudly, Isengard knitted his eyebrows and frowned.
“I-I’m sorry, it has slipped my mind. After all, His Highness Lydian said that if he couldn’t be with you, he’d sooner just summon a fire dragon and lay waste to this entire kingdom… The memory still brings me fear to this day…”
Isengard’s body trembled like a newborn fawn. His wife, Altina, rubbed his back with concern. It was a touching love between husband and wife. In fact, their love was well-known in social circles, but that had no bearing on the current topic.
Apparently, Lydian’s remarks were so extreme to the point that her own parents had forgotten her true nature. Eleonora’s shoulders slumped at the realization.
When her parents saw how depressed she was, they reached out to her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were looking forward to marrying His Highness Lydian…”
“But, well, I wish you happiness. I’ll inform your step-sister that she doesn’t need to proceed with the marriage.”
Her parents did their best to cheer Eleonora up, but it did nothing to alleviate her pain.
…In the meantime, at Desti’s birthplace, the House of Count Babfelden.
Countess Daruane and her daughter, Bertiana, were hysterical after receiving a notice of cancellation from Isengard.
“What is the meaning of this!? Bertiana won’t be His Highness Lydian’s fiancée!?”
“Nooooooooooooooo!! How can this be!? Desti!! He probably did something! It has to be him!!”
The glass tableware rattled at Bertiana’s screech.
“Oh, Bertiana, the apple of my eye! You deserve to be the crown princess in the royal capital rather than wallowing in the countryside!! Ah, of course, the countryside doesn’t suit me, either!!”
“Motheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeer!!!”
Bertiana and Daruane hugged each other and cried a lot.
As a matter of course, when they offered to take Eleonora’s place, they never did it out of good intentions.
They didn’t take the bad rumors circulating around Lydian seriously, believing it was the work of his political enemies.
“Yes, it must be Desti’s doing! I can’t allow him to remain in the royal capital!”
“That’s right, Mother. Why don’t we pay the duke a visit and ask for Desti back? He doesn’t deserve all the good things that happen to him! Our lives will be so much easier without him!!”
“Exactly!! As expected of my daughter!!”
With such fallacies, the two went to the capital in a fit of rage. Desti’s father, Regalio, vehemently argued and tried his best to stop them, to no avail. He couldn’t handle the insults that were thrown at him that he got bedridden.
Bertiana and Daruane, who were misguided, screamed at the duke’s family. As they were Desti’s relatives, the servants couldn’t usher them out. In the elegant drawing room, they repeated their vile demands.
“—Bertiana is more suitable to become His Highness Lydian’s fiancée! Wasn’t the one who fell into the enemy’s political scheme Lady Eleonora herself? She can keep crying in self-pity, then!”
…Theoretically, they weren’t wrong. The servants had blank faces because the rumors were completely false.
If anything, they were doing their best to keep Eleonora from meeting the two, since it’d lead to more troubles. So they waited patiently for Desti, who was on an inspection trip, to return.
…However, Lydian arrived instead. By that point, he’d grown accustomed to her servants. He gave the head maid an acknowledging nod in the entrance hall.
“I brought a present for Eleonora. I’ll proceed.”
“Oh my, Your Highness. I’m sure the young lady will be very happy.”
“—Your Highness Lydian!!”
Bertiana overheard the conversation between the two and stormed out of the drawing room.
“Who?”
Lydian was taken aback, while the head maid was clutching her throbbing forehead.
“I’m your fiancée, Bertiana!”
Bertiana declared pompously.
She was brimming with confidence. Her attitude was similar to Eleonora, in which she believed that everything revolved around herself.
“Is this supposed to be a joke?”
Lydian asked the head maid.
Had this been anywhere else, Bertiana would’ve breathed her last. Given the location, Lydian couldn’t do anything reckless.
The House of Bazestilma—the birthplace of his sweet Eleonora—was a place that Lydian had to cherish. Therefore, Lydian’s respect didn’t only extend to the Duke and the Duchess, but even to the lowest-ranking servant… For example, the boy who worked as an apprentice gardener.
“Honestly, I’m baffled as well… She’s a relative of Lord Desti, the successor of our family. I can’t get through to her, so I’m waiting for Lord Desti to return.”
“I see. It must be difficult.”
Lydian glanced at Bertiana and sent a look of pity to the head maid.
Lydian was aware that Eleonora had a stepbrother. However, Lydian had never met him because he was busy studying abroad and dealing with national affairs. Lydian was somewhat excited, thinking that if he waited there, he might be able to meet her stepbrother.
“Hey, who do you think you are!? A lowly maid dares to look down on me!? An earl’s daughter!? I’ll never forgive you!! You’ll go without meals—no, I’ll whip you!!”
At the horrible words that came out of Bertiana’s flaming red lips, the head maid only smiled wryly.
She had a status commensurate with being a senior servant of the Duke of Bazestilma family.
Lydian also knew that, so he didn’t say a word, and instead stared at the poor thing.
“L-Lord Lydian!! Did you know that the daughter of Duke Bazestilma laments her marriage to you!? She fell for the enemy’s scheme, hook, line and sinker! If it were me, I’d have believed in the one I love!!”
Bertiana began to earnestly appeal to Lydian.
Lydian shrugged his shoulders and sighed.
“She still doesn’t get it, it seems. If I’m in your shoes, I’d fly into rage. She’s probably insulting Eleonora, but it’d be foolish to take her seriously. How did you manage to put up with this thing? I have to commend you for that.”
Lydian praised the maid who was desperately grappling with Daruane in the drawing room.
As Lydian watched the rare beast’s roar with an incredulous look on his face, the entrance became busy.
Soon, a man came in with the butler. It was the long-awaited Desti.
His glossy black hair and porcelain-white skin were as charming as a statue.
“Your Highness Lydian, have you come to visit us? I apologize for the delay. My name is Desti.”
Gracefully, Desti placed his hand on his chest and bowed deeply. Both his dignified atmosphere and poise were worthy of the next duke. Lydian smiled in approval.
“Nice to meet you, my little brother.”
“I’m unworthy.”
Desti replied politely.
“W-wait, you—you are Desti!?”
“No way!! Why is your attire more luxurious than me!?”
Bertiana and Daruane, who couldn’t read the atmosphere, let out a shrill scream. As the two grimaced in frustration, Desti was wholly unfazed, thinking: ‘They never change.’
“Hey, is it true that they’re your relatives? I somehow find that difficult to believe.”
Lydian stared alternately between the two squealing wenches and the dignified Desti.
“Well, not by blood. To be more specific, they’re my stepmother and stepsister. Despite that, my stepsister is adopted by my step-grandmother, so we aren’t related at all.”
Desti sighed.
Lydian laughed and patted Desti’s head.
“I see. It seems that you went through a lot ever since you were young. But the experience will help you later on, so it’s not all bad.”
Lydian rarely comforted someone. If Buffeg was around, he’d have panicked, wondering if hell would freeze over.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t because he was capricious or in poor health. Lydian completely adored his talented brother-in-law.
“What nice eyes you have. Unless we’re in a formal setting, please refer to me as ‘Brother.’ You’re going to be my adorable little brother.”
“It’s an honor, Brother.”
Somewhat bashful, Desti smiled slightly. His expression was so boyish that the head maid went agape.
Lydian smiled with satisfaction after seeing Desti’s reaction.
“Well then, I’ll go to Eleonora’s room.” He said, ascending the grand staircase.
“W-wait!! I’m supposed to be His Highness Lydian’s fiancée!!” Bertiana screamed.
“Your Highness Lydian!! Please marry Bertiana—and make me the queen dowager!!” Daruane accidentally expressed her true intentions (more like a pipe dream) as she screamed.
Regardless, Lydian didn’t pay them any heed and went upstairs with a bouquet of flowers to give to Eleonora.
Unbeknownst to the squealing mother and daughter, Desti deftly arranged for a carriage.
“Lord Desti, did you call for us?”
Two scrawny men emerged from the back and kneeled in front of Desti.
They were foreign mercenaries that Eleonora had hired. She had them live in the mansion to save herself from the trouble, but since she was swamped with queen education and assignments, the two had too much free time.
…So, they came to work under Desti.
The two mercenaries were deeply touched by the talented Desti and became his loyal subordinates.
“Send these two to the Lendian Monastery. Just say my name and they’ll understand.”
After all, Desti had donated an extraordinary amount of money to that monastery.
“Understood.”
The two grabbed Bertiana and Daruane by the scruff of their necks and slowly headed outside. Of course the mother and daughter protested, but Desti turned a deaf ear on them. Thus, his competent subordinates drove off with the mother and daughter to the famously strict monastery.
The new maid, who was watching the commotion, asked the head maid with a confused look on her face.
“Uhm, what kind of place is that monastery?”
“Hohoho. The place is run by the strictest director in the world! Well, for those who abide by the rules, it won’t be a problem. However, the unruly bunches will be treated to a whip of love by the director herself! It must be hell for those two.”
The head maid smiled elegantly.
“Hopefully, they’ll repent after this.”
Desti shrugged with a sigh.
“And here I thought that you were just trying to get rid of the menace.”
The head maid was a bit surprised.
In turn, Desti only smiled bitterly. His mother taught him to be compassionate.
“Of course, there are other ways, but I prefer this method because it won’t tarnish Lady Eleonora’s reputation. Otherwise, people might think that she is condemning the two in fear of losing her position as the crown prince’s fiancée.”
“Oh my, and here I thought you weren’t interested in Lady Eleonora, but it seems that I was mistaken…”
“Well, thanks to Lady Eleonora, my role model will become my older brother. I’m so grateful because I’ve always admired him. I was even jealous of his younger brother, His Highness Valdo.”
As Desti showed a boyish smile, the head maid also smiled.
—Additionally, Prince Valdo, who shared the same blood as Lydian, resembled the king and had a stern expression. Yet, on the inside, he was a benevolent and pure child.
However, due to his appearance and his older brother’s unconventional nature, the others stayed out of his way.
“Haa… I wish I was born as Lady Eleonora’s younger brother. I’m envious of Desti.”
The person in question, Valdo, lamented in the corner of the garden.
Because of his rugged face and robust physique, everyone thought that he was out for blood, saying, “He IS His Highness Lydian’s younger brother, after all—!”
Translator’s Note:
what is this triangle brocon story
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